Time And Space

Chapter 20

      Childcare was harder than I thought. Mainly because they liked to roam the halls of my crumbling castle and approached the demons far too often. Plus they even liked to play with things clearly not made to play with. Like my potions. Not to mention how many times I've had to stop them from giving their food to the dragons as an offering. Every single one tried at least once- twice. At least twice.

       It was easy to figure out they worshipped dragons. You should have seen the looks on their faces when I took them to visit the hatchlings. The awe carved into their features when I was tackled by the many in the mini hoard and piled beneath jaws and claws that were all very happy to see me.

        The little girl with wings had asked me to teach her how to fly not all that long after, having heard me purring to their mother about them needing just that, so I brought the whole herd to the cliff I learned to fly on with the newest batch of hatchlings.

        Their parent was a single mother who considered me her companion.

        She was happy to sit atop and watch the many young while I taught not just the girl but the hatchlings that needed to learn. The little girl took a bit of extra time but I was happy to hold her hands and let her stand on my claws while she vigorously flapped her wings.

      From what I could tell she may be a little too young to be able to fly properly so I kept most her weight just in case, not wanting her to strain herself while she practiced. When she decided to call it quits I plucked her up and flew us to the top with the rest. The dragon gently rubbing her head against a nervous boy who appeared to be shedding, and likely activated her mom instinct.

        Chuckling I traded the girl for the runt who wasn't big enough to learn how to fly and simply stayed with her mother. She purred, nuzzling into my chest as she closed her eyes dozing off quickly as always. She slept quite a bit and even if she were to grew big enough to fly her wings weren't proportionate and placed a little too far back meaning she was very unlikely to ever fly herself.

        An unintentional purr sounded in the back of my throat as I carefully pulled her closer, upon realizing it, I blinked in surprise and stopped but the herd of small ones were already teasing. Grinning I played along, quickly and carefully placing the sleeping hatchling between the arms of her mother I jumped in shock as my tail got pulled lightly.

       Turning to look over my shoulder and between my wings I found the largest of the children grinning. Quickly turning I easily swept my tail under him, gently catching him in it and curling it around him so I didn't hurt him I very carefully ticked one of the smaller children with my claws of fingers as she giggles and tried to run off.

          The rough struggles from the boy wrapped in my tail had me smiling as his friends were quick to try and help him. Uncurling it just enough for him to slip out as I scooped up two in my wing with little difficulty I snatched one with my arm. A playful battle cry sounding form behind me as I turned.

       The three lizards charging forward I released those in my grasp and easily got a hold of those three while I spread my wings and quickly took to the sky. My claws snatching one each, loosely holding their shirts so I didn't scratch them while I held another in my arms with a triumphant grin. All three laughing wildly.

       My gaze snapped to the sky as my ears tilted lightly up, also picking up on it. Putting them all down, they took note of my and the dragons now alert selves. She got to her feet, a sharp swift growl having both the hatchlings and children rushing to hide under her lightly entended wings. Pulling my legs backwards, I removed the thick dragon hide gloves from my feet, it was there to prevent me from scratching the small ones but that is the sound of an injured dragon being jerked every which way.

         Someone was on it and another unfamiliar wing pattern following close behind. One that was weighed down. Growling I snapped at her as she quickly got what I meant. Cried gently back she looked at the large shadow above the wobbling dragon. I just growled louder, glaring, with a soft bounce in her step she was nudging the young on her back and I was quickly pulling off my mask.

        Leaping into the sky I found that was indeed one of my dragons injured. The two quickly stopping as the smaller cried out, recognizing me. Rage burned in my chest but I didn't move knowing I had to stall as long as I could. The burning glare that met my own was from a scaled scared creature far larger than the children would grow to be.

         He snarled, noticing the fleeing dragon, and raised his fist high he gave a battle cry that ripped through the sky with such ferocity I nearly shook at its force. The moment it rang many followed from atop the large dragon, many similar beings taking to the sky on wings he did not have. 

        My chest rumbled as I unhinged my jaw with a roar of my own, one that had both dragons crying out as they recoiled. The glare meeting mine hardened as he pulled at the chains within my wyvern's mouth, steading the beast. However, his glare was quickly replaced with shock and fear as many dragons returned the call- some already reaching here.

       If he wanted a battle- I'd give him war.