Burning Flame (New Version)

Hope is Born

A large, crimson dragoness curled herself tightly into a ball at the back of a damp cavern. Her eyes were bright as she stretched her long neck to look down at her tail. Suddenly a muffled squeak pierced the air and she growled softly as her eyes rested on the egg tucked in the crook of her tail. Tiny fissures were forming on the smooth shell. Soon a horned nose popped out, followed by a bright red scaly snout.  The dragoness lowered her snout just above the egg and nosed it ever so gently.

"Come out, my little champion. Prove that you are as strong as your ancestors."

There was another frustrated squeak, and she chuckled to herself.

There was a short pause. Suddenly the eggshell burst into minute fragments and a tiny hatchling lurched out from its depths, tumbling into the dragoness' tail. It shook its head in confusion and blinked its bright orange eyes before it looked at its surroundings. It chirped excitedly as it inspected the cavern around it. Then a humming started in its throat as it beheld the gigantic mass of its mother. It had to move its head and neck to even see all of her with its small size.

She smiled down at her hatchling.

"Now the question remains... are you a dragon or dragoness?"

Her tail abruptly flipped it over and the hatchling squealed in futile protest. The dragoness hummed deep in her throat and chest.

"A dragon. Your father will be overjoyed, my little Prince."

She carefully helped him back onto his feet and pulled him closer to her side. He could feel her humming and a deep feeling of comfort enveloped him. She shifted her wing so that it created a warm, dry tent around his vulnerable body. Curious, he twitched his own little wings. Then he wiggled his taloned toes and his long tail. However his curiosity was cut short by his exhaustion. Within seconds he was fast asleep within the safety of his mother's wing.

The dragoness perked up abruptly, her eyes narrowed towards the entrance of the cavern. The sound of wingbeats could be heard as well as the clatter of talons landing on solid rock. Three silhouettes appeared in the broad daylight, and the dragoness relaxed as she recognized them. A great dragon, larger than herself, walked forward first. He was a broad, handsome red dragon. He had great, sweeping golden horns that protruded just behind his eye crests, with golden frills tucked neatly beneath them. His fiery orange eyes locked on hers, a look of understanding deep within them.

"My dearest Magma," he growled softly as he approached her, "how are you? How is our hatchling?"

He lowered his sturdy neck and touched his snout to hers affectionately. They nuzzled for a moment before he broke away and stared at her questioningly.

"Your son and I are more than fine, Inferno. He is the spitting image of you," she whispered.

Inferno perked up at this, his face brightening.

"A son? Where is he? I must see it for myself."

Magma grinned and lifted her wing slowly, revealing the hatchling beneath. Inferno took in a sharp breath as he stared at the bundle of red scales, his eyes scanning it with disbelief.

"Have you named him yet?" a feminine voice broke in.

Magma turned her head to see another dragoness standing beside Inferno. She was sleek and slender, being slightly smaller than Magma, with purple and gold scales. She had piercing green eyes that watched the other dragoness intently; one would almost say protectively.

"Not yet, Solaris. I figured I would wait until all of you showed up so we could decide on the perfect name."

"Giving names to hatchlings isn't exactly my strong suit," a gruff voice rumbled behind Solaris and Inferno.