She had held off on naming for infant bonded for nearly two weeks now – though the Orakoi was a healthy, bouncing, voracious little creature, Laesara needed more information before she could name it.
Him.
She had already determined that the creature was a male using a reliable and up to date natural history book she had purchased for her personal library, and had confirmed this fact with an associate of her fathers. He was also a normal breed of khehora – no feathers, fins, or other accoutrements marred the sleek smoothness of his plum colored scales. So, a normal male khehora... yet his clan eluded her.
His dark colors suggested Diabi, but his emerald eyes pointed more towards a Ysali heritage and his yellow points spoke of some Kiandri or Gaili blood. Can a khehora she wondered, squinting at the panting shape before her, Be of more than one clan? It seems unlikely, but with his colors, could it be possible?
But no – the literature said that, just as their dragon brethren and Dovaa cousins, the khehora only had one magical type. They were born into their clan, too, which meant that this young creature should already have his magic available.
And yet, she thought, frowning at the little beast, He hasn't exhibited his magic. Should she be worried about that? Was that normal? Her sense of him and his nature was limited, their bond too abstract at this stage to make sense of beyond a dream-like presence of another mind. If he showed her even a little magic, she could make an educated guess as to his clan, but he had not shown her anything yet.
Might he somehow have no clan? she worried, her blue eyes boring into the little creature as he rolled and played, unconcerned. Might he be stunted? Crippled?
Green eyes met hers, energetic and intense, and she felt an electric surge of energy through their bond, as if it was being tested or strengthened.
Her weapon chortled from it's sheath, hanging from the door to her study.
- ”I wouldn't worry about that, lass! He's got a lot of life in 'im – far from a cripple by this old biddy's reckoning.”
“I am worrying an awful lot, aren't I.” she said out loud, earning another puzzled look from her bonded, who dragged himself awkwardly to his oversized feet.
- ”Aye, yer worrying yourself into a corner, you are. This ain't like you... but then again, 'e is a cutie, ain't he? Look. Just give 'im some time. Ye did take most 'o his magic, after all, so maybe he don't have enough yet to show off to ya.”
“Oh! True...” Laesara studied him as he turned towards her, “I hadn't thought of that.”
- ”Didn't think ye had.”
said Jiae, rattling in satisfaction. The bone boomerang always did like being right in her arguments. That she is one of the few who does win against me thought Laesara, affectionately, makes her all the more satisfied.
- ”Aww, lookit 'im!”
The weapon squealed in Laesara's mind, clasping mental hands together in an expression of adoration,
- He's coming over to ye... how much d' you want to bet 'e wants yer lap again? Cute lil' b*****d... shame 'ell get too big for yer lap soonish.
“Not too soon, I hope.” Laesara admitted, holding her hand down at the orakoi's level. They sniffed it and then headbutted it, rubbing his growing horns against her hand before approaching her legs and looking up expectantly.
“Yap!” he chirped, fluttering his wings, “Yap, yap!”
- ”Seren's light, 'es even saying it!”
Laesara picked up the little Orakoi, careful to avoid his sharp little claws as he struggled against the abrupt lifting. It was harder, however, to avoid his claws as he nested himself in her lap, snuggling there as if it was his. In a sense, it is. I am bonded to him, just as he is to me. Laesara thought, fondly, as she began to stroke him.
His little body rumbled with a sound not unlike a purr, and he relaxed in her lap, spreading himself out until his little body was draped over her thighs and knees, his belly exposed to her fingers. She complied with the silent demand, rubbing his soft underbelly as thrums of pleasure warmed the link between them. I could get used to this. she thought happily. It was, she knew, always nice to find an acceptable pleasure that she did not need to hide or moderate. Stroking her bonded was one such pleasure, a pleasant surprise she had not been expecting when his egg had hatched.
On some strange hatchling's whim, he turned, abruptly, back on his stomach and, watching her with his bright green eyes, he opened his mouth to show rows of sharp, white teeth. “Kiih!” he whistled, shrilly, and a ball of light was summoned between them. “Kiiiieeh?”
“Hmm?” Laesara blinked and reached for it, the familiar feel of light magic tingling on her fingertips. Curious, she summoned her own ball of light.
“Kiih!” he said, kneading her legs painfully in satisfaction. “Kih, ki!” it settled back down, purring, the light fading back into nothingness as it released its little spell.
“Oh...” Laesara dispelled her own spell, looking down at her khehora in surprise. “Aedaun!? With those colors?!”
- ”HaAhahaha, oh that's perfect, ain't it? A dark purple Aedaun khehora. Only thing better is if it were a Diabi, bound to ye of all people... Not that ye ain't dark in yer own right, hun, but considering how yer family feels about that par-ti-cu-lar part o' the world... HeheHoho...”
“Perfect in some ways, I suppose.” she said, amused. She was glad she was alone with her khehora so that she could hold this conversation with her weapon out loud. “I think I shall call him.... hmm... Aestival? No, that means 'summer-like' and would be more appropriate if he were green...”
- ”Hoy, jus' saying, summer be purple too. Like them buds ye get? 'round the lake? I think it's a great name, and better than any o' the other ones ye've got bouncing around in your head.”
Laesara laughed, subduing it as the khehora stirred and glowered, its eyes half lidded, at her. “Probably true. And, actually...” she ran her hand over the yellow tip of his tail before he flicked it out of her hands, “One could make a case for the name with these.”
- ”If ye say so.”
“I do say so.” she said, going quiet as she stroked Aestival's head. Well. There. Now he had a name and a clan. Those mysteries had been solved by a mere accident of a spell – it was fascinating how that worked.
Well, Aestival... she thought quietly, relaxing in her chair, Welcome to the family.
