Erionda's legs hung over the side of the cliff, dangling hundreds of feet over the crash of the surf on the rocks face. She was laying on her back, staring up at the sky, with her hands behind her head. The dark blue night sky was permeated by stars sparkling in the distance.
"Shouldn't they be back by now?" Uassae asked, swinging his head down to her face so they were a finger breadth apart. His large feathers snout exhaled in her face. Tickling her features before she swatted him away.
"There's a billion things Aquon had to finish from his trip to Selene. He takes as long as he needs to. You know that."
Uassae grunted, shifting his head back into Erionda's lap. His mulit faceted eyes gazed longingly out at the vortex, watching the portal separating the Dovaa from the rest of the Magescian world. The colors fascinated him, and he had tried to goad Rio into a swim in through the vortex. She had politely declined, stating Aquon and Ytauya didn't want her near the portal.
"Do you think he will bring gifts again like last time?" Uassae continued to ask, using there bond to communicate.
Erionda smiled, she loved the peace she was able to share with Uassae. As a Keindred, they had been an unmatched bundle of endless energy. Thinking back it was no wonder Ytauya had asked her brother Aquon for help. Tracing the constellations in the stars with her eyes. Erionda's mind continued to dance about. She had found her fathers will in Ytauya's lap one afternoon. Rio's room was to promptly be moved into her dead parents room. All funds and possessions belonged to Rio. There was a note written on the bottom. A small percentage had been left to Ytauya. Her father had tripled her lifetime wages in preparation to raise the hybrid. The money had been given to her all at once. Erionda's father had also given Ytauya a spacious guest room. The note when on to ask if her brother Aquon would humbly be willing to teach Rio the rest of the life skills needed to become a strong warrior.
Erionda remembered her first encounter with the young and powerful Dovaa. She had locked herself safely in her new room soon after her fathers death. He had tricked her into opening the door, promising as soon as she took his gift he would leave. He was true to his word. After depositing a curious looking object in her hands he had gone. Closing the door silently behind him. Rio remembered how warm the egg had felt against her small body. She had fallen asleep wrapped around the cracking shell. She had woken to ticklish nuzzles from the freshly hatched Keinling. Pulling him closer before falling asleep, quieting his fearful chirps.
Uassae's head appeared above her gaze. Once again blotting out the stars. "What is it on your mind?" Rio giggled, sitting up quickly. Pulling her companions large head into an embrace. "You, silly. And the day I first laid eyes on your shell.
"Silly matters." Uassae grunted verbally.
Rio continued to giggle. Releasing Uassae's head. "Maybe to you!" Her fingers gently scratching under his chin. Receiving a purring rumble in response.
Gazing out at the cortex mesmerized by the swirling colors. Rio narrowed her eyes at a growing black splotch on the swirling beauty. "Look Uassae, Aquon's ship."
The Aeduan's eyes slowly opened. "There is a shadow riding with the cargo, Rio. Be wary."
Rio looked hastily between Uassae and the approaching ship. "Aquon's not dead is he?" She watched as the Drakein shook his head.
"I don't know." Furrowing her brows Erionda stared out towards the ship. Watching with baited breath as it drew closer.
Once the boat had docked Erionda and Uassae stood waiting. Both hybrid and Drakein searched the plank for Aquon. "Be careful with my luggage! It's contents are worth more than your bloody organs on the black market. You Dolt!" Rio glared at the large surely Dovaa. Who did he think he was? Some kind of king? He was only a simple Kandri! Bunching her hands into fists Rio felt something on her shoulder spinning around angrily. Erionda relaxed, it was Aquon. His deep red eyes flashed at the Kiandri Dovaa.
"That man had the entire cargo filled with crates. Fussing endlessly about how fragile they were. Got real irritated if anyone approached the crates." Squeezing her shoulder he motioned his head towards Uassae. "What's your companion up to? He may cause trouble if he isn't careful." The Aeduan Drakein was currently pocking and sniffing the crates.
Rio shrugged solemnly. "He's not talking right now. He just keeps saying Shadow."
Aquon rubbed the base of his jaw. "Are you willing to ask him over the bond... if they ar-"
The Firani Dovaa was drowned out by the Kaindri's shouts. "You get away from those crates you filthy beast! I don't care if you are a Drakein! You get away from 'em!" He swung his fist over and over in Uassae's direction. The drakeins neck arched back. he took a step back hissing his discontent.
"They don't belong to the life you will make them suffer!" Uassae's jaw fell back in rage. He bellowed a roar that sounded like egg thief in a strange tongue.
"Egg theif?" Erionda asked, turning to Aquon for answers.
His eyes sparked as he met Rio's violet eyes. "I see, that's what he spoke. In the dragons words no less. That bods some interesting problems. And exiting discoveries." Placing pressure on her shoulder Aquon spun her away from the boat. "We will speak of it later when you aren't over heard so easily."
"But Aquon I-" A finger covered her lips.
"Tut tut, Rio. He pulled his hands into his pockets as they walked towards home. "I have brighter and far more interesting news for you!"
"What? No more surprises Aquon?" Rio responded dryly.
"I found Arick!" The large Firani dovaa pulled his hands from his pockets. Shoving them out to either side with his fingers spred wide open. "He will be making his travels to see you before your fourteenth birthday."
Erionda glared back with annoyed puzzlement. "I'm twelve. Aquon! Why would I need to see this Arick person?"
"Because, my small girl. Like your mother, you too will have a weapon of your very own. Arick supplies those weapons. For individuals like yourself."
Rio ran her fingers over her horns. Tapping the tips. "But Aquon. I'm a Dovaa. What use would a weapon do me?"
Aquon laughed the sound boomed. Sighing as he shoved his hands back into his pockets. "Rio, small. innocent Rio." You are partly right. About three quarters, to be exact. You are one quarter wrong however."
Rio turned back towards Aquon quizically. "Then?"
"You have orderite blood in your veins. A hybrid though not as obvious as some." Aquon played with the strands of her hair, watching as they fell away from his fingers like satin. "Why do you think your hair is so different?"
"Is not!" Erionda insisted. "I saw a boy my age with pink hair! He's all Dovaa." Pushing her nose into the air with a harrumph as if to say that was all the proof she needed.
His deep chuckle announced his shift in position behind her. "Have you ever tried to bring forth your wings?"
Erionda's face drained, her violet eyes shifted nervously. "No." the lie felt thick on her tongue "What do I need wings for when I have Uassae?"
"He can't carry you forever Erionda."
The young hybrid shrugged, the wings she had been able to summon were useless. Tiny and insignificant with feathers. They would not be able to carry her at all. THey were weak. Together Aquon and Rio walked the rest of the way home in silence.
Turning onto the cobbled path leading to their home. Uassae burst down to greet them, Still fuming about the earlier events. "They smell like eggs!" Are... NO, is that the kind of person that did that to my parents."
"The crates?" Erionda asked ignoring Aquons puzzled and pleased look. "I don't think so... Do you not like it here Uassae."
The large Drakein moved as if taken back. Hybrid and Drakein stood locked in a stare. Emotions fled back and forth. Like water rushing along a string. Then without notice the pair moved swiftly into their classic embrace. Her arms wrapped around his lowered muzzle, his wings wrapped around her.
"Whats going on!" A strong female voice demanded her cloudy grey eyes swirled with emotion. Seeking out her brother's dark red eyes.
"Ytauya!" Aquon shouted enthusiastically. "Did you know your charge could speak in the dragons tongue?"
"I suspected she could, as her father was brilliant in the skill." Ytauya snappped. Her eyes reminding Rio of the way whirlpools moved. Without color and a steady gaze. "What has happened? Where in all of Magesc have you been? Uassae returned in a miserable fit! One of you better let me know whats happening!"
"Oh! Right, right." Aquon shifted uncomfortably as he updated his sister on everything he knew.
"I don't see why your making a fuss about her." She growled "Only a slim part is orderite. She may not be able to develop the required ... whatever it is to have one."
Erionda pressed her head into Uassae. She had become accustomed to being argued about as if she didn't exist. Her sadness was voiced through the bond she shared with Uassae. The large Drakein rumbled soothingly. trying to drown out the adults arguing. Waiting until Erionda calmed his one bright blue eye stared at Rio's care givers.
"Look all I'm saying is, if we have proof. Maybe we can finally run him out of town. We don't need a black market here! Not ones that specialize in that area. I've already rescued one batch." Aquon's hands flew about as he spoke.
"But to use the Hybrid? Is just stupid."
"Climb on." Uassae mentally commanded Rio. Lowering his body close to the ground. Erionda obeyed, quickly scampering up onto Uassae's neck. One quick and powerful updraft and they were quickly settleing in the open outcrop created specifically for Erionda's Drakein. Tumbling to the ground in confusion.
"Uassae, do they want me to follow the man? And see what he really has?"
The large Drakein rumbled as he moved to curl up in his nest. Rio followed, shifting to cuddle up between his tail and body. One wing stretched to cover over the small young hybrid protectively. It became their special way to escape.
Erionda pulled back the wood paneling on the wall, moving them out of her way as she quickly slipped through the space. The plaintive cries of a creature had subsided slightly, but as she moved closer to the noise the crying picked up again. As if panicked by her approach. Erionda's violet eyes adjusted quickly to the light of the large room. The entire place was filled with eggs of assorted colors and sizes. Rage replaced the blood flow in her veins. Was this what that shifty Dovaa had been hiding? Eggs trapped within the wooden crates! No wonder he had been so adamant about the careful handling of each one. .
"Calm Erionda, what do you see?" Uassae's voice filled her mind. Grinding her teeth, clenching her hands into fists, Erionda send the image back through the bond in response. She could feel Uassae's mental roar, mixed with the urge to seek the source of the cries. Erionda's ears twitched as her eyes scanned egg after egg. She no longer heard the cries. She could feel Uassae, continuously urging her forward. Conflicted over following Orders, and her desire to do the right thing, Erionda paused as the cries started up again. Not far off her left, it was accompanied by the sounds of cracking eggshells. Rounding the corner Erionda's furry only continued to bubble. Tiny, heavily injured Keinling's, where crowded against each other in a small pen.
A small fraction to the left a dark grey egg shuddered. "Hatchlings... Tiny keinling's Uassae. Either they've already bonded with that freak... Or they bonded to each other." The young Hybrid was instantly filled with regret. She had not picked the right time to convey all she could see. Her Aedaun's piercing roar threatened to give away their position. The sound of a cracking egg shell pulled her attention back to the dark grey egg. Rio had to make a split second decision in her panicked state. This one egg was closest to hatching. She wouldn't be able to report back to Aquon in time to save the Keinling from the same painful fate the rest of the hatched Keinling's endured. In a desperate act Erionda scooped up the egg running for the exit she had first arrived in.
Pushing her feet out first a shadow blotted out the sun behind her. Rio's heart skipped ahead painfully as she let go of the egg. If it was the shifty, crazed man, she would find her whole life over. Spinning around Rio felt relief as her eyes settled on her large Drakein companion. Pushing her hand through the opening, the hybrid extracted the cracked egg.
"I couldn't just leave it to the same fast as the others!" Rio snapped before Uassae could respond.
"No time." Uassae growled scooping up the egg into his paws. "Home! Now!" With one quick swoop of his wings the Aedaun soared away.
Erionda swallowed hard, she had to hurry. Even as a hybrid, action like this would cost her the security of her home forever. They would drive her away from the celestial plane. Even if she was following Aquon's directions, her Hybrid blood would be seen as reason enough. Grumbling Rio ran down the cobbled street, towards her home. Aquon and Ytauya would be there waiting. A sense of urgency pulsed, originating from the bond. She didn't question why Uassae had sent the emotion. She just wished she could fly as fast as he could at the time being. Turning to the cobblestone path leading up to her home. Erionda slowed into a job looking around for her companion. "Where are you Uassae?"
"My nest." The large male rumbled urgently. "And certainly not suited for what about to be born. Get. Up. Here!"
Erionda practically flew into the house and up the several flights of stairs. Slamming open the door to see Uassae leaping out the large opening. In the center of his nest lay the egg. Pieces had begun to shed away from the shell.
"Erionda?" The young twelve year old girl spun around leaping backwards. Her violet eyes focused on Aquon. "Did you discover what it was?"
"They were..." Erionda corrected. Pointing at the small hatching egg in Uassae's nest. "They... There were so many eggs and hatched Keinlings. The tiny ones were injured. And... and so helpless Aquon." Hot tears spilled down her cheeks. Aquon patted her shoulder, searching the egg and nest.
"I guess Uassae took little interest with the egg?" Aquon rubbed the stubble on his chin. "I wonder if that Drakein is male then-"
"He's furious. Almost got us caught too." Rio interrupted. Louder cracking sounds along with the cry of a Keinlings first real breath filled the room. Erionda's heart broke as she dashed towards the crumbling eggshell. "What do I do!" She pleaded. "I couldn't let it hatch to the same fate as the others! So I brought it back here."
Aquon sighed folding his arms over his chest. The large Dovaa turned towards the door. "I can't bond with another Drakein. I can barely handle the four in my head already. A Keinling would add far more chaos than my already strained mind can handle."
"Ytauya?" Erionda asked turning to look at Aquon pleadingly.
Aquon shook his head moving towards the door. "My sister HATES the idea of the bond. It's to intrusive t-"
Erionda gasped cutting the older Dovaa off. A small wet snout was pressed into the bare skin on her leg. It felt cold, she felt cold! Aquon turned curiously back to Rio, raising an eyebrow as laughter filled his eyes. "To late anyway, sweet child. It's already made a bond."
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