it was within hours of her hatch date that she was on the market.

"space issues," her mother said, her pale gold eyes glinting in the light. it's a bored sort of remark, idle. she doesn't sound sad to see her latest daughter leave, but there's been a dozen before and there'll be dozens after, eggs she cradles and nests fpr days only to let them leave after she sees their face. her father is the same, _ thinks, but there is no confirmation. her father is a captain of - of something, she does suppose. and minutes after the eggshell cracked open he'd left the nesting room and departed to his next trip. she doesn't remember his face, because she doesn't think she saw it.

(things __ knew: there was space. there was enough for her. but money was money and was worth only how much she could bring in.)

(things _ learned: you are worth what you can do. you must earn your everything. you must harden yourself like her mother had, for the better of her clan. hard is the heart who wields the power.)

(things _ does: gets bought for a new clan. takes three days in silence as she watches the clan around her, figures out the others and the dynamics. after all, who keeps secrets about anything from supposedly mute hatchlings? and on the fifth day she finds the best warrior in the clan, kneels and asks for tutelage.)

when the clan leader drops hints about hatchlings, about a new spiral in the clan who she'd make the nicest children with - well. she hardens her heart and doesn't cry when they start to leave.