As A'shair and Sirus lowered in elevation, the light mist of rain soon 
stopped, and the warren loomed infront of them.  They both were ready for 
a good nights sleep, having a tiring day of scouting.  That was his usual 
job, taking the morning patrols since it wasn't too hot or sunny out.  
Prepareing to land, suddenly there was a loud keening.  Spinning around 
in his saddle, Sirus informed him what was happening.  

*The eggs are hatching, it seems.  We should head for the hatching 
grounds.*  

'Yes.  Maybe they need help setting up?' A'shair sent, and without even 
touching the ledge, made a deep arc and headed for the hatching ground, 
where the queen was keening her head off.

Landing on the third level, pretty much away from the gathering crowd, 
A'shair dismounted and covered his ears.  'Does she have to be so loud?' 
He sent as Sirus started keening also.  A'shair gave an exasperated look, 
and leaned against the balcony.  Seeing that they needed the many of the 
torches lit, he smiled.

Concentrating on just the torches, A'shair held them in his mind, and 
like many times before, it was like opening a gate.  Only a small trickle 
was needed, and a greater force pushed against the held restraints of his 
mind.  Fighting for control, A'shair focued the power into the torches, 
and all at once they lit, sending the grounds into sudden light.  Closing 
the flood gates, A'shair seated himself with a sigh.  It was mentally 
exhausting to keep up the struggle with his power, when so much wanted to 
get out at once.  He shivered with the thought of what could happen if he 
did let it all loose.  Soon his mind was sent into joy as the hatching began.

Many people jumped at the sudden lighting of the torches, but couldn't 
explain it, and soon the first hatchling pushed out of its shell and joined.
There were loud cheers and clapping as the new rider called out the 
name.  "Her name is Violet!" The young woman called out.  Sirus looked at 
the hatchling, and changed his color to fit the young dragon.  A'shair 
laughed at the dragon, shaking his head. 

As the other dragons came out, Sirus imitated their colors one by one, 
his scales shifting in the light.  A'shair loved to see the faces of the 
young men and women as they joined.  Their faces showed such joy and 
happiness, and it was a sight to lift any spirit.  

As the excitement drew on to a close, the dragonlings being fed from 
buckets of meat, people began to leave, exhausted because of the late 
hour.  A'shair stayed a while longer, watching everything.  He wasn't 
tired any more.  Too much excitment.  Turning to Sirus, who had now 
changed to a distinct pale grey, he wondered about something.  'Sirus, 
can you change to a metallic color?' He asked.

Sirus gave the expression of thinking, and shrugged his dragon 
shoulders.  *I do not know.  I'm not a queen.*

'Would you try one time?' He inquired, curious on how it would look.  

The dragon gave an abashed expression, the scales seeming to sullenly 
change from grey to red.  He was blushing.  *I most certainly will not!  
Why, the other dragons would have a field day...*

A'shair nodded, a wide smile on his face.  'Never mind then...' 

They stayed a little longer, then finally retired to their apartment.  
A'shair grumbled at having to wake up in two hours.  As he lay down, a 
thought occured to him.  'Sirus, I didn't know you could blush...'

All that was returned was a grumpy 'harrumph...' and, after repressing 
some giggles, he fell asleep.

********** SUBMITTED BY ***********

	     Justin

      /\     /^---_---^\     /\     "Pain?  What do you know of pain?  I've
     /  \    > |_\ /_| <    /  \     experienced anguish at the molecular
    /    \   |         |   /    \    level.  Let me show you what it's like."
   /      \   \  o o  /   /      \  "Dragons exist my friend, for the sheer
  /        \  |\_____/|  /        \  fact that in all cultures they are
 |          \ | \/ \/ | /          | present, weather separated by land
     ----------       ----------     sea or air."----  Justin Almeida