Book 8 - Zara

ara slipped out of bed trying not to disturb the babies, she shivered slightly and put on her dressing gown and a pair of slippers, trying to be as quiet as possible, her hand holding onto the bed post she stood looking at a sleeping DeClan, her eyes drinking in the sight of him, he looked tired, his face thin, there were more streaks of gray in his long hair, but ohhhhh he looked so good to her starving heart. Fuzz laying at DeClan's feet stood up and padded over to her with a deep purr "I know you need to go out, come on" she whispered, DeClan woke up "I'll take him out, are you ready for something to eat?" Zara nodded realizing she was hungry "I also need a hot bath, I think Mal and Tabby could use one too" DeClan walked over and brushed the hair out of her face and kissed her softly "I'll be right back with some food" Zara smiled "make sure you bring enough for yourself" DeClan nodded opening the door as Fuzz clawed at it. "Can we come in?" Miranda asked, Zara looked up as she bent over changing the blankets from around Mal, Zara didn't say anything just nodded then started changing the blankets around Tabby as Miranda and Christopher came into the room. Christopher frowned looked down at the tiny hatchlings, Miranda her hands tightly clasped in front of her glanced down at them then quickly looked away "I'm sorry Zara for the things I said, I wouldn't for the world ever have meant to do anything to hurt you or your babies, you were right you know I've stayed hidden away at Cairin believing that nothing bad could ever happen there, that at Cairin there were no icy mists, no vicious biting beasts, that if I stayed at Cairin I would always be happy and safe." Zara stood up Tabby now tucked against her brother, touching the spot over her heart she told Miranda "happy and safe start here, you have Christopher standing beside you, he is your safe and happy Miranda, he always has been no matter where you were. I'm sorry too for what I said, I know you and Christopher want children and have been trying to have them for a long time, if you would look past your pain and disappointment Nedra could help you, she loves you both very much, you were never afraid to seek her out years ago, why be afraid now?" Miranda looked down as Mal let out a little squealing cry "probably because I was afraid even Nedra couldn't help me" Zara nodded as she picked up Mal. Christopher looked at the tiny hatchling who was staring at him from underneath his blanket "he's awfully small" Zara smiled "yes but he has big fangs to make up for it" said DeClan as he walked into the room carrying a large tray, Mal's head popped up hearing his papa's voice "quick put down the tray" cried Zara startling Miranda and Christopher, DeClan thrust the tray into Christopher's hands just as Mal suddenly appeared hanging on the front of his papa's shirt with a squeaky shriek. DeClan laughed down at Mal "that's a new sound" Tabby hearing her brother's shriek whimpered Zara picked her up "awww it's ok sweetie, he is fine" pulling back the blanket so Tabby could see her brother, who was now nuzzling his papa's neck. Christopher set down the tray laughing "for a minute there I thought you were being attacked by a little winged bat with a tail" Zara laughed, DeClan seeing a tiny glint in Mal's eyes shook his head "no we don't need a bat, son" Zara looked at DeClan "we don't need a bat?" DeClan grinned "how about a blanket, son" then chuckled as a tiny blanket appeared in Mal's paw, Mal purred and nuzzled his papa, DeClan smiled and snuggled the tiny blanket against Mal. "Oh dear, he's going to have to learn to be very careful with that" Zara whispered, Miranda who had been looking at Tabby asked quietly if she could hold her, Zara smiled "just be careful, she's smaller then he is" handing Tabby to Miranda. DeClan said silently "you look like that cat of yours ready to crouch and spring, I'm sure she isn't going to hurt Tabby" Zara gave DeClan a guilty smile and went over to the food tray and poured herself a cup of tea then chuckled watching him trying to figure out how to drink his coffee while Mal was licking his neck, Zara set down her cup and took Mal from his papa and handed him to Christopher "just don't let him bite you" then went back to her cup of tea watching Mal and Christopher stare at each other. Christopher saw Mal's eye suddenly shift "ummmm Mandy, what's he staring at" Miranda giggled "your earring" Christopher groaned as a tiny paw reached out and grabbed the gold loop, Christopher his chin almost on his chest was trying to unlatch Mal's jaws from the earring when Laurel walked in. Laurel laughed "earrings and babies don't match" she told him as she pried Mal's jaws from around the earring, gently smacking his tiny snout with a finger as he hissed at her. Laurel frowned to see a tiny gold loop earring appear in his paw, Laurel reached out to take the earring from Mal, he pulled back his paw clutching the earring, Laurel frowned at him "no! you can't have it, it's too small you could choke on it, now give it to Grandmama!" Mal stared at his Grandmama for a minute then held out the earring, his little lip trembling, Laurel took the earring and tucked it in her pocket then smiled at him and gave him a kiss on the top of his head "your a good sweetie" Mal purred at his Grandmama. DeClan and Laurel both saw Zara close her eyes and lean her head back against the chair as Mar padded into the room "I still say he's a puffer" Mar told Alex, Mar grinned at the tiny hatchling "puff for me boy" puffing a small bit of smoke as an example, Mal's eyes went wide and with a squeaky shriek he puffed "he's a puffer all right, see I told yea" Mar grinned as Christopher trying to slap at his smoldering vest quickly laid the hatchling on the bed, Zara jumped up hearing Miranda let out a startled shriek, Tabby frightened by Mal's shriek had started hiccuping little puffs of flames flying out with each one. Mar almost beside himself was close to dancing around the room "she's a puffer too, ohhh we got two puffers, ohhh wait till Trink finds out." Zara quickly took Tabby from Miranda and softly rubbed her tummy and neck as she made soothing noises "it's ok sweetie" carefully keeping Tabby pointed away from her, Mal thinking all the fuss was interesting puffed again setting the bed on fire, Mar quickly turned tail and slinked out of the room seeing the looks on Zara's and Laurel's face as Christopher quickly put the bed flames out. Alex sitting down next to DeClan grinned "fun aren't they, have another cup of coffee, it only gets better with time." DeClan almost choked on his coffee when Alex laughed "wait till they have a tummy upset and get gas." Rav, Virlane, Bitsy and Brand watched Mar slink into the study, "ooh this should be good" whispered Rav to his father, Bitsy frowned at Mar "well?" Mar pouted "all I did was want to see if the little guy's a puffer" Virlane raised an eyeridge "and is he a puffer" Mar grinned widely and nodded, Brand chuckled "care to tell us what hair, body part, etc. he puffed off his father?" Mar giggled behind his paw "wellll he puffed Christopher's vest to cinders, it got little Tabby going and she was hiccup puffing all over the place, then he set the bed on fire, that's when I left" Christopher came sauntering in followed by Miranda and Alex "we got booted out" Alex sighed dramatically then burst out laughing when he got another glance at Christopher's vest and his earring now complete with fang marks. Laurel repaired the damage to the bed while Zara finished soothing Tabby, Mal once again hanging on his papa's shirt nuzzled his chest, having a look around. Trink and Connor poked their head in the door "can we come in for a minute? I'm sure you're about ready to toss everyone out on their snouts but I wanted a quick peek at Tabby before I headed back" said Connor, Zara nodded "do you have to go back so soon? I thought maybe you'd stay a few days" Trink grinned at Connor "see I tolt yea ain't no need to go runnin off so soon" Connor smiled at Trink "I guess I could manage a few more days on land" Laurel smiled seeing Trink's eyes light up. Connor went over to Zara and kissed her on the cheek "you always have been great for causing a ruckus and this time you didn't even have to hang from any chandeliers" Zara laughed "next time I'll borrow Brax's shield, it's great for catching hatchlings" Connor laughed then looked down at Tabby who had her tiny paw curled around her mama's braid. Connor smiled softly "hello pretty Tabby" Tabby stared up at Connor, she gave a small tired purr but held out a tiny paw, Connor grinned holding out his hands, Zara smiled and gave Tabby to him "she's a little worn out by the excitement earlier" Connor chuckled "she'll get used to the chaos in not time" turning and walking to the door, "where are you going Connor?" Zara asked with a worried look, Connor smiled "I thought I'd take Tabby up to the tower, let her have a peek around" then went out the door Tabby cuddled and warm in her blanket against his chest. Trink stared at Mal, Mal stared at Trink, Trink blinked, Mal blinked, Trink stroked his bowed beard, Mal put his tiny paw on his chin, Trink grinned, Mal showed all his fangs, Trink chortled "heard the boyo was a nipper, hope he ain't a puffer though, asked Mal but he just snorted at me, grouchy old dragon" Trink froze seeing Mal's eyes light up at the word puffer. DeClan felt Mal take a deep breath and with a frown looked down just as Mal puffed, Trink got out a half wail covering his beard then blinked as DeClan put his hand up in front of Mal and the puff turned to smoke that went back up Mal's tiny snout, Mal sneezed and sneezed then looked up at his papa, DeClan shook his head, Mal shook his head, nuzzled his papa and went back to staring at Trink. Trink chortled in glee "ohhhhhh I gotta learn that trick" Mal held out his tiny paw and a puff of smoke went poof Trink giggled "he be a fine one, old Trink can tell, yes sireeee this one's gunna be a lot of fun" Zara and Laurel laughed as Trink did a jig.