AN: Thanks to all the people who had put this story on their alert list. Though I would appreciate a review from one of you guys, and a special thanks goes out to my devoted reader Given-Insider. Also I don't know how Urgals actually see dragons in their lore so I made those parts up.
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It was quiet for the rest of the week. Promoneius was busy, as he had set forth with his family duties gathering food for Amithya who would soon be ready to lay their first clutch. The soon to be father dragon was careful to keep out of human sight while he was on his hunting excursions. If the humans had forged some kind of alliance with the dragons of this land then they should tolerate him stalking the wilds and staying clear away from their towns and other settlements. Still he would rather not go beyond the boundaries of their self-proclaimed territory.
Promoneius took a drink from a streambed letting a fish swim into his gapping jaws as he brought his head up to let it slide down his gullet. A smoke trail coming north on the hills had caught his attention. Ever curious of such things he decided to investigate perhaps it was another dragon. He flew above the encampment where odd humanoid like creatures with long horns were going about their business.
A shout went up and everyone had stop to look at him whether he was causing fear or admiration he did not know. Promoneius landed on the outcropping to the left of the settlement. Peering down at the strange humanoids he spoke.
Fear not for I have not come to raid and pillage your homes if that is what you are thinking, I have merely come to introduce my self.
Someone was pushing through the crowd that had gathered. A female with a staff adorned with a deer skull had pushed her way through the crowd that had gathered to listen to Promoneius speak. She shrugged off those villagers who were trying to get her to head back into the safety of the village as others came with spear and bow.
"What is it you seek from us flame tongue"? The horned female said.
I have come under good faith to introduce myself. I am the dragon Promoneius son of Amlute. My mate and I live not far from here. May I ask for yours and what do you call your kind?
"I am Nar Gu'shal I am the Herndall of this tribe. We go by many names but the men mostly call us Urgals." Gu'shal spoke very clear, an excellent representative for her people.
"Forgive the hunters my dear dragon and some of the eager rams". Promoneius now noticed some of the younger Urgals trying to climb the rocks up to him only to be pulled down by the adults.
"It has been long time before we have seen a dragon in this land again. Have you come to fight in the war against the king"?
Nay, I have only come with my mate to raise a family. I do not wish to join in someone else's fight.
"A wise decision, many of our own kind had suffered terrible losses and we-"
Promoneius painfully roared baring his open maw causing the Urgals to shudder back in fear of this sudden expression. He felt a sharp pain being driven up his right calf. An urgal hunter had his spear through him. He would have retaliated but instantly controlled himself he would not strike back unless he wanted the entire village out on a bounty for him and possibly Amithya. The wisps of arrows and spears had filled the air he only gave them a quick glance and dashed away pulling the spearman who had still held on to the shaft of his spear and took off retreating back home.
Amithya was casually gnawing on a moose femur from today's hunt when Promoneius landed in the clearing with wooden quills protruding out of him.
Promoneius! Amithya cried getting up at the bloody sight of her mate. Her hindquarters were swollen with their approaching clutch.
Who did this to you! Her voice was furious.
Promoneius thought out how she should tell her.
We are not the only inhabitants of this range my dear; he padded inside their lair.
Before you loose yourself let me explain.
As Amithya went to work to pull out some of the spears and arrows, Promoneius ignored the pain as he told her about the smoke in the hills the meeting with strange horned humanoids who called themselves Urgals and their matriarch. Eventually telling her about how he was attacked by one of them. Amithya growled in her rage.
I should have never permitted you to leave. Look at me, I am burden and nearly ready to lay our first clutch and you went and got yourself almost killed! I am starting to think this is not the place we should be rearing up our first brood. Didn't Eragon and Saphira have told us that they know a safe place for us?
Aye, but we do not know when they might return. If it's in the best interest of the family then I would ask Eragon to take us to such a place.
Amithya sighed.
I really love this place too. Sometimes I wish we had never left the old colony but it was for the good of everyone back home. Less dragons stalking the hunting lands, more food to go around.
I feel the same as well my dear maybe someday we might return when we have annexed new blood to our line. Promoneius had laid his neck over hers but she shrugged him off to finish her healing cleaning up his wounds as soon as she pulled out more of the projectiles.
Just imagine how things are going on now without us. Our parents must have a new clutch on the way, Ir'cidal's tail has new marks from hatchlings who had bitten it, our sisters are expecting their own clutch as we are now, our fathers are passing on Sharoom's teaching to the next generation and much more.
Amithya had finished and allowed Promoneius to rest his head on top of her neck.
I miss them all, Amithya sadly said. Promoneius licked her ear.
So how are you feeling, how soon do you think we could have our very first clutch?
Not long now. Being gravid is an odd feeling some how I feel very close to all those before me and who will come after me. It must be because having a clutch I am contributing to on going existence of our kind.
That must be it; my mother had told Nia and I that females are more perceptible to those kinds of things, Promoneius said.
Amithya blinked her eyes in agreement she open her maw showing off her impressive teeth her tongue extended and curling back into her mouth as she let out a loud yawn.
Lets rest my beloved; Promoneius said imitating her, faking a yawn.
Amithya smiled at his imitation and settled herself to sleep as he did.
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Promoneius observed Amithya devour the bear that he had brought back to her the next day. She had eaten the deer and the mountain goat that he had brought to her that morning but she was still hungry and Promoneius had left to find her something different for her to try. Promoneius sharp senses had detected movement outside the lair. He got up a growling putting himself in front of Amithya who had paused in her gorging as her mate blocked her view.
Promoneius made himself look as imposing as possible to deter the trespassers.
Alright, show yourselves! Promoneius commanded with great authority.
Gu'shal materialized from the woods along with several members of her tribe. Three large Urgals were transporting dead deer. The Urgal matriarch fell to the ground along with her cohorts groveling before the dragons.
"Flame tongue Promoneius we seek your forgiveness for what we have done to you yesterday, have mercy on our village", the matriarch said.
Promoneius was embarrassed and insulted. He had heard of such human myths where dragons were seen as creators of the world and worship as demigods (AN: Babylonian mythology: Martoph and Tiamat) and he didn't like it. Sharoom had especially warned them about this in his teachings.
The lure of power could only result in death. Dragons aren't meant to rule over a fellow sentient race, but through service to others could honor be achieved, Amlute had once said to his children quoting Sharoom's exact words.
Cease this at once! Get up get up now! Promoneius ordered.
The Urgals got to their feet.
"We saw you hunting Flame tongue we have brought you offerings to beg for you to spare our village from your wrath"; Gu'shal said bowing her head in respect not to idolize.
These are the creatures that harm you? They should be groveling before us!
Amithya, calm down my dear, its not what Sharoom would want us to do, Promoneius said to her as she got herself up.
Amithya propped her head onto his back.
You fiends explain yourselves. How dare you attack my mate, she snarled at them. Her frills extended to show her anger.
The Urgals groveled before the dragons again.
"Please it was a misunderstanding Flame tongues, our people revere dragons for their might, but we also fear them. Some of our folklore tells us if we were to pierce a dragon's hide or kill one that dragon's power would transfer over to us. Oovoz was young and foolish enough to believe in such things. I had excommunicated him from the tribe as punishment, the worse punishment we have in our society. Please forgive us."
Then I will just have to finish-
Amithya! Forgive my mate Nar Gu'shal, we are new here and are not accustomed to your culture's beliefs and traditions I accept you apology and ask if you would to allow the young warrior you have excommunicated to return to your tribe.
"Such things have never happen, but if you wish it shall be done".
I am pleased to hear that, I only wish that things had gone better, Promoneius had said.
"Please accept our offerings from our hunt as a token of good will between us Promoneius".
Gu'shal called up to the three large Urgals who had deposited the deer at the entrance of the lair. Promoneius inclined his head towards the matriarch.
We accept such an offering of good faith, though I am obliged to return one to you as well what would you like me to do for you?
"Please my good Flame tongue you were the one who gave me something first you allowed me to welcome back home my great grandson", Gu'shal said gratefully.
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Amithya had kept quiet the rest of the time the Urgals had left before sun down. She and Promoneius feasted on the offered deer. With her appetite fully licked she hung her head in thought.
Amithya? Promoneius asked worriedly and she looked up to him.
I am sorry for the way I acted with our new neighbors.
I would not have been able to control myself as easy as you would if it was you who were attacked my dear, Promoneius said. I would omit what Sharoom would say to do.
Promoneius nudged her underbelly accidentally poking Amithya with his nose horn. Amithya snapped biting back on one of his spikes that jutted out the back of his head. Her teeth raped against his spike before he broke away from her leaving scraped impressions in the ivory.
Sorry, Promoneius immediately apologize for what he had done.
Amithya just scold back at him. She looked at her belly to see if his horn had punctured her, fortunately it didn't.
I am carrying daughters, she suddenly said to him.
Daughters! How many?
Two, I am sorry I should have told you about it earlier my dear. I had found out when you were out hunting for the bear.
Promoneius thought about his first clutch being all female.
Are you sure neither of the eggs is a male?
Yes, she said. Don't tell me that your one of those males who takes pride in having a son.
No, no, I prefer daughters my dear. Thank the Divine! Daughters! If we were to have all sons in their drakehood there will be nothing but chaos.
Drakettes are just as rambunctious dear; you have no idea how lucky you are that it was just you and Nia. I had to maintain my dominance over my other two sisters. Always having to fight over for food, vying for mother's attention. Amithya smiled at the memories.
Though if that is what the Divine grants us, I gladly accept. I am finally having the family I wanted with you Promoneius.
She licked him on the ear. Promoneius nuzzled her on the snout, making sure he doesn't hurt her with his nose horn. Both mates purred. The expecting dragoness then settled herself down on her mate's forepaws and blinked her eyes as she fell into sleep. Promoneius soon joined her.
