Our Little Secret [Solo]

It had been a long day. I'shan peered into his pot, frowning as he realized that the stew still wasn't done. He'd left it on for hours; usually it was nice and tender by now! He could tell at a glance that it wasn't quite done, but he stuck a fork into the pot and retrieved a piece just to make sure. He dropped the chunk of meat unceremoniously into his mouth and sighed.

Not quite done. But what did it matter? It wasn't like anyone was coming to share it with him.

The bluerider sulked, feeling supremely sorry for himself in that unexpectedly lonely moment. I'shan had been filling the void with all manner of illicit activities lately, almost all of which he felt guilty for, but thrill-seeking had other disadvantages as well. When nothing was actually going on, when he was forced to slow down and let the world catch up to him, he became even more aware of his lonliness. What could he fill the void with now, alone and cold in his hut?

Oh, it was cold. I'shan sighed and trudged over to his fireplace, which he poked a few times with the metal rod positioned beside it. "N'gelt hasn't come by since I got back from the lake!" he protested aloud. I'shan had been living like a bachelor in the man's absence, but it didn't come as naturally as it once had. It was one thing to run wild when he was truly single. It was another to do so when he knew N'gelt would take exception to it! I'shan was having a blast, but he hated that nagging feeling in the back of his mind. He hated keeping secrets.

I'shan Ilveriath interrupted. The bluerider looked towards the window, where he saw Ilveriath's interested eye lurking on the other side of the glass. Look

Ilveriath's mind led I'shan's eyes downward, where he focused on the small pot of and he'd been keeping by the fire place. I'shan and his exuberant son had missed the live hatching at the lake, but they were excited regardless. I'shan hadn't actually expected his own egg to hatch, either...but as he looked now, he could see a small hint of movement under the surface!

"Oh...wow!" I'shan said, crouching beside the sand and watching with wide eyes as the wiggling intensified. Ilveriath, who'd been fond of his little cousins during his youth, began to croon pleasantly. The little one will be here soon. He will be hungry the blue said. I'shan beamed. He knew exactly what to do.

I'shan flew across the room and retrieved some more chunks of meat from the pot. As he returned to his vantage point, several were casually popped in his own mouth, though the largest was kept for his new guest. How lucky he was! I'shan was sure his egg was either a dud or dead by his own mishandling, but Ilveriath had done an excellent job reassuring him and keeping him calm. Now, a few days later, look what was happening!

I'shan had considered giving the egg to his son, who was sorely disappointed about missing out. He only paused when he considered  Ce'lie's attitude towards fire lizards. Caution won out for the time being, but if this little one worked out...Well, Isharyn would be receiving an awfully nice present in the near future! At least I'shan hoped so.

The bluerider eagerly dusted the sand off the top of the egg and watched as a split formed in the shell. "Oh!" I'shan squeaked. "Come on, little guy! You can do it!" Should he help it? Was it okay? What should he do?!

Then, with a squeak of protest, the little creature's head and neck slid free. The low light made determining the little beast's color difficult at first, but some squinting revealed the creature to be an adorable mottled brown. I'shan's heart skipped a beat.

How cute, like a little Saquith!

I'shan watched as the little brown's nostrils flared. It creeled, trying its best to snap at the food in his hand even though its limbs were not yet free from the shell. The split widened, but in his pity, I'shan could not wait. He dropped the food right in front of the fire lizard and carefully used his hands to split the shell, freeing the creature at last.

He's so cute... I'shan marveled as he watched the little brown eat. The bond came so quickly and naturally that I'shan hardly noticed it. He smiled, warmed by the fresh influx of love and the gentle support of his protective blue.

What do you intend to name him? Ilveriath asked gently.

I dunno I'shan said, reaching out to scratch the little brown's back as he continued to tear away at his first meal. It was tempting to pick the little flit up and hold it, but it needed to eat. Strange, how looking after a child only once or twice could make someone conscious of these things.

You should name him after that sound you just made Ilveriath joked lightly, only half-serious. It is the same one you made when I was born

How do you remember that?

I don't. You do.

I'shan smiled. He held out his hand as the little brown crawled closer, full and sleepy. The bluerider collected him in both hands and lifted him to his face. "Ilveriath says I should name you 'Squee'," he said playfully, producing the best onomatopoeia he could for the sound in question. "What do you think?"

In an action completely unrelated to the question, the fire lizard licked his nose.

I'shan giggled. "Okay! Okay. I guess that's your name, then!"

For that night, I'shan was not alone, but every time he looked at his new friend he thought of N'gelt and his handsome brown.