Does age truly make one wise? Does time truly heal all wounds? Such questions were hard to answer that day, when the wounds were still fresh and the wounded were still young.

A soft pink glow in the east heralded the coming of dawn, beyond the Telvican Mountains. The Gem Matron could see it clearly from where she stood. There was a woven platform built up in the canopies of the Forest, to which her husband, the Gem Elder, would retreat to observe the skies and the phases of the moons. It was where he sought the wisdom of the stars. As she stood there, the Matron’s gaze was fixed upon the horizon, not seeking so much as waiting.

Not once in the gloomy hours of the early morning before the dawn had her gaze shifted from the east. Yet, as the pale light at last came to the skies and began to illuminate the darkness, her eyes wandered towards the north, where she could make out the looming silhouette of the Jagged Circle of the Moon Clan. The mountains were still black with the shadows of twilight. But it would not last. The Life Star, the Kiir, would soon strip it of its blackness. A testimony, thought the Matron, that light can reach any place—and come from any place, too, even when you least expect it.

Truly, the Moon Clan had produced one of the most shining spirits the Gem Clan had ever known, since the great Princess Telae’ah herself. That spirit rarely ever smiled these days. The very lands from which she had come had claimed and held still captive her son. All efforts to retrieve him had proven fruitless; the Moon Clan met any sort of attempt at diplomacy with violence, and other means would necessitate bloodshed and cost the lives of many. Even if the bereaved parents might have succumbed to that in their desperation, the ancient laws governing the Gem Clan certainly would not. War was not something that their people could risk. Some other understanding had to be reached.

And it had been. The Gem Matron never had learned what the terms were. No messenger had been sent by way of the Jag when at last a conclusion was made. Whatever the terms were, it could have been little better than a compromise. The wee one so dear to the hearts of his parents—the firstborn whose precious face the Gem Matron would not see—he would not be returned, regardless of how their hearts yearned for him. A familiar ache, ever constant since that dark night four years ago when everything had gone so very wrong, swelled again with her breast as she considered it.

Though a new day was dawning, that dark past would never ultimately be left behind. They would never forget him. Perhaps, some day, they could be reunited. Unless fates proved kinder, it would not likely be during his childhood years, but perhaps when he became a man and those who now prevented him had passed on... Perhaps then they could reach him, if his heart could still then be reached. This was the hope that carried the Gem Matron. She did not know what it was that held up young Samlii, whose scant years by comparison could not have taught her yet the promise of time. And so, she waited... for morning—for the promise it would bring…

Samlii was awake too. Like her mother-in-law, she was waiting, but with a different sort of urgency. Her little family lay asleep at her side, while she cradled an egg in her lap. She examined its shimmery light blue surface carefully. The protective shell started to die about a week ago, getting thinner and more malleable with each passing day. It could hatch at any time. Quietly, she traced to the black swirls patterning its surface. It was not a Dark Egg, for the Birthstones on either end of it were bright, pulsing with life... yet those black markings so common to eggs of her kind still worried her. They were only ever found on Dark Eggs...

She placed the egg back into the soft bedding and glanced up at the window. She could see pale blue streams of light leaking in through the silken curtains... the Kiir would be rising soon. Her gaze wandered to her side where her husband lay, with little Kaqurei curled in his arms. The little girl had always had a special fondness for him, ever since that day four years ago that Tyrrius had smuggled her into his care ahead of the rest of her family, just in case the unthinkable happened...

Samlii’s face tensed. She changed her thoughts. She looked at the egg again. As she gazed upon it, smelled it, touched it, the power of a mother’s love filled her being and made her giddy right to her fingertips. Yet, for some part of her, it was hard to bond. That was the part of her that was afraid to be hurt again. No matter how much she hated it or willed it to leave her, there was always a sense of distance between her and this egg.

It was expected to hatch any day now. So far, all was well. The Gem Elder assured her that since the Birthstones of this egg were alive that there would be no fear of it needing the Moon Ceremonies... She was sceptical, but she prayed that he was right.

Out of the corner of her eye, the was a flicker of movement. It was so subtle it may very well have been a wind sprite or a trick of the light. Her gaze was at once intense and penetrating again. She focused her earfins on the egg. But it was still. She caressed its sides with her hands and whispered, “Alalisu? What do you need? I am here.”

A soft sound within the shell answered her, and the egg began in earnest to wriggle and shake as two opposing wills within it fought to be free!

Her breath caught somewhere in her throat, and it was a moment or two before she was able to find it again. A strangled gasp escaped her and she clutched Karaa's arm. “Karaa,” she whispered, shaking his shoulder to rouse him, “Karaa, wake up!”

The urgency, either in her voice or projected emotions—or both—had him wide eyed and sitting up at once. His movement disturbed Kaqurei, but she stubbornly refused to wake and merely moaned and curled into a defiant little ball to keep on sleeping. “What? What is it? What's wrong?”

Samlii shook her head. “No, I apologize. Do not fear. Nothing is wrong. Our egg, I think it is hatching!”

He leaned over to look at it. The now soft flesh of the egg's shell rippled from squirming arms and legs under it. He could hear soft squeaks and coos bubbling up from inside. It rocked this way and then that in its mother’s arms, as if it could not decide whether to break out at the left or the right.

“It’s hatching! What do we do?” Samlii said. She looked at him with wide eyes. “Should we call for the Gem Elder?”

“I will go for him.” He got out of the bedding and took across the room and to the door. But he paused, and looked back at her. “Don’t be afraid,” he said, “It will be alright. I’ll be back soon.”

She nodded and watched him off, but it was hard to steady her pounding heart. This was supposed to be an exciting, joyous moment. Why then did she still feel only terror? She looked at the egg, feeling terribly alone now that Karaa had gone. It was still and quiet again. She brushed her hand over its side and started humming softly—a soothing tune a servant had sung to her in her childhood to calm her.

She looked at Kaqurei, still curled up and sleeping, and she smiled. “Kaqu,” she said gently, “I think our little egg is hatching!”

Kaqurei opened her eyes lazily. “Now? ...Can’t it wait until morning?” She groggily sat up. She blinked slowly at the egg, her eyes never opening fully, and she yawned.

Calis hummed softly, sweeping a rogue lock of hair from his young daughter’s face. She smiled faintly in her sleep and reached her hand up to touch his. He took that tiny hand and rubbed it fondly before gently resting it at her side. Carefully Calis tucked her blankets around her and prinnaged her forehead, this being a sort of nibbling preening motion with the prin of his lip. “I love you, my little Faeralie,” he whispered to her.

Again that smile stole over her face, unconsciously enjoying a moment only her heart would ever remember.

Quietly Calis slipped from his child’s room and down the long winding hallway. He was surprised when he looked out the window there and met the dim blue glow of a fast approaching dawn. He and Faeralie must have talked the night away again! It started with talgonfrees and ended with Star-guardians and Markron, Calis thought with a chuckle. What a treasure she is to my soul, he mused to himself as he looked over the Forest from his window. It was then that he noticed a lone figure walking down the beaten path which would take them to the teiami of the Gem Elder. “Now, why would someone be going there at this hour?” he wondered aloud. His curiosity was doubly piqued when he recognized that the figure was his brother.

He flicked an ear upwards and listened for any sign of a stir from Faeralie’s room, but there was none. She was still sleeping soundly, so he quietly slipped out of his teiami and swooped down to the ground.

“Karaa,” he said as he made his way across the soft greying grass to the road.

His brother turned and looked for him. “Oh, Calis,” he said, “What are you doing awake?”

“I was about to ask the same of you.”

“Our egg is hatching! I am going to call on Father for the ceremony. Samlii is anxious—I do not want to be away from her for long.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“I would be glad of your company,” Karaa said. “What of your daughter? I do not know how long the hatching will take.”

“Ah, Faeralie will be fine—she will sleep until noon at least. And she has Torran to look after her,” Calis said, walking to join his brother’s side.

“Still drifting is he?”

“If only,” Calis chuckled. “Nah, he stays at my teiami more often than not. He’s good with little Fae though; I make him earn his keep.”

“Good,” Karaa said with a smile.

It was not long before they came to the Gem Elder’s teiami. Karaa was practically walking on air and nearly charged right in before Calis reminded him to check his pace with a touch and a glance.

“Father! Are you awake?” Karaa cried. “If not, you must wake! Come at once! The egg is hatching!”

At length long knobby fingers curled around the hem of the dark green tapestry that hung in the doorway, which was pulled back to reveal an old Dracoen. He had silvery white scales and he wore long silver and white robes. His hair and whiskers were also long and white. He said nothing and looked Karaa and Calis over searchingly with dim grey-blue eyes. Then he smiled. “Well, well, Gem Chief, and Calis too. What need do you have of my services at so early an hour?”

“Samlii has requested your presence. Our egg is hatching, Gem Elder.”

Instantly a light came to those tired old eyes and the Gem Elder straightened his back. “Now?” he

asked. He waved that the brothers enter his home. “Come, let me get my things.”

Karaa and Calis entered the old house behind the Gem Elder. The place smelled so familiar. Karaa had often come here as a boy for his studies, and thus the unchanged scent of the air reminded him of ancient tomes and tapestries. Hundreds of such tapestries adorned the walls of the spacious main room, each depicting important events and symbols in Gem Clan history. Gold, silver, and jewelled ornaments representing the positions of the stars dangled from the dome-like ceiling, some of them long enough to brush up against Karaa’s earfins and make a soft tinkling noise as he followed the Gem Elder to the centre of the room, where a woven passage wound around the trunk of the Tree Kin and up into its boughs. Calis opted to stay and wait by the door.

“I keep the hatching spices for the ceremony in one of the over chambers. I’ll only be a minute. You should wake your mother, boy. She'll not want to miss this.”

Karaa smiled at the Elder’s use of the term “boy” for him, even after all these years. The Gem Elder disappeared into the passage, muttering and stressing to himself the names of the particular herbs and spices he would need for the Hatching Ceremony.

Despite the fact that the woven walls, hallways, and even the ceiling were covered in old tapestries in such a way that one who was not familiar with this place would not soon find any entry or exits, Karaa quickly recognized the tapestry which concealed his mother’s chambers. Its background was dark red with small black figures of two armies on either side. Embroidered in the right hand corner above one army was a white rhombus, and on the left corner were three black circles. In the foreground of this tapestry were three figures; a young woman, a fallen warrior on bended knee, and a more sinister looking character. Karaa took only a moment to look at these figures, before pulling back the tapestry to reveal a winding hallway. He entered it quickly and hurried down around the large trunk of the Tree-Kin. Rich red and gold embroidered designs instead of ancient tapestries covered the walls down here, so when Karaa came to a place where the familiar tapestry that once hung in the doorway of the Cira-Anu he knew he had found his mother’s room

He stopped there outside her doorway. “Mother? Are you awake?”

There was no answer.

After another moment, Karaa pulled back the tapestry, only to find that his mother’s room was empty. Confused, he furrowed his brow. He was just about to return the way he had come when a hand gently touched his shoulder from behind. He startled, but only fleetingly, for the touch was instantly familiar as belonging to that creature that had reared him from infancy. He turned and saw her, beautiful and unbowed by the age portrayed only by the wisdom in her eyes and the snowy touch to her feathers and fur that time had bestowed upon her. She was dressed already in starlight robes, a silver shawl adorning her narrow shoulders. “I have been awake for some time, my son,” she said softly. “Come, let us go to your sweet one.”

Samlii had not been waiting long when Karaa returned with the family. “Is it time?” the Gem Matron asked softly as she hurried to Samlii’s side to look at the little egg in her arms.

“I think so.”

The Gem Elder leaned over the bedding, both earfins focused towards the egg. “Ah, yes,” he said at length. “The hour has come. Princess Samlii, please arise and take the egg into your hands.”

Samlii nodded and obeyed. It was so amazingly delicate; she could feel the little movements within on her palms. “Good, good,” the Gem Elder said. “Now, Gem Chief Karaa, place your hands on top of it.”

Karaa came to stand across from Samlii and rested his hands on the egg. A quiet cooing could be heard inside. Samlii and Karaa’s eyes lifted from their egg and met. Karaa again saw the fear in her eyes, and he smiled to reassure her. She felt her heart race. She smiled for his sake.

The Gem Elder nodded. “Good.” He motioned to the Gem Matron and she took a place on one side of Karaa and Samlii. Then the Gem Elder stood on the other side. He raised his hands over the egg and started making a low rumbling sound in his throat. The Gem Matron started to hum a traditional song.

The Gem Elder’s rumbling became a muttered song, similar in tune to that which the Gem Matron was humming. Carefully he sprinkled sweet-smelling spices and crushed herbal leaves over Karaa’s hands and the egg.

The Gem Matron’s humming changed subtly into words as she joined the song that her brother was singing. It was a song in the Ancient Language, so Samlii did not understand the words, but a feeling of calm enveloped her as she listened to them.

It was done quickly. The Gem Elder’s words became a low rumbling, then the Gem Matron’s turned to humming, and then they finished. Samlii looked between the two older Dracoens, wondering if the ceremony was done. As if guessing her thoughts, the Gem Matron smiled at her and gave her a nod.

“Princess Samlii, Gem Chief Karaa, you may lay the egg in the bedding for hatching,” the Gem Elder said.

Carefully the couple brought their egg to lie in the soft bedding. Samlii sat down beside it. She looked at the Gem Matron. “How long will it be before it hatches?”

“Perhaps a few hours yet,” the Gem Matron said. “Perhaps a few minutes. I suppose we shall have to wait and see.”

“And you’re sure all will be well?” Samlii asked, looking at the Gem Elder.

“The lights are strong, Princess.”

“Grandmamma?” Kaqurei’s sleepy voice asked as she groggily sat up again. “Grandpapa? Brother Calis? Why are you all here? Is Faeralie here too?”

“It is time for the egg to hatch, Kaqu,” Karaa said.

Kaqurei nodded, but still seemed too sleepy to understand exactly what that meant. With drooping

eyelids she crawled across the bedding and into Samlii’s arms where she curled up to sleep again. Samlii brushed her fingers through her purple hair. A gentle smile turned the edges of her lips and she looked at Gem Elder and the Gem Matron. “Thank you both for coming,” she said.

The Gem Matron nodded, blinking back tears. “We would not miss this for all the treasures of the world, my dear.”

Some time passed, with a little tear here, a little tear there. Finally, just as the first fingers of morning were peeking through the canopy, a little hand broke free of its leathery prison!

Though she had been all but stolid to that moment, a sob escaped Samlii—“Oh, so beautiful... so perfect...” The little hand was still for a moment and Samlii could hear the baby panting tiredly. The baby withdrew her hand again and the egg was still for a few minutes longer. Anxiously, Samlii looked to Karaa. “Is she all right?”

Karaa nodded. “Hatching is hard work,” he said, wrapping his arm around her shoulder.

“All is going well,” the Gem Matron said.

“They are strong, Princess, do not worry.”

The baby’s little hand again emerged from the hole, tearing it just a little wider.

Samlii watched those little fingers as one dazed. She gingerly reached out to touch them, hesitated, and finally made contact. A thrill swept through her body. The baby paused a moment, savouring the touch. To Samlii’s surprise, a quiet cooing ensued within the shell and she could not help but smile.

Kaqurei, by this time was wide awake and sitting near her Papa, was staring at the egg with big round eyes. She looked rather horrified. The egg that was so precious to her mother was being broken, and no one was stopping it from happening! “Papa,” she whispered anxiously, tugging at the hem of his kyntin, “That thing! That thing is breaking Mama’s egg!”

Karaa chuckled softly. “Do not worry, Kaqu. Remember what Mama told you? The baby is coming out now.”

“Oooohhhh.” Kaqurei looked enlightened. She returned her attention to the little egg, but it was only a few minutes more before a sceptical expression twisted her features. She continued to watch suspiciously.

Little fingers busily tore at the shell. Crick... scritch... scritch... Now on the other side, the family could hear more scraping. Scrit! Another hand, one with teal scales, broke through the other side of the shell.

Karaa laughed for joy and hugged Samlii close to him. Samlii swept Kaqurei into her arms. “Look, Kaqu, do you see them?”

“Yes, Ma’a,” Kaqurei answered, though she was not quite sure what to think about it.

Samlii went on to talk softly and coo to the little ones inside the egg. She encouraged Kaqurei to talk to them as well. She also kept glancing at the little red Birthstone on one end of the egg. It was glowing brightly, responding to and providing energy to the little hatchling connected to it inside.

Scitch! Scritch! The first hatchling’s head was now exposed, but still curled up inside the egg. Samlii and Karaa drank in her every feature, still wondering if perhaps they were dreaming and that precious delicate face would vanish at any moment. Samlii gently touched the baby’s wet blue hair and noted then also that there was a small raised light blue scale on her forehead. This was a feature the hatchling had inherited from her, though Samlii’s raised rhombus-shaped scale was black instead of blue.

The black hatchling paused and panted again, keeping her little eyes closed all the while. Both Samlii and Karaa could see her twin’s tail curled up next to her cheek, the tip wagging slowly. The twin had inherited Karaa’s blue stripes on her tail, though hers were a shade considerably lighter than his.

The black hatchling started working on breaking the shell again, but instead of gripping the shell this time she found her mother’s finger. Samlii smiled as the tiny fingers rubbed her own, and the brow of her little daughter furrowed as she tried to contemplate this new sensation. Then, for the first time, the little black hatchling opened her eyes, squinting in the light she looked up, searching for a face. When she found Samlii’s, she looked surprised and stared.

“They’re purple, just like yours, Karaa!” Samlii announced, though everyone in the room was gazing into them with awe.

“So beautiful,” was all the Gem Matron could keep saying.

Samlii winced and squeaked softly suddenly.

“What is it?” Karaa asked.

“She has a thumb-claw, like my brother’s,” she said, though her voice became solemn as she thought of Tyrrius. A sinking, gut-wrenching sadness leapt upon her so suddenly she almost gasped, and a picture flashed through her mind of one of the sons she never was able to really see. She brushed the painful memories from her mind... she could not think of it... not now.

“I’ll make her some coverings for those, Samlii. That way she won’t scratch herself or anyone else,” the Gem Matron said, drawing Samlii from those thoughts.

Samlii forced a smile and tried to bury those memories again. It had been four years ago now since she had lost the first one, and only two since the second egg disappeared... thinking about it only brought pain.

Crunch! A white muzzle now peeped through the hole that the twin had punched through earlier. The baby breathed through her mouth and cooed. Karaa brushed her little nose softly. “You’re doing wonderfully, little one.”

The black one was still staring up into her mother’s face. She had not yet let go of her finger. She squealed slightly and in jerky clumsy motions she tried to squirm out of the egg, but only managed to free up her shoulder. Samlii could see now that her arms were not marked at all. “Just a little more, you can do it,” she said.

Then there was another crunch, as the twin kicked through the side of the egg nearest her sister. This revealed that the twin had markings on her legs similar to her mother’s; the Moon Clan Royal Fire, but hers were in colours of teal and light blue where her mother’s were light and dark blue. It also created a large

enough opening for the black hatchling to drag herself out of the egg. She shared the Royal Fire marked legs, and tail too, in the same colours as her mother’s markings. Karaa lifted up the little wet body of the black hatchling and snuggled her close to his chest. The was a scream of disapproval at losing her grip on her mother’s finger, but it was short. She nuzzled her father’s chest, filling her nostrils with his scent.

She began to coo softly. Kaqurei crawled out of her mother’s lap to get a better look at the new baby.

Samlii smiled and rubbed the feet of the twin who still lay half curled inside the egg with her muzzle poking out one end. Crunch, crunch, scritch, crunch, came the sounds of little teal hands crushing the shell around her face. It was but a few minutes later and her head and arm were exposed; like her twin, the white hatchling had light blue hair. Her thumbs were normal though, and her arms were both marked with the Royal Fire. Gently, Samlii lifted her from the fragments of the egg. Both of her shoulders were marked with two blue stripes each, and she had two blue stripes above each of her knees. Like her twin, her ear and wing membranes were light blue, but the white hatchling also inherited her mother’s jagged light blue pattern towards the insides of her earfins. Samlii let out something of a sob or a laugh as she hugged the white one close to her and leaned her head against Karaa’s shoulder. “They’re so small!”

“They’re beautiful,” the Gem Matron said again.

“I suppose we’ll have the Naming Ceremony tonight,” the Gem Elder said. His voice was dream-like though, and he was not able to tear his eyes from the precious infant faces.

“Oh, Karaa, Samlii—they are breathtaking!”

Little Kaqurei watched the infants doubtfully. “They’re pudgy and wet,” she said distastefully. She was surprised when her mother and father laughed at this. She truthfully could not see the beauty the adults were all fawning and cooing over. To her they were wiggly naked little things that had broken her mother’s beloved egg all to pieces and she was not yet sure if she was pleased with their arrival.

“They’re your baby nananisu,” Calis said, nudging Kaqurei playfully, “Why don’t you say hello?”

Kaqurei gave him a sideways glance, but scooted closer to her mother even so. She carefully peered into her mother’s arms and looked at the sleeping face of her little sister. “Hello baby,” she said shyly.

Karaa and Samlii exchanged proud glances. Samlii noted that Karaa’s eyes were swimming with tears, and felt the same leap to her own eyes and spill down over her cheeks.

“Congratulations, to both of you.”

Karaa and Samlii felt too overcome with emotion to really answer. They were immersed in the beautiful relief of a successful hatching and an incredible overpowering love for each other and for their little ones.

The little white hatchling started nuzzling her mother’s breast and making a soft rolling-cooing noise. Samlii wiped the tears from her eyes and sniffed, chuckling softly as she did so. “I think they’re hungry,” she said.

“Well, we had better go get prepared for the Naming Ceremony tonight,” the Gem Matron said at last. “And let the rest of the Clan know of the little princesses’ arrival! We’ll let the three of you get acquainted with your new family members—congratulations again!”

“Thank you Mother, thank you,” Karaa finally managed.

After his family had gone, Karaa placed the black hatchling in Samlii’s arms so she could join her twin in nursing. Kaqurei, now that the excitement was over, crawled back into the fluffy blankets behind her parents and curled up to go back to sleep.

Karaa wrapped his arm affectionately around his wife. His other hand drifted to touch the faces of his little daughters. He almost could not believe they were real.

Samlii looked up at his enchanted face; his expression so peaceful, his eyes so happy. She felt her love for him renewed afresh, as if brought again to the day they first had realized they belonged together. Gradually his eyes raised from the infants in her arms and towards her face and he smiled.

By that evening, the Forest of Gems was busier than a swarm of clinclins at night. It seemed there was not even one soul in the Forest who was not preparing in some way for the ceremony. The Gem Matron and the more elderly women worked tirelessly preparing feasting food such as fruits, cakes, and other such delicacies collected and prepared for entertainment rather than substance. Others worked to decorate the meeting place and the long stone table anciently set before it; the First Tree, located in the very heart of the Gem Forest. This magnificent tree was being dressed for the celebration also, for the younger Gem Dracoens had been given the task of hanging clinclin lanterns on her branches and decorating her massive trunk and roots with large ribbons and tinsels. Torran’s young beloved, Shemsi, had come to the Cira-Anu to help Samlii prepare the girls. “They have perfect timing, I’ll admit it,” she told Samlii, “I just finished Kaqurei’s ceremony gown only last night!”

“It’s beautiful!” Samlii exclaimed as Shemsi held it up for her to see. According to tradition it had been fashioned of royal blue silk with white hems, and the delicate lacy workmanship took Samlii’s breath away. About the hem Shemsi had also embroidered the three Moons in colours of silver, gold, and bronze.

“In honour of her heritage,” Shemsi said. She smiled as Samlii brushed her fingers over the pattern. “I did the same for your robe, Samlii.”

“Thank you, Shemsi, these are absolutely magnificent,” Samlii said earnestly.

“Oh, it was a pleasure,” Shemsi replied. She looked around the living room. “Where is Karaa? Is he preparing the Birthstones for the ceremony tonight?”

Samlii’s face beamed with pride. “Yes. He’s at the Glassmere now,” she said.

According to Gem Clan tradition, the father of the hatchlings was to take the Birthstones and fashion pendants and necklaces of them for his children. Karaa had gathered the shells containing the Birthstones and brought them to a lake a little outside of the Forest of Gems for solace as he worked.

His feelings were indescribable as he tenderly stripped away the residual shell from the first Birthstone;

it was a deep red translucent oval shape, called Krancyr after the gemstone of the same colour.

In addition to the faint, pleasing scent of his child, pheromones from the egg still clung to it, filling the father’s mind with a deep, intoxicating possessiveness and desire to protect it. Thus, even though the Birthstone material was adamant, Karaa had handled it as though it might shatter if he gripped it too hard. Each shard of the shell was removed with meticulous carefulness. This Birthstone belonged to the first hatchling. It smelled like her. It was a little smaller and more oblong than her twin sister’s. Every Birthstone was oval, but the exact shape and crystalline structure was as unique as a fingerprint.

The shell removed, Karaa gently situated the Birthstone in the silver eight-point star frame he had fashioned for it a month earlier, securing it with prongs in the back. He slipped a silver chain through the clasp at the tip of the pendant and laid it across his knee. For the ceremony, and when she was older, his daughter would wear it as a necklace. Afterwards, he would temporarily replace the chain with a soft blue ribbon, that she could wear it as a tiny bracelet during her infancy.

Next he delicately removed the shell from the second hatchling’s Birthstone. This one was a bit larger, more irregular at the smaller end of the oval and had a slight ridge along the face. It was opaque white with rich rainbow iridescence, called Fei. Karaa set it in the silver crown setting he had created and laced it with another delicate silver chain.

At last the necklaces were ready. He held them up in the fading Kiirlight and blinked back tears. His heart was so full; there were no words to describe the overwhelming depth of joy, pride, humility, and gratitude that filled his being.

The faces of Alyakeam, Eitac, and Eleinad found the tables set in the clearing around the First Tree covered with a bountiful feast of fruits, vegetables, drinks, stews, and breads, as well as large portions of the mineral food that Gem Dracoens more commonly consumed.

Ribbons, bows, and tinsel were strung beautifully on all the surrounding trees and Tree-Kin, and laced the tables as well. Vast companies of Gem Dracoens were seated at these tables and more still stood around or had blankets set in the grass because there was not enough room at the tables—so great was the turnout to this ceremony. All looked up expectantly at the platform set at the First Tree’s great arching roots, for there stood their Gem Chief and his beautiful wife with the brand new babies in their arms. Karaa held the little black hatchling and Samlii held the white one. Kaqurei stood in between them, her eyes shining with excitement at all the crowds that had gathered for the ceremony. Karaa and Samlii wore blue robes hemmed in white, Kaqurei the gown Shemsi had made for her, and the babies wore delicately fashioned gowns of white with royal blue six-point stars around the trim.

Behind the family a group of young Dracoens were positioned, dressed in plain white robes, each with a beautiful silver or glass musical instrument in hand. Not all of them had yet joined the chorus. A single musician played a soothing tune upon her vibrato instrument, her tune accompanied by the glass bell players. The music was heavenly and all—save very young children who were eager to eat the exciting smelling food—obliged willingly to wait and listen quietly for the ceremony to begin.

The blue lights from the clinclin lanterns lit up the scene elegantly like some dramatic play that was just about to begin.

The people did not have to wait long. The Gem Elder arrived just as the music came to an end. He wore robes similar to those of Samlii and Karaa, but with more intricate embroidery. Behind him came a young boy dressed in a white robe who carried a blue silken pillow where the beautiful necklaces Karaa had fashioned were laid.

The Gem Elder and the boy quietly came up on the platform and stood beside Karaa and his family. Then one of the musicians behind them tolled the silver bell he held and its smooth clear voice rang out melodiously throughout the clearing.

The Gem Elder walked to the front of the platform and held out his arms palm upward towards the crowd. “My family, my friends, my people,” he said in a loud firm voice, “Listen all! A marvellous thing has occurred this day; the long awaited hatching of the Gem Chief Karaa and Gem Princess Samlii’s egg! Two beautiful daughters we welcome to our clan this night!”

The crowds cheered happily.

As their voices died down the Gem Elder smiled. “Let the Naming Ceremony begin. Gem Chief Karaa, I turn the time now over to you.”

Karaa stepped forward. He lifted the baby in his arms up carefully and said in a clear strong voice, “Daughter of Chanteres Karaa and Samlii, the name given you is Thairyn, meaning ‘Fire’. This name has been chosen for you because it is the hope of your parents that you will be a light for your people: you are a princess and an example to them. May this name instil in you both courage and virtue.”

Once he had finished speaking, the Gem Elder motioned Samlii to step forward beside her husband. She did so and also lifted the baby in her arms.

Karaa went on. “Daughter of Chanteres Karaa and Samlii, the name given you is Neyhira, meaning ‘Light’. This name has been chosen for you to inspire you to be a peacemaker and an example also amongst your people. May this name instil in you a sense of responsibility and charity.” He turned towards his father and said, “Gem Elder, the time is again yours.”

The Gem Elder nodded and motioned with his hand that the boy he had brought with him follow as he

came and stood beside Karaa. Tenderly he lifted the red Krancyr pendant and then turned to Karaa and Samlii. “The Krancyr of Spirit belongs to Chanteres Thairyn,” he announced to the Clan, “And the Fei of Purity belongs to Chanteres Neyhira.”

The Gem Elder placed the necklaces on the infants.

“Now, my dear people, the time has come for the most important part of the Naming Ceremony, wherein we shall discover the Star-guardians of these two precious daughters. Star-guardians choose us before we are born; they are our spiritual mentors and protectors. It is vital that these children know of their Star-guardians, and study their mortal lives, so that they may better understand their own lives and discover their purpose.”

The Elder began this ceremony by touching his own Birthstone to little Thairyn’s. He then closed his eyes and muttered a song in ancient tongue. Very few in the crowd could understand the words he spoke, but hushed all the same feeling the importance of this moment.

His eyes still closed, the Gem Elder started to speak. “Thairyn, the name of Fire is well for you, for fire may heal as well as destroy. You have a hard journey ahead. Early in your days, you shall face conflicts. You shall see injustices. Some of those that you have trusted will betray you. You may feel helpless at times, and alone. But you are not alone, sweet daughter. Others shall always be with you to guide you through the dark days of your journey as the Spirit Which Must Eat. Be mindful, little one, of those that make darkness seem as light, and light as darkness. They will seek to confuse you. But you descend from a noble, good parenthood. They shall raise you well. Remember the lessons they will teach you, for you shall need them in confusing times to determine the light from the dark.”

Samlii and Karaa looked at each other uncertainly.

“Manairus,” the Gem Elder said, opening his eyes. “Thairyn, your Star-guardian is Manairus, Guardian of the Great Moon.” The crowds gasped in unison, but otherwise the reaction to this news was mixed. Manairus? According to legend, he was a powerful leader of Moon Dracoens during the time of the Great Separation in his mortal life. Very few Dracoens had ever been chosen by him in all the records of time, and many Gem Dracoens considered it an ill omen for both the child and the Clan. Murmuring amongst the crowd was growing louder and louder, and some cried out in dismay. “Quiet down,” the Gem Elder ordered, “This ceremony is not over and we will have peace until it is.”

Gradually their chatter died down and the Elder continued the ceremony to discover Neyhira’s Star-guardian. Delicately he touched his Birthstone to hers and muttered the song. As the stones started to glow brighter, little Neyhira’s bright green eyes sleepily opened.

“Neyhira. You are pure, full of love and trust. Like your sister, you too shall face hardships. Let the wounds heal. Forgive easily. Your heart must be tender to reach into the dark places and bring out the light. You will be able to see and nourish the good in others, but you must love them, even when circumstances make it difficult to do so. Guide them to that which you know to be true and right. A great destiny awaits you, little one. You shall be a leader, just as your Star-guardian.” He opened his eyes and looked up at the crowds. “Tyrnah, Guardian of Direction.” The crowds also seemed relieved. Tyrnah was said to have planted the First Tree whose seeds became the Gem Forest. Those chosen by Tyrnah often became great artists, be their craft music, needlework, dancing, or otherwise.

“I call upon you, my friends and family, to see that these little ones are guided and nurtured towards their destinies. Seek knowledge of the past from their Star-guardians to lead them in the right way, for their lives shall reflect in some ways those days of Tyrnah and Manairus. It is the responsibility of all of us, for as our lives touch our destinies intertwine. Now, the Ceremony is now ended, let the celebrations begin!”

Though deep uncertainty still lingered from the warnings given Thairyn, most of the crowd cheered and the feast began. The group of musicians started a cheery melody and the tense atmosphere worked up by the announcement of Thairyn’s Star-guardian was slowly forgotten for the night.

“Why was everyone so upset when Manairus chose Thairyn, Ma’a?” Kaqurei asked later when they were at home, watching over her mother’s shoulder as she rocked and cuddled her little sisters. “My Ama always told me that it was a great honour to be chosen by Manairus.”

“I suppose it is because he was a Moonkind that they were so upset,” Samlii replied.

“So? Aren’t we Moonkinds too?”

“Yes, dear one.”

“So why were they upset?” Kaqurei pressed.

“Well, the Moonkinds and the Gemkinds have never been friends. They don’t trust one another,” Samlii tried to explain.

“But Papa is a Gemkind, and you love him, and I know that he loves both of us.”

Samlii laughed. “There, you see, that’s the key. Love is a very special thing; it can let you see past years of pain, regret, fear and distrust. When two people find it—real love, I mean—it becomes a key of understanding that can free the next generation from the prejudice of the first.”

Kaqurei did not understand quite what her mother meant, but it sounded nice and the strong feeling of love that she could feel emanating from around Samlii made her feel safe and secure.

Samlii’s eyes wandered to each face of her daughters; Kaqurei’s, Neyhira’s, and at last little Thairyn’s. They were here. They were safe. But the Gem Elder’s words to Thairyn concerned her. Why were her days called dark? What challenges would this little one face, to require such warnings when words of her potential might have been spoken instead?