Chapter 4
Two days after Kevin arrived at Dragon Guardian and he was busying himself with talking to the egg in English and a little Spanish which he thought could come in handy. He also helped around the sanctuary helping the herders round up the livestock for feeding as well as helping in the nursery the women were quite happy to have him around since he wasn't rude like some other captains had been and spoke there language which he quickly picked up a little of during his stay here.
But most of the time he was with the egg which was turning a deeper and deeper red by the day, it was around the fourth day that Kevin was called away to help herd some stray animals back into their pens. He'd been double checking one of the trails where they'd collected the last of the lot when a man came his horse galloping at top speed his face was lite up and was shouting "The egg is hatching the egg is hatching you must hurry!'' he said and turned his steed around Kevin hot on his heels urging his beast onward. His hands were sweating and he felt his pulse rise his moment had come he'd get his chance, he broke the horse into a trot as they arrived at the barns he jumped down and rushed inside to see a women already there she and two other workers had brought in a large tube of meat freshly slaughtered.
"Thank you.'' He said and got on his knees to look at the egg already thin cracks were showing as the hatchling struggled to free itself. The women spoke "We will leave you know.'' and she backed away the others following after her and she shut the door leaving him alone with the egg which was shaking violently cracks appearing from all over.
Then one piece of the shell popped off and then Kevin could hear aloud hissing sound coming from inside. The rest of the shell soon flaked away and then two large crimson wings with a golden tint at the edge, popped out sending specks of shell flying everywhere some hitting Kevin who covered his face with his arm so the shell shards stuck onto his arm, the dragonet gave a finally shake and soon all the shell fell away leaving a wet and damp crimson dragonet laying in the hay.
Kevin couldn't believe it as the hatchling got onto its feet it was a beautiful creature it was a crimson red with golden tinted horns and talons. It had a many horned head giving it a ferocious look, with a yellow crest went from its head all the way down its spine. It was no bigger than a dog but was still dangerous, as it yawned showing its two rows of teeth and four curving fangs that added to its ferocious outlook it looked at him and then shook itself out " That's much better it was getting quite dull in there.'' She said scratching away at strands of hay that stuck to her still slimy hide. He could tell it was female for the way of her tone that was loud but was also tame and feminine.
Kevin stared still shocked at the creature before him and said "Hello my name is Kevin Heart.'' He said showing her the harness, "I'm sure you're hungry after all that work.'' And she looked at him and sniffed at the harness "Oh, yes the harnessing I see know almost forgot that.'' Then she looked up at him and sticking out her pink forked tongue to taste his scent and looked him up and down. "You are a high officer no?'' she asked poking him with her nose and then lifting a talon to tap at his chest while standing on her hind legs.
"Yes I'm a first lieutenant and if you'd like I could give you a name and see to it that your fed.'' He said stilling trying to stay focused on the harnessing. She perked up at the thought of food and said "Well if you'd like to try and give me a name you may. But I've gotten my own list of names that I've been pondering in that dratted shell.'' And she slammed her tail on the remaining pieces of egg shattering them. Kevin looked at her with humor in his eye this was indeed a feisty little beast and needed a name that represented such.
He went over the list in his head but none of the names fit this feisty beast, he finally thought of one and worked it over in his head he then looked at the creature who was eyeing the tub of meat hungrily, "Fajra.'' He said and she looked back at him and pondered the name "It has a nice tone but what does it mean?'' she asked, "It means fiery and you certainly are a feisty little creature.'' And she seemed to shine at his praise and she roared joyfully "Well then I expect the name and you may harness me.'' and she allowed him to put the harness on.
"Now may I eat I'm very hungry and that meat is very enticing.'' She said and he patted her lovingly "Yes of course help yourself.'' And she stuck her head into the tube taking out large chunks of meat and swallowing them whole, blood darkening her neck as she fed. Kevin watched her eat and smiled at his beauty. "I'm a captain finally.'' He said and watched as Fajra attempted to swallow a chunk far too big for her mouth. "For God's sake chew your food.'' He ordered stopping her from nearly choking herself, and she dropped the chunk into the tub and started to chew at it with a hint of distain. "Yes I can see you'll be quit a handful.'' And laughed as Fajra attempted to swallow another large chunk.
After her meal Fajra had dozed off into a deep sleep her head in his lap he was petting her gently her hide now dry was shining in health after a good meal. He had to wipe her clean with some of the hay as best he could and some of the blood still shown on her scales and stained his pants but he didn't care and he continued to pet her.
Three hours later a woman came in to check on them, it was the same women who'd been reading to Fajra's egg. She was smiling happily at him and said quietly "What a beauty she is?'' and she stepped in quietly caring a tray of food for him and sat it down on a barrel nearby. And looked lovingly at the creature bellow "Yes she is isn't she and I must thank you for taking care of her. I'm sure it was difficult for you to see her egg go.'' He said knowing it would be for him to see eggs constantly taken and knowing that you'd never have a chance at one.
But the women smiled " No it's not easy I see all the eggs at my charge as my children and I see each and every one of them go off when they hatch and it makes me feel like a mother watching her children go off into the world.'' And she sighed "Yes it brings me to tears and any matter I'm always kept busy with new eggs and there's still the other egg remaining.'' and she turned to leave, Kevin watched her go before asking "What is your name? I'm afraid I'd forgotten to ask.'' And she smiled at him "My name is Anna it means mother.'' And with that she left him and he smiled "What a fitting name.'' he said and looked at the still sleeping beast at his side.
Early the next morning Fajra was up and ready for her breakfast a fresh sheep was slaughtered and offered to her she ate greedily and messily often getting blood spattered all over him to the point where he shifted his uniform for some scrubs he'd been wearing while working on the sanctuary. She'd grown over night and would continue to grow for another four months. As she finished the last of the sheep she began to explore the barn poking and prodding into everything. "Now don't go and get your head stuck.'' Kevin warned as she began to sniff at an old pale on a hook. She snorted "I will not get stuck.'' And continued to stick her nose in until she had her whole head in and then it did, she had gotten stuck and was shaking her head from side to side in an attempt to shake it off.
Kevin burst out laughing at the display and Fajra hissed "It is no laughing matter.'' Her vice muffled by the bucket and continued to shake her head. "Oh, here let me help.'' And he grabbed the bucket and pulled and with a loud pop! She was free and shook her head vigorously, "That wasn't polite at all and now I'm hungry again.'' She said and Kevin had called for another sheep which she ate happily before settling back down to sleep.
That was the routine for the next few days; Kevin took Fajra out for short walks around after her meals to get her some fresh air and to socialize her with other dragons. Who found her very odd looking she was Chinese breed so she was breed for grace and pose, her tail didn't drag along the ground but whipped about in the air. And she was a lot smarter, while feeding a dragonet was the first part of the job for a captain the next was in its education, she needed to learn the flag signals. Which Kevin was rather surprise about how quick she learned them, she would quickly get bored and would chase after other dragons often old dragons who were teaching a lesson and she would stand there and listen to their lectures. Kevin had no problem with this since it kept her busy and entertained from trouble.
Three weeks had past and in that time Fajra had grown too big for the barn stall and then the barn itself and had to sleep outside. She wasn't very pleased at all with her new accommodations she'd been moved away from the sanctuary and into a clearing near the main station. One night when Kevin was wishing her a goodnight after her dinner, "It's awfully lonely out here all by myself at night.'' She said in a sad tone that he never heard from her before, it had never occurred to him that such a feisty creature would complain about being outside on her own but then she was still young a baby still in fact despite her size. And she still needed the comfort and attention like one even if his baby had teeth the size of a small boys hand and talons that could slice you in half.
"I'm sorry love I've been neglecting you I'll sleep outside if you like and I'll read to you as well.'' He said and she rumbled happily "Oh, I would like that and could you please read me the Eragon book I'd like that.'' Kevin smiled and ran inside the small hut near her clearing where he'd been sleeping on a cot at the moment he'd been offered more comfortable courters but he'd refused them not wanting to be too far away from Fajra. Grabbing the book he came back out to Fajra who was curled up getting comfortably he wrapped himself in a blanket and laid his head against her side which was warm and comforting. "Shall I being now?'' he asked, "Yes please do I want to find out what happens to the egg.'' And he began to read, he'd gotten to chapter three before he was startled by her loud snoring and folded the page to keep his place and curled up next to her and dozed off.