When Jake found Halcyon dying, did she make herself give birth in hope the other dragons will make it on time to rescue the dragonlets? She sent them a telepathic message of her situation. Granted, I do not think "making" ourselves give birth before it's due could happen...

Or was she in the process of giving birth when the poacher came upon her, which leads me to ask...where are he birthing escorts?

Very interesting question. I think she gave birth as a response to the poacher. By giving birth prematurely maybe she thought she could save her dragonlets; perhaps the process began spontaneously like an automatic response. That may be why the birthing escorts were absent. She wasn't due yet. But I would guess she meant to summon help from other dragons through telepathic means. We would need more background on dragon culture and survival responses.

Surely a question for Robin.

Surely a question for Robin.

It's answered, as much as Jake knows or understands the answer, in the book--but his ability to understand his dragons is still pretty limited, which is why you're feeling you didn't get the answers. :) Halcyon had a 'vision' telling her to go off by herself to give birth. And then what happened happened. And it was awful, and Jake's rescue of Lois couldn't possibly work . . . it so barely did work . . . but Bud and Gulp believe that it's also the the future of dragons, by the connection that has finally been made with humans, through Jake and Lois. How much of this was known or understood or predicted . . . well, if Gulp had known what was going on, she wouldn't have tried to fry Jake on first meeting!

Robin McKinley

WOW! Thanks Robin!