Spine

“I think I can get away from more play if I have the excuse of talking to the newest member of the clan.”

His voice is gravely, though full of cheer and conspiracy. You can see his chest heaving as he sucks in air, clearly a bit out of breath.

You look to the sky for a moment and spot the playing dragonettes circling down right above you, and you nod an agreement. Little ones had never really been a strong suit for you, tiring you out quickly. It seems only fair that you would help someone else avoid them for a few minutes.

“Great! My name is Spine, and clearly you’ve met my two sisters. We’re the main team for getting resources and food for the clan, but I’m sure you’ll find out about the other two teams that have set themselves up.”

You nod.

“Not the talkative sort huh? Well, that’s ok, I’ve been told I can make up for several dragons being missing in a conversation. Even talk to myself sometimes.”

He laughs at that, and you politely chuckle along.

“So, how has the first day of being in the Burrow treated you? I’m sure that you’ve met plenty of folks that you’d get on fine with, yeah?”

You shrug. Six isn’t all that much in the scheme of things, not when you know there are a few dozen members of the clan. Honestly, you’re a bit surprised that you haven’t been swamped by others wanting to meet you. They generally do the moment you arrive, or ignore you completely, though it’s a fifty fifty shot on if either is a good thing or a bad thing.

Getting to meet the dragons of the clan at your own pace is nice. It at least lets you drag out all the introductions a bit.

“I don’t know if anyone told you this, but you don’t have to get along with all the members of the clan. There’s actually a decent amount of animosity here, from how a few of our members don’t like each other. Don’t be too put out if you find that someone doesn’t like you, or if you don’t like them. We have a big enough clan where you won’t have to interact with them too often. Well, unless you get into a situation like poor Alph. His mate Impa’s best friend Hilo hates his guts. Don’t know what she has out for him.”

Well, knowing that not everyone gets along does make you feel a bit better about things, though you feel a bit guilty for feeling that way. It shouldn’t bring you any sort of joy to know that others aren’t getting along.

“Bah, don’t feel bad about it. About the only contentious part of the clan is that trio, and none of us feel any guilt over joking about it.”

You start, wondering if he read your mind.

“Just good at reading others, that’s all. You’re a bit of an open book, which helps with the whole being quiet thing.”

He shifts, looking upwards at the hatchlings circling around.

“I’m sure you’ll get along great with the hatchlings. They’ve been getting bored with just Singer telling them stories, and Little Mist is still wavering between hatchling watcher and healer type. Not that it’s been several years for her to decide between of course.”

Several years to find a role to fit?

“It can take a while for someone to find a good role to fit in the clan, and some we thought never would. Don’t worry about fitting in right from the get go, this is an old clan, and we wouldn’t expect you to be able to slip right in at the drop of a hat. Me and the girls might have worked well in the clan from the beginning, but we’ve also been here to witness the flailing about of the others in their attempts to find their niche. When Mort and Aja came here, they thought they would be a fighting duo, and it turns out that they just weren’t meant to be that. Athos thought he would be an artist, but he found that he was better as a fighter. We still don’t quite know what Gal wants to do. He’s just off doing his own thing.”

Spine shrugs at the last part, sounding generally confused.

“Don’t even have to be good with the hatchlings. Arbor had one clutch with her mate, and then figured out she had no idea what to do with kids. Doesn’t even talk to Golden half the amount she should. Though, with her being the matriarch, I guess she can’t really be kicked out of the clan, but it’s much the same with Golden himself. He couldn’t figure out how to deal with his own kids. Good with the familiars, but terrible with the hatchlings. I guess he just isn’t the dragon sort.”

He looks back down at you, smiling.

“I guess it all boils down to me telling you not to worry sop much about impressing us. You’ll discover what’s good about you eventually, and then all will be well. Or you won’t find something, and it’ll still be well.”

He shrugs again.

“I don’t suppose you’ll take it to heart, but I’ll tell it to you again, if you need it.”

Just then, a little skydancer hatchling lands before you both, clumsily flopping to the ground where she over balanced.

“I think that’s my cue to go soon.”

He gives a wry look your way.

“If you want to have a another perspective of this place, a bit younger than us, look for Ebby. She should be up at the top of the cliff, right above the cave. Can’t miss her.”

With a flick of his tail, he dips his head to look the small skydancer in the eye. He looks a bit silly doing it, but the little one doesn’t seem to mind, instead throwing herself on top of his head with a giggle. Not wanting to interrupt the very cute moment, you side shuffle away.

“And look at you, growing so strong and mighty, to have felled the great Spine. Oh whatever shall the clan do in the face of such tyranny as this?”

He flops over on his side, careful to keep his head in the same place, and he gives you a very deliberate wink, even half hidden under where he trapped himself. You can’t help but smile at him, and the little one, before following his directions to find the dragon he called Ebby. You have the feeling that that’s just a nickname, since you know a few of the names he spouted are shortened versions of names you remember from other conversations that you’ve had.

Looking up at the cliff holding the two caves, you can spot a small head poking out from the top, before it ducks away, giggling. That must be the dragons you’re meant to speak to.