Book One: Onnu and Pannu

Precious Cargo

In the morning, the new kin woke to see the dragons coiled around each other in one unified lump. It made them feel more secure in this new world... until they remembered that they wouldn't be staying with them.
   During the night, Onnu had been gifted knowledge that would settle the minds of most, and unsettle the mind of one.
   When most of them had left their sleeping niches, she spoke, still curled atop her eggs.
   "You will not be left without a dragon, little ones. It seems you are to be left in charge of very special cargo."
   Then she did move, to rather pointedly expose her children to them. They had not hatched yet, of course, but her point was gotten across well enough.
   When they'd overcome their shock, one ogre pointed out that it was larger than any of the sleeping niches.
   "And that is why our very first lessons will be in the making of clay and glass. We will construct a dome to protect it. You will need to keep them warm, of course. It would not be unwise to take turns sleeping in their dome at night, but you could also pile dried grasses around their egg. You will need to monitor it for fire, however. I recommend ogres or gargoyles for fire watch, as you are fireproof. Orcs, you are fire resistant, but can still be harmed by prolonged flames."
   They looked at the eggs with awe and trepidation. None of them were brave enough to touch the shells of eggs that were larger than any of them.
   "You think we can build something that can house something that big, before you leave?" an elf asked.
   "I know we can. Trey, can you take them to the nearest water source? Actually, is there a lake or something nearby? I was assuming we'd have claysand here, but I was a bit preoccupied to look when we landed."
   As often as the dragons said "we" and "us", the little kin couldn't really be blamed for assuming that they were mates. Not given the way they slept.
   For his part, Trey did nothing to dispel the notion. Onnu didn't really notice. If she had, she might not have left him alone with large groups of them as often as she did.
   Trey carried a few in his paws, with more flying unsteadily above his wings. If the winged kin fell, his great wing membranes would catch them before they fell very far. They were not up to carrying anyone yet, but they knew they would have to build the stamina before the dragons left. Anyone with wings stood taller than the ones on dragon-rich worlds did. They would have far more responsibilities than winged kin elsewhere.
   Those left behind began looking along the narrow ends of the Bowl for the ideal site for the egg shelter. Onnu helped them, as she knew what would and would not work.
   "Are these your first eggs?" she was asked. She couldn't know that they meant "you" plural, so she answered for herself.
   "I have laid more eggs than I currently wish to count. Only three have been dragons, until yesterday. Was it yesterday? Day before? Goodness, I've already lost track of the days!"
   Her distress was real. She had a fortnight, no more. If she didn't count the days accurately, she wouldn't know how much time she had left to teach them!
   Onnu scratched at the rock above the spot they chose for the egg to incubate. Then she scratched a line beside it. This rock, it seemed, was able to be carved, unlike Tupin rock. She couldn't know whether there was harder rock beneath, but as long as she could mark the days, she didn't care.
   "I laid your eggs yesterday, but I arrived the day before. Will He count that first day?" She was talking to herself. No one here could answer her. She would have to fly Above to get a reply. "Well, for now, I will leave these two marks. If He says that partial day counts, I will add another."
   "Who?" a faun asked. They seemed reluctant to break into her musings, but also keen to interact with her as much as they could, before she left forever.
   Onnu looked down, having quite forgotten that she had an audience. "God, of course. Dragons are His humble servants, the same as all of you. I just... have a sort of... closer connection, I guess? I can ask, and sometimes He chooses to answer a bit more clearly than he does others."
   Her paws touched firth again, and she turned to address the small crowd that had formed. "I cannot die by mundane means, you see. I can die, but not by time, or fire, or even falling from Above. For such a creature to exist... It is in His best interest to keep closer tabs on us. So it is with Elder Dragons. Ah, I must warn you of Crossing Day!" She slapped her brow ridge lightly.
   "Once a year, on the day of Rapture on Erdewaz--the day the first of us appeared on Tupino, and the other Fortnight Worlds--we celebrate Crossing Day. If the dragon has hatched, their eyes will glow like mine, and you will hear me speak through their mouth. My apologies to my child in advance. I have heard that it is an... odd experience.
   "In this way, we can share knowledge across the worlds, once per year."
   "You mean we only get to hear you again once a year?" The furgoyle sounded quite young. She felt terrible, but what could she do? She had to go home!