“They’ll take her back.” Kalai leaned in and rested his temple against Tauran’s shoulder. His words sounded somewhere between a question and a statement, but the sadness in them was clear.
“We knew that from the start,” Tauran said, but couldn’t help a sting of pain he, too, felt deep down. The subtle weight of Kalai’s head on his shoulder lessened it some. “Hey.” He let go of the egg with one hand and placed it over Kalai’s, lacing their fingers together. “They’ll take good care of her. It’s not their first titan. You should see Falka’s Excellor. Perfect body condition, beautiful scales. She’ll have a whole team of people treating her like a queen.”
“And you?” Kalai raised his head. “Will you be there, too?”
Tauran hesitated. He had promised Falka he would look after the egg, but that was as far as his involvement would go. He knew from experience how easy it was to grow attached. He only had to look at the beautiful young man beside him for a stark reminder. If he agreed to care for the baby, when would he stop? When it was a fledgling? A yearling? When he was picking out her saddle and training her for the air? No, he couldn’t go that far. He’d promised himself never again.
Tauran shook his head and saw the disappointment in Kalai’s eyes.
“I’m not a rider anymore, Kalai,” Tauran said, quietly.
A crisp snap made them both look down.
The tiny crack had turned into a two-inch long jagged horizontal line. Tauran stared at it.
“This is it!” Kalai sat up straighter. He looked ecstatic, the previous moment’s sadness gone.
“What do I do?” Tauran asked. He held the egg carefully, afraid to break it, which was ridiculous considering that was the point of a hatching egg.
“Just... put her down. Let her work it out,” Kalai said. He sprung to his feet and spun in a circle. “Do you... want more tea?”
Tauran laughed. “If I consume any more ginger, I’ll start sprouting roots.”
“Right.” Kalai blew out a breath.
“Come.” Tauran reached out. He didn’t need to ask twice. Kalai sank down beside him and Tauran wrapped an arm around his shoulders and tugged him close. Kalai’s hand was warm on his thigh.
They watched and waited, and spoke encouraging words as the crack grew and split around the egg, little clicks and chirps sounding from inside. When the crack reached halfway around, Tauran said, “We should send for Falka,” but once again, he couldn’t get himself to move, and Kalai stayed where he was, too, gripping Tauran’s hand tight.
A long crack stretched the rest of the way around the egg, merging with the first. Tauran glanced at Kalai. He itched to help, to speed along the process. Patience had never been his best quality.
A quiet trill sounded from inside the egg.
“Come on, baby,” Tauran murmured. “You’re killing us, here.” He leaned closer as the top half shifted, then settled back.
With a squeak from the egg, a big section of the shell cracked, barely attached to the lower half. Tauran glanced at Kalai again, who nodded.
Slowly, Tauran lifted off the broken piece of shell.
A soft “Oh!” left them both at the same time.
Through the hole in the egg, a small dark nose appeared, scales glistening.
“Hey, sweetheart,” Tauran cooed. He held his hand to the tiny nose, stroking the rubbery scales with the back of a finger.
With a squeak and a wiggle, the top half of the shell broke the rest of the way off, and suddenly, there she was, with her whole head raised out of the egg, blinking at her surroundings.
Kalai exhaled shakily, clinging to Tauran’s hand like he was trying to rearrange the bones, but Tauran hardly felt it. All he could focus on was the tiny titan with eyes too big for her head and nubby little spine scales staring up at them.
She squeaked again and wiggled, one perfect little leathery wing extending out of the shell, front claw grasping at the blankets.
Kalai released Tauran and cupped a hand underneath her wing.
Tauran supported the egg with one hand, picking off loose bits of shell with the other until the baby could wiggle her way free.
She flopped onto the blankets, both wings extended, then slowly righted herself, one wobbling leg at a time.
“Mighty skies.” Kalai’s voice was hoarse. “She’s incredible.”
Standing somewhat straight, the baby titan was the size of a large cat, the deadly tail spike