Ovolara: Claws of Darkness

Chapter 1: Abyss

The Forest of Death, as referred to by dragons... The saying goes that once you enter it, it claims you as its own. Another way of saying that you will die and become compost if you venture too far into it. Most dragons left it alone as it was too harsh of a place to live in. And it was especially no place for a hatchling to be going around at night.

"She left no traces..." thought the Black Dragon hatchling. "She really isn't gonna make this easy for me."

The hatchling checked his surroundings then closed his eyes, something absurd to do in an environment like this. But surprisingly, he looked calm. "Oh, there's one of them... But they're not what I'm looking for." He thought, immediately going back to focusing.

After a short while... "My head... but, I finally found you."

He jumped on top of a tree branch, soundless, and made his way in one direction. "You won't be getting away this time!"

As he jumped from branch to branch, he saw a few venomous snakes, giant wasps, and a variety of dangerous, weird looking predators. "yeesh... and to think there's more danger hidden here." He kept going in the same direction for a while, occasionally stopping to look around as if the forest was going to suddenly throw a tree at him.

Eventually, he found a clearing. No trees, no animals, just a single adult female Black Dragon in the middle, which appeared to be sleeping.

"Alright feet, don't fail me this time!" He thought, winding up from the closest branch to the clearing while trying not to make as much as a breath, then lunging toward the napping dragon, almost making no sound. "I GOT YOU!"

Out of nowhere, she got up and threw a talonful of pebbles at him. "WOAH!!!" He reacted, quickly spreading his wings and beating them at full force, blowing some of the pebbles away and dodging the rest.

The female dragon began turning his way. "Impressive. But that's as far as you'll-" She stopped, realizing was no longer in front of her.

In a heartbeat, he was behind her, claws outstretched and ready to snap her neck. "HA!" He yelled as he grabbed her neck, wrapping his front limbs around it and squeezing as hard as he could.

The female dragon tried reaching for him behind her while struggling to breathe, as his small body wriggled out of reach every time, but after a lot of struggling, she spun her body in a violent movement, enough to get one of his limbs off her neck.

She used that opportunity to grab one of his sides she could now reach and pinned him to the ground.

"ARGH!" He blurted, grabbing her talon with his claws. Until... "Wait... why are you smiling?"

"Ahahaaaaaa...!" She began laughing out of nowhere, pulling him toward her, hugging him, and spinning around.

"W- wait, does that mean- d- did I-" He stuttered, trying to organize his thoughts.

"Abyss you were amazing! I couldn't sense you until you lunged at me!" She went on. "And the way you dodged the barrage of pebbles- Oh! how did you disappear? Even though you were so close I couldn't sense you anywhere until you grabbed me." She asked, holding him in front of her.

Abyss stared at her with silent confusion for a moment. "Uhh... Oh! I just used my special little trick! But this time I covered myself in it. Turns out, even the shadows can't see me if it covers me. B-But wait, hold on a second. Mom, You've complimented everything I did, does that mean...?" He asked with anticipation.

"Yes, my little darkness. Congratulations, you passed." She gently answered with a delighted smile.

Abyss stopped moving in his mother's claws for a moment, staring into his mother's face as if he were staring into nothingness.