My existence began in a dark, but warm place. I could not tell you the very moment I came to be, but I remember being very cramped. I soon found out that the reason for this was that I had not yet been born. I had been expelled from my mother's womb, but my egg was still hardening, still keeping me trapped until I was ready to Hatch. I could feel the moment when I became ready. I could not quite hear the humming until I had exited my shell, but I could feel it. It resonated through my entire being, causing my shell to vibrate. It was encouraging. And it was irritating. I could not stay cooped up in my shell while it was trembling in such a manner! I demanded to be free!

I began to scratch at the hard prison that contained me, but my claws were still wet and soft. Progress was not immediate and this only frustrated me more. I knew there was something outside this world that I knew and I could not get to it fast enough. It would turn out that this "something" would be my beautiful Raliel, but I did not yet know this. I began to press against my egg, creating this rocking motion that everyone speaks of when they speak of a Hatching. I could not find the weak spot in my shell that I knew had to exist. And so I set my claws to the shell again, scratching with a fervor I wasn't sure I understood. I just knew I had to get out of this dark place where I had no room to move about.

I twisted about in my shell, my wings shuffling along the inside and then-ha! The darkness gave way and my foot plunged through the shell, rapidly washed in a strange sensation. It was not a wetness that touched my hide now, but a strange caress that seemed...cold. This was my first time feeling air upon me and in my damp state, it chilled me so my foot was withdrawn back into the safe warmth. I would not say I was frightened then, but the newness of this sensation gave me pause and I realized I had exerted myself. I could hear the voice of my mother now and the humming that had sent my shell trembling touched upon my awareness. It all told me that everything would be alright, that the world was waiting for me.

Though my claws were still soft, I set to my shell again and small shards fell to their fury, widening the hole made by my foot. When it seemed to be large enough, I pressed my nose into the brightness. There was a moment of indecision that only lasted a fraction of a second and then I was out of my shell, unfurling the long body that had been cramped up for so long. It seemed to be an eternity now that I was free, flooded by new sensations of light and noise that I could not understand. At the forefront of this was a need to find something. There was a reason I had emerged from my shell and the reason was somewhere close by. I could feel as much in my body, in my mind, in my soul.

It felt so good to be out of my shell, though, and I sighed my contentment, then stretched out the muscles that had began to ache from their tight position. My wings felt wonderful and I unfurled them, beating them experimentally. But I could feel that they were not yet strong and I could do nothing productive with them. It was troubling at first, but there was so much to see in this new world that my wings were the least of my worries. I was young yet and I was certain that my wings would work in due time.

I cast my gaze around this world I had come into and found that the grainy surface I now sat upon was filled with fragments of shells not unlike mine. They were rather plain, however, whereas mine was a shiny golden color. I knew beauty when I saw it, even at that young age. Something about the shell-ridden sands irritated me and as I spotted others like me, I realized that they were my brothers and sisters and...they had Hatched before me! I was seized instantly with annoyance, upset that they had had the audacity to make their entrance before me. I could feel an empathic touch that agreed with my irritation and I knew it was this touch, this like mind, that I must seek.

I glared one final time at my egg, marvelling at it for a moment. It was such a small thing to have contained me and so brittle looking now. I snorted once softly and then I turned my head towards the group with the blinding white robes. I had seen my brothers and sisters with a white-robed person for each of them and I knew this was where I should begin my search for that mind I had felt earlier. As I grew closer, my movements purposeful, I began to discover more about this mind. She was resistant to my touch at first, unwilling to make a bond with a creature such as me. I would discover the reason later, but now it perplexed and vexed me.

I knew none of the girls I passed were mine. It was so clear I am still not sure why, to this day, that they did not move from my path. It was not that they were bad or necessarily unworthy, but they were not Raliel. That was her name. The name of this missing piece that I knew I had to find from within my egg. I reached out to her so that she would know who I was and that I was coming for her. Ah, Raliel. It seems it took me a long time to find you, but Kessuth is here now. Though I would have been very upset if someone else had chosen you first… And it was the truth. The moment the words came to me, I realized just how upset that would have made me. My siblings had nearly all Hatched before me and if they had stolen her I might have had to fight for her.

I sat in front of my Raliel, my tail curling about my graceful body and twining around my forepaws. Now I would much appreciate if you could feed your Kessuth before I waste away from hunger – being born is tiring, you know! I expected her to immediately respond, to scoop me up and carry me to food, though the idea of being picked up was a little disgraceful. But I would have allowed her to do it. I would have allowed my Raliel to do anything. I already loved her and I had only just met her.

My rider seemed to be in shock, though. I heard my name on her lips, though it was a little difficult to hear her when she insisted on speaking aloud. It seemed obvious to me that we should speak privately in our minds. But upon gently prying, I found her thoughts to be a whirlwind. I was barraged with the insistence that I was not her dragon and that she was a mere beastcrafter, intending to return home to some ugly animals. This upset me greatly, as the idea of her leaving was just too much to bear. From my sitting position, I reared up suddenly, my eyes whirling in desperate fury. Anyone would be proud to have a queen! You do not want Kessuth? I realized my anger came out of fear and I was hissing at my rider, but I needed to make her see how that would affect me. I had only just come to her and she was already wanting to leave me. I was a gold! I was supposed to be the envy of every girl! I could feel their jealousy, weighing like a dark cloud over the Sands. And if Raliel did not want me, I could not be sure of what I would do, as none of those girls had agreed with my earlier indignation. They were not Raliel.

I could feel that Raliel wanted me, that she felt the perfection of our bond. But that ridiculous part of her brain was so certain that this was not supposed to be her fate. And then...I felt her distress. I could see her mental image of her father, but only briefly, and it was not clear to me then. She moaned and I felt fear flare again within my breast, which I responded to by beating my weak, underdeveloped wings again. I chose YOU! I needed her to understand that I did not want any of those other girls. I had to have Raliel. Only she would do. You can belong to no one else!

I must have finally gotten through to her because her body suddenly crumpled and I felt her warmth connect with mine. Her arms came around me, hugging me, and my fear was soothed. She was not going to leave me then. But I did not relax yet. My Raliel was hurt. I could feel her anguish, but I could not yet comprehend it. I did not see why she was so sad when I had just come to her. I felt happy and whole at finding her and I had been so certain she would feel the same way. I could feel her crying, her body shaking slightly. Gradually I could feel the sobs lessen and my muscles relaxed, wings coming to rest until they touched upon my Raliel's back.

My beautiful rider pulled her head back and her face was shining. I knew that this was a result of her sorrow and a fresh drop of wetness ran down her cheek. I extended my neck, carefully withholding my breath, as I knew what a shock it had been to me when I had felt the air on my wet foot. I caught the tear on my muzzle and gently pulled back, tasting the saltiness. I offered to share her sorrow, though I did not understand it, and I could feel her acceptance of me. Happiness soon spread through her mind, but it could not completely chase away the surprise and confusion. But worst of all was a feeling of betrayal and I felt a tiny bit guilty that I had caused this feeling. I knew it was bad and it troubled my Raliel and the last thing I wanted was for her to be troubled.

Eventually my Raliel straightened and I crooned to her encouragingly. It was then that she smiled, such a radiant thing to see. I would remember that smile always, even when my memory did not serve me correctly. I was happy for her, and for me, for her happiness was my happiness. But I could feel the gnawing pain of hunger, heating my stomach with its raw burn. Raliel...I started hesitantly, not wanting to rush her, but knowing too that I needed to feed. If we do not hurry, I will not get any food. And I must grow bigger and stronger than all of my clutchmates.

Raliel seemed to notice then that we were alone. Distantly we had both noticed that my siblings had Hatched and found their own humans, but our bond had been the only thing that mattered. It still was. We were alone on the Sands save my mother. I hoped that Grananth would see that I had made a good choice and that Raliel was going to be just as perfect a partner as her Esme was for her.

We will leave now and get you fed, Raliel told me. I was happy to hear this, as I was not sure how much longer I could keep my hunger at bay before I simply wasted away from its attacks.

I followed behind Raliel as she led me towards the place I assumed the food was being kept. She glanced frequently back at me and I caught the thought in her mind that she thought I was some sort of illusion that would vanish when she wasn't looking. I am quite real, thank you! Those siblings of mine need someone to lead them! I snorted at my Raliel's absurdity. Was she really still doubtful of my existence? I was a queen, just as much so as my mother, and if I wasn't real, then nothing was.

Raliel stopped and smiled again at me, vanquishing what little irritation had began to build. I knew I was special to her then. I didn't need to try so hard to earn her belief and love. She took me into her arms, which was initially embarrassing for me, but then I realized how good it felt to be close to her, engulfed in her warmth. She did smell, though. Apparently being clean was not on her list of priorities. No matter, it would not take long to cleanse her of that belief. Within my Raliel's embrace, I was soothed and I began to realize how tired I was. As she carried me, I sank into her chest, relishing her warmth and softness and just allowing myself to feel Raliel. Yes, I had made the perfect decision.