His had been lit by dim glowbaskets that let him see his way but not much else. But now the tunnel was lit by torches, and none of them were lit. Clueless of his ability to breathe fire, he stumbled in the dark until he saw a light ahead of him. Glad to find someone else, he approached. A great golden dragoness, like his mother but larger, and smelling of a curious mixture of living and dead matter, rested in a tiny opening ahead of him. Well, cavern was the best word for it; it didn't look like anything made by dragons or humans. He was beginning to realize that his home of Darkling Dawn was a very odd place.
The dragoness must have heard him as he approached, for she lifted her head with a snarl, stopping him in his tracks. Nervously, he lowered his head, though the stubs of his horns would do nothing to protect him, and growled. Startlingly, the dragon laughed, and he looked up in surprise.
What's a newborn hatchling like you doing in these tunnels? Were you exploring? Her voice was surprisingly kind, given her earlier ferociousness.
He blinked, taken aback. But it seemed the dragon didn't want to hurt him after all, so he relaxed. Not wanting to admit he was lost, he said instead, No, I was just looking around! Hmmph. My name's Burrakith, what's yours?
I am Asayichae, she stated. Shouldn't you be running back to your clutchmates and...bond? she asked, as though unsure whether he had either.
He sat down, and with a derisive snort, replied, I don't have one. And the others...and my sister...I don't care about them, and they don't care about me. Hesitantly, Burrakith continued, hoping she wouldn't be angry. I'd rather stay here with you.
When she first gaped her jaw, it looked terrifying, until he realized it was her way of smiling. Would you? Well, I can't turn down a request like that.
Her companion, who he later met, was very, very different. And jealous. What's that? the double-headed hydra demanded, fixing all four threatening eyes on Burrakith, who automatically shrunk back against Asayichae's leg.
The golden dragoness stepped in front of him protectively. I found him, and he's staying with me, she said, daring the hydra to refute her.
Though the ground was rent by the hydra's claws, he didn't move. The two of them talked a bit more, about things Burrakith did not understand or care about, and he was glad when the hydra went away. He would have to be careful around that one.
