Bael was impressive in human form, but in dragon form, he was a magnificent nightmare made of fangs and scales. Her brain just couldn’t seem to process a threat as large as a bus and she stood there, goggling at him like an idiot. His green and gold scales shimmered in the firelight in blinding patterns. He stretched his wings, the span rivalling that of most commercial jets and shook them out. While her hind brain was in a total panic, she couldn’t help but think that he looked like an enormous dog shaking off water.

Bael curled his body around Jillian’s nest, breathing in a sort of comforting huff. Jillian leaned forward and nuzzled her bronze beak against his snout. Charlotte sat on the bed, keeping vigil while the parents curled into each other and waited. She tried not to let Bael see her staring at his treasure, but every once in a while, some shiny piece would catch her eye–a jewel-encrusted comb, a silver shield engraved with the goddess Artemis, a sapphire the size of a mailbox. So she took lots of patient notes to keep her eyes on something else.

Jillian’s contractions became more regular, if the shuddering and bursts of blue flame from her beak were any indication. She only got close every hour or so to check on Jillian (while wearing full fire gear). And even through the thick protective canvas, she could feel the heat radiating off of Bael’s scales.

She tried to give Jillian as much privacy as possible as the egg, well, emerged. She hovered nearby as the great bird’s body gave a final heaving shudder. Relieved of its burden, Jillian’s fiery form sank against the coals, as if drawing the heat from them. Dragon-Bael bumped his nose against Jillian’s side and then the egg, which was indeed metal and about three times the size of a football. The surface was scaled, in concentric patterns of shimmering blue and green. It was the most beautiful thing Charlotte had ever seen. She was afraid to touch it as Bael’s massive form crept forward, nosing the egg into position under his own body.

The blue flames and feathers disappeared, leaving a naked and very sweaty Jillian on the cave floor. She smiled, laying a reverent hand on the egg. “Hey there, baby. It’s Daddy’s turn now, but I have all kinds of books to read you while you’re waiting.”

“Bael, just a reminder that I’m here for Jillian and the baby. It would be very bad manners to barbecue me,” Charlotte said, covering Jillian quickly with a fireproof blanket before starting her usual exams. The new mother seemed to be in perfect health, other than being exhausted and sore.