//------------------------------// // Spike's destiny begins // Story: Spikeus son of torch and the future dragon lord // by Blackcatsuperfan1 //------------------------------// Torch sat watching the lone whelp in the egg pit, wondering where his mother was. It had been nearly a week since the eggs had hatched, and for some reason he had been the last to be claimed, not that anyone had bothered to claim him. Torch was there to do his job, to watch over the egg pits so long as there was an unclaimed whelp present. The whelp in question was nameless. He was small, purple in color, with bright green spines, and wide green eyes. He was overall happy, though like all whelps wailed when he needed something Volunteer wetnurses tended to his feeding, but some were starting to say things, mostly about how poor the baby was, and how strange it was that his mother was taking so long coming to get him.  There were a few that talked about adopting the little whelp, to which Torch put a stop to instantly, for all he knew the mother was running later than usual and would go on the warpath, to get her son back. Fortunately, he had someone else keeping an eye on the little one, someone that was a pillar of logic and reason in the Dragon Lands, his own wife, Sapphire. Everyday she would come, and stay by the little hatchling, sometimes bringing Ember, and there she would stay for the better part of a day, soothing him, cleaning him, and making sure he slept soundly. “Torch, what’s the plan for him?” She asked her husband, as she gently stroked the hatchling’s back, lulling him into a state of sleep.  Torch lifted a brow. She never really talked to him unless she needed something, or to scold him when he made a mistake like waking the nameless whelp up from his nap. “He waits here until his mother gets him. That’s how it always is, that’s how it will be.” “Your plan is to leave him here, in a pit, alone, with no one to watch him, while we wait for a mother and father to come and claim him. Do I have that right?” More or less, she missed the part where someone comes to get him in the next day or so. “He’s not alone, I watch him every night,” Torch argued. “And I get a wet nurse to care for him if he’s hungry!” “That’s so much better than being in a nice warm cave, where there’s a roof over his head in case it rains,” She said, taking note of the spiking humidity. “Torch, how long did it take me to get Ember?” “Barely a day, because I would have had her in the cave the moment she hatched.” “Right, which is a bad idea since you need to make sure mothers don’t kill each other trying to get to their babies. So, we can say that a responsible parent would have their child in their cave by the end of the day, if possible.” Torch nodded his head, but his eyes narrowed. “I see what you’re doing, you’re trying to manipulate me!” Torch accused. “Technically, yes I am, by using logic, reason, and basic assumptions of fact. We call this having a discussion to convince someone of something. I am trying to say that it’s going to be a bad idea to simply keep him in a pit, and that someone should take him in for the time being.” “And if the mother comes?” Torch argued. “What then, what do you think happens when she comes searching and finds he’s with someone else?” “Oh no, never thought of that,” said, sarcastically. “Oh, how about we ask hey she took so long, and if the answer is satisfactory, like she was too injured to walk, accosted by ponies, or some equally applicable third thing, we then give her the little one, and go about our lives. If it’s that she just couldn’t be bothered to find him, then you make the call if someone like that deserves to be acknowledged as this one’s mother. I just want to put it out there that we could shelter him for a night, one night, just to see how he is outside of a pit, comfortable as he might find it.” To any dragon that would seem tempting, but not to Torch. He was determined to follow the law and traditions to the letter. “No, he stays here until I say otherwise.” Torch had duties as Dragon Lord, and those duties had to be carried out without exception. The whelp had another week to be claimed, then he would likely allow anyone interested to make a case as to why they could care for him. Best case won. “Really, and if it rains?” She asked, tilting her head to the side. “You’re just going to leave him here, outside, with nothing to protect him. That’s what you would define as responsible Dragon Lord actions while taking care of someone else’s hatchling.” Torch waved her off, as if she were talking nonsense. “As if it would rain.”  “I asked if it does.” “It won’t.” Torch balked. “Fine, then let's have a bet. If it rains in the next hour, even just a drop, we take in Nameless here, until either his mother comes to get him, or until the waiting period is over, in which case, we keep him, because my husband is the Dragon Lord, and providing for someone like him will be easy for someone so strong, and power, and-” She gave his forearm a squeeze, “-and so fit! It’s like I’m squeezing iron. Also, you have to sleep outside the cave tonight. If you win, I’ll follow one order you give me without hesitation. Any order that doesn’t break the law.” Torch’s eyes lit up like a lava bursting from the ground and he smiled mischievously, thinking that he’d win for sure. And if he lost, Sapphire made a good point, he was an amazing, fit, strong, powerful provider, able to keep his wife and daughter safe and fed without much effort. He could take in three whelps, and all of them would be happy and healthy. “You have yourself a deal, and I know just the order to give.” As if fate wanted to mock him, Torch instantly felt three raindrops fall on his head.  Ember looked at the newborn that her mother had brought home, right before the rainstorm began to pour on the Dragon Lands. She went to the entrance of the cave and called to make sure her father was alright, who had taken shelter under a nearby crag. He was dry for the most part, but was overall unhappy with his situation. “I’m fine, Ember, just never make a bet with your mother!” He shouted back towards his cave, desperate for his daughter to never make the same mistakes he did. Ember returned to her mother and looked down at the hatchling as he took in the sights of the cave, from the glistening pile of treasures, to the two dragons that hovered over him.  “Mom, do I have a little brother now?” She asked. “Maybe. We’ll see in a week.” “A week?” “Yes, there are certain procedures that are in place, rules that we need to follow. Once that week is up, you get a new little brother.”  “What are we gonna name him?” Ember asked. Curiosity got the better of her and she picked up the whelp in her arms. He didn’t seem to mind it and snuggled into her chest. Ember smiled, not because she liked him already or anything, rather because he was warm and kept her warm. “Spikeus,” She said, “His name will be Spikeus.”