Welcome to Gaia! ::

Old Silverback stalks into the cave, grateful for the shade after that last scramble over the rocks. He drops the deer he was carrying and yawns widely before padding to the back of the cave. The floor is pretty smooth, with the exception of a few old deer bones lying around. There is a nest at the back of the cave as well, on a raised dirt mound. It contains several eggs, but none of them is from this cave. He collected the eggs from other caves, and brought them here because this is the largest cave he has found so far. He discovered it by chance, for the entrance is overgrown with weeds and small, stunted bushes fed by a small stream that trickles through the rocks. The only thing that betrayed its existence was the tell-tale hint of faded hatching magic that let Old Silverback know that this cave was once used by dragons much like himself to raise their young. Pleased with his find, he brought the eggs he had collected and gathered them here. Now that the other clutch of eggs he raised has finally grown to gangly teenagers, he is ready to reactivate the hatching magic, perhaps even build on it, and hatch this new batch of eggs.

Upon reaching the cave lip, Khala drops her deer on the floor and looks up at Old Silverback expectantly with an eager expression.

(OoC: Ack! We never expected any of the first generation to ask about their parentage. What should we tell them about their families? All we've got for this story is Khala's relationship with OS, and that still leaves a lot to be desired. BiC)

Khala then notices the eggs. {So there are more eggs of dragons like us! Where are their families? When will they hatch? No wonder we don't get all the deer and no wonder why you wanted us to help you hunt.} She settles down after hauling the deer closer to the nest. {While we wait for them to hatch, why don't you answer Cart's questions, Grandfather?}

(OoC: For those who are unfamiliar, you can call OS whatever you want, and "old" tends to be a central concept. Khala consistently calls him Grandfather, which is a private and appropriate matter. No, I'm not discussing why it's most appropriate for Khala to call him Grandfather. Your dragons will probably start using names as they get older. Don't worry so much right now.)

((OoC: Yeah, I RPed Cart choosing his name after he hatched (we RPed in Godar's journal)))

Something. Something strong, calling to her, whispering her name. She would escape. She would leave this tiny space. CRACK. The shell exploded in a fury of fragments.

HAHA!!! the hatchling thought. VICTORY IS MINE!!!

{So this is what the deer were for! Why didn't you tell us, Old Silverback? Now this is what I call a noble cau--YEEEEEEEP!!}

Cartography leapt backwards at the sight of a green and yellow hatchling bursting out of its shell. It turned to stare at him and tumbled toward his carcass.

{Um, Old Silverback?} Cart asked nervously. {Um, what do I do?! HEEEEEELP!!!!!}

The female hatchling turned towards the lilac-and-blue dragon at first. Nah, she said to herself. I'm not so sure about her...

((OoC: Aren't they supposed to eat like wolves? You know, by eating the food regurgitated by their parents/guardians?))

Khala growls and starts actively feeding the little female. {Cart, go tear off a chunk of meat and go get ready to help the next hatchling. I don't know how I can tell, I just can, OK? This little one's a girl. Hey Freckles, you don't look so good; are you OK?}

The green-and-yellow hissed. Go away!! she thought. Leave me alone! She snapped at the larger female as a warning and stumbled off, trying to stomp. She paused in front of a green and orange egg. Hey, come out and play!

((OoC: Sforkok doesn't understand how to talk yet...and she hasn't given herself a name, either))