The sun
hangs in the center of the cloudless sky. The clear blue makes the day perfect;
the sand and rocks shimmer, heated by the rays poured from the unobstructed
star. When the rocks are at their hottest, vibrations become more difficult to
detect- better to demonstrate strength.
The women come and gather upon the rocks. They assemble on the various piles, but the uppermost ledge is left bare- each of the others take to the lower slabs. As they take their places, the eldest finally climbs to her ledge. She flares her wings, once, twice, two beats in series that cause the air to tremble.
The ground rumbles, and the males appear, emerging from the caverns and out from under the numerous sand dunes. They come covered in dust, converging beneath the great rocks on which the women lay. Each moves slowly, carefully, mindful of the others and the sand still upon them. The largest of the males, one the locals call Ieirt-Kem, bellows, and the others back away.
The younger females perk up as he roars, but immediately lose interest when the eldest stands. Kem’s challenge hangs in the air unmet, and thus he continues his demonstration. He bellows again, stretching out to full length. Kem shakes out his hide, head to tail, scattering dust into the still air. The females watch him with half closed eyes- sensory lids straining for any hint of vibration.
Kem flares his wings, fans the air rapidly. The dust scatters from the mighty drone of his stunted wings, the relentless buzz rumbling the entire arena. After this prolonged, earsplitting, rock breaking buffet, the eldest launches herself from her place, setting her own wings into frenzy, falling into a lopsided glide that brings her crashing into Kem. The two posture for a moment, each bellowing and buzzing wings, advancing, then retreating, then advancing again, until a mutual satisfaction is reached. Kem and his mate wander off into the caverns, and the lesser dragons continue the ritual.
Each male takes stance before the pile, trumpeting and thrashing about, the females keeping watch for ideal candidates. There are, of course, some dragons who dispute the pecking order. The females growl and hiss at one another as certain males perform. The males lash out with talons, jaws snapping, even going so far as to spit caustic oil back and forth.
In the end, only one male remains. The others have been chosen as mates, and the remaining females abandon their ledges and retreat underground. The lone male bellows and bellows again, but his cry is not the deep rumbling of Kem’s bass, and the drone from his wings strikes as a high pitched whine.
Then, at the base of the rocky cliffs, movement. A faint buzz that grows louder. Large silvered banners blaze bright in the sun. These banners are struck by drummers, stripped to the waist, muscles straining as they work their stone mauls. Between the sets of instruments, a small cot is carried, little more than a hide pulled over a frame. Upon the cot lies a woman. The wailing caused by her labor pains is lost beneath the ceaseless drumming. The male watches at first from a distance, wary of the strangers, but as the drone from their instruments continues, he approaches. The sun remains aloft as he rears up.
The women come and gather upon the rocks. They assemble on the various piles, but the uppermost ledge is left bare- each of the others take to the lower slabs. As they take their places, the eldest finally climbs to her ledge. She flares her wings, once, twice, two beats in series that cause the air to tremble.
The ground rumbles, and the males appear, emerging from the caverns and out from under the numerous sand dunes. They come covered in dust, converging beneath the great rocks on which the women lay. Each moves slowly, carefully, mindful of the others and the sand still upon them. The largest of the males, one the locals call Ieirt-Kem, bellows, and the others back away.
The younger females perk up as he roars, but immediately lose interest when the eldest stands. Kem’s challenge hangs in the air unmet, and thus he continues his demonstration. He bellows again, stretching out to full length. Kem shakes out his hide, head to tail, scattering dust into the still air. The females watch him with half closed eyes- sensory lids straining for any hint of vibration.
Kem flares his wings, fans the air rapidly. The dust scatters from the mighty drone of his stunted wings, the relentless buzz rumbling the entire arena. After this prolonged, earsplitting, rock breaking buffet, the eldest launches herself from her place, setting her own wings into frenzy, falling into a lopsided glide that brings her crashing into Kem. The two posture for a moment, each bellowing and buzzing wings, advancing, then retreating, then advancing again, until a mutual satisfaction is reached. Kem and his mate wander off into the caverns, and the lesser dragons continue the ritual.
Each male takes stance before the pile, trumpeting and thrashing about, the females keeping watch for ideal candidates. There are, of course, some dragons who dispute the pecking order. The females growl and hiss at one another as certain males perform. The males lash out with talons, jaws snapping, even going so far as to spit caustic oil back and forth.
In the end, only one male remains. The others have been chosen as mates, and the remaining females abandon their ledges and retreat underground. The lone male bellows and bellows again, but his cry is not the deep rumbling of Kem’s bass, and the drone from his wings strikes as a high pitched whine.
Then, at the base of the rocky cliffs, movement. A faint buzz that grows louder. Large silvered banners blaze bright in the sun. These banners are struck by drummers, stripped to the waist, muscles straining as they work their stone mauls. Between the sets of instruments, a small cot is carried, little more than a hide pulled over a frame. Upon the cot lies a woman. The wailing caused by her labor pains is lost beneath the ceaseless drumming. The male watches at first from a distance, wary of the strangers, but as the drone from their instruments continues, he approaches. The sun remains aloft as he rears up.
A woman screams, and
a child is born.
