Curtains hanging from an open window flap against a cold breeze. The outside air blows in, washing over her exposed skin. She stirs yet remains sound asleep. Her skin prickling as the hairs on her legs rise in the cool air. She shifts again, then retreats, pulling her legs under the sheets. Subconsciously seeking a new equilibrium of warmth.

From the desk across her room, little scratches become faintly audible. A ellipsoid-shaped egg, encrusted with verdant groves, lay perched atop a small cushion. The scratching within stops and is replaced by a small thunking sound.

*thunk *thunk *thunk

The egg gives a little, and the smallest of cracks forms across its shell.

Settled and lost in the comforts of her dream, she doesn’t feel the initial pull. It starts as an aura of soft light that swirls near her ankles. The very weave of her magic being forced from her body. Thin threads begin to coil and pull away, the very part of her that brought her here now trailing slowly across the room towards the egg. An ancient event has begun, and the first victim lies asleep, unaware and dying.

Immediately the rune scrawled into the bedpost begins to burn a brilliant orange, and the tendrils of weave leaving her body wanes momentarily. Though in her immature haste, the lines of her carved rune prove feeble under the sudden duress. It’s design never fit to match the strength or will of a hatchling.

*Thunk *Thunk *Thunk

Through the crack, the hatchling can sense sources of the weave; it can sense her. The strings of power that flow through her very body call to it, and it craves more. Though exhausted, its hunger emboldens it. Breaking through her protection spell like a spider breaks a strand of its own silk web. Then it pulls again, deep and hungry. The rune goes dark.

*THUNK *THUNK *THUNK

It happens in an instant. A buff-colored tooth suddenly pierces the egg's thick shell, and with it, a sphere of silence engulfs the room. The curtains flick against the wind, and lying in bed, the woman’s chest rises and falls with deep sleeping breaths, all completely inaudible.

It pulls its tooth back, retreating within the egg. A small gust of air blows bits of shell through the newly cracked hole. Silenced within the baby dragon sneezes. With the last remaining bits of its energy, it pulls on the strands of weave within range.

Ionized tendrils flow through the window from the night sky. Warm wafts of weave trail away from a small glass sphere hanging from a leather strap on a hook by the door. Thin softly lit tendrils of weave drift slowly from the sleeping woman’s body. The hatchling absorbs it all.

The breeze blows in. Silenced.

The curtains flick back. Silenced.

But the woman’s breaths have suddenly ceased as the last bit of weave is pulled from her body. Silenced.

Silence dominates for two, five, eight minutes... then suddenly the sphere of silence is gone. The hatchling sneezes within, and another puff of egg dust escapes. The hatching squeals and an instentanious spherical eruption of electrified air shatters the egg. Its powerful waves send strokes of lightning across the room. Ribbons of heat lashing out momentarily shocking its surroundings. Tens of milliseconds later, it’s over.

The breeze blows in and the curtains flap wildly.

The woman takes in a sudden breath, sighs deeply, but does not wake.

***

The Daily Gate

Article: 1 Issue: 1086

-Citadel’s BREAKING News-

A recently enrolled resident in training was found early this morning unresponsive in the women’s residence hall. Miss Veronica Dawson, a resident in said hall, spoke with reporters earlier this morning, stating the woman appeared to have stollen property in her possession, which authorities believe may have led to her unfortunate condition.

Citidel athorities have yet to release the name of the women in question to preserve her anonymity while they investigate the case further. The stolen property has since been returned, but no other comments have been made regarding what was stolen.

This unknown woman has since been taken in for medical treatment at the Grand Wizard Citidel Hospital. Where she is said to be in what appears a temporary coma. No further comments have been made at this time.

Shining off, T. Hinkle

***

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