To Heal a Broken Heart (Egg Stall)

[Rowana]

It was nearly sunset when Roivao started to walk the row of stalls. Some of them were starting to close up, as lack of daylight made it hard to do business. He would have been out sooner, but he wasn't used to being awake during the day at all anymore. He had ridden Roisk to Southern too. The trip had taken a few days, and they'd been too tired that morning to start then. Roisk was still sleeping in a small cave up the coast.

It might have been faster to just get a ride by dragon. Roi could have been gone and back before a day was out. Even so, he couldn't stand to ride a dragon unless he had no choice. Kaaoloth was one of the few dragons he could even take being near on a regular basis. He was getting better, but dragons reminded him too much of what he'd lost. It was just as well Roisk forced him to be nocturnal now.

Besides, the trip had given him time to think about what he was going to all this effort for. A limp, green salamandyr draped across his shoulder. Tiida hadn't been the same since Nephele's Misfit had died. She'd loved the brown fire lizard as her life mate and now that he was gone, Roi was increasingly concerned about her. She barely ate and spent most of the time sighing and laying around. He was terrified that he might loose her to grief and he couldn't bear the thought.

Roisk had eventually announced that something had better be done, because the little pest's depression was infectious. He didn't really like salamandyrs as a rule, but when they started to make his Roi sad, something had better be done about them. Which was why they were here. The only solution they'd come up with, was trying to get Tiida a new friend. Roi didn't think he could convince her to choose a new mate, but maybe having another fire lizard around would at least cheer her up.

Roi found the stall selling eggs and started to examine them carefully. Which one should get get? He had plenty of marks. He glanced at Tiida for some kind of reaction, but she just sighed mournfully and turned away. Where brown-love? Why leave Tiida? She cried to the sky. Roi stroked her soothingly. "He's gone, love," he whispered sadly. "I'm sure he didn't want to leave you."

[raii]

Hearing someone murmuring softly by her stall, Eselda popped up suddenly. "Sorry! I was looking for something...did I startle you?" She grinned. "Are you going to buy an egg? They're from my mom's queen. She's really pretty, and as far as I know the hatchlings are all really pretty too! I would have asked for one, but silly little Loli would get too jealous.

She noted the salamandyr on his shoulder. Eselda didn't particularly like salamandyrs, but this one looked so sad. "Is she okay? She doesn't look to good...are you here to find her a playmate?" Indo yawned sleepilly from his stoic possition on the table. "Greens and blues tend to be the most playful. Indo here is the one exception. He's a bit of a grump." Renn took off from Eselda's shoulder and landed next to Indo, nudging him gently. It was rude to show customers what grumpy fire lizards were like, and Eselda was working so hard!

Loli stayed perched on Eselda's other shoulder, her tail wrapped protectively around Eselda's neck. "Greens are the best. They are so sweet. Loli here is a very good girl, very obediant, and very nice. Renn's pretty great too--he's the cheerful blue--but he's a bit high maintenence, which can be a bit of a bother. Indo has a good heart, he just doesn't show it."

"And I am Eselda, of course! I think you should definately get a fire lizard egg, but we also have avian eggs and mystery eggs too. The mystery eggs are really popular. It's really up to you and all, though." Eselda rubbed Loli's head fondly. She hoped that the man, whoever he was, bought a small egg, because everyone deserved a bright little green or blue.

[Rowana]

Roivao jumped slightly and was startled into speaking. "No, miss, I...uh...that is..." Oh shards, he should be able to get over talking to strangers. He was a teacher, for Faranth's sake. He gave the girl a weak smile. "I was," he admitted. "I'm hoping it will help her." He brought Tiida down so she could see closer, petting her gently. He listened patiently to the girl's thoughts. She certainly loved fire lizards. Roi had never had much to do with them besides Misfit. At least they didn't talk.

He nodded at each of the blues and the green, watching Tiida for any spark of interest. It didn't seem to be helping. Tiida barely looked at them. Want brown-love, she moaned. Roi winced. He had to do something about this depression soon. Last thing he need was a depressed salamandyr while he was teaching classes. It was almost worse then Running during classes. "Thank you, Eselda, I'm Roivao," he offered. "I think Tiida might like a brown one, if that's possible?" He didn't think he'd risk a mystery one. Too much chance of it being a tunnelsnake or something.

[raii]

Eselda frowned. "Well, I can't completely know if one is a brown or not, but you'd be best with a medium egg, maybe a large one. I think browns are rather boring, but she's the boss." She pulled out a small basket and began laying warm white towels inside. "Would you like to try a medium or a large? Either has the risk of either a large blue or a small bronze, but I think getting a blue would be better, don't you? Much sweeter, and probably more of a chance of holding that brown."

Loli took off from hers' shoulder, landing right in front of the man and salamandyr. She chirped helpfully. If Tiida needed anything, Loli would be happy to help. She was sure the eggs would hold a wonderful brown for her, and he would no doubt be beautiful. Indo merely ignored her, and Renn only gave a friendly chirp, not offering support of any other kind.

She inspected the little salamandyr. "If she wants brown, it will probably be the best for her, but any creature from my mother's queen's eggs could help her. It looks to me like any male would do the trick, so don't lose hope if it isn't a brown, okay? It might just take longer. Did she have a brown mate before? Is that why? Maybe you could name the brown after her mate if it is. Maybe not, you'd have to ask her."

Eselda shook her head. "Right. Egg size. Would you like a medium or large? Mediums--" she gestured to the corresponding bowl "--are these, and are seven marks, and the large--" she gestured again "--are ten. And if that seems to be too much, we have small ones for only five. What'll it be?"

[Rowana]

Roivao sighed apologetically. He had hoped it would be easier then this, but he should have known it wouldn't be. Eggs didn't come with color tags after all, how would he know which one to take? "Well, um..." He frowned over the eggs, constantly looking at Tiida for any sign of life. Maybe she wouldn't like one? But he had to try something. She'd waste away at this rate. He watched the fire lizards for a moment as he thought. "She did," he answered sadly. "He passed recently."

He watched her pull out the basket and listened to her advice. It was hard to decide. On the one hand, Tiida didn't seem to like the blues very much. On the other, he wasn't sure she'd like a bronze much either. It was hard to tell which would be the better choice. He ran his hands over a few eggs absently. Tiida was watching Loli with disinterest. Brown-love leave Tiida, she wailed again. She wasn't sure she wanted another one, but she was grateful for the attempt. At least flyers were nice.

Roi looked back at Eselda finally. "A large one?" he asked hesitantly. At least a bronze would be big enough to carry Tiida around, which she seemed to like. It wasn't like money would be a problem. He couldn't actually remember having this many marks to spend before. "Um..." He looked over the basket of eggs again. "Would you pick one for me?" he asked nervously. He had no idea how to choose, and Eselda seemed to know fire lizards much better.

[raii]

Eselda smiled. "Of course, I'll try. I hope it helps. I think the best thing is to go for a smaller large egg. Of course it has to be a pretty one. Pretty eggs have pretty hatchlings. I'll pick out some that might hold a brown, and why don't you let her pick?"

The first egg Eselda chose was definately on the small side, maybe the smallest egg in that pile. She picked out two more, closer to the medium size for the pile. "How are these? Pretty, hmm? The clutchmother always has very pretty eggs, and very pretty babies. Of course, I may be biased since hers in my mom. Look, mine are all very pretty, and there seem to be more pretty ones this year."

The three fire lizards chirped in agreement. They were pretty, weren't they? Loli preened shyly. Renn and Indo tried to out-do eat other by stretching on their hind legs. Indo chirped happilly as he realized he was taller. Renn sniffed. Didn't matter that his brother was taller. He was a prettier color, yes?

Eselda laughed at her fire lizards. "They're a bit of a handful, but should definately cheer the poor thing up!"

[Rowana]

Roivoa set Tiida gently next to the Eggs Eselda had picked out. They each looked lovely and he hoped one would spark some interest in his depressed pet. Tiida looked up at him mournfully. Want brown-love. Not pretty eggsies. The way she spat the word "pretty" made it clear she thought they were anything but. Roi patted her head with a finger. "Don't be rude," he soothed. "You'll have to look after the little one. Don't you think Misfit would want you to raise it well?"

Tiida pondered that sulkily for a few moments. She flicked her tail in annoyance. She wasn't sure why everyone wanted her to be happy. There was no happiness without Misfit. Still, maybe Misfit would have wanted her to be a good mother. She curled around one of the medium sized eggs. For brown-love, she agreed at last. Good eggsy. Roivao breathed in relief and smiled slightly. "Thank you so much," he told Eselda, fishing out the marks for Tiida's egg. "I hope this works."