"I didn't exactly feed them to it. It absorbed every crystal I had though. It also absorbed water from the shadow river if that matters."

Baby says "Mama?"

Drake2 says "Well, that certainly explains why the little one has bonded to him."

Drake1 says "He smells weird! He isn't a normal mortal, I even smell faint traces of dragon on him!"

"I have met a dragon before, and what do you mean by bonded?"

Drake2 says "He has chosen you to be his mother."

Drake3 says "Unlike normal animals, drakes are communal, we share the raising of our young. The young normally choose a mother and father that most closely match them in personality."

Lizzy 'Haha! Mama Ash!'

"Wait, I came here to return the egg so that it could grow up amongst its own people!"

Drake1 says "The little one seems to have other ideas."

"But I don't plan to remain in the shadow plane!"

Drake2 says "That doesn't matter. The egg only needed shadow energy to hatch. Now that he has hatched he can go anywhere."

Baby says "Hungry, mama!"

First I take out a crystal and offer it to him, but he turns his nose up at it. Next I pull a leg of cooked meat bigger than he is and offer it to him. He instantly attacks it and starts eating as much as he can fit into his mouth.

"I am really surprised that you seem okay with this. Shouldn't you be worried about losing a member of your clan or something?"

Drake3 says "It is his choice to bond with you and he will have to live with that."

Drake1 says "What has us worried is telling the females about it. They will be happy the egg was recovered, but not so happy about him choosing you."

Drake2 says "Besides, drakes live a long time, he can always return to us after you die."

"Even from another plane?"

Drake1 says "Easily! We are masters of planer travel. He will be able to find his way home through instinct."

"Alright, any advice on raising him? Anything I should avoid?"

Instead of answering me the three drakes sit down and wrap their tails around their legs. It makes them look dignified and a lot more dragon-like as they look at each other. As the looks go back and forth I realize they must be talking to each other somehow.

Drake1 says "May we have permission to scan you?"

"What kind of scan?"

Drake3 says "It will allow us to get a rough idea of what you are and what abilities you have. It does not hurt."

Drake2 says "Also, if you don't mind we would like to see your memories from the time you fought the panther and got the egg until now. We hope it will make the females less mad at us!"

"Yes, to both."

As soon as I agree six purple beams of light come from the drake's eyes and cover my body. At the same time I feel a tickle all over my body and then I find myself reliving the fight with the big panther. It seems longer but it only takes a minute for the memories to replay.

Drake2 says "Your fighting style is very self harming, don't try to teach the baby how to fight!"

Drake1 says "The fact that you didn't know it was one of our eggs excuses you for taking it to Shade first. You were honest in your desire to return the egg to us which deserves a reward."

Drake3 says "The baby will also need a safe place to sleep."

Drake1 says "Our reward will solve that problem as well as one you have been having."

Drake2 says "However, due to your nature and the divine power within you it is going to hurt."

Drake3 says "From what we have seen you will probably enjoy it."

"I do not like pain! I just don't let pain stop me from doing what I need to."

All three say "Whatever." and the beams grip me like they are solid.

I am lifted into the air and turned around so my back faces the drakes. Then I feel an intense burning sensation on my back, not real pain, just discomfort. It only lasts for about thirty seconds before I am turned around and put back in Lizzy's saddle.

Congratulations! You have gained the ability Shadow Pocket!

"Was that it?"

Drake1 says "Yes, it is done."

Drake3 says "I told you he would enjoy it!"

Drake2 says "We gave you a shadow tattoo on your back. Not only will it allow the baby to sleep comfortably but it will also let you put your wings away."

As soon as he is done talking I twist my neck around to try and look at my back. When I think about hiding them my wings turn into shadows and vanish into my back. I can't see the tattoo due to my clothes but my wings come back instantly when I think of them.

"This is awesome! Thank you! So the baby can go in there too? How?"

Drake1 says "Same as your wings, just think of it. You should know that the baby can go in and out with a thought as well."

Drake3 says "Yeah, don't try to ground him in there, it doesn't work."

Drake2 says "Trust us, we have tried before!"

Drake1 says "Also, our parents tried it on us. It is really easy to escape!"

"Thank you for the warning. How fast will he grow?"

Drake1 says "He will be what you would call a teenager in about twenty years."

Drake2 says "You should probably bring him back around then. You don't want to deal with his puberty without help!"

"Alright, I will keep that in mind!"

When I look down to check on the baby I find he has eaten about half the meat. It is easily his own body weight if not more and now he is sound asleep. With a thought I send him into the shadow on my back and put the remaining meat in my pouch.

"Is there a way I can check on him while he's in there?"

Drake3 says "Just close your eyes and think about the pocket and you can see inside."

Drake1 says "When he is bigger you will need to teach him how to hunt and fight. His abilities he will know how to use by instinct."

"Alright, thank you."

Drake2 says "We have been here too long."

Drake3 says "Yes, you should leave."

Drake1 says "Before the women get curious and come check on us."

"Are your women that scary??"

Drake1 says "Worse than you can imagine!"

Drake2 says "Go now!"

Drake3 says "Before it's too late!"

"Okay, okay, I'm going!"