The rumble seems to satisfy Vadir, although she continues to linger nearby and scrutinise the newborn with great interest. Leave him alone, says Volterra, amused despite himself at the queen's insatiable desire to poke and prod the hatchling. He's not a toy. With a haughty snort, Vadir deigns to obey the command and flutters onto her bonded's back where she nestles down comfortably, still not taking her eyes off the hatchling as she continues her feast.
The Mountain names her new companion Babel, and explains the reasons behind the name. "Interesting," he rumbles, and the word isn't said sarcastically - he is genuinely intrigued by the tale and its meaning. Perhaps it is setting the young dragon up to fall by naming him after a story of intelligence leading to destruction, but Volterra supposes he was guilty of the same thing when he named Vérzés after the Hungarian word for bleeding. He often thinks of the name and chuckles with a mixture of embarrassment and amusement, thinking he could have come up with something better now but also knowing that Vérzés wouldn't be Vérzés without his name.
And if the titan hadn't called his dragon that particular name, then perhaps Isopia would never have spoken to him on that day. Fate.
"Our first conversation was about names, do you remember?" He fixes her with his penetrative crimson gaze, knowing she will remember but wondering if she understands the meaning of it, the poetry, the mirror image of that first meeting reflected here. It is fitting that their fresh start should begin in the same way as their original one had, but with roles reversed - him attending her dragon's hatching, talking about names.
Perhaps that is why he simply cannot shake her, try as he might. Perhaps they are truly destined, two forces of nature on an inexorable, unchangeable path towards each other, leaving a trail of destruction and broken hearts in their wake.
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