AN: I got to wondering: what if Saphira was never sent off to the riders and instead were raised to be a wild dragon by her parents? This story will lead up to where Saphira and Thorn meet in the wild and raise their own family. So yeah…oh and before I start off with the story I like to tell you about E.E. Knight's Age of Flame series. A magnificent book, highly recommended for the dragon enthusiast. The family parts are mainly inspired by his little dragon family, (cute ickle dragon family!) though Paolini's dragons are much different from his in way. (Makes me think who would win in a fight? Go CP's dragons) Well hope you enjoy the story.
The sapphire egg was nudged gingerly.
Little one, would you like to come out, would you like to come out for mother, a looming shadow over the egg said. A black dragon had peered over the egg. Sniffing it he climbed on top of the egg. Sister, come out and play, he teased the occupant of the egg. Mother why won't she come out?
We all hatch when we're ready little one and Ree'kor, get off of your sister, the looming shadow said.
The black dragonet got off of the egg.
Mother Yer'ris is taking some of sister's deer.
She turned over to see her other son taking a bite into the deer meant for their sister. Yer'ris, she exclaimed.
The dragonet swallowed the piece he was already eating. Before he could say anything in his defense he was immediately tackled by his brother. The mother dragon sighed as her two oldest sons wrestled each other. Turning her attention back to the sapphire egg she said with conviction.
Saphira if you don't come out now then I am afraid your famish brothers will eat your deer and there will be nothing left for your first meal.
As if those were more then enough motivation for any hatchling a crack had appeared across the egg.
The mother dragon chuckled to herself. The old trick worked every time. The dragonet a gapping hole in her egg looked up once to her mother and wiggled her still encased body free.
That's my girl, the mother dragon said pride fully and she nuzzled her daughter.
Welcome to the world Saphira.
Saphira looked up to her towering green mother. Her two brothers were on the right side of mother peering at their newborn sister with much interest.
I am your mother Vervada, and these two are your brothers, Yer'ris and Ree'koor, mother said.
Ree'kor is the idiot one, Yer'ris spat out.
To which Ree'kor tackled him and the two of them wrestled each other. Mother sighed and with the deer in her maw gave it to Saphira. The baby dragon sniffed at it and tore into the deer carcass while her two brothers continued their wrestling eying them as if they might steal her meal.
Ignore them Saphira, her mother said. You'll learn that with males it's all about bravado with them.
The mother dragon watched as her daughter ate her fill and when she should she was sleepy cradled her in her forepaws.
She's done right we could eat the rest, inquired Yer'ris.
Mother shifted Saphira in her forepaws to make her more comfortable. There was another egg this one green along with her.
You may take the rest, she said. Yer'ris and Ree'kor pulled the deer remains away and immediately the deer was enthusiastically picked clean. Mother sang softly to Saphira sharing with her mental images of the world, images of Elves, Humans, Dwarves, even Urgals, she sang how we are all connected to the divine. Newborn Saphira fell into a peaceful sleep as mother continued to sing her loving voice driving out the noise her two older brothers were making.
Mother, Mother cried Yer'ris and Ree'kor.
Mother rose from her place. The brother's loud ranting could mean a threat to her family and she rose from her limestone bed leaving two day old Saphira and the green egg exposed to meet what ever challenge there may be coming.
Father approaches, Yer'ris told her. And he brings cows, Ree'kor chirped in.
The one delicacy that wild dragons could not have that only the dragons that serve the riders had a privilege of having, being mated to a rider's dragon did have its advantages.
She peered far out the cavern entrance and saw her mate's black form approaching. In his maw and a front paw he clutched two cows. He landed on the ledge, Yer'ris and Ree'kor rushing out mainly to get the cows then to greet their sire. Mother stayed back inside a cradled Saphira in her fore paws. Father came inside with Yer'ris and Ree'kor trying to nip at the cows that there father hindered from them. Saphira looked up to the black intimidating creature in front of her.
Iormungr come and meet your new daughter my love, mother said enticingly.
Father had spat out the cow in his maw to the two squawking brothers who immediately jumped on it to sniff the two day old dragonet. Saphira recoiled a bit then sniffed back at the black male identifying him as her sire. Saphira sneezed on him.
She is very perceptive, Iormungr said amused and whipping his snout clean.
She most certainly knows her who father is, mother said.
Saphira eyed the cow, her brother's loud gluttonous remarks were making her hungry and she wanted to try some.
Would you like some cow my girl? What I'm I saying of course you do, here you go. Iormungr gave her the whole cow bigger then little saphira could even handle on her own. She sniffed at it curiously. The smell was extremely pungent. Her brothers seemed to be enjoying it so much. Mother took a single talon and cut open the cow across the underbelly, draining the blood out of it.
Eat Saphira, Mother had commanded.
The sapphire dragonet put her head inside the corpse and with a flick of her tongue took in the sweet scent of the cow. She couldn't resist taking a bite, the innards of the cow smelled delicious and she took a bite. Mother, Father, and Ree'kor and Yer'ris both felt Saphira's loud projected thought of the rapturous taste of the cow. No wonder her brother's had torn into their cow with more gusto then ever. Mother and Father were both pleased by their daughter's sudden thought of happiness.
I guess that's another one who would only eat cows, Father said with a sigh.
The other dragons are going to think that I am greedy for taking more then my fair share.
They know you're mated to me and have a family, Mother said as if that was good enough reason to keep the supply of cows coming.
I am not the only male mated with a wild female, Father countered. Some of them had larger clutches then us you know.
Mother didn't say anything after this and flicked her tongue across Father's snout. Furthermore, speaking of Clutches and eggs, Father said looking down at the green egg Mother had cradled in her arms as baby Saphira continued to eat away at the cow along with her brothers.
Vervada pulled the egg closer to her chest and a squirming Saphira who was pulled away from the cow. She wiggled herself free to finish eating.
I know, Mother had said. I being mated to you meant that you will ask for me to give up one of our eggs to the riders.
Vervada we had talked about this numerous times before-
I know! She shot back all of sudden.
Iormungr recoiled; Vervada had never out spoken to him before.
Sorry my love. She nuzzled him apologetically.
I know my dear, and like I said before, I will find out who our daughter would hatch for and I will always be with her, Iormungr said.
Who knows how long that will be, Vervada countered. Well if it's for the good of all of- they were interrupted by Saphira's loud belching. Both parents looked down to her as she wobbled around a bit naissance, and then continued to eat.
Savor your food my dear don't swallow it all down at once, Mother told her.
Though she doubt Saphira would understand her, meanwhile her two brothers came by and cuddled up to their mother's belly to sleep of their cow, which has been widely picked clean. Vervada turned her attention back to her mate.
I understand it's for the good for all of Alagaesia, alright, but promise me as soon as you hear about she hatches you tell me.
Of course my dear and I assure when she does it will be a joyous event for us all, Father said.
Saphira settled herself into her mother's forepaws as she had finished her cow. Mother settled herself in and took some of the cow herself. Iormungr draped a black wing over her and their sons.
Our family, he said.
Our family, Mother agreed pulling Saphira and the green egg closer.