Egg

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto, or any of the characters affiliated with it, and this is merely a fan-based piece of work.

A cluster of trees surrounded the beast, but it wasn't an animal. It was something she had heard of in legends.

She had a very prosperous upbringing, many of the people in the kingdom, had told her. On the day of her birth, plentiful rains came and washed over the kingdom, while the rest of the empire was left in a seasonal drought. Sparrows had flocked to the trees in the Garden of Tranquility, an auspicious omen. The moon, that night, was fuller than it had ever been, and her mother was in good health. Hinata Hyuga was the princess of the Hyuga kingdom – and her father was King Hiashi – while her mother was Queen Hanako. She had a younger sister, Hanabi, who was also a princess. While the rest of her family lived like royalty, the young Hinata preferred to keep to herself. She did not refuse dinner, nor did she refuse to be present at any banquets. But she spent most of her afternoons out in the many gardens, sitting under the shade of the leafy trees, longing for some sort of company. Her cousin, Neji, when he wasn't practising his archery kept her company, but he was gone for many weeks on end, training to be a soldier in his father's army.

Hinata felt the days roll by slowly.

She learnt calligraphy – many characters in Japanese, and even took up sewing to try to keep her boredom at bay, but it would not be stifled. The seasons were pleasant, and when she was seven years old, she felt a longing in her chest. There was a garden, which was kept barred from anyone entering it, even herself. When her father was talking to his councillors one evening, Hinata went exploring. She traded her long silk gown for some loose, long pants and a shirt, bribing one of the kitchen boys for his clothing for a few ryo. She had no other option. She didn't have many non-luxurious clothes to wear. She could have gotten a kimono and worn it, but figured it would've looked too silly to wear it into that garden. People were afraid of the garden and what it held behind the closed gates. But not Hinata. Her curiousity was unmatched. She was excited, as she set off through the Garden of Tranquility, up the hill, turned left where she saw the large gates. They were huge. Wrought-iron and towering over the small girl, they were usually flanked on either side by two impressive-looking guards with spears, but for some reason, they weren't guarding it on this day.

Hinata didn't dwell on that thought too much. She had some exploring to do! Looking up at the gates, she frowned. But they really were so big. How could she climb them? She looked at her small hands, and placed them around two bars apart of the gate, and shook it with a rattling sound. It's no use, she thought with a small huff, staring through the bars into the depths of the garden, with its dark-green, almost black leaves and earthy undergrowth. It certainly hadn't been tended to in some time. In fact, she swore it looked more like a forest sprawled with weeds than a nice garden. She let her hands slip from the bars and began to pace a few steps alongside the gate, before her attention was drawn to the ground. She spotted a small hole, which looked as if a part of the fence protecting the people from the garden, had been dug out. Getting on her knees, she kneeled closer to take a better look. It looked small enough for her to crawl through. Biting her bottom lip, she lay on her stomach and slowly crawled through the hole, stopping halfway through it to catch her breath as she felt some of the wire touch the tip of her head, before continuing to crawl through it. Once done, she got up and brushed the dirt from her knees and gave a triumphant smile. I got through!

Looking around her, Hinata felt a little scared, however. There were trees all around her, looming over her, and their branches were shaped like fingernails capable of scratching. She took a step with one foot, and hugged herself as she began to walk. I can't go back. Not now. Now when I've come so far. No-one else has been in here before. I might be the first! Looking determined, she began to run through the garden, certain that golden eyes were watching her from the shadows. A chill fell over her body as she shivered, goosebumps appearing on her arms and legs, as her breath turned to fog in front of her. She looked up, unable to spot the sun from the treetops, and paused, turning around. The gate was far behind her. There was no turning back now. She heard a roar come from ahead and she widened her eyes, her feet rooted to the spot. "What was that?" Hinata said to herself out-loud, fear causing her to feel sick to her stomach. Was that a tiger? Were tigers even in the forest? It didn't look like a garden anymore. She'd call it a forest. Hinata had heard rumours of tigers, but thought that there was no way that they were real. Now she was beginning to doubt herself.

There was another roar, louder than the other. She felt her breath catch in her throat. This roar sounded as if the tiger was in pain. Without knowing why, she began to walk slowly, her heart leaping in her throat. The roar was continuous, and she wondered if the tiger had hurt itself somehow. How would she be able to help a tiger? Hearing the sound of a stream, she licked her dry lips. She could ignore the animal and get a drink from the stream, but it was as if it was calling to her. Unable to ignore its painful cry, she continued to walk further and further, before she saw what made the noise. A cluster of trees surrounded the beast, but it wasn't an animal. It was something she had heard of in legends. A large body shimmered in the sparse light filtered through the trees, scales sparkling with the colour of a light silver, almost white. Long legs were attached to the body, and a long, spiked tail swept the leaves up off the ground. The head of the beast was long, and it has a snout with two nostrils – two sharp horns protruded from the top of its head. It was covered in scales. It turned to look at her. It was a dragon. Hinata gave a gasp and stumbled backwards, falling onto her back as she winced in pain, and tried to look at the dragon.

Its wings were the colour of silver still, and its eyes were blue, the colour of the ocean. Its talons were sharp, probably able to penetrate through armour.

It lifted one of its front legs and Hinata saw that there was a large gash where it was bleeding – some of the scales had been ripped off.

That was the creature which was roaring in pain! A dragon!

Hinata scrambled to her feet and bowed politely, as the dragon roared again, sounds of clashing gongs ringing in her ears all at once. She covered her ears and found some tufts of grass and grabbed them in her hand, before slowly walking towards the silvery creature of magic, as she snorted a plume of mist, tiny droplets landing on Hinata's face. "I...I won't hurt you...I just want to help you! So please, d-don't be frightened..." The dragon turned its eyes on her again, and they seemed as misty as its breath, and it took a few steps, limping as it held up a paw. Hinata hurried to its side, afraid that it would bite her, but it turned its head away from her, as if its pride would disappear with this one wound. "Are you...a female?" The dragon swished its tail in irritation and gave another snort, though this one sounded a bit sarcastic. Hinata gave a tiny giggle as she put grass against her wound, (she presumed it was a female after all) and then tore a strip of material from her shirt and wrapped it around its leg. "There you go...all b-better now. How did you hurt yourself? Do you have a n-name?"

My name is Argentia.

"W-wait... Y-you can hear me?"

Yes, she answered smoothly, her voice inside Hinata's mind like a purr of a content cat. I hurt my leg from some of your pesky guards who shot arrows at me. I managed to pull the arrow out of my flesh, but the wound was deep, and I crashed into the forest while trying to fly away. I tried to hide it as best as I could, but...

Hide...? H-hide what...?

My egg, of course. The silvery dragonness lifted a wing and Hinata widened her eyes. There, nestled underneath her belly in a clump of flattened grass was a dragon egg. Its surface was a milky grey colour with swirls, and it was bigger than any egg Hinata had ever seen. Her mouth was agape as she stared at it in awe. She had to blink a few times, rubbing her eyes, to realise that it was real. That she was actually seeing a real egg. A dragon's egg. There are many people who would try to steal my egg and sell it... As if realising for the first time that Hinata was a person, she paused in her thoughts and cocked her head. You're not going to do any harm to it, are you?

N-no! Hinata raised her hands up in front of her face and shook her head rapidly. She wouldn't dare do any harm to anything, not a dragon's egg.

Good. Argentia flapped her wings and stretched them out before folding them on her back. I don't have to kill you, then.

K-Kill-? The young princess went pale.

Argentia gave a sound which sounded like tinkling wind chimes as she snorted against the ground, before shaking her neck, craning it to look at Hinata more closely. I was only joking, human. But what is your name? Usually people fear creatures such as I. You, however, do not. Are you of royal blood?

Hinata moved a little closer and patted Argentia's neck. It sounded silly, but she was starting to feel attached already to her and her dragon egg nestled safely under her belly. My name is Hinata Hyuga...and I am, yes. She heard a pleasant humming sound coming from the elder silvery dragon, and swore that she sounded as if she was purring. I'm the princess of the kingdom...of the Hyuga kingdom. Everyone treats me as if I'm the next heir...but the truth is, my father wants a son...a prince, so when he dies, there'll be someone who will rule as king.

I see. And do you not like your position?

Hinata widened her eyes. N-no, well...it's not that. There's just a lot of responsibility for me to undertake...sometimes I think it's a little too much, but I can't complain. People have it worse off than me in the villages.

Mmm... Argentia nodded in response. I had seen a few villages as I had flown over them. Their crops aren't doing well outside the kingdoms. I fear that this year, there will be a tough winter. Even inside the kingdom may not fare well. Are you lonely, Hinata?

I guess I am... I mean, my cousin Neji is going to be recruited in my father's army soon, and I don't really have anyone of my age to talk to...

Argentia moved her neck more as she let Hinata pat her head. Well, how would you like to take care of my egg? Provided of course, that you tell no-one.

What? I...I surely couldn't...I mean, I'm only seven, and...and...- Hinata's stammering was cut off as Argentia snorted and nudged her hand so that the girl nearly fell over backwards as she regained her balance.

Nonsense. I think you're capable enough to help protect my egg. I can sense that there's a lot of good in you, Hinata. With her snout, she pushed her egg as it rolled right near Hinata's feet, touching the tip of her toes. I can't stay here any longer, anyway, little one. The dragon breathed a long sigh, a plume of smoke caressing the air as she blinked slowly. They've seen me, and they're going to be searching the area for me.

Hinata stood rooted to the ground. The guards! They'd be combing the forest to find Argentia! She ran through the ideas in her mind, before picking up the dragon egg and cradling it in her arms. W-wait! I could...I could ride on your back, and we could escape! We could-

She shook her head. I'm sorry, Hinata... I can't escape with you. If I do...your father would execute anyone who kidnapped you, and that goes for me, too. If you take care of my egg well...you will have a baby dragon to look after. But you'll have to raise it in secret. But then you won't be as lonely anymore, little one...you'll have company...

B-but I -

Argentia took to the air as she hovered just below the treetops, her muscles straining. I trust you. Do not let me down, Hinata. I will come back for you when your dragon is old enough and see how you are. But for now, you're the keeper of this egg. She gave one last look at her and took off, flying high into the sky as a volley of arrows could be heard and a loud, trembling roar.

Hinata was left standing in the middle of the clearing with an egg in her arms, blinking. Now what?

As she stroked the smooth surface of the grey egg, she had a feeling that her life had just headed in an otherworldly direction.