Hatching 13
Forest Nahosdi knocked on the door to the Deep Cavern and let the sire of
her clutch know that the draklings were ready to head out into the world.
Griïkisdu wasted no time and alerted the officials. The both of them had
been at DesCas for the past months and would remain to train some of their
draklings before they would return to Savannah Castle. Although the Fire
drak was not homesick, he was growing restless and getting away from guard
duty and getting back to training would be a relief.
The aspirants were led into the deep cavern; 3 male and 2 female, all but
one Icarian. But it wasn't the alien that had Griïkisdu worried. She was a
warrior and would hold her own. No, the fiery sire of the clutch fretted
about the long haired chef and the pushover baker. His knight must have
caught his mood as she hissed:
"Not all draks and knights must fight."
"But they should at least have the potential." Griïkisdu
insisted, albeit quietly.
Before they could argue more, Nahosdi started to talk. The whispers and
chatter dimmed as she welcomed the aspirants and spectators. She then took a
step to the side and turned, giving all present a view of the 5 draklings
she'd raised. Blue, green and grey subdued colours were plentiful, but a
single radiant red fire stood out among the lot of them. It was this young
male that made the first move. He went about his choice patiently, sniffing
and prodding, intending to choose the best one among the crowd. He finally
stopped in front of Leed, the eldest son of the ruling pair of Castle
Yavier and said:
"I will link my destiny with yourss. My mother
named me Padidu."
"I'll be honoured to return home with you." Leed said, relieved to
have finally paired.
The rain drakling moved next. She was silver and grey in colour, but by the
sway in her gait and the lift in her steps, people could tell that life with
her would never be boring. She hardly seemed to question her instinct and
stopped in front of Ja'hani, the adventurous and sociable traveller
who had ironically been heading away from Savannah Castle.
The irony wasn't lost on the cunning drakling as she remarked:
"I think sssilver is better than gold, at
leassst I won't make you return home."
"And what is your name, little lady?" the charming man retorted.
"Koedudi."
The brown and green forest female slipped in front of her siblings, playful
and definitely more clumsy than her Rain-coloured sister, she still exuded
joy and curiosity as she made her way toward the aspirants. She had heard so
many stories about these humans from her mother that she couldn't wait to
interact with them. But all gathered smelled quite similar, all but one who
seemed to be slightly different.
The forest female approached Aesc and sat in front of her.
"I want to know more about you. You're
different!" she said, "Oh, my name is Quidudi."
"I don't think I'm that different." Aesc replied, after all she
was a human just like the Icarians, but she couldn't argue with the fact
that she had come from another planet.
The full green plant drakling took a few steps forward and looked up as
several fairy draks, quite a few belonging to the aspirants, had gotten into
a little scuffle above the heads of their respective owners.
The male managed to snatch a desert one as it flew in front of him and
deposited the offending fairy back with his owner, Gertruth.
"I do believe this one has impeccable taste,
But maybe he needs a little discipline?"
Gertruth grinned despite her very obviously upset pet. She was still feeling
a bit scared about being looked at by so many, but something about this drak
made her think no-one would get away with badmouthing her ever again.
"He's normally very well behaved, it must be all this excitement."
She gave the plant drakling a questing look and he supplied: "Obdidu."
The final drakling, a blue Water-coloured female, waited for the chatter to
subside again. She wanted to do things right and would not pair as if it was
something mundane. It was a serious connection, a life-long bond and it
deserved attention.
She strode toward the last remaining aspirant, Ennio, the long-haired chef
and gently touched her muzzle to his hand.
"My name is Rendudi." she
introduced herself first as her mother had instructed and almost all her
siblings had forgotten to do.
"Nice to meet you." Ennio replied and introduced himself.
The Water drakling nodded and felt certain she had found the best match for
her.
With the Mind Pairing Ceremony concluded, draklings and squires were led to
an adjoining cavern room where food and drinks were waiting for all. While
everyone relaxed, Trainers were chosen for the new pairs, ensuring their
futures would be bright.
Ja'hani
Sihkaron (m) and Rain Koedudi (f)
Trainer: Theo & Night Argeloos
(Knight Training)
Gertruth
(f) and Plant Obdidu (m)
Trainer: Marion & Forest Nahosdi
(Entertainment)
Leed
McDairmid-Ridsaw (m) and Fire Padidu (m)
Trainer: Veerle and Fire Griïkisdu
(Knight Training)
Aesc
(f) and Forest Quidudi (f)
Trainer: Quinn & Mud Evanderi
(Knight Training)
Ennio
(m) and Water Rendudi (f)
Trainer: Flint & Wind Achaena
(Knight & Medic Training)
Clutch Story
"Welcome to the Deep Cavern of Sav... err
DesCas." the young red-headed woman with the amazing ear-dangles tells
you. Behind her, a brown-green forest drak is tending to her clutch of eggs.
There are at least three but it's hard to tell.
"Go on, Marion." she lisps and
then shows you her toothy smile. Apparently she likes you.
"My drak Nahosdi has returned to DesCas to clutch. She was flown by
Fire Griïkisdu, the fire drak of one of my colleagues."
Another young woman waves at you, a red-gold fire drak standing watch behind
her.
"I think you'll probably be able to find a judge somewhere
nearby." she tells you, "My drak is more of a fighter though so
he'll be watching you." and then she winks to show you she's joking. At
least you think she is, because behind her, the Fire Drak gives another
toothy smile that doesn't seem all that friendly.
