Nin’Queesha was watching Killren with a secretive eye, as the final students gathered their papers from the great fire dragon. Her connection with the Fiamma female was not as strong as it was with her other bond but the elemental couldn’t help but pick up on Killren’s frustrated mood. She would have to wait until the hall had cleared to ask her bond about what it was, if only to avoid any eavesdropping, which invariably occurred with the less polite students. Even so, Nin’Queesha was fairly certain she knew what was wrong... Killren’s brood, the five dragonets who had stayed with the mother dragon after the MonFiamma Frenzy, had left, on to bigger and better things, and Killren needed something to get her mind off of the emptiness they had left behind. Nin’Queesha knew the feeling, and the scheming elemental already had quite a good idea as to how she would pull Killren out of her slump.
“That’s it,” one of the archivists said, folding the parchment that they had been listing names on, and tucking it into an oversized pocket on the inside of her robe. Nin’Queesha nodded, not really caring to pay attention. “Killren all right, Queesha?” The old woman asked tentatively.
“She will be,” the elemental said with a little smile. “If I have anything to say about it.”
“Ah yes,” the archivist chuckled knowingly. “As long as you are on it, dear.” Nin’Queesha placed a strong hand on the slender shoulder of the elder creature and with a dismissing grin glided past her and to the side of the relaxing Killren. The great dragon turned her head slowly to regard her bond, her eyes glinting suspiciously.
~Yes?~ The deep voice of the dragon’s telepathy was accented by shifting shades of reds and grey, a sure sign that she was in a bad mood.
~Is that anyway to greet your old bond?~ Nin’Queesha questioned, her sendings clearly feigning hurt.
~It is, when your bond is clearly planning something...~ Killren paused in thought and then added, ~Especially when that bond is you, Queesha.~ The elemental felt a smile creep across her thin lips.
~Planning something for you!~ She sent back.
~Why am I not surprised? Is this punishment for encouraging that frenzy?~ Now that the room had emptied, Nin’Queesha took a seat in one of the vacated chairs and stared up at her friend.
~You know I had fun with that.~ Nin’Queesha’s fiery eyes shifted down towards the feet entwined in one another beneath the chair. ~I found out about something that I think you might be interested in, anyway. That is what I wanted to talk with you about.~
~Oh?~
~Your daughter, Sirisen, has a clutch at Star City.~ Killren was silent for a long while, brooding over the idea. Finally, Nin’Queesha filled the silence herself. ~I thought you might want to go see them...~
~I couldn’t leave now,~ Killren replied. ~With the new students just in, how will this place get along without me?~
~If I promise to watch over things?~
~Hmmm....~

* * *

Killren was failing to contain her excitement, and she was starting to get some stares, but she had never been to Star City before, and she hadn’t seen Sirisen in quite a while. And grandchildren... the idea was rather intimidating. Anyway, there was no time to be worried, the hatching bay was near and already Killren could sense the young dragons, and her daughter.
Sirisen seemed surprised to see her mother, when the dragoness was finally deposited in the hatching bay which housed the clutch, but surprise quickly gave way to happiniess. Killren approached her child and the two of the them took a moment to take one another in. Once she was done commenting on Sirisen’s growth, Killren allowed herself to eye the young dragons that were beginning to take some notice of her.
~They are beautiful.~ She told her daughter.
~I couldn’t agree more,~ Sirisen said frankly. ~Would you like to meet them?~ Killren allowed herself to be led into the midst of the little dragons.
~Who is this?~ One asked, a red and white male.
~A sponsor?~ Asked another, this one opal female.
~Your grandmother, actually,~ Sirisen said pleasantly. Killren blushed happily as several of the kits seemed rather enthralled by the idea. ~And I don’t know if she is planning on bringing anyone home with her.~ The whole group had stopped to stare at Killren, waiting for her input on the matter.
~I don’t know.~ The dragoness said slowly, ~It will be hard to choose any one out of all you...~ One little female, with some very nice black and white markings on her hind legs, fluttered onto Killren’s head and peeked down into the elder dragon’s eyes.
~Lots of us are nice.~ She said pleasantly.
~What is your name, little flame?~ Killren asked, liking the spunky little female.
~Nolary.~ She said proudly.
~Hey, grandma!~ Cried the white female. ~My name is Royanet!~
~And don’t forget me! I am Wekevin.~ At the call of the little male, the others gathered in and around. Killren smiled brightly at her daughter who returned the expression. It was definitely going to be hard to decide which one of all these cute little dragonets she would want to sponsor.
~Don’t crowd now,~ Killren said to the hatchlings. ~I have time to hear all your names...~