It only took a few moments for Karltin’s instincts to overwhelm her. She couldn’t resist Pyrona! Karltin bowed her head.
“Hello, Mother,” she mumbled weakly. Pyrona cooed. She nuzzled Karltin’s face.
“Hello, daughter. Now, what is your name?”
“Karltin.”
“Karltin? What an exotic name for a lovely young lady such as you.” Pyrona walked in a circle around Karltin and the egg. “No, not exotic. Just inappropriate. Daughter, you are now to be named Pyrite.”
“But-” Karltin tried. Pyrona fixed her with her lovely, powerful gaze. The smaller dragoness gave in. “Yes, Mother.” Karltin, now Pyrite, felt completely trapped, at the whim of this more powerful dragon.
“Well done,” Pyrona purred. “Pyrite, you and your sister will come to my home, where my mate Ignis and I will raise the two of you properly. In fact, you will be as close to royalty as a dragon can be! Are you thankful for this opportunity I am granting you?”
“…Yes,” Pyrite said reluctantly. She wasn’t. She wanted to resume her plan to hatch the egg. But she had no choice anymore.
“Good girl. I will make a mannered lady of you yet.” Pyrona picked up Pearl’s egg. “Tell me your age.”
“Forty,” Pyrite said. Pyrona laughed. Her laugh was lovely and charming.
“And you claim to be fully grown! Come along with me. I have some hatchlings your age at home that will gladly accept you as part of their clutch.” Pyrona took flight. Pyrite, after a few failed attempts, did so as well, following her new mother to her new home. As they flew, Pyrite couldn’t help but wonder if Pyrona was right. Was she somehow a juvenile dragon? Or was she truly just very small?