Vadim had warned her of the shadow creatures, and Nayati had seen the entirety of the Dragon's Throat herd traveling in a massive clump, behind them coming the Foothills. She knew their scent anywhere, even if she was no longer within their ranks, for it had been her only home since she was rescued by Svetlana in the winter of her first year of life. Together the herds created a well-trodden path to...where? Wherever it led, she knew it would take her to Vadim, and she was more than comfortable with admitting her curiosity where it concerned the silent colt. Not that much didn't interest her, of course, but that went without saying. Everything interested the brilliant young mare, but for now she knew her safety from whatever was chasing the muttering, wild-eyed herd members, was more important. It was not just her life that was at stake, after all. Looking down at the ivory orb she had been carrying since the day the Gods had granted it to her, she smiled softly. Finally, she would have a friend, someone who would not leave her side. She hoped. She did not want to keep the child at her side if he or she did not like her, but with what she'd observed in the bondeds she'd met, it wasn't like that.
Trailing on the sidelines of the shuffling horses, she frowned curiously at something in the distance. It seemed almost like a battle...she moved closer, away from the protection of the traveling masses. It led her into the dry grasslands of the heart, and she swallowed her scream as a demonic...thing bit a literal chunk of flesh off a screaming equine. It was half-eaten, made of rotting flesh and bone, with sunken in eyes and protruding limbs. Nayati turned before it could look at her, her old panic clawing at her chest until it burned, and she ran towards the herd horses once more. She didn't even look twice at the hole they all began to disappear under, soft and frantic voices alike echoing from whatever chamber they had entered. Carefully as she could in her state, she lowered herself into the depths of the earth as well, clutching the egg nervously. Down here, her flowers were sparse as they bloomed, but they stubbornly shot up through the harder earth to follow her as they always would. Uncomfortable around all the strangers she saw, and wanting a place to break down and cry after what she'd seen, she ran past all the others that stood around muttering.
Nayati only stopped when her tears overcame her, barely managing to press herself to a wall and slide down so that she would not fall and harm the egg. Spasming, she fought for every breath, tears making tracks down her cheeks as her chest burned. It lasted far longer than any other she'd had, usually triggered by social anxiety or stress, and she knew she wouldn't be sleeping well in this dark cave of supposed protection. But...it didn't seem so dark...looking up through tear-hazed eyes, confused, she stared in awe at the mural she had collapsed against. It was glowing like it desired to come to life, and she recognized the forms of the Gods she'd heard so much about but never seen with her own eyes. It was...simply breathtaking.
She was further distracted from her tears by wobbling against her chest, and she peered down at her egg, shocked. Was it finally time? Nervous and excited at the same time, she swung her long locks over the egg, offering her warmth and solidarity to the little life stubbornly making its way out of the confinements she had carried for so long. It took a few hours, but Nayati was a very patient individual, and slowly but surely the fissures in the surface of the egg began to deepen and widen. Until, finally, a tiny scaled nose poked through a little hole, eggshell stuck on the wet snout that sniffed the new air inquisitively.
Nayati sucked in her breath and held it, dazzled by this event. Slowly her companion- she had no idea what it was, didn't care, for she loved it already- began to shove its way through the egg, revealing curved horns and soft ears, and the biggest ruby eyes she'd ever seen. Her breath left her, staring into those replicas. She'd seen them time and again, viewing her reflection. Those were her eyes, mirrored back at her in the face of the child she was to bond with. With a resounding crack! in the modest silence of the cavern she'd sought haven in, the top of the egg was completely removed. From it came a delicate body, scales glistening whereas feathers were slick from fluid. It...it was a dragon! Nayati stared down at her beloved, feeling her heart soar with love for the fragile creature as it looked up at her, tumbling towards her on clumsy claws.
It looked at her, cocked its head, and went "Ryuu?" Her heart melted. It was clearly male, she could tell, and it was almost giving her a headache as their bond solidified, sending her what he was feeling in his newborn state. It was just so...intense. Leathery wings flapped uselessly and he gave out a slightly more frustrated "Ryuu!" as if demanding something. Nayati laughed gently, realizing it was time to name her beloved.
"Hello, Rathunax. I'm Nayati."
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May We Stay Lost on Our Way Home :: Dragon Hatching
