The Guardian of Fire
Prologue: Hatching
"What breed do you think it will be?"
"Does it matter?"
"Of course!"
With great dignity, the she-dragon lifted her head and proudly said, "A dragon's elemental capability is its greatest possession. That is why I asked, and that is why it matters."
Her companion, a muscular brown scaled dragon of the earth and wind, who could sometimes be as thick as the boulders that he was capable of shattering with a single roar, gave an indifferent shrug, eyeing his mate broodingly, "I can't fathom why you care so much. A dragon is a dragon no matter what element it possesses."
The female suddenly stiffened, "I hear it," she whispered. The brown dragon cocked his head and listened, but heard nothing. "Are you certain? You might have imagined the noise. I hear nothing."
"Not the egg, Arador. I heard the hatchling. It will hatch soon!"
"Heard the hatchling? Do you mean you can hear its thoughts?"
When she remained silent, Arador pressed her further, "Enlae, do you hear the hatchling's thoughts?"
The dragon nodded, but her concentration was on the line of thought coming from the unborn dragon. It was more rugged emotion than anything else. The urge to break the shell, and an enormous pulsing hunger that overwhelmed everything else it might have been feeling.
The thoughts were suddenly brought to a halt, followed by a faintly audible tapping, and both dragons' heads snapped down, eyes on the middling size egg, crimson streaked through with orange.
"A crack! I see a crack!"
Not a moment later, with an almighty resounding crack that sounded much like fabric tearing, the egg split in two, flung apart almost as though by the hatchling's impatience.
Arador and Enlae, expressions rapt, peered down at the little dragon splayed on the ground before them. Even as they watched, a milky golden eye slid open, and the hatchling squeaked piteously.
Enlae bent down and crooned encouragement as the little dragon shakily attempted to stand up, squawking indignantly when it promptly fell back over.
Enlae gazed her mate, "shall we do the formalities?"
"Of course."
She bristled slightly at the mocking tone in Arador's voice, but decided that she probably deserved it.
Eyes on her infant, Enlae, said, "Welcome, little Ignitus, to the world. May your talons be sharp, your wings strong, and your fire as hot as the sun."
"Ignitus?" Arador inquired, eyes glittering with pride.
"Yes," Enlae replied, "Ignitus, for he is a fire dragon, like the great elder Alestendor." Bending her neck, she whispered to the little dragon, "you will bring much good to this world, Ignitus, you will become a Guardian. I promise you."
The hatchling squeaked in response.
1
"C'mon, Berylsythe'll scorch you if you're late!"
Ignitus hurried to catch up with his friend, "And you're telling me Thraklor won't smash you into the ground if you're late?"