Dragonveil was just as she left it; a safe, cozy oasis folded so neatly into the rugged foothill of the Mountain that it was nearly undetectable from the outside. Once more it was a hiding place when she needed one most; the perfect refuge while she waited for her yearly estrus to subside. What a beautiful gift the Mother had bestowed upon females, allowing them to connect to Her more deeply as they created and gave birth, experiencing the beautiful, sacred honor of motherhood themselves. Karina walked along the streambank of the Fold’s little spring, delighting at the small sound of water trickling beneath the stream’s frozen surface. It was a sure sign that spring was near, and when the plants were in bloom Karina would no longer go hungry. The girl stopped in her tracks as her blurred vision fell upon the doe, lying on her side at the edge of the spring. Karina had never seen the doe lying down like that before; the daemon was a spry creature that needed no rest-- she seldom even slowed down enough for Karina to keep up with her. The princess loped swiftly to the side of her companion, a worried whine escaping her throat. The deer paid her no attention as she approached, her face curled into her belly. The priestess leaned in, expecting to see a wound of some kind, and then drew back in shock at the sight that met her eyes. Her ears flattened against her skull, and her breath hitched so firmly in her throat that for just a moment, Karina forgot how to breathe entirely. A litter of dragon hatchlings writhed at the doe’s belly, snapping at one another and huffing little bursts of smoke as they battled to nurse. “Mother of Dragons,” Karina whispered to the deer, voice filled with awe. The doe finally looked up at her, fixing her with her usual silent, knowing stare. The Mother’s messages were often cryptic and mysterious, but not this time. Her will was unmistakable, but for once Her priestess was doubtful of her own ability to answer the Mother’s command. How could she, a mere child herself, conceive and raise a dragon? |
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