I stood frozen in the darkness, my heart racing with anticipation. Father's words echoed in my mind, "I'll show you the truth." But as the moments ticked by, the darkness remained, and Father's silence was oppressive.
Suddenly, the room was filled with a faint, flickering light. Father stood before me, his eyes blazing with a fierce inner light. But instead of revealing the truth, he spoke in a low, menacing tone.
"You shouldn't have followed me, Tharros," he growled. "You shouldn't have meddled in things you don't understand."
I took a step back, my heart racing with fear. What was going on? Why was Father acting this way?
But before I could ask any questions, Father turned and strode away, leaving me alone in the darkness. I was left with more questions than answers, and a growing sense of unease. What secrets was Father hiding? And why was he so determined to keep me in the dark?
Father sight and said, "Why did your eyes glow ? Well, I have no idea. All I know is something that you and I harness, but I won't tell you what it is."
I question ask him, "Is it the Dragonstone because I can't find it for a few weeks now. Is it because of that?"
Father, look at me in shock. "How did you.....NEVERMIND!" he released the same gas that could knock out me a few months ago.
I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me as the gas took effect. My vision blurred, and my legs buckled beneath me. I tried to speak, to ask Father more questions, but my words were slurred and indistinct.
As I fell to the ground, I saw Father's shocked face looming over me. His eyes were wide with a mixture of surprise and fear. And then, everything went black.
I was out cold, unable to move or think. My last thought was of the Dragonstone, and the mysterious connection it seemed to have with my glowing eyes. But as I slipped into unconsciousness, I knew that I was no closer to uncovering the truth.
I slowly opened my eyes, groggily taking in my surroundings. I was lying on the ground, my head throbbing with a dull ache. As I struggled to sit up, I felt a familiar warmth envelop me.
I looked up to see Father's wings spread out above me, casting a protective shadow over my face. His eyes, still filled with a mix of concern and wariness, gazed down at me.
"Tharros, are you alright?" he asked, his voice low and cautious.
I nodded slowly, still trying to clear the fog from my mind. "Y-yes, Father," I stammered.
Father's wings folded in, and he helped me to my feet. I swayed slightly, still feeling the effects of the gas. Father's grip on my arm tightened, holding me steady.
"We need to get you back to your mother," he said, his voice firm. "She'll be worried sick about you."
I nodded, still feeling a bit dazed. But as I looked up at Father, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was still hiding something from me.
I let out a startled yelp as Father's jaws closed gently around me, his teeth careful not to hurt me. I felt a surge of embarrassment at being carried around like a hatchling, but Father's firm grip kept me secure.
As he flew through the winding corridors of our home, I couldn't help but feel a bit dizzy. The wind rushed past me, whipping my hair back and forth. I closed my eyes, trying to calm my racing thoughts.
Before I knew it, Father had landed softly in front of Mother. She looked up at us, concern etched on her face.
"Tharros, what happened?" she asked, rushing to my side.
Father released me from his jaws, and I stumbled slightly before Mother caught me, holding me close.
"I...I don't know," I stammered, still trying to process what had just happened. "Father just...grabbed me and brought me here."
Mother's eyes narrowed, her gaze flicking to Father. "What did you do to him?" she asked, her voice firm.
Father's expression was neutral, but I could sense a hint of defensiveness beneath the surface. "I just needed to get him back to you quickly," he said. "He was...indisposed."
Mother's eyes lingered on Father's face, as if searching for something. But whatever she was looking for, she didn't seem to find it. Instead, she turned her attention back to me, her expression softening.
"Let's get you settled, Tharros," she said. "You can tell me all about what happened later."
I gazed at Father, my eyes locked on his. I knew the truth - he had knocked me out to keep me from revealing what I knew about the Dragonstone. But I wasn't going to confront him about it... not yet.
Instead, I kept my mouth shut, my expression neutral. Father's eyes met mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw a flicker of relief. He knew that I knew, but he also knew that I wasn't going to say anything.
The tension between us was palpable, but I didn't break my gaze. I was determined to keep my silence, to see how Father would react next. The game of secrets and lies was far from over, and I was ready to play along.
Father's expression changed in an instant, a look of excitement and nostalgia washing over his face. "Oh right, next week is the Starlight Gathering meeting!" he exclaimed.
Mother's face lit up with a warm smile. "That's right! And this will be Tharros, Thorold, and Thelma's first time attending," she said, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm.
I felt a surge of curiosity and excitement. I had heard stories about the Starlight Gathering, a grand meeting where our entire clan would come together to socialize, form new alliances, and sometimes, settle old rivalries.
"It's a great opportunity to meet new friends and family members," Mother said, "and maybe even make some new connections that will benefit our clan."
I looked at my siblings, Thorold and Thelma, and saw the same excitement reflected in their eyes. We had always been told that the Starlight Gathering was a special event, one that we would finally get to experience for ourselves.
Father's eyes gleamed with a hint of competitiveness. "And of course, it's also a chance to strengthen our clan's position and influence," he said, his voice low and serious.
I sensed a hint of tension beneath the surface, a reminder that even in a gathering meant for socializing and bonding, there were always undercurrents of politics and power at play.
I looked up at Father, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness at the prospect of meeting his family. He gazed back at me, a warm smile on his face.
"Soon you will meet my parents and siblings," he said, his voice filled with amusement. "You've heard me and your mother talk about my older brother Kaidën, but now you'll get to meet him in person."
I felt a flutter in my chest at the thought of meeting Kaidën, who sounded like a legendary figure from the stories Father and Mother told.
Father chuckled, his eyes twinkling with mirth. "You can have fun meeting them, or you can just hide under my wings like always when you get scared or overwhelmed!"
I giggled, feeling a bit self-conscious about my tendency to hide under Father's wings when things got too much. But Father just smiled and nudged me gently.
I nodded, feeling grateful for his understanding. "Thank you, Father!" I said, my voice sincere.
Father's smile softened, and he wrapped a wing around me, pulling me close. "Anytime, little one," he whispered.
Father's expression turned sympathetic, and he wrapped a wing around Mother. "It's okay, dear," he said. "We'll make sure Tharros and the others have a great time at the Starlight Gathering." Father, look at me and chuckled,"except Tharros!" He giggled
I looked up at Father, feeling a bit confused. He was smiling at me, but there was a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Except Tharros!" he chuckled, his giggles filling the air.
I felt a surge of curiosity. What did Father mean? Was he planning something special for me at the Starlight Gathering?
I looked at Mother, but she just rolled her eyes good-naturedly. "Your father is just teasing you, Tharros," she said with a smile.
But Father's grin only grew wider. "Oh, no, my dear," he said. "I'm completely serious. Tharros is going to have a very...interesting time at the Starlight Gathering."
Father giggled, "But my gut telling me he won't because he is cowered!" He laughed, and I couldn't lie he is right
Father's laughter echoed through the room, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment. He was right, of course. I did have a tendency to get overwhelmed and hide under his wings when things got too much.
I looked down, feeling a bit sheepish. "You're right, Father," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
Father's laughter slowly died down, and he looked at me with a warm, knowing gaze. "Don't worry, Tharros," he said, his voice gentle. "We'll get you through the Starlight Gathering in one piece. Even if you do try to hide under my wings the whole time."
Pov Aetherius
I stood watching my son Tharros, a mixture of amusement and curiosity on my face. I had just teased him about being a coward, and he was taking it surprisingly well.
I chuckled to myself, remembering the many times Tharros had hidden under my wings when he was scared or overwhelmed. My mate, Thyriatrix, shot me a playful glance, and I knew she was thinking the same thing.
I looked at Tharros, who was still looking down, embarrassed. I felt a pang of pride and love for my son, and I knew that I would always be there to protect and guide him, even if it meant teasing him a bit along the way.
I thought to myself,'My gut telling me that he would run and hide under my wings'
Pov Tharros
I looked up at Father, feeling a bit embarrassed but also relieved that he was still smiling at me. I knew he was just teasing me, but a part of me worried that he was right - that I would run and hide under his wings at the Starlight Gathering.
Mother came over and put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, Tharros," she said softly. "We'll be there with you, and you'll have a great time."
I nodded, feeling a bit better. But Father's words still lingered in my mind, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I would somehow prove him right.
Father giggled. "Hey Tharros, the dragons there will be big and loud, so you might get stepped and there loud wings flapping!"
I took a step back, my eyes widening in alarm as Father described the dragons at the Starlight Gathering. "Big and loud" wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear, and the thought of getting stepped on or having loud wings flapping in my ears made me shudder.
But before I could react further, Mother intervened, scolding Father for trying to scare me. "AETHERIUS NO DON'T SCARED HIM LIKE THAT! YOU ARE JUST TRYING SO HE CAN HIDE UNDER YOUR WING!" she exclaimed.
Father nodded, a mischievous glint still in his eye, and I couldn't help but wonder if Mother was right. Was Father trying to spook me on purpose, just so I'd run to him for comfort? I looked up at him, unsure of what to think.
I felt Father's jaws gently wrap around me, his teeth carefully holding me in place. His voice was muffled, but I could make out the words "can't I get a cute baby dragon under my wing?" His hot breath washed over me, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of safety and security in his grasp.
I relaxed into his hold, feeling the warmth of his scales and the gentle pressure of his jaws. It was a strange but comforting feeling, and I knew that Father would never hurt me.
As Father walked away, his jaws still gently holding me in place, I watched as he made his way to find my younger siblings. I could see the excitement in his movements, his tail swishing back and forth as he went.
I wondered what kind of antics my siblings would get up to when Father found them. Would they be playing, fighting, or just lounging around? I couldn't wait to see.
Lyriath's navy blue, dark and blood-red, and navy blue scales seemed to gleam with amusement as he looked at me, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "Haha, Tharros is still being carried around by Father!" he exclaimed, his voice full of teasing laughter.
I shout in anger "HEY WE ARE 2 YEARS OLD, SO I DON'T CARE!" I get ready to release my fire breath just like on when I burn his scales, As I let out a mighty roar and unleashed my fire breath, Father quickly ran outside with me still clutched in his jaws. I felt the cool air rush past me as we emerged into the open, and my flames shot out into the distance, harmlessly burning away from the others. I felt a surge of satisfaction at being able to release my pent-up anger, but then I heard Lyriath's laughter echoing from behind us. "Haha, Tharros is still so fiery!" he teased.
My roar echoed through the air, a fierce and angry sound that made Father's grip on me tighten slightly. I could feel his amusement at my outburst, but I didn't care - I was too busy being angry at Lyriath's teasing. I struggled and squirmed in Father's jaws, trying to get free so I could go after Lyriath and show him who's boss.
Father's grip on me relaxed slightly, and he began to speak in a soothing voice. "Shh, Tharros, calm down. It's okay, Lyriath didn't mean to upset you. You're a strong and fierce dragon, and you don't need to get angry at a little teasing." He gently rocked me back and forth in his jaws, trying to calm me down. His warm breath washed over me, and I could feel my anger starting to fade.
And I nuzzled his snout, Father let out a happy rumble and nuzzled me back, his white scales glistening in the light. I felt a surge of love and affection for him, and I wrapped my small claws around his snout, holding him close. We stood there for a moment, enjoying the warm and tender moment together.
Just as Father and I were having a sweet moment, Lyriath swooped in, a mischievous glint in his eye. "Hey, Tharros, still getting babied by Father?" he teased, his navy blue, dark and blood-red, and navy blue scales seeming to gleam with amusement. I felt my anger spark again, and I let out a small growl, baring my tiny teeth.
Lyriath teasing me again, "Just like a daddy boy?!" That was it, I'd had enough of Lyriath's teasing! I let out a fierce roar and charged at him, my small claws swiping at the air. "I AM NOT A DADDY BOY!" I shouted, my silver scales bristling with indignation. Father chuckled and intervened, gently but firmly holding me back. "Easy, Tharros, no need to get so worked up," he said, his voice calm and soothing.
I yelled out, "I'm going to make you full on dark and blood-red if you don't shut the Fu." Just as I was about to utter a forbidden curse, Father's claws swiftly closed over my snout, holding it shut. His eyes sparkled with a mix of amusement and warning, and he said, "Ah-ah, Tharros, no cursing! We don't use that kind of language, remember?" I struggled to free myself, but Father's grip was firm. Lyriath, meanwhile, looked on with a mixture of surprise and admiration, seemingly impressed by my fiery outburst.
Father's grip on my snout relaxed, and he gave me a stern but loving look. "Tharros, you need to learn to control your temper. We can't have you cursing and losing your cool all the time." He paused, then added, "But I must say, you've got spirit. Just remember to use it wisely." Lyriath, who had been watching the exchange with interest, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Tharros, you've got to learn to pick your battles. But I've got to admit, it's pretty entertaining watching you get all riled up."
Pov Aetherius
I thought to myself,'Where did he learn such language?' I couldn't help but think that Tharros must have picked up that kind of language from his siblings, particularly Lyriath, who was known for his mischievous ways. I made a mental note to have a talk with all of the children about watching their language and being more mindful of their words. As a father, it was my responsibility to teach them right from wrong, and I took that responsibility seriously.
Or maybe his mentors, That was a possibility too. As a young dragon, Tharros was learning from various mentors and trainers, and it was possible that he had picked up some... colorful language from one of them. I made a mental note to speak with Tharros' mentors, to remind them to watch their language around the young ones.
I thought myself,'but that couldn't make any sense. Pixie is calm and says some innocent things to others, hatchling, and his nephew can't possibly teach him that he is not the kind of dragon to say something that Tharros was about to say'
I nodded to myself, agreeing with my own thoughts. Pixie, Tharros' mentor, was indeed a calm and gentle soul, known for her kind words and wise guidance. And Hatchling, well, he was still just a young dragon himself, barely out of his shell. It was highly unlikely that either of them would teach Tharros such... unsavory language. I was still left wondering, though, where Tharros had picked up that phrase...
Pov Tharros
I glared at Lyriath, still fuming from his teasing. I knew I had let my temper get the best of me, and I was still feeling a bit embarrassed about it. Father's calm words had helped to soothe me, but I was still simmering with annoyance. I shot Lyriath a dirty look, but he just chuckled and said, "Hey, no hard feelings, little bro!" I huffed and turned away, still feeling a bit cross.
I thought to myself,'If he says some offensive word about me, I'm going to shoot my fire breath at him like last time!' Lyriath teasing me "scaredy-cat!"
That did it! I spun around, my eyes blazing with anger. "I AM NOT A SCAREDY-CAT!" I shouted, my voice echoing through the cavern. I took a step forward, my claws digging into the ground, and my scales bristling with indignation. Lyriath, still grinning, took a step back, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Oh, oh, Tharros is going to blow his top!" he teased, clearly enjoying the exchange. I growled, my fire breath simmering just below the surface, ready to erupt at any moment...
Just as I was about to unleash my fire breath at Lyriath, Father's swift action saved the day. He clamped his jaws around me, holding me in place, and I ended up shooting my fire breath harmlessly into the air. The flames erupted in a loud whoosh, and I felt a surge of frustration at being thwarted. Lyriath, meanwhile, burst out laughing, clearly entertained by the spectacle. "Haha, nice try, Tharros!" he teased, still chuckling. I glared at him, still fuming, but Father's firm grip kept me in check.
Father voice muffled. "Don't burn his scales again! Hush, just calm down. Father is here"
I felt a wave of calm wash over me as Father's soothing voice muffled by his jaws around me helped to calm my rage. I took a deep breath, feeling my fire breath simmer down, and my scales slowly unbristled. I looked up at Father, seeing the warmth and concern in his eyes, and I felt a pang of guilt for losing my temper again. I nodded, still feeling a bit sulky, but slowly relaxing into Father's gentle grip.
Father flew up on the top of the mountain and landed and placed me down, I stood there, looking around at the breathtaking view from the top of the mountain. The wind rustled my scales, and I felt a sense of calm wash over me. Father stood beside me, his eyes scanning the horizon as if searching for something. After a moment, he turned to me and said, "Tharros, I think it's time we had a talk." His voice was serious, but gentle, and I looked up at him curiously, wondering what he wanted to say.
Father's eyes locked onto mine, and he began to speak in a calm, measured tone. "Tharros, you're growing up to be a strong and powerful dragon, but with that power comes great responsibility. You can't let your temper get the best of you, not just because it's dangerous, but because it can hurt those you care about." He paused, studying me for a moment before continuing. "I know you're still young and learning, but it's time you started to control your emotions, to think before you act."
Father question ask "where did you learn such language that you learn a Curse word?" I look down kept my secret to be unknown
I looked down, my eyes fixed on the ground as I tried to avoid Father's piercing gaze. I didn't want to reveal where I had learned that forbidden word, and I hoped that Father wouldn't press the issue. I remained silent, my scales feeling a bit warm with embarrassment, and my heart beating slightly faster with anxiety. Father's eyes stayed on me, as if waiting for me to crack and reveal the truth, but I kept my secret locked away, hidden behind a mask of silence.
Father closed his eyes and sight. "At least you won't be cursing when in the starlight gathering since you be too busy hiding under my wing!"
I looked up at Father, my eyes widening in surprise at his words. I felt a flush rise to my scales as I realized that Father had seen right through me. He knew that I was still shy and nervous around the other dragons and that I'll hid under his wing during gatherings. I looked down again, feeling a bit embarrassed, but also relieved that Father wasn't going to press me about the curse word. Instead, he was teasing me in a gentle, loving way, and I couldn't help but feel a warmth in my heart.
Father chuckled, his eyes still closed, and his voice filled with amusement. "Don't worry, little one," he said, his voice gentle and soothing. "Your secret is safe with me. And don't think that I didn't do the same thing when I was your age. I was just as shy and nervous as you are." He opened his eyes, and looked at me with a warm, loving gaze. "You're not alone, Tharros. And I'll always be here to protect and support you, no matter what." Father gently licking my silver scales
I closed my eyes, feeling a sense of calm and contentment wash over me as Father's gentle tongue stroked my silver scales. It was a soothing sensation, one that seemed to melt away all my worries and troubles. I felt my muscles relax, my breathing slow, and my heart fill with love and gratitude for this gentle, loving dragon who was my father. I leaned into his touch, savoring the warmth and comfort of the moment, and feeling like everything was going to be alright.
As the sun set and the moon rose, we held back to the cave to sleep, and my siblings slept on the nest, and I slept under my father wing
I snuggled deeper under Father's wing, feeling the warmth and security of his presence. The sound of my siblings' gentle snores and the soft rustling of their scales as they shifted in their sleep filled the cave, creating a soothing background noise. Father's wing wrapped around me, a protective and comforting barrier between me and the outside world. I felt my eyelids growing heavy, and my breathing slowing as I drifted off to sleep, surrounded by the love and protection of my family. The last thing I remembered was Father's gentle whisper, "Sleep tight, little one."