Queen's note: I LOVE working out alien critters. Good luck doomdad!

Garnets

Chapter Fifty Six:

Hatching Ground

"Are you really going to be safe?" Lily asked from where she was sitting on one of the wider railing in the bridge area. She had been put there by the Demigod and had not climbed down yet, kicking her legs a bit in the air with her arms crossed over the green helmet that had not surrendered yet. It was upside down and Lily was protecting it as if not wanting its real owner to notice something just yet.

The bigger Demigod smirked and nodded firmly as he came back over from checking Haco's new armor. Confident despite the complaints of his three Sentinels a bit ago. Eerie blue eyes looked down at the softer hazel before reaching out to tap the front of Lily's new mask that was strapped on. John leaned down, pressing his head to his human's as he hummed a reassuring note. He tapped the arms over his helmet next, and then her left shoulder.

Lily looked down, as if debating on letting go or keeping the helmet. She turned the helmet over and held it out. John blinked in surprise, but he dipped his head for the helmet to be put on. He adjusted it but rumbled in a pleased way. Looking down at motion, eyes tracking what was signed at him. Can you find a pretty flower for the garden?

John blinked, not expecting that, and his hand reached out. The massive palm was warm as the hand rested on Lily's head. The not quite man smiling inside his helmet before backing up as the portal to Argent D'nur opened. Flower for my Flower.

A flower was what Lily wanted? Not a puppy still? John huffed a half laugh but nodded. He would find something.

"The portal is stable," Vega spoke up, drawing attention as the Slayer lifted his hand and walked over to leave. Taking his spot at the lead.

Lily had to concentrate now a bit as she signed in just ASL. Her eyes first on John's back then looking at the Crucible on his right thigh. Keep him safe Dad.

Asin tilted his head as he glanced over at Lily, attracted by the movement. After Lily waved a farewell he saluted before leaving through the portal. The young woman stayed in place until the portal closed, but still tried to look at the updated images on one screen.

"Are you going back to the garden?" Valen asked as Mila came on to the bridge area.

"Likely, Daisy-Dew wanted to learn how to knit." Lily smiled, so glad that her grandma's passed-down knowledge was finding use here. Laurel even said she would teach Lily more crochet! "They'll be fine right? John seemed weirdly happy."

"They'll be just fine my lake lily." Valen reassured, looking highly amused as he picked Lily up feeling the second skin like under armor hidden under the too big, colorful shirt. He set her down on the deck again. "All four of them are experienced with wintherin handling. And taming if need be. They'll most likely all have mounts in a few hours."

"You guys be safe too ya?" Lily asked as Mila handed Valen his helmet as the portal frame was powering up.

"I'll make sure Lord Valen's head starts in place." The fully armored Mila sounded like she was grinning. "We'll be back in a few days, Lady Lily. Rai and the others will keep you safeguarded. Just… stay in the Fortress."

The flat look Mila got back from the much shorter human made Valen laugh. Lily snorted, "Oh no, the rager of knitting and crocheting… such a wild party life we'll spread to the unexpecting."

Valen snorted as the portal opened, nudging Lily towers the entry to the room. "Go brat. If needed, you can ask Vega to get in contact with any of us." Lily moved to be well out of the way, watching until they too were gone and the portal frame was settled back into the ground.

"They will be fine Lily." Vega reassured as he watched the thoughtful look on his human charges. Other parts of himself just starting to spread out attention to interact with the other humans and Argenta in the Fortress. It was wonderful to do that again.

Lily smiled as Vega had dropped the miss again as it was just them. Her gaze on the big 'window' that showed Earth's horizon. She hesitated only for a second before walking down to the lower section. Taking her time but for the first time really not shying away from the real time image of her home world burning.

Vega watched the young woman as her eyes tracked over the coastlines visible. Then the newly formed storms developing in the ocean. "What are you thinking Lily?"

"It's… strange." Lily finally said, tapping over her heart absentmindedly, the frowned as she found something in the pocket of the dark Hawaiian shirt that had not been there before. Distracted, she pulled out a silver ring, finding it had two stones but was smoothed in a streamlined design pattern. Lily recognized one of her birthstones, topaz being inlaid on the outside of the ring, and the main stone was an opal.

She realized it looked like her dad's crucible blade. Shimmering dark blue with flashes of red, green and a faint orange shimmer. It was a blue fire opal.

Did …John actually do something sneaky? She had not even noticed when he must have slipped that in her pocket. Lily knew it was him, as there were two little engraved symbols on the underside of the ring. His glyph was there, and a slightly wiggly lined attempt to make…a lobster? Or a crab? It was filled in with a drop of gold and smoothed down flush with the ring.

"...gods, you really are a big softie." Lily said fondly, finding where the ring fit. It settled on her right middle finger the best, but she could slide it off when working. Not that the ring was not low profile.

"He finally gave you the ring I see." Vega seemed pleased, not minding his distracted charge.

"How long was he holding onto this?" Lily asked in a bemused tone, finding a place to sit and lean back to watch the window while resting before trying to get down to the gardens.

"Not extremely long, he was trying to modify it longer without cracking the opal. They are a very soft stone." Vega noted, keeping a metaphorical eye on the new feeds. It felt so… good for Vega to start to spread his attention out between several different areas. It was not nearly like Mars, but still made his system pleased to start.

"You know what's strange Vega?" Lily asked, catching her train of thought from before as she saw the east coast of Canada.

"I would hazard a guess that many things are strange now, Lily." Vega answered, pleased that she smiled and giggled at that. "But what have you noticed?"

"It took an apocalyptic hurricane to find where I belong now." Lily said softly, "After the world ended."

She wondered how her dad would have reacted to John if he had not changed. Knowing him, he would offer coffee or whiskey. Or both. Probably both. Lily giggled, knowing now that if any offering was to be given to the demigod. It was more effective for that offering to be food, and root beer surprisingly.

The space marine god of war all but purred at being given root beer. He was on cloud nine when it was cold.

"I am glad you are here as well Lily," Vega said with a surprising amount of fondness. He was emoting so much more now that the kids were actively around. "But are you staying here until the twins are down for their nap?"

Lily looked down with a guilty smile, still having no poker face at all. "Partly… is that okay?"

"I do not mind the company at all." Vega reassured the young woman.

"John and them are getting wintherin to ride… I think Valen lied to me about how big they are." Lily noted, looking back up at the still burning earth, and blinking as it rotated to just the right angle it looked like the images it used to be, before the invasion. She really hoped that John could do what he was so confident about.

"I believe he did as well, they have already come across what Asin is calling a 'small' male wintherin." Vega said as he watched the feeds from the different helmets of the Sentinels and the Slayer. The creature was indeed quite large, as Haco could fit his whole arm into its gaping maw to pull out… sticks? They were talking about the wintherin having been nesting not long ago.

"They will be fine Lily." Vega assured as she got up, "Young miss Daisy-Dew is waiting for you, the twins seem to be settling. And you have a visitor."

Lily looked up and around, then heard the big paws padding over the metal floor. She came back up to the upper level and brightened, "Hi old lady! Why are you here Rula?"

The old Sentinel wolf pricked her ears and walked over to bump against Lily, and seemed to start trying to herd her back out. Not liking that one of her new small people was seemingly alone. Lily fiddled with her new ring, and then smiled as she walked with the old wolf back down to the gardens. It would be a nice day, she could craft with the others, someone else wanted to cook tonight. She might be able to go get one of those handwritten books on the bottom shelf in John's area to learn some more about the Argenta tech.

It was not exactly meant to be a therapy session, but sort of was for the humans settled in the garden that day. Even Asa came down to check on them and seemed interested in what the different people were doing.

It was a good day.

For those on the Fortress at least.

"You think we can help at all?" Zanin asked his companion a few hours after coming to Argent D'nur. He paused with the needed bonding grooming session with the pale jade colored male wintherin that had recognized his wraith gift as a Night Sentinel. Looking up as a large shadow passed overhead, the two male wintherins looked up to check and make sure with the two men that they were not the source of the angry screeching.

"I don't think there is anything we can do to help." Asin noted as a thick, broad tongue rasped over his right shoulder from behind and then over it. The wintherin that seemed to favor him was settling low on all fours to be less noticed but also still wanting to groom the first friendly Argenta that came to visit the hatching grounds.

Asin turned back to grasp the front of the big silver and teal speckled head, running his gloved hands over the dark blue horns with red ends. They made a back sweeping crest that helped tell him the wintherin mating season just passed. Still full of color as this one hand not been that successful, possibly wanting reassurance.

Not just from the sentinels, but they both had the same distinct, broad striped pattern of the big female above. Hinting that these two were older, grown offspring that came back to their parents' nesting area. To help with handling and raising their next generation of siblings.

The teal wintherin with dark stripes on its body and speckled head was definitely more nervous than the other. Making a low vibration of a subsonic tone while grumbling sound that has the jade male turning to what must be his brother to give a few reassuring licks before looking up as the shadow above arched away. The bigger female let out an angry roar as she snapped at those on her back as her tail was pulled to make her have to bank.

Both Zanin and Asin had a bad feeling as they watched the mid-air chaos. Then as one started moving to be more on the sidewalls of this box canyons. The two 'small' male wintherins hopped after in the odd ground loped that their body shapes had them doing. With bigger hind legs the forelegs, long heavy necks and wings half closed.

They were not really meant for flat ground, but cliff side living and hunting.

It seemed to be well timed as a massive pale blue body almost slammed down on the ground in a landing that shook the ground. Followed by a screeching scream of anger before it altered to a roar.

The jade wintherin ducked his head behind Zanin, chittering worriedly as he watched his mother all but bucking and twisting. Massive jaws snapping far too close to arms or legs.

"I don't blame you boy." Zanin said as he leaned back on the big head behind him. The jade wintherin rubbed his broken forest green horn crest on the silver armor until the Sentinel turned to rub at bases of the horns to give comfort. "She seems as angry as she was a thousand years ago."

"Incoming!" Asin warned, just a moment before the two younger wintherin males bounced backwards in opposite directions. The Sentinels almost dodged but instead launched forward, trying to grab at something on the green and tan form. Just barely grabbing the Slayer and hauling to catch him and keep him from hitting too hard on the stone wall of the box canyon. "Going well, Lord Slayer?"

The demigod gave a thumbs up with a rasping, whinded laugh before he was helped up into a sitting position. Zanin grabbed his left arm and helped shove the shoulder joint back into place. The Slayer gave a grunt as he rolled the shoulder, taking a moment to heal. Looking up as Haco yelled, having been snapped up.

Haco's new armor was what saved him from the large fangs clapped over his torso, but not from being shaken rapidly back and forth. The Slayer staggered back up to his feet and just roared back at the giant wintherin.

She stopped, staring as she realized that he was not the one she had snapped up. No visible eyes to see on the Argent D'nur native creature, but she was staring back at the Slayer. Pale blue, with darker stripping on her body, limbs and neck. White head had thick plates of boney like armor, but still had the imprint of the Slayer's glyph on it. Both sets of her horns were shimmering still with silver and red dipped tips. The top set semi like the males but not as far back swept, more to the side. The lower set of horns or tusk-like growths out of the lower jaw were thicker and curved forward and then up. That trait, the red along with her stripes passed to most of her offspring.

With no saddle or equipment but a loose hanging strap of leftover gear. Maybe the wrapping that used to be part of the rains. She was standing up on hide legs, wings spread out as her tail flicked for balance.

Viola dropped the startled Sentinel, baring her fangs even as she grasped Haco with forelegs. Catching him as she realized she did not have who she was angry at. Then dropped the sentinel again to the ground not as far this time, she leaned forward, growling right back at the Slayer. Wings arching in an aggressive display.

The teal young wintherin male whined and gave a frightened sound as he huddled low. Confused as to why his mother was so angry. The Sentinels had always been tolerated in the nesting area and nice!

Viola paused, as if realizing she had been terrorizing her mostly grown offspring. She had not meant to do that, she liked her sons and daughters coming back to her canyon!

The Slayer was walking back over, making the wintherin female giving a warning growl. She knew who he was, and would never forget her favorite rider, the smell of his power and living scent. And other faint scents that told a story of being around others as well as fighting. Did not change how hurt and angry she was that he had been gone for so long!

The smaller demigod chuffed and tried to get closer, despite the growling and full fangs showing at him. Warring instinct and hurt feeling battled for what reaction to do. Viola wanting to grasp her once person and shove him into one of her nests, or show off her last clutch. She wanted to bit and shake, bite until she felt better. Wanted to nest on her person.

Familiar hands grasped her right tusk, sliding up to the jaw to dig knuckles into the softer spot between jaw and scull. He remembered where the massive wintherin like to be rubbed the best.

Viola arched her neck, paused and then her jaws clamped over the Slayer's whole right shoulder and arm. Fangs making the armor on his torso, front and back, creak as she reared up again. The wintherin launched upwards into the air, away from the Sentinels and her sons. Feeling the Slayer scrambling at her face, one arm fully in her maw, before gliding down.

Her current mate gave a startled screech, as he was kicked out of the massive nest dug into the canyon walls. The three sentinels starred in no small amount of shock as they watched Viola shake the Slayer before not so gently shoving him into the nest. Not on her eggs, but to the farther side of them. Pulling her head back and then as he tried to get up used a tusk to shove him right back down. Growling and angry but missing her person, the wintherin settled for pinning and scolding until she felt better so not to frighten her old hatchlings.

"Well, that went better than expected!" Asin said as the biggest of the current males settled down beside Haco's form. Looking between him and up at the main nest he had been quite comfortable in.

"I suppose." Zanin gave the brothers a good reassuring scratching before heading over to check on the limp form, "Haco? Still breathing?"

The two sentinels were almost over to him before there was movement, Haco lifted his right arm. Startling the white male with bright pink and red splotches on his hide. He snorted and nudged the argenta with a concerned sound, letting a breath out with some of the raw wraith energy that the wintherin fed on in part.

Asin carefully knelt beside Haco, pushing the big muzzle out of the way. "Vega? What is his damage like?"

"Haco is starting to stabilize, there are no point of internal bleeding, but he will have massive muscle damage around his stomach and upper back." Vega said softly in the helmets. "I would suggest keeping him still for his natural accelerated healing to work before trying to move him."

"...I," The man in question spoke with a sigh. Watching as the white wintherin settling down on the ground beside him, extending his wings as if to sun in the afternoon light, but to cover Haco. The nesting and incubating instincts were strong enough to want to help the small thing, but also able to smell the pain to not nest ON the injured Sentinel. "Demand full funeral rights… send me to the stream between worlds with the glory of gold."

"When your time comes brother," Zanin promised with a relieved but amused tone. He looked up at the main nest and then sighed. "I have a feeling for now, we're going to be spending the next few nights in the nests. How stuck is our Lord Slayer, Vega?"

There was a distinct thudding sound of something big hitting the Slayer's armor. Normally it was a sound of him hitting something else in most other cases.

"Very stuck." Vega supplied helpfully. "You may want to start making camp now."

"...good idea." Asin nodded, scanning around, not really wanting to sleep on the ground level in case of some sort of demonic thing slinking in the dark. "I may have gotten used to a bed again."

"We'll be fine," Zanin assured, "There was one of those hatchery cabins not too far from here. Once Haco is in a settled in a nest, probably with this one."

The white and blushed male wintherin purred as he got his head rubbed.

"You and I, Asin, can go look for supplies and see if there's any old saddles that are not in bad shape." Zanin finished, glancing at the small icon in the upper right hand corner of his hud that was Vega's emblem. "Can you let the Slayer know Vega?"

There was a pause, but not too long before Vega spoke, "The Slayer agrees with your plan. He has indicated he might be some time."

The Slayer was right, both that it would take time, as well as this whole process would hurt. It had taken a much better turn faster than he expected as his old mount snarled in a rising and lowering pattern. Viola's way of 'talking' as he was alternately scolded, shoved around and notably lighter biting pressure. He was not allowed to leave, or get too close to the colorful shimmering eggs.

It well into the dark before the angry wintherin started to calm down properly. Scolding bites slowly shifted to thick grooming licks, then gaping to demand her jaws to be cleaned like when younger. That was when the Slayer started to relax, not minding the dark as he did provide the wanted fang cleaning. Getting bits of leaves and sticks from the last unknown amount of time building her nesting area in this box canyon.

Affection-grief. Regret.

The big wintherin snorted at the Primordial, but then the top of her heavy head rested on the Slayer's front. Head ducked down under a wing and her head was almost upside down on him. Firmly trapping him as Viola sighed, paused and wiggled to be sure her now hidden eggs and person would both be safely covered in the cooling night. She trusted her mate to protect the other nest with eggs in it.


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xfirestonex: Thank you! hopefully you like the start of a Argenta chaos [dragon sass incoming]