The First Grandchildren (Clan Adeptica) (Story)

=== The Chronicles of Clan Adeptica ===
==== Chapter 6: The First Grandchildren ====
August 16-18, 2015
In a fledgling lair in the Crystalspine Reaches, a Fae mother and her daughter were both incubating their nests. The two nests looked identical now, with four eggs each, but since one of the fathers was a Guardian, that would change as soon as the eggs hatched.
"....I just realized we have a total of eight eggs between us," Lilia said to her mother, the clan matriarch. "I don't believe we have the space to take care of more than seven hatchlings."
"Perhaps you should have considered that before you decided to start a new nest," Adeptica answered. Her crest fins flicked in disgust.
"And you, Mother?" the younger dragon replied. "You couldn't have simply enjoyed the experience of being a grandmother without having to care for offspring of your own at the same time?" She used her own crest fins to indicate the bitter venom in her retort.
"Are you two fighting?" Devon, the clan patriarch, asked them.
"Yes," said Adeptica.
"I do not like seeing my family fighting. Neither of you are really at fault. You can't choose how many eggs you have at a time, after all. I will make sure you both have all the room you need before hatchday. I'll go to the Arcanist with a petition for more space for our lair."
"With what treasure?" Adeptica reminded him. "Cerulia paid the fee to transfer Magatama's clan membership to our clan yesterday. There isn't enough left for a lair expansion after that."
"Fair point," Cerulia interjected, joining in the conversation upon hearing her name. "I'm sorry, Mom. I really should have thought of that beforehand. Magatama and I would be glad to go back to the Fairgrounds for the clan. Right away, if it's all right with you."
"Thank you, dear," said Adeptica. "Yes, that would be highly appreciated."
"Thanks! Bye, Mom!"
"See ya," said Talia, their other sister, as Cerulia departed. "Mom, is it okay if Jareth and I go smash open some treasure chests?"
"Of course," Adeptica said. "Go right ahead. And pick out some odds and ends to sell while you're back there, would you please?"
"Mom! Do we have to?"
"My dear, I've never seen a chess set with nine black castles."
"Okay, okay, I get the point. I'll sell some stuff." Talia and her mate bounded off to the clan's Hoard.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Devon, Talia, and Cerulia were still working to dig new rooms for the clan's home when Adeptica's nest started to hatch. They were finished by the next day, when Lilia's eggs hatched and Adeptica officially became a grandmother. Two of Lilia's four hatchlings inherited their father's Speckle gene, which inspired their parents to name them after constellations. The other two were named after kinds of plants, like their mother.
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