____Chapter 51____

Torrent was curled up under Angelina's wing as the rain assaulted their scaly bodies. The dragons in the group had huddled together, using their wing membranes to keep each other dry.

This is what was happening when you and Mark walked up that morning, Skye said as memories of the uncomfortable event trickled back into his mind.

Skye that doesn't excuse the fact that you HIT ON MY MOM, Angelina stated factually.

Hey, I didn't know and she looks like a hundred years younger than she is! Skye replied, trying to justify his actions.

Torrent just rolled his eyes, a habit he had picked up from Angelina. Oh stop, he said. It's over and you both have someone to love so stop acting like a bickering couple. In reality, he was uncomfortable with the topic and a bit worried about his own future. However, he would wait to talk about it later.

Skye just glared at the young dragon under the canopy of wings. Angelina thought about scolding him for his comment but she realized that he was right and refrained from doing so.

Aura giggled softly to herself thinking 'goody something else to tease Skye with.'

The rain didn't appear to be ready to let up anytime soon and nightfall was fast approaching so they stayed where they were for the night. Torrent volunteered to hold the egg, as he was the only one not being bombarded with cold wet precipitation. The purplish blue dragon felt needed and useful as he held the black and green object between his forelegs and near his chest. The young dragon smiled as he stared at the object before him. He wouldn't show it, but he was super excited about having a sibling to talk to and play with.

Night crept up on the traveling group as darkness descended upon the forest. The thick thunderclouds acted like a dark cloak, shrouding out the stars and moon. The darkness created an eerie silence, only interrupted by the pouring rain and the occasional crack of thunder.

......

Beneath the shell, something stirred, waking the purplish blue lizard. He opened an eye but the movement had stopped. He wondered if he was imagining it but decided against such thoughts. Mom? Hey mom, he said, nudging Angelina with his wing.

Hmm? Angelina replied, opening her eyes to a clear bright morning.

When's it gonna hatch? Torrent asked, looking down at the egg.

Soon, Angelina replied, yawning. She was an intimidating sight with her dagger like teeth exposed in such a manner. The red dragon that was now his mother had grown considerably since he had first met her. Torrent couldn't help but feel a sense of awe and a bit of fear at the sight of her jaws open like that.

Cool, Torrent said, still trying to recompose himself.

What? No deep thoughts? Angelina joked.

What do you mean? Torrent said with childlike innocence.

You just generally have some really deep thoughts that are beyond your years, Angelina replied. It's a good thing, she encouraged. Just don't think too deeply or things will start to get confusing. Just enjoy being a kid while you can. The red dragoness smiled at her adopted son, seeing in his face that he did have some deeper thoughts but didn't want to say them. She decided that he would say what he needed to say when he needed to say it and didn't mention it.

Torrent couldn't help but smile back. Even with her fearsome appearance, Angelina's smile had something…something kind and gentle behind it. The young dragon just couldn't put a talon on it. Finally he just nodded and stood up, gently placing the egg back between Angelina's foreleg and armored chest.

Mom… the young dragon said after a long period of silence.

Yes? She replied, noticing the nervous and serious tone in her son's voice.

What's it like…to…have a mate?

What do you want to know? Angelina asked, not really getting exactly what Torrent was trying to find out.

I mean…you and Eva are the only female dragons I have met, and you are both much older and…taken… He paused trying to think of how he wanted to word his question.

Just spit it out, Angelina replied. I'm not going to laugh at you.

I'm worried that I might not find someone…

Torrent, don't be silly. You are quite intelligent and have a great personality. Some female is going to completely fall for you some day. You don't even need to worry about that yet, Angelina said. You have plenty of time.

It's just that humans raised me for a long time, Torrent said. I watch you and Mark…and how you two act around each other. It just seems so…impossible, Torrent said quietly.

True, our story is strange and totally one of a kind, but not impossible, Angelina said. Trust me though; love has a way of showing up where and when you least expect it.

Okay, Torrent said, still unsure of it all. I guess you're right. I still have time to find someone…

You will. I promise, the red dragoness said, patting Torrent on the neck. You'll see, she said with that softness in her eyes that the young dragon still couldn't explain.

Angelina stood up and folded her wings, waking the others up in the process. We have a couple more hours to fly and that'll be it.

Skye an Aura yawned simultaneously, making Torrent giggle.

See? It's not so rare after all, Angelina said to Torrent, winking at him.

I guess so. If SKYE can find a mate, I DEFINITELY can, Torrent said privately to his mother.

The red dragoness just shook her head and laughed as she took to the air. 'Dang that was close,' she thought to herself. 'I'll let Mark talk to him about all that mating stuff. It will at least be funny to watch.'

………

Eva walked around her territory, enjoying some fresh air. She'd been lucky enough to miss the storm completely as it just barely skimmed the area around her home. She was near one of the many entrances to her home cave system anyway, just in case the storm had hit more fiercely.

'It's springtime now,' she thought. 'It's so peaceful and full of color and life.'

I know right? Said a voice from somewhere.

Eva quickly turned to face whomever was near her. As she did, the green dragoness came face to face with a younger female with scales the color of Aquamarine. Oh…who are you? She asked, suspicious of another female on her territory, not that she generally cared, as the expanse of territory was plenty big enough to share.

You don't recognize me? The younger dragoness asked.

Am I supposed to? Eva asked, still not having a clue as to who this new figure was.

It's been a while, the sea colored dragoness stated. I'm Angelina's friend, Crystal.

Oh! I remember you, Eva exclaimed. You were just a dragonlet then though. You look so different!

I flew over as soon as I could when I heard you were back, Crystal explained. You weren't at home so I figured you were out walking.

How'd you find me? Eva asked, not really caring about just how Crystal had located her.

I used to go on walks with you. Remember? I decided to check your favorite paths and here you are.

Yeah I remember, the forest green female said as memories of taking nature walks with the young aqua dragonlet trickled back to her. This was also one of your favorite ones too. We'd only do it sometimes because it's a really long walk and you didn't fly so well back then. Memories of Crystal's wobbly flight caused Eva to giggle a bit.

Funny huh? Well, watch this, Crystal said taking to the air to prove herself.

Eva watched as Crystal rose powerfully and elegantly into the cloudless sky. The older female grinned as the young dragoness performed intricate loops and twists and spirals. Crystal, however, was under the watch of more than one set of eyes. Rozhab had flown back to tell Eva of Mark's recovery so far, and couldn't help but notice the beautiful female twirling about. 'That's a bit backwards,' he thought. Usually that was something a male would do to impress a female. It seems silly but it actually helps a dragoness find a strong, able mate. Generally they don't do that anymore as it's kind of an old way of doing things and as all ceremonies, it pretty much died out with the generation before his.

Without thinking, the brown dragon leaped into the air, stretched out his wings, and ascended to fly with the light blue-green dragoness. He matched her moves with perfect precision, instinctively following her every movement to the very minute details.

Hey' you're pretty good at that, the aquamarine female stated. I'm Crystal.

I'm Rozhab but my friends just call me Ro, the brown dragon said.

Hey Ro, Crystal said happily. Uh… do you want to…hang out sometime? Maybe take a walk or something? Crystal said shakily, actually taking an interest in this new male.

Sure…uh if I made you uncomfortable I'm sorry. I just couldn't help myself, Rozhab explained.

Heh, it's okay, Crystal said. Why are you out here anyway? I have never seen you around.

I could ask you the same thing, Rozhab said. I came to tell Eva that Mark was recovering quickly.

Recovering?

You didn't know? He was attacked, the chocolate brown dragon said.

That's horrible! What happened to the other dragon?

He's at the same hospital. It was all a big misunderstanding and I really think both of them want it to be behind them, Rozhab explained.

Oh, Crystal said. I guess I should let you go tell her then.

The brown dragon flew down and told Eva his information. Needless to say the forest colored dragoness was delighted to hear it. They all walked back together, Crystal and Rozhab taking turns staring at each other secretly. Eva just grinned in amusement at the two younger winged lizards' behavior.