Nikora & Company

Stepping into the double doors, the large open area when you first entered was loud. A few receptionists were at a semi circle desk, directing people where to go and answering questions in between taking calls from inside the building to send people that were waiting up. People dressed in civilian clothes mingled with others in uniforms that either worked in the building or for the militia itself on various projects. It was a busy atmosphere, something always happening even if it was mostly a large amount of smaller things that were usual day to day ways of life.

A younger and darker skinned female clung to her mother as they made their way in, the mother speaking to one of the receptionists as the young child just clung more to the legs covered in a longer dress. It earned her some hair tousles before they moved away, now waiting for someone to come meet them down there.

“I just need to help heal and take care of some people for work, it shouldn't take too long. Afterwards, we can spend some time in that nice tree grove by the river, doesn’t that sound nice?” She cooed, earning only tighter leg clings but a nod. “You just need to be a good girl, okay?” Giving her young child some more head pats, the mother just hoped all would go well.

Eventually, someone dressed in an open lab coat approached and greeted them. The mother already seemed to know them, exchanging friendly greetings and chatting for a moment before the attention was moved towards the clingy child who just looked up with her big nervous eyes. She still tried to make herself scarce despite the attention of both adults being on her, an oddity that earned some ‘awwwws’ from the pair. Nikora was not usually a shy child, more often then not full of energy and chaos as she can through the wide open fields in the day to play with other children her age. However, in a building filled with loud noises and conversations, along with sterile scents that floated from the rooms used for tests of some sort, it was far from the usual comfortable atmosphere she was spoiled with.

Nikora never liked coming to the main militia building and was often left with neighbors as her mother worked due to this. Something always seemed off to her even if everyone was acting friendly and kind, it was as if they were only acting kind because they had to. Despite any protests, it was still her mothers work and she only wanted to help those in need. Today though, she was being brought in to see if she was a dragon rider, something she had heard of before but wasn’t entirely sure what it meant as the older kids and adults talked about it. Finally letting go of her mother’s leg, her mother crouched down to gently hold Nikora’s face. The young child earned a few kisses to make sure that limited attention was on her as she spoke.

“This nice gentleman is going to take you to look at some dragons and dragon eggs, to see if any of them want to bond with you. It's okay if none do, okay?” Nodding, Nikora leaned her head down for a few more forehead kisses before being ushered off to the scientist’s out held hand. She was still unsure, but took it all the same as she watched her mother. She stood and brushed herself off, waving as she started heading in the opposite directions from the pair. Once she was out of sight, the scientist gently tugged at the young Nikora to lead her off to where the dragons were.

The halls were just as busy as the entering area, though far fewer civilians wandered the halls. Those who did had visitors badges, seeming to be on track for some sort of task they set out for themselves or something assigned to them. Nikora walked more slowly to take in the image, though was occasionally tugged gently towards the area they were heading to. Most were humanoids of some sort, but some had more animalistic or robotic features that left her curious to the whys or hows.

Finally, they came to where they were heading to through all the halls and crowds. The door was plain white, though it showed signs of wear and tear, with a dragon symbol and also an egg. Simple and to the point, for anyone to be able to find the door regardless of what language they spoke. Pushed inside and towards the area of playing children, Nikora didn’t move at first as she stared at all the other children. They played amongst each other, though some were focused on playing with their dragons or the contraptions around for them to interact with. Moving towards a smaller inside jungle gym of some sort, she decided to climb on that as she eased herself into the situation.  

It didn’t take too long, eventually chasing other children around the play area and though not all of them spoke the same languages she did, they managed to have their own form of communication to get through the play process. Most were more than happy to show off their dragons, some already bigger than they were, proud of the companions that didn’t always look reptilian like someone would expect when they heard ‘dragon’. Others were more cautious, though did give in as long as she promised not to touch the usually smaller and fragile looking dragons who needed more care to keep.

Laughing with some of the dragonless children, she stopped as she heard a loud screeching noise from a closed off area. There was another area in the room, an enclosed area lined full of cages and a glass covered wall for the kids to see into. On a table, there was a blue colored bat that flailed angrily as he was wiped down and others were doing a check up of some sort. His kicking feet held still to examine, poked and prodded until the bat had enough and rolled onto his belly to try and crawl away. Not once did it stop yelling, its small lungs giving to its will as they expressed the displeasure it felt. Standing on her tiptoes, she could see the cages more clearly and inside were dragons of varying sizes, none too large as they needed to be contained but there were ones as small as mice and as large and big dogs. Some joined in the noise, faces pressed against the cage bars to scream with, while others just napped despite the noise or played with toys that were left in the cages.  

Letting her eyes draw back to the bat on the table, it seemed to calm down. Her own nervous feelings starting to be overridden with excitement and a desire for chaos she usually kept at bay as her mother said it was bad to make trouble and messes. Pressing her face and hands against the window, she cooed at the small bat even if she wasn’t sure if it could hear her.

“Something the matter, Nikora?” The scientist that brought her in asked, having been watching for a few moments before he approached.

“Is that a dragon?” She asked, eyes staying on the bat that was accepting it's fate more, though it's attention wasn’t straying at all from her.

“Yes, it’s a storm dragon. They tend to look like bats and are quite unruly if untamed... Do you want to go see it?” Not answering for a moment, she eventually nodded and took the held out hand as he unlocked the door to the area full of dragons.

It was louder then outside the door, but it was to be expected as there were so many living creatures in the room trying to voice their own comments or concerns. The other lab coat-wearing adults looked confused, but when Nikora was motioned towards the table they took a step back to see did the loud and unruly dragon take a liking to the new child.

Stepping forward to coo at the storm dragon, it suddenly flung itself off the table towards her. Yelping, she dove and caught the little dragon, holding it tightly against her chest as they began to chitter and cling to her with its wings. The chaos was tamed for now, but Nikora could feel that want and desire for trouble bubbling inside her.

Applause sounded around them, congratulations Nikora on her first dragon, an independent dragon what's more! So knew what other dragons she might catch the attention of. Smiling up to everyone as she stood back up, the wiggly bat started climbing up her dress to sit on her shoulder and chitter more happily while rubbing on her face. She was sure her mother would also be proud, and excited for another thing in their house to love and care for.

“That’s wonderful, Nikora! You plan to join the militia, yes? Just like your mother?” Her smile faded for a moment as she thought about it, it would make her mother happy to know she put aside her qualms and uneasy feelings to join her. It could be useful, and she too could possibly help those in need more as she grew older and taller. Stroking the dragon as she thought it over, she eventually forced a smile and nodded. She too wanted to help people like her mother, and discover all the new things in the world as she aged.

“That’s wonderful, when your mother is all done we’ll go tell her. Why don’t you go take your dragon and play with the children until then.” Ushered out of the room, she returned to the more familiar room of children with a dragon in hand.