Hera

The Birth of Hera

Time worn claws raked nervously through the topsoil as the ancient Nocturne waited anxiously for the day to break. All through the night he waited, rearranging feathers and leaves as he staved off the night chill with his hot breath. As the great star finally rose in the sky the lone egg trembled, as if brought to life by the warm rays of dawn.

Feeling the warmth of the sun on his back he bristled, it was not the pull of his nocturnal instinct that triggered his unrest, rather it was to the thoughts of his children his mind wandered. It was the fifth day, the day on which the heralds of war would appear, their claws set to snatch his screaming hatchlings away, their wings still damp and crumpled from their egg's innerds.

"Marun." The sharp voice of the Captain cut through his thoughts. As the tiny fae approached, ready to coax him through this hatching if she needed to. "It is time."

Breathing deeply he bent down, warming the tiny egg with his breath for the last time before backing out of the nest.

Responding to the breath of its father the egg began to shake, cracks appearing as the sound of tiny claws chipped away at the inside of the shell. Pausing a moment a feint squeal of excitement sounded, muffled from behind the thick shell. With one last quiver and a mighty push, the egg burst, large peices of shell falling away from the peacock-petaled head of a tiny fae. Her large green eyes blinked confused by the sunlight as her cyan wigs unfurled, revealing a striking sapphire belly.

Marun's breath caught in his throat as the tiny creature turned to him, her eyes locking with his. It could not be true. Dare he believe...

"Daddy!" The infant cried, tripping over her own tail and wings as she scrambled out of her nest and into the arms of her awestruck father, who, for the first time in his 150 years of life, cradled one of his children in his claws.

Satisfied, Nevia smiled, turning back to the glen, "Happy birthday, Hera."




Return of Ecord

Blue wings flailed wildly, causing the nearby pixies to scatter. With eye wide, Hera awoke from her dream, scrambling out of bed. "Daddy!" She called scrambling from her hallow. "Daddy!" She scrambled down toward where her father could usually be found tending to the hatchlings.

Concerned for his daughter, Marun raced to her side, "Hera! What is wrong are you hurt?" He looked over her wings carefully, unable to see the annoyed pixies that flew about her, pulling at their cheeks to make faces at the Nocturne.

She shook her head, "I found him Daddy. I have been searching for so long. I found Big Brother, a long way away in the Crystalspine Reaches."

Not wanting to get his hopes up, but not foolish enough to discount his daughter's dreams again, he paused. A mix of pain, and hope flared up in his ancient heart. "The arcane mountains are vast, and you have never seen your brother. How do you know that this was not just a hopeful dream."

"His eyes hold the same pain as yours Daddy." She replied softly.

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Hera has been a curious creature from the moment of her hatching. Ever determined to understand the world around her Hera never hesitates to to charge after whatever grabs her attention and study it with an almost obsessive fascination until she understands everything there is to know about it. Naturally drawn to the unknown, Hera finds herself constantly surrounded by mystical creatures which often escape the notice of other dragons.