Intro Statistics Drakkin Story
Aubrey shifted uncomfortably in her suit. She wasn't sure how long she and the others had been standing outside of Dwahro's breeding barn, but it was long enough for the temperature to rise greatly in her UV-protection suit. She plucked a little at the suit's material, then surveyed the oddly mixed group waiting with her. |
Hmm... A shifter, a drow, a vampire, a horse-shifter, and a descendant of Earthlings. Oh, and herself, of course. Drakkin clutches did have a tendency to attract unusual crowds. Rey was at the back of the group, so she didn't see who it was who decided they should probably knock and try to get in themselves. |
The door to the barn opened and this clutch's buyers filed in. The Horse-shifter seemed somewhat startled at seeing his offering, an unusual statue of a horse, made of paper money and coins, standing proudly in the middle of the area, but he didn't comment. Several of the others donned night-vision goggles, and Rey gratefully removed her heavy suit. The breeding barns were always kept pitch-black. |
Rey noted that Dwahro was dressed in his customary black for the occasion, and saw he wore the black drakkinhidebelt from her offering. The silver embroidery of his shirt and a Lesthpoldian DragonStone were the only bits of him him that showed any color, save his silvery hair and colorful eyes. They looked at him expectantly, and he smiled politely and began. |
"It is good that all of you were able to make the event, and I am pleased to announce that all hatchlings are in good health, though it was a near thing in the beginning due to an...unexpected complication." He glanced at the one hatchling who wasn't posturing and trying to make his growls heard above the others, the one whose coloring set him strikingly apart from his siblings. |
"This event is going to be like all the others with only one difference - I will not be prodding the hatchlings to approach their pre-chosen buyers. They don't have pre-chosen buyers. Call it an experiment in drakkin psychology." |
No pre-chosen buyers?, Rey thought to herself. Trust me to find myself in the "experimental" clutch. |
Stepping back, Dwahro left a clear path from hatchlings to buyers. The young black and green immediately started forward but stopped at the other's movement and began challenging one another for first pick. An opportunistic young bronze took advantage of the situation and darted past both of them, running headlong into Yaaven. The shifter himself seized the opportunity presented and held on to the young drakkin until his struggles lessened. |
The black and green had settled their little match with the black on top of his opponent. Proud of his accomplishment, the victor strutted towards the buyers and happily bit down on Kody's ebony hand. |
"Ow!" the drow youth exclaimed, drawing his hand in protectively. "No! Bad drakkin! Bad!" His new charge had the grace to look guilty, proving that his training would not be as difficult as it might seem. |
As the green slunk back to the statue to sulk, the clutch's second black slunk towards the buyers, catching his choice by surprise. Byakko managed to keep his balance as the hatchling jumped at his back and sunk small, dangerous claws into his skin. How he managed to dislodge it was anyone's guess. |
Cinnibar watched all of this with mounting interest. All these ferocious young hatchlings, ripe for training and battle. He would have the patience to work with one of these younglings, mould them into promising young fighters and teach them-- |
A small noise at his feel caught the horse-shifter's attention and he looked down into a pair of pinky-red eyes. The albino sat in front of him, blinking cutely and looking for all the world like a little lost puppy. Cinnibar's expression was comical, to say the least. |
The vampire Kekkon smirked when he noticed the other's predicament. A fierce young bronze headed toward him, and he smiled when he saw the confidence in its step. This was a fighter for sure. |
With the green still sulking near the statue, Rey realized she could either stay where she was and hope he would snap out of it or go and approach him. Dwahro was watching her expectantly, waiting to see whether she would catch the hatchling's fancy, Lefati and Tikina laying sprawled near him. Their watchful gaze was also on the girl. |
Squaring her shoulders, Rey marched up to the drakkin and tapped on his head to get his attention. She was rewarded with a snap for her efforts, teeth only just missing her fingers. The green did not attempt a second, however, watching her with bright yellow eyes. "Are you coming?" she asked pointedly and began to walk away. |
If the scrabble of claws on rock behind her was any indication, he was. |
Dwahro concluded the event with almost the exact same words he had used before, having gone over the instructions many times over the years. His only addition was a gesture for Aubrey to stay behind afterwards. He had a few questions. |
"Before you leave, be sure to collect the small packages awaiting you at the door. They contain several species of subterranean insects that do well in the conditions that drakkin prefer. They will provide your hatchlings with hours of amusement and a ready source of snacks, as they breed quite rapidly. I look forward to seeing you in this city again someday, perhaps at the arena." |
As the others filed out, Rey gave another pointed glance at her hatchling, then strode over to Dwahro. The green followed eagerly behind her. "You wanted to ask some questions about the Globe?" |
