Talon's of Life & Death

14

*Trigger Warning: Explicit Language used*

~~~

"What a day!" Maddox complains as he seats himself down in the lounge room.

We were now crowded back in the safety of the Rider mansion, with Mei and Adrian lingering closely around us. A roaring fire was crackling in the fireplace, thanks to Sky.

Kessa pushes Maddox's feet out of her way as she sits on the other end of the sofa. Sky had the armchair, with Mei and Adrian standing by the entryway, and Nikos had the other sofa, his expected gaze on me. I had taken to the floor in front of the fire. Crossed legs, with my egg placed perfectly in between. My egg. How strange it was to say that.

"When will it hatch?" I ponder, gazing at the milky blackness of the shell. It was rough to run my hand across, but I didn't mind the bumps. Every egg was different.

"It's hard to say." Mei answers with a smile.

Sky leans further back into the armchair, getting comfortable. "They'll come out when they want to."

"Yeah, let's not forget how Kessa's took nearly a week." Maddox muses to no one but Kessa.

She glares at him. "Tulsa wasn't ready."

"She made her own way into this world." Nikos says with a comforting look Kessa's way.

I sigh. "I don't want to wait a week."

Kessa scoffs. "Yeah, tell me about it. The nerves almost killed me."

"Patience is key." Mei says as Adrian wraps an arm around his wife's shoulders.

I twitch nervously. "I don't think I can sleep until they've hatched."

Nikos watches me cautiously. I did not need to meet his gaze to know that he could read where my thoughts lay. I won't be able to sleep, because if I do, all I'll see is nightmares. Horrible scenarios that my mind will fathom on believing that my egg will not hatch. That my Dragon will not survive.

"How about this then," Sky's sudden alarming tone pulls me from my thoughts, and brings me to face him. "We will all stay with you, until your flame hatches." I could offer no words, just a surprised blink.

"That is a great idea!" Mei beams, Adrian humming his agreement.

"But—" Maddox starts, only for Kessa to silence him with a kick to his leg.

Nikos offers a small, dimpled smile to his brother. "That does sound like a comforting option. How kind of you to offer, Sky."

Sky's face twists into a small grimace. He was probably wishing that he could take it back. "Well, anyone would have suggested it—"

"What about training?" Maddox whines, ignoring Sky.

Adrian perks up. "Of course you will still have to train. All of you."

Mei slaps his chest. "Do not be daft dear. Not for one second should anyone's attention drift from aiding your fellow Rider, and her flame. A support system goes a long way. You all know that, better than anyone. You are a team. You must work together, and be there for one another."

Maddox blatantly rolls his eyes, Nikos catches the moment the same time I do. Stifling a laugh at Maddox's lack of interest. "What if we need to shower, or pee?"

We all laugh, but Mei wasn't even the slightest bit amused. "Behave yourself Maddox Avery. Until Sith's Dragon is born, you will stick together. No training," She points at Adrian. "And no distractions." She narrows her gaze on Maddox. "I believe in all of you. This is a wonderful, bonding exercise!"