It's like night and day.

Baeris was moving around the Healing Den trying to figure out why she hadn't yet given birth - she'd been pregnant for a while, and it was getting annoying. Kalkin's child growing in her kicked a lot - he was probably already practicing those fancy martial arts moves that Kalkin was so fond of using.

Snickering to herself, Baeris pondered trying to get another surgeon to help her out - she'd performed one or two c-sections. But in the end, she was going to have to just bear with herself and live with the weight. And the need to pee. And the endless kicking.

Of course, she lived with this by snarling at everyone who moved around near her, snapping at flitters, and occasionally throwing things. But that was almost typical behavior anyway. A bit more physical than people thought, but she could be given some leeway. She was nine months pregnant now, for who knows how long?

Time had a way with not working right, in the Nexus.

But at least, Baeris thought, she wasn't getting any older.

"SURPRISE!!!" Baeris lept back and clutched her chest- thinking her heart was about to burst. Several of her "close friends" from around the Nexus had showed up, out of the blue, and gathered here in a dark office.... It was now light, glittering with confetti, and scattered glow-sticks.

Fire burned in Baeris' eyes, but she managed not to kill anyone. She recognized most of the folks, and only partially knew a few. But it was one of those, a newcomer to the field of dragon hatcheries, who held out her hands with a large package.

It was of course, an egg.

"Enzan Shi will be delighted to know what you think," she said. Baeris bowed, taking the egg, and wondering ... where was she to put it now?

I will take it, bespoke a voice. It was bright, happy, sunlight in a crooning trumpet. There is room on the sands, and we are not going to be busy for a while....

"And.... Who are you?" Baeris asked, of the voice. It was clear to her that the others in the room also heard this voice, because they looked around also.

Come outside, to the sands. I will show you. Bring the egg, and bring your friends!

"Oooookay," Baeris said. She and the clump of weyrleaders, women and mages all cleared out, leaving a trail of bright glitter and confetti behind them as they went to the sands. Finally they saw in the smaller left hand section of the sands, a pair of dragons so opposite in color and shape that everyone knew they had to be paired up.

One was sunset yellows, the other midnight starry blue. Both of them were somewhat atypical for their color - the sun colored one could have been a gold if she was bigger, the starry midnight could have been a brown for his size. The sun shaded female stood, displaying her wings. She looked to be a Cy dragon! Here? Alone? And the male, he looked a lot like a Calyeni dragon, and Baeris hadn't seen too many of them in a while. She'd heard they liked to bond in unusual manners - and he had obviously chosen this way. It suited him. He looked like a proud father already.

I am hardly alone, she said. I am with him.

And she is with me, bespoke the blue - with a voice as rich as velvet, deep as the night sky.

We will take this egg you have gotten, and we will help you raise it. Is that all right? The sun colored beauty said.

We will take very good care of it. We promise. I am Nocturneth, and my mate is Diurnath.

"I can always use some good help on the sands, you two. I don't even know where you came from or when but thank you! You're all perfectly welcome here..." Baeris said, and then handed off the egg. It was just in time, too. Because she was just about ready to go into labor... *continued below!*

When everyone had helped Baeris away from the sands, and a select few people attended her in her private chambers, the pair of opposite colored dragons carefully tended the egg that they'd been awarded. They would have their own, some day, but for now, this one was special. It was also ready to hatch.

I think that she will know - it is all right.

I know, but it seems like she ought to be here. Perhaps this hatchling will go visit her.

You are right. Now... it's hatching!

Out from the shell came a small, sturdy looking dragonet. Her wings were wet, along with her body - but the color was glimmering even more than just the wetness would show. This was a beautiful little girl, Ocean Teal in shade. She creeled loudly, obviously looking for her friend - was it Baeris or would she simply remain here unbonded as an adult?

She bespoke, I want ... I want.... FOOD!

Well that answers that question, Nocturneth chuckled. Now, what is your name little one?

I am Umith, and I am still hungry!

Umith gazed at her 'parents' and decided that she'd keep them. Especially if they kept the food coming. But now they wanted her to learn to fly? That might be a bit much. Even for her, and she was a growing girl! It hardly suited Diurnath and Nocturneth that she didn't want to do anything like spread her wings, but they did their best.

They just simply tricked her into it.

You will love this part, Nocturneth said, and if you do it well, we've got fish!

Oooh, fish. I like fish, Umith giggled. What must I do?

First you must spread your wings wide! Nocturneth did so, and Umith repeated the gesture.

Now, step forward and close them.

She repeated these steps with her 'father and mother' until her wings were tired. She was given just enough fish to make her want more... Thus did her flight training include a promise of a diet.

I remember how you tricked me into flying for the first time, Umith bespoke as the trio lounged around the Den. You almost pushed me off a ledge.

I did push you off a ledge. You were in the way. And you've gotten big enough to find your own darn ledge! Nocturneth sounded stern but he was also correct - it was time that this teal colored wonder got her own space at the Den. There was so much of it, she could hardly move a few feet without finding a den that was open.

Eventually, she bespoke, but for now, I want you to take me on a trip. I want to see the sky over some world that I've never seen.

You've never seen any other worlds, Diurnath said.

I know. That must end, don't you think?

I think you are correct, Diurnath nodded. But after that, you get your own darn den.