Aegeus

A sudden, strangled sob rang out, followed by the sound of leathery wings rubbing along stone walls, the rumble of a great beast shifting out of sight. Echoes of the shout faded, leaving behind a heavy panting.
It was quiet for a moment, before an Imperial emerged from the den amid the crumbling remains and shadows of the large palace-like structure. From the ancient pathways the den’s entrance was hidden but to those in the know, it was the nest of Leto and Radient. Their den was set slightly apart from the rest of the Clan’s, but the winding alleys and backroads led from the main lair to their more private location. The privacy was proving to be useful in times like these.
The denim-and-aqua dragon now unfolded herself from her den. She shook out her wings, the scales glinting in the bright sunlight almost as noticeable as the tears streaming down her face. A harsh expression settled on her face.
An icy white Imperial followed after, eyes narrowed in concern. “Leto,” Radient whispered. “Do you want me to-?”
Leto shook her head with a soft grunt. She swished her tail behind her, a firm “No.”
Her previous call had woken her from a nightmare she did not want to relive - the rise of an Emperor, her own children, fighting to kill her. She had not been able to return the fight, let alone deal the final blow, and had instead almost been ripped to shreds. Not even Radient had been able to confront his mutated, monstrous offspring. It had been up to the Court of War to rid their Clan of the beast - not the first Emperor they had defeated, certainly not the last.
And it had still broken Leto’s heart to see her sons and daughters come to such a brutal end.
She now began walking away from her mate. She did not look back but she hoped Radient would understand - she needed time.
The white dragon stopped in his tracks, watching as his blue, blue mate walked away. His tail swished - he understood. He would leave her be. Without a word, he turned and returned to their den.
Leto could feel his presence fade. She sighed and brought her Lightning gaze to the clear azure skies above her. It’s so deep, she thought to herself. The colour was rich and pure, and if Leto let herself, she would lose herself in it. Like falling endlessly upwards, into a life where there was no pain, no reminder of a past as heart-wrenching.
I’m sorry I failed you, she thought to nobody, to the spirits of her children. She blinked a fresh wave of tears, and a fallen whimper escaped her.
The navy-and-aqua walked without a thought for what felt like a long time, before she found herself at a familiar spot. The beach where Radient had found her oh-so long ago. Stopping without warning, she found herself taken by curiousity. For a moment, the grief faded, the pain disappeared, the past forgiven.
An egg was lying in the path, half hidden where the grass lined the sandy seashore. Leto bent forward, her antlers nudging the egg carefully. It was coral-covered turquoise egg; a Water egg washed up on the shores of Light territory. Leto glanced around, wondering if another dragon was nearby, but the shore was empty. Nobody was here to claim the egg, but her.
The blue seemed to speak to her, calling her back to life. A rush of warmth filled her, and she could feel the sunlight on her scales once again. This blue - it was different from the blue before. Hope opened her heart to this small, defenseless being, the promise of a future.
You need a mother now, don’t you? she thinks, reaching forward to tenderly pick up the lost egg. You will need protecting. It’s alright - I’m here. I’m here now.