Snippet #2161104

An entire week had passed since Gren slipped into his eternal sleep and Kaspartha came to take his place as caretaker for the hatchlings. She had come to know their names and several distinct draconic characteristics by simply being near them. By passing knowledge between the hatchlings and Kaspartha, it was discovered that the other adult dragons were battling humans in distant lands to fight for their land and wisdom, as well as to keep the humans from discovering one of their few caves that remained for raising their offspring. However, there was a small group of adult dragons who were not fighting in wars against the two-legged creatures; these dragons' purpose was to bring back food for the hatchlings while they remained unable to fend for themselves.

Early in the morning, just as the sun was peaking over the mountain, which created a large shadow over the forest visible from the mouth of the cave, there was a thunderous wind approaching the entrance. The cry of an adult lumina dragon echoed through the forest and into the cave, rattling the stalagmites enough that tiny specks of the rock began flaking from the ceiling. It stood at the mouth of the cave, perched in the shadows while its long neck peered inside the darkness. In its left, front claws, it hoisted up a large branch with plenty of greenery and tiny fruit. Within its right front claws, the Lumina dragon was carrying a large, green bush that also contained small fruits.

The dragon dropped its possessions just within the mouth of the cave before peering inside further by beginning to walk through the cave. His back scraped against a few stalagmites, knocking them hard enough for them to crash to the ground. After this accident, the dragon crouched lower to the ground as he walked.

"Greetings," he said heartily to anyone willing to listen, "I bring nutrition to the younglings."

- -

Hevel was sleeping in the same place where his egg had hatched weeks ago. He found the spot very comforting, and was rarely found sleeping elsewhere.

When the dragon entered the cave, Hevel slowly began to awaken, squinting his eyes in the direction of the newcomer. Dazedly, he got to his feet and waddled over to where the large dragon laid, crouched on the floor. "Xenos!" He called out happily, there was a bright, cheery tone to his voice. His waddle fastened to a gallop, and he was quickly at Xenos' heel where he nuzzled against him momentarily. "Where is Nyx?" He asked patiently about his mother.

- -

"Nyx is hunting, youngling. She should arrive before starfall," Xenos affirmed, "Where is the caretaker?" His eyes darted around the cave where younglings began to spring up around him or travel to the mouth of the cave where food was present. Last time he'd arrived here, Gren explained that there were currently no eligible dragon caretakers, and that everyone already had their purpose to fulfill, so in his time of death, he would be forced to step beyond the normal bounds of dragon caretakers.

(( I can make profiles for Xenos and Nyx if necessary, but they'll mostly be background characters. ))