A Flock of Chicks

Druyth, Guardian of the Flock

The Avian Druyth gently placed the eggs in a nest she'd created for the purpose. The nest was carefully constructed of supple twigs, leaves and feathers. Because she'd used her own, the nest looked rather dark but she knew the inside was as soft as velvet and it would keep the eggs warm. The seven eggs stirred every so often, proving that the chicks inside were growing as they should.
"Not much longer now." Druyth whispered.
She had one of her ghost-familiars guard the nest and went to work. Her wolf would alert her when the eggs started hatching. Though incorporeal, she would also keep the eggs warm, allowing Drutyh to work on other things. There was a lot left to prepare and she would not risk asking others to help her. The universe was a big place and there were plenty characters around who only thought of their own gain, even if they seemed reliable at first glance. Druyth would not make the same mistake twice.
Lost in thought, it took Druyth a moment to identify the howl for what it was. But the moment she realised, she jumped up from her chair and rushed toward the nest. A long, jagged crack had appeared in one of them. Another was rocking and a third seemed to have grown a bump as the chick within was trying to pierce through.
Suddenly one eggshell gave up, cracking loudly and revealing a white with blue chick. She cocked her head and looked at Druyth without fear. Blinking twice she let out a defiant chirp and then wailed for food. A second voice joined in as a lavender-silvery grey male rooster chick had managed to get out of his egg. Druyth feeded the duo, and then the bright yellow and orange hen chick that hatched next.

The three chicks seemed to get along well and Druyth felt quite confident that it would remain that way even when the other 4 eggs had hatched. The person who'd given her the eggs had told her that the chick dragons thrived in large groups. Seven chicks seemed like a lot to care for but Druyth wanted her charges to be happy. The more the merrier, they say.
Two more eggs broke and suddenly a pink-red hen and a black-brown rooster appeared. These two seemed to be more vocal than the other three, even if they'd been quite loud already. But even after having been fed, the two newest arrivals kept on chirping and squeaking. Almost as if they were arguing, or trying to ask for her attention.

The two reddish tinted chicks made so much noise that Druyth nearly missed that the two last eggs had hatched. A dark blue hen with the most beautiful rainbow-streaked back looked quietly at Druyth, observing her. She seemed to be far to mature to have just hatched. Her green sibling seemed happy to investigate thenest, tugging at feathers and poking at her siblings.

"Oh my, you're all so pretty." Druyth told the young ones.
A cacophony of chirps assaulted her ears and along with it a flurry of thought-speech as the little hens and roosters decided on names and welcomed her as their caretaker. Her days and nights would be quite busy for a while, but in the end it would be all be worth it.

Name: Rypha
Gender: Female
Species: Chick Dragon
Colour: Blue-tipped Cyan-spangled White
Origin: Lantessama 2024 Easter Giveaway

Description: Rypha is a cool beauty with her bright white plumage accented by light blue dots and darker blue tail and wing feathers. She is quite shy and doesn't like to stand out. She is friendly and helpful, often trying to hide her involvement in events that benefit others.