Zabeth Firestone: Firebird

When Peta-mari came trotting in with a little blackly iridescent dragon-chick on her shoulder, Zabeth-- currently near the frigid end of his winter phase, still wholly male and crystal flames-- gave her a blank look. Peta-mari was shape-shifted into something bipedal and short, compared to her usual form, with most of her mass apportioned into massive wings and a tail that had to be fifteen feet long. She always was creative with her shape-shifting, and it was one of the few things Zabeth could admire about her. Even her intelligence she tended to squander.

But he'd never thought of her as the mothering type. Mostly because she'd never allow any male to impregnate her, but she seemed lacking a certain something that would make her look after a child. Yet here she was, carrying a little one-- still tacky with albumen-- as if it were some prize she had won.

"Who is that?" he asked with a click of his beak.

::Zabby-darling--:: He hated when she called him that. And that's probably why she did it. ::--meet Ceremeth, my niece. She just hatched this morning.::

The look Ceremeth gave her was mildly incredulous, and she met Zabeth's own eyes with a solemnity that, as Peta-mari's niece, Zabeth could hardly believe. For a moment he just looked at the little one, but then he finally said, "You didn't say that you were sponsoring."

::I didn't want you to say no,:: Peta-mari pouted at him. ::Because I know you would have. You'd just say I wasn't responsible or I wouldn't know what to do with a child or--::

::Probably because it's all true,:: Zamah-aisi giggled from her room, poking her head out to take in the sight-- and probably so she would be close enough to be heard. Her telepathy was not the strongest, though it was still better than Peta-mari's. ::Hello, Ceremeth!::

::Hello,:: Ceremeth replied solemnly. Her own telepathic voice was much sturdier than the other two's voices, with more power-- controlled power-- behind it.

"If you had told me," Zabeth said waspishly, feeling tiny bits of frozen fire fly from his feathers, "I would have told you that I was already planning to adopt one of your... relatives."

::You were?:: Peta-mari blinked in surprise. ::You didn't say anything--::

"You were rarely around to tell," Zabeth interrupted wryly. "Well, come here, let me see her."

Peta-mari put off protesting and pranced over, scooping Ceremeth from her shoulder and holding her out, as if for inspection. She looked so proud. Zabeth ignored her, holding out his wings and taking the hatchling onto the pseudo-palms at the wrist joint. Ceremeth didn't make a sound, she just watched him quietly, eyes darting around to watch little wisps of cold flame dancing from each of the feathers on his crest. She didn't seem disturbed by them, oddly-- little Ziar quite still wasn't used to his guardian's tendency to flare and spark unpredictably-- but Zabeth wasn't about to complain. Perhaps she had some affinity to fire.

::And how do you like your new guardian?:: he asked her privately.

Ceremeth replied in the same fashion, ::I think she's nice enough, but a little silly. Is she really going to be the one raising me?::

::If she does not, I will discipline her,:: Zabeth answered her frankly, ::You are her responsibility, as she brought you into our home. However, I also expect you'll be getting more effectual instruction and care from myself or Zamah-aisi, the darker lady in the other room.::

::Oh, good,:: was all Ceremeth said in answer. Then she stood up on her hind paws and batted lightly at a lick of silver-blue that danced along Zabeth's beak. The cold fire curled around her paw harmlessly, and she said publicly, ::I like that. Can you teach me how to do that?::

"If you like. Later, though. For now, I believe Peta-mari intends for you to get a bath."

::What? I didn't say--:: She broke off at a withering glare from her own guardian. ::Um, that's probably a good idea, Ceremeth.::

::I'd like that,:: the hatchling nodded, and hopped from Zabeth's grasp to Peta-mari's, showing an inordinate amount of trust, especially as Peta-mari very nearly dropped her. Zabeth was highly amused when he caught Ceremeth's wry glance his way as Peta-mari recovered and carted her off to the bathroom. She had been expecting that near-drop and would have been just fine if Peta-mari had fumbled her.

What a clever girl, Zabeth thought, impressed, his flames dancing and shrinking into a mere shimmer of blue as she disappeared from view. I might be able to like this one.

Well, if one clutch had hatched, the next was likely to be ready for adopting soon. It was about time for him to visit his own chosen brood and see which among them appealed to him, or which of them he appealed to. If someone of Peta-mari's line could produce a child like Ceremeth, there was hope for this experiment, yet.

"I'm going out, Zamah," he told his first charge. "Make sure you keep an eye on Ziar when he wakes from his nap."

::Yes, Zabeth,:: she answered absently.

"I mean it," he warned.

::Yes, Zabeth,:: she repeated impishly.

Zabeth just sighed, shook his head, and disappeared from the room in a burst of cold flame.