Taaj had a few books to study while waiting at the Realm. She estimated that only a handful of the people there were really Human as she knew them, otherwise they were daemonic, angelic, draconic, animal... you name it. But that meant access to exotic books and tomes, some of which were ones she could actually read. Taaj took her time with those.
Eventually, though, everyone heard the beautiful crooning song of the dragons upon the sands. The eggs were hatching, weren't they! Everyone was herded in, Taaj dutifully walked in and stood her ground upon the hot grains of beautiful sand. Everything about this place was elegant to some degree - the perfection of the architecture, the colors of the sand grains, even the smell of the food being cooked for their hatching banquet later.
At long last though, the eggs were hatching. One by one the long-tailed dragons emerged. Some popped out, some had a harder time.
Taaj had been watching the bonding next to her, and so was caught unaware when a shadowy dragonet tackled her to the gemstone sands – though luckily there were no truly sharp shards under her when she fell – then sat proudly upon her back, smirking down at the teenager who – as yet – couldn't see what had claimed her in such an odd fashion.
You should truly make sure to keep yourself –aware– at all times, Taaj. What if I had been an assassin out to end your life? The Shadow female smiled, her mindvoice smooth and soft, her purplish-silver markings dominant, though here and there were scattered a few of pale opal.
“Well you're not,” came Taaj's muffled response, “So how about letting me up, Tameji?
The Shadow snorted, then glided off of Taaj's back and settled patiently onto the sands at the girl's side, dark green eyes watching as Taaj righted herself and brushed gemstone fragments from her skin and outfit.
“Well?” Taaj looked down at the small Shadow with a puzzled look, “Aren't you going to drag me off to the food like all the rest did?”
Hmm… tempting. But let us wait. And watch.
With a shrug, Taaj complied… making sure to keep an eye about her this time, though! And it was good that she did. While another of the eggs broke open and showed off the only real comedian of the hatching, who rolled head over end around on the sands, there was another dragonet who had hatched.
Mental laughter at Taaj's left side made her look down… and then blink as she felt as second mind wrap around hers as she met the orange eyes of a female Wind-marked Fire.
Sorry for holding you both up, Taaj , Tameji, but I just had to watch my brother be ridiculous.
Tameji nodded a greeting towards the other female, It is all well, Tuless. I would not have missed that show for the world either.
Who ever heard of rolling off the sands in your egg, in any case? Tuless chirruped as she led the way towards the food.
Taaj knew now that her ability with magic would come when it came. She'd have to concentrate on getting these two fed, kept healthy, and finally they'd have to learn how to fly. But all those things would be waiting for them back at Carramba High.
"I'm not going back just right away, though," Taaj told the dragonets as they all drifted off to sleep. Her Ojee was curled up next to her feet, but awake and alert. It did make an excellent guard at that. When a day was as filled with amazement as this, Taaj realized, letting one's own guard down could be a great thing. Did she just dream that she told them they'd be riding out their first few weeks while she did a cram course in all the magic she could swallow while here? Or did they just know it already?
Name: Tameji
Gender: Female
Element: Shadow
Bond: Taaj
Powers: Shadow (7), Spirit (5)
Adult Size: 52' long, 26' high at the shoulder
Name: Tuless
Gender: Female
Element: Fire
Bond: Taaj
Powers: Fire (6), Wind (2)
Adult Size: 63' long, 31' high at the shoulder
***
Tameji proved to be the difficult one of the pair to master, that is to say that Taaj had to learn more difficult spells and information to have the shadow dragon work most effectively. However, they were growing at a quick clip, and now that Taaj's studies had to come to an end here, she knew that it was time to head back to Carramba.
The pair of dragons and her ojee had bonded nicely together as well. Taaj could give one of them a command and the others would follow through with the next steps. If she asked Tuless to carry some sound to their ears, Tameji would then cloak herself in darkness and move in to see what the noise was about.
Mist remained close by Taaj's side, while they were training. Though it was silent most of the time, occasionally it would let off a sharp bark for warning.
It was like having three extra sets of eyes and ears. And claws, Taaj smiled to herself. Those helped too.
Her family - and Alabaster - would certainly be impressed. They were ported back to Carramba's dragonry area - a newly installed arena style locale where formations and marching orders, as well as flight rankings, would be practiced. She ran into the others of the Ten soon enough, and they all compared notes about their wonderful dragons!
NEXT - Adulthood!
. Ojee center on Planet Twenty is found here 