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A New Family Part 4

Dramatis Personae

Family of 5 (Colonists)

• Ataksak (Mother) 41

• Negafook (Father) 42

• Nanook (elder son) 22

• Pinga (daughter) 22

• Silla (younger daughter) 8

Other Cast

• Noctis (Geneticist, Colonist) 293

-Surya (Son of Noctis) 102

• Alessandra (Alpha den Healer, Colonist) 215

-Nathan (Alpha den Historian, Colonist) 235

• Diana (Daughter of Nathan and Alessandra) 102

• Apollo (Son of Nathan and Alessandra) 102

• Sylvia (Alpha den Technician, Colonist) 212

• Gregory (Alpha den Architect, Colonist) 230

• Anath (Daughter of Sylvia and Gregory) 29

• Caleb (Echo den Adventurer, Colonist) 223

Later, I was awoken by hushed whispering. Opening both sets of lids covering my right eye I let it glance around to see who was awake. None of my family. Instead I saw three pairs of eyes piled on top of each other in a pyramid looking back at me. Each of the three were no doubt still very young as they were not even my less than impressive size. Upon seeing my attention had fallen upon them they chortled and slipped away into the brush silently. Who knows what grim fate would have befallen us if those hatchlings had had their chance at mischief. I noticed one set of glimmering crimson eyes reappear high above in a tree watching curiously. Uneasily, I realized I could not see the other two.

Tag, suddenly popped into my mind, Noctis explained further: Their plan was to pounce on you. Then yell tag and flee into the woods. I would have sent someone to stop them if they truly meant harm. They remain because they are curious about why all of you look different than themselves. Now that I know one of you is awake I'll send Surya along shortly with a pair of herd animals. I want you to let Silla and Ataksak have their own to themselves.

Why? Silla thought out drowsily.

You have much change left to do deep inside yourself little one. And as Ataksak desires to have eggs she must grow many times her size before they can reach their full potential.

Can I not have one all to myself then? I want to have eggs too, she thought spoke back hopefully.

_You would never be able to fit it all in._Was Noctis' response.

With wild and uncoordinated flapping Surya landed with our next meal. Even before the rest of my families' eyes had completely opened their snouts were pointed in his direction with tongues flickering madly in interest.

"Eat up or I will!" Surya said as long strings of saliva dripped onto the fresh carcasses. He sniffed the air and focused in the direction the three youths had slipped a moment before. Then he grinned. "Oh, what fun! I knew some of the younger ones would find their way here eventually."

Rousing ourselves, we tumbled over en masse and dug in, ripping with abandon. I glanced up at the two sharing with me. I saw them swelling right before my eyes while they ripped flesh from their meal and swallowed. As their front claws were latched onto their food they lengthened. Every step their back legs made stretched them out further and further. The stout frames of their bodies grew larger in girth as well.

I confirmed my own body was changing similarly when I curled my neck down to allow me to see myself. (Who needs a mirror when you have a head support that can twist itself into a knot?) I could not lie down and eat yet. Instead I sat upon my rump and tail with legs on either side and bent my still longer neck down. Although, thus far the increased length of my body simply meant I was growing taller instead of in length. Not for much longer though, I felt increasingly unbalanced by the muscle needed to support flight.

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised as that our mass is growing so rapidly, I mulled it over in my head. I looked over at Ata and Silla. Both females stood on lengthening legs while muscle rippled down the length of their bodies. They also stretched and grunted as the range of their spinal columns increased. Ata gave out a particularly loud groan as her neck suddenly grew audibly. This also shifted the position of their legs not just in length of gait but in width of stance as well. Each fidget of their legs found their paws landing in a new and greater position.

A heretofore new alteration manifested when Silla stopped her carnal feasting and said something to her mother. Ata picked her head up and began nosing the back and top of the smaller dragoness' head and then squawked in alarm. She moved her head out of the way just in time as a mass of dull red feathers peeked their way into existence. These then rapidly grew to be two paw widths long. As a gentle breeze moved through the area these ornaments fluttered atop the excited youngling. "I can feel the wind in them!" Her excitement visually displayed by these feathers bristling widely on end along with the frills of her ears. "Will I change more the more I eat?" She didn't wait for a response however. Bending down she ripped another morsel free from her meal and threw her head back swallowing it whole.

Another thing I noticed as I crunched a bone absentmindedly. My forelegs were spreading farther from each other. This accompanied by the swelling and broadening of my chest. A substantial structure was forming to provide power to the fledgling wings. Large clusters of muscles began to anchor to my sternum and stretch to the reformed scapula. From these shoulder supports the arm bone for the leathery wings grew. I could already feel the breeze against them as they twitched in urgent desire to engage the wind. In fact that rudimentary movement seemed to encourage the stubby growths as they sprouted further. Now they were identifiable as having several fingers radiating from the main arm.

Standing I moved over to my mate to ask her something and to inspect the display my daughter had grown. Mobile extensions like those feathers must be used for signaling, I thought. That plan however crashed to a halt when halfway to her I started to bend forward at the hips and crashed myself. Standing again with my tail extended upwards past horizontal to fight the inevitable. By the time I reached my watching wife I was teetering on the balls of my rear paws. My front legs held up for some wary sense of balance. With great poise I reached Ata and collapsed against her sending us both sprawling. She looked amused.

"Can't you be more graceful while you turn into a beast?"

Trying one more time to stand, I instead discovered a new trick in our broadening repertoire. Heaving myself up again I sat back, but not upon my haunches. Instead my thick tail braced itself against the ground as I stood tall over the rest of my family with forelegs held folded before me like a raptor. They cocked their heads to look at this stance while I held my head high with pride at my discovery.

Sneering at my boastful broadcasting, Ata reeled me in "Good job dear. You've managed to discover the sssame alert posture that monitor lizardsss have used for millionsss of turnsss. Sssomething I've noticed the other colonistsss have already adopted."

"Well! Sssince I just became a dr..." I had to stop after the beautiful delicate flower that was my wife rammed her snout into my belly and toppled me from said posture.

Fuck; I thought, gasping and prostrate upon on the ground, what irony that a communications expert has begun to rasp sibilantly. My tongue prodded at the six fangs that overlapped three to each side my lower jaw.

Another fresh shudder of alarm swept down the length of my growing spine making my tail tip dance. I just realized from my new position on four paws that our changes had entirely altered our family dynamic. I was just barely as tall as Pinga with Ata being noticeably larger as I looked up at her (She grinned down at me evilly). Silla even despite her lack of age, was larger than Nan! No longer could she rightly be called little one. Nan was not amused when I transferred this title to him. Females being dominant here indeed; I thought. Our sexual dimorphism was even more pronounced than any others we had seen so far.

Our gamy meals consumed we all had once more washed in the stream. While there together for once. I noticed several clusters of leaves fall from branches overlooking our position. Looking up I saw the red eyed youth flare it's wings and leap, gliding down and latching onto Silla's larger back.

Feathers standing wildly on end and flashing red Silla shrilled loudly in alarm as the youngling crowed excitedly "Tag!" in a squeaky voice. The red and yellow dragoness darted into the undergrowth and was gone in seconds. Silla hot on the disappearing end of her tail chortling her own amusement. Startled I began after her only to have my movement checked by Ata. She looked down at me, smiled, and shook her head.

"This isss just what she needsss. Let her go. I'll explain to Noctisss her absence if need be."

Noctis sounded across our links once again. No explanations needed, this is better for her wellbeing than anything else at this point. The dragonet she chases is Anath, second dragoness to Sylvia and Gregory. The other two still watching you are Pan from Charlie den and Eshmun from Bravo den.

In announcing acknowledgement of their names being given two chirps echoed from the forest around us. They are pretty good at not giving away their positions. Games like these I'm sure help develop their hunting skills along with the more social aspects of it.

We splashed about in the stream to amuse ourselves for another ten minutes or so. We then strode back towards Noctis and the med bay. Along the way she contacted us again with information that made Ata stop dead in her tracks and drop her underside to the ground.

Before you return for your scan. You should know that Alessandra along with her entire family are here to talk to you again. The casualties from the Roc attack are here as well.

But, but, Ata spluttered indecisively.

Please, two new overlapping voices broke into the conversation. We know what you feel but we also know how our mother feels. She needs this. We both ask you with our bellies and throats exposed to bring the resolution that only you can provide for us all. Please, we only want what's best those involved. You need this closure to move forward as well. The overlapping echo of the two new voices went silent after this earnest plea.

What new marvel is this? I thought to Noctis.

She replied: You will know them soon enough.

Returning to Ata. Nan, Ping, and I each pushed our foreheads together with hers to give her the encouragement she needed to continue. At the same time I silently reached out to Silla.

Yes dad?

Do you remember Allie from yesterday? She would like to speak with us. I know you are having fun right now but it is important for you to be there for her and for your mother.

Ok, she sent with a solemn attitude I'd never sensed before. I will have Ana lead me there. I don't want anyone else hurt from what happened yesterday. Crying like we did yesterday hurt us all so very much. No one should have to feel that way anymore.

My daughter, I answered. I'm proud that you realize that as young as you are. So very proud. We will see you there.

After I broke the connection my family felt two new presences materialize next to us. The young from before. Both of them dark green, one with white horns and red underbelly. The other with yellow accents and brown spikes lining his head and back.

They both crouched low to the ground and spoke. "We all felt what happened yesterday. It made us sad, it made everyone sad. We can feel what each other does through the connection. My whole family in Bravo den was crying and I didn't understand why" the first one whimpered. "Everyone will be so happy that this is over with."

"Mine too" agreed the yellow accented one. "We ask you for our families as well."

For the first time since the news was given us, determination reentered the draconic eyes of my mate. How could one not feel driven to make amends after so many pleas to set things right?

Sighing with relief as life poured back into my downtrodden wife. I nudged her forward with my head. We continued on to the med bay determined to put yesterday behind us.

Rounding the final bend in the well-worn path we saw all those assembled. In the middle next to the med structures sat Noctis. On her right laying upon the ground with eyes close were Sylvia and Gregory. Behind Noctis and the two fire breathers a large curtain had been strung from behind which came quiet sobbing. On the other side of Noctis sat Alessandra and her brood. Nathan sat erect next to her with his wing covering her body and forehead pressed to hers staring into her eyes. Two dragons about three meters shorter lay pressed against her flank with necks twined and eyes closed. They were covered by her own extended wing which drew them close.

As my family entered all focus was drawn to us. Noctis turned to look at us. Gregory opened his eyes and raised his head. Sylvia opened hers and glanced at us but didn't otherwise stir. She must have sent something to the two young that accompanied us though. As they both ran to her and then up her extended tail to her back where they curled up small to watch.

Nathan turned to watch us with sadness heavy in his expression. Poor Alessandra glanced at us and then hid her head beneath Nathan's wing. The two smaller dragons next to her simultaneously opened their eyes, stood, and took measured strides to stand before our group and sat down looking down at us. I use the word smaller only in context with their parents. They looked likely to both be a little over 38 meters long and ten tall.

Instead of saying anything they just watched us with neutral expressions. These blank gazes coming from such alien pupils made me feel more uncomfortable than anything else I'd experienced on this world. My very soul felt laid bare before these preternatural youths. They then shifted this unsettling analysis to Ata who shrunk under their judgement. She visibly had to steel herself not to hide her head as she so clearly wanted to. In this interim Silla arrived with Anath.

The fire dragonet immediately responded to a chirp from Sylvia and ran beneath her raised wing. When this was lowered from the darkness within her feral red eyes peered out. Silla took her place next to Ata and received her own scrutiny. But for the first time the two young ones broke their synchronized movements. As the female began to speak, the other (Male? I sniffed suspiciously. Male.) Maintained his gaze upon Silla who stared back with interest.

In a new behavior she extended her head and sniffed deeply for the dragon's scent with tongue flashing. After a moment the first few rows of her feathers slowly rose and began to spread showing vividly their red coloration and flickered subtly to a new, darker shade of red in waves.

(What the hell does that mean? Dear gods is that a mating display? She's been female for a day! Where'd she learn that? No one else has feathers! I'm keeping an eye on them both, my paternal instincts snarled.)

Pinga didn't help matters either. I think she likes him, came across the link. Did you see her feathers change color?

"Hello family of Ataksak, my name is Diana."

The suspect male reluctantly broke off his gaze to introduce himself "And I am her twin, my name is Apollo"

Together they spoke with one voice (So these were the two.) "We see you, and though we abhor the occasion of our meeting, bid you greetings at last. Our mother wishes to make amends for yesterday, just as you do. But we convinced our parents to allow us to address you first."

Ata and I glanced at each other, quite at sea.

Again with one echoing voice they continued; "Ataksak, mother of Silla and matriarch of her family. What scares you so?"

"I. I don't know. What makes you think I am scared?" She said, looking thoroughly discomfited.

"We think you do. We know you are."

She shuffled her paws and her wings rustled uneasily while she thought out her response.

"I... feel like I'm losing my family. Every moment I sssee in them creaturesss further and further from what I had known. The one comfort that I had wasss that they would remain in their very centersss what they had alwaysss been. That this was a choice they had made. I felt like that crucial part wasss taken from me and them yesterday. I felt like the Sssilla that I felt growing inside me, that I had given birth to, that I raised, that I'd known... Wasss gone. I wasss losing my family. I wasss losing control. I wasss losing myself."

I looked at her with tears in my eyes and running down my snout; "Oh, honey. I never, never would have brought usss here. If I had known. Ata..."

"SSSTOP!" She roared. "You did not force usss here! We agreed to come! We had our own livesss! We chose to leave! We jumped at the chance to leave that aseptic ssspace ssstation! We knew what we'd be changed into! But yesterday made me question that decision. It took you. All of you. To make me realize I had lost nothing. Sssilla, Pinga, Nanook, Negafook. I've lost nothing. I've gotten to know more about you than I've ever known before. More about myself! But I can't shake thisss fear."

"My regret is that we had to lose the formsss we had known all our livesss for that knowledge. I could accept that however. But then Sssilla lost something he did not agree upon. And I can't shake thisss fear."

"Thisss isss my fear, losing more than our bodiesss. My family doesss not know. I sssee them ssso happily adjusting. I couldn't bear to let them sssee my fear. Yesterday, today, now. I sssee usss losing everything we'd ever been. Like we no longer existed. Erased in mind, body, and sssoul. When I first realized what could happen. I lashed out at the first being I could think to blame. I couldn't lose my mate, my family, my children, my very ssself" She stopped, panting harshly after exposing all her fears.

Alessandra, who had pulled her head from beneath Nathan's wing and listened silently, spoke now to continue where Ata had stopped. "Ataksak and Silla, long ago I took a vow to do no harm. Yesterday I watched as that vow shattered upon the ground along with the trust that you had placed in me. I have resigned as healer and removed myself from Noctis' tutelage. The creature I was, my self, has ended just as I have ended who Silla was. The being that you, Ataksak, had to watchend before your very eyes. Family is all I have now. The one thing keeping me in this world. The one thing that I almost tore from you. This is my apology. I have ended my ability to harm others due to my medical knowledge."

Ata stepped forward. "Alessandra no wordsss I can give will be enough to expresss my apologiesss. My unthinking actionsss have torn you from your life. The actionsss that were not mine to take. My new daughter hasss already accepted her new life asss easily asss one opensss their eyesss in the morning. What do I know about the life my children want to have? Their livesss are theirsss to lead. Who am I to ssseek retribution when they have found peace? What right do I have to inflict sssuch cost upon another being? None. Ssstay in the world that you had known. Treasure what giftsss you have, what you were, and ssstill are. Remain a healer, the love you show for life should remain available to all that have need of it."

"Those are my wordsss and thisss will be my attempt at reconciliation." She took three more paces forward past the silent twin offspring and laid down. She then rolled over with her legs tucked neatly and arched her head back exposing her vulnerable neck. She closed her eyes and awaited whatever may come, be it death or forgiveness.

Appalled, I felt my legs fold beneath me as I waited for what might happen next. I knew next to nothing about these creatures. What their values were, how they'd changed. I didn't know what they'd do. I didn't know.

Alessandra nudged her mate's wing aside and started walking forward. I notice the rivers of tears running down her own snout. Stopping before my wife, my mate, my life, she bowed her head to whisper something for her frills only. Then reaching forward with one claw she jerked it violently opening a single cut on Ata's snout. She then collapsed sobbing nose to nose to my upturned wife.

Silla bound forward and before a single drop of blood could hit the ground had begun licking her mother's snout clean. She continued to until the wound had clotted. Then nudging Ata upright brought her closer to Alessandra's muzzle and urgently began speaking to them both. No one ever learned what was said. But no one needed to know, the world in which those words mattered was naught but within the circle that heard them then. After a few moments my youngest dragoness licked both sets of tear streaked noses with real fervor. All three continued to rain upon the ground the soft pattering of their tears. They held their heads together for a moment and then rose and beckoned their respective and relieved parties forward to the middle.

Ataksak began speaking first "Family of Alessandra allow me to introduce you to my own. Whom I don't believe you've met. My mate Negafook, my son Nanook, my eldest daughter Pinga, and lastly my youngest daughter Silla."

Alessandra replied "Family of Ataksak allow me to introduce you to my own. Whom I don't believe you've met. My mate Nathan, my daughter Diana, and my son Apollo."

We all bowed and said together with one glad voice. "Welcome friends."

I finally got my chance afterwards to see how this was received by the others present. With surprising tears in her eyes I saw Sylvia holding her daughter between her fore paws and caressing her with her snout alongside Gregory. The two upon her back looking lost and in need of comfort. Gregory reached back and grabbed each by their scruff and placed them before himself. With a word they buried their tear stained muzzles into his chest while he curled a foreleg securely around them.

Noctis now had a black and red dragon next to her which she was supporting with her own bulk. The reason was obvious enough, his left front leg was gone. A bandage wrapped around his shoulder all that remained. He was missing other things as well, three of his horns, his claws, and sections of his wings. There were other bandages as well. A great span of them holding a pad against his stomach. With several more wound about the base of his neck.

But what really made me pause was the look of someone who had lost everything upon his visage. The slight tremor of his irises locked into a thousand metre stare and a watery sheen of unshed tears were the only indications he was a living creature. This was a dragon who had tried to give his very life to prevent something tragic from happening... And failed. He was broken. Only time or one final and terrible act could ease such trauma. What could one say to a beast that expected to live thousands of turns with what had been lost?

Why had Noctis brought him out here? To give him hope? To remind him of something? Had he brought himself from behind the curtain? This poor soul looked like his will to live had fled this world ahead of him.

Noctis herself did not look to be doing too good. Her blue eyes were bloodshot. She was openly weeping, her wings drooped limply, and she kept directing worried glances at every party in the clearing_. What was going on?_ I sent to her. At that message her eyes shot to mine and words were carried to me from the link.

Now is not the time. Later. You will learn with the rest of the colony. Was all she sent. She then stumbled and sank her rump to the ground to hold her position of support. What had happened? Did she look this bad when I'd seen her this morning? I couldn't remember...

My family move forward to greet with open hearts once more those facing us. I held my forehead to Nathan's and Ata held hers to Alessandra's. Given the mismatch in our number of children the wonder that the twins Apollo and Diana were, improvised. Starting with Nanook they both held their heads to the respective member of my family in solemn greeting. They then moved to Pinga. Lastly they held their heads to Silla's. I was startled once again by what happened next. (A common event lately).

Holding their heads together all three began to inhale each other's scent deeply. With nostrils flared wide they flicked their tongues gently upon each other's snouts. Silla's front rows of feathers once again rose and spread. This time their hues alternated between red and orange and back in slow waves from left to right. Once that had started the tails of the still much larger twins rose and began to wag back and forth in the first display of happiness I'd witnessed from the two. They soon began to croon to the much smaller female. There was gleaming adoration in all three sets of eyes. Silla buried her snout against Apollo's chest scales and inhaled deeply again. She then grazed his scales with her teeth causing the quills on his back to tremble. Diana shivered, the tremor travelling the length of her body making the scimitar upon the end of her tail whip excitedly. Silla's own tail was busily furrowing the ground behind her. Her behavior was changing faster than the rest of ours. Was it hormones? Was she almost done? I didn't think so...

I wonder though, I wonder. The new behaviors of the colonists are one thing. But I could write a whole new and separate article just about my daughter's visual communication. Which I also presume to be ours as well soon enough. Already understanding danced just on the edges of my awareness. The colors, the patterns, which ones were raised. Her body posture as well; head position, neck curvature, tail position and movement, scent. They all meant something. She was expressing... longing? Interest? Is it a welcome and an invitation to be with, or alongside, to share? No, something more... Blast, I'm so close... But then how do the twins know what she means? Never mind, forget I asked, her physical actions spoke volumes of her intentions. I knew one thing though, this wasn't going to be the one night stand that Noctis seemed to think it would be. There was emotional depth here.

The eyes I watched them with slid back to Nathan's and I sent an interrogative thought to him. He grinned sheepishly and replied. _You won't like to hear this but... What one twin does so does the other. Apollo likes your young dragoness, I suppose. She will be much larger than him when she reaches her full size. I will however, try to put a stop to it if you or Ata desire. But his physical and mental maturity far, far out strips his age. You know what will happen when Silla is ready. Her fondness is all too apparent as well. _

I reeled my head back in hissing dismay and sent back. You mean... They would all lay together?

_Not at the same time in the manner you think, however they will likely nest together. But Diana will see through his eyes and feel through his body. They are everything to each other. There is no barrier between the psyches of the two. She will likely lay with Silla whenever possible if Apollo's affections continue. Although I'm not quite sure what she will do, it might not even be sexual but companionable in nature. The same will happen in reverse when Diana takes her own mate in several turns. _

I bit back my first instinctive reply with a snarl before continuing. It is her choice. Unexpectedly I heard both Ata and Alessandra on the apparent party line. It is the choice of all three.

We nodded to each other to signal our agreement.

Noctis then called out to us. "Ata and family. You need more cubes, and I must scan you again. Alessandra, I would welcome your assistance once more."

Alessandra looked hesitant before the snouts of members of two different families began to push. A push towards the medical equipment and a return to a world that helped define her. "Thank you all" she whispered, before continuing on with her own paws.

My family followed close behind her with Nathan and the twins alongside us. As we reached the overhang for the more sophisticated equipment and the cubes that were already extruding. I took notice there were thirteen of them this time.

Before I could ask, Noctis answered. "Five for Silla, two for each of the rest of you"

I gaped my jaws openly "But, but... That'sss a quarter million kcal for Sssilla!"

By the time I had swung my head back to my daughter she had already eaten all thirteen (650,000!) "I told you I could fit them all in. I have a hollow foot!"

"Hollow leg dear. The expression isss hollow leg" Ata said, smiling indulgently. "And you did indeed fit them all in."

Noctis sighed, "Oh, what the hell. Here's some more for the rest of you. Two a piece please, we don't want to push anymore limits today. I need to see to Caleb here. Alessandra can you initiate the scans?" Nudging her way through the curtain and leading the maimed dragon I finally saw the source of the continued snuffling. A hatchling with bandages wrapped about his head. He looked at us with one teary eye before the curtain fell once more.

Alessandra asked me forward as Silla collapsed on her side with a distended stomach spreading her rear legs apart. "Urk" she grimaced, "Nap time...." Her eyes were closed before her head fell to the ground, snoring with a low whistling noise. The twins approached her and curled around her with wings extended to shelter her. Hiding the somnolent dragoness from our sight. Well, I couldn't for the moment imagine a safer place for her other than between Ata and me.

I stabbed a claw into each cube and popped them into my maw like snacks. I shivered a little and my wings flapped kicking up a bit of a breeze. They were big enough now that I could fold them upon my back. I stepped onto the still larger platform as the energy played across my increased mass.

The healer assayed the results. "8.7 meters long now and two tall, looks like you're up to 500kg. Air sacs look good, reproductive organs converted, sensory organs as well. Your snout still isn't quite proportional and some things are about to start growing through on the top of your head. Lastly there's some activity along the line of your spine and tail. Other than that, your wings, and a few organ adjustments, you look good. I will also add that it is my estimation that when your snout grows to its full length you will stop hissing your words, same for Ata and Silla. Most likely for the rest of you as well when your fangs begin to grow."

"Thank the godsss. It isss an embarrassment to my profession."

The rest of my family passed their own physicals. Although to my chagrin the order of size had indeed changed as much as I'd thought. Ata was 12 meters long and 2.5 tall. Pinga was two meters tall and nine in length. And little Nan was small potato now at 6.8 meters in length and 1.5 meters tall. Instead of awakening my slumbering youngest, Alessandra placed a long white object with teeth marks on one end in front of Apollo. He bit down on the marked end and then craned his neck around to slowly pass it over the hidden form of Silla.

We waited eagerly as this was completed and then the large green medic began. "7.5 meters long 1.9 tall, unknown weight. Her feathers are growing longer. Muscle mass is up another 35% and her wings are beginning to form. Hhmm, those calories are doing her a world of good. Her reproductive tract has fully developed its canals. The ovaries are now functional, they are full of awaiting genetic material. However the vaginal duct still has yet to open and couple with the uterus. I think it will be done by the end of the day however. I think we will start to see you all proportionally complete your changes by the end of tomorrow. The wings may take a bit more time. If we upped your dietary intake to three million per day your growth may be near completion within a week. Pinga you know what to expect then if you have not already begun to mate like Ata has."

"With the residual nanobots remaining in your blood streams there will be continuing consequences. As you have seen when exposed to our own blood a century after our own changes. When you become gravid, the eggs will develop at an extraordinarily fast pace. A week or two before you lay at the most. We will continue to hunt for you as all energy must be conserved to ensure full uninhibited development. You will most likely lay somewhere between four to eight eggs over the course of a few hours."

"Pinga, I won't dance around the issue. As we don't really have much of a social scene your mating frenzy may lead to some awkwardness. We did have a pair of... free spirited mates who had volunteered already. But they were among those slaughtered by the Roc attack. I and the rest of the adult mated couples will spend the next few days discussing with each other what to do. We must find a dragon willing, along with a dragoness consenting to allow, um." She shifted back and forth in a way that heralded nothing good last time. "A chance to provide for you over the course of a night."

"Well that'sss good I guesss" Pinga said, not looking like it was at all. "Are we asss dragonessesss alwaysss ssso unmanageably feral? Would I have raped a dragon?"

"No, this is spurred by the change's completion. Consider it a venting of the stresses accumulated during the transition. And you would have tried I'm sorry to say. You would not have succeeded. We like to think we are enlightened given that this is 3167. But simply put, the mated pair would have killed you. Ata has already realized the protective instincts that come with this form and soon enough so shall you Pinga, along with Silla."

Pinga and Ata looked completely floored by this. As they had every right to be.

"I'll do it" a new voice whispered from behind the curtain. Caleb hobbled back out against Noctis' quiet protests. "It will be my last act before I end my life. No one else should be asked to break their bond. To have dragons see their blood flow in hatchlings they did not bring into this world together with their mates.

My mate, and my hatchlings are gone, lost millennia before their time. I could not protect them. I will provide one last duty and then join them in the peace that only exists between the stars." This was said with a quiet voice flat and devoid of emotion. He then turned and shuffled back behind the curtain.

Stunned, no one could breathe a word either for this plan or against it. We looked to each other with grim realization and profound sadness. It was as I had thought, that dragon was already gone.

Noctis reemerged from the recovery area they had set up and shushed us with a hiss. "Please take Silla back to your clearing and get some more rest"

Apollo and Diana said "We'll help carry her there". After making sure they had her secured upon Apollo's back off we went at a trot. As we left we noticed Gregory and Sylvia begin conversing with Noctis, Nathan, and Alessandra. They'll tell us when they're ready, I thought.

Once we reached our dome I looked around and had the uneasy feeling that something wasn't right about our clearing. Seeing Ata's uneasy shifting of her forelegs and searching sweeps of her head she must have noticed the same thing. I walked around in circles for a bit sniffing before I pawed at the ground. Ahh, that's what it was. I started scooping large pawfuls of dirt at the same time brushing the excavated soil smooth with my tail. Ata joined me and before long we had dug a wide and deep bowl with gently sloping embankments surrounding the circular depression dozens of meters across. We entered and began slithering around the bottom and sides smoothing it thoroughly with our ventral scales. Coincidentally, or perhaps not so much, I noticed the upturned dirt slowly began to smell of us as well. After a period of this we bobbed our heads in satisfaction. Turning we froze at the incredulous looks on Pinga and Nan's snouts and the assessing ones on Apollo and Diana's.

"What did you just do?" Nan asked.

"Nested" Said Ata, smugly "don't tell me you don't think thisss looksss inviting".

"Well... Looking at it certainly makesss me feel... sssafer? At home? Yesss... At home."

"Yesss... At home..." Ata, Pinga, and I agreed.

"A nest for a family..." The twins added, looking at the still slumbering Silla with longing.

"Okay, young onesss in the middle, let'sss have our rest." I said.

The twins spoke again, "We understand your instinct to protect the young. But for now let us be the ones to form the outer circle. We are still much larger."

"Fair enough" Ata agreed.

Curling all about each other in a great heap with Silla, Pinga, and Nan in the middle, we drowsed. But we also couldn't help but dwell on the somber events we had just witnessed an hour ago.