Part 10: First Impressions

Their return to Bishen Realm was met with great curiosity by all the inhabitants. Jarod, however, hustled the entire procession into his cabin, then sent Athena to fetch the Kailan. Indyana lifted the eggs from Sunkist's back.

Return to the forest, she told her. Sunkist nuzzled her briefly before lifting into the air and heading home. Indyana, meanwhile, carried the eggs carefully into the cabin. As she entered, a nimble figure with fiery red hair squeezed by her and slid in to stand along the wall. It was Ramona, of course. Indyana frowned slightly, but she didn't send her away. The girl had been utterly depressed since Alenon had left, and Indyana didn't have the heart to toss her outside. Ramona, keep clear of the new dragon and these eggs, she thought. The girl flicked her green eyes towards Indyana to show that she had heard her and remained by the wall near the doorway, reaching out to close the door behind Indyana.

Indyana gently lowered the eggs to the floor in front of the hearth. As she uncovered them, she noticed that one was rocking. It must be ready to hatch, she realized. She stepped back and Tr'ynka Valae stalked forward to examine the eggs for damage. Not finding any, he snorted and stood over them, watching the one rocking egg carefully.

*Come then, young one.* Indyana heard him project towards the egg. He sounded worried.

*Should we help her?* Raina Lynn asked, picking up on his apprehension too. Even Krisr, forgetting the threat that the dark dragon had made earlier, moved closer to the egg, watching it.

*She must do it on her own,* Tr'ynka Valae replied gruffly, but beneath his stoic act, they could see that he wanted to help break the shell as much as they did.

Come on, little one... Indyana heard Ramona plead. The girl had snuck closer and was now crouching under the large table near the fireplace. She fixed the egg with an intense gaze, as though trying to give the wyrm the strength to hatch. At that moment, however, Athena and the Kailan returned. The Kailan did not stand on ceremony. He entered and moved straight towards the eggs, settling between Tr'ynka Valae and Indyana and putting his snout down to touch the egg lightly. Tr'ynka Valae bore the breach of protocol with dignity and waited patiently for the Kailan to speak first.

*She is weak,* he observed quietly to Tr'ynka Valae. *Is this why you have come?*

*Yes,* Tr'ynka Valae hissed quietly, but he shot the occupants of the cabin a look filled with distrust. Despite the dragon's fierce appearance, Athena moved forward to get closer to the egg. Tr'ynka Valae growled slightly, but Athena put her head close to the egg and, closing her eyes, she whistled a few low, flowing notes. The egg paused for a moment, and then, there was a sharp crack as the wyrm inside hit the sides of the shell. Then, the wyrm did it again, rocking her egg fiercely. Finally, with one last push, she broke through the tough shell and squirmed her neck out. There, she gasped for air, mouth open and eyes glazed. Her skin was a dark blue, nearly black, and hard black armor covered her back and underside. Athena trilled softly to her, and she made one last effort, sliding her body from the egg and revealing something quite unexpected--wings!

"Ye gods, she has wings," Krisr whispered. Tr'ynka Valae sneered at him, but he then noticed that even the other Bishel Dragons looked surprised.

*Do your wyrms not possess these things?* He asked.

*No,* the Kailan answered. *Our young are born without them and develop them over time.*

Tr'ynka Valae watched as the wyrm slowly sat up and examined her surroundings. Suddenly, she spotted Krisr and shrieked in an unnatural way, whipping her barbed tail around in a aggressive position. She growled and clumsily slithered backwards. Tr'ynka Valae lowered his head to nuzzle at the wyrm.

*Peace, Irtira,* he said firmly. The wyrm, obviously frightened, curled her armored tail around herself and hid her eyes, shivering and cringing away from Krisr's direction. Tr'ynka Valae fixed Krisr with an accusing glare.

"I wouldn't hurt her," Krisr said defensively, taking a hint and sliding himself back from the hearth.

*Humans and elves are our mortal foes,* Tr'ynka Valae snarled. *She will only fear you until she can kill you.*

Raina Lynn stepped protectively in front of Krisr, and the Kailan looked saddened.

*Long have our people suffered at their hands,* he admitted, *but those who dwell in this Refuge have not war nor violence in their hearts. They live in peace with the Bishel Dragons, treating them with the same respect with which they treat each other... perhaps more. She will see, Tr'ynka Valae... as will you.*

The armored dragon growled under his breath but did not dare to contradict the Kailan.

*Come, we will discuss your intentions here,* the Kailan said, turning from the hearth. *Jarod, Indyana, please attend us.* The two dragons moved towards the door, but Tr'ynka Valae paused to gaze at Athena.

*Her name is Irtira. Care for her well... she and the others are the hope of our clan.* With that, he followed the Kailan and Jarod. Indyana came last and closed the door behind them as they left.

After they had gone, Athena turned to Krisr and performed a bit of magic to heal his wounds from earlier in the day. "Thank you," he said gratefully. He and Raina Lynn moved to sit at the table.

Irtira, meanwhile, dozed fitfully, shivering despite the warm fire nearby. Cautiously, Ramona removed her soft shawl and inched closer to the wyrm. Athena watched with some disquiet, wondering if she should stop the girl... but the wyrm remained asleep as Ramona gently dropped the shawl over it. She then moved back to her spot under the table and put her head down onto her arms, eyes fixed on the wyrm. After a few moments, the wyrm shifted in her sleep, burrowing deeper into the shawl and growling softly.