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My dragon pulled this egg right out of one of their mouths
“You were right, it really was an Earth egg.”‘ The alabaster imperial carefully touched down on the damp, silty ground. She circled around the wildclaw who still knelt next to the fallen bird and sat, keeping watch for any other locals who might take issue with their presence.
A small group of maren floated just in view beyond the walls of the bubble, but didn’t seem to be there for any other reason but mild curiosity.
“How’s it’s condition?” she asked, keeping a careful eye on the beastmen. There was no response from her companion, and finally she looked down to properly address her teammate. “Iris?”
The wildclaw started, looking up from the egg she held cradled in her arms. “I- I’m sorry, what was that?”
“The egg. Is it intact?”
“It is,” she replied. “Just scuffed… waterlogged.”
“Good, good…” The imperial cocked her head and leaned a bit closer. Iris had already wiped it clean. She hummed in thought for a brief moment. “We should call it here, then. Bring it to the surface and hand it off.”
The wildclaw tensed, then folded her wings protectively around herself and the egg. It was a sight that took the imperial back many years, to when Iris’ mate still lived and she’d occasionally see the wildclaw brooding over her own children in such a manner.
“Iris, you…” she began, then paused to consider. It felt terrible to say, but they had been friends longer than most dragons had even lived. Best to be direct. “You do know they won’t let you keep it.”
“No,” Iris replied harshly. “No, I don’t. I know Our Lady wouldn’t have, but she isn’t in charge anymore.”
“She is, even if her daughter now sits on the throne,” the imperial replied. “Iska’s treatment is proof of that.”
“Iska… is still part of the clan as one of your favors,” Iris replied. “I have asked for none. This will be mine. Why are you trying to stop me, Persephone?”
“I’m not trying to stop you!” she replied. “I’m trying to prepare you for if they say no! An egg can either bring money to the clan, or hatch and become a drain of resources, in their eyes. You know this.”
They locked eyes for a moment, and then Persephone resumed her careful guard, watching the surrounding waters carefully.
“…I’ll vouch for you, Iris,” she said, breaking their silence. “If you want to appeal Queen Avonne, I’ll support you.”
“I’m going to try,” Iris said. “Thank you. And I… apologize. For snapping.”
“It’s fine,” the imperial let out something like a chuckle. “I’ve not seen you like this in quite a while, I have to say.”
“Shall we head to the surface?”
“Yes, let’s go.”
It was easier than they’d expected.
Much easier.
Queen Avonne had simply looked over Iris’ records before nodding.
“I grant you the right to hatch the egg and raise the child within,” the imperial had stated simply. “Provided you train said child to be a warrior once they come of age.”
Iris had been more than happy to agree - she had always wished one of her children had grown up to hunt alongside her, and she finally had the chance.
She gratefully accepted the queen’s offer and rushed to the nesting grounds.
