Prologue
“What? You-we- WE HAD AN EGG?” Quartz-Watcher was pacing, his tail swaying back and forth. His shout of shock travelled across the cavern, echoing around. His eyes gleamed, and he looked like a dragonet who had just been told they were going to get a present at the end of the sun circle. He stopped his pace, and turned to look at her. He clicked his talons together excitedly, as he bounced like a little dragonet.
Obsidian sighed good-humoredly-- she had told Quartz-Watcher the news many times, he was just forgetful. VERY forgetful. He always forgot stuff, although she had hoped he wouldn't have forgotten about their literal CHILD. What kind of FORGETFUL TOAD forgot about his own dragonet? She rolled her shoulders with a shrug, she liked that about him. He wasn't boring, unlike other dragons. She loved his goofiness and his humor, and she always would.
So, she put a talon to her mouth, covering her giggle as her shoulders shook. Her eyes glittering, she said,
“Yes, we have,” she giggled, smacking her husband playfully with her tail. You're lucky I love you, my clumsy oaf, she thought, as he nudged her back, his eyes gleaming. He gave a toothy grin. Her heart swelled, and she was afraid it'd pour over and flood her very own home.
“When I was hatched, 12 years ago, I never thought I'd have a DRAGONET with someone as beautiful as you,” Quartz-Watcher blustered, although he also spoke fondly, wrapping his tail around hers. Obsidian smiled back; her eyes gleaming. Quartz-Watcher's words seemed to blanket Obsidian's heart. She pressed her forehead to his, grabbing his talon's and closing her eyes,
“Nor did I,” she murmured affectionately, peeping open an eye. Quartz-Watcher had his eyes closed, a grin stretching across his facial features. She opened her other eye and pulled back a bit, “But I did. And I'd never want to get rid of that,” she looked at him for a moment more before smiling tenderly and crawling over to the nest the egg lay in. Wrapping a protective tail around the egg, she rested her head on the soft foliage of the nest.
Quartz-Watcher opened his eyes and followed Obsidian's steps, sitting beside her. He shifted his tail, careful not to crush the egg. He opened his snout to speak,
“Have you got any name ideas, yet?” he asked her, tenderly tapping the egg. Obsidian smiled,
“I think I do,” She smiled, leaning close to the egg and holding it in her talons,
“Yeah? What is it?” He asked her, leaning towards her,
“Indigo,” she said, “or Crystalline,” she looked at the egg. She could tell it was a mix of a Rain-Wing and Night-Wing egg. It was indigo black. A rain-night hybrid, she would be, like her father, who had a Rain-Wing for a father.
She'll be beautiful. She thought. She would watch her little dragon grow up. She'd teach her how to fly, to draw, to read and to write. They'd have fun bonfire nights, tell scary stories, and make plenty of new friends. She could already imagine her little dragonet, older, coming home with a new significant other, and blubbering on about how wonderful this dragon is. Oh, the drama she'd have to deal with. What would her daughter be like? She was sure it'd be a daughter she could feel it.
Perhaps she'd be a mighty warrior, fighting all monsters, slaying all beasts! Fighting for her tribe, and for her life. She shuddered. Perhaps that fate wouldn't end too well. Perhaps...she'd be a writer! Publisher of scrolls, creating rhymes for dragonets alike. A prophet, perhaps? A drawer, a fighter, a healer? Many paths lay ahead of her daughter, each one as special as the others.
"I'll protect you, no matter what,” she promised, her voice nothing but a whisper. Her little warrior. She nuzzled the egg, closing her eyes. Her voice then darkened.
“No matter what gets in my way.”
Chapter one
"EchoPool! Come here this instant!" EchoPool groaned at the voice of her mother, rolling her eyes. Heaving a heavy sigh, she set her sketchpad down, tucking the pencil behind her ear. She had been drawing her own Fan-tribe: