Chapter 2- Shoyra's Secret

Hiei was delighted to be back in the catacomb caves. They were always quite warm and comfortable. The young dragons were very curious since they had never really seen many demons. They were amazed by Hiei's Jagan eye and were amazed when he transformed into his demon form. They seemed disappointed when Hiei told them he didn't have a second form like Shoyra did. Jhald returned from hunting a few days later and wasn't terribly happy that Hiei was there. He did warn Hiei, though, that there was a rival Black Dragon in the forest that had been attacking villages and travelers. Shoyra taught Hiei how to communicate with her through the telepathic powers of his Jagan and her Dijan. Hiei was surprised to learn that his Jagan could be used to communicate, but at the same time he was very happy to learn the new skill. It meant he could never truly be apart from Shoyra. With this new connection, the two could see into the other's thoughts and feelings. Shoyra was very happy that Hiei agreed to the connection, as she always complained that he hid his true feelings too much. They quickly discovered the mutual feelings of love between them. They kept their romance hidden from everyone, although some of the older dragons suspected something. Shoyra showed Hiei her nest, a hidden chamber in an old hollow tree. The tree was still alive, though everyone thought that it was solid. The chamber was just big enough for Shoyra and Hiei, plus Shoyra's first clutch of eggs. Being raised in a dragon clan, she had picked up all of their culture, part of which being that the father didn't really matter to anyone. No one cared who your father was, because he had no effect on your raising there. All of the dragons of that clan were identified as children of their mothers, so Shoyra didn't even remember who the father of the clutch was, since dragon demon eggs took twenty years to hatch. There were four eggs nestled into a bed of fur, leaves, and cloth. Shoyra kept her clutch hidden because she knew that there were many who had a great dislike of Dragons and Dragon Demons and would destroy her clutch. Hiei agreed to help her protect her clutch and never tell anyone that she had them until they were old enough to protect themselves.

Kurama was surprised when he reached a village near the Old Forest that had been completely destroyed. Some of the villagers had been his friends. "It was a dragon, Kurama. It was big and very powerful and vicious. It just swept in here two nights ago and decimated whatever it saw. We tried to stop it but we could not." The villager then begged Kurama to find the dragon and kill it. "To honor those we have lost." Kurama agreed, not bothering to get a description of the dragon, and walked off into Old Forest.

"Hiei, I've sensed a fox demon nearby. They are notorious around here as dragon killers and have no love of dragon demons like myself. There is a village of them to the west. If he were to find me, or my eggs, I have no doubt he would kill me and destroy the eggs. I need to hunt, since that last kill was rather small, and my stores are empty. I don't want to leave my eggs unprotected. Could you watch over them, Hiei? The nest is contained in a box within the tree and the lid is underneath it should you need to move them." Shoyra asked. She was perched at the first split in the tree, where the opening into the hollow chamber was hidden. "Certainly, but be careful. When do you think the eggs will hatch?" Hiei answered. He didn't give much thought to the mention of a fox demon. "If I calculated right, in two weeks. My estimate lands right around the summer solstice. I want to make sure I have food for my children when they hatch. They hatch in dragon form, you know, Hiei. I can't wait to see them." Shoyra smiled. "Thank you for watching them. I won't be long." Shoyra then transformed to her half-demon form. Her ears became longer, and became ridged on the bottom edge. She grew short wings that looked like a fish's fin with long spikes with semi translucent skin stretched between them. She also grew a short tail, and her feet became like a dragon's foot. She leapt off of the tree and flapped her short wings so fast they became like a blur and took off at lightning fast speed.