The moment of Impression through the eyes of a playful sea-green dragonet.
(See the end of the work for notes.)
The vivid sea green dragonet takes her first breath of warm, humid air as she breaks through the walls of her cream-and-green egg. She blinks and looks around, startled at the noise of the crowd and the sight of bright, white-clothed candidates.
She gets up and wobbles around, weaving in and out between the candidates. A part of her wonders for a moment if she should be afraid, but no – feeling good and having fun are the order of the day. While ignoring the hunger pangs in her stomach, she looks hard at each candidate, looking for someone to play with. One candidate jumps in front of the others and she bumps into them, giggling to herself. She looks into the candidate’s eyes, and no – they’re not the one.
Another candidate slowly approaches her, almost timidly – that’s no fun! – and she immediately turns away. She runs, kicking up sand and dodging her brothers and sisters as they look for their riders, and searches through the remaining candidates. Too serious. Too diligent. Not outgoing enough. Not interested in her at all!
Where? She wanders through the pool of candidates again, a twinge of worry developing in her chest. Where are you? She thinks back to when she was still in the egg, not all that long ago. She was warm and comfortable, not yet ruled by the gnawing hunger in her stomach. And suddenly, there was a presence – a bright, outgoing, fun-loving personality – just outside her egg! Someone that just had to be her rider!
Where are you?
As she makes the circuit of remaining candidates again, the twinge of worry becomes full-blown dread. You’re not here! She lets out a keen that tugs at the hearts of everyone who hears it. Why aren’t you here?
She lets out another, heartbreaking cry until suddenly, another mind pokes at the edge of hers. She looks up to see a short, dark-haired girl, breathing heavily and staggering toward her, dressed in an infirmary gown. The girl stumbles but doesn’t fall, eyes focused only on her.
Is it you? The sea-green dragonet patters toward the sick girl with hope in her heart. Then, as she gets closer, she recognizes with delight the fun-loving presence that touched her egg!
It’s you! She gallops toward the girl and pounces on her, landing in the sand. Got you, got you got you! she sings, laughing. I am Mabonth, Kaiya!
Kaiya beams, despite the tears running down her face, and hugs her. So many thoughts radiate from her: Exhaustion from pushing herself through the Hatching Grounds. Relief that she finally made it. Intense joy that she managed to Impress. And apologies that she kept Mabonth waiting.
Mabonth nuzzles against Kaiya’s chest. I wouldn’t choose anyone else but you!
Then Mabonth’s stomach growls violently. She looks at Kaiya, then to her stomach, then back at Kaiya. Is there food? Mabonth asks with an excited hum, head tilted to the side. I’m hungry!
Kaiya laughs until she cries again. She pulls Mabonth up with shaky arms and legs, but Mabonth can tell she’s getting stronger by the moment.
The two walk lightly through the Hatching Grounds, never to be alone again.
This was inspired by the only "Keevan" run I managed to get while playing Dragonchoice: You Choose - Candidate, named so because my candidate Impressed after being invalided out of candidacy. The game goes through the Impression event from the candidate's perspective, so I decided to write it from the dragonet's perspective.