Tower of Thorns Tower of Fangs Volume 5 Chapter 7 Hatchling

 

Chapter 7  Hatchling

Moon discovered the dragon entirely by accident. Which, in hindsight, explained almost everything that followed. The young celestial had spent the morning gathering berries beside a mountain stream. Tapio had suggested exploring the southern valleys. The old forest god regretted that suggestion almost immediately. Because whenever Moon went exploring something happened. Usually something strange. Occasionally something dangerous. Almost always something ridiculous. Today was no exception. 

The forest slowly gave way to rocky foothills. Ancient cliffs rose above winding rivers. Patches of snow still lingered among the higher peaks. Moon floated peacefully through the wilderness, humming softly to himself. Birds followed him. Several fairies of moonlight drifted nearby. The day felt perfect. Then he heard it. A tiny noise.

"Skree."

Moon stopped. His black eyes blinked. The sound came again.

"Skree."

The celestial looked around. Nothing. Just rocks. Snow. Grass. Mountains. Then

"SKREE!"

Moon jumped. The noise came from directly beneath him. The celestial carefully looked down. A tiny creature glared back. Moon stared. The creature stared. Several seconds passed. Neither moved. Finally Moon crouched. The tiny creature was no larger than his hand. Its scales shimmered red and gold. Two tiny horns protruded from its head. Its wings appeared much too small for its body. Its tail wagged angrily. Most importantly it looked absolutely furious. Moon blinked. The creature hissed. Tiny smoke emerged from its nostrils.

Moon's eyes widened.

"...a dragon?"

The creature immediately attacked. Or at least it attempted to. The hatchling launched itself forward. Its tiny jaws opened dramatically. Then it bit Moon's finger. Moon froze. The dragon froze. Nothing happened. The bite wasn't even strong enough to break skin. The hatchling growled. Moon looked down. The dragon continued chewing. Moon tilted his head. The dragon chewed harder. Still nothing. The celestial carefully lifted the tiny dragon into the air. The hatchling dangled from his finger. Still biting.

Moon stared. The dragon stared back. Still biting.

Moon finally asked:

"Are you finished?"

The hatchling bit harder. Moon sighed. Several minutes later the dragon finally let go. Mostly because it became tired. The hatchling landed on a nearby rock. Immediately puffed out its chest. Spread its tiny wings. And released the most intimidating roar it could manage.

"Skree!"

A small puff of smoke emerged. Moon covered his mouth. The dragon narrowed its eyes. The celestial looked away. The hatchling looked suspicious. Moon's shoulders began shaking. The dragon became offended. Moon accidentally laughed. The hatchling immediately launched itself at him again.The battle lasted approximately thirty seconds.

Moon won decisively. Mostly because he simply picked the dragon up. The hatchling hated this.

Moon thought it was adorable. The dragon bit him repeatedly. Moon remained entirely unharmed. Eventually the celestial sat beneath a tree. The hatchling sat beside him. Both pouted. The dragon crossed its tiny arms. Moon crossed his. Neither spoke. Then the hatchling's stomach growled. The dragon froze. Moon froze. The hatchling immediately looked away.

Moon smiled softly.

"You haven't eaten."

The dragon growled. Its stomach betrayed it again. Moon offered a berry. The hatchling stared. Then suspiciously sniffed it. Then ate the entire berry. Including Moon's fingers. The dragon immediately demanded another. Moon laughed. The hatchling glared. Then accepted several more berries. By the time the sun began setting they were friends. Or at least the dragon tolerated Moon's existence. Which was essentially the same thing.The celestial soon discovered several important facts.

The dragon was extremely small. Abnormally small. Even hatchlings were supposed to be larger. The dragon was also extremely greedy. Moon offered it food. The hatchling accepted. Moon offered another berry. The hatchling accepted. Moon offered twenty berries. The hatchling accepted. Moon offered a shiny pebble. The hatchling accepted even faster. Moon blinked. The dragon hugged the pebble possessively. Its eyes sparkled. Moon slowly produced another shiny stone. The hatchling gasped. Actually gasped. Then immediately stole it. Moon laughed. The dragon looked offended. Then stole another pebble.

Three days later the hatchling had accumulated a treasure hoard. A very tiny treasure hoard. Consisting entirely of pebbles. Moon found this endlessly entertaining. The dragon considered it serious business. One evening Moon discovered the hatchling sleeping atop its collection. The dragon was using shiny rocks as a pillow. Moon stared. The hatchling snored proudly. The celestial smiled. Then gently draped a blanket over it. The dragon immediately grabbed the blanket. Adding it to the hoard. Moon laughed again.

Eventually the young celestial asked the obvious question.

"What should I call you?"

The hatchling looked up. A berry hung from its mouth. Moon thought carefully. The dragon waited.

The celestial smiled.

"Ashkar."

The hatchling blinked.

Moon smiled wider.

"I think it suits you."

The dragon considered this. Then nodded proudly. As though it had chosen the name itself. Moon laughed.Ashkar puffed out his chest.

The following morning Moon woke to discover Ashkar sleeping on his face. The dragon had somehow migrated during the night. Its tail wrapped around Moon's neck. Its wings covered one eye. Its tiny claws clung to his hair. Moon carefully lifted the dragon away.

Ashkar immediately woke. Then climbed right back onto his head. Moon sighed. The hatchling refused to move. The celestial eventually gave up. Thus began a pattern. Wherever Moon traveled Ashkar followed. Like a duckling following its mother. Or a chick following a hen. The dragon followed him everywhere. Streams. Forests. Mountains. Ruins. Everywhere. If Moon stopped walking Ashkar climbed onto him. If Moon sat down Ashkar occupied his lap. If Moon slept Ashkar somehow appeared nearby. The hatchling became his constant companion. Neither realized it then. But someday Ashkar would become ruler of the Fire Mountain. A dragon king. A lord of flame. A being feared by kingdoms. Someday. For now he was simply a tiny dragon stealing shiny rocks and attempting to bite trees. Moon found this wonderful. The world had become much less lonely. And somewhere high above the ancient wilderness the stars watched a celestial and a hatchling begin a friendship that would last centuries.

Neither understood it yet.

But both had found family.