| In times of emergency, everyone involved must keep their head. -On wall in Hilda Garde 3 Part 79 [. . . No . . .] � I don�t believe you. Lay down.� I obeyed, but I didn�t like it. My head was lifted up and then placed in a lap. Someone stroked my face and cooed gently. Then my tail was touched. The pain was unbearable. I shrieked and leapt to my feet, headed for the open window. But I was never to get that far. � Catch her!� From nowhere, Tiovex appeared in my path. I tried to dodge around him, but in the state I was in, he was a thousand times quicker. He bowled me over and stood on me, eyes warning me to stay put and quit fighting. The hands returned, even more kind than before. � I�m so sorry, Mother. I wasn�t trying to hurt you.� I let myself be inspected yet again, though this time my tail was avoided. It was rather annoying to be touched everywhere, but they were family and it was for their peace of mind, so I let it go. � Is she okay?� asked a voice across the room. � Yeah. She�ll be okay. Tiovex, could you help me?� [Of course.] He laid on me and held my mouth shut. [Now be a good empress and don�t fight me.] I was about to nod when my tail was reset. I let out a muffled scream and my feet scrabbled uselessly on the floor. Tiovex pinned me harder and glared at me. [Swallow it.] I resisted momentarily, then swallowed the fire. � What was that?� Kuja inquired. � When a dragon is about to breathe fire or ice or whatever, the attack is reflected in their eyes.� Beatrix let out a short scream and we all looked at her. � What is that?!� she demanded, pointing at a scared dragon hatchling. Dazedly, Kuja moved forward. He began to walk more slowly with every step and crouched down, one hand out playcatingly. � Come here, sweetheart. That�s a good girl.� (Since he�d begun to live in Swiftwing, he�d learned the telltale differences between the genders.) The confused hatchling sniffed his outstretched hand tentatively, then took a wary step closer and sniffed his knee, his hair, and finally, his face. She climbed up onto his leg and then to his shoulder. He turned to me. � Can I keep her?� I got to my feet slowly, Tiovex bracing me on my right and Zidane had a supportive hand against my neck and side on my left. [I don�t care, as long as she behaves.] Tiovex nodded. [The first sign of disobedience and she has to stay on the ground where she belongs.] � You mean I�d have to---� The silver dragon hatchling, sensing his distress, nuzzled his cheek. [No. She would just have to stay on the ground.] He let out a relieved sigh. � For a minute I thought . . .� A shadow appeared from the window and all attention went to the ironite perched there predatorily. Its gaze was locked on the hatchling, which shrank against Kuja and slipped around behind his head, peering out fearfully. The ironite leapt into the room. I zipped into its path and struck, giving no warning. It fell to the floor, almost dead. A second shadow appeared from the window. I bristled at the new intruder. Zidane put a hand on my head, trying unsuccessfully to smooth down the scales there. � Calm down. It�s only the messenger.� [Only the messenger?] the serpion cried indignantly. [I travel on foot, mind you, and it�s not easy when crossing mountains! I want wings!] � But then you wouldn�t be a serpion.� [I�ll eat the white sparrow eggs,] he threatened. � Do it and you�re living dead.� There was a bit of silence. [A~nyway, here�s the . . .] He glanced back and forth. [Am I interrupting something?] � Nothing�s been started. Go ahead.� [Well, the word from the cave imps is that the hornets have all the buzz, but I don�t believe it and neither should you.] � I don�t trust animals.� [Perfect. Neither do I.] He paused, then frowned. [Hey . . .] � Just get to the point.� [Of course. Well, there�s been an increase in the dragon population, which can be considered both good and bad for you humans.] � Let me guess. Serpions.� [Precisely.] He made a face and glared at Zidane. [No! How rude to make such assumptions!] Zidane shrugged. � I�m just looking at the track record.� [Well look at the track record of ironites!] He nodded at the ironite that was slowly pulling itself to its feet. [They�re just as bad!] � But we�re not up to our ears in them.� [You�re not �up to your ears� in serpions either! I dare say that there is plenty of room for everyone to live happily!] � Why are you so defensive?� [Because no one else will stand up for their kind!] The ironite cast its hungry gaze on the silver dragon hatchling, but then remembered my presence and thought better of it, slinking past the serpion and leaving Alexandria. The hatchling tangled herself in Kuja�s hair and then fell asleep. The serpion finally got to give its message. � If I got you a partner, one for long-distance messaging, would you have a fit?� [No.] � Okay, good. I already have somebody in mind then.� [Who?] � Ah, just a red dragon.� [A red dragon?! But it would never fit in the stable . . .!] <--Part 78 Part 80--> |