Six Months After the Dance of the Moon Dragons
The Night of Great Loss
The Night of Great Loss
"You sure that is the final count?"
Greydon lingered by the door, not quite determined to fully enter the room than he was to linger outside it. Taking up the entirety of the doorway seemed the best fit. His eyes watched the as the Hatchery attendant gave a grave look to Greydon's cousin, who once was the heir to her House, but now was engaged to marry another heir of another house. Still, her devotion to the preservation of the Moon Dragons was what brought him and others of the Malennis family to be present here.
"I am afraid it is, my lady. Only two dozen clutches were made this past year... but with the deaths of so many..." He cleared his throat, his hands opening towards the ceiling in a soft gesture of a shrug. "These things happen over time. We saw it with the Storm Dragons most recently, the decline of their numbers due to their unique mating habits... We cannot project a proper estimate of the future, but perhaps if we speak with our bonded Moons, we could try and encourage them to become more active in the celestial events."
Eira, his cousin, bit down on her lip. At her side was Sirine, who wore the crest of the Royal Princess' Gilded Guard. There were others present, all of the Malennis bloodline, and all with a Moon Dragon.
He had one too, and if it weren't for that old and beastly dragon of his being the only active dragon to contribute to new clutches each year, Grey would be at home.
This was important.
The death of a dragon bloodline could make things for the Malennis' precarious in the future, as it happened to the Calaerys' and their Storm Dragons. They were only survived by one dragon that stayed in Thanasis, and a family bloodline cursed that it only could survived through the female line. Greydon didn't want his mother's own family to become wound up with the same fate.
"What about the eggs out in the Wylds? Did we count those?" He piped up.
All eyes shifted to him, and he did not shy from it.
"They would be heavily protected, if not, difficult terrain to get to. But... if we were to procure some of that number, a few from each clutch, perhaps we may have a chance yet..." Said the attendant.
Greydon turned his gaze to Eira, who stared at him with an intensity and emotion he could not decipher at that moment. "I cannot leave. Duty has bound me to remain here and... sit through a social dinner."
Ah, hidden disdain.
Grey didn't care for his cousin's fiance, didn't care that they would join Houses. He cared if he were to be dragged to once of their events and see that prick for a whole evening. "I'll go. I know there is a breeding ground in the ridgeline along one of my patrol routes. I can go in the morning."
The attendant stood, closing his records book and gave a grateful smile to Greydon. "Drazhan came from that area. Perhaps the other dragons will allow him near... but you must still tread carefully when it comes to the Moon Dragons and their wyld territory." It did not need to be explained how protective and bloodthirsty the bloodline could be, as each rider present had seen their bonded first hand in the throws of fiery violence.