Hevel's Story

From within the cave, an empty egg rested against the wall with a silver and gold coloring. The middle of it had been cracked open, pieces of the shell were strewn across the floor, and a tiny, silver-sheened dragon was curling up against the vacant egg. The scales this dragon had were minuscule and he was very ashamed of himself. He hoped that one day, he'd be beautiful, but for now, the most beautiful possession he had was the egg he had hatched out of nearly a week ago. He was very reluctant to leave its side; it gave him comfort, knowing that because he came from that egg, he'd one day be as shiny and brilliant as it.

Hevel opened his eyes and lifted his head when he heard several dragons leaving the cave. He strained his vision to see where they were going, and it didn't take long for him to spot a strange creature. It was perhaps the ugliest thing he'd seen since emerging from his egg, so he snarled as the human came closer. This must be the creature the Gren had been trying to explain to them before he went to forever-sleep.

As the human continued to advance towards the cave, Hevel whimpered and tried to scurry back inside of his shell. Too quickly, he placed one fore-foot into the hole and snapped more of the shell, creating a bigger hole. Continuing to cry softly, he tried to shuffle himself into the cramped egg. One more foot in and he slipped his head in the hole as well, leaving his back end exposed.

He heard footsteps coming closer, and he realized that he couldn't see what was around him and got extremely frightened, so he began to wiggle free of the egg, shaking his head back and forth quickly while he stood on his back legs, but in the midst of his panic, the shell flew off of his head and landed against the cave wall, cracking into several shards.

Hevel gasped and looked at all of the pieces lying on the ground and began to cry, hurrying over to the place where they were scattered, moving them around with his claws, trying to get them closer together so that maybe they would reform the egg.

He scraped them together into a pile, but nothing happened. "Oh, no..." Hevel sighed and laid on top of the pile of egg shells. Then, the human was in full view and he looked down on the ground, unwilling to stare into the face of such a hideous thing.

Kaspartha inhaled a beautiful rosey scent and was delighted to see a gorgeous little hatchling appear. She was about to reach out to the new arrival when the small one hissed and said "I know about humans! Izotz, they are the ones that killed my mother and father!"

Kaspartha started a bit at that. But then she thought about the youngling. If this breed was so beautiful at such a young age, it was certainly they were downright astounding as adults... She was willing to bet many a nobleman would pay for wings such as hers. The thought made her sick. She could barely stand hunting for the sake of sustenance, much less sport. And moreover, these dragons had had young to care for, not that those who struck them down cared...

She thought back to the day her parents were taken from her and winced in sympathy. She'd hated, and still hates, royals for that soul crushing loss. She'd come to believe that all people of noble blood were selfish, ruthless people, so she could hardly blame the pink hatchling for looking at her the way she was. Also, she was expecting hatred from the dragons anyway. Kaspartha started to stroke Kivuli's pelt, happy for the only friend she she was going to make.

She smiled a bitter smile at the hatchling. "Well little one, you and I have something in common. Humans killed my parents as well. I can hardly apologize for the passing of your mother and father, because I myself didn't participate, but I understand your hatred. And you are entitled to it."

Kaspartha then frowned a bit as she heard some mild cracking noises. She decided that they were just Izotz' ice crystals falling and decided to ignore it for the time being.

The creature said to be something called 'Human' she also scolded for asking What was her, Izotz put his paws on his head and bent to demonstrate repentance, the Ice Dragon didn't want to upset Ka-Kasp... the human since he didn't know what kind of punishment she could give him, the idea that she had no wings or tail or anything confused him greatly, They would grow once she became an adult?.

To increase the confusion Larissa came saying that humans killed her parents, "What is killing?" he asked curiously, the Hatchling didn't have any specific knowledge about such action but thought for their reaction that was something bad, it meant that humans were bad?, was something quite worrying for the little dragon.

Sounds came from the cave and Izotz just saw something shining, "Kasperita, there's something there," he said proud of his discovery trying to make up for the time he earn a scolding but failed to remember the name of the human.

Kaspartha blinked at the new hatchling's arrival. Honestly, were they just sending them all at her at once? Was this their idea of a welcome party? Moreover, what in all existence was an Ember Dragon? Perhaps it was some kind of evil breed? At least the little hatchling didn't openly despise her... Yet...

"It's Kaspartha Izotz. Ka-spar-tha. Now then-"Kaspartha looked at the pink hatchling and the new hatchling in turn. "-what are your names? I'd like to know all of you in time, if that's ok. "

Then she remembered Izotz' question. She didn't particularly want to answer it. After all the reason why children were so precious, no matter their race, was because of their innocence. But, she thought grimly, in the world we live in it's better to let them understand why evil is wrong at a young age. Yet, she couldn't bring herself to answer him just yet. He should enjoy ignorance while it lasts.

She turned to Izotz and sighed. "One day, Izotz, I will tell you what killing is... But you're not quite old enough yet."

Larissa held her head low, her gentle blue eyes accusing as she watched his unknown human. When she heard cracking, scraping, and crying she turned to see another hatchling. It was a lovely white color, and was sitting atop a shattered egg. He rolled around in the shell, causing the shards to stick to him. He then approached them, the light bouncing off the egg shards in such a beautiful way.

Larissa turned away from the human, padding over to the fellow dragon as he spoke. "He wouldn't send us a bad human. That would be like sending us an Ember Dragon to be our new caretaker. Nobody wants to be taken care of by an Ember Dragon." he spoke earnestly, causing her to glance back at the human.

"She doesn't look as bad as an Ember Dragon." she muttered, still wary of her. "I still don't trust you. But. . . I am Larissa." she told the human, still sticking close to the new dragon. She trusted him more.

In his short time out of his shell he knew that many of the mysteries were hidden under the veil of the age, a veil that only time could remove so the little one decided to wait as the newly hatched spoke words full of wisdom about something along the lines that someone bad wouldn't be in charge of the eggs and of themselves, so that was the job of the human Kasparita, no, Karpasta... was something like that though Kasparita sounds better according to him, maybe he'll call her like that.

Now that his curiosity was satisfied and the mistery about the wingless being Izotz decided to retire to a safe distance and keep watching them hidden from afar, he ran dropping icicles that form every time stands still long enough, these theings were the culprits of most of the times he get discovered, either by sound or by the liquid trail they left when melt.

He hid behind a rock and began to look, he didn't realize that his tail was completely visible from where they were, so he believed that his hideout was perfect.

Kaspartha exhaled a breathe she hadn't known she was holding. They may not like her but [i[at least[/i] they had offered their names. That was a start right? ...Right?

Kaspartha listened intently to Hevel's account of his relationship with his parents and began to pity him if only a bit. Did dragons pay attention to their children? Surely they must?

"I don't think the others have met all of their parents yet because they're fighting."

Kaspartha frowned at Hevel's words. Were the hatchlings fighting or were the adults fighting? She decided to ask as much.

"Tell me Hevel, who exactly is fighting, and over what for that matter." She wasn't quite sure Hevel could answer the second question. For some reason she had a feeling he was a bit... Self-absorbed. Not to the point of a detrimental fault, at least not yet.

Kivuli was dreaming well, she had drempt of eating blue-berries and playing without getting tired. Then it got sweet-smelling in her dream, and then cold. She didn't know why this was happening, but she was suddenly woken up.

Although it was sudden, she still took a minue to open her eyes. She saw all of her friends: and she got happier when she saw Larissa, she was fun to play with. And Hevel, he was cool.

"Larissa! Hevel!" She shouted, and then saw Izotz, "And Izotz!" She jumped off Kaspartha's shoulders and then began to jump around a little bit, she then remembered that Kaspartha was there. "Hey Kaspartha, I guess you met my friends, yay!" She tackled Larissa and then went back to nudging Izotz. "You have a soft neck, can I sleep there more?" She then remembered she had heard her ask a question while she was half-waking up.

"Our parents are fighting, even mine, and Pillow dragons don't really fight. They don't tell me what they are fighting about, just stay inside, thats what they tell me too do." She said, and began to wrap around her legs, just moving from the burst of energy she got from sleeping.

Kaspartha frowned slightly. She honestly hadn't expected the young ones to know what was going on, but that bothered her. What were the dragons arguing about? Were they talking about her? The thought of fully grown dragons being angered and upset at her presence did little to ease Kaspartha's spirits... Well at least she had a soft neck. That's something.

"Well it's good to see you hatchlings all get along fine... Maybe I'll talk with your parents a bit. I'm sure they can help me get adjusted and all that.

Kaspartha took a minute to take in her charges. All of them were beautiful and special in their own way, she could already tell. Getting to know them is sure to be an adventure! Whether it's Larissa and her rosey smell, Hevel and his beauty, Kivuli and her sleeping habits, or Izotz and his inquisitive manner... Speaking of which, were was Izotz? He was right here!

Oh no, I've already lost a hatchling? I've only been here for a few minutes! This is not good.

"Izotz, where did you go off to," Kaspartha yelled. She hoped he hadn't wandered far. Was this a prank or something? Maybe he decided to go outside.

Kaspartha was having quite the time of it. Her job had hardly been easy due to the distrust the adult dragons harbored for her. The only reason she lived was because of the blessing Gren had gifted her. Currently, she was in a corner trying to get two of the older hatchlings, a male Stone dragon and a female Magi, to stop fighting with each other.

"Tencen, Rixa, please stop this! There is no reason why you can't just share the rabbit."

"But I got to it first! Tencen will just have to wait for the next rabbit that the adults capture."

"No fair! You know I love rabbits! You don't even like them!"

Rixa responded to his comment by lifting him into the air with magic.

"Rixa! Stop that! You know you shouldn't use magic on your cave mates!"

Kaspartha's comment was met with a contemptuous sneer from Rixa.

"What do you know about draconic rules flesh bag?"

Kaspartha let out a puff of air in her frustration. Rixa's parents were some of the adults who hated her with a vengeance. The youngling had played quite a few nasty pranks on her and, though she had been able to outwit Rixa every time, she didn't appreciate the dissension. She lowered her voice to a soft, soothing tone.

"Rixa, set Tencen down and you can have the rabbit. Tencen, I will catch a rabbit just for you, ok?"

Rixa complies with much trepidation and Tencen accepted the terms of peace. As the two hatchlings walked off she her a summons.

"Where is the caretaker?"

She turned to the direction the sound came from. It had to be an adult dragon by the sound of it, so she hardly wanted to keep them waiting. Sometimes dragons could be very impatient. So she gathered her skirts and ran to the mouth of the cave.

"Coming! Coming! I'm sorry, I was dealing with something."

As she came to the entryway she saw Hevel speaking with a larger version of himself. She assumed this was what Lumina dragons looked like when they grew up. No wonder Hevel was so vain! The adult's scales were absolutely gorgeous!

She curtsied slightly to the newcomer as a sign of greeting. "Welcome, I am the Cayretaker."

She showed him the mark on her hand to prove her credibility.