Chapter 1 - The Beginning
#1 of The Scepter Twins - Growth
The Scepter Twins
Volume 1-Growth
By: Rocky Raku-n
Chapter 01 - The Meadow
It was a slightly warm and breezy day on the Zephyr meadow, the type of day that held the slightest breath of a long awaited warm summer right around the corner. Morning dew still clung to the ground making the grass shimmer with small natural diamonds; the tall trees were just starting to bud and blossom giving color back to the once grey frozen meadow. The cool wind was causing the trees to sway, and the grass to dance all in time with some un-seen rhythm. Moving changing and ever growing all played to this elusive tune. As things came and thrived, withered and perished, to grow and die to live and learn it was the way of nature and her hidden song moving the evolution of everything from the smallest insects to the tallest birch trees none could escape her grasp...but two would seemingly try.
Small lithe shapes were stalking through the waist high grass; quiet clicks and chirps could be heard, mingling among the rustling of the grass. Multiple sets of glowing eyes peered out from the grass, a rainbow of glowing colours. Small searing orbs scanned the surrounding plain. Stalking through the grass the small shapes were stalking and seemingly hunting other dark shadows. Creeping slowly a larger shadow then jumps from its hiding place and tackles another dark shape; a fight is heard, tumbling out of the grass two creatures plop down in the soft clover.
They were young wyrmlings, pre-impression, and their act of stalking and romping about and mimicking the moves of the older fighters was a sort of training but to them it was fun. Jumping and fluttering their wings trying to imitate flight, they would dance about bounding through grass, joyously feigning slashes and whipping their tails as if they were deep in the grip of a life or death struggle. To them this was fun but unknown to them it was a kind of subliminal training unknowingly preparing them for service to the King of Synesta. Zipping around they were under the protect ever watchful eye of Roin, a war hero of old, his stocky body still holding some resemblance to the iron willed hero he had once been now he was just an aging ranch master
He was a veteran of Dragons-Tear, the last and most terrible of all the wars between Synesta and Geriliad, causing chaos and discord for years leaving whole towns obliterated off of the map. He had been Captain General of the 1st Order of Airborne Calvary, his division was the Winged Lancers one of the most influential units in the war, Well that was the military title he had once held, he always though it was a bit to long but now it was just Ranch Master for one of the oldest breeding ranches, Plia Myrna. He was a good man, strong and of muscular build he has been called homely but that is usually on account of his scar, running from right above his right eye down his cheek to meet with the right corner of his mouth, received from the Wizard Salot as he struck down of the most powerful, and key figure of the war. Looking west towards the setting sun he is reminded of his wife's cooking (Sia) she is able to bring together the oddest of flavors into a wonderful feast, it should be ready by the time he got back to the ranch, he also shudders reminded of the mile long trek back to the ranch, usually he would ride but Misa (his she-wyrm) cannot fly after she mates in the spring.
He then turns his mind from daydreaming back to his job. One by one he connects with each wyrmling igniting the spark, some call it other things connecting minds telepathy whatever you decide. They must have this spark ignited they are playing and still oblivious to the world after the spark is ignited by one of pure Serjin blood, one of many families able to communicate with dragons (most people of Synesta have this ability, only those from Geriliad have had this trait bred out), they slowly become aware of their surroundings and go through a change usually taking twenty-four clicks of the sun to do this but in some rare cases it has happened almost immediately, actually the only other time in Synesta's history as a dragon breeding world it was the dragon that belonged to Ramos Serjin the greatest dragon warrior and war veteran who ever lived, he single handedly turned the tides against Geriliad he was also the one who came up with the barrier, some say he was wizard but it had never been proven.
The spark must be ignited while they are still 3 months to a year old before there colouring finally settles, usually in the first three months they will change colors depending on mood, emotion and appetite which can all play big part in their development, so what they eat, how much and how you tend to them is very important during their "first year or hatchling stage".
Turning to the task at hand he now observes, he is watching them for different abilities and innate traits, carefully judging them and watching how they play the group he has will most likely yield the most magic using and special interest dragons among all of the other groups, this one important trait magic is usually prominent in blues and reds.
He would have to be very scrupulous in his study of the young he would have to notice subtle changes or small things happening for instance one of the wyrmlings being surrounded by an aura that they were oblivious to, or being able to blow flames, ice or any number of elements and their different combinations (at this age it would be a tiny puff nothing like the older dragons) and mark off the name of the wyrmling and the area they would be sorted into. These particular wyrmlings were about four months old and starting to take on their final colours anything from a mottled gray to a shade of gold that is brighter around the spot where you are looking and any other combination of colours you can imagine.
Roin was watching to the west studying a peculiar wyrmling a little female just sitting off to one side, she was black and red an odd combination for a this group most of the fighter dragons had already been selected these where either most likely the mage dragons or the special interest (control of other elements [ice, earth...etc] and different powers), and most females were either solid white, blue, green and occasionally spots but never such a beautiful gradient that started with red on top and slowly faded to black haunches.
As he watched her he noticed something she wasn't playing with the other pus she was sitting by herself content to watch the sunset. Her scales had an odd shimmer like the haze you would see on a summer day, while looking out on the roads or the desert, it was what first drew his attention along with her solitude. "That little flat nosed one has potential I can just feel it..." he crouches down racking his brain trying to figure her out it wasn't like anything he had ever seen or read in the creature manuals before. He pulls out his notes and checks over them carefully "hmmm I figure special interest but what area telekinesis ...no ...astral projection...no...Maybe illusionist...hmm I don't know just yet I'll have to keep watching" he tucks his notes away. Then using reflexes toned by years in his majesty's service he reacts to hearing a rustle behind him, he ducks and rolls to the right while at the same time he whips out his sword tip whistling and slams it into the ground, behind and to the right of where he was just standing.
A small red and black shape in deep concentration was sitting behind where he was standing, she re-focuses on him and he realizes that it was the same little wyrmling that was sitting off by her-self. She looked at him with a cool complacent grin and amused glowing eyes and she chuckles softly at her own little joke. At that moment he didn't think it was true but realization came over him as he studied her body shape and structure, "She came from Misa's clutch I should have known..." he sheathes his sword while chuckling to himself, and squats down and reaches out to the wyrmling, and in his deep brassy voice says "I'm gonna have to keep an eye on you little one..."