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BOOK ONE

Hatchling

“A BAD START IS STILL A START”

—Tyr FeHazathant

Chapter 1

No pleasant drea tendrils binding The restrictions vexed him

The hatchling struggled against his tor his neck to auncontrollably

Suddenly his nose tore free of its bonds with a startling crack that ran down his body to the tail-tip A reedily pulled in its enticing freshness and a co

A weight dragged at his belly, and he knew he had to be free of it He reached up a rear claw and tore it away, the sreater freedom

The pain brought an additional benefit: His mind cleared of dreams and confusion and doubt Instinct took over his little body, fro scale He pushed in every direction at once, head twisting and battering at the gap as his nose worked out

Then it all gave way and he sprawled, whipping his tail around and fighting to right hi ht pained and confused hiain

A eb hung on him It stuck everywhere in his scales, in the folds of hide and bone behind his jaw, his crest, his claws

Strange, strange, strange No clouds or currents or friendly sun, yet he was not frightened at the newness The musky smell told him that all ell He was safe

He brought up a forelimb and wiped the ay froo to ith his long, flexible neck and sharp teeth, getting it off his limbs

“We’ve done it; oh, thank Susirion and the four shapers, he lives” The voice, theThrough it he had seen brilliant sunlight and hot, flowing gold, blended and poured into his consciousness This was the voice of his dreaes, sunlight, crashing ocean waves, herds of blotch-backed beasts thundering below, leathery wings flapping and a proud, boo