A sound of footsteps made him turn around. His men were coming down from the summit, and what they were carrying left him speechless.
Each was holding a gigantic egg with smooth, shiny scales.
Five eggs.
Maxime understood immediately. This wyvern... it was a mother. She hadn't fled because she was protecting her young.
He looked again at the creature.
"You wanted to defend them..." he whispered.
A deep respect arose in him. This animal was not only powerful, it was also devoted to its offspring.
Maxime closed his eyes for a moment, reflecting on the situation. He now understood why the wyvern had been so ferocious and tenacious. A mother will always protect her young, even in the face of an overwhelming threat.
When he opened them again, his gaze met the wyvern's.
"I suppose it was for them that you took the risk of getting close to human territory?" he asked in a calm voice.
