step after step ; neutral

[Fish]

Willow Victoria Quicke was inexplicably irrevocably lost, and to be honest, she couldn't care in the least. A dreamy smile danced across her lips as she scaled the mountain, following a slender dirt path worn thin with the footsteps of others who had preceded her. A warm wind carried the scent of fresh grass and sweet flowers, and ruffled the gypsy like skirt around her ankles. Her earrings jingled musically as she walked, almost gliding across the earth for all her happiness.

She supposed she should be a bit more worried, but honestly she simply couldn't muster the emotion. Her father and uncle had urged her to go find a dragon egg to bond with. And so she had. Yet, somehow, between the path out of the town and the fork in the road, she had ended up on this mountain side instead of in the depths of the barren desert. And really, Will thought this suited her much better.

After a moment of walking, Willow stopped. In front of her, a cave gaped, the inside inky and silent as a grave. How curious. Will dug her bare toes into the soft sand beneath her feet. Something from within that gave tugged at her, as a string protruded from her chest and into the cave.

"Well all right then," she said lightly to no one, turning and walking into the cave. Another breeze floated by, causing the cave to almost hiss as she walked inside, the moist ground kissing her toes. Will smiled serenely, despite the fact that many would have been afraid in this situation.

She walked for a long time. Never once did it cross her mind that she should turn around. Her father often said that Will would walk to the ends of the earth if he let her, and he was quite right. As it was, the temperature was getting cooler and more damp, but Will hardly shivered.

Then there it was. The Pheonix. Will stopped dead in her tracks, surprised. Her thoughts instantly went to the many books she had read on the creatures. The bird was resting on a nest, where several glistening eggs peeked out from. How exciting!

"...Hello there," she greeted in her usual musical voice, "How are you today ma'am? Oh...though perhaps you are a sir. I shouldn't discriminate. I was raised by my father, myself, and I turned out just fine." she rocked back on her heels, her lips pursing in thought. "I hope you don't mind me intruding. Would you like some company? It must get awfully lonely in here. Though, your cave is quite lovely." Will added politely. She swished her skirt back and forth and waited patiently to see if he or she would respond.

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[SUBMARiNE"]

Stepps echoed through the dripping rhythm of the moist cave where the female Phoenix sat arrest her nest of eggs. Colors sparkled like vivid gems from beneath her silk soft belly feathers. She'd been resting there for nearly three weeks. waiting... Hoping that just one person would have been adventurous enough to wander into her roosting cave. Her children would become restless soon, and if they did not bond, they would hatch and be feral, just as she was. This was not to say such a thing was particularly tragic, but with the early arrival of the elder dragon's link on the humans and creatures of Inhale, the mother Phoenix wished for her chicks to be a part of that. It had her interest...

At length, the elegant tapping of feet against stone ceased, and a female figure appeared in the dim light. Crystals and gems of real value lay imbedded in the cave walls, giving off a vibrant glow of color to the cave. Here, the Hen's warmth was plentiful.
When Willow spoke, the Phoenix picked up her attentive red head, and raised her beautiful crest with curiosity. This woman was kind, and sweet; something the mother had not seen in quite a long while.

Yes… I do grow rather lonely; seldom do humans walk these caves to retrieve their lovely hatchlings. I fear they are ignoring their instincts and… staying away. Some do not take pleasure to the idea of being bonded to a Phoenix chick. Dragons are plentiful to them. I am grateful you have come, therefore, you will be granted the wisest of my children. Take care of her with your life… She is a gift for your kindness towards such a lonely Hen…

her words whispered like a gentle melody through Willows head. But her link would forever be within the soft aqua colored egg the hen maneuvered out from under her warm belly.

Take her to the forest where rains have collected, and soak her for no longer than a minute. Once you remove her, she will hatch.

Then, the Hen nodded her elegant head, and tucked it into her bright red wing feathers where she began to sleep.


Click

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[Fish]

Willow tutted sympathetically as she listened to the Pheonix speak inside her head. She wasn't alarmed exactly. More interested in the way she was able to understand the creature. It really was a shame that there were so few people who came. She was well aware of the hype surrounding dragons, and indeed, they were magnificent. But then again, so was this beautiful creature.

Willow's eyes widened in surprise as the hen nudged a wonderful, milky aqua egg toward her. She bent, gently taking the egg into her hands as though even the lightest touch might shatter it. To her surprise, it was very warm, as if a little fire was glowing just out of sight. Almost as soon as she computed this fact, a tingle rushed up her arms, sending a shiver down her back and a soft giggle out of her mouth. Will knew she would never let this egg, or whatever may be inside it, come to any harm.

"Thank you," she said earnestly, raising her head only to find the Phoenix had ducked her head in sleep. She smiled, standing with the egg cradled in her arms. Softly she backed out of the clearing, find her way back to the entrance of the cave. A dark cloud cover had begun to gather. Will debated going straight to the forest - there certainly wouldn't be any shortage of collected rain soon - but decided that a rainfall was perhaps not the healthiest place for a hatchling to be. So, with that thought in her mind, she elected to begin the long trek back to tow, where she would then curl up with a thick book, a cup of tea, and her dear little egg and wait patiently for the rain to pass.

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