It seemed like forever since she'd been dumped from the portal to this new and strange world. Then again, when you're waiting for something time always seems to extend itself. Solange wandered the forests with her now-trusted pets, Rilas and Avitre. They glided here and there through the trees, Rilas sometimes hopping from branch to branch with his powerful little legs.

She would whistle or sing to them, mostly the deep, booming legend-songs of Svalbard, but sometimes the new ones she had learned here at Darkling Dawn. It was an interesting place, where people lived and worked with the dragons. She liked it here, but still missed her homeland and her family. "I wonder what Rølvaag is doing now?" she thought. It was he she missed the most, and thought of him often.

With a groan she sunk to the ground at the peak of a hill overlooking Darkling Dawn. The sun was warm on her face and with the wonderful thought of no more marching along the border day after day filling her mind, Solange closed her eyes and slept.

A few hours later, Solange found herself being rudely awakened by her two flits. They bombarded her and chattered furiously until she rose and heard it; the deep bass humming of dragons and a sharp dragon-whistle. Swiftly shifting to her bear form, for it was faster than her human one, Solange ran full-tilt down the hill and into Darkling Dawn, giving a few people and most of the candidates a shock as she skidded to a halt on the hot sands. Only after she shifted back to her human form did they seem to relax.

The hatching began with the simultaneous hatching of five dragons. Standing a little worriedly, Solange didn't really know how to behave. Did she just stand and wait until a dragonet approached her? Or did she actively try to attract one of them, standing in their path? Her question went unanswered when a beautiful red-white striped green hatchling approached her and asked, Do you think my stripes look pretty,Solange? A warm, loving feeling spread through her heart as she knelt and stroked the hatchling's head as she crooned. "I think you look beautiful, Eusyscth."

Attempting to stave off the insecurity that she also felt coming from the young dragon, Solange scooped her up and held her tight as they left the sands. She fed the hungry Eusyscth as instructed and beamed down at the little hatchling, for whom she'd been sent to this place.

I know where our family is, all of them. the red-white striped green said as she ate. Coming out of her trance, Solange blinked and said softly, "How...?" They are all safe, and once they have bonded, they will all be able to meet with us. was all the mishcevious little dragonet replied.