Knowing The End (SAA Book 2) ✔

3: Newborn

The creature trembled, the wings finally coming unglued from its pale sides. The sticky wings were gorgeous to say the least, even if they were limp and uncoordinated. The thick webbed skin that connected the bone was a light sandy grey, similar to alabaster.

The body didn't adorn any plated scales yet. Only the face and forehead had little shiny newborn spots that resembled the first uprising of scales. The top of its angled head held two little horns that curled back and the tips pointed towards the ceiling. The creature blinked wearily, revealing two sets of eyelids. The second set of eyelids was transparent and glossy.

"Clayton..." Oren said breathlessly. "It's a dragon.. I-I didn't even think they were real. Uh, uh..." The elf's eyes were unable to tear away from the creature. "It's really a dragon.. A baby dragon!" he tried to keep his voice low as to not startle the dragonling.

Blunt little nubs aimed downwards to the tip of the tail, where it slimmed and ended to a flabby arrow shape. It swayed and curled as the creature sniffed around with lizard-like nostrils. How did Heath acquire such an exotic animal?

"I see it too... It's.. It's awesome." Clayton muttered, sauntering forward as he laid their child down onto the bed next to Oren. Oren looked over to him, nervous.

"But what if it's hostile? Don't put our kid next to this thing." Oren snapped protectively. Clayton laughed, reaching forward to smooth out the elf's hair.

"Come on, it's just a newborn. Let it get used to its surroundings. It doesn't seem to be hurting you anyway." Clayton insisted, grinning. The dragon stumbled over Oren's lap, leaning over with its long neck to sniff as the egg it just emerged from.

"Does it have a name?" Clayton asked, making the dragon look up to the human with bright crystal blue eyes. It blinked a few times, and looking back to Oren. It opened its mouth slightly, making a hoarse shriek with its throat.

"Not that I know of... Grab Heath's letter for me, will you? He said something on there about the egg." Oren requested. Clayton scurried out of the bedroom and retrieved the letter, reading it over silently.

"The dragon is a girl. No name, though." Clayton announced, looking up from the letter. The dragon shot her ebony tongue out and licked her grey flews as if her mouth were dry. She crawled off of Oren's lap and stumbled onto the bed, her tail dragging under her clawed paws. She opened her mouth and yawned, wings flapping weakly in the air. They stretched out like muscles and waved gently, proceeding to fold against her sides calmly.

"What should we name her then?" Oren looked up to Clayton through his white eyelashes, eyebrows lifting curiously. Clayton thought for a while, eventually shrugging in defeat.

"I dunno, Bella?" he suggested. He burst with laughter, sitting down next to the large dragonling. Oren looked at him incredulously, a smile daring to pull at his lips.

"That's such a cliché name. Sounds like something for a dog." Oren said, looking down to the ashy reptile. She yawned silently and looked up at Oren, bright ocean eyes boring into his. It was like she was trying to communicate.

"I don't think it should be too girly, either." Oren added, looking down to the dazed dragon. She didn't even make an attempt to move. Clayton nodded in understanding, subconsciously caressing his son's head.

"Something with an 'X' would sound nice. It sounds as strong and mighty as her race." the human said, looking over to Hunter, who was peaceful next to Oren. They just needed Chip to complete a family portrait.

"Xylophone. Xenophobe. Xeee..." Oren trailed off thoughtlessly. He couldn't think of names, only words that start with X. Picking a name was harder than he previously thought it would be.

"Xene. But a girl.. Uh," they both pondered. Then, the elf realized something, which was a play on words in the Greek language. Xénos (or ξένος) is the Greek word for stranger, outsider or foreigner. It fit her, since she was otherworldly, literally and metaphorically. Oren thought for a moment, looking down to the little ashy dragon. She was licking at her large ebony claw, tongue dark and speckled with pitch black splotches.

Clayton grimaced at her actions, to which Oren laughed. She was still new to the house, and for a human such as the blond before him, it's even bizarre. Nobody ever thought that dragons existed; they were just ancient myths. The elf of the two thought that he would've been overloading by now, but he stood corrected. The blond was simply unaccustomed to the strange creature, is all.

Oren looked down to the dragonling, and smiled softly. His hopeful eyes lifted to Clayton's.

"I think she'll be a nice addition to the family."

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Thanks for reading!

I'm sorry it's so short. It's only 800 words and I usually aim for 1,000. Next chapter will be much longer. :)