The Dragon Under my Bed

The first night

~~Do you believe that there are others? Do you believe that we are not alone in this world? Not like as in on other planets, I mean like on our earth. I used to believe there were just everyday organisms until I learned that dragons existed, and so much more apparent. It got me thinking... What other things exist?~~

10:00 struck. A lot quicker this time, as if even the sun knew what has happened. Zagem told me to 'awaken at 2 hours to moonrise,' and I had asked it what that had meant, not being able to understand its strange way of talking.

"When the moon is at its highest peak." It had said. I had given up trying to understand and just decided to wake up at 10. Of course, I couldn't seem to fall asleep when I went to bed at 9, so I ended up reading for an hour until I heard the sound of my parent's bedroom door closing and the lights turning off. Without seeming to miss a beat, I heard scraping at the bottom of my bed, and looked down, sure enough, to see Zagem's figure in the darkness.

"Judging by the fact we're both here, you didn't tell anybody about this," Zagem said.

"Why would I tell anybody? Nobody would believe me anyway." I said.

"True. But you can never be too sure." Zagem wiggled around, trying to get into a comfortable position.

"Are you uncomfortable? Do you want me to find a few pillows? Or maybe you can sleep in the bed." I offered.

Zagem laughed. "I've slept on a cold cave floor for a good decade or so. And I'd rather not sleep with a human who smells of mint leaves."

"I never said you had to sleep WITH me," I said. "Also. when you get older, won't you have to sleep with a female dragon to... y'know, have kids?"

Zagem remained silent for a moment, still trying to process what I had said; Then it burst out laughing, like what I had just said was the funniest thing It had ever heard.

"What? You can't blame me, I don't know much about dragons!" I said, with Zagem still laughing over me.

"No, I can't," Zagam said, his laughter fading. "I just found it funny for some strange reason. Forgive me."

"Don't take this the wrong way... But how do you dragons mate?" I asked, kind of curious.

"Well... the first one must find a female, and then they must impress said female. This could be done by a battle of wits or strength. If a female has an interest in another male, they would..."

I cut him off. "No. I mean like HOW? As in..."

"Ahh..." Zagem said. "I get it. Well, once the male and female knew that they are destined to mate, they would take to the skies and perform a sacred dance, and a few weeks later, the female will pass eggs."

"Interesting." I said, trying to imagine how this 'sacred dance' looked like. "You're only like 60, right? I'm assuming it's too early for you to mate."

"Indeed. Mother always said we should mate when we turn 110 because we would be stronger and wiser then. Why she choose 110 still gets me to this day, but mother never clarified."

"Have there been dragons who have mated earlier? before they got their wings, I mean." I asked, removing the blanket covering me.

"Yes. All dragons have some kind of desire, for someone or something. Some dragon's desire however burns like a forest fire, and cannot be controlled. Those dragons tend to be crazy and try to mate with other species and forcefully... try to perform the sacred dance. Moving on... Why do you want to know?"

"I'm just curious. It's not every day you meet a dragon" I said simply.

"indeed. I guess you're lucky I'm not a dragon who didn't consume you on sight." Zagem chuckled.

"While we're still on the topic, I must know. Do you have a desire for someone, Garret?" Zagem asked, poking his head out from under the bed and rubbing his head against the side of my bed.

"Um, Zagem... I'm a twelve-year-old boy who isn't even in high school yet. I don't think I have a crush on anybody yet." I said, kind of nervously.

"Crush?" Zagem echoed.

"It's like the desire thing. Except that's kind of the way we say it."

"I see," Zagem said.

"But to answer your question, I don't know any females who appeal to me." I said, making sure to say 'female' because Zagem seemed to use the word a lot.

"Interesting. As for me, I haven't encountered any females besides my mother and sisters, so I wouldn't know either." Zagem explained.

" Wow, you haven't seen a female at least once in your life?" I asked, kind of shocked.

"Well, technically I have. I've walked to places that carried the scent of a female, and once found a piece of land marked by a female. But I haven't conversed with or seen one before."

"Wow. That must be awful."

"It's actually natural for this to happen," Zagem explained. "Most males go decades without seeing a female."

Zagem yawned. I must get some sleep. Remember, if you wish to converse with me, awaken 2 hours to moonrise." Zagem said.

"Good night, Zagem," I said.

"Good night..." Zagem said sleepily