Chapter 9

Zara 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.

Connor opened the large stained glass window and stood gently stroking Tabby's tiny neck "look out there princess, as far as the eye can see a wonderland, it's all yours, you just have to be strong enough to reach out for it, hold the world in your tiny paws pretty Tabby, ride the storms and laugh in the face of it's power, the thunder your voice, the lightning a toy in your tiny paw, dance across the waves of life. It's all in you, I can feel it, you just need to feel it too, tiny storm dragoness." Tabby purred a tiny barely heard purr as she looked out the window, the sky filled with clouds, she reached out a tiny paw, Connor put his hand under her paw and smiled as a little spark flashed from a tiny talon "you see pretty Tabby, it's all there waiting for you." Connor pulled up a big old comfortable leather wingback chair and sat down, holding Tabby wrapped in her little blanket curled up on his chest watching out the window. An hour later DeClan walked into the tower room that was now filled with butterflies, Connor smiled standing up, gently he handed Tabby to her papa, DeClan smiled back "one fire and smoke, the other thunder and lightning, I think I need to do some fortifications" Connor laughed "it wouldn't hurt" pleased that DeClan had seen what was in his children. Connor and DeClan with Tabby snuggled close went back into the bedroom to see Mal hanging on the front of Trink's shirt his little fangs latched on the green bow in Trink's beard, Connor smiled softly "there you go tempting impressionable hatchlings with magical green bows again Trink" Mal not letting go of the bow turned and looked at Connor, a tiny ship appearing in his paw, Connor smiled "that's right, some day you can go to sea with me" Mal held out the tiny ship to Connor with a purr, Connor gave him a lopsided smile and took the tiny ship "thanks kiddo." DeClan tucked Tabby in the warm box with a slight frown seeing Zara sound asleep in the chair, Connor had seen her too and told Trink it was time for them to go, Trink giggled as they left, Mal all tucked in his blanket the green bow still hanging from his jaws. DeClan picked up Zara and tucked her into bed, then looked at Mal chuckling "I think your mama said you two needed a bath, let's see if your papa can figure that one out" Mal his eyes wide watched his papa from over the top of the box, the green ribbon dangle from either side of his mouth. DeClan set a pile of towels on the chair by the fireplace, then put a basin on the table, filling it half way with warm water he put a bar of soap and wash cloth next to it and grinned at Mal "if your going to be a sailor might as well start getting wet now" picking up Mal and taking the blanket off he carried him over to the basin, DeClan tried to take the ribbon out of his mouth, Mal clamped his little jaws shut tighter. DeClan smiled "ok keep the ribbon" carefully he lowered Mal into the water, Mal's eyes went wide, his tiny wings flapped wildly splashing water all over the place, stretching out his neck he let out a long crooning purr as he started to wiggle, hop, flap and splash in the water, trying to hold onto Mal as he washed him, DeClan was soon just as wet as his son, Mal stuck his head under the water and came up blinking little tears in his eyes, DeClan quickly grabbed another wash cloth and put clean water in the basin washing the soap out of Mal's eyes, Mal stuck his head back under the water, DeClan groaned seeing the steam and bubbles start, jerking Mal out of the water he chuckled "I don't think puffing in the water is a good idea" Mal had other ideas and was suddenly back in the hot water, splashing excitedly, DeClan put his hand in the water and jerked it back out with a frown "that's awfully warm, son" Mal suddenly looked up and gave his papa a big silly hatchling grin the limp, soggy green ribbon firmly clamped in his jaws, DeClan started laughing. Zara lay on the pillows watching with a smile, this is what she had wanted for DeClan, laughter and joy, for him to be able to see the gentleness that there was in life, to feel kindness and softness and know it wouldn't turn on him with cruelty. DeClan wrapped Mal in a warm towel and started to rub him briskly, eliciting a deep happy purr, Mal peeking over his papa's shoulder saw his mama watching and wiggled happily making silly MmMmMm noises, Zara grinned "I think he's hungry" DeClan turned with a frown "you didn't get much of a rest, let alone something to eat or your bath" Zara chuckled to find Mal on the bed nuzzling her still making MmMmMm noises, picking him up she opened her dressing gown and nightdress and started to feed him soggy ribbon and all after a short tug of war "how about I eat while I soak in a nice hot tub, then rest, you haven't gotten much to eat or much of a chance to rest either." DeClan nodded as he put fresh warm water in the basin, got a new wash cloth and reached in the box for Tabby "I'll eat while you take your bath, then lay down while the babies are sleeping." Tabby her eyes very wide sat in the palm of her papa's hand her little arms wrapped tightly around his arm, as he started to lower her into the water she hissed rather loudly for tiny Tabby, Mal growled around his mama's nipple, his black eyes glaring he turned his head to see what was happening. Cupping one hand in the water DeClan poured a little at a time over Tabby's back, telling her it was all right, Tabby hissed again her little talons digging into her papa's arm. DeClan bent down and looked at her, then with a chuckle realized she was watching out the window at the far off flashes of lightening "want to move closer to the window?" Tabby looked up at her papa, seeing the little glimmer in her eye he told her he was going to put her in the basin while he moved the table. Tabby holding onto the edge of the basin kept her eyes on the window, she didn't even blink as her papa started to wash her, as the wind picked up and the storm came closer she watched even more intently "little one, do storm dragons glow during a storm?" DeClan asked casually, Zara blinked "ummm not that I know of let me ask Rav, he's a storm dragon, why?" DeClan moved a little so Zara could see Tabby who seemed to be glowing with an odd white static light. "Rav, do storm dragons glow during a storm?" Rav blinked "Ummmmmmm Zara who's glowing?" Zara watching the glow intensify replied "Tabby, DeClan is giving her a bath while she watches the storm out of the window and she is glowing with a really strange white light" DeClan feeling very uneasy as Tabby tried to stand up her small wings spread, her tiny paw held up picked up the table to move it. Rav threw a blanket over Tabby grabbed her and shoved DeClan away from the window all at the same time then rolled away from the window as a small bolt of lightening came shattering through the window burning through the table and leaving a huge burn ring on the wood floor. Zara came flying out of the bed, Mal screeching and hissing was snapping and biting at Rav, DeClan picked himself up off the floor grabbing Mal, Rav sat up and uncovered a trembling whimpering Tabby "sweetie, don't try that again until you're older ok, it's too hard on your Uncle Rav's heart" he said with a soothing purr, Tabby whimpered again holding up a tiny paw, Rav took a hold of her paw and spread out her talons that were shooting off little almost unseen bolts of lighting "got yea a bit did it, that's ok I can fix that all up" Zara saw Rav put one of his talons on Tabby's paw and watched as the little bolts seemed to be absorbed by his talon "there you go sweetheart, when your older your Uncle Rav will teach you all about storms but for now can you just watch, ok for me please." Some of the color returned to DeClan's face as he let out a big sigh "what just happened? other then a lightening bolt crashing through the window?" Rav started laughing loudly "I'm sorry but did he eat Trink?" DeClan looked confused for a minute then looked at Mal who was still glaring fiercely at Rav the wet ribbon hanging from either side of his mouth, grinning he shook his head "not the last time I looked, as long as there are no legs or arms hanging out I don't think we need to worry" Rav had to look away since he started laughing each time he looked at Mal "to bad we don't have little stuffed arms and legs, we could send him to Mar with them hanging out of his mouth" Zara giggled "your so bad Rav" Rav grinned "I know, it runs in the family" DeClan held out his hand, Zara started laughing, Rav grinned evilly "ooohhhh damn this is gunna be good" Rav took the little leg dressed in a green pant leg and little leather boot with a curled up toe just like Trink's "here bite on this lad" Mal hearing all the giggling snapped at the leg holding it in his mouth, "lets go down stairs quietly, don't let anyone see you" said Rav, outside of the study door Rav whispered to Mal "find grandpapa" Mal's eyes widened and he disappeared. Alex gasped loudly as Mal suddenly appeared hanging on the front of his shirt, the stuffed leg and soggy wet ribbon clamped firmly in his jaws, everyone in the room stared not making a sound "ohhhhhhhhhhhh he's eaten Trink" moaned Mar, Brand blinked "I wonder where the rest of him is?" Mar his lip trembling looked at Mal "can ya cough him up boy? maybe we can put him back together" Virlane hearing a giggle from behind the door commented "that might be awful messy Mar, regurgitated Trink, not a pretty thought" Mar gagged "but he was such a good little fella." Trink sauntered in from the garden "who be's a good lil fella?" Mar went rushing over and picked up Trink hugging him "I thought he ate you!" Trink blinked "who ate me? the cat? oh no we got this understandin he don't eat me and I won't add no more of me bottle to his water bowl." Trink glanced at Alex then glanced again "the boyo there has a foot sticken out of his mouth Alex, yea might want to see if any staff be's missin." Virlane put his talon over his lips and shushed everyone then quietly went to the door, jerking open the door Rav fell in, DeClan right behind him, Zara was already sitting on the floor with Tabby laughing like crazy. Rav jumped up laughing "can you cough him up boy" he said and started laughing even harder "regurgitated Trink" almost beside himself with laughter Rav sat back down on the floor. Trink chortled "yea thought the boyo ate me?" he asked then waited for all the laughter in the room to stop, Virlane nodded "Mar sure did" Trink giggled slapping his knee "now don't that beat all, he gots mighty fine snappers but they need to do some grownin before they get old Trink." Several hours later Laurel peeked into the bedroom to see everyone sound asleep, Tabby snuggled against her mama's neck, Mal on his papa's chest, the ribbon and stuffed leg still hanging out of his mouth, with a grin she shut the door.