With a little wave to them, he turned his attention back on the sands. It would be almost half a candlemark before the bulk of the eggs had hatched. Then several eggs broke open at once, and Kellen was watching a beautiful green impress to one of the girls.
When the bronze who had slunk stealthily out of his shell almost bowled him over, he bespoke.
You do not need to watch that green! She is not as important as me, is she?
"Stoenth, of course that green isn't more important than you! I just wanted to see who she would impress, that's all."
They managed to pry themselves off the sands, and into the hall for the first of many meals together! Little Summer toddled up to the bronze, who was, even at his hatchling age, more than five times her size.
"This is Stoenth," announced Kellen. Summer nodded deeply.
"'es a bronze," Summer said, patting him on the muzzle. "Bronzes get big! Daddy! 'e'll be big enuf for you t'ride!"
They laughed, and feasted.
K'len concentrated on his studies, and noted the similarities to building structures like archways and domes, that these dragon wings had. Mentally he connected everything he could to his prior learning, and knew that if he could just keep that up, he might...
He might make a good wing leader?
The thought ran a thrill through the big man's heart.
I like that thought too, my friend! Can you not see me up in the air, in front of them all?
I can, but we can't put you there yet! You and I have to keep working over those drills and threadfall patterns.
I am good at those already. And you are getting better at that human work you do down there. We will fly in front, K'len, I promise!
Summer squealed with delight, as they flew. She was dwarfed by the head of the dragon, but she clung on between his head knobs, supported by her father's steady hands. He had no fear of her falling -- and besides, Stoenth certainly would never let harm come to his rider's young!
We are almost there, and we will be needing rest. I will feed before we leave for good.
"Where're we goin' daddy?" Summer asked.
"We will be going to a place called Alskyr. I will still get to ride, and you'll probably find it nice too."
"I hope so," Heather sighed. "It's been too long since we had a place to stay without worry..."
K'len said nothing about the ants...
