CHAPTER SEVEN

                                    

                                          
Charades 
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Full moon, 
Sun in the Northern Serpent,
Year 404,
Kreon's Era
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Gleyssier's cave overlooked Pharoan's Bay like a gryphon peering at its reflection in a pond. Hess was careful to avoid the giant potholes on the bridge connecting the hanging cave to the cliff face. Through the holes, he could see the green waves of the bay racing towards the shore with shining crests. He wondered how his sister-in-law kept their hatchlings from falling into the water as he walked forward. Surely the stunning view of the sunset wasn't worth losing their babies. 
His brother's voice grew clear when he neared the first chamber, sending a shiver up his limbs. He recognised the higher pitched voice talking to Gleyssier as his young nephew and instantly wished he had brought something for him and his three sisters to eat. His footsteps had by then evoked a little gasp from within the cave. 
"Uncle Hess," came an excited squeak and a body bumped into his front leg, making him wince. The thirty-year-old hatchling crooned and laughed as his uncle licked his face. 
"How is my little tadpole doing?" Hess nuzzled the hatchling's stomach, making him giggle and curl up into a ball. 
"I'm not a tadpole anymore," protested the hatchling, opening his maw to show his uncle his set of newly sprouted egg teeth. 
"My, my, what big teeth!" 
"Uh-huh, I'm a bi-iiig dragon now!" 
Hess could feel the intensity of his brother's gaze on his mane-scales and hide. Though his eyes were on the stubs on his nephew's gums, counting the four teeth that had grown over the winter, his mind could see the hatchling's father sprawled in the dark cavern indent behind him. His ears could accurately tell where his brother's talons and tail were from the lightest of scratches or rubs againt the rough stone. Each careless sway of Gleyssier's tail tensed a stray muscle in Hess's neck or limbs, but he knew they were never careless. Gleyssier was always in control. 
"You might be getting an aunt soon, Anthus." 
Galanthus, the hatchling squealed just as an invisible jaw clamped down on Hess's neck in a chokehold. 
"Babies! When, Uncle Hess?" he cried, his tail wagging ecstatic at the suggestion of having new playmates much to his uncle's dismay. 
Did the Head Cleric plan the Caelior courtship with you, Gleyssier? 
The hatchling's father had a laughter that echoed through the rocky chambers with the sounds of the waves. The tips of his mane-scales trembled ever so lightly as Gleyssier brushed past him to nuzzle his heir. 
The upper part of Hess' muzzle joined in on the throbbing with the lower part of his jaw. The lash he had received from his brother on the temple incident still felt fresh. He quickly slid his left folded wing under the cover of his right on his back as he felt his brother's gaze lingering a bit longer on them than usual. He pushed his chest forward and arched his neck to make himself look more presentable to the dragon passing him by. 
Gleyssier Aleunor VI laid down on the stone floor of the cavern and scooped the protesting hatchling from his uncle's side into the safety of his arms. He was gentler while playing with the hatchling and licking him, much kinder than what Hess had remembered him to be in his childhood. 
"Darling, give him some time. He has to court the lovely lady first before they can settle down and have babies." 
Gleyssier lifted the giggling hatchling into the air with the thumb talons of his wings. Galanthus spread his tiny wings and fluttered them as his father moved him around. It would've been a lovely thing to watch if hadn't reminded Hess of all the times their siblings had received broken wings because a fledgling Gleyssier had insisted they were ready to fly. There was a part of him that was glad that Gleyssier had matured into a loving father, and another that held onto the bitterness of his memories each time he saw him.