The lizard let out a long, theatrical, deeply put-upon sigh - the sigh of something that had lost an argument it knew it was going to lose from the start and wanted full credit for resisting.
"Fine. Fine. One attempt. A small one. The smallest possible amount of whatever you're about to do." It fixed him with its one eye. "And when this goes spectacularly wrong, I want it on record that I objected with my whole chest. Which, I'll remind you, is most of what I currently have."
"Noted."
"With my whole chest, Raizen."
"Noted."
Raizen shifted closer, until he was crouched right over the nest, and held his hand above the small curled body. He closed his eyes for a moment, reaching for the feeling he reached for in training - the warmth low in his chest, the slow pull of Eon gathering toward his hands. It came easier than usual. It came almost eagerly, flowing up through his arm and pooling at his fingertips, and a faint light began to bloom in the air just above the lizard's body.
