Mama Tani had gotten used to the fur a long time back. She'd also gotten used to the fact that she was multiple people, depending on where and when someone met up with her. She was known as a foster parent to dozens of children, but had also borne her own frequently.

When she got to meet up with the HighBeastLady Raanatani of Zekira, she was most impressed. But the Beast Lady didn't have what Mama Tani had. She had a dragon.

The most beautiful dragon in the world? Asked the impish spring green, and Tani laughed from inside the frond-covered leanto where she overlooked the ocean.

"Of course you are, Zakurath," she said. Tani sipped at a long straw stuck into a deep drink. This was the life. Alskyr was so much nicer than the Old World, in every concievable way.

She got to attend flights, hatchings, all that stuff. There was no thread falling from the sky, and the local dragons and gryphons (weren't they cool?) would take care of the native dangers. And no one could say that Mama Tani had slacked at all in her prior life: she raised no fewer than a score of children, most of whom became ranked dragon riders in the Protectorate. She deserved the vacation that her time on Alskyr gave her!

Oh! Thank you! Zakurath bespoke, distantly and to someone else. Tani sat up mildly interested - she was kind of drunk so anything interested her only mildly other than laying in the warm sun and occasionally splashing herself with the frothy sea water nearby.

You will never believe what just happened! Zakurath said, closer and with an excited little trill to her voice. There was a strange rider, but I think I knew them once - I forget a lot of riders.

"I know you do," Tani laughed to herself, "as long as you don't forget me or Ilya..."

Oh I could never do that! But now there will be another we will remember! Look!

The pale Gallimim green paraded up to Tani, down on the warm sands, and showed off a largish egg.

"... Zakurath, that's a dragon egg."

Yes! I know! I cannot wait until it hatches, can you? It's delightful!

Tani blinked. Her dragon was acting so strangely... Was Vajrath and his rider back on this world? No... it didn't seem so, Ilya would have contacted her. It was more a motherly thing, then, Tani decided. She wasn't sobering up, but that didn't matter. Whatever state of mind Zakurath wanted her to be in, now, that was what she had.

Excitement built in her breast, and the egg, now sitting on the beach sands, began to tremble. Finally, from it a tiny cooing noise could be heard. Tani and Zakurath both stood hovering over it, listening intently and occasionally the dragon would shift around and wave the seabirds away. Noisy things, they are interrupting an important moment!

The moment lasted only a little longer, and then suddenly a darker shape kicked its way free of the confining shell. But what ... was it? It was a dragon - yes, but the wings!

"It's got feathers?" Tani asked, and Zakurath shook her wedge-shaped head.

No! The markings are lovely! Look at him!

She did - and marvelled. Here was a stunning teal-blue peacock marked dragonet, with a crest and tail frill reminiscent of another old world dragonry. Where had he come from? And more importantly what would they do with him?

Feed me! He creeled, into both Tani and her dragon bond's minds. Tani was surprised, she wasn't sure how but she knew she'd just paired up with him. But so had Zakurath - they would be both his mother, and his partner perhaps... For the moment, they were his nursemaid and caretaker!

What's his name? He won't tell me.

"He calls himself Pauskema, it's a pretty name. I think he thinks it means something..." Tani said, "get some fish - they'll be easiest, I don't have any meat on me right now..."

((Pauskema means "peacock pattern"))

Ilya stood in a kind of mute wonder. "So.... things have been busy while I was away?" It couldn't have been more obvious - of course things had been busy. Zakurath had been teaching Pauskema how to fish for himself, before learning to fly. Since they were on the beach, the caverns directly above were for all of Mama Tani's fosterlings and friends, it was by far easier for them all to just dive the few meters down. He could glide, that was how he was gaining strength in his wings.

The blue practically ignored Ilya until his big pale bronze Vajrath made a snorting sound and brought himself to the young dragons attention.

I didn't invite you! Pauskema said, annoyed.

I did not ask for an invitation, Vajrath said, I can come here whenever I wish - I am after all Zakurath's mate, and my rider is Tani's partner.

There was a pause, while the peacock colored dragon mulled this over. While he was bigger than a typical blue, closer to an average brown in size, he was still only half grown, and would never reach the size of Vajrath.

That is a Danachian dragon, Vajrath commented, how did it come to be here?

HE! Zakurath shrieked mentally, he's a he, and he came here to be with us!

Vajrath backed off, knowing that the wrath of his small green mate was far worse than the bite of the little blue. Oooookay, he bespoke. By this time, Ilya and Tani had discussed what was going on, and Ilya was more curious about where he'd come from, than what they were to 'do' with him. Of course he'd stay. Maybe he'd even fly along with Ilya and Vaj on some of their trips.

Later. When the two males got along better, perhaps...

*** LATER IT IS!***

I have heard of something quite interesting, Pauskema bespoke to Sakurath. Vajrath picked his great bronze head up, but lowered it immediately when he realized that the annoying peacock colored dragon was not talking to him.

Yes? Zakurath asked, sweetly. She was curious because whenever he used that tone of mind with her, he wanted something.

I have heard of a dragoness who is willing to entertain a colorful suitor, he replied smugly, and I believe I would be the best for the job.

Ooh, a flight! If Zakurath could clap her hands in glee, she would have. Where is it?

It is at Nidus Avengaea, and the dragoness is a chameleon.

With that, even Vajrath perked up again. A chameleon?

I was not talking to you! You aren't special enough for her!

Yes, how could I be... Vajrath let his eyes whirl angry red, but returned to basking. In the cliffside den, they could hear Ilya verbally wondering why the pest peacock was even still here if there was a flight to be flown...

So off he went, in pursuit of the lovely multicolored Vereyas. Though he would be carrying no rider for her bond to pair with, Pauskema strutted into the Nidus like he owned the place...

***

Pauskema is a Just Cuz appearance, obviously Danachian/Rauglike in appearance with colorful markings on his sails. He does not have feathers. He is bigger than a blue by a long shot, around the size of an average Pernese brown. Good enough to chase queens! Pauskema is an annoying twit, with the ego and personality to match his peacock appearance. Though he's annoying, he's quite smart and sly. He will come up with interesting solutions to problems without aid. He is currently about 5 years old, at best, and this will be his first flight.

***

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