“New”

Prompt: Last Moment is the Longest

The egg rocked.
Dawnstar paced restlessly, never taking her eyes from the small white orb in the nest.
“Calm down, dear,” said her mate, Grainflint the field mouse, “It takes time for birthing. Remember how my sister’s labor went?”
She winced at the memory, thanking the gods that egg-laying was less painful. “But it’s been days!” the mouse-sized dragoness cried, then regretted it, “I’m sorry, I’m just… What if I’m not a good mother? Or you a good father? What if it comes out wrong? What if–?”
“You think I’m not just as scared?” Grainflint gently clasped her head in his paws, looking into her eyes.
“You’re actually taking this surprisingly well,” she admitted, “You fussed enough when I was pregnant.”
“You were strong enough for us both then,” he teased, resting his forehead against hers, “Let me be that for you now.”
Dawnstar sighed, wrapped feathered wings around him, taking comfort in his velvety brown fur.
Grainflint returned the hug, stroking her midnight scales and twining his tail with hers, though it still lashed like a cat’s.
Another crack in the egg split the silence; the tiny snout poked through, drawing its first breath. The hatchling stopped, resting.
It was all Dawnstar could do not to tear the shell from it herself, but she knew that would be fatal.
She crooned encouragement again, fighting back a moan of longing. Grainflint’s voice joined hers, thrumming off-pitch and squeaky, but she didn’t care.
The night wore on.
Grainflint’s sister, Rosequartz, found them both in exhausted sleep, curled around the egg to warm it. She kept watch, her own pups asleep at home.
They were surprised Dawnstar only conceived one egg, but shocked when she grew teats. Rosequartz giggled, remembering her poor sister-in-law’s freakout. Dragons were warm-blooded, but still…
It left them all curious.
The egg shuddered. She woke both parents. “It’s time!”
They hardly dared to breathe.
CRACK!
Out fell a chocolate-furred mouse, patterned with its mother’s cream swirls. Tiny wings bore midnight down, and horn buds nestled between its ears.
All wept with joy, as Dawnstar nursed her new son.

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Commissioned picture of the baby mouse by TwinStarStudios:
http://fav.me/ddphrae