Excerpt: Dragon Guardian

Kicking off the stupid house shoes which had been more of a hindrance than anything, Alexis mounted the odd wall. The small tree trunks had been shaved so smooth she could not find a good grip on them. She had to use the large bushes sticking out in a chaotic fashion or the dried packed mud between the trunks. The whole bushes were at odds with the clean, shaven trunks, but then again, this whole thing was bizarre.
When she finally reached the top of the wall, Alexis could peer over the top. With a start she realized that this was not a wall after all, it was the side of a nest. The three mottled white and gray eggs in the center clinched her observation. A large crack ran down one side of the huge egg.
Curious now, Alexis pulled herself into the nest. Not thinking of how large a bird would have to be to lay an egg tall enough to reach past her knee, she walked around the three eggs. Two were cracked now and noises came from inside the eggs, noises very similar to a baby crying. No wonder Prince had been going crazy! Oh, dear, Prince!
Alexis rushed back over to the side where Prince waited, sitting on his haunches and whining impatiently.
“Good boy,” she assured him. “I got it. Down.”
The powerful dog lowered slowly to the ground to rest his head on his front paws. The soft brown eyes stayed on her the entire time. Alexis pulled herself away to check out the eggs again. A thrill ran through her when she realized the break in one of the eggs was larger now. Slowly it split open until one side fell away completely. A creature about the size of Prince emerged. It had dark colors and huge bright green eyes.
The eyes were bright and clear and far too large for that head. It shook itself and Alexis could make out two stout back legs and two smaller forelegs. The creature crawled towards her and Alexis held very still so she would not frighten it. It made a bleating sound similar to a sheep before nosing her with its beaked face. She lowered a timid hand to stroke over its head to be rewarded with a happy sounding bleat. The head was warm to the touch and there was no fur, only sleek skin or maybe scales, she was not sure.
Alexis laughed lightly to herself, too amazed to realize none of this was possible. The second egg shifted now, its crack widening. While the first creature huddled close to her legs, maybe for warmth, she watched in utter fascination as a another creature erupted from the second egg. This one stumbled around for a few minutes, bouncing off the sides of the nest, before huge blue eyes opened. Her breath caught in her chest over how startling blue those eyes were.
Unafraid, the second creature walked right up to her. It sniffed her legs and feet before sitting beside her. She kneeled between the two creatures to pet them like dogs. Upon closer inspection, Alexis discovered the animals also possessed wings. They had no feathers or even down, the wings more like the leathery membranes of bats. They were still damp from their time in the egg and cold, if their desire to snuggle with her was anything to go by.
She sat now and the creatures crawled into her lap, shoving and jostling for a better position. With a shake of her head, Alexis separated them, forcing one to lie by her right leg and the other beside her left. They could both snuggle for warmth without fighting this way.
Sounds came from the third egg. Alexis waited patiently, expecting another remarkable birth to take place before her eyes. The third egg moved a little, rocking back and forth. The rocking increased until it tumbled over on its side. No cracks appeared despite the creature's efforts. The egg continued to shake and rock without a single crack claiming the shell. Alexis told herself that there was no need to be concerned, it was perfectly natural, but the shell still did not crack.
“Help my offspring,” came a soft woman's voice.
Alexis turned her head to find the source. A large reptilian head hovered so close she could not imagine why she had not seen it before. A sweet scent filled the air. Rational logic told Alexis that she should be frightened, scared right out of her mind, by the monster beside her.
The head was covered in brilliant scales the color of blue gemstones. The eye Alexis could see was stark blue, just like one of the creatures huddled against her leg.
“Please help my child,” the voice asked again, the sky blue eye rotating to stare at her.
Compelled into action, Alexis stood. The two hatchlings scurried to follow her, desperate for warmth. A few steps brought her to the unbroken egg. She tapped it lightly with one hand. The surface was like hard dried leather, no wonder the poor thing was having a tough time. She tapped it and was answered with a squawk from inside. Biting down on her lower lip, Alexis studied the egg to choose the best method to crack it. With a shrug, she shoved her hand into the rounded end as hard as she dared. The leathery shell resisted, stubbornly refusing to tear. This egg was different from the others. Shell from the other two eggs cracked loudly under her bare feet and knees as she worked. Was there something wrong with this one? Concerned now and wanting to get to the chick inside as soon as possible, Alexis forced her hand in harder. Now the resilient shell gave way, her fingers breaching its confines. With a tear to work with, Alexis was able to rip it away from the third creature.
It lay on its side, panting heavily. She could not decide if it was wet from simply being inside an egg, like the others, or coated with sweat from its exertions.
“That one is a male,” the voice said. “I have not yet chosen a name for him. If he lives, you may name him.”
Alexis stroked a hand over his heaving side. He was smaller than the others, the runt of the litter. It felt like a long time passed before the small male's breathing evened out and his smooth skin dried. His body shook twice, then his large eyes opened.
Translucent ruby red eyes looked upon her. They had deep black slits down the center, like a reptile or cat. He blinked calmly at her, his siblings still crowding her from behind. With a squeal, the other two realized they had a third and rushed to share his warmth.
“He likes you.”
Alexis could now turn her attention on the head hovering over this unrealistic scene. It was not just a head, she saw, as two bright blue legs stepped into the nest.
“You must come in the morning,” she told Alexis. “I will expect you first thing. Training for the hatchlings should begin at once.” Her nose lowered to be even with Alexis' waist and still she had to look up at those eyes. “You have a human name?”
Alexis nodded. She had to clear her throat before she could speak. “Alexis.”