DragonTribes #2: ForestTribe

Chapter 13: The Dragonlings

Petunia followed Zoe and Dad's footprints. She didn't know what came over her, but she was already extremely protective of the young ones. Her ears would flick forward anytime one made a peep. I guess its just because I don't want them to grow up without a parent like I did. Petunia could hear the busy tribe again. They were close to the house.

"They're cute." Zoe said.

Petunia cooed. She wished she knew what they looked like. There was a tug on the right side of her mouth. Petunia turned right and followed Zoe around the house. She heard the creak of the gate as it opened. She walked into her pen. Zoe released the reins. Her hand rubbed Petunia's forehead.

"Drop it." Zoe commanded Petunia.

Petunia wiggled her tongue until the bit lifted over her first teeth. She opened her jaw and let the bit fall out. It jingled as it landed in Zoe's hand. The basket made a strange noise as it was set down. Petunia lowered her head so it would be level with the dragonling's. The basket sounded as if it was laid down in her shack, Petunia guessed. She walked towards the shack, beak still lowered. Her ears rotated as curious chirps emitted from the shack. Dad's heavier footprints walked out of the shack and around Petunia. Petunia paused, looked in the direction of the footsteps, then focused her attention back to the young ones. They were still chirping. Being only three weeks old, they wouldn't start speaking for another week or so.

"Careful, Petunia, you're close to the basket." Zoe cautioned Petunia.

Petunia sniffed. The dragonlings smelled like a blanket. Probably what they laid on instead of laying with their MotherDragon. Petunia jumped left and raised her head as her side unexcpectedly rubbed against the doorframe of the shack. There was a scared squawk from inside the shack.

"It's alright, I just got surprised." Petunia cooed.

Petunia sat and leaned against the wall of the shack. She slowly extended her legs forward, feeling for the basket. As her belly touched the ground, her claw tapped the basket. Petunia extended her neck and rested it between her talons. The basket produced a strange noise as one of the dragonlings squirmed out. Petunia rotated her ears. There was footsteps aprroaching the shack, Petunia guessed they were Zoe's by how light they were.

"That's the little male." Zoe's voice sounded nearby; Petunia could tell she was happy by her tone.

Then, there was a light touch at Petunia's belly. The dragonling pressed up against her stomach. She felt the soft feathers of his wing. The dragonling's heat soaked into her scales. Petunia lifted her head and sniffed the dragonling. It cooed at her. She returned her head to its original position. Another dragonling escaped the basket. Petunia rotated her ears listening for the dragonlings tiny footsteps, but she could not hear them. The have to be tiny to be so light on their feet. The young one at her belly squirmed as his sibling laid next to him. Their feathers tickled Petunia, but she strained not to move and startle the young ones. The heat on her belly grew stronger.

"That one is a female." Zoe said.

Petunia lifted her head again and brought her beak to her stomach. She sniffed the little female, who sniffed back. The female's scent was sweeter than the males, but both had the scent of a blanket. Petunia rested her head between her front legs again. The basket made a large crash as the final dragonling climbed out of it. It squawked in alarm. Petunia instantly raised her head, ears rotating with worry.

"It's alright the basket just flipped over." Zoe soothed her, "This one is also female. She's the runt, I believe."

Petunia cooed and rested her head back at its original spot. There was light scratching at her wrist. Petunia flicked her left ear back to listen to the runt climb over her leg. The young one slipped and fell onto Petunia's beak. Petunia sneezed. The runt chirped and scrambled off Petunia's beak. She yawned and curled into a ball next to Petunia's chin. Her feathers tickled Petunia's nose, but she didn't dare sneeze because she was very comfortable.