x. The gentle day began nothing more than with a gentle sunrise, reds and oranges blending together. Outside of Ceris, in the wilderness of Du Weldenvarden, was a very large crimson-colored dragon, with vermillion eyes, scanning the surroundings carefully. A patient hum reverberated from his chest, as he enjoyed the peaceful morning. It all was nice and calm. For now. Knowing their luck, something would come up, they could never have a peaceful day outside of the world, looking in for once. Though - now, he shifted, then froze when he felt his Rider and the creme-colored egg by his wam underbelly. A growl later, the Rider jerked up, groaning lightly, then looked up to his partner's scaled-face, and snapped, rubbing a dark-haired temple, "You know, Thorn, I could deal without the rude awakening." The crimson dragon, who now stood at over 7 stories long, and almost as tall, shifted, before responding, in their eternal bond, tensing, "Maybe be, Murtagh, but you are not a grandfather to little Atiyana and Rannoch." The dark-haired Rider sighed heavily, before responding, aloud, lying back on the ground, Zar'roc at his side, and the creme-colored egg on his other, "I know. But - this whole....Shadow deal.." He sighed, before snatching up his over shirt, since he was just wearing his undershirt right now, showing off Morzan's mark, which had branded him since he was 3, and showed the two tips of both of his scars, one thanks to his original father, and one thanks to the shadow form of his father.

x. Though, he dropped his over-shirt, and unsheathed Zar'roc, letting the glittering blood-red sword, one of the best made in the worlds glitter. He sensed someone, and nodded slowly towards the massive dragon beside him. The male dragon snorted, before standing slowly, flicking his long tail, then opening his powerful jaws, and roaring deeply through the trees, summoning the person or thing out there with them, to show themself. Murtagh spoke through their link, dark eyes narrowed slightly. "Thorn...the egg." He didn't seem to be his age, of around 41 or so. He still looked to be around 23 or so. All thanks to Dragon Rider Magic. Thorn hissed, before lethal talons gently gripped the egg, like a father would to the egg, though it wasn't his. It was of Maza, his good friend and Glithra's. Tucking it safely away in case they were attacked, Murtagh spoke, spinning Zar'roc at his side, as he grabbed his over-shirt, still half-dressed on top, showing his nice muscles, as he demanded, "Who's there?" Sliding on his black leather shirt and buckling it, he tensed, with Thorn, who awaited to see who would finally approach them.

x. Tightly holding Freedom, his sister's blade, which looked like Zar'roc now, the dark-haired Rider lowered his blood-red sword once a young woman appeared from the trees. Watching lightly, he blinked in silence, watching her horse, as Thorn snorted heavily, sending a plume of smoke into the atmosphere. Eying this newcomer intently, Murtagh finally sheathed Freedom, as she gave him her name. A knowing smile, a smirk appeared on his features. For some reason, she reminded him of his children, both of which had been ripped away from him and his amore, Elin. Both William Lee and Samira. Will through Blackheart and the elves, and Samira - well - she was married to Vesher. Who he trusted - a bit, but Elin did, so he did as well. Thorn growled uncomfortably, before shifting, revealing the creme-colored egg for a moment as he did so, so that he could protect it easier. Tilting his head, Murtagh responded, "Don't give out your name so easily next time, Dawn of the Varden...not all the Riders and everyone are friends." he arched an eyebrow, before gesturing to Thorn, as he stood uncomfortable, "He's Thorn..." The crimson dragon nodded his head lightly, and Murtagh added, "I'm...Murtagh." Thorn hummed in his throat, before speaking to his Rider through their link, "Murtagh....I sense a connection between her and this egg...." The Rider nodded, as Thorn then slowly revealed the egg, vermillion eyes watching Dawn intently, in case she should try something.

x. A slight wobbling of the egg later, Thorn had moved the egg out from his talons, and spoke to his Rider, vermillion eyes watching Dawn interested. "Let her touch it." Murtagh hesitated, before Thorn added, flashing his fangs lightly, "If she kills it, she will join it in the void." Murtagh nodded grimly, before catching Dawn's gaze falling on Thorn. The crimson skulblaka hummed in his throat, before slowly nudging the egg towards Dawn, and the thing tipped over, rolling slightly. Shaking his head, Murtagh stuck a boot out and stopped the egg from rolling, though it wobbled slightly more as it got closer to Dawn. Exchanging a knowing look with Thorn, Murtagh spoke, "Feel free to touch it....just, if you kill it, Thorn will answer." he gently warned her, before he then pushed Thorn away with a flick of his hand and some magic. The dragon snorted, before anxiously standing, tail flicking back and forth anxiously, feeling the excitement and nervousness flow through himself as well as his Rider.

x. As Dawn bent to pick it up, the crimson dragon tensed slightly, and the dark-haired Rider noticed his dragon's talons sink into the ground slightly, as if readying himself to pounce on her if she threatened the life within the protective shell. Vermillion eyes locked onto the young woman, as the dragon snorted indignitantly, and bared his fangs. Shushing him immediately, the Rider narrowed his eyes slightly, tilting his head curiously, watching the egg as Dawn touched it and held it up to her. Thorn hummed in his chest, a deep rumble, before shifting gently, crimson scales glistening in the sunlight that fell down on him like millions of arrows. Though, neither the sun nor the arrows would hurt. Snorting gently, the dragon hummed, as Murtagh approached the young girl when her dragon hatched. A calm look still on his features, he watched curiously, then spoke, as the female hatchling gave Dawn the Gedway Ignesia. "It's the Gedway Ignesia...the gift a dragon can give its Rider...one of many it will give you." He pulled off his leather glove and revealed his own Gedway Ignesia, which glowed crimson-red slightly, before he pulled his glove back on, eying the hatchling curiously, and spoke, looking amused, "What will you name her, Rider Dawn?" What she didn't know yet though - was what a dragon meant. Her being a Rider - her life was only going to get tougher.

x. The large crimson dragon chuckled lightly, before lowering his massive head, and lying it on the ground. His head was 10 feet, easy in height, and his vermillion eyes cast their gaze down on the new life, the creme-colored hatchling. A gentle purr escaped the dragon, before he closed his eyes contentedly when his Rider placed a gentle hand on his cheek. The dark-haired Rider watched Dawn curiously, wondering how she could handle herself - already, since she was a Ranger for the Varden. Her's wouldn't ever be able to match his skills in what he knew - unless she trained as much as he did right now. Dark eyes glanced to the hatchling as she named it Kazira. Nodding slowly, he then shifted, boots on the soft dirt, before he spoke, gesturing to the small dog-sized hatchling on the ground, "Go ahead and speak with your dragon...expand your mind...she's already got a link with you, through the Gedway, as well as the Deep Magic of the Riders...just look for it." He nodded re-assuringly, before chuckling lightly at something Thorn said, and replied aloud, so Dawn could hear if she so wished, "You used to be that small, Thorn, but unfortunately, your first look at the sunshine wasn't outside, it was surrounded by stones." Thorn nodded glumly, before licking his Rider gently, then eying the hatchling, and purred lightly to it, "Welcome to Alagaesia, young one. I am Thorn, and my Rider is Murtagh."

x. Both Murtagh and Thorn exchanged looks, before their gazes shifted back to rest on Dawn and her new hatchling, Kazira. Approaching her slowly, Murtagh stopped a few feet away, boots clomping lightly on the ground, before he stopped, dark eyes watching them, before Thorn spoke, humming gently to his Rider, "She's found the link, Murtagh." Nodding slowly to his dragon's murmurs, the dark-haired Rider looked between the new Rider and hatchling, then inquired, a hand falling calmly on Zar'roc, making no move to unsheath it, "I'm guessing you found it? Good...she might need to be taught how to speak...it's not unlikely, but it depends." Arching an eyebrow, he then smirked lightly, before reaching up and patting Thorn's scaly head, which he had lowered down. Frowning lightly, one of the oldest Riders around, narrowed his eyes slightly, his vision beyond Dawn and Kazira, eying the trees. Nodding slightly, once he deemed that they were safe from the pesky elves, he then inquired, "How is she faring?"

x. Watching the new Rider and hatchling curiously, both Murtagh and Thorn exchanged glances, before he caught her inquiry about being of age. The crimson dragon snorted, and rolled his vermillion eyes. Patting his partner on his shoulder, the dark-haired Rider responded, boots softly stomping on the ground as he approached Dawn, though stopped about 7-feet from her, "It depends, usually females are slower than males, she'll be ready to ride within a few months, most likely in about 9 months. Though, I could show you a trick to help her grow even faster, within about 4 months if you so wish. It just gives them an early growth spurt, completely safe, I..." he paused, before gesturing towards Thorn and added, reluctantly, "It happened to Thorn, and he's just fine...though a little bulky around the middle." The crimson dragon snorted, sending smoke curling into the higher atmosphere, before speaking to his Rider in their link, "Just because I have more muscle than you could ever imainge, does not mean you get to make fun of me." Murtagh chuckled weakly, before patting Thorn's crimson scales gently. "I say, Kazira will be able to breath fire in about a year, depending on her wild heritage, which is good, so I say in about 6 months..depending on her training too."