Zoja

Zoja picks casually at one of her claws as the doctor raves in front of the council about sickly hatchlings and frightened parents. She stifles a yawn when the others murmur worriedly amongst themselves. They are Plague. It's not worth driving the city into a frenzy over a few coughs and fevers. She voices as much, and Solvi narrows her eyes at her daughter.

"Zoja, just because you have no hatchlings of your own does not mean you get to dismiss this."

Zoja flicks her ears, choosing to ignore her mother and press her point. "It's the rainy season. We always have a little outbreak when the weather turns. Give it a few weeks, and things will go back to normal."

"I'm not so sure," Caspian breaks in. The council becomes quiet as the Imperial begins to speak, his size and gravity commanding the room despite his gentle nature. "This illness is apparently like nothing we've seen before. Our hatchlings are dying. More will follow."

"How do we know he hasn't brought this disease, just to make money off of a cure?" Zoja questions. She rolls her many eyes toward the Mirror before them, inspecting him. To his credit, he doesn't flinch like so many do. A few of the other council members echo her question, and the doctor deflates slightly in fear.

"If it would comfort you to investigate my lab, I would be happy to show every working to prove my innocence on that front," he says.

"That won't be necessary," Remir breaks in. He brings himself to his full height, looking at each of his council members in turn. "We'll listen to the doctor's orders. Caspian, Arion, will you assist him?" The clan leader's word is final on the subject, despite Zoja's opposition. She expected this, though it does not change her feelings upon the matter. She knows at least one other member would agree with her distrust of an outside party professing to be an expert.

What she doesn't expect is the doctor himself to drop by the same hatchery she visits later that evening. She's glad for her unique appearance, as it hides her emotions far better than even the most unflappable spy could have schooled their expression.

"Councilwoman," Bisque greets her, dipping his head in a show of respect. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"Not at all," Zoja replies, "I simply like to visit the hatcheries now and again to see how things are getting on, and infuse the nests with elemental magic if they need it." She illustrates her point by allowing a touch of Plague magic to briefly light her claws in sickly orange glow. "By the grace of the Plaguebringer, they'll hatch and grow fast and strong."

"I see. Have you a clutch of your own?" he inquires.

Zoja takes a steadying breath before answering. "I do not." She does not elaborate, and Bisque seems to sense his mistake in the face of her silence.

"Ah. Neither do I, though I had wanted hatchlings once upon a time. I'd stopped by to collect a sample from one of the nests here," Bisque says, holding up a small vial of the greenish liquid present in every nest in the Plaguebringer's domain. "Maybe it'll have an answer for us. Have a good evening, Councilwoman."

"Likewise, Doctor."

Zoja waits until his scent fades before she calls upon the magic again, feeling it rush through her body as she directs it into the nest before her. She lets it twist in and spread, rooting itself in and mingling with the elemental magic until it's nearly indistinguishable unless one is aware it's there. The eggs of this nest are due to hatch any day now, and she feels the energy of one surge as her magic caresses the membrane of its egg. Perfect.

She had convinced herself as a hatchling that her power was a gift from the Plaguebringer herself, and her mentor had encouraged that, urging her to refine and strengthen her power for the good of the city. Of course the stupid Prophet hadn't noticed when Zoja had surpassed her abilities. Of course her stupid mother wanted to meddle in everything she did. Solvi was nothing more than a frightened fool. And, Zoja knew, anyone else she tried to explain herself to would take her mother's side. It was already starting with this meddling doctor. She'd realized even before he came that only the hatchlings could see the true beauty of the Plaguebringer's blessing, if she brought it to them.

Such a pity none of them were strong enough to understand it.