Both Aurora and Orian was absolutely speechless after the Grans revelations.
"How is this possible!?" Exclaimed Aurora.
The Grans just laughed.
"As if you don't know how children get formed, dear!" Teased the Grans.
"Well.. I don't!!" Exclaimed Orian.
"Well, you see, little one!"
"When two dragons really love each other then they..." started the Grans.
"Nooooooooo!!!!!!" Cried Aurora.
Desperately covering her hatchling's ears in order to protect his innocence. Once she was sure that the Grans had stopped, she removed her forelimbs from his ears.
"Come now, dear!!"
"It's a completely natural act."
"He needs to learn these facts eventually!!" Exclaimed the Grans.
"He's not even a year old!!! Let him keep his innocence a little while longer!!" Retorted Aurora.
The Grans decided to drop the topic for the time being, much to Orian's displeasure.
"So this is actually happening? I'm getting a baby brother?" Asked Orian.
"Or sister! We don't yet know what gender the child is!" Corrected Aurora.
"Actually...We can tell you that it is..." started the Grans.
"Nooooo!!! Don't spoil it!!! I want it to be a suprise!!" Cried Aurora.
They left the Gran's cottage a moment later.
They gave Aurora some medicine to help with her ill symptoms. And a strict list of dietary requirements to help nurture the egg forming within her.
They predicted that the egg would be ready for laying in 3 months time.
Until then, Aurora had to take things lightly in order to ensure the child grew properly.
She was currently walking with Orian towards the Fay Quarter to treat him.
He had said little since he heard the news and his depression had returned.
"What's wrong, little guy? Aren't you excited to have a sibling?" Asked Aurora.
"I'm not sure.." said Orian.
Aurora stopped her son by pulling back on his shoulder.
"What's troubling you, son!?"
"... It's just... Father has so little time for me...
Now he's going to have even less time!!" Cried Orian.
Aurora turned her child around and embraced him.
"I know things have been difficult!! But I promise you, that your father and I will NEVER abandon you!! The addition of a new sibling will not change anything, or make us love you less than we do now!" Reassured Aurora.
After a moment, Orian returned his mother's embrace. Meanwhile Aurora was doing her best to figure out how to solve their dilemma.
She knew there would be challenges involved when she agreed to become a mother.
Dragons were naturally vain and self centered.
Especially hatchlings. While some families managed to raise multiple hatchlings of different ages.
Others had problems. Sometimes an older hatchling couldn't accept that they have to share his parents love with another, And so grew resentful towards their sibling.
These siblings eventually grow fierce rivalries with one another. Although these disagreements rarely grew violent. It was unpleasant for the entire family.
Orian was already showing the early symptoms of this. She needed to speak to Storm when he returned.Together, they needed to find a way to appease Orian and lay his concerns to rest.
Before resentment could grow and tear their family apart.
****
Meanwhile back in Caledonia
Storm and Leyocan had spent the last few hours pleading their case in front of the town elders. Several of them were not pleased with their actions.
They believed that they acted rashly and that this would come with severe consequences for the town. A few of them suggested that Storm and Leyocan should be handed over to The Order for judgment.
The girl that was rescued from the fort was named 'Magpie'. Her band had been taking the fight to the Order when they were captured in an ambush. She was a halfling orphan with an unknown human mother and an elven father.
Halflings was the term used to describe any child that had one human and one non human parent, generally they were treated as outcasts by both their parent's people, but the townspeople had raised Magpie to be a fierce defender of the community.
She pleaded their case and gave an account of what had happened. From what Storm could tell, some townspeople resented her to for her resistance against the Order.
What finally managed to sway the elders to their side, was the news that the fire spirit led the charge.
He had dissappeared shortly after the battle"s end and wasn't present to testify.
But there was plenty of evidence of his involvement at the fort. As a legendary figure in the town's history, they ultimately accepted his judgment.
If he considered these two worthy and their actions necessarily. Then who were they to argue?
Storm and Leyocan was pardoned but they were advised to leave the area immediately.
Many of the townspeople were still upset and it would take time for the resentment to calm.
Magpie promised that she will continue to work with the townspeople to calm the tension.
When the town was ready to accept them again, she would call for them.
And so Storm and Leyocan was currently flying over the forest surrounding the town of Caledonia. Both were silent as they were both deep in thought.
Something below caught Storm's attention and he angled towards it. Causing Leyocan to question him.
"Look down there!" Said Storm.
Leyocan followed his gaze and saw a clearing in the middle of the forest.
Several buildings could be seen over the treeline, though they appeared ruined and abandoned.
"Haven't we had enough adventures for one day?" Asked Leyocan.
"I'm curious! It won't take long." Stated Storm.
He landed in the center of the compound and folded his wings. The clearing seemed to at one time house a small settlement.
Several huts were scattered around the settlement, though their occupants had long since departed.
A wide flight of stairs led to what appeared to be some kind of temple.
A statue of some unknown entity was placed in front of the temple.
"Storm!! Look!!" Exclaimed Leyocan.
He approached the statue and he immediately recognized the figure.
It depicted a young man, roughly 16-18 years old with hair raised upwards that resembled a blazing flame.
6 arms grew from his body, one held a spear, one held a throwing disk, one held a curved sword, while another held a kite shield depicting a serpentine dragon on it's base.
The being had 3 heads, one was facing forward like normal, while the remaining 2 were facing the left and right.
Storm had seen this being before.
Back when he sparred with the boy, he changed into a similar shape at the end of the duel.
He only had a single head, unlike the 3 depicted here, but this was no doubt the same being.
The face and hair resembled him perfectly.