Bluefire stepped out of the cave, flexing her wings for takeoff. This was going to be difficult, with her body this heavy with eggs. Still, she felt determined to finish one last hunt before settling in to nest.
With a barely suppressed grunt, she leapt into the air, wings pumping to gain altitude. Then, she was off, her azure form shrinking into the distance.
At the cave entrance, Spark watched her go with some trepidation. She wished her mate had accepted her offer to help, but Bluefire had stubbornly refused, wanting to show her dedication. Hearing Ember stirring in the nest, Spark sighed and went back in to check on her.
Near the mouth of the cave, Dartwing inspected both dragonesses carefully. What a lucky find! The fact that the pregnant dragoness had to hunt alone confirmed to him that there was no male around. Could they be abandoned, or had their mate gotten killed? Either way, this was a chance he could not pass up.
This breeding season had not gone well for him. Being smaller and more inexperienced didn't help. He had not given up hope, though. Dragon breeding seasons could cover three to five years in which they could lay multiple clutches.
Even so, winter forced many to wait for next spring to continue seeking mates. With the air beginning to chill, Wraithwing had assumed he would have to do just that, and he had been searching for a suitable cave for shelter. Little did he know he would find so much more!
Now, he just had to decide how to proceed. First of all, which dragoness should he approach first? The pregnant one was unavailable for mating until she laid her eggs, but she could still be courted. Plus, with her lovely form and obviously high fertility, she was well worth the wait. Perhaps, she could use some help in hunting.
On the other hand, the one in the cave, a beautiful specimen herself, was currently available, which opened up the option of simply taking her without courtship. Smaller males often chose this route since they could not afford to risk a larger male chasing them off mid-courtship. Then again, this decreased his chances of winning over the other dragoness as well. So, maybe he ought to court her, after all. Besides, not being pregnant, she might be more receptive to courtship than the other.