Author's note:
A new small return of the author's notes.
Thank you for continuing to follow this story despite the lack of a little too slow pace. By re-reading the entirety of this story, I realized that I could have made the reading a little more fluid and skipped certain passages. By publishing chapters so regularly, I am unfortunately skimping a bit on quality but I do my best with the time available to write.
Back to the story. Now that our heroes seem to be doing decently, the story will pick up speed a bit in the next chapters until the next interesting event otherwise I realize that they are not close to joining the civilization and that this story will take way too long :D
I'm going to do my best to spend time on the important moments and events while speeding up the rest a bit.
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I should never have slept in this position. I think when I wake up my body seems to be punishing me for the treatment and the disregard for it right now.
But what hurts more is not my body but Egan's absence, he left even after I came back to his side. This observation discourages me more than our situation. I can only wait for him to forgive me and get back to doing the only thing I can do right now: work on protecting our home.
I have now dug holes around the entire perimeter of the village in 3 layers. The bottom of each hole is filled with 1 meter high stakes with at the bottom 3 earthen pillars to support the bait I plan to lay on some traps to attract Egan's future meals without him having to hunt.
It only remains to hide these traps but I cannot do it without Egan being present for fear that he will fall into one of these traps himself. In the meantime I return to the center of the village and take the opportunity to cut all the grass to a comfortable height. What is cut will serve to hide the surface of the hole.
I plan to create a web of grass, leaves and branches that can support the weight of a thin layer of dirt and grass. The grass will be laid in the most natural way possible on the thin layer of soil itself laid on the canvas. The bait will be placed on the central pillar which will support its weight.
It's not a very elaborate trap but spreading the scent in all directions with a little magic using wind should be enough to attract predators at first.
I haven't quite finished weeding when I hear Egan coming back.
'Egan how are you?' He transmits his vision to me and the relief invades me now that he answers me. I concentrate to send him mine and he doesn't take long to join me.
We have been staring at each other for several minutes because he has kept a certain distance.
"Egan, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have tried a spell on you when we've already seen that I don't fully master my magic. »
I feel his surprise and his anger. I understand for the anger but why the surprise? He didn't think I was capable of admitting my wrongs and apologizing? This thought annoys me a little but this is not the time to dwell on it.
Egan seems to follow my thoughts and his anger doubles. Now that I'm totally focused on his emotions, I realize that it's not towards me that he feels anger but towards himself.
"Egan aren't you serious?" Do you feel guilty for what happened? I tried something on you without really knowing if it would work and I didn't even wonder what would happen if it failed. »
"I don't know how old I am and even though I know the reputation of dragons for intelligence, you are still a child even compared to me. Receiving no response, I continued.
"Listen to me Egan, from what I've seen, at your age you're not supposed to be that active." I'm already asking a lot of you and it's me who owes you so let me help you and forget your stupid guilt. No matter how you look at the situation, I'm at least as responsible as you for what happened. »
He then sends me back all the times I helped him while he was watching.
"I am currently stronger than you Egan and I will work hard to stay that way for as long as possible so as not to become a weight. But you must understand that you are a dragon. A DRAGON Egan! You will become one of the most dangerous creatures in this world if my knowledge is correct. »
"You're not supposed to feel helpless, it's a feeling that should be rightfully mine!" Let me be useful as much as I can until you grow up. We are almost immortal Egan, you will become very fast and for a very long time, you can leave me the time when I have to take care of you right? »
He then sends me back the event of the injuries to my hands and I sigh.
"You made a mistake Egan and you are already paying for your mistake. Instead of sleeping and being fed as you should, you have to go hunting and bring water for two despite the danger and your lethargy. »
"You made a mistake and you will make many more. This is an inevitable fact and dragons are no exception. That's why I want to apologize for getting so carried away. The most important thing for Egan is to learn from his mistake and not repeat it. All you can do is own up to your mistake and do your best afterwards. »
He's silent but ends up slowly approaching until he's standing in front of me and I take him in my arms.
"Please Egan, don't run away from me anymore. Even if I'm being stupid or insulting, I still make and would still make mistakes. It doesn't matter what I'll do in the future but don't run away from me okay? You can get revenge if I deserve it but please don't run away from me like you just did. »
He purrs in response and presses his head against my chest. I feel completely relaxed at her touch. "I missed your purr bag of scales"
He nibbles my shoulder in retaliation but I laugh and feel much lighter after this settling of scores.