The next morning, Lilasia and I headed down to Pa's workshop wondering what he had to give me. The previous night had been filled with well wishes and merriment from my fellow villagers as well as the other hopefuls.
I was still in shock from the bonding to Lilasia and was so excited to begin this new journey with her.
*****
I remember the day she hatched. Bellisama thought she had another week of incubating, but these things are not always the same. I remember stepping into the barn that morning to collect the eggs for breakfast when I heard a ginormous crack that felt like it should have shaken the very earth itself.
"OH MY!! SHE IS HATCHING!!" Bellisama crowed in my head and probably my mother's head as well.
"Ok mama Bell. Lets not scare her before she sees you." I say.
Seconds later, Ma rushed into the barn looking a little haried and half dressed so caught by surprise she was.
The sound of thunderous footsteps heralded the arrival of Bellisama's mate, Solvon, not wanting to miss the arrival of his hatchling.
"Is it really time?" He booms inside our heads. His copper red scales shook with excitement.
"It is." She advised before wrapping her long body around the egg. I could hear her encouraging the dragonet inside the egg to push out with all of her might.
"What's all of the hubub?" My father asks as he strides into the barn. The sound of thunderous, running dragon feet had probably alerted him that something was amiss inside his barn. As soon as he caught sight of what was happening, he immediately ran back outside, thinking that this should be a private moment.
"Julie, tell him to come back in here! Even though he cannot hear us, he is still part of this family." Mama Bell said, while crooning to the dragonet inside.
"Don't worry, Mama Bell. I will get him back in here." I replied. "Ma, stay here."
I run back outside to see Pa sitting on a stump with tears streaming down his face. With pride or sorrow, I don't know.
"Mama Bell said that you need to come back in there." I tell him. "She cares not that you cannot hear them. She wants you present for the hatching. You will be like a second father to the dragonet no matter what."
"In times like this, I so wish that I can hear Bellisama and Solvon. Many times I feel so left out of the conversation and feel bad that you have to say aloud what they need from me, baby." Pa said while hugging me close.
"Oh, Pa." I said while returning the hug. "I am always happy that you need me to help you know what the dragons want and need when they are being fitted for their leather strappings. You and Ma have always taught me it is not shameful nor a sign of weakness to ask for help."
"I know, sweetheart." Pa replied. He stood up and walked both of us back to the barn. "What do you need in the form of help from us?" He asks Ma.
"There isn't much to do. The dragonet has to do all of the work from inside the shell." Ma replied. "It could take minutes or hours."
I suddenly hear the sound of pounding horse hooves. I walk back outside to see Solvon's partner, Jerold, along with his daughter Penny, my best friend. They jump off the horse and rush inside with me close behind them. They did not want to miss this moment either.
I enter back into the barn just in time to see the dragonet punch through with her forelegs and tail. With one final push, the dragonet pushes through its tough shell and it shatters into a million pieces. She is a brilliant light purple color with delicate wings. Though she is still covered with the slime that protected her somewhat while in the egg. But soon enough Mama Bell cleans her up with clensing fire and the slime just disappears under the flame that the dragonet bathes and basks in.
"Hello, little one. Your name shall be Lilasia." Mama Bell exclaims as she curls her long body around the dragonet.
But the dragonet's eyes soon drift to me and there is an instant connection that will last a lifetime.
****
I shake my head, coming back into the present.
"What were you thinking about that gave you that faraway look?" Lilasia asks me.
"Just remembering the day that you hatched." I replied. "Since that day, I have always felt a deep connection to you. Even after you went off to train in the capital. I have so missed you while you were gone."
"As have I, big sis." She replies. "I feel that fate has a destany for the both of us that we will both have to face together. I just hope that we will be ready when the time comes."
I entered Pa's workshop just as he was finishing up with one of the new dragon warriors that was selected the previous day. I did not know him personally since he was probably from a nearby town. Lilasia would have to wait outside for she would not fit inside, though she did when she was little.
"Hey, Pa. Seems business is booming as always." I said with a grin as the other warrior exited the building.
"Great timing, sweetpea!" Pa said. "Come back into my workroom. I have something special for you."
We enter the backroom, and there on the stand was a brand new set of leather armor. Knowing my dad, they would fit me perfectly when he was done with them.
"Are these for me?" I ask, looking over the costly leather.
"I made these especially for you, dear. I was being pretty opportunistic that you would be chosen. So I have been working on this quietly. Over the next couple weeks, we will do fittings so they fit just right. Go over to the fitting room and put them on so I can see what adjustments I need to make." He said waving me off with a grin.
The fitting room he mentioned was really just a closet with a cloth over the entrance, where a person can put stuff on in private. I grab the armor and enter the changing room. Leather armor is best worn very close to the skin, Some light clothing like an undershirt is usually doable. I shed my outer clothing and put on the armor.
I step out of the change room. I can tell right away that Pa would have to do only a few adjustments where it was pinching slightly but otherwise was a perfect fit.
"I also have plans to specially make a harness for Lilasia as well. So when we are done here, I will need to get her measurements as well." Pa said while making notes on what adjustments need to be made.
"Ok, Pa. I am sure she will love whatever you make." I reply with a grin.
He shoos me to go back to the change room, and I take off the armor with a sigh. When he was finished with it, it will feel like a second skin. I couldn't wait.
Pa grabbed some more paper and writing utensils to make measurements and we headed back outside.