Heat tumbled off the cascading granite spires defiantly pointing toward the sky. Few creatures called the badlands their home. It was dry, hot, and contained almost no natural resources. Nearly no one ventured into this region but the rare intrepid adventurer or those needing a shortcut to more habitable lands, making it even stranger to see a group of four travelers trekking across this barren stretch of land.
"I'm gonna put in requests for more collaborative missions! This assignment was immensely fun!" the smiling female goblin enthused.
"You'd have a better chance at finding water out here."
"Why does my knight have to always be so pessimistic?"
The human male rolled his eyes. "You mean realistic. Our ranks are spread too thin to do this kind of thing except when it involves the highest priority tasks."
While patting the backpack under him, he retorted, "Whatever. I'm just glad we completed our assignment of finding these wyvern eggs while enjoying the company of our new friends!"
A tall shield-maiden clad in armor accompanying them, using her spear as a walking stick, wiped the sweat from her brow. "Pyx and I were between errands, so we had some spare time. We've enjoyed our time together with you and Lysander. I hope the flying-mount breeding initiative proves successful."
"This time next year, we might be riding wyverns! How amazing would that be? Lysander wouldn't have to walk so much."
The man, also armored but wielding a halberd, flicked his eyes at the goblin suspended in his right gloved hand. "Walking doesn't bother me, but reaching remote places more quickly would enable us to fulfill more requests. Instead of a week, reaching this Kobold enclave would have only taken a day or two."
"Speaking of... did you notice the inquisitive looks on those lizard folk's faces when we showed up in their camp with Pyx and I in all our harnessed glory?"
Lysander kicked a rock off the road. "You two are certainly head-turners."
"Made it easy to grab their attention! You didn't see it, Lysander, but while you were talking to the clan head, I had a chance to advertise for the Order. I captivated their imaginations with accounts of our escapades. I also made sure to expound on how satisfying it is to attend to the physical needs of our partners and the perks of being carried around for those wanting a more adventurous life with benefits and job security!"
"With how lazy they were, laying on rocks basking in the sun, I don't think being physically active is much of a desirable trait for them," tittered Emma. "Were you not discouraged by only having one person interested?"
"Not in the least! As an erection-inducing member of the Honeypot Maidens, I, Trixi Rockmoss, and Pyx, an adherent of the Concupiscent Cocksmen, seek out even the smallest spark of interest in possible recruits. It is our duty to act as the vanguard for negotiating with other diminutive races to grow our organizations.
"Numbers are not as important as ardor and excellence! With how amenable our cute little guide was to try on the harness, we may have a new member before long."
"Or she was looking for a comfy place to nap with how promptly she fell asleep after giving us only vague directions to the dragon nesting grounds?" suggested Lysander.
"Naturally, my goblin-laying lover. You wouldn't know, but the constant swaying is very nap-inducing, and it didn't take THAT long to find the nests."
"How come there haven't been any recruitment drives for Kobolds till now? I would think they'd be a prime enlistment focus."
"Right, Emma?!? It's a travesty! They'd make wonderful partners. Ya, sure, they may be lacking in boob size, and the scaled parts of their body might not be the softest, but they have those short, thick tails and plump butts -- and their love of warmth and heat might make them extra cuddly at night!"
Trixi embraced the egg she was holding. "Hopefully, we see her around the barracks in the future. I would love to be friends with her."
"Careful, you might get reported for overly affectionate fawning," teased Emma.
"Till then, I'll just have to give all my love to this big boy," tapping Lysander's arm, "and eventually this little guy. He's gonna be the bestest boy!"
"It won't be a he if you continue to hold it so close. Plus, we don't know if you're going to be the one to hatch it," warned her partner.
The green-skinned woman scrutinized the precious bundle held close to her body by a sash. Unwrapping a layer of cloth, she exposed more of the hard, white surface to the afternoon air.
"Temperature determines what it's gonna be. Maybe you should trade with Pyx. It's supposed to be easier to incubate a female wyvern," counseled Lysander.
"Nuhu," Trixi asserted.
Lysander sighed. "Suit yourself."
She stroked the monster egg guardedly. "So, why does temperature determine what it's gonna be?"
"Ask Pyx. He talked with the monster-tamer the longest."
Pyx took out his recently upgraded-to-chalk tablet and rapidly wrote:
It's speculated the seed within the testicles prefers lower temperatures. That is why they are on the outside of the body for many creatures, but for cold-blooded creatures, the process is different for unknown reasons. That being the case, if the egg is slightly cooler, you get a male.
"Hmm, interesting, but not as interesting as learning wyverns have two cocks! Even after watching the whole mating process, I still have questions: can they squirt with both simultaneously? Why didn't he stick both inside? Why was the whole process so clean? He pumped so much into her and didn't spill a drop."
Trixi waited while Pyx wrote.
According to anatomical structural studies of old dragon remains, each testicle is connected to its respective copulatory organ. In theory, they should be able to release using both but don't because they retain a second chance to fertilize another female. After mating, a plug is formed, possibly giving that male's seed a fertilization advantage.
"I see. I kinda wish Lysander had two cocks."
"No, thank you."
Trixi stuck out her tongue. "My knight has no silly imagination!"
"You have enough for both of us. I'm thinking about other things, such as... you won't pout if we aren't chosen as the first dragon rider candidates, will you?"
"No, but I don't see why we shouldn't be. We were the ones sent to this dry, hot, dusty, out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere location, risking our ears and whatever body part humans can't live without to bring back two wyvern eggs."
It wasn't dangerous at all.
Pyx scribbled.
"Hush, you! I'm trying to think up good arguments."
"In the short time I've traveled with you, I've noticed you can be rather persuasive when your mind is set on something," Emma recounted.
Trixi looked smugly up to her partner. "See? Emma is on my side."
Lysander rolled his eyes.
Having run out of topics, everyone fell to their own thoughts. Trixi peered around Lysander to her fellow goblin napping beside his partner.
Her initial impression of Pyx was of a self-effacing milksop. She tried to be friendly and banter with him to spur him out of his shell, but he remained withdrawn and aloof.
She took pride in her ability to socialize with anyone, but all her attempts to engage Pix were rebuffed. Growing exasperated, she eventually asked Emma what she'd done to earn such coldness. Emma explained the issue stemmed from poor treatment by his fellow villagers, which turned into an aversion toward his own kind.