Scoril's breathing was heavy as she approached the shop that had caught her eye. Hopefully, this would give her the answers she was seeking, the answers that would give her Jett back.
"You aren't seriously going to a potion's shop for help, are you?" A voice sounded behind her. Scoril spun around to see a snapper she had never met before. She looked vaguely familiar, she wondered if she knew her parents. It was impossible to keep track of who everyone was and who they were connected to.
"I don't think that's any of your business," Scoril shot back.
"Maybe not, but my sister Damaris is all about quick fixes, which is all well and good if you want quick results, but they aren't lasting, and sometimes they don't work like you think they will," the snapper continued. "Anyways, if you want to go waste your money, be my guest, but if you want real solutions, I might be able to help better."
"I appreciate your concern," Scoril responded icily. "But I'll be fine."
"Alright," the snapper shrugged. "But the name's Danae, if you change your mind."
Scoril watched Danae leave, wondering what exactly she had been yammering on about. How was it her place to tell her what she should or shouldn't do? She shook her head and pushed open the door. A bell rang, and a ridgeback looked up from the counter.
"Hello! What can I do for you?" Damaris asked. All around her, the shelves were lined with bottled potions of all shapes, sizes and colours. The ridgeback seemed to be mixing up some new brew from behind the counter, and the smell of lavender filled the air.
"I was looking for a love potion," Scoril explained. "I'll pay any price."
"Oh! My favourite!" Damaris' eyes gleamed hungrily. "Now, most people take issue with love potions, but I think they are just fun! What do you need it for? Got your eye on someone?"
"My mate cheated on me," Scoril explained. "I want to win his affections back."
"Ah! The drama of it all!" Damaris sighed. "Yes, of course, you poor soul. I've got just what you need to get your guy back!"
"Thank you," Scoril nodded.
"Now, I'll give you some of the extra strength stuff!" The ridgeback grabbed a small, heart-shaped vial off the shelf. The liquid inside was a shimmery pink. "All you have to do is slip this in his food or drink, and make sure that you are the first dragon that he sees after he takes it!"
"Thank you, I really appreciate this," Scoril snatched up the vial. "How much do I owe you?"
"Oh, for that baby? That's one of my higher tier potions, so how does 100kt sound?" Damaris grinned toothily.
It was almost the entirety of Scoril's savings, but when she thought about losing Jett, her best friend, she decided that it was worth it. She forked over the money, and left the store with significantly lighter pockets. She just hoped that it would work, and that Jett would be hers once more.
It was time.
Jett had not been privy to the hatching of many of his children, but these ones were special. He and Kass stood over the nest. Jett was so enraptured that he completely failed to notice that Kass seemed bored.
By the time that hatching was done, one hatchling sat among her blankets, still damp from the egg glue. Her brothers had vanished into the night.
But the hatchling that remained was beautiful. She was all that Jett had ever wanted, and now she was here. His precious daughter, another vessel for the Shade.
"I was wondering if you could help me out," Seaberry stared into the desperate face of the younger spiral. She had hardly seen Amity since she quit her job at the Siren's Call, and now she was standing here, asking for her help.
There was something in Amity's face that struck a chord with Seaberry, and she found herself giving in. "What's going on?"
"Can we talk somewhere else?" Amity's eyes darted around anxiously. It was then that Seaberry noticed the two bulges in her bag. She nodded and lead the younger dragon into one of the back rooms.
"Who's the father?" Seaberry asked. "Does he know?"
"His name is Lester," Amity explained. "And no, not yet. We've only just started meeting, we haven't had the chance to talk about hatchlings yet. Besides, he's really busy with the resistance-"
"Not so loud," Seaberry warned. "I don't want the tavern listed as a rebel hideout or anything."
"Sorry," Amity sighed. "I just don't know what to do, and I know you're expecting hatchlings as well, I thought it might be nice to at least have other kids for mine to play with, especially if I'm raising them on my own."
"Oh hon," Seaberry smiled softly. "Of course I'll help you, especially if your mate turns out to be a jerk and leaves you on your own, but you've got to at least talk to this Lester. He has a right to know, and if he's someone who will stand by you through this, he's one you're going to want to hold on to. Trust me, I've been there before, and I can't tell you how much its meant to me to have Webb by my side."
"You're right," Amity took a deep breath. "Alright, I'll tell him. Thank you."
"Of course," Seaberry smiled. "And if Lester does turn out to be a jerkface, let me know. I'll give him a good talking to."
"Ragna! What a surprise!" Ulf exclaimed as he opened the observatory door to the other gaoler. "Are you here for more training? I thought the dragons of the resistance would be going to you!"
"They are," Ragna explained. "It's you I want to talk to."
Ulf's eyes widened. "Do you want to go up to my room?"
Ragna nodded, and the two gaolers made their way up to the top dome where Ulf had made himself comfortable. He gestured for Ragna to sit down, but she shook her head, opting to stand. Ulf decided to also remain standing.
"Alright, what is this about?" Ulf asked.
"As gaolers, we have a duty to this clan," Ragna began. "We were created by the Icewarden to eradicate the Shade, and this is a city that is rank with that evil."
"I've told you before, I cannot smell the Shade," Ulf reminded her. "I do not know how much use I will be."
"This city is too big for just one seeker, we need more," Ragna continued.
"Do you want to write the the Fortress of Ends?" Ulf's eyes widened. "It could take up to a year for them to process our request, let alone get an order together."
"No, we don't need to get them involved," Ragna said. "As seekers, we are supposed to be able to complete our tasks on our own. Anything else is a sign of weakness. No, that is not what I'm proposing."
"Then what is it?" Ulf asked. "You can't be suggesting we try to rope in more gaolers? Who knows when the next one will wander by!"
"Ulf, forgive me if this request is too forward, but you and I are the only two gaolers in this clan," Ragna explained. "I am asking if you would be willing to have a nest. Jett's reign may be coming to an end soon, but the Shade will likely remain strong for generations. I think it's time we start creating our own gaoler order, so that we can protect this budding clan from the Shade."
"Oh, wow," Ulf was taken aback. This certainly wasn't what he was expecting. "And if my condition passes on? If our children can't smell the Shade?"
"Even if you condition passes on to some, I doubt it would pass on to all of them," Ragna offered. "Besides, I imagine this will not be our only nest. This clan needs a lot of gaolers, and it is likely that the city will take at least half of our offspring."
"Okay, for the duty of the clan, I will do this with you," Ulf agreed.
"Thank you," Ragna dipped your head. "And do not worry, you do not have to be involved in raising these hatchlings if you don't want to. I will be able to provide stronger training anyways, considering that I completed my training at the Fortress of Ends."
Ulf winced at the memory of his expulsion, but he remained stoic and decided not to take offense. "I would not dare leave this all on you," Ulf vowed. "I may not be able to train them in the same way that you can, but I can still be their father."
"Very well," Ragna grinned. "Well, no point in wasting time, lets get this started."
The two dragons combined their magic to create a nest. By the time Ragna left, she had three eggs with her. The Ragna Order was beginning. Ulf was proud to have been able to contribute to the official gaoler work to some degree, but he hoped Larkin would not take offense to his position as a father. Of course, the tundra still did not reciprocate his feelings, and even if she did, they'd never be able to have children together, but it still felt weird.
But Ulf was doing his duty, and he was being as much of a gaoler as he could be.
PINKERTON! I love breeding dragons, but how much time am I really going to have to invest and develop 4-8 new characters in less than a month? And that's assuming I don't get more apparel or familiar pulls.
Of course, just watch as all these apparel pulls stop as soon as Hermann is RTB! XD
If anyone wants one of Kasey's brothers, they are up for grabs until they are grown up!