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“Terrell!” A distant voice called jolting the elf out of his concentrated writing. He listened closely, thinking he might be hearing things, so focused he might have fallen into a slight meditation.
“Terrell!” The voice came again and he knew he wasn’t just hearing things, he also knew that voice. It was Red, and judging by the tone it was urgent.
Terrell got up swiftly, his chair flying back as he raced out the door, “What is it!? What’s wrong!?” He asked frantcalliy, meeting Red half-way down the road.
“The egg! It’s here!” Red beamed, panting slightly from sprinting the whole way.
Terrell’s face lit up, “Fuckin right! Show me!!” He exclaimed and they took off running to Steve’s cabain.
When Red had first come to Terrell about the idea of finally making an egg the elf was over the moon, yammering on excitedly about being a father and rasing a baby dragon. They both agreed that since Steve knew the most about the dragons, having raised on himself, Red would stay there until the two felt comfortable managing on their own. Terrell had long since picked Steve’s brain about anything and everything dragon so he could confidently say he knew things but to actually do it all in practice was a whole other story but he was more than excited to learn.
The two burt through the door, making Steve and Marina jump in surprise. Steve smiled at the overjoyed parents as Red led Terrell over to he egg sitting snuggled up in a blanket in a backet, “Here they are,” Red smiled. A wave of joy and pride washed through Terrell watching the lights shimmer on the eggs glossy scaly shell. It was a deep red and Terrell thought it was the most precious thing he had ever even seen.
“Aye…they’re beautiful…” Terrell chuckled breathlessly, hand reaching up to touch it gently but he hesitated. It looked so fragile, what if he hurt it? The thought alone made him wince away.
“Would you like to hold them,” Steve smiled as he walked up.
Terrell was immediately felt like he was going to be sick, the excitement of absolutely wanting to hold it and the fear of actually holding such a delicate thing, “I-! Well- I’m not sure how- I don’t wanna-,”
Steve cut him off with reassurance, “Don’t worry, I’ll show you,” he smiled as he carefully swaddled the egg in the blanket and picked it up, cradling it in his arms. Terrell watched in awe, making note of how Steve did it. The anxious feeling returned as Steve turned to present the egg to Terrell, “Make a cradle with your arms like this,” Steve instructed and Terrell mimicked the hold Steve had his arms in. Gently, Steve began to transfer the egg into Terrell’s hold, being slow and calm the whole time.
“Make sure you have good support underneath, yup like that, and hold it close but don’t squeeze,” Steve continued to guide which Terrell followed every word carefully. “Good job!” Steve congratulated as he observed the elf follow his instructions to a t.
Terrell looked down at the egg he was holding oh so carefully but securely. A swell of love and protectiveness washed through him, he had to protect this thing with his life. He’d sacrifice all of himself for everything this precious creature would become.
Red hesitatingly came up behind him, not wanting to invade on the tender moment but Terrell practically pushed himself into Red, leaning into Red’s chest, embracing the warmth and love that filled the moment. “You did amazing, I’m so excited to meet ‘em,” Terrell looked up at Red with the biggest smile.
“Me too,” Red smiled back.
Terrell looked back down at the egg, beaming, “What will their name be?”
Without hesitation Red answered, “Red the third.”
Terrell chuckled, “Perfect.”
The happiest moment of Terrell’s was a few months later when the egg finally hatched, seeing a small dragon push its way out of the shell. What both of them failed to realize until it was a bit to late was having two people of the same name makes things a bit confusing, but they would figure it out.
It was a few years later, Red the third a young wyvern at this point. His father Red and him were playing in the yard. Terrell was there as well but got distracted by a large rock he watched a bug scuttle under. Attempting to lift the rock which was closer in size to a boulder proved to be a bit too much for Terrell alone, “Red! Can you come here for a second!?”
“Yea?” His son responded.
“Ya?” His partner responded.
“No not- Big Red!” He laughed as his partner ran up to him, ready to help, their son following wanting to help too. Regardless of the confusion it always seemed to work out and they couldn’t be happier.