The palace was a jumble of activity as evening came. The guest of honor was asleep, or at least her parents hoped she was. Clovis fidgeted and ran a hand through his hair.
"I don't know if I can do this." He said honestly nervous. Every inch of him was tense. Kyera smiled and hugged him from behind. Her baby bump nested in the bed of his back. The familiar scent of the forest washed over him, soothing his heart.
"Love, it is important that we let her do this. She no longer has a home, or a culture to call her own. Let her take part in a culture and a people that want her." Kyera reminded him gently and he was still unwilling to listen. After a few long moments holding him, Kyera sighed. "It is your choice, Clovis. It can be avoided if you wish."
"But then she will be left out. I just… why at 8 years old?" He asked turning to look at Kyera. His frustration and worries were painted clearly on his face. His wife sighed and planted a kiss to his nose.
"Eight years is a delicate time for humanoids in the Frost lands. You are no longer a primal child, you are beginning to understand deeper emotion, you become more human. To connect with that new ability, new ability to feel children are given the chance to bond. Every child is given a pet, a responsibility to the health and well being of something other than itself." Kyera explained it to the best of her ability. Clovis nodded still exasperated.
"No, that part I get. Why a Dragon?" He asked his voice very close to a whine. Kyera chuckled at him and kissed his lips. Despite himself he met the kiss and caressed her hair. "I am not thrilled about my baby girl flying without me."
"Love, you hate to fly." Kyera replied with a bit of a grin. Clovis nodded firmly as if that was the logical response.
"I would like to fly if it wasn't so wild up there." He said waving to the windy sky. Kyera chuckled at him openly. She was unable to hide her sheer amusement. The sense of indignant expression on her mate's face was perfect.
"You ride the wind twin of the Storm Twins… of course the wind is wild. It's just like Being on Ivory results in me being in the clouds so much. They form around her." Kyera told him and the expression darkened. The edge of Clovis's left eye twitched several times.
"Wait… it's not like that… on other dragons?" He asked. The memory of those winds swirling around him and shaking him against the straps holding him in place surfaced. The way the wings moved and the wind increased until falling off seemed the next logical option. Was that not typical? The mischievous grin on the tigresses face made him want to tickle her till she squealed in delight and torment.
"Yes… actually if you ask Ember he can calm the wind around you so it is more pleasant. He just thought you enjoyed the challenge." Kyera explained and the eye twitch became worse. Clovis didn't trust himself to speak. Not yet. There was a list of things he wanted to say, but at the moment none of them seemed nice.
She hugged him, batting those big golden eyes at him. The way she tilted her head caused those moonlight bangs to fall into her eyes and give her an innocent, seductive look. It was very clear to him she was trying to be cute and appeal to his weakness. Thought he was well aware that was her goal, he gave in.
"You, Kitten, will be the death of me." He growled half heartedly, his forehead resting on hers. Kyera smiled.
"I know love, but there are worse ways to go than by the hand of love." She whispered confidently and he couldn't disagree. He didn't want it any other way.