Chapter Nineteen

The warmth of his lips still lingered on MeiAnne's as they made their way out of the building. Gen met them outside, giving Raba a side eyed look, before joining them.

The training field had been repurposed for the day. A staging area for the Generals and the Admiral were fabricated and rows of benches were brought out for the rest of the soldiers. MeiAnne wasn't excited to part with Raba, but she had also just come to realize what it was she just did.

Instead of paying attention to any of the speeches made by the Admiral or watching the flights made by the younger dragons, MeiAnne was stuck in her head thinking about Raba. Specifically, the fact that she had kissed him.

Occasionally she would look up at the stage where he was standing and see him glance over at her as well, but she would blush and look back down quickly.

Then came the time to set out the dragons. Gen had told her previously that only a few are ready to mate at the start of the season, but most would do a mating flight within a month. After the stables were opened on that first day they would remain so until females were ready to lay.

It was a busy month for every partner pair, but MeiAnne felt worries creeping up on her. It was a whole month where the only forces that could be dispatched were the ones on male dragons. Actually, it came out to be closer to two month as most females would be preparing to lay a clutch.

Then she saw a few dragons take to the skies. Their bright colors flashed in erratic patterns, taunting males below to catch them. As more dragons would take off MeiAnne saw one that overshadowed the rest.

Loola was ready for her mating flight. MeiAnne watched with excitement as males tried to catch Loola as she weaved through the air. She felt that maybe it was selfish to be so excited since she knew that she'd be granted a second chance if she clutched, but she pushed it aside. It was beautiful seeing the air filled with dragons of so many colors and not in formation.

They were magnificent creatures to MeiAnne, in fact she wondered why they needed a partner in the first place. Dragons were already intelligent, fierce, and trainable on their own. Although, she did love the bond that a human and dragon could share.

This was when the soldiers were allowed to break off and watch on their own, except for those on the platform. Gen came up beside MeiAnne and they both took a seat to watch.

"Every year is just as awesome. Except for the speeches. Every year those things get longer." MeiAnne chuckled at Gens complaint. She didn't pay the slightest bit of attention to the speeches so it didn't bother her yet.

"So. You and Raba." Gen elbowed her causing her head to jerk so she could face him.

"You know?"

"Why do you sound so worried? My man is handsome isn't he? I mean he would be better if he had my complexion but oh well." Gen smirked at his self compliment.

"Sure. Oh well, you could use some of his humility. Maybe then you wouldn't get turned down."

"Wha-! Low blow!" The two shared a laugh. Gen didn't really go after women in his spare time. Or at all. MeiAnne wondered once if he was into anyone, but after seeing nothing from her friend she resigned.

"Does this mean I'm a third wheel now?"

"Nothings happening, Gen. It was just one kiss."

"Oh." He stared over at his friend before looking back at MeiAnne. "I expected more from him."

MeiAnne turned her attention back to the mating flights still going above to hide her blushing.

"It is mating day after all." MeiAnne knew he was joking, but it caught her off guard.

Gen exclaimed when he felt MeiAnne push him off the bench in revenge for his comment.

"Okay okay! I'll leave you alone." He sat himself back on the bench, before mumbling. "For now."

"I heard that."

"It was the wind."

MeiAnne shook her head not wanting to encourage him with another laugh. Then a dragon she hadn't seen before caught her eye. It was a dragon that seemed to have only Loola in his sights.

It was the black dragon that the Admiral rode. It was very easy to pick the two out in the sky as the only white and black dragons flying that day.

The seconds seemed to slow into nothing as MeiAnne followed their every move. He was gaining on Loola, but you could tell it wasn't easy for him. He was dwarfed by her size just as all the other dragons were.

Suddenly a yellow dragon caught a green one just in front of Loola, forcing her to slow. It was at that moment that the black dragon saw his chance.

The two fell, causing MeiAnne to gasp softly before she saw them catch themselves. They settled into a glide, just as the other dragons had. Due to Loola's larger size the two remained suspended in the air longer than any of the other dragons had been able to.

MeiAnne realized she was holding her breath when the two separated and Loola went to land.

She just got to witness the two rarest dragons mate, and there was a chance that she would get an egg that appeared as they did. Although the reason white dragons and black dragons were so rare is because they also lay the other types when they clutch, unlike all the others.

The dragons cleared the sky for the day after a short while. The rest of the day would be celebrations. MeiAnne looked forward to getting to see Raba again after their moment that morning. She was nervous as well, but Gen had mostly pushed her past that feeling with his teasing.