Planet Zar: Nexus

"It's alright, dear." Endil chuckled, light-hearted, and slipped an arm around Merey to hug her close and encourage her forward. "She knows we're here for good, no worries."

"Will our dragons be as big as her?"

"Eventually, I guess. But imagine how easy it'll be for them to reach fruit off the tippy-top of trees!"

With trepidation Merey followed her husband to the nests. Shezare - while huge and terrifying in all her splendor - remained quite friendly toward them and allowed them to spend the afternoon touching the eggs and whispering softly to them. Merey felt the lightest brush of a mind against her own and startled. She expected it to be intrusive, someone else rattling around in her brain, but it was anything  but. Warmth bloomed in her. She reached a trembling hand to the side of the egg and tried to send her own love back to the hatchling.

Endil settled ah and on her shoulder and smiled down at her. "Alright?"

"Very much so, yes." Merey sniffled, trying to force back tears of happiness. "I can't wait to meet them."

Even though the week was short time seemed to drag on like molasses. Merey visited the eggs nearly every day and brought cakes and pies to Shezare, trying to gobble up as much information as she could about her potential future bond. When she and Endil were finally called to the sands for the main event Merey's heart was ready to stammer out of her chest.

So many sweet hatchlings burst from their eggs but Merey felt the tug of her own bond immediately. Vitere crept cautiously behind his sister, shy as a bean but brimming with love. When they finally made their first contact, Vitere's quiet voice mumbling "Can I come with you?", Merey burst into tears and threw her arms around the young dragon. She had no idea her tiny heart could hold so much love.

Full-bellied hatchlings demanded to be carried off the sands, which was no small feat. Even as babies they were nearly as heavy as a young sheep and Merey struggled under Vitere's weight.

"I could try carrying them both?" Endil adjusted his grip on Kuprill, who yawned and snuggled deeper into his feathers.

"No no," Merey squeaked, hugging Vitere closer. "I've got him."

:: When do we get to see the farm? :: Kuprill asked, her mind voice lazy with sleep.

"Not for a bit yet," said Endil. "We've got a friend here waiting for his own bond and it'd be nice to stay at Lantessama for a while to learn more about you guys."

"I do worry about the orchard though." Merey knew the other residents of Sunfall would watch over the trees while they were gone and do whatever picking and fixing was required in the interim, but it was so difficult being away during the spring defrost.

Sensing Merey's unease, Vitere began to squirm in her arms, tucking his wings tight against his body as if they'd protect him from her negative thoughts.

Immediately, Merey tried to quash the well of her worries.

"It's really okay," she said, planting a kiss on Vitere's brow. "Sunfall is just the nicest place, everyone there is so kind."

"Hallo, Orphintons!" a cheery voice breached the paths. Sumisu raced down the trail from the candidate barracks, his mouth split in a wide grin. He stopped short of them, bracing back with flared wing-fins as his eyes grew wide. "Your clutch hatched!"

:: We did! :: Kuprill cheered. Endil set the suddenly invigorated hatchling down so she could bound toward Sumisu. :: And one of the other candidates made cake. It was awesome! ::

:: My tummy's upset :: Vitere sniffled.

:: You ate too much meat and not enough cake :: Kuprill laughed. :: Cake is much better for you. ::

:: It is? :: Vitere snapped his gaze from his sister to Merey, eyes wide.

"She's being silly." Merey booped their noses together. "Too many sweets will give you a stomach ache."

"But fruit is the perfect thing to eat," Sumisu said with a laugh. "It's sweet but good for you."

:: That's what we grow, right? :: asked Vitere.

"It is!" said Endil, grinning. "All kinds of fruit trees. We've got apples and oranges and cherries and peaches, the whole lot."

Vitere gave a little nod. :: Okay then. ::

:: We can still make cake though, right? :: asked Kuprill, head cocked.

"Of course we can," said Merey. "Just... in moderation."

"Or you'll get a tummy ache too." Endil scratched her under her chin.

"How is your clutch doing?" Merey asked Sumisu, meeting his gaze.

"The parents are so playful!" Sumisu grinned, miming his hands like dolphins leaping in and out of the surf. "So much fun. The eggs don't have much to say right now but they feel pretty amazing. I'm excited to meet my bond!"

:: Can we see the eggs? :: asked Kuprill, crawling back into Endil's arms. :: I want to meet more friends! ::

"We'll have to ask the clutch parents, but maybe," said Endil.

Merey hugged Vitere closer. "What if they can't swim?"

Sumisu puffed out his chest. "Then I'll teach them! How's that sound, a day on the beach with uncle Sumisu?"

:: Can we? Can we? :: squealed Kuprill.

:: I don't want to go too deep... ::

"I'll keep you safe," Merey whispered, kissing Vitere's cheek. "I think a day on the beach would be lovely, but maybe not tonight."

For emphasis, Kuprill and Vitere broke out into twin yawns. Hatching is hard work.

"Right!" said Sumisu, laughing. "Tomorrow afternoon. We can make a whole thing of it. Get some picnic foods."

"That sounds wonderful."