Domus Noctus

Chapter IV The Hatchling Event

'Rey 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 did not see who it was who decided they should probably knock and try to get in.

The door to the barn opened and the buyers filed in. The horse-shifter seemed startled at something; perhaps the giant horse statue made of paper money and coins in the center of the room. 'Rey was a bit startled as well. 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 drakkinhide belt from her offering. The silver embroidery of his shirt and a Lesthpoldian DragonStone were the only color on him, presumably also gifts from buyers. 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 something on the ground, and 'Rey had to stand on tiptoes to see over the buyers in front of her. It was a small, albino hatchling. No good for fighting, as was obvious by the fact that he was the only hatchling not play-fighting with his brothers.

"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. 'Rey watched as the young black and green fought over first pick of the buyers, and smirked as an opportunistic young bronze took advantage of the situation and darted past both of them, running headlong into Yaaven.

'Rey watched with interest as the black trounced his green opponent, and headed for a young drow... Kody. The defeated green slunk back to the garish statue.

She payed little attention to the other hatchlings, noting only that the horse-shifter seemed horrified by his unfightable albino.

'Rey looked up, suddenly realizing that she was the only buyer without a drakkin. The green still sulked by the statue, and she realized she could either stay where she was and hope he would snap out of it or go get him. Feeling Dwahro's expectant gaze on her, as well as two pairs of yellow drakkin eyes, she squared her shoulders and tapped on the little green's head to get its attention. He attempted to snap at her, tiny sharp teeth only just missing her fingers. He watched her with bright yellow eyes. "Are you coming?" she asked pointedly, and began to walk away.

It occurred to her that the hatchling might not follow her; she prayed to the gods that it would. Then she heard the scrabble of tiny claws on rock, and sighed with relief. It was most definately coming.

Dwahro concluded the event with almost the exact same words he had used before, his only addition a gesture for 'Rey to stay behind afterwards.

"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, Lord Breeder?"

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