Limir isn't the same area as many of Kallah Vahh's investments, but he absolutely knows where to find the right people to bolster the dragon master ranks. Zifan isn't that far away, and it houses hundreds of his employees and many of his family members as well. It was likely Vahh who paid out Zhic's parents debt, and though Pelatih of this sort aren't the Vahh clan's typical arrangement, reptiles like the swamp dragons are very important to keeping cities like Limir and Zifan safe.

Within a few years of his birth, Zhicshemi showed quite a bit of promise with those dragons, and by the time he was 14 he had been raised and set up with some spare Holds that the Vahh clan had acquired. With the stipulation of course, that he'd be up for some... adventuring.

Zhicshemi wasn't really sure what to think of it, when he was finally tapped for this latest venture. And although he did have to travel to possibly the least enjoyable portion of Zekira to get to this 'adventure', the middle of the desert (at least it was warm but wow was it dry!), it wasn't the last of his rather weird travel arrangements. The large and noisy portal that he was led to underground made him rather nervous.

But Vahh assured him: all would be just fine, he'd be retrieved when done 'on the other side'. Where was that?

He almost expected it to be the alien homeworld or something else dangerous - he was able to fend for himself after all, and he'd been requested to help clear out certain pests and dangerous animals from the Holds where he then was set up. But this wasn't that at all. This was... something the sedate businessman Vahh said was 'the Refugium', and it was in space.

In. Space.

Most Zekirans didn't even comprehend the danger that came from space: in the form of those aliens who the dragon masters were created to fight. But this place was absolutely not a threat to them, and would be able to provide assistance? Once he was led to a particular location in the place, Zhic understood: dragons, and more dragons. When he saw the ones which he was slated to investigate, Zhicshemi absolutely knew this was right.

They were like him, but they had wings.

Only in his non-reptile form could that smile be seen, but it was broad, and toothy... These were smart, not necessarily 'friendly' but definitely of the sort that would be very welcome on his Holds. There was so much room for them to grow and maybe, maybe breed? Once the Island was set up (he still needed a name for it, wasn't sure what it might be called yet) perhaps they could launch a program there.

Of course that would require him to pass muster for the clutch of eggs, but he was fairly confident and not so full of himself that he would just try walking up. Proper introductions were made, boundaries established.

He could sense the dragons, they were very much his 'type', but he also detected just how intelligent they were. Different from a person, but not much.

This would be so grand, and he was still young enough that he'd be able to enjoy watched these dragons grow and fly for many, many decades to come. Heck even if he didn't 'properly bond' to one of them (whatever that meant, he wasn't really sure - but would be fine either way) he'd want to visit and see them mature.

For now though, he and several others gathered and would perhaps have to stick around together for a time, he wasn't positive that the hatchlings would be ready to go or just what. Zhic also knew perfectly well that Vahh was having someone in his extended family get his Holds prepared for them, on returning. Not like there wasn't enough to hunt out there, but still one can't be too careful about what else might be lurking.

They didn't have to wait very long, really, though Zhic sort of wondered about a few people. It wasn't his place to worry about them - it was, however, his place to prepare and head down to the lovely swamp biome when everyone was requested. It was somewhat sudden, actually. And the folks doing this request almost sounded out of breath and out of sorts about it all.

Oh well.

Zhic's hearing wasn't great in the higher ranges, but he absolutely heard the clutch queen's song. It was matched by a dozen others, the sensation was amazing. He... was almost swept away into their song, himself, and found himself humming a bit.

The clutch's guardian shielded the little hatchlings as they began to surface, but by that time most of the candidates were eagerly peering on their toes or leaning around each other for a glimpse.

A good number of them came out and found their friends - and then another, a little green one, spotted him.

A slim green female perched at the top of her nest mound, eyeing the clump of candidates from side to side. She'd listened intently inside her shell while Atefes interviewed the lot of them. While many of them were off-worlders of various sorts, and some had spoken of their cultures, one in particular had garnered her attention. She struck down from the nest, racing as quick as her legs would carry her, her wings tucked tight against her body.

Zhicshemi spotted her barreling toward him. She was tiny, but a gleam of fight was in her eyes. He rushed toward her, flesh rippling and limbs contorting as he shifted into his dragon form to meet the little hatchling head-on. The hatchling tossed herself at him, snapping and snarling, batting her wings. Zhicshemi humored her for a few moments before scooping her up in his long jaws, where he cradled her gently until her struggling ceased.

:: When I'm bigger I'll be better at this :: she said :: I'm Lazonhethe and I'm coming with you. ::

Unable to speak in this form, Zhicshemi rumbled agreement and marched his fiery charge toward the feeding station.

***

((will put a story together in a bit))

  art credits (city of heroes, and me)