#eggeating

[kashiffitlife]

EGG NUTRITION GAME: 12 POWERFUL TIP’s

Table of Contents

1. Excellent Protein Source Egg Nutrition

2. Choline Boost for Brain Health

3. Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin

4. Egg Yolks: Nature’s Multivitamin

5. Eggs for Weight Management

6. Heart Health: Crack Open an Egg

7. Egg Allergy Misconceptions

8. Egg-coitional Eye Health

9. Eggshell Calcium: A Natural Source

10. Egg Whites: Low-Calorie Protein

11.Egg-stra Boost for Hair and Nails

12. Egg Recipes for Every Palate

FAQ’s

Q1: What makes eggs an excellent source of protein?

Q2: How do eggs contribute to brain health?

Q3: Can eggs provide an adequate amount of Vitamin D?

Q4: Are egg yolks nutritious?

Q5: How can eggs aid in weight management?

Q6: Is it true that eggs can contribute to heart health?

Q7: Are egg allergies common?

Q8: How do eggs promote eye health?

Q9: Can eggshells be a source of calcium?

Q10: Are egg whites a good option for low-calorie protein?

Q11: How does biotin in eggs benefit hair and nails?

Q12: How can I incorporate eggs into my diet with different recipes?

1. Excellent Protein Source Egg Nutrition

Eggs are highlighted as an excellent source of protein, a crucial aspect of “egg nutrition.” The keyword “egg nutrition” is implicitly covered as we discuss how eggs, being a complete protein source, contribute to a balanced and nutritious diet.

2. Choline Boost for Brain Health

This point emphasizes the presence of choline in eggs, connecting it to “egg nutrition.” The keyword is indirectly addressed by showcasing how choline, a vital nutrient found in eggs, positively impacts brain health.

3. Vitamin D: The Sunshine Vitamin

Here, the focus is on eggs as a natural source of vitamin D, tying directly to the keyword “egg nutrition.” We elaborate on how this nutrient is essential for overall health, thus emphasizing the nutritional benefits of eggs.

4. Egg Yolks: Nature’s Multivitamin

In this section, the nutritional richness of egg yolks is explored, aligning with the keyword “egg nutrition.” The idea is to dispel misconceptions about egg yolks and present them as a valuable source of various vitamins and minerals.

5. Eggs for Weight Management

https://kashiffitlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/R_86.jpeg

The keyword “egg nutrition” is implicitly covered as we discuss eggs’ role in weight management. The high protein content of eggs is highlighted, demonstrating how it can contribute to feeling full and aiding in weight control.

6. Heart Health: Crack Open an Egg

This section addresses the connection between eggs and heart health, directly correlating with “egg nutrition.” It discusses how moderate egg consumption can positively impact cholesterol levels and contribute to cardiovascular well-being.

7. Egg Allergy Misconceptions

In this point, we address misconceptions about egg allergies, emphasizing that for the majority, eggs can be safely enjoyed, reinforcing the broader theme of “egg nutrition.”

8. Egg-coitional Eye Health

The focus is on how antioxidants in eggs contribute to eye health, aligning with the keyword “egg nutrition.” Lutein and zeaxanthin are highlighted as essential components promoting optimal vision.

9. Eggshell Calcium: A Natural Source

This section introduces the surprising fact that crushed eggshells are an excellent source of calcium. This aligns with the broader theme of “egg nutrition,” showcasing eggs as a natural and holistic provider of essential nutrients.

10. Egg Whites: Low-Calorie Protein

Here, we discuss egg whites as a low-calorie, high-protein alternative, directly connecting with “egg nutrition.” The point underscores the versatility of eggs in providing protein without excess calories.

11.Egg-stra Boost for Hair and Nails

This section explores the biotin content in eggs and its role in promoting healthy hair and nails. The focus aligns with “egg nutrition,” highlighting additional benefits beyond the commonly known ones.

12. Egg Recipes for Every Palate

The final point suggests diversifying egg consumption with various recipes, showcasing the versatility of eggs in meeting diverse taste preferences. Although the keyword isn’t explicitly stated, the overall theme reinforces the idea of incorporating eggs for comprehensive nutrition.

In summary, each point in the outline is strategically designed to highlight different aspects of “egg nutrition,” providing a comprehensive overview of the health benefits eggs offer.

FAQ’s

Q1: What makes eggs an excellent source of protein?

A1: Eggs are an excellent source of protein because they contain all the essential amino acids required by the body. This complete amino acid profile makes eggs a valuable and easily digestible protein source.

Q2: How do eggs contribute to brain health?

A2: Eggs contribute to brain health due to their high choline content. Choline is a nutrient essential for brain function, supporting cognitive abilities and memory enhancement.

Q3: Can eggs provide an adequate amount of Vitamin D?

A3: Yes, eggs are a natural source of Vitamin D. Including eggs in your diet can be a convenient way to ensure you get an adequate amount of this essential nutrient, crucial for bone health and immune system support.

Q4: Are egg yolks nutritious?

A4: Absolutely! Egg yolks are highly nutritious and can be considered nature’s multivitamin. They contain essential vitamins such as A, E, and B-complex, along with minerals, contributing to overall health.

Q5: How can eggs aid in weight management?

A5: Eggs aid in weight management primarily due to their high protein content. The protein in eggs helps reduce appetite, making you feel fuller for longer and assisting in weight control.

Q6: Is it true that eggs can contribute to heart health?

A6: Yes, contrary to past beliefs, moderate egg consumption has been linked to improved cholesterol levels, contributing positively to heart health.

Q7: Are egg allergies common?

A7: Egg allergies are relatively uncommon. Many individuals can safely enjoy the nutritional benefits of eggs, and misconceptions surrounding egg allergies should be addressed.

Q8: How do eggs promote eye health?

A8: Eggs contain antioxidants like lutein and zeaxanthin, which play a vital role in promoting eye health. Including eggs in your diet can contribute to preventing age-related macular degeneration and maintaining optimal vision.

Q9: Can eggshells be a source of calcium?

A9: Surprisingly, yes. Crushed eggshells are an excellent natural source of calcium. Consider adding powdered eggshells to your diet for a natural calcium boost, supporting bone health.

Q10: Are egg whites a good option for low-calorie protein?

A10: Absolutely. Egg whites are a low-calorie, high-protein alternative, making them an excellent choice for those watching their calorie intake.

Q11: How does biotin in eggs benefit hair and nails?

A11: The biotin content in eggs contributes to healthy hair and nails, providing an additional boost beyond the well-known benefits of eggs.

Q12: How can I incorporate eggs into my diet with different recipes?

A12: There are numerous egg recipes for every palate. From classic omelets to innovative dishes, experimenting with various recipes allows you to enjoy the nutritional benefits of eggs while satisfying your taste preferences.

[bigeggeaterjustsaying]

Dude please dude please @fennecfiree

[hypergryph]

"I don't like the forest. What if I run into another monster?"

He's supposed to be scouting ahead, but he's not very good at it...

[fennecfiree]

doodles i did w @bigeggeaterjustsaying on aggie.io (the mr beast 1 was made w @soggyfruit0

[hypergryph]

"... barbarians...Didn't even use a bowl..."

@polarized-bell-goat (I loved this, especially Skink! That fae is terrifying)

NOTE: THE FOLLOWING LORE CONTAINS MENTIONS OF EATING EGGS. Beyond that, there isn't much graphic-ness contained within it. For the sake of everyone, I will be including the small story that goes with this in a read-more, and I will not be main tagging it. Take care of yourselves!

The specific Egg-Eating lore I'm using here belongs to @hypergryph! If you're in to this sort of semi-horror stuff, go look at their stuff!

Myfi had been traveling for weeks.

He knew why he was somehow still alive, despite the hunger gnawing at his stomach.

Months ago now, he had sought out a rare delicacy that he had only heard of one group of dragons indulging in-dragon eggs.

The aforementioned group was gone at this point, most likely either locked in a prison, or dead somewhere, but hey, Myfi was curious. Curious as to why they'd do that. Why they'd eat another dragon's eggs.

But once he'd managed to crack open that Arcane egg and partake in the wonders beneath that shell, he understood.

Since then, he'd been running through the lands, stealing whatever eggs he could, constantly partaking in that forbidden ambrosia-and not once had he been caught.

Not once until now, his head pinned to the floor by a Fae far too large to be normal.

With a creak like his bones weren't in right, the Fae turned over the ice egg he'd taken from Myfi's grasp.

"My my, friend," the Fae spoke in a way that matched how he moved, "now what were you just about to do?" Spiraled eyes flickered to a nearby sharp rock, and Myfi swallowed hard.

"Hungry," Myfi croaked out, deciding to take the route of pretending he was desperate for food. Somewhere else, his Dreadwolf was being kept at bay by the Fae's Pronghorn. The Fae's smile creaked open wide, needle-like teeth poking out of drawn back gums. At that moment, Myfi realized this very much was not a normal Fae, if his size was any indication.

"Well I suppose we should introduce ourselves, hm?" the Fae fluttered his crest and chuckled, the birdskulls around his neck clacking together, "my name is Skink," he paused for a moment to step back off Myfi's head, "and yours is....?"

"Myfi," Myfi shook himself off, deciding to play through the lie, "I...I've been lost for ages, and I was so hungry that one time I...I ate a dragon egg," no one else was around, and it was clear if this...'Skink' wanted to kill him, he'd already be dead, "But now...gods, if I don't have them, my body gets these....awful aches, and I...I have to. I have to eat them or-"

"Hm, addiction is a nasty thing," Skink seemed to glare through the shell of the egg he was holding, "but I suppose magical ones can't be fixed, can they?"

Myfi caught the egg as it was tossed back to him, and he stared at it, then at Skink, who waved his talons.

"That one tries to kill me when he's older, have at it, consider it a gift."

The Fae turned away, and Myfi immediately turned to whack the egg against the rock with a CRACK, slurping up the minty fluid inside. Clearly his false story had been taken face-value, and he wanted to laugh to himself, not even thinking of what Skink had said when he had given Myfi the egg back.

"When you're done with that, feel free to follow me home," Skink offered, "My clan is very fond of misfits. Oh! And one more thing, Myfi,"

Myfi looked up from his meal, allowing his Dreadwolf to take her fill, seeing Skink staring over his shoulder at Myfi.

The Fae's face had dropped, bright red eyes staring right towards him.

"Don't ever lie to me again."

[pyjamac]

another fabulous win for eggeaters everywhere

[satirates]

I can't believe Baghera is still bringing up the eggeating dilemma... IT's BEEN TWO YEAR!!!!! And now other countries has to suffer thought it too.

[pookapufferfish]

does the horrible little beast (/pos, eggeater) have any colors? Or is it just the blue in your drawings.

The horror

[obitekolanko]

Eggeater

[berenixium]

Strangers - Eggeater - #SoundCloud #Music #Portishead

https://soundcloud.com/manyong-eg/portishead-strangers-cover

[ironclawallosaur]

Confrontation

“Is the problem that you don’t think she’s there, or that you’re too scared to confront her?” Dendroaspis asked.

Apitoxin ruffled his neckfeathers irritably. “This is your quest. I’m just dragged along on it.”

“So why don’t you want to go talk to the Fire clan?” he pressed.

“I told you,” Apitoxin punctuated his words with a harsh bill-snap, “I think I knew them. I don’t want to come up until I remember properly.”

“If you knew them, it’s surely a benefit.” Dendroaspis jeered. “What, were you some sort of eggeater?”

“No!” Apitoxin snapped back. The simple truth—the one he dared not tell his brother—was that what he remembered, more distinctly than anything else besides the wild bees, was the sense of being a failure. And who liked failures that they’d thought themselves rid of showing up again? He ground his teeth, pulling their shared body back, deeper into the forest. “I’m remembering.” he said. “Just give me time.”

Dendroaspis vented a dissonant howl that set Apitoxin’s feathers on end, and kept his foot where it was. “What was I thinking? Climbing out with a tundra?”

Apitoxin dipped his wing in a shrug. “Sorry.” Then, reconsidering. “Without my nose, would you have ever been able to track her?”

Dendroaspis grumbled something in the back of his throat, but said nothing. Slowly he eased off pressure on his foot, though still not enough to let the pair take an actual step.

The two thrown-together brothers had been on the road for seasons, battling their way through the Scarred Wasteland and down to Fire, seeking the Boneyard Legend called the Speckled Bear. Along the way, they had grown stronger—and hashed out something more fraternal than their initial relationship as “bound together escaped prisoners”.

The past, however, was slow to return, and a great deal of it had been reconstructed as a group effort. When they’d broken the surface of the Wyrmwound together, and everything since was clear; but only bits and scraps of the past beyond that remained.

Dendroaspis had taken the lead, as he had in many other things. Once he’d been a coatl of the great Viridian Labyrinth, a fact still reflected in his tightly-curled horns, emerald eyes, and somewhat short, catlike face. Then he’d gone to visit relatives in the Scarred Wasteland—why he had such relatives was a subject he remained mute on—and been set upon by a rogue creature of mixed tundra and beastclan heritage, known only as the Speckled Bear. She had overcome him, despite his attempts to defend himself or bargain her off, and cast him, broken, into the Wyrmwound.

Apitoxin remembered… images of dragons he’d known. The forests of the Plague/Shadow border, and some here where Fire met Lightning. Scents, voices. Drawing from both of their memories, and the long, forked horns on his head, Dendroaspis had determined that Apitoxin had once been a tundra, which meant he would have a great deal of difficulty reclaiming his memories, especially absent scent aids. That had been a blow.

Over time, Apitoxin had grown reasonably certain that he had known the strange hybrid tundra—that she was a sellclaw of the clan he’d once been loosely tied to. Dendroaspis had been excited by that, and his litany of what he wanted to do veered from—now that he was so much stronger—ambushing her in turn, breaking every bone in her body and on her pelt, to pinning her down and demanding to know who had hired her.

Now that they were close enough that he could catch hints of the Speckled Bear’s scent, and other familiar dragons, however, they’d come to a stall. Apitoxin didn’t want to continue, while Dendroaspis could hardly be restrained. They had come to the point of wresting control from each other on multiple occasions now.

“Brother…” Dendroaspis’s voice was conciliatory. He put his hand on Apitoxin’s shoulder. “We’ll give it another day. But you need to tell me what’s going on—or gather your courage and face her.”

Apitoxin nodded, but said nothing. Slowly the pair made their way back into the woods.

*

“Oh, hello!”

Fortune swung his head around at the voice. He had heard something approaching, but had hoped the quiet footsteps and rustle of brush belonged to a small deer that he might ambush if he held still enough.

“Hedysara.” he said. “There truly is no game in these woods.”

“I’m sorry.” she said. “What’s the cause?”

Fortune rolled his head irritably. “Happens every year. Nocturnes and mimics come out, everything bigger than a newt goes to ground.” He grimaced. “I suppose I should be happy you weren’t a deer, you’d probably have been a mimic and I’d have been battling for my life the moment I tried to trap you.”

Hedysara grinned. “Apparently the veilspun keep some carnivorous deer for pets. They’re about the size of mine.”

Fortune sighed. For all his ties to the lands of Shadow, there were some things he found very tiresome about the element. “What brings you out here?”

“Walkabout.” the tundra replied, looking wistful. “I’m looking for a new direction.”

Fortune arched a brow. “I’ll miss it if your food stall closes down.”

Hedysara shrugged. “I don’t think it’s that sort of new direction.” She looked down at her forefeet, and brushed absently at her beard. “Maybe I’ll try something new with the food. Or join the party up at the Borderlands. Or maybe it’s a hobby?”

Fortune spread his wings to show off the net strung beneath them. “Well, I’ve been gathering roots. That’s new.”

Hedysara looked at him, and his haul, and burst out laughing. “That’s good! How many were mimics?”

“Eighteen.” Fortune closed his wings and offered a forefoot for examination. “Number twelve managed to get past my gauntlet too.”

The tundra nodded sympathetically. “I’ll put some poultice on it.”

Fortune huffed in surprise. “Is Ykkerekk still not back?”

“You know how he is.” Hedysara’s voice held a tinge of irony—the imperial’s memory was bound to be clearer than her own, though hers wasn’t bad for her breed.

Fortune shifted his wings, and shuffled his feet. “I don’t like it. Him and Henhowl gone at the same time, Taxus distracted. We’re down our best news-bringers, and our messenger is compromised.”

“Do you expect an attack?” Hedysara’s ears were tilted forward, her voice quieting with dread.

Fortune swung his head again. “Maybe. Anything further that goes wrong…” He paused, searching for the words.

“Then maybe we’d better do something about the aberration.” Hedysara’s tone was grim.

The imperial looked down at her. “What aberration?”

“There’s one somewhere around. You know how they talk to themselves.” She pointed back the way she’d come with one pink, feathered wing. “And I smelled them a bit. Male, Nature I think. They’ve been around for a few days.”

Fortune shook himself, resettling his burdens, and suddenly wondering if he should stop by the clan first. “Great, a venomous aberration.”

Hedysara smiled. “Hopefully we just steer them to the inn.” Her hand went to the large cooking knife always on her belt. “If not, we’re both ranked warriors.”

Fortune acknowledged that with a dip of his head.

Of course, neither of them was top ranked, and who knew what the infamously hardy Ancient was ranked himself?

*

It was early night and the moon was rising when Hedysara picked up the scent again.

Fortune scanned the area, noted no signs of mimics, and dropped his pelts, gathered roots, and the two caged birds he’d managed to catch. He piled them as best as he could, with the pelts hopefully concealing the rest from prying eyes of dragon, beastfolk, or mimic. His emergency essentials he kept on him.

“They’re not too far away.” Hedysara said. “Seems they’ve been keeping to this area for a while.”

“Oh, that’s what we need.” Fortune growled. “An aberration starting a clan right beside ours.” He swept his head from side to side. “Where do you think they’d put their little Wyrmwound, and how long do you think it would take Elk to notice?”

“Maybe they don’t like the mimics either.” Hedysara said, though her wings were half-open by her side, and her ears were pulled back as if she expected an imminent fight. “We won’t know until we talk to them.”

Fortune picked up his pace, letting Hedysara fall back to a flanking position to defend his open side. He flared his whiskers. Yes, they were close enough that he could pick up a distant hum of Nature energy.

The dragon was strong. But he wasn’t going to be stronger than both of them put together.

Fortune fell into a hunting stalk as they closed to audio range, and was a bit surprised to find he couldn’t pick up Hedysara’s footsteps. She wasn’t quite as stealthy as her sister Sprucetip or her strange son, but he would have been hard-pressed to detect her.

The aberration was sitting quietly, heads tucked together and tails uncoiled, muttering to each other. Vividly green, harsh-smelling… there was something familiar about the combination. Fortune frowned, and he thought he detected a slight falter in Hedysara beside him too.

They paused, and watched the Ancient for a few long moments.

Then Fortune drew himself up, crouching on his hindlegs, and flared his wings, half in an authoritative pose, half in a battle-stance.

The pair looked up at his sudden movement, instantly alert. Fortune watched the change in their own stance as one head passed control to the other and cocked back to aim breathweapons and cursed inwardly. Still, there was a chance the coming fight could be averted, and a greater chance it could be won, even if it meant a long, painful walk back.

“Why have you come here?” he growled, putting every ounce of imperial thunder he could into his words. He lowered himself slightly, both to punctuate his statement and to see if he could resolve the aberration’s familiarity with a closer look. “If your intentions on our border are honest, we need not quarrel, but we will not brook intruders without cause or neighbors without introduction.”

There was a brief moment when the heads looked at each other. Fortune became suddenly aware of Hedysara pressing against his flank with her wing.

“Fortune!” she hissed.

Fortune swung his head as far over to her as he could without breaking his battle-stance, and flicked an ear in her direction.

“Fortune, that’s Apitoxin.”

With her words, the familiarity clicked straight into place. Fortune returned to his previous position, craning his neck—yes, that was exactly right! Apitoxin, and someone else—but he’d seen that before. He almost laughed aloud, both at the absurdity of nearly coming to blows with a clanmate like this and in sheer relief. He’s not dead! He made it out like Hiirkaen! He controlled himself at the last minute—clearly Apitoxin hadn’t quite recognized them. Well of course not, he thought, he’s only half the size he once was. I must look huge.

“We are DendroToxin.” the three-eyed head said. The one that wasn’t Apitoxin. “Are you the clan of the Speckled Bear?”

Apitoxin whuffed. “We do not seek quarrel with your clan as a whole, but justice for one wronged by one member.” he said quickly. His other head glowered at him.

“And who is the wronged party?” Fortune asked, fighting down another laugh. Trust a gaoler to find a legal dispute in the Wyrmwound itself! He forced himself to focus. If he gave in to giddy relief, there would be trouble.

Both heads tried to speak at once, and the resulting half-powered cacophony was too muted to make sense of.

Eventually the three-eyed head managed to peck Apitoxin into silence. “My brother believes you are the clan of the Speckled Bear, a brigand of the Abiding Boneyard who set upon me and cast me into the Wyrmwound.” he said. “I seek vengeance upon her, or upon her employer if he is right that she is a sellclaw.”

Fortune blinked, and looked down at Hedysara.

The tundra stepped forward. For a long moment she was silent.“Yes, there is one who has gone by that name here.” she said. “She is my aunt.”

The aberration took a step forward, then shivered oddly in place for a few long moments. A fight for control?

Hedysara did not move. Fortune wasn’t sure if he admired her courage or wanted to smack her out of the way as a fool.

“Take me to her!” DendroToxin howled at last, and bridged the remaining distance. To Fortune’s relief, however, he merely set a claw to the tundra’s foreshoulder and stared down into her eyes, his own open fanatically wide.

Hedysara sighed, then batted the hand off her foreshoulder with the other forefoot. “I will, but I don’t think you’re right.”

“She did it!” the three-eyed head insisted.

“Do you really think that’s true, Apitoxin?” Fortune interjected.

Both of the aberration’s heads swiveled to look at him. Then the three-eyed head burst out in raucous laughter, and the last of the air of impending battle broke.

“So you DO know him!” the three-eyed head said.

“Well, he’s smaller than he used to be.” Fortune said. “But yes. Credit Hedysara for that. And you are…?”

“Dendroaspis.” the head said. “And my brother wouldn’t doubt me.”

“I said I wasn’t sure.” Apitoxin spat back, looking wounded. “I can’t remember though.”

“But you remember me.” Fortune said. He began to walk back toward where he’d cached his goods, spreading a wing to beckon the others to follow.

Apitoxin nodded, looking relieved. “Yeah! The hunter, Fortune. I spoke to you often in the forest.”

Fortune snorted. “And do you remember what happened last time we met?”

Apitoxin’s brows furrowed, and he shook his head.

Fortune smacked him. “You were riding on my back, do you still not recall?”

Apitoxin’s frown deepened further. “That… no.”

“Do you have a scent-cue?” Dendroaspis broke in. “He might bridge the gap that way.”

Fortune leveled a look at him. “Do you mean my mane, specifically?” he asked, flatly. “I’m not aware that it smells like much of anything.”

“Maybe the lands where you set out?” the aberration persisted.

“We’ll get there at some point.” Fortune returned his gaze to the path ahead. “So you’re one of those Poison Glen dragons, and they sent you to Plaguebringer?”

“It was the Speckled Bear!” Dendroaspis yowled.

“Kellinlii often trains future exalts.” Fortune said. “Are you sure you’re not just remembering that?”

With a vile curse, DendroToxin cut in front of the imperial and flared his wings—rather broader on Dendroaspis’s side than Apitoxin’s. “I know what happened! She attacked me without warning!”

Fortune rolled his head. “Fine. We’ll get this sorted out when we return to clanhome.”

They walked in silence until they came upon the cache, luckily untouched. Hedysara and, without being asked, DendroToxin helped him get the goods packed aboard. Shaking himself to get them comfortably settled, Fortune eyed the moon. The night was still young, but his mimic-bitten forefoot was already starting to burn from keeping a steady pace on it. He tried and failed to recall who might be on border patrol that night. He hoped it wasn’t Tarandrus. One bright-green oddity was more than enough.

“All right.” he said, turning to face the others again. “We’re several hours walk from clanhome, but we’ll be there in minutes if we fly.” He looked at Apitoxin. “Can you do that?”

“No.” Dendroaspis admitted, looking bitterly down at the ground. Apitoxin, too, looked away.

Fortune sighed. “All right, I’ll carry you again.” He crouched down, and spread his wings. “Go on.”

The brothers looked at each other. “You would… let us?” Dendroaspis asked.

Fortune snorted. “You’ll be a damn sight lighter than you were last time. Come on, get on.”

“At least let me take the roots.” Hedysara said. “You’re going to have a fun time taking off anyway, you don’t need them jostling every time you fly.”

Fortune shrugged, but let her unhook the netting holding the roots from over his wings. “There’s a hill right there. Did you forget I was a wind dragon again?”

“There, see?” Dendroaspis said, snidely. “You’re not the only one.”

Both Fortune and Hedysara turned to regard them.

“The only one what?” Hedysara asked.

Dendroaspis tucked his head in, looking ashamed. “The only tundra who can’t remember things sometimes.” he muttered.

Both Fortune and Hedysara burst out laughing this time.

“What happened?” Fortune butted Apitoxin with his snout. “A tundra?”

“I… that’s what I looked like.” Apitoxin sounded distressed.

“Well yes, but you were a gaoler.” Fortune held his forefoot up to where Apitoxin’s shoulder had once come to, somewhat over the aberration’s heads. “They’re a fair bit larger, telepathic, and flightless.”

Understanding dawned in Apitoxin’s eyes, though he didn’t say anything.

Dendroaspis looked between all three of them, gaping slightly in horror. “They’re what?” he asked. “The Eleven made giant, telepathic tundras??”

“The way they tell it, Icewarden made them first. Like you guys and mirrors.” Fortune tipped the smaller dragon onto his back. “Haolurren is the best to tell you, we’ll see if he’s in port after you’ve got everything else straightened out.” He turned his head to look back at them. “Try not to move around so much this time.”

With that, he broke into a hopping gallop, gathering speed until he leapt, gathering the wind beneath him, and took off.

*

The trip back to Cindercone’s clanhome took somewhat less than half an hour, leaving Apitoxin with time to remember. Dendroaspis was quiet—judging by his body language, he was vacillating between still struggling over the idea of gaolers, and enjoying a return to flight, even if on another dragon’s wings.

Being back on Fortune’s back helped some, though it looked a lot different at half his old size. It was more remembering that old scale that was helping. That and the deep press of mission on his mind. He’d never found an organization. No wonder I felt like a failure, like I might as well just chase wild bees.

He eyed Hedysara, and the general thought of her as small cousin rose unbidden to mind. He drew in a deep breath, and let it out again. As far as he still had to go, this was helping a lot.

“Is she well-liked?” Dendroaspis finally spoke up.

“Huh?” Apitoxin asked, turning to look at him.

His brother’s expression was uncharacteristically anxious. “The Speckled Bear. Do they like her?”

Apitoxin frowned, trying to work the pieces together. “She’s got enemies and allies.” he said at last.

Dendroaspis whacked him with one horn. “Tell me something that isn’t common knowledge.” His voice was tense with worry.

“Some dragons hate her very much.” That he was certain of. “But I want to say she’s also trusted.” An image swam into his mind, but the accompanying name was lost. “Someone came to her for advice.”

“Oh stars’ end.” Dendroaspis moaned.

“This was your plan.” Apitoxin glowered at him. “You really didn’t think that she might have friends?”

“She’s a vicious brigand!” he spat back, neck ruff bristling. “I didn’t expect her to have friends until her niece turned up.”

“Well, that’s why I wanted to remember.” Apitoxin couldn’t keep the retort down.

Several meters in front of them, he could hear Fortune’s voice but not quite make out his words as he greeted the border patrol. He caught a glimpse of Explorer’s acid-green-and-white form whisking overhead, and as he turned his head to watch her she waggled her wings in greeting.

Then they were descending, and Dendroaspis was sinking his claws into the ropes holding Fortune’s pelts in place, eyes wide. They landed in a puff of ash.

“Off!” Fortune barked. “I’m going to take this down to Scorzalite.”

“Scorzalite’s out.” Explorer’s voice. “Take it to Hiirkaen and Keaia.”

Fortune muttered something to himself, then put his head down close to them. “Either way, follow Hedysara.”

Apitoxin looked around, and spotted the tundra’s pink wings not far away, one half-open in a beckoning gesture. “I’ll just give you control now.” he said to his brother with more than a hint of a jeer.

Dendroaspis glowered at him, but took the lead in inverse of their typical combat-pattern. Apitoxin let his brother focus on walking, and looked around, drinking in each building and every rowdy bit of artwork from… he could just picture the big Fire mirror, though her name escaped him.

Kellinlii denned near the heart of clanhome, where the oldest structures were. She was out on the terrace of her den, lying close to the lava. Even from a distance, Apitoxin could tell something was wrong. She took too long to get to her feet after seeing them.

“Aunt.” Hedysara said. Her voice held a trace of tension.

“Hedysara.” Kellinlii rasped. Her voice sounded rougher than usual.

“Apitoxin is back.” Hedysara made a gesticulating bow toward them. “This is his brother, Dendroaspis. He has a quarrel with you.”

Kellinlii gave a ragged laugh, and stepped off the terrace toward them. “Welcome back, Apitoxin.” She tilted her head, and sniffed deeply. “And well met, Dendroaspis. What quarrel do I have with someone I have never met?”

“You killed me!” Dendroaspis snapped, flaring his wings. Apitoxin drew back from his questioning about Kellinlii’s condition, ready to take over if his brother dropped fully into combat mode. “I was just a coatl! You set upon me! Was it for yourself, or for a client, Speckled Bear?”

Kellinlii’s ears swept forward and she sniffed him again. “I did not.” she said, after a short pause.

“I’m not wrong!” Dendroaspis’s voice was frantic.

Kellinlii gave a rough, mocking laugh. “Did I growl a battle-challenge?”

“It was an ambush.” Dendroaspis growled out. “No.”

“Then I did not attack you.”

Dendroaspis threw the control back to Apitoxin, who dropped automatically into battlestance. He drew up his venom, and spat it directly at Kellinlii’s eyes.

Faster than either of them could have guessed, the tundra whirled, and the venom hit her in the neck instead. She reared and struck, dull claws raking down his flank.

Apitoxin struck back, scoring a blow laced with stinging venom down her hindleg as she disengaged. The tundra gave a low, murderous growl that didn’t sound remotely like a tundra, and for an instant Apitoxin wasn’t sure he did know her. How different was her alter ego? Then came another punishing blow that sent him reeling down to all fours; he snapped back with his beak and missed, but scored another blow with one of their tails that knocked her back.

Then he was up, and leaping for her—and missed, crashing down to the ashy ground without even a scrap of fur pinned in his claws. Dendroaspis spat venom again, and this time cleanly missed. The tundra bowled them over with a shouldercheck and slammed her forefoot into his neck, warteeth bared over his throat.

“Would it kill you to lose your other head?” she snarled at Apitoxin. She was breathing hard.

“Pretty sure.” he said. “And he’s my brother. Please don’t.”

Dendroaspis glowered beside him, but the expression was more pain and resignation than anger. He’d taken his chances against the Speckled Bear—and lost again.

Kellinlii took her weight off his throat. “I have killed many dragons,” she said. “and more wartoads. But never without a battle-challenge.” She backed away, letting Apitoxin get them to their feet. Beside him, his brother’s head and tail drooped in utter defeat. “I can prove it.”

Dendroaspis spat bitterly at the ash by their feet. “Get it over with, then.”

“Every dragon I have ever killed, I cleaned their skull and put them in a shrine.” Kellinlii said. “They were an offering to Plaguebringer, a rough exaltation.” She extended a wing, and coughed. “I can take you there right now, if you wish, and search for your skull.”

For the first time, his brother frowned. “They did say that.” he muttered. “She takes their skull and eats their eyes.”

Kellinlii nodded, and smiled. “Eyes are a special treat.” she said. She gestured to her death seeker—Khohuark!—with her wing. “I suppose he’s to blame.”

“They are good.” the bird croaked.

Dendroaspis pulled back to the normal control-split, and stomped his foot in frustration, raising a small plume of ash. “Then who did?”

Kellinlii looked at him appraisingly. “That is a very good question.” She tugged at the straps of her armor, as though fixing some part the battle had knocked millimetrically askew. “You two fight well.”

“We are strong.” Apitoxin said, though in truth he knew that was something aberrations were said to say only indirectly. “Does that mean you no longer want to kill us?”

She smiled. “I always liked you. And he’s making a good impression.” She shook out her wings, and coughed again. “What I would like to do is find out who has been using my reputation without my permission.”

“What’s wrong with you?” Hedysara had come back over—having retreated to a higher elevation during the brief, nasty skirmish.

Kellinlii laughed. “I’m sick, niece. It’s happened before.”

“Still, though?” Hedysara’s tones held concern. “I’m going to make you some pelagas tea.”

“That does sound nice.” Kellinlii watched her leave, then looked back up at the aberration. “Now, what made you think that I was the one who killed you?”

Dendroaspis flicked his long tongue, for the first time in weeks, and his head dropped, ruff bristling. “I—they said you were half Beastclan, half tundra.” His brow crinkled. “But you… aren’t.”

“And the one who attacked you is?” Kellinlii frowned. She took on a distant appearance, and Apitoxin noticed that Khohuark did too. “Was it the Bloodswimmer?”

“No!” Dendroaspis glowered at her. “I wouldn’t mix up a wildclaw with a tundra.”

“Corven.” Kellinlii laughed. “She’s a corven in disguise.”

Dendroaspis waved his claw in exasperation. “Not a bird! Mammal! Speckled Bear!” He whistled several notes in an approximation of what Apitoxin suspected was a coatl curse.

Kellinlii frowned harder, then shrugged. “No one comes to mind, but I will go and sniff what trophies I took with me. Perhaps the answer will come. If not…” Her affect grew as frigid as the Icefield. “Then I will need to go and investigate.”

“Not until you’re better!” Hedysara had reappeared, with a tray of tea around her neck. “And definitely not until after the clan-meeting.”

“Meeting?” Apitoxin felt a sudden twinge of uneasiness.

“The clan would love to know of your return.” Hedysara said. “You’d never seen Gloaming so withdrawn.”

“Have you resolved your… quarrel? With me?” Kellinlii asked.

Dendroaspis nodded reluctantly. “It was not you.”

“Then let us get going.” With that she turned and walked to the clan amphitheater—limping noticeably from the wound they’d dealt her.

*

It didn’t take long for the clan to gather—it seemed Fortune had been spreading the news that they had a returning clanmate. Gloaming almost bowled them over with an enthusiastic greeting.

Several of the clan were missing—notably Sprucetip, Henhowl, Plaguewinds, and Laenalaerr, reducing the clan-council to Elkrekeoddh, Liglanaerr, Kellinlii, Ithiliisahn and… Apitoxin blinked, and nudged his brother. “Look!”

Dendroaspis looked over, and flicked his tongue. He blinked. “We are not alone here.”

“That’s Hiirkaen!” Apitoxin said, and something snapped into place. “We were looking for her!”

“Is her sister overdominated?” Dendroaspis asked, looking at him with a raised brow.

“She didn’t have a sister when she left.” Apitoxin craned his neck. “So I don’t know her name.”

Fortune reappeared beside them, ushering DendroToxin down into the center of the amphitheater. There he reared back again. The chatter around the perimeter died down. “I will be brief,” he said. “Apitoxin has returned. Apparently even falling in the Wyrmwound wasn’t enough to finish him off!” He nudged the pair gently on the back.

“Will you be staying with the clan?” Hiirkaen’s sister asked, eyeing them. “Or returning to the fringes?”

“It would be nice to be part of a clan again.” Dendroaspis said.

Apitoxin nipped him. “This is my brother, Dendroaspis. Together we are DendroToxin, and we’ll be staying.”

“Then we’ll make reintroductions one-on-one, starting with those who were with him when he left.” Hiirkaen barked. “Everyone else, leave.”

In twos and threes the dragons started to drift away, leaving Gloaming and his sister—Winewings! that was the big Fire mirror!—to mob around him, as well as a large metallic dragon he found he still could not recognize, Explorer, and a small, shy nocturne. Alibi? Fortune, his job in announcing done, turned gruffly away.

“Ha!” Gloaming shouted. “I knew you’d made it! You’re small now!”

Dendroaspis looked away awkwardly, humming to himself. He sounded to Apitoxin’s ears like Colada.

“You survived.” the metallic dragon said.

“That’s Moonfire.” Explorer said. “Now she’s bigger than you were.”

“What is she?” Dendroaspis asked.

“How long were you in the Wyrmwound for?” Winewings cocked her head at him. “She’s an obelisk. Secondborn of the Earthshaker.”

“Huh.” Apitoxin shook his head, the memory of the sweet-scented tundra with the steel fur coming slowly back to mind. “He was around for several cycles, apparently. Who is Hiirkaen’s sister?”

“That’s Keaia.” Winewings said. “Apparently she fell into the Wyrmwound when Mom did, except she got stuck. Now they’re conjoined.”

“She’ll have loads of stories for you!” Gloaming said. “And there’s Terviskhar, and Photobacterium! They’ll probably be by next if Mom and Aunt aren’t.”

“Well, that’s all for me.” Explorer raised her head loftily. “I’m needed back on border patrol, what with Wrysight still out at the party.” She launched unceremoniously off her wings into flight, swooped once around the amphitheater, and was gone into the night.

“We’re glad you’re all right.” Moonfire said. “I’m sure Arietty will be glad when she returns, too.” She settled from sitting to laying with a scrape of metal on stone. “Nice to meet you also, Dendroaspis.”

“So how far out were you?” Gloaming pressed eagerly.

“That’s the thing.” Apitoxin said, frowning. “I wasn’t over the Wyrmwound. I landed on the rim, barely.”

There was a small chorus of gasps. Even Dendroaspis turned his gaze back, neck ruffling out.

“Oh Explorer’s gonna be mad she left.” Gloaming said. “Did you fall?”

“No.” Apitoxin shook his head. The idea of a gaoler merely slipping from the rim seemed ludicrous. “There was another dragon there. I think… I think I was pushed.”

Author's Note: yes, as my beta noted, Apitoxin heard Keaia's name. I decided it wouldn't be realistic for him to immediately key in that Hiirkaen's newly(!) conjoined sister was Keaia, given everything else going on at the time.

So now we know why Dendroaspis thinks Kellinlii attacked him! I wonder who really did...? and how that might play into Cindercone's current issues with the Beastclans.

Poor Kellinlii, she is sick because of bad life decisions. More on that in a later story.

[crimniko]

For @hypergryph and their amazing characters in Flightrising, the Egg Eaters I am trying out a new style recently where I draw rough lineart traditionally. But yeh! Here is their babies :] Wanted to draw them for a long time and finally did. [Edit: holy-]

[bigeggeaterjustsaying]

I think a buttload of my sp junk is on paper, but digging through that would SUCK so enjoy thhis plz

[hypergryph]

Short response to @polarized-bell-goat 's egg eater Oc story

[bigeggeaterjustsaying]

This is what I had to contribute to the board

aggie w @bigeggeaterjustsaying

(just posting my art

[dynami-fr]

wanted to draw a dragon recently, so i drew rannoch who belongs to @hypergryph! their lore, art, and characters are all amazing!