Within a week they could see Loola was bloating slightly, signs that she would lay a clutch that year. MeiAnne was very fortunate as she knew there was only a chance that a dragon would even conceive.
Raba dragged MeiAnne almost everywhere with him, giving whatever excuse he could come up with to get her out of work.
"I've requested MeiAnne to assist me inspect stables today."
"I need a second set of hands to oil Loola's hide as her underbelly grows."
When the head of Human Resources would ask, Raba always made sure to say his Flight was busy training the others so they could function better. Although, that wasn't a lie. He would still complain about the Flight Commanders not training their Flight's enough to handle themselves, just as he had witnessed the day they fought the strange wizard man.
Even his excuses weren't lies, per say, he would just ask MeiAnne to keep him company as he would do most of the work. MeiAnne would protest, but unless it was taking care of Loola he would keep her from doing more work.
"How's under her wing looking?" Raba called over to MeiAnne on the opposite side of Loola one afternoon.
"Needs more oil. Her hide is still stretched out on this side, even after how much we put on yesterday!" MeiAnne didn't realize just how much hide there was on Loola until she started helping Raba out.
"It should only be a week or so 'til she lays." Raba had snuck around behind MeiAnne while she was focused.
In the same moment MeiAnne heard his voice she felt herself being turned around.
"No sir. Not with all this oil on your hands." She playfully swatted at Raba.
All she got was a smirk out of him before she had to take a step back, bumping gently into Loola's side. Raba was very close to her, keeping her up against Loola. As Loola breathed in she felt herself getting pressed up against Raba.
"Do you still say no?" His voice was low, and his eyes were locked on MeiAnne's.
She couldn't quite get words to work for her so she shook her head.
Just as Raba leaned down to her, they heard a fake cough.
"So is it playtime or work time?" Gen spoke up. MeiAnne flushed with embarrassment, but when she looked up Raba looked almost mad.
"Sorry man, you're just needed for a meeting of Generals. When you weren't leading our drilling they sent me."
Raba sighed before backing away from MeiAnne. She was still frozen up against Loola, moving up and down as she breathed.
"Can you finish up with Loola for me?" Raba asked as he stepped closer to Gen.
"Y-yeah." MeiAnne was happy words were coming back to her.
As MeiAnne continued to massage oil into the stretch hide on Loola's sides and belly she noticed someone was looking at her.
Loola had turned her head and was looking right at MeiAnne. MeiAnne could feel that Loola had started to rumble slowly in her chest, sounding much lower than when Molis would do the same. Despite the fact that MeiAnne was instinctively aware that if Loola really wanted to she could nearly snatch MeiAnne up in one bite, the look in her eyes was enough to soothe that feeling.
Her pupils were expanded so only a small percentage of the red iris was visible. Loola would inch her head closer every once in a while as they held their stare. Assuming that Loola was telling her to MeiAnne reached out her hand and placed it on Loola's snout. The rumble increased and Loola lowered her eyelids. When MeiAnne broke the stare they shared she was able to see that her hand was barely larger than some of the hidescales on Loola's face.
Even though she knew the hidescales on her sides were much longer, knowing what it used to look like when she did the same thing to Molis it hit her truly just how large Loola was. Just what happened that caused her to outgrow all of her ancestors? Would her children also grow to be larger?
As she stood there, stroking Loola's snout, MeiAnne got to thinking. She had a meaningful reason behind naming Molis. Would she do the same with the next hatchling or follow Gen's example?
The more she thought about a new dragon the more she missed Molis. As her grief returned it felt like she was hit by a tidal wave. It was hard to stand, her body ached, and her heart longed. She put more of her weight on Loola, and in response Loola curled up so she could pull a foreleg up. With that she embraced MeiAnne, pressing into her chest and stomach with her snout and gently on her back with the top of her large wrist.
Loola was very warm as MeiAnne held onto her. She still felt her rumbling in her chest and found it to be quite comforting. When she felt herself calming down and trusting her ability to stand on her own she pulled herself off.
"Thank you." She whispered as she gently patted Loola's snout one last time before turning to finish what Raba had asked her to do.
"Are you okay?" She heard Raba's voice coming up from a distance.
MeiAnne didn't feel fully ready to turn around and see him just yet. She hated that he saw her like that, she had no want to make him worry about her more than he already had.
"I'll be fine." She answered, still not turning around.
She knew he was standing behind her, it was as if the tiny hairs down her back were all raised expecting to feel him reach out. Yet, he never did. MeiAnne only felt his stare and she was left wondering what was going on in his head.
She heard his footsteps in the grass beside her, stopping just beside her. She kept her eyes on her hands, finishing up with the oil at last.
"I'll be here for you."
MeiAnne froze for a second.
"Promise?"