[Poppy]

Ceral was a bit confused when they'd told him that being put in a room was his punishment. It didn't make much sense to him, and maybe if the facility had done their work they would've found out that cave dragons actually blossomed in isolation; but maybe they had, and maybe they were just too lazy to come up with anything but isolation for him. He assumed everyone else was getting the same, and he had to wonder just how they'd all be reacting to it. He didn't know much about some of the dragons, like... Ky? That prairie dragon was probably having an awful time, he seemed too social if you asked Ceral. Lago had an odd sense of calm about him, but how he'd do being isolated was beyond him. Nym seemed too quiet, and Ceral could imagine him sitting in the corner just watching the ceiling for hours. Who knows what happened to Ivan. He hoped Ivy was okay, but he knew he'd have nothing to worry about with her. She was competent, and however long (because they wouldn't keep them all in here for weeks, right?) they were to be stuck in these plain looking rooms, Ceral had no doubt that she'd be okay. But as it was now, Ceral had made a home, if you will, in one of the corners of the room, curling up tightly and closing his eyes, the beginnings of a smile quirking his lips. So much for a punishment. He was basically getting rewarded for this!

He had been lectured himself, probably like the others might have been. Blah blah blah, don't do that again or else. The norm. That poor handler he'd bitten in the scuffles he'd been informed that they weren't doing too well, and Ceral would've laughed it he hadn't been in the presence of the scientists. Well, good riddance. He hoped the kid would never be able to continue his career ever again. It certainly sounded harsh, but not with the intentions all the humans had had while in the enclosure that day. They caused such a ruckus over finding Ivan's eggs that it just seemed preposterous over how much had happened. It really wasn't worth the trouble to think over, but he had been fairly amused upon the news of his victim.

Ceral had gotten even more news from Mr. Santiago. Of course, the man had been too busy to come down and pay him a visit, which wasn't a big deal to Ceral but you would think that with your most prized possession... The guy was upset, and with reason, but Ceral had scoffed at the words relayed by the staff and blatantly brushed them off. He didn't know who Santiago thought he was, but he didn't own him. Ceral didn't belong to anyone except maybe Ivy. He wasn't a pet, a companion, nor a pawn. He was his own person, and the joke was on his master because he was actually starting to warm up to being at the facility; not because of the fact that he couldn't leave, or the fact that he was in reality just being used as a rental, but because he'd met others of his kind - other dragons in general, and had met Ivy, and when things weren't shitty like they were now, it was a somewhat decent experience getting to interact with everyone. Obviously, it would all be much better on the outside. Ceral was still determined to get out, whether it be through the facility or back when Santiago took him up again. He'd lived in the wild for years, he wasn't giving up that easily.

While he could bask in it, Ceral enjoyed the peace and quiet, sighing softly at the feel of the cold floor against his skin. He almost felt a little sick, probably because of the pregnancy he guessed. It'd been that way for a week or so now, just plain nausea... but this room was too nice to cough up his breakfast in. Hell, it might just even be himself. Maybe he was getting sick. He didn't know how this pregnancy thing worked. Ceral shook his head and rested hsi chin on his arms. Worry for another day.

[labprotocol]

1 month 3 weeks later

Ivan was hiding by the artificial hot springs. Ky was smothering him, trying to cheer him up about the kits, but Ivan could see the way Ky was grieving too. Ky hadn't even got to see them and that was all Ivan's fault. Plus they'd all gotten punished for helping him and it came to nothing anyway. Demus was still in isolation and poor Lago was left three months pregnant in Avalon without his mate.

Ivan laid back in the grass at the base of the ground pool. He couldn't get himself to go in. He didn't deserve the comfort of water, but he knew Ky wouldn't find him here. The hot springs were in Ivy's territory. Ivan watched the leaves flutter in wind. His kits had been beautiful and he'd gotten to hold them for two weeks and nurse them before they were taken away. One was larger than the others, a forest dragon with blue markings and Ivan was pretty sure she was fourth egg that he'd had so much trouble with. She was going to give the humans trouble too. He knew it. She had been bigger than the others and had tried to push them away while he was nursing. Ivan had to make sure that the runt, the gold speckled water dragon, was able to get a turn. This time he hadn't named any of them, hoping that would make it easier. It didn't.

Ivan ran a hand down his bony stomach. He'd lost weight since birthing. He hadn't felt like eating. It was making Ky worry and get that endearing wrinkle between his brows and Ivan hated how much he was hurting Ky by not taking care of himself, but he just wanted to be alone.

-----------------

"Ivan's depressed. He's not eating, he's barely even moving. All he does all day is lie around and sleep. It's not good for his health. There's no way we can bred him like this and no one wants to buy a depressed dragon," Reva was pacing. These last two months had been a nightmare. Since Ivan had induced his labor (they'd found the berries he'd used and had sent out construction workers to dig up all of those plants to avoid a repeated incident) the dragons had become rebellious. She have considered relocating them to different enclosures, splitting them up, but she was afraid that one of the bad seeds would spread rebellion to the other dragons. "Maybe we should drug the water with prozac or something," she joked, pinching her brows with her thumb and forefinger.

Her phone beeped and she glanced down at it, noticing the reminder for the meeting she and Han had about an... interesting offer.

---------------

Ky was out hunting boar to get out some of his pent up emotions. Ivan had run off earlier, hadn't even told Ky where he was going. Ky stalked the wild pig, shifting his weight so the branch under him wouldn't creak, his gold eyes tracking his prey. Nym was three months pregnant now, half way, and Ky wasn't excited about a repeat process. Ivan was losing weight, he'd lost the bright spark in his eyes, and he was pulling away from Ky. Ky was loosing him and he was helpless. Ky pounced, snapping the boar's neck in his jaws, digging his claws into the pig's thick hide. Hot cooper blood squirted into his mouth and he spit it onto the ground. His limbs still twitched with nervous energy.

----------------

Ivy was worried about Ceral. He'd been starting to feel sick lately, so she was hunting through the forest for some kind of herb that mind help settle his stomach. She could ask the humans for something, but... well she didn't trust them for one thing or like them for another.

[Flayme]

"Hmmm, he's being stubborn still is he?" Han looked entirely unenthused, leaned back in his lab chair, feet propped up on his desk. He was tired of all the shit this water dragon was causing, it was absolute hell. They of course had had Santiago and Fiske, the press because Fiske hadn't kept his hoity toity mouth closed... The still had that insane prairie dragon to deal with, cursing and tearing things up at all hours of the day. "We could always bring him back in and tube feed him... The little brat is unfortunately too rare to just let him keel over." Han let out an exasperated sigh. For all he cared, Ivan could starve himself to death. It would make things a whole lot easier...

"What's that?-" Han suddenly became keenly interested when Reva phone sounded. It was probably a nosy question, as it could have very well been something personal, but he didn't much care. "Reva..." He pointed at her and then the phone. "What's up?"

------------------------

Nym let out an exasperated groan. Ky had just bolted off into the forest somewhere clearly upset, because yet again Ivan had slunk off somewhere to sulk... "I'm going to lose it this time, Ceral." He looked to the smaller dragon beside him. "I really am."

Nym didn't mean it maliciously, he really didn't, but being three months pregnant was making him feel more irritable than usual, and the way Ivan had been acting was stressing him out. Ky was upset, Ivan was obviously depressed, meanwhile Demus was still missing, poor Lago and Ceral were probably feeling just as bloated and awful as he was, and he hadn't heard a single word from Fiske since that day when he'd come in an yelled at him... Not that that was surprising, but still, Nym felt that hearing something would help ease his nerves a bit. Or maybe a nap, perhaps that would... A nice long week of hibernating, safe and away from the depressive mood and the perpetual angst that seemed to loom over this god forsaken place, Avalon.

"C'mon..." Nym muttered at Ceral, and suddenly forced himself up, pausing for just a moment. He still wasn't quite used to the way the kits, the eggs, inside him shifted. He still wasn't quite sure how many there were, but he'd been assured that he'd be finding out soon... If he didn't find out at all that would be fine with him. Being told the exact number would make it all too real. It would mean that this was still really happening and he was in fact not going to wake up in a moment and find that it had all been a dream... Though he figured that not being told more about his kits wasn't going to stop his figure from changing. All he had to do was look down and see his belly to know that it wasn't a dream. He was definitely showing now.

"We're going to go find Ivan." Nym finally finished as he straightened up. "He's done too much moping by himself lately..." The water dragon didn't need that after two weeks of being separated from the rest of them, and Nym knew that now that the kits were gone that it wouldn't be any time soon that Ivan was acting like his normal self. He had actually been quite curious to see Ivan's kits, but that hadn't ever been an option, they'd been taken from Ivan before anybody else had even seen them. "He can't have gone far." Avalon was only so big. He looked back to Ceral. "You up for coming with me, or would you rather stay here?"

[Poppy]

Ceral had tried his best, insisting to Ivy that he was okay and he was probably just sick because it was his first time carrying. That made sense, about as much sense as anything could make right now. He wasn't sick sick, it wasn't as if he had a cold or something. It was simply plain nausea, and at times it felt like a little more, but he didn't complain about it. Or rather, he tried not to. He'd told Ivy which seemed to be a big mistake because she was worried about him, a lot, and seeing her stressed made him stressed and he was about as ready to curl up in his old cave as he ever could be. Ivy had gone off earlier, probably scampering around to find him something and he wanted to tell her he would be fine, but by God if he'd be running around like he was now. Ceral thought he looked the same size as the tundra dragon he was currently with, but attributed it to his height (which was average, thank you very much) and maybe the way he slouched when he walked... He was a tad envious of the others. He still and another four and a half months of this, and the thought killed him.

"Over what?" he queried, his tone slightly teasing as he glanced over towards Nym. Ceral as just about on the same page as Nym though. Despite their reasonings probably being different, he felt about ready to lose a screw or two as well. When Nym stood, Ceral followed, embarrassed at how much slower he was moving. It wasn't his size, not yet, but the way things just... felt, made him queasy. Were eggs supposed to feel like this? All tumbling around like a weird waterfall? It was disorienting at times. Ceral didn't think he'd ever get used to it.

At Nym's idea , Ceral nodded. He didn't know much about Ivan other than what he'd been told, and the few times they'd really interacted with each other, but he couldn't imagine how it felt to have your kits taken away from you, and it only seemed right that they go try to find the water dragon. Ceral didn't think of himself as much of a support system, but they were all in this ordeal together, and he wanted to try to be there for anyone here that might need it. He hadn't seen Ivan in awhile, and knew Nym's suggestion was a good one. Time alone was good and well, but Ivan surely would need physical support sooner or later, wouldn't he? And that's where they came in. Sort of.

"I'm down," Ceral said and nodded. Not like he had anything better to do. "Where do you think he's gone to?" He frowned a little. "I'm worried about everybody. It's like everyone has some type of drama right now, you know?" Ceral scratched at his neck. "So uh... how're you feeling?" Mentally, physically, emotionally; they could all vary.

[Flayme]

"I really have no idea where he went." Nym shrugged. Ivan could be pretty elusive. "But, I mean, he has to be somewhere around here..." It wasn't like the water dragon could just disappear forever. Han and Reva definitely wouldn't allow it. The two probably had an eye on him, and the rest of them twenty-four seven now.

"Oh-" Nym started a bit Ceral's inquiry. He couldn't disagree that he was also a little worried about the rest of them. The lackadaisical, peaceful weeks of Avalon had been killed the same day Ivan had forced himself into labor. "I feel like I swallowed a bowling ball and a half, and I'm tried as hell of everybody being so upset..." Nym mused. "But other than that, I can't complain." He patted his stomach absently. He was well aware of how miserable poor Ceral had been of late, Ivy had seemed overly concerned about it. Nym supposed that he should have been grateful for at least that, that his bouts of nausea had only lasted near the beginning of his gestation so far. Of course some days were better than others, but it had mostly tapered off into just being... Really irritable... Irrationally so sometimes, but he found that he really couldn't help it.

Nym gave another little shrug as they paced along. He was going to be checking the easiest places first. The lake, the pond, though Nym was already certain that Ivan was probably keen on being somewhere trickier... Maybe they'd at least run into Lago. Nym found that he liked the swamp dragon, though there never seemed to be much time to strike up conversation with him. He was interesting and quirky,

"How about you?" Nym finally glanced at Ceral again. "You feeling any better lately?"

[BabyBelly]

Lago just couldn't wrap his head around it. Why would they keep Deemus for so long and not himself or the others? Were his actions so intolerable that he had to be punished more? He himself had dug a claw (accidentally) into Devin. Ceral and Ivy poisoned that one jackass, and hell, even Nym had bitten someone. The only one who didn't get in on the action was Ky, who out of all of them deserved a chance to defend his young. Yet, here they all were, minus Demus. Two weeks in isolation wouldn't have been that much of a punishment had it not been for the fact that he was very worried about Demus. He knew his mate couldn't stand this kind of punishment. Lago had entertained himself by singing and dancing to many of the songs Edna had introduced him to when he visited her, inside his little cell. He really annoyed the guards on watch, which was an awesome bonus. He had found two new humans to hate when they had all been disciplined. Those two idiot doctors, Han and Reva had read him the riot act about all their actions. He couldn't help but smile at the doctors when they told the shape Devin was in, thanks to him and Demus. That didn't earn Lago any brownie points unfortunately. "Ohhhh...Demus. I hope I see you soon", he said in a whisper.

Lago was in his dragon form, sitting in his huge mud pit he'd dug out himself when he returned to Avalon. He situated it in near the large pond where he first slept the night he was introduced into the enclosure. He wished Demus had been there to help him. Damned humans. Why would they keep Demus? What did they have to gain from keeping him longer? It pissed off Lago something fierce if he thought about for too long. He dug his claws into a nearby tree trunk and took out his frustration on it. He took in a few deep breaths and calmed himself. He had to keep himself relaxed and sane, because it wasn't just him anymore. He looked down at his growing, mud-covered belly and gave a lazy smile. Besides the bloating, moodiness and sickness he'd had in the first couple of months, his pregnancy was going pretty smoothly. Having had two previous clutches, his body was accustomed to the changes. He slogged over to the end of the pit next to the pond, and grabbed a huge claw-full of silk stockings and started munching away.

Leaning back into the mud pit, he still couldn't get over all the drama he'd been exposed to. God, how he hated drama, and here he was in the middle of it. "Damn water dragon, why'd you have to come up with that hair-brained idea", he growled. He was angry with Ivan. Angry that he had not thought it through, angry that his actions got them all in trouble, angry that he had not told Lago of his plan, and furious...because he got to come back to Avalon and Demus was still locked away in a cell. He climbed out of the mud pit, having angered himself again, and took aim at the closest big rock. He swung his tail down and cracked the huge rock in half. He slammed the offending rock with his tail until it was rubble, growling and snorting the entire time. What really made Lago angry, what pissed him off more than anything...was that he himself had contributed to the plan in a big way. If he had just walked away from the lake, if he had just let the event play itself out, like he knew it was going to, than maybe, just maybe...Demus would be with him right now.

He shifted to his human form, still covered in mud, and walk (or waddled) over to the tree he'd been clawing up, and sat down underneath it. He put his head into his hand and started to cry. "Why? Why Demus?", he choked out in a barely audible whisper.

[Flayme]

"Awh... Disgusting. He pissed in the corner of the room again..."

"What? What are you talking about?"

The handler hunched at the observation desk was clearly irritated. "That damned prairie dragon, he did it again, look." He jabbed the screen with one grubby forefinger. "Why the hell he can't just use the fucking toilet is beyond me."

"He's a little shit." The second man groaned. "That's why...." He didn't understand why Han and Reva insisted that the stupid tawny colored dragon still be locked up. The rest had been released and all seemed well in Avalon so far. All the toxic berries that intrepid water dragon had used were dug up, double staffing for the enclosure had been hired, the men who had been injured in the fiasco were all on the mend... Well for the most part... It was the little devil they were currently watching pace around his cell that had maimed Devin. Nobody had heard about the man's condition for a while. That was supposedly the reason the prairie dragon was still there, even though it was a giant pain. It had been debated several times what was to be done with him. Euthanasia was out of the question, because unfortunately the beast was rare, endangered, and if word ever got out that it had happened the facility could kiss everything it had established goodbye. But, selling the brute wasn't an option either. No breeder or sane human being would purchase a dragon that was reported for being an all around menace, Houdini, and now a lethal biter.

"I say we just ship him back to wherever the hell they picked him up from." The first man at the desk grumbled. "He was poached or something right? Just dump him back out in the wild somewhere let him chew things up there."

Merely chewing things up had been an understatement. Demus didn't have bed anymore because on end of week two of isolation, he had finally forced himself to shift inside the tiny room and had proceeded to shred up everything in reach. His latest tactic was spitting, and peeing on the floor instead of the toilet in the corner of the room, which he had damaged twice now.

"I dunno, I heard rumor that he's going to be released back into Avalon soon anyway. I think it'll be four weeks that he's been in here officially tomorrow." The tall lanky man behind the other at the desk let out a heavy sigh. "If we stuck him back in Hundurian I'd bet you anything he'd try and tunnel out again."

"You're probably right..." The other handler commented quietly. "Maybe we should phone Han."

---------------------

Demus had just finished his routine of soiling the floor and flipping the camera off for the second time that day. It made him smirk a bit to think about the two buffoons watching him getting angry about it. The two imbeciles had come down to his cell several times before to tell him to knock it off, that he was being 'unnecessarily awful', which only made him the happier to keep doing it, though he still ate regularly, which seemed to confuse the handlers apparently. The simple explanation for that was that Demus wasn't interested in starving himself to death, but he did want to cause a stir. He hadn't received any word about when he was going to be released, or even if it was an option. He hadn't really heard much of anything at all. Just that he was in trouble. He figured if he stirred up enough trouble here that maybe they'd get fed up and do something about it. Of course he didn't enjoy the act of behaving like some mentally regressed, horribly barbaric creature, but that had been what seemed to be working so far. It's what a got a ruse out of them-

"Demus." Suddenly the prairie dragon was plucked right out of his own thoughts when his cell door opened, completely. That never happened. They usually just shouted at him through the slot on the door, and if they did have to take him out to clean the cell he was usually gassed and put to sleep. It had happened so often over the past couple weeks, he was sure that he was probably going to end up with some lone term side effect from it now...

"Vance..." Demus bitterly. The doorway wasn't empty, not at all. Vance was there... Demus hated Vance. While he was wiry and tough looking, the man was sniveling creature that reminded him somewhat of a weasel. Up until this point Vance had simply screamed at him from the other side of the door, he'd only seen him twice between the rare moments the door opened. Right now was the third time. "And what brings your sorry ass down here, Vance? Got bored of kissing up to Han and Reva?"

"Hey, watch your mouth, dragon... I don't think you're in the situation to be spouting any fighting words..." Vance sighed dramatically. "I have received word that you are once again damaging your room, and that Han has finally okayed your release back to Avalon. You've finally fed everybody up."

"Wha-?" Demus tried not to look too surprised. Had he actually heard that right? He was being let out of here finally, and to Avalon no less? It almost seemed to good to be true. If Vance was just being cruel, then his heart forgot it for a moment. The idea of being back in the enclosure wasn't something he'd ever thought he'd admit to liking, but if Lago was there.... Demus could barely let himself hope. He'd been trying desperately to not even think about Lago for the past couple of weeks, because it had only made him unbearably despairing. Thinking about every moment being separated made the cell ten times worse. He was determined not to let this place get to him, and if he thought about Lago, or the unborn kits he'd been forced to abandon for the past month and two quarters, then he was certain that it would.

"Stop gaping and move." Vance said gruffly. "Han and Reva have some important phone call or some shit, so my crew is taking you, right now, get moving...." Vance pointed at Demus decisively. "If you try snapping at any one of us, you're getting a muzzle and tranq, put out your hands."

Demus simply nodded and thrust both arms out, knowing well that they were about to be bound together, but that didn't bother him in the slightest, and the next half an hour was a rush, a blur. His heart pounded like crazy the entirety of his escort back to Avalon. Out of the lab, in the truck, and even when he was finally shoved out to the gate, he hadn't made a sound. He was afraid he was going to jinx something. That he was going to wake up back in the cell if he dared to even breathe.

"There! Get in, stop gawking, put your arms up again." Vance grabbed Demus (rather roughly, though Demus barely even noticed) and snapped the zip tie on his wrists off with his knife. He didn't hesitate to shove Demus through the gate, kicking at his legs as they went. Once Demus had stumbled past the entrance he froze, and the gate was slammed behind him without another word from Vance or anybody else. Suddenly the tawny dragon was having deja vu, standing there in the beginning of the forested Avalon, quiet and alone. Only this time he wasn't going to be slinking around. He had someone to find as quickly as possible.

[labprotocol]

"Oh," Reva said remembering that she'd forgotten to tell Han about the meeting during all the crap that had been going on lately. "This should cheer you up," she said twirling around to look at him. "We have a meeting with a rare flower dragon. Says she wants to offer herself up to the facility." Stupid dragon as if she had a choice the moment she reveled herself. The facility would do anything to get their hands on such a rare find. They were hoping that things could run smoothly and that the dragon would go through with coming of her own free will. However if it came down to it, the facility wasn't against using force.

Though with Devin, Benjamin, and Hale, all down and filing for early retirement the facility wasn't eager for anymore confrontations. Devin had lost one of his arms to Demus' bite and had probably lost the other one as well. He was still in a coma fighting for his life. That water dragon was staring to be more trouble then he was worth. The kits had sold for millions, but they barely made a profit with the medical bills, cost of the gas, and repairs for equipment, etc.

Plus like Han said, if Ivan didn't start eating soon they'd have to drag him here and feed him through a tube.

Ivan had been causing so much trouble that she barely had time to look for buyers for Nym, Lago, and Ceral's kits. This flower dragon was needed break.

---------------------
Ivy had found some peppermint leaves, lemon balm, and ginger root to help Ceral out. She was currently using claws to dig out a section of ginger. When she was done she'd go to Ky's cave and borrow one of his ceramic bowls to brew some tea in. Hopefully it would help with the nausea. She also planned on catching a chicken and cooking it with mild lemon flavoring. Tonight they'd have a relaxing night in. She was going to make damn sure that he got enough water, food, and sleep. She didn't care if she was going to have to pin him to the nest. He was going to relax DAMN IT!

-------------------
Ky finished the boar, but he was still furious. He was angry at the facility, at Ivan, at himself. He should have seen the signs. He should have known that Ivan would do something stupid. He should have been there for the birth, should have helped Ivan incubate their eggs, watched him nurse them. Ky's eyes stung and he felt like he'd burst into flames at any second. It was too bad that he couldn't breath fire, because at that moment he wanted nothing more than to burn the whole place down.

[BabyBelly]

Lago sat under the tree for a while, feeling defeated and dejected. He was starting to doubt whether he'd see his mate again. Sometimes he didn't know what he saw in that prairie dragon. He was loud, crass, a total smart ass (sometimes even to Lago), rarely shut up when he was awake, and a lot of times didn't seem to have much common sense. But then there were his good points. He was honest (painfully blunt actually, which was refreshing at time), loyal to a fault, mischievous, had an awesomely chiseled body, and he made Lago laugh like no one else. The total package that was Demus just made Lago smile and giggle. They seemed to be total opposites, but somehow, they clicked.

He leaned his head back against the tree, rubbing his belly. As round and soft as his body was, it was pretty clear that he was pregnant now. His middle was definitely bigger and firmer. He had no idea how many eggs were in there, but he was looking pretty big this time around. The winds shifted and he took in a deep breath. His eyes shot open when he caught that familiar scent. His head snapped towards the entrance. "Oh my God...please, please be you", he begged to no one in particular. He got to his feet as quickly as possible and started bounding towards the entrance, holding his belly with one hand. Wildly shifting eggs made him feel queasy.

He dodged between bushes and trees, leaning against one to catch his breath. He shifted to dragon form and trotted towards the entrance. Demus' scent was stronger now, and it was driving Lago mad. He started calling out as the scent got stronger. "Demus! Demus! IS THAT REALLY YOU?!"

[Poppy]

The enclosure was pretty big, there was that, but Ivan had to be hiding out somewhere. It wasn't always so easy just to scent someone out, especially when they weren't pregnant, or weren't in heat, or just didn't have a certain smell to them that stood out among the many others. Ceral had been worried about Ivan just as much as the others (well, as much as some of them were; Lago seemed to be pretty miffed with Ivan, and Ceral understood his reasoning) and it was always nice to check to make sure that the water dragon, or anyone here that might just be going through something, was okay. Ceral had thought it to be unfair the way they'd kept that prairie dragon still in isolation. After all, it hadn't been his fault for any of what had gone down with Ivan's situation, and Ceral had seen the toll it was taking on Lago. He wished he could've been able to do something about it, but he stuck to his own. He didn't exactly want to leave Avalon anymore now that he was out of the isolation room. It wasn't bad, but being around Ivy and the others was much more enjoyable. It was funny, really, how he was starting to feel differently towards being around people when not even a year ago, he'd been lounging in his cave, not even thinking about socialization.

"What's a bowling ball..?" Ceral's brows knitted together and he gave Nym a look, snorting humorously at the comment. "I still can't believe that you didn't grow up in the wild. Like that's just insane to think about." Ceral shook his head. It probably didn't feel weird if you'd grown up with humans all your life, but for someone like himself who'd been raised completely without human contact until just recently, it almost sounded surreal to hear of dragons actually being kept as pets and companions. He guessed as long as they were taken care of, it didn't much matter... but Ceral knew that his owner wasn't exactly the kindest of humans, and he could only hope that, pet or companion or whatever, most of those kinds of dragons were at least with someone who treated them with respect. They weren't some house cat.

"Ah, kind of." Ceral had thought at first that his sickness was just the basic nausea that came with pregnancy, but it felt like it was turning into something more. He tried not to think about it though, because if he did it'd be in his head for hours and he'd rather just try to finish the day before he had to worry about coming down with a cold or something similar. "I don't wanna talk to Ivy about it, she gets so worried." Ceral frowned. "It's not just nausea, y'know? It just feels like plain being sick. I hate it." He shrugged absently. "I'll get over it though. I bet it was something from those handlers or whatever..."

[Flayme]

"Oh- Well I can't believe you don't know what a bowling ball is." Nym teased and then chuckled flatly, he was yet again forgetting that nobody else in Avalon seemed to ever know what he was referring to when he meantioned human objects. "A bowling ball is... Well... A type of ball, obviously. Humans use it for a sport they play.... It's hard to explain." He shrugged and then left it at that. Telling Ceral that humans threw a ball of solid urethane down an indoor alleyway to knock over pins, was going to sound absurd. He was sure half the terminology would be lost on the other dragon anyway. "Humans... Just, entertain themselves in odd ways." He said again after a moment, and then kept walking.

Ivan had to be around here somewhere, though Nym hadn't seen hide nor hair of him yet. He was going to be miffed if he ended stalking through brush and brambles just to find that Ivan had been somewhere completely obvious the whole time. It would have been ten times easier if he could actually scent where Ivan was, but one side effect of pregnancy was that Nym had a hard time deciphering scents anymore. Suddenly some odors smelled like other ones, and things he'd used to enjoy the smell of repulsed him. He didn't know if that was side effect for every pregnant carrier, but it was for him. Sniffing out Ivan in the Avalon full of so many different scents was going to be impossible for him.

"Hm?" Nym stopped in his tracks for a moment and looked at Ceral, somewhat worriedly. "You feel more sick than before?" Nym had gotten nausea too, but that had been the extent of it, and lately it had been easing off. "Maybe..." Nym offered hesitantly. "You should tell Ivy... I mean, she'll flip, but she might know how to help. Or maybe ask Lago, or Ivan... If we ever find him...." Nym sighed. "They've all experienced this stuff before."

-------------------

"A flower dragon?" Both of Han's eyebrows danced skyward. He could hardly believe what he had just heard. "And she's offering herself up, you say? .... Interesting...." That was unheard of. Wild dragons especially were never keen on being placed in captivity, hearing that a dragon as rare as this willfully giving themselves up to them was intriguing, if not even a little bit too absurd to believe.

"When do we meet with it? Her, him? Whatever the thing is." Reva had said 'her', but Han had already forgotten. He tilted his chin into his palm. "A dragon of that breed would be quite the invaluable asset to our program..." He nodded. "We need to lock her agreement in as soon as possible."

-------------------

"Lago?" Demus only uttered one word when he first heard shouting, and then next was hit with the unmistakable scent of the swamp dragon. That same earthy smell, like it had just rained. He froze in place for a moment, trying to figure out where Lago was coming at him from, he was still stunned to actually be out of his cell walking through Avalon, the fact that they had actually placed him back in the same enclosure as his mate was astounding, flooring, he couldn't believe it.

That is he didn't believe it until he actually caught a glimpse of Lago as he stalked forward again. Had he actually seen him?... Yes... Through the trees there was that unmistakable mess of dreadlocks, and that ever familiar round figure that he'd come to know so well. Demus heart leapt up his throat and he hardly had time to register that Lago was rounder than he'd left him, before he was sprinting, running past trees and leaping over brambles. "Lago!" He shouted with absolute relief, excitement, and admittedly some unbridled emotion before landing with soft thud right into the other dragon. Demus' arms immediately searched to wrap behind Lago's neck, and he dipped his head into the crook of the other's shoulder. He couldn't even make a sound for a moment. "Oh my god, Lago, you're real." He finally uttered. "You're real. I can't believe it... Is any of this actually real?"

[Poppy]

Role: Dragon
Name: Nizhoni (but Niza is fine lol)
Gender: Female
Seeder/Carrier/Both: Both, but she doesn't prefer one over the other
Description: Flower dragons are a very rare breed, scarce to find and it's all because of themselves that they have to blame. Their tradition could be considered taboo; they do not fight back. If you're being attacked or hunted, you may fight back in the midst of it, but once you have lost and you've been taken, you do not for any reason put up a fight. It's considered shameful, and thus, many flower dragons have died because of it, maybe dying without shame but also dying when they might have had a clear opportunity for escape. Flower dragons' appearances range depending on where the dragon was born. Those born in the forests or mountains might take on a darker look that resemble the flowers in those areas, meanwhile dragons that live near beaches or on the plains, like Nizhoni, have lighter colors and resemble the brighter, more colorful greenery. It's mostly a product of evolution for camouflage. Flower dragons are often mistaken as forest dragons. And because I'm too lazy Nizhoni herself looks like this and her dragon form resembles this.
Enclosure: Avalon


"Niza, you better behave-"

The flower dragon waved a hand at her human. She didn't dare call him her master because that's not what the man was. He was more... Ah, well, she didn't quite know what to call him. He was older, had to be in his fifties at least; she'd let her guard down and he'd taken her, but as per tradition, she didn't fight back. She came willingly back to his mansion (and thinking about it now, maybe that's why the flower dragons were such a rare breed; their tradition would surely be their downfall) and he'd seemed confused at how laid back she'd been. Aren't you supposed to fight back he'd asked. And she'd responded with something along the lines of if that's what you'd like, and the look on his face was priceless.

"Archer, stop pestering me. I'm not going to do anything." She blew a strand of hair away from her face, reaching her hands up to comb it down neatly over her shoulders which were covered in light pink hued scaled. She didn't wear clothes in her human form, like most dragons, although the scales she retained while in this form hid her more private areas - and that was always nice because she didn't know how the humans wore all those scratchy cloth materials.

"It'll be back to the drawing board if you try something," Archer muttered, entering the facility with Nizhoni in tow. She rolled her eyes, stifling a rather obscene comment she'd wanted to make at the minute. It was a little unusual that she was being sold, but it didn't bother her. She had no doubt in her ability to escape if need be, and besides, this would be a change of pace compared to her days on the flowery plains at home. She hadn't seen another flower dragon in a few years, sometimes she felt like the only one left. Maybe seeing new dragons would invigorate her. "I suppose that means it'll be your loss if I act out then, huh?" Nizhoni snickered at the way Archer's face went red.

---------------

"A sport with a ball?" Ceral pursed his lips. Humans were odd. The only sport he'd ever played was hunt, and of course that was for survival purposes. Had to hunt to survive, right? But it always ended up seeming more like a game sometimes than it was an actual fight for survival. "You're gonna have to tell me about your humans," Ceral said casually, glancing towards the sky as he considered what the conversation might be like. "You were a pet, yeah? I was locked in a room all day, that seems totally different than what happened to you." Ceral shuddered at the recollection. He'd only been let out once a day, and that was when some maids were instructed to come and clean his room.

Nearing one of the spots where he and Ivy tended to hang about in, the weird man-made falls towards one end of the enclosure, Ceral would pick up the faintest scent. Maybe Ivan? Hell, maybe it was Ky, or Ivy. He didn't really know, but it was there, and they might as well go see who was hanging around. "Uh, I think I'll save it for Ivan if we find him. Or Lago maybe. Whoever we run into first." Ceral smiled sheepishly. He felt embarrassed asking, but he didn't want to worry poor Ivy anymore, and maybe he could get this whole sick thing figured out through one of the other carriers that had actually gone through pregnancy before.

"I'll be fine," he insisted again. "Worst comes to pass, the staff will do something, won't they?" Ceral grimaced. "Although I think I'd prefer if they didn't..."

[BabyBelly]

He was so close now, that Lago just shifted back to human form and flat out ran towards the tree line. He heard Demus' familiar voice, and tears started to fall from his eyes. "I'm here Demus!" He saw Demus' bright, blonde hair and his adorable freckles as he leaped over some bushes, and before Lago could react, his mate practically crashed into him and they fell to the ground. Thankfully Demus landed to his side, and he wraped his arms around Demus as tightly as he could. He sniffled and started crying, too caught up in the moment to say anything. They were both silent, minus Lago's crying, for a moment. Lago held onto his mate's torso, feeling him up and down, as if he was terrified it was all some cruel nightmare.

Then he heard Demus' question and started laughing through his tears. "Of course this is real you dummy! Oh God, I almost can't believe you came back...I almost lost hope." He took Demus' face into his hands and kissed him with all the passion he'd been saving up for over a month. "I missed you...so much", Lago choked out, more tears running down his face. He then took Demus hand and placed it on his belly. "We missed you so much", he said with a joyful smile.

[Flayme]

Demus would never admit to it in a thousand years, but as he clung to Lago there in the middle of Avalon's canopy, pressed up agaisnt the other dragon with nothing but shuddering breaths between them, he was beginning to feel himself tear up too... He was getting more emotional than he'd ever thought he'd dare let himself but be... But there it was. He'd missed Lago... He'd missed him.

"I didn't think I'd ever be let back in here in a hundred years to be honest- Hey-" Demus chuckled a bit, covering up and smoothing over some of his tears as he laughed at the way Lago called him a dummy. He wasn't given a chance to say anything more however, because Lago swiftly and expertly pulled him into a kiss. Probably the sweetest kiss Demus had ever experienced. Whoever had first said that absence made the heart grow fonder had made an understatement. Demus couldn't even feel his heart, he could barely even breathe.

"We?" Demus said softly, and then looked down to where Lago had directed his hand. Instantly Demus beamed, elated that the signs that he and Lago's kits were all still doing fine... Thank god. "Hey kits.." Demus scooted down a bit to place an ear up to Lago's belly and closed his eyes. He wanted to just stay there like that for as long as he could. Quiet, peaceful, completely wrapped up in the wonderment that was being with his mate, underneath trees... And big, beautiful, open sky. "God, Lago-" He sighed. "I missed you too."

-------------------------------

"Ah! You've arrived!!" Han was almost dancing as he watched the man, apparently called Archer, and this new dragon... Nizhoni, be brought into the main lobby of the main lab in the center of the facility. "We're so thrilled to have you both here..." He gushed. He was ready to become nothing but questions but figured he should at least try to cap his eagerness just a little bit. "Please, follow us." He gave a glance to Reva. "We'll show you to a room where you'll both be comfortable, and then we can get down to explaining everything to you. Any questions about our lovely facility can do for you, just ask..." Han's gaze snapped from Archer to Nizhoni. She was currently in her human guise... And admittedly was rather lovely. "Ask anything. Dr. Reva and I will be glad to answer..." He thrust a hand out at Archer and then looked back at the flower dragon. "I'm Dr. Han..."

-------------------------

"Yeah yeah, I was a pet... Kind of." Nym nodded absently. He had really been more like an adopted, almost child. The Fiskes had always been decent to him. Of course, he had never had the same privileges that Sean and Addie had had. He had never expected them. He wasn't a human and had never asked to be considered one. He had been an adult by the time that Sean and Addie were born anyhow, he'd seen them both come home as pink, squirming little things. It wasn't as if he had been raised with them. "I was a companion.. I didn't lay in the sun all day and beg scraps off the table." Nym sounded a little appalled at that. "It was... Different... Strange. Again, hard to explain."

"Alright..." Nym nodded again as Ceral spoke up about who he should mention his symptoms to. "Ivan should know, I mean, he's been pregnant twice before now. The staff will do nothing but poke and prod at you." He shuddered. He was definitely never letting himself get shot up with anything that Han or Reva sanctioned ever again. Not after that heat inducer... Nym still cringed to think about that whole fiasco. "No, the staff isn't an option." He repeated. "If we could find him... I'm sure Ivan wouldn't mind listening. He can't stay mopey forever." Or at least, Nym hoped he wouldn't... He was getting rather tired of searching for him though.

"Augh-" Nym finally raised his hands up in the air defeatedly and then slapped them back down to his sides. "I don't know where the heck he is... I can't smell worth a farthing right now.... Ivan!" Nym suddenly cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted. "IVAN!" If they couldn't sniff him out, maybe shouting for him would do something. It was somewhat of a vain hope, but Nym didn't want to be out walking around all afternoon and evening. "Hm... I say if we don't find him within the next five minutes, we head back."

[labprotocol]

Reva smiled and led them to Elswood Conference room, which had been donated by one of their more influential clients. The room was on the third floor and led out onto a balcony. Fancy Victorian chairs, that wouldn't have looked out of place in a queen's home, was set out in the room like a large parlor. Reva motioned for them to set down around a circular glass table with delicately form metal legs. A five tier stand held finger sandwiches, rich cakes, strawberries and an assortment of flowers. There were some servers hiding inconspicuously beside some Greek columns.

"I'm Dr. Reva and like Dr. Han said, please feel free to ask any questions. If you do decided to join," she gave a polite smile to Niza that didn't reach her eyes, before setting her gaze more firmly on Archer. She assumed that he'd be the one making the real decision. "we have twelve enclosures to chose from."

--------------------

Ivan heard Ceral and Nym coming towards him and curled up tighter into a ball. "Don't see me. Don't see me," he whispered. He didn't deserve comfort. His rash decision had caused so much pain for everyone. He just wanted to lie there and suffer silently. Though if he was honest with himself, he didn't want to be alone, so when he heard Nym call out for him his heat sped up and he said weakly. "Here."

[Poppy]

Archer seemed to relax when the pair of scientists came out, but when Han extended his hand, Nizhoni stepped in to shake it first. "A pleasure," she purred, blinking coyly at him as she eventually moved past them all, leaving Archer to frown and give a sigh as he caught up with shaking hands with both Han and Reva. He knew there was nothing he could really do to make Nizhoni listen to him, and she'd made that clear from the moment he'd caught her. It was nice that she seemed willing, but God was she needy. For a flower dragon, though, Archer had sucked it up and dealt with it, knowing that in the end he'd get his moneys worth. It seemed weird to him that she didn't mind to be sold, but then again she didn't mind much of anything.

"Oh, Dr. Reva! You know you'll have to be talking to me too, yes?" Nizhoni eyed the woman as she took a seat next to Archer. "I'm just as human as you lot are, but with better qualities." She quirked a brow and sat back. "I like that fancy sounding enclosure. Avalon?" She nodded approvingly and Archer looked to be thinking for a moment until he finally broke the silence himself.

"Nizhoni here is very willing to go through with this, although I suppose we should talk prices first..." Archer hummed in thought. "I certainly wouldn't give her up for free. Flower dragons are-"

"Notorious. Rare. Costly. So offer Mr. Archer here a fair price, okay? I'll admit, he is a very seasoned hunter." Nizhoni gave a wide smile.

---------------

"Well, we've got all the time in the world it seems." Ceral shrugged. "You should tell me about it sometime. I'm actually really interested." So a companion was different from a pet, but in what ways? They all sounded the same to Ceral; if you were owned by a human, you were their property, companion or pet or whatever the hell else was out there. Some humans were better than others. He still couldn't believe that Nym had never been an actual wild dragon before. As weird as it sounded to Nym that Ceral had always been wild, it was the same way around. Eventually dragons would be bred out so there were none left in the wild, and they were all solely companions or pets. That'd be a sad day.

Ceral sniffed as Nym called out for Ivan. He'd definitely have to ask Ivan if he knew of any remedies for what he was feeling. He didn't want to go to the staff to get them to help, but if push came to shove they would be there, and he knew they certainly wouldn't let their merchandise get sick and jeopardize their million dollar eggs. Ceral was just about ready to take up Nym's suggestion of heading back himself when he heard Ivan's voice in reply, and he frowned a little when he heard the water dragon's voice. "Who knew all you had to do was yell?" he teased lightly.

Finding Ivan not too far off, Ceral stood in silence for a few seconds before he had the guts to finally say something. "Ivan," he started calmly, trying to keep his voice as even sounding as he possibly could, "you know you can't keep running off like this..?" Ceral looked to Nym, as if asking for some kind of help. He wasn't the best at these kinds of conversations. He tended to be blunt and right to the point and it didn't usually go over well. "We're just worried about you."

[labprotocol]

Reva was taken aback by Niza's bluntness. What kind of dragon was this? Negotiating about their own price? "Well... Actually I don't think Avalon would be a good fit. I don't think you would get along with those dragons, dear." She glanced at Han. "I believe Shangri-La would be a much better fit. It is also a tropical enclosure and we have a Koi dragon, and a lovely volcanic carrier dragon who is going into heat soon. There is also a gold seeder dragon." Reva ignored the question about money, hoping to reel them in first, before negotiations really started.

----------

Ivan sat up and wrapped his skinny arms around himself. "Sorry... for making you worry. I didn't... that wasn't my intent." He gazed down at the ground, refusing to make eye contact, letting his hair fall into his face. "I just," he shrugged. "Ky's driving me nuts," he looked up at Nym and gave a small smile. "Bet he's bothering you too huh?"

[BabyBelly]

Lago looked down as Demus cooed to the still developing eggs in his womb. He had been so afraid that he'd miss moments like this. He was just taking in every second as if their reunion would end in the blink of an eye, and he'd be left alone again to go through the pregnancy by himself. That thought made his blood run cold. He'd never been on his own with either of his pregnancies, and he couldn't imagine having done so.

Lago laid there with his mate for a while, and lost track of time. Not that he cared that much, it's not like they had anywhere to be in a hurry. He supposed they should tell the others...eventually. As Demus laid his head on Lago's belly, as if it was a pillow (which Lago found adorable), he noticed he was still covered in dried mud...and that his mate didn't seem to mind. "Umm...sweetie? You do realize I'm covered in mud right?"

[Flayme]

"Mud?" Demus quirked an eyebrow and popped one eye open to peer at Lago. The swamp dragon was right... He was covered in mud, and now actually, they both were rather covered in it "Awh, fuck the mud." Demus said flatly. He had been too caught up in the moment to realize that he was getting dirty. Even though he usually hated mud, he didn't care much that it was on him... At least not at the moment. Later he'd probably be miffed that he'd have to wash off.... Being submerged in water wasn't something Demus ever keen about, especially if it was cold.

"Maybe it'll rain, and I won't have to worry too much about the mud, anyway." Demus chuckled. "Besides, a little mud beats hanging out on a sterile linoleum floor any day." He shoved himself up onto his elbows and wriggled himself to be up by Lago's face again. "It's peaceful here today..." He grinned. "Where's everybody else? Everybody still here?"

-------------------

"Oh- Ivan!" Nym was right behind Ceral as they finally found the water dragon. He was looking just as down and out as Nym had been expecting he would be. He wished he could do something to fix it, and bring back the bubbly, somewhat overzealous Ivan he had met when he had first been placed in Avalon.... He wasn't sure how to even attempt at that though. Nym wasn't the best when it came to comforting others. He never seemed to have the right amount of positivity, or the right words, but he always meant well.

"Ky... He's been.... Rather high strung, yes..." Nym shrugged, and then slowly lowered himself down to the ground to sit across from Ivan. Really the way Ky was acting was beginning to worry Nym... He supposed he couldn't really blame the forest dragon. He'd just lost his kits, and now Ivan was obviously pulling away. He imagined that he would be decently upset as well.... But Ky was evidently really hurting, and just like Ivan, he didn't know how to fix him either. "He took off into the forest a bit ago." Nym eyed Ivan slowly. "Said he was going hunting or something.... You've been out here by yourself for your while. I'm surprised he hasn't sniffed you out by now." Nym sighed and then attempted to lean forward to put his chin in his hands. It was a feat that wasn't going to be possible in just another month or two. "I must say, you chose a nice place to hide out and disappear all day though..." Nym nodded and then offered the other dragon a soft smile, and then looked to Ceral as well. "You know, I don't think I've ever used these hot springs before."

----------------------------

"Shangri-La would be much more accommodating to your needs Nizhoni, yes." Han nodded and then gave a fleeting, nervous glance to Reva. Avalon sounded like an entirely bad idea. It was like the new enclosure was cursed, a trap for attracting trouble making dragons... And handlers... Nizhoni seemed very much the opposite of that. In fact, she appeared to be very compliant. I t was unnerving a bit at how educated she seemed to be. She'd even picked up on handshakes. For dragons that hadn't been raised with humans, that was usually totally lost on them.

"Really, I'm sure we can come to an agreement that will benefit everybody." Han flashed Archer a glance next. The comment about price hadn't gone unnoticed... That was going to be tricky. Flower dragons were indeed rare, and Nizhoni was a rather exquisite specimen.. He was sure Archer knew that. "We're more than happy to show you a preview of Shangri-La." Han forced a smile. "It's one of our new residences, the habitat is created to lush and tropical like Reva has said, and there several other dragons who would provide you some lovely company...." He paused. "Avalon is a temperate forest... But it never has come to be quite as lovely as Shangri-La or any of our other enclosures, I'm afraid."

[labprotocol]

Ivan stood shakily to his feet and gave a half hearted smile. He held his hand out to Nym to help him up. "Yeah. Well this is Ivy's territory," he rolled his eyes. "So Ky's not going to come looking for me here." He brushed his hair back with a hand, it was getting long, he'd need to cut it soon. Frowning he glanced out into the forest. Ky wasn't taking any of this well. The ginger was hurting and Ivan, as his 'mate' should be there to help him. A huge weight pressed down on Ivan's chest at the thought. How could he take care of Ky when he couldn't even take care of himself. He'd even caused trouble for the others. Nym and Ceral had gone out of their way to find him and they really shouldn't be lumbering around the forest while three months pregnant.

He nodded to the hot springs and said "The hot springs are nice. Totally artificial, but water is water. The hot water should also help with any aches or pains you guys have." He walked over to the bottom pool and slowly hoisted himself up onto the ledge. "Come on. So how are your pregnancies going? Have you... have they done an ultrasound yet?" His stomach tightened and he clenched his arms over his empty stomach. "Know how many you're having?"

-----------------

Ky finally came back and bathed at the lake, the water around him turning red with dried blood. Nym was now missing as well, but he didn't have any energy to feel anything about it. Nym would probably leave him too. Ky was an awful mate. Nym deserved so much more. The tundra dragon deserved someone who could give him all the attention he deserved, someone who could protect them and their kits. Ky growled and tangled his hands in his hair, pressing his face into the crook of his elbows.  He couldn't protect his kits. What kind of father was he?

He growled shifting to dragon and scraping his claws into the ground at the bottom of the pool. His shoulders twitched and once again he wished he could fly like Ivy and escape his problems. Escape. That was the problem. Everyone wanted to escape, but Ky already knew too well the consequences. When would everyone else learn already that it was best to just do as the humans said?

He stretched out on his sunning rock, the same one he'd been relaxing on that day that Nym had arrived. Everything had seemed so perfect then.

--------------

Ivy caught several chickens and had plucked off their feathers and gutted them. She was now roasting them over a small fire with lemon balm. It was a more human dish than she usually ate. Normally she'd just eat the chickens raw. She did eat the guts herself while she waited. Cooked meat was supposed to be easier on the digestive system than raw though and she hoped that it would be easier for Ceral to keep down. He hadn't thrown up yet, as far as she knew, but she had a suspicion that he was hiding something from her.