4: Some Lessons

Three days later I had gotten the hatchlings schedule down pat. I had mastered the feedings, the temperature for the nests. I bought a kiddie pool for them to play in, and a cushion for me to sleep on. I had mastered hatchling 101, or at least I thought I had. I heard an knock at the door. I put Valorous in my pocket before I went into the elevator. "Remember Valorous this is a stealth mission. Stay quiet and hidden." He nodded his head, and tucked himself into my pocket. I went up the elevator, covered the trap door with the ugly couch, and answered the door.

"Why on Earth is Bill worried about you? All you got were Creek Creepers?" The strange woman said while sniffing me. "Oh no, you have much more than Creek Creepers. Did Edna leave behind a scale collection?" I looked at the woman she was short with a short black perm. She wore all red. head to toe.

"Ahh you must be Mrs. Horn." I said. "I have been told my clutch is unique, come this way." We walked into the living room and I moved the couch revealing the trap door. I went through the elavator first. As soon as I got off of the elevator I saw my dragons were all over. "I just left you alone for a minute, and you do this. All of you get off of the appliances, and back into the den, we have a new guest. Try to be nice." Quickly each one of them stopped what they were doing and went to the end of the room where it looked more cave-like. "Oh you are doing wonderfully. They all behave so well, but my there are so many, and they are all different." I hadn't even noticed that she had come down. "Oh I didn't see you come down Mrs.Horn. They aren't all different species, I have two Gull Wings.

Blithesome, Reticent, come here." I said. Blithesome came bouncing over flapping her wings, while Reticent slicked over, trying to go unnoticed, while also trying to hide in Blithesome's shadow. "This blue beauty is Blithesome and my handsome orange drake here is Reticent. Blithesome stood proudly, while Reticent tried hiding under her wing.

"Well not hard to tell the gender of these two. They are a bit extra, even for their species. This is why Bill called...you named them. Why ever would you do that?" I told her my story about only discovering dragons existence at the moment they hatched. The story started with a letter in the mail, and ended with me meeting her.

"Alright may as well finish our introductions. Alright Somnolent come out. This is the most sleepy Toxic Snap you have ever seen." Somnolent didn't move. "Fine you forced my hand mister. Coruscant!" I commanded. Instantly a she blasted a stream of frosty air at Somnolent. He bolted up from where he was napping and ran in front of me. "Alright take two. This is Somnolent, the laziest, and worst listening Toxic Snap around." He awkwardly balanced on his back feet dramatically and did a spin, before returning to the nest.

"Alright Coruscant you are next. This is my little Prism Scale, Coruscant. She is kind and beautiful, we are still working on her popularity though."

"Callalilly you're next." She crawled back from the back of the den where she was practicing her camouflage. She scurried quickly. She stopped right in front of Mrs.Horn, and gave her her best flower pose. "This little Flower Frill is Callalilly, she is determined to be the perfect flower." She kept perfectly still, unmoving; instead of skittering back like the others had done. "Callalilly run back to the den now, she can see you are the best flower." That comment was all of the convincing that was needed. She went to her usual rock, and kept practicing being a flower.

"Next we have the epitome of reptile pride introducing Vainglorious." Vainglorious came out slowly with his wings spread, showing off all of his, still yellow, feathers. When he got closer he tucked his feathered wings to his sides, and showed off the feathers on his tail and spine by doing a slow twirl around, whilst purring. He faced her again and tried his best roar, but it just came out as a loud squeak. I clapped to help end his show, then he turned tail and left for the den.

"Okay now comes Switch." I said. "She is one my little guards, and is very excited to grow up to be strong." I added. She whipped her tail weakly to show her skills. Then she turned around and ran back, much faster than the others, to the den, showing off her speed.

"And last but not least we have Valorous. He popped out of my pocket, surprising Mrs.Horn. "Oh goodness that's why you smelt of Creek Creepers." she said. "This is Valorous. When he hatched I was giving facts about each one of them, then read out loud that he has no defenses. So he has decided for himself that he will be brave and strong, one way or another. Today we had a stealth mission when I opened the door. He often guards Somnolent as he sleeps." I explained. I crouched down to eye level to Valorous. Okay you, you seem pretty dry. go and hop in the pool." I told him. He did as I instructed.

I turned to Mrs.Horn to speak once more. "So that is my clutch. I have been told they are quite unique, the largest clutch anyone has ever had, and that since I named them they will stay with me for life. I know very little about raising dragons, that is why you are here." I finished explaining.

"Well I am a professional." she said proudly pointing her thumb at herself.

"I know...that is why you are here." I said not even trying to hold back my annoyance for this woman.

"So why did you do that whole hatchling presentation?" She asked.

"I have been told their names are hard to remember, so I make a point to introduce them in a memorable way." I explained.

She rubbed her hand on her chin. "I see." she said "Now, how do you raise these species?" she asked.

"Uhh...you are supposed to be the one teaching me." I said shocked.

"Oh well yes it is true I have raised my own dragons, but only Blade Runners and Prism Scales. They do well in the north." she said. Great this annoying lady was clueless, and could only help me with Coruscant, whom was already the most well behaved.

"So you are telling me that the only woman who is supposed to be able to help me, has no idea what she is doing?" I said exasperated.

"Well dear, I am not completely useless there are some tricks you pick up, there is a lot of studying involved in raising dragons. I am surprised that you didn't ask about my previous Blade Runners. Do you already know the species?" She asked. I rubbed my temples, trying to calm myself.

"No I haven't had any time for extra research. You know with the crazy fact that they exist." I tried to say calmly and respectfully.

"Dear have you ever heard of a Kakapo?" she asked.

"No." I said, "Let me guess it is some other kind of dragon that I have to study about." I said irritated at her conversation change.

"It is a creature that naturally lives in mountainous jungles, they live in caves, they are green and yellow, can see in the dark, they can't fly, but are excellent climbers, and the mating call of a male can reach miles away. On top of all of that no man has ever been able to successfully raise one." she said.

"Wow that does sound pretty interesting. Have you ever met one?" I asked. She smiled back at me,

"Heaven's no. I can't raise them, and I have no desire to climb a mountain in a jungle to see a parrot." I looked shocked. She continued, "Just because you didn't know it existed, and didn't know it's power, doesn't make it's very existance crazy." She made a fair point. "Now dear I am quite tired from my travels, where will I be sleeping?" She looked worried seeing the cushion and blankets I had sitting near the hatchlings nests. "Don't worry, I like to sleep with the hatchlings, just in case something happens. You can have the bedroom. It is the entire second floor." I said. She got in the elevator and left.

"All right critters, who is ready for dinner. They all started hopping and squeaking in excitement. I pulled the diced chicken and fish that I had prepared the night before, and dished out what everyone wanted. I put each meal into cupcake liners, as tiny disposable bowls.Then I brought Callalilly to the box of crickets and placed her inside to eat to her hearts content. She would shriek when she was finished. I watched the other seven eat their dinner. As always Switch hit hers a few times with her tail before digging in. Blithesome tried to steal Reticent's fish, but with a glare from me she went back to her own food. Somnolent ate his quickly, then fell asleep with his head in the cupcake wrapper. "Shreeee!" Callalilly was done with her dinner. I carefully took her out, making sure not to let any crickets escape. I heard the elavator door open behind me. This time it was Jasper.

"Did I get here in time for dinner?" he said in-between breaths.

"Sorry Jasper dinner is over, but you are in time to help with pellets and poop." I said sarcastically.

"Fine...I am here to help." he said.

"Jasper I am the one raising them not you, it is my job to do the dirty work. Wait until they are done digesting, then you can play with them." minutes passed by, then Jasper was able to play. I saw the boy smiling and laughing as most of the dragons played with him.

I wiped down the rocky cave floor with soapy water, and picked up and examined the pellets from Blithesome, Reticent, and Coruscant. Same size and content as usual.

"What are you doing?" he looked at me with both curiosity and discust as I picked up pellets and examined them.

"Have you ever had any pets? The best way to avoid serious illness is to monitor their bodily excretions. The dragons that had fish are still regurgitating fish scales. They can have larger portions, once their bodies grow large enough to digest the scales. Or at least that is what the book says. So I am keeping a daily journal on their physical growth. This journal could help with future clutches." I explained

"Oh I see" said Jasper.

"Oh I see? That's it? You are supposed to be the smart one, be proud that I know something that you don't." I mocked

"I knew cataloging your findings was necessary, but your methods are... unorthodox." he said, lying through his teeth. I wouldn't let him make fun so easily.

"Oh I am new, if my method is wrong, can you show me how to do it properly?" I said acting ignorant. I thrust forward to him the pellet that my gloved had was holding.

"Uncle!" he yelled causing all of the dragons to scuttle to me "I lied I didn't know about inspecting pellets or poop. I just wanted to remain smarter." I smiled.

"Don't worry, we are all smarter than eachother in different ways. I sent Jasper home, then I finished cataloging today's input and output of the dragons, along with their schedule, their response to Mrs.Horn, and today's diet. After they were settling down for the night, it was my turn to eat. I took a much needed bath, and prepared meatloaf for myself and Mrs.Horn. Other than motivational speeches, so far she had proved to be less than useless. I will have to see what Bill was thinking inviting her here.