THE MOMENT
"Oh no, that's horrible!" Six, the Paladin, empathized with the village elder. "Why would a dragon abandon her eggs!?" she asked as the elder nodded with a shrug.
"Indeed, we don't know," the old man said. He led Six out of his home and toward a large open barn with smoke flowing upward out of the roof. Six felt a wave of heat wash over her as they walked into the barn. Almost a dozen large eggs sat on a bonfire. Each golden egg was nearly as tall as Six and two times as wide. "But, we will do our best to safeguard these eggs."
"I wanna help too!" Six replied with enthusiasm. "Is there anything I can do?"
"As a matter of fact...," he smiled down at the heavily armored pre-teen. "...there is something a noble Paladin like yourself can help us with. Maybe...," he rubbed his silver goatee as he appraised her. "..it's a big request; but, you might be the only one that can help."
"I'm ready!" Six nodded. "What do you need?"
"We're doing all we can; but, I'm afraid our fire isn't hot enough...," the elder gestured at the blaze. "There is a magical tree known as the Dragonwood that burns hot enough to hatch these eggs. It's said only a divine paladin can fell a Dragonwood tree. If you could deliver us some Dragonwood, our village would be very grateful to you," he said.
"Easy peasy!" Six giggled at the elder, then she waved and turned to leave the barn.
The young Paladin returned to the barn carrying a bundle of dark red wood on her back. She carried it to the elder and dropped it at his feet.
"You're safe! I was beginning to worry," he chuckled as he knelt to inspect the wood. He grabbed a chunk and tossed it into the bonfire. The blaze flared with a deep red color for several seconds before it settled down again. The flame around the Dragonwood glowed with a warm golden color while the rest of the bonfire remained orange.
"This will really help," the elder smiled as he rose to his feet again. He reached behind his back and produced a small leather pouch that jingled with coin. As he offered it to Six, they both heard a new sound that couldn't be ignored. It sounded like the fire crackling; but, much louder.
"Oh goodness, already!?" The elder rushed forward with Six close behind to inspect the cracking egg. It happened to be the one warmed by the golden fire of the Dragonwood.
"This is so exciting!" Six cheered, then encouraged the newborn to break through the shell. "C'mon little guy! You can do it!" As the large egg continued to crack open, a new voice joined them in the barn.
"How long is this gonna take?" 23 asked. Six jumped out of surprise; but, she recognized the voice and didn't take her eyes off the egg.
"I don't know," Six replied. Finally, a large section of the shell fell away as a baby red dragon poked its head out. Six pulled her node out and stared at it intently. The baby dragon let out a small growl, then the egg disintegrated into white powder along with the dragon inside. Six sighed as her node glowed with faint green light. "At least another try," she said. She turned and walked out of the barn. 23 followed her out; but, then stopped and shrugged. A black portal opened in the air next to her.
"I'll wait somewhere else; let me know when you're ready," she said as Six walked up the steps of the elder's home.
"'Kay!" she turned long enough to wave at her sister, then she walked into the house and straight into the elder's study. The old man sat at his desk and looked up her.
"Welcome to our humble village, noble Paladin. Is there something I can do for you?" he asked as he rose to his feet.
"I've heard tales in my travels," Six replied with a broad grin. "I've heard that a nest of abandoned dragon eggs was found by some villagers. Is that true?" she asked.
"I'm afraid so," the elder nodded and walked out of his study. "We watched over it for some time from a distance to be sure; but, we believe the mother will not be returning. It seems she has abandoned her clutch."
"Oh no, that's terrible!" Six, the Paladin, empathized with the village elder. "Why would a dragon abandon her eggs!?" she asked as the elder nodded with a shrug.
"Indeed, we don't know," the old man said. He led Six out of his home and toward a large open barn with smoke flowing upward out of the roof.