Zabeth Firestone: Firebird

Eggs hatched, as eggs did, and Zabeth watched indulgently as its chicks chose their own guardians. It has done as it wished, creating another small generation of firebirds-- or part-firebirds, as was the norm, really-- and sent them out, perhaps a little earlier than usual but that was all right, out into the world. Two chicks remained sitting at it and Kikira's feet, one for each of them to raise, and that was good. July's son had chosen to remain with him, as well, which made July look proud and happy, and that was good, too. Kanna was bounding excitedly between it and July, though July's offspring was rather more lively and engaging; Kolora merely gave the phoenix-dragon a slightly overwhelmed look when she tried to get her to play. Well, that was all right. Not everyone was playful or energetic; Zabeth never had been, not that it could recall, though admittedly its youth was a very long time ago.

Zabeth still didn't have an answer from Kikira as to what he wanted to do, it mused as it preened a bit of albumen from the blue, blue-eyed hatching's feathers. Kolora, her name was, and she submitted to the preening with a tiny sigh, not of pleasure, but of tolerance. Tolerance would do.

Being without an answer, however, would not, and now that all of the chicks had been claimed or staked claims, themselves, it was time for that answer. "We will be made to leave shortly," it told Kikira kindly. "Thank you for staying with me while the eggs incubated."

"It wouldn't have felt right if I hadn't," Kikira answered hesitantly, looking up from where he'd been doing the same for the blue chick on his own paws, Kuriri, who was chirping and twittering happily, testing out her voice. She and Kolora sounded different, their spirits a contrast: a muted hum for Kolora and a curious, musical chord for Kuriri. She would be staying with Kikira, whichever choice he made.

"I am glad you did," Zabeth told him, leaning over to nibble at one ear fondly with its beak. "Whatever else you decide, I am glad you did. My offer still stands, if you wish to take it."

There was a long pause as Kikira thought on that, still cleaning his daughter while she warbled contentedly. Zabeth let him think-- they still had a few minutes before the lab-witches decided they had to leave, certainly-- and finished up Kolora. Kolora tried fending it off to finish herself, but a silent promise that Kolora could preen herself when she was old enough to reach her own feathers settled her again with another reluctant sigh.

Kikira paused next to her, Kuriri rolling her little head back to look up at him, and he chuckled softly-- in answer to some unheard comment, Zabeth assumed-- "You're right... and you know it, don't you...." At his nudge with his muzzle, Kuriri let out a flutter of giggles, and Zabeth tried not to seem too smug, guessing the outcome. Indeed, he looked up at it and said, "I would like to accept your offer."

"Excellent," Zabeth nodded, pleased. "It will be good to have a mate for longer than a season."

If anything, Kolora looked a little put out. ::More family?:: she complained.

::You will have whatever privacy you wish,:: Zabeth assured her. ::My home is large enough, and I can always purchase the apartment next door.::

That seemed to mollify the chick. Zabeth was strongly reminded of another couple chicks it had produced, with just as strong an aversion to large numbers of people-- honestly, Zabeth had gone through a stage or two like that, itself. Whatever had happened to them, it wondered. Zabeth didn't know what had become of most of its offspring. Perhaps it ought to look into that.

In the meantime, Kikira had crouched down to let Kuriri climb up onto his back. "Would you like a ride, too?" Kikira asked Kolora. Zabeth wondered briefly if the number of K names around would start to get confusing. Perhaps it would have to stoop to nicknames, if just for the remembrance of the rest of the household. July, of course, would enjoy calling them by the wrong names, just for a laugh, but it was likely Ielta and Peta-Mari would actually confuse them.

Kolora didn't answer for a long moment, obviously warring between the desire to move of her own volition and the desire to not be forced to waddle awkwardly along to keep up with her parents. She finally whistled softly and climbed up behind her sister with a muted, "Thank you." She even tolerated Kuriri trying to preen at her down, though she closed her eyes with an exaggeratedly patient expression.

About that time Kanna came bounding back, an energetic hatchling bounding after her and snapping at her tail feathers, and a beaming father trotting up behind them. "We leaving?" July asked as his progeny chased Zabeth's bond in circles around Kikira, who stood, smiling.

"We are indeed," Zabeth nodded. "And who is this little whirlwind of a hatchling?"

July, grinning, bowled his son over with a light paw. The brown and white-speckled hatchling leapt back to his feet and pounced the paw, gnawing on it ineffectually. "This," July said, lifting paw and chick as one-- the chick kicked his hind legs with a squeak, looking nervous but refusing to let go-- "is Aries. Fierce little bugger, isn't he?"

Kanna, now hiding behind Kikira, giggled, and Kuriri cooed at him, down fluffing up again.

"Yes," Zabeth agreed, peering at Aries with a little trepidation. It hoped "fierce" did not mean "vicious"-- but then, with a father like July, perhaps worry was in vain. It could only hope.

July set his son down again, and Aries let go of his paw as soon as his little feet touched the cavern floor. "We're going home?" he asked hopefully, looking around as if thinking that the egg cavern was not a particularly interesting place to be.

"Yup," July nodded happily. "You get to meet the family! --Hey, Kikira's got both kiddos. That mean you're coming home with us, or are you just playing taxi to the apartment before you head off?"

"Daddy's coming, too!" Kuriri chirped, waving her little wing-arms in delight.

"Heeeey, the more the merrier!" July grinned. "Good to have you, man."

Kolora, of course, just looked like that particular saying was the antithesis of her life, and she resented July for even saying it. Zabeth pecked lightly at her tail, and she flicked it aside with as much of a pout as a beak could manage.

"You okay, kiddo?" July asked, looking surprised. When Kolora didn't answer, Zabeth did, for her.

"Kolora is not a very social person," it explained. "We will have to make sure she gets plenty of privacy."

"Uh, sure... sure," July blinked.

At least that mollified the chick a bit.

Kuriri had no such qualms, however. She twittered cheerfully and told July, "I like your voice."

It didn't take much to perk up the normally-happy dragon, and he grinned down at her. "Well, thanks. Yours ain't half-bad, either. Come on, Aries, let's get out of here," he added to his son, giving him a nudge in the direction of the bay doors then picking up a trot, himself. "Anybody who wants, grab a ride on me!" he announced, and Kanna, after a glance at Zabeth-- who nodded-- bounded after him to scramble up his tail. Aries followed with a squeak at being left behind.

Zabeth turned its head to Kikira. "Shall we, then?"

Kikira nodded with a smile.