Khaalida happily took Eona's hand letting her squeeze to her
heart's content. "I think the only thing I regret is running away
from you guys, though I have to say, you did frighten me a lot."
She chuckled, remembering when the group first came upon her.
Melez nodded. "Well, I learned my lesson, to not get on your bad
side." She said with a wink, which made Khaalida blush. "I'm still
sorry that I hit you," Melez shook her head. "And I've forgiven
you."
Drayce nodded. What or who would be stupid enough to attack two
large dragons? Though it's still reassuring to have you right there
Azazael,
"In your defense, you had two dragons, a god, this wonderful,
powerful half angel, half demon, a demon and a necromancer coming
at you. Definitely something to be weary about. I'm just glad no
one got seriously injured and we are all friends," she said,
smiling as she lazily kicked her feet under the water.
"Never know. But I've got your back regardless," Azazeal shrugged,
smiling. "I'm glad to be here. And honored."
Khaalida chuckled and nodded. "Okay, you have a point... I'm glad I
didn't end up hurting anyone as well, though I'm still a bit
embarrassed about when I ran off on you guys for the second
time..." She then realized that Eona didn't know what had happened
when she ran for the second time.
Melez nodded and laid her head back against the warm stone. "Same
here," She hummed quietly as she relaxed.
We're about halfway there, how's your brother doing? Catching
up? Drayce asked as he sped up a little.
Eona reached out, patting her friends hand. "It's alright. Faolan
went and got you. All ended well, as it should have," she said by
way of comfort. She was assuming Khaalida meant the day she'd
brought Faolan home. "What are your plans? If I may prod you about
them."
Ask him yourself, Zorn called, streaking past Drayce with
Faolan laughing maniacally on his back. He looked like he was
having a blast on the god's scaly hide.
Azazeal laughed, watching the pair. "I think he caught up to us, my
friend," he told Drayce helpfully.
Khaalida looked up to Eona momentarily confused, but decided to
roll with it. "We, don't really have plans." She said slowly.
"Other than being together for a long time." She added with a
smile. "So, how soon do you think the eggs will come out and then
hatch?"
Now it's my turn, hold on. Drayce grinned to himself and
worked his wings harder and tucked his legs closer to his body as
he almost went half again as fast as he had already been going.
"Soon. Very soon on laying. I'm guessing a week at most," Eona
said, smiling as she rubbed her belly. "After that, it's up to
them. It'll most likely be a month or two. But it could take
longer."
Azazeal held on, roaring with laughter as he watched his brother's
look fall. Zorn pumped harder, following Drayce's lead in pulling
his legs in close so he could fly faster.
Khaalida smiled and nodded. "Any ideas on names for them?" She
asked softly as she looked over to Nathana and Hecate. The former
of which had woken up, but remained still and simply laid there
happily.
Drayce began angling his head so he gained altitude, but only
slightly. Maybe a foot or two every few seconds. He had a beautiful
plan, and he knew it'd work.
"Drayce and I don't have any names picked out for sure. We are
certain we want their names to mean something so we think we're
going to wait for them to hatch before we decide on anything for
sure. Any suggestions?" the red head asked, turning her gaze on the
sleeping couple. She smiled, watching as Hecate's eyes fluttered
opened and she yawned, curling into her beloved.
Azazeal tried to figure out his plan, watching his brother as the
young god tried to gain on them.
"Hmm," Khaalida hummed softly as she leant back onto her hands. "Is
there anyone in your past that you'd want to honor by using their
name?" She didn't really have any good ideas, so that's what she
came up with. "Or, are there any descriptions you like? My name,
Khaalida, it means deathless and immortal... By some sick twist of
fate, that is what my parents named me."
Nathana nuzzled into Hecate's hair as she adjusted her gentle hold
on her.
Drayce kept climbing. Let me know if you get cold, He said
as he made them rise a bit faster.
"Exactly, names that have importance to you." Khaalida smiled and
set aside the empty sack. "Eona, would you want to share a pool?"
She asked quietly, not knowing if that was over stepping any
boundaries.
"But then it'd get confusing," Nathana giggled as she kissed the
top of Hecate's head. "If Eona called for Hecate, then you and the
little dragon would go running,"
Drayce grinned and climbed almost to the clouds before he leveled
off. Hold on tight, He thought moments before diving and
gaining an almost ungainly amount of speed. Look out below!!
He added a roar to make his reclaiming the lead more triumphant.
"Of course! I'll stay like this and you can come on in," Eona
exclaimed excitedly, making room for her friend. She was excited,
glad Khaalida was willing to come closer. Giggling at Hecate and
Nathana's conversation, she added, "I have to agree with Nat. Much
as I love you all, that would definitely get confusing."
Hecate nodded, conceding. "Yes, but it would be funny."
Azazeal clung to his friends back, laughing as they zoomed past his
brother. Zorn watched, his mouth hanging open as he continued to
flap his wings laboriously.
Khaalida carefully slid herself into the pool, barely making a
sound as she entered. "Very." She smiled and settled herself about
halfway into the water. "Eona," She asked quietly, her smile
faltering. "What did you first think of me? When we first met, and
then when I told you what I eat... I've just been, wondering about
it..."
"It would be," Nathana giggled. "Until it became annoying." She
absentmindedly ran her hand along Hecate's side and shoulder.
Drayce almost smacked into a tree as he landed on the side of the
mountain, his wings spread wide, his jaw agape as he breathed
heavily making his barrel-like ribcage swell and deflate. Well
flown Zorn! Well flown! You still hanging on Faolan?
"Well, when we met, all I wanted to do was make sure you were okay.
Then, when I found out what you ate, I was more focused on how we
were going to get you blood so you wouldn't be hungry. I know what
it's like to be hungry and I don't want any of our group to have to
deal with that. Honestly, it didn't really phase me. It doesn't
bother me. Just like it doesn't bother me or phase me that Nat can
shapeshift, Hecate talks to the dead, or anything else that goes on
with us. We just are. Why change that?" Eona explained, smiling
softly. Then she gently nudged Khaalida, asking, "What did you
think of me? Of what I am?"
Hecate shivered and snuggled closer, purring like a kitten against
Nat. "True."
Faolan laughed uncontrollably on Zorn's back as the god landed next
to Drayce, breathing heavily as well. Unable to stop laughing,
Faolan threw Drayce a thumbs up. Azazeal laughed, rubbing Drayce's
side. "Well done, my friend. You flew magnificently and I won't
soon forget it." He's amazing! Zorn agreed.
Khaalida blushed and stared at a small pebble, a small smile crept
onto her lips as Eona spoke. "What did I think of you?" She turned
to look at Eona, her head tilted slightly. "I was amazed by you,
completely amazed... A little scared, but amazed..." She turned her
focus back to the stone. "Once I got to know you, you seemed so
comfortable with your secret, so, so..." She paused to find the
right word. "So at peace with yourself... All of you are like
that..." She sighed softly.
Nathana hummed and nuzzled against Hecate's hair happily.
Drayce let out loud barking sounds as he laughed, making sure he
didn't fall over with Azazael still on his back. Don't short
change yourself Zorn, you had some pretty good flying yourself!
He managed to catch his laughter so that he could bow his head a
little before erupting into laughter again.
"I was never afraid to be a dragon. They didn't hurt me when I was
in my dragon form. I guess it's easier on a consciousness to stuff
a five to six foot dragon into a cage the it is to put a couple
feet tall little girl. It was hiding in my human form that was
scary. Until I learned to adapt to survive, I was scared about
anything that walked on two legs. Thankfully, there aren't any
predators around here willing to take on a dragon, even just a
hatchling. So I was pretty much okay with being who am. I was
terrified of others killing me for being what I had no control
over. I've always wished I had other dragons around but I've got my
mate now so we'll be alright," Eona mused. Leaning her head back on
the lip of the pool, she smiled, breathing easily.
Faolan managed to get himself under control and grinned up at his
friends. "Okay, that was the coolest thing ever! Can we please do
that again some day?" he asked. Azazeal had wisely climbed off
Drayce and was hanging next to the guys, a smile on his features.
Khaalida nodded, her eyes on the entrance of the cave.
"Unfortunately, I look just like a human, aside from being a bit
paler than most others... They had no issues hurting me once they
found out how I liv- uh, exist." She sighed and shook her head.
"Anyways, off of a sad subject." She forced a small smile and
settled deeper into the water. "What is your favorite thing about
your dress?"
Drayce felt Azazael climb off, and it was just in time too for he
fell over to his side laughing aloud with the others. Of course!
We must do that again at some point! Zorn, would you be game for
another flight? Maybe not a race, but perhaps a fun flight? He
offered with a toothy grin.
Eona gently put her hand over Khaalida's shoulder. "Living is more
then just breathing and eating. There are some living people who
are more dead then alive. And there are some dead people who are
more alive then dead. You are living, Khaalida. You live with us.
Being happy, laughing, crying, letting yourself feel and react to
what's happening? That is how you live. But onto happier subjects.
My dress? Well...I think the way it flares over my curves that is
my favorite. Flaring over my hips and down my legs...yes, I think
that is my favorite part."
"That sounds awesome!" Faolan cheered, looking to Zorn with
hope.
[/I]I'm down for that! Let's go![/I] Zorn said, getting down so
Faolan could climb up.
Khaalida smiled and turned to look at Eona. "Would it be asking too
much for a hug?" She asked quietly, not wanting to wake the love
birds. "I think you'll look just beautiful Eona, you always do."
She added with a soft chuckle.
Drayce got to his belly and waited for Azazael to climb back on.
If you'd like, I could show you what I did to gain so much
speed. He didn't sound condescending at all, just an offer from
friend.
Eona smiled, wrapping her arms around Khaalida. "Not at all. And
thank you. I am so very excited. Things are going to go fast, I can
feel it," she said, happily hugging the undead woman.
Azazeal climbed up, patting Drayce's side. I would enjoy that,
Drayce, Zorn said, shaking himself lightly.