Crystal Cave
HATCHING
A
cold wind blew from the East when the candidates landed on the fringes of
IceLand. Following last year's tradition the candidates had been
flown over to the fringes of IceLand, along with the eggs on the growing
number of Ryslen Flurry riders at the Isle. Only 6 candidates had signed
up, along with 4 caretakers and a formal request for mascots for the
Morhakain Unit, a dragon-riding fighting unit of a newly planet that had
opened up to dragon adoption.
As
the picnic was set up and stoves were lit around the cirlce of eggs the
candidates mingled and sipped their gluhwein, eggnog or fruit juice to
keep busy and moving. Meanwhile the IceLanders seemed to be unaffected by
what they called 'a delightfully warm breeze for the time of year'. They
hurried around the circle, tending the eggs and candidates and keeping an
eye on the surroundings.
Standing
at the tables on this bright winter days, was Lucas who had come to record
the hatching in such a fashion that it would please his sister-in-law,
Trix. Not an easy thing to do, but a chance to practice his steno.
Looking
deep into the fire before him, Lucas' gaze shifted, unfocused on the fire
and his mind drifted away, only to be snatched back right away by
something peculiar. Looking up, with wrinkled forehead, Lucas tried to
place his finger on what had roused his intrest when he saw it again, the
faintest white flech of snow falling toward the ground, hitting an egg
that immediately started wobbling.
Minutes
later soft snow was falling over their clearing, filling the sky without
diminishing vision on the eggs. A good thing because soon those would
hatch into creatures he hoped would be graceful, furry and winged - that
last bit tended to be left out quite often of late.
In the circle of eggs twin yellow eyes watched the others move away with
their bonds. The grey female dragon sighed. "I
want to go eat too." she said.
"Then
bond." Her blue brother told her, "Then
you can go eat."
"I
don't feel anyone that belongs to me in there." the
grey answered, "And
I'm hungry."
"So
am I." the blue said, "And
I don't think mine is here either."
"Hmm,
Kanakor," the Crystal Grey said softly, "If
we bond to each other..."
"We
can get to the food!" the Winter blue finished her
thoughts, "Great
thinking Kijenna!"
"Now
all we need is a place to go." Kijenna said.
"I
say we just pick the first place on the list that's still open."
"That
would be Dragon Tears,
I don't know... those tears can't be good."
"But
look at the perks: icy waste, private hot springs, a den all for
ourselves, everlasting snow... It's perfect."
"True..."
"Don't
hesitate! Go!" Kanakor ended the discussion and
dragged his sister toward the feeding tables.
Crystal Grey Kijenna (f) & Winter Blue Kanakor (m)
