There was no gentle tap tap from the large egg, slightly offset from it's siblings. No, from this egg came two, startlingly loud WHAM WHAM! noises. It then exploded in a shower of egg shards and sticky egg fluid, leaving a rather haughty looking bronze standing where it once was. He stared down his nose at all the candidates giving him hopeful looks and humphed. Why should I choose a bond when there is not one even worthy of me here? he growled, snapping at a boy who dared get to close.

Head still held high, the little bronze glowered at them all. I, Helivath, will not bond today. None of you deserve one so majestic as myself! If you'll excuse me, I'll take my leave to Draco's Inferno, I think. Just as the bronze hatchling was about to make what would have been quite the exit, one of his siblings darted across his path in eagerness to bond. Helivath tripped over his own feet and tumbled to the hot sands, sliding a little ways before he lost his forward momentum.

It was clear that some of the candidates and spectators made attempts to stifle their laughter, but most of them just laughed outright at the bronze, finding it amusing one proclaiming to be majestic taking a trip over himself. Helivath stood and humphed, shaking his head to remove the sand and trotting off to the kitchens. No one could dissuade him from his opinion of himself. He toddled over to the meat bowls, took the largest and fullest all to himself and settled in a corner to eat himself into a stupor. As he ate, a small, white dragon approached and lay near him, watching amusedly with twinkling blue eyes.

What're you staring at, pal? Hel' finally asked, mouth full of meat. Me? Oh, nothing...just watching you eat like a pig at a trough, is all. It's vaguely fascinating how you manage to cram all that food into your mouth at once. The white smiled dragonishly, flashing fangs that very nearly matched his hide color.

Struggling for a moment to swallow the gob of meat in his mouth, Helivath stood and snarled (something quite brave as, even though the white was small, he barely came up to his shoulders as he lay there). Listen here, ...you...you...wherry dropping, you have no right to come up to me and talk to me this way! Do you know who I am?? The white nodded and lowered his head next to Helivath's. You are Helivath, a hatchling that I, Cyizo'Fask, an adult dragon, am supposed to bring back with me to Draco's Inferno. If you think you have the right to speak to me this way, then you are sadly mistaken.

Then it was as if Cyizo had grown to be five, ten times his previous size. He loomed over the tiny Helivath, who whimpered in terror. It seems my first task in taking you on is teaching you some manners, young bronze. the white said, resuming his normal size. Gyeep... Was all Helivath said in response.

He had been sent on a mission, one of great importance. Now Helivath, I want you to go to Ryslen and bring a dragon by the name of Foldelesth back home. He's been moping around that place over his lost female long enough. Cyizo told him one day, looking up at the now full-grown bronze. Though the white was normally much smaller than he, Cyizo was the only dragon he feared or listened to. Yes, sir... he said meekly, but blurted out afterwards, Will there be females there? Cyizo rolled his eyes. Yes, Hel', there will be females there. Chase all you want, just make sure you find Foldelesth. He's a pale brown dragon... but Cyizo may as well have been talking to the wall, for all Helivath was thinking was ...girlsgirlsgirls...

Now, have you got all that Heli'? Cyizo asked skeptically. Uh-huh, bring back this Foldelesth, I got it. he replied, then leapt for the skies and for Ryslen. The first thing Hel' did upon arriving was extremely offend a few male greens he mistook for female and scope out the flight boards. Upon seeing a gold rising there, he decided to stick around and see if he could help this "Foldelesth".

After asking around a bit, Helivath found Foldelesth laying under a ridge on the castle wall. He wasn't even lying on top of it and sunning himself, but in the shadows underneath, as if he wasn't worthy of the sun. Man, does this guy need help...Hey! You, Mister Mopey! he called out. Foldel' lifted his head and then looked around, as if to make sure Helivath was speaking to him and not to some other dragon, though none were nearby. Yes, I am talking to you, Foldelesth is it? Anyway, I'm Helivath, from the Inferno to tell you to get off your mopey butt and come home!

I'm not coming. I know Selvaggioth just can't wait to sink her metaphorical fangs into me... Foldel' replied glumly, turning away from the bronze. Oh for Faranth's sake... you must've fallen hard for this female, eh? And she picked someone else? Hel' made himself comfortable on top of the ledge Foldel' was hiding under, making sure to display himself attractively to the females nearby. Foldel' chuffed softly, Not just someone else... she picked two over me. Helivath rolled his eyes. Geez, I can hardly tell you're depressed... Well, I know just what to cure you, get right back on that runner, boy! Find some other female to chase! There's this very lovely female on the boards... hey, wait! Where're you going? Foldelesth had leapt from the ledge and flew off elsewhere, making himself more comfortable. The bronze just shrugged. Oh well, I tried... Heey, laaadies!

Foldelesth mulled over what Helivath had said. I definately can't stay here and mope all the time, I'm sure they'll kick me out from sheer disgust before long... He let his eyes wander over the nidus, from Hel' posturing for some giggling females on the ridge, to the sands where three females busily tended their growing clutches. That's it! I'll stand to bond! I'm sure I'll find someone there who won't pick on me, or ignore me for someone else! But he was still thinking about what else Hel' had said, about "getting back up on that runner." I have to try and chase again. But who? He said there was a gold up on the flight boards... maybe her. And if I lose, so what? There's still the clutch! Helivath!

The pale brown dove from his ledge to Helivath, still busy flirting with a few proddy greens. What is it Foldel, can't you see I'm a little occupied at the moment? he said in a hushed mindtone, winking at the females. I've decided to chase that gold, Hel'! And, I'm going to sign up for one of the clutches on the sands! What do you think? Excellent, Foldelesth! What'd I say? You gotta hop right back up on that runner! And y'know what? I'm going to chase that gold with you, to offer some... er, emotional support! Yeah, that's what... Foldel' grinned draconically. Well, let's go sign ourselves up! the pale brown said, turning toward the flight boards.

Helivath's gaze trailed back to the green's he had been entertaining, it was clear their attention was drifting elsewhere. Uh, you go on ahead and sign me up, Foldel'. I'm just a little busy at the moment... but I'll catch up to you later, alright? Foldelesth nodded and hurried off to the flight boards. This time, I know I can do it...