Qalla

Her feet twisted carelessly amongst the rocks as the dragon stumbled, pushing herself to continue forward. Where was she going? Not even she completely knew.

One minute she had been nestled with her mother, and the next she was tossed away from the cave and from then all she new was fear, so she had run. Screams were behind her, but even her wings could barely carry her away fast enough.

Days had no meaning, besides, it was time to walk. Attempts to get back home but nothing was familiar to her, and the woods habitants eyed her from a distance, but didn’t bother her.

As the sun began to rest again, she followed the trail up and into a cave. Although her nose told her something else was in there she couldn’t be bothered to even investigate anymore. She just wanted to sleep.


----


Beric’s head snapped towards the cave’s entrance as he heard claws against the stone. Small feet….unfamiliar smell…. If one of those hatchlings came in here again…

He growled and pushed himself up. “Go back to your mother before-”

The dragon stopped at only a few steps, his eyes coming across the blue and golden hatchling at his feet. It was skin and bones, easily a few weeks old. It’s feathery wings were sprawled, and the cuts and bruises told him that this wasn’t one of his clans’.

“Raisa…”

The pink mate came up and brushed up next to him, a frown coming across her face.

“Who is that?”

“I don’t know...but look at her markings. She’s…”

“A royal…”

“Get her out of here.”

“Beric, she’s only a hatch-”

“I don’t care she’s got to go. They’ll be looking-”

“Where are we supposed to send her? She’s got no one, she’s been wandering for days.”

There was some growling and hissing, then a bit of shuffling. The hatchling didn’t move.

“She’s just a baby. We’ll give her to Ana, she’ll know what to do.”

Raisa lowered her head and gently nuzzled the young one. “Are you hungry? Can you tell me your name?”

The scent of fresh flowers next to her nose brought her around again. “Qalla.”