It seemed like just about everyone was here for Jesreaea's clutching, far away from home or anywhere else that the Chyrith-dragon pack had been before. Callisto thought so, anyways. The leader of their group, Reverie and his bond, the Askan Visio, were nearby (though of course they didn't come in to watch the actual event! So were the incorrigible Stake and Pehtaeao--their saving grace, the Piralin Aduri (being the only other female from the group) standing with Calisto as they watched and encouraged the young Makanan.

This wasn't Jes' first clutch, but it was certainly her largest! ~This... urgh... is the reason that Asandae--AH!--only have one egg at a time!~ she psied, unwilling to chance talking aloud in the midst of labour pangs.

Another Asandus was in the third Hall reserved for clutches just like this... but unlike the other two females, this one was a crossbreed--a crossbreed Ampilo, in fact. Frada Meridia, the woman behind a number of underhanded projects that involved increased clutch sizes, was standing serenely, slight apart from the other two humanoid women. "Don't worry, dear," she encouraged, you're doing just fine."

~Says... you!~ Jesreaea shot back, a moment of frustration.

Frada simply chuckled, then rested a hand on her centaurian daemon-companion's arm. Tikrish, the black skinned male, gave the Ampilo a short nod, and Frada said, "you ought to be done sooner then later."

"How many has she laid?" Callisto asked, cringing a little with her bond's discomfort.

"Eight," Frada replied, quietly, "there are supposed to be nine."

"Nine?!" Aduri hissed, wide-eyed. She wrapped her hands over her belly in sympathy with the poor Jesreaea!

"Why nine?" Callisto murmured.

"Because," the Ampilo replied, "nine is an average clutch-size for many offworld dragons, and people are expecting a number along those lines." She raised her hands in an entreating gesture. "Ms. Toerii came here of her own volition, and it's only fair that she treats with this culture's traditions."

"That's a bunch of hogwash," Aduri replied, and would have said more, but the Makanan had finally pushed out her last egg, and was now collapsing down into the hot sand a short distance away. "Jesre'!" She cried, only a moment behind Callisto as both women rushed to their much larger companion.

"Am... I done?" She murmured, looking absolutely exhausted.

"Yes," Frada replied, loud enough for the Makanan to hear her. "That's all, Jesreaea. You did very well." She turned to the tall daemon at her side. "Tikrish," she gestured.

The centaurian daemon picked up a large, gourd-shaped object that had been resting on the ground beside him. He approached Jesreaea and knelt on his strangely demonesque front legs, uncorking the gourd and offering it to her. "Drink this," he whispered, his voice low and gravelly.

She did, and very soon thereafter, dropped into a deep sleep.

---

"How are they doing today?" Reverie asked. He, in his slick white Chyrith form, sat perched at the edge of the visitor's area. It had been several months since Jesereaea had laid her eggs, and it was obvious that the mother was much recovered.

"Very chatty," Callisto replied, grinning that little bit. She was in her natural form, too, rather then a humanoid one. A rich blue against his silky white, it was obvious that they were of different breeds, but that didn't stop Callisto from nuzzling the man. "Typical Makanan gits, even if they're only halfbreeds."

"I wouldn't put it past them." Reverie shifted a little, pulling away from the Water Chyrith. "So," he said, his tone more serious, now. "Are we going to take one in?"

Callisto looked down, away from him. "Jesreaea would like to take them all, but we're not allowed to do that. But one... I don't know if having it around would be better, or worse. At least then Jes' would have one to look after... but then again, it will always be a reminder of the ones that she's lost." She paused, looking up again and chuffing out a long sigh. "I think she's only just beginning to realize what she's done, having so many children and just letting them go."

"You mean her motherhood is just catching up at her." Reverie tried to grin, but Callisto's attitude caused it to die almost immediately. "Well," he said, "we ought to see about bringing one home with us. I think Jesre'd be happier, in the end."

"Yeah, I think you're right, too." Callisto agreed. They both looked out over to the hatching sands, where the Makanan was psiing cheerfully and in certain motherly terms with her egg-bound children. The Chyrith sighed again. "I almost don't want hatching day to come."