____Chapter 53____

Almost there, Angelina said to the others as she noticed the hospital come into sight. Let me land first then you guys can figure out the rest. And Skye, don't do anything stupid please.

What makes you think I would do such a thing? Skye asked grinning.

Don't even think about it, Angelina remarked before angling herself for a landing on the concrete roof. It took a few minutes to actually get to the building but once they were close enough, Angelina quickly started to descend and landed perfectly right next to the opening of the tent.

Angelina lowered her head to peek into the tent. Just as she peeked inside a voice entered her head. Looking for me? It was then that she realized that I was not where I had been. She looked up and saw my head pushed through the flap on the other side. Hey Angel.

Oh! Please don't scare me like that! The red dragoness breathed a sigh of relief as she stared at her mate once again. I was in pain but at least I was up.

Sorry. I would have had the doctor hose me down if I had known you were going to be back. I probably don't smell too good right now… I started to apologize.

Oh hush. I lived with Skye for a good amount of time. Your smell wouldn't bother me, Angelina stated.

HEY! Skye exclaimed as he landed. I heard that!

Good, Angelina said.

Aura landed next to Skye but stayed quiet. I pulled my head out of the tent and walked around to greet Angelina and Skye, but was greeted with Torrent and a dragon I had never seen before as well.

This is Aura, Skye said triumphantly. She is my mate.

Oh really? It's nice to meet you Aura. I'm Mark, I greeted.

Aura nodded in recognition. I lay down, trying to save my strength. The sunny day had dried the roof for the most part and the concrete felt warm under my black scales. A long, awkward silence enveloped the group of winged lizards as Angelina mimicked me. She curled up beside me but not really close.

I'm not contagious, I stated, pretending to have my feelings hurt.

I just didn't want to hurt you any more than you already are, Angelina said factually.

It's okay. I can walk some now I just can't walk too fast or fly, I informed.   

Oh, well in that case… She scooted closer and set her head right by mine.

Oh come on! You can't wait? Torrent said overdramatically.

He's getting to that age, Angelina said privately to me.

If he was raised as a human he probably already knows most of it, I stated. Humans generally teach about…"mating" as you say at a younger age. I wouldn't doubt that the old man has already told him, I said.

Well that's on you…Just saying, Angelina replied.

I hate it when you two do that, Torrent said.

Do what? I asked.

When you have those silent conversations, the purplish blue dragon said.

Sorry. Sometimes it's necessary though, I replied. How's my lil' dragon been doing?

I'm not little, Torrent said defensively. I've been okay.

Little to me, I said. Glad to hear you're doing well. Have you been keeping an eye on your mother for me?

Torrent chuckled and said, yeah.

Good, I said, I am glad you are all here.

I am glad you are awake, Angelina said. You'll at least get to see your egg hatch.

Egg? OOOOOHH Riiiight! Already? Wow how long was I out? I asked, surprised.

A few weeks, Angelina stated. It shouldn't be too long till it hatches…maybe even tonight.

It was moving this morning, Torrent stated. That's what reminded me to talk to mom about…

Females, I finished for him, noticing his pause.

Heh, yeah… Torrent said nervously. I mean, I know the basics of it but…I don't know. Being raised by humans, I don't think I would fit in.

Fitting in is overrated anyway, I said. Look at me. You may have been raised by humans, but I WAS human and I have a beautiful dragoness.

Angelina gave me one of those "Thanks, but a bit much" stares and I stuck my forked tongue out at her. My point is you don't need to worry. You will find someone. You are starting to get to that age where you are thinking about it and I encourage you to do that. Just remember there is no rush.

Torrent nodded and blushed a bit from the nature of the conversation but he got the point I was trying to make. Thanks, was his only reply as he smiled and walked over to talk with Skye. That in and of itself made me nervous.

Relax, Angelina said. I don't know how or when it happened but Skye has…grown up…at least some anyway.

No way, not Skye, I said, shocked at the purely ridiculous statement.

Watch him, Angelina commanded. You'll see.

I nodded and then said; I think I am going to sleep out here. The rain is over and it feels nice to be out of that stuffy tent.

I don't blame you, Angelina stated. She just continued to lay by my side as the sun started to set.

Just as I was about to close my tired eyes, Skye walked over. So where do we go?

Just stay here, I said. The roof is plenty big enough…or is your mate afraid of humans like Joseph?

I'm sure Aura won't be super comfortable but she'll be fine, Skye stated, defending Aura.

Suddenly, I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. The egg, which was held between Angelina's foreleg and neck, was starting to move…a lot…

I had a feeling, Angelina said, that it would be tonight. What a perfect night to hatch. It's nice and warm and we have friends here.

True that, I said keeping focused on the nearly spherical, black and green object. We did agree on Tyler as a male name…what about female?

I was thinking Luna for a female name, she said.

Leave it to the dragon who shines like the sun to come up with a moon related name, I joked. But I love it.

Suddenly the egg shook violently and tiny cracks started to form in the shell. They spread out in little separating cracks like the forks of lighting as it streaks across the sky. A small chunk from the bottom of it (Or what I assumed was the bottom) broke free, almost exploding outward, flowed by a tiny, yet surprisingly sharp looking clawed foot.

Oh a rambunctious little dragon, I said smiling. Got that from you probably…

Hey!…yeah probably… Angelina admitted.

Soon more chunks were popping out and a horn broke through the shell, then another claw, and a tail. Finally there were enough holes in the shell to let it be pushed completely open. A friendly, inquisitive little red head popped out of the rock hard container. The little dragon blinked his eyes a few times, adjusting them to the light that it now faced. He stood up in the shell, trying to climb out all wobbly legged. I say he because I could now tell that much. He flopped onto the rooftop lying cutely on his side. He stared at me, which was something that caught me off guard. His eyes…they were…amazing. He had one deep blue eye and one fire red eye, both looked fierce and determined yet soft and inquisitive at the same time.

Hi Tyler, I said softly into his mind. Welcome to the world.