Great. An egg.

She just left it, Inferno recalled as he stared down at the amber-colored egg in his claws. Didn’t even say anything. And now I’m stuck with this thing.

How was he supposed to know this would happen? Inferno didn’t even know who had left it, he had been with so many dragonesses. All they did was have a little fun, nothing serious, but now he was stuck with this egg. Was it even his? Inferno didn’t know for sure, but it had to be. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be left with him.

Inferno couldn’t handle this. He didn’t know the first thing about being…a father. He didn’t know how to take care of an egg, let alone a young whelp. What was he supposed to do? He hid the egg in his massive claws as best he could, glancing around for somewhere to leave it.

”Hey, need some help?”

Inferno whipped around at the sound of the voice, almost startled. He expected another dragon ready to attack, but instead he found a green, lizard-like creature before him. He was familiar…Emerald Beetle, was it? That kid who used to follow him around everywhere. Burgeon Flare’s kid brother.

”What do you want?”

The hybrid looked up at him, this time with a friendly smile instead of the usual awestruck gaze Inferno remembered from him.

”Well, I see you have an egg. Is it yours?”

Shit! He saw right through him. And if that little runt knew, everyone else probably did too. Inferno fumbled for something to say, trying to maintain his macho front.

”No…I mean yes! Maybe! Why do you care?”

”I just figured you’d like some help, at least until the mom comes back. Eggs are pretty hard to take care of y’know? Anyone would need it.”

Inferno stared down at him, weighing his options. He was just fine on his own. He probably wouldn’t keep the egg anyway. He didn’t need help. But if he did keep it? Well, it was his; there was nobody else who would take it. He couldn’t just let it die. A little help wouldn’t hurt. But only because the kid asked!

”Sure, kid. The ma’s already beat it, so this runt might as well have someone else to take care of it. C’mon, let’s go make a nest.”