I drifted off into a light sleep, lulled by the sound of Tharros's gentle breathing and the warmth of his small body under my wing. I was vaguely aware of Thyriatrix's return, and the soft rustling of her scales as she applied the herb and balm to my injured belly.
As the healing properties of the herb and balm began to take effect, I felt my pain and discomfort slowly start to fade. My scales, which had been tight and inflamed, began to relax and soften, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me.
Thyriatrix sat beside me, watching me with a gentle smile. "You're doing well, Aetherius," she said softly. "Just rest now, and let the healing happen."
I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards her. I closed my eyes, letting the warmth and comfort of the moment wash over me. As I drifted off into a deeper sleep, I knew that I was exactly where I needed to be – safe, protected, and surrounded by those who cared about me and Tharros.
I smiled "well even know my belly is, you know, colossal it." I paused
Thyriatrix chuckled, her light green scales shimmering with amusement. "Yes, Aetherius, your belly is quite... impressive," she said, her voice dripping with teasing humor.
I grinned, feeling a bit self-conscious about my enlarged belly, but also relieved that Thyriatrix was helping me to heal. "Well, it's not every day that a Drakonix tries to stuff me like a... like a..." I trailed off, searching for the right words.
I finished my word
"Like a stuffed scale-beast!" I exclaimed, chuckling at the absurdity of it all.
Thyriatrix laughed, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "Well, you're certainly a unique scale-beast, Aetherius," she said, smiling.
I sighed "look the Drakonix species just have to be a dragons eater to fatten them up to eat them, and I end up being 1 of those surviving victims!"
Thyriatrix's expression turned somber, her smile fading as she gazed at me with concern. "Aetherius, I'm so sorry that you had to go through that," she said, her voice soft and gentle. "No one deserves to be treated like that, especially not by those monstrous Drakonix."
She paused, her eyes flashing with anger. "Those creatures are abominations, preying on innocent dragons like you. It's despicable."
Thyriatrix mumbled, "By innocent, I mean some form of innocent"
I raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement dancing on my lips. "Some form of innocent, huh?" I repeated, my voice low and teasing. "I'm not sure if I should be offended or relieved by that clarification, Thyriatrix."
Thyriatrix chuckled, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Oh, Aetherius, you know exactly what I mean," she said, her voice playful. "You're a bit of a troublemaker, even if you are a lovable one."
I laughed, feeling a sense of camaraderie with Thyriatrix. "Hey, someone's got to keep things interesting around here," I said, grinning.
Thyriatrix question, "Does your stomach still hurt?"
I nodded, my expression turning serious. "A bit," I admitted. "The herb and balm you applied are helping, but I can still feel some discomfort."
Thyriatrix's expression turned thoughtful. "I'll mix up another batch of the herb and balm," she said. "This time, I'll add a bit more of the pain-relieving properties. That should help ease the discomfort."
I sighed "well I hope I be recovering." My word was cut of by a burp
Thyriatrix burst out laughing, her eyes shining with amusement. "I think that's a good sign, Aetherius!" she exclaimed, still chuckling. "A burp usually means the digestive system is working again."
I grinned, feeling a bit embarrassed but also relieved. "I guess you're right," I said, laughing along with Thyriatrix. "Sorry about that. I guess my stomach is still a bit... volatile."
I burp again and again.
Thyriatrix laughed even harder, holding her sides in amusement. "Oh, Aetherius, it seems like your stomach is really clearing out the pipes!" she exclaimed, tears of laughter streaming down her face.
I chuckled, feeling a bit silly but also relieved that my digestive system was getting back to normal. "I guess I'm just making up for lost time," I said, grinning. "Burp... excuse me... burp..."
My stomach growled loudly
Thyriatrix's laughter stopped abruptly, and she looked at me with a surprised expression. "Aetherius, are you hungry again?" she asked, her voice incredulous.
I nodded sheepishly, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I guess so," I admitted. "I didn't think I'd be hungry again so soon after... you know, being stuffed by the Drakonix."
Thyriatrix raised an eyebrow. "Well, I suppose we'll need to get you something to eat, then," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.
I frowned. "I usually the 1 that hunt for the food!"
Thyriatrix smiled warmly. "I know, Aetherius. But you're not exactly in top hunting form at the moment, are you?" she asked, nodding towards my still-recovering belly.
I scowled, feeling a bit frustrated. "I suppose not," I grumbled. "But it's weird not being the one to provide for myself... and Tharros."
My ears drooped down. "Lyriath and the rest!"
Thyriatrix's expression softened, and she reached out to gently nudge my ears back up. "Don't worry, Aetherius," she said, her voice reassuring. "Lyriath and the others will understand. They'll be happy to help out and provide for everyone until you're back on your feet."
She smiled. "Besides, it's not like you're not contributing. You're taking care of Tharros, and that's just as important."
Thyriatrix grin "beside you literally attacked a human city that is now in ruin for years by you because some random human attack him using water magic!"
My face fell, and I looked away, feeling a mix of shame and embarrassment. "I... I know," I muttered. "I wasn't exactly thinking clearly at the time."
Thyriatrix's grin faltered, and she looked at me with a more serious expression. "Aetherius, I'm not bringing it up to shame you," she said gently. "I just want to remind you that sometimes, even with the best intentions, our actions can have... unintended consequences."
Thyriatrix looks at Tharros, who is under my wing sleeping "beside you get either upset or angry if someone attacks your little strong boy!" She said and giggled
I chuckled, feeling a warmth in my chest as I gazed at Tharros, who was still sleeping peacefully under my wing. "Hey, someone's got to protect him," I said, smiling defensively.
Thyriatrix's giggles turned into a soft laugh. "I know, I know," she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're a wonderful father, Aetherius. Tharros is lucky to have you."
Thyriatrix smiled, "Even know in the past you have an old history of force feed him to overeating that you gave him a massive stomach ache!"
Thyriatrix mumbled, "Even know I did teach you a lesson to not get too hard on him"
My face turned bright red with embarrassment, and I looked away, trying to hide my sheepish grin. "Ah, yeah... about that," I muttered, feeling a bit defensive. "I was just trying to make sure he was strong and healthy, and I didn't realize..."
Thyriatrix's smile turned into a knowing smirk. "I remember," she said, her voice dripping with amusement. "You were so worried about Tharros being weak that you ended up overcompensating. But I'm glad you learned your lesson... eventually."
Thyriatrix, get up. "I be getting for your growling stomach Aetherius!"
I smiled, feeling a surge of gratitude towards Thyriatrix. "Thank you, Thyriatrix," I said, my stomach growling in anticipation. "I really appreciate it."
Thyriatrix chuckled and headed towards the exit. "I'll be back with some food. Hopefully, it'll be enough to satisfy your massive appetite, Aetherius."
I laughed, feeling a bit embarrassed by the reminder of my large appetite.
Thyriatrix smiled back at me and winked. "Don't worry, I'll make sure to bring enough for seconds... and maybe even thirds," she teased, before disappearing out the door.
I chuckled and shook my head, feeling grateful for Thyriatrix's kindness and sense of humor. I looked down at Tharros, who was still sleeping peacefully under my wing. "Looks like we're going to get some food, little one," I whispered, gently stroking his scales with my talons.
I gently grab Tharros up and gently placed him down and stocked my snout around him
Tharros stirred and opened his eyes, looking up at me with a sleepy gaze. He blinked a few times, then smiled, recognizing me. "Daaa?" he cooed, reaching up to grab my snout with his tiny claws.
I chuckled and gently nuzzled him, enjoying the warm and fuzzy feeling of being close to my little one. I breathed in deeply, taking in the sweet scent of my child, and felt a sense of contentment wash over me.
I smiled "sorry I released some sleeping gas again!"
Tharros giggled and snuggled into my scales, "Daaa, your sleepy gas got me again!" He wrapped his small arms around my neck, giving me a gentle squeeze before leaning back to look up at me with a sleepy grin.
I smiled and gently ruffled his spiky scales with my talons. "Sorry, little one," I whispered, "I guess I still need to work on controlling that sleeping gas of mine."
I frowned. "I think my sleeping gas had effect you talking like a fleshly talk hatchlings!"
Tharros's grin faltered, and he looked up at me with a confused expression. "Huh? What do you mean, Da? I'm talking normally, aren't I?" He tilted his head, his eyes squinting slightly as he tried to process what I was saying.
I chuckled and shook my head. "Never mind, kiddo. Just forget I said that, okay?"
I smiled. "And yes, I still have that stomach ache just a bit!"
Tharros's face lit up with concern. "Aww, Da, sorry to hear that! Do you want me to go get Mom? Maybe she can help you feel better."
I smiled, touched by Tharros's concern for me. "No, no, kiddo. I'll be fine. Mom is already going to get some food for me. That should help settle my stomach."
I thought to myself,'damn my sleeping gas did a number on his speech ability!'
I thought to myself again, 'I hope his speech ability will be back to normal and fine like before, or Thyriatrix will be so mad. I don't want to deal with her wrath if Tharros's speech is permanently affected by my sleeping gas.'
I thought, 'I'll just have to keep a close eye on him and make sure he's back to normal soon. Maybe I can even help speed up the process somehow.'
Just then, I heard the sound of the door opening, and Thyriatrix walked in with a big smile on her face, carrying a large tray of freshly caught fish and other dragon delicacies.
"Rrrroo! Hey, my loves! I'm back with some lunch. Tharros, how's your sire doing?"
I slowly turn to look at Thyriatrix with a hint of fear.
My eyes met Thyriatrix's, and I could see a flicker of concern in her gaze. She set the tray down on a nearby table, her movements swift and precise.
"Aetherius, what's wrong?" she asked, her voice low and soothing as she padded towards me, her scales rustling softly.
I hesitated, unsure of how to explain the situation. Tharros, still under the influence of my sleeping gas, was sitting quietly beside me, his silver scales glistening in the soft light of the room.
Thyriatrix's concern deepened as she drew closer, her eyes scanning me and then Tharros. "Aetherius, you're starting to worry me. What's going on?" she pressed, her voice firm but gentle.
I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. "It's just... I think I might have accidentally released some of my sleeping gas earlier," I admitted, wincing slightly as I awaited her reaction.
Tharros looked up at me with a goofy grin on his face, his silver scales sparkling with mischief. "Da, I had the craziest dream!" he exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. "I was flying through a field of sparkling stars, and I could feel the wind rushing past me!"
Thyriatrix's eyes narrowed, her gaze flicking from Tharros to me. "Aetherius, did you release sleeping gas on him again?!" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of warning and a bit of anger.
I winced, feeling a twinge of guilt as I met Thyriatrix's stern gaze. "I'm afraid so," I admitted, my voice sheepish. "I didn't mean to, it just slipped out. And it seems to have affected his speech again."
Tharros, still grinning, looked up at me with a confused expression. "Affected my speech, Da? What do you mean?" he asked, his voice still filled with excitement, but now tinged with a hint of curiosity.
Thyriatrix let out a soft sigh, her expression softening slightly as she looked at Tharros. "Tharros, sweetie, you're not talking like yourself right now," she explained gently. "Your words are a bit... jumbled, and you're using simpler phrases than you normally would."
Tharros's grin faltered, and he looked at me with a concerned expression. "Do you mean I'm talking like when I was little, Da?" he asked, his voice tinged with worry.
I nodded. "I'm afraid so!"
Tharros's face scrunched up in concern, and he looked down at his claws, fidgeting slightly. "I don't like it when that happens, Da," he said, his voice still childish. "I want to talk like a big dragon again."
Thyriatrix stepped forward, her scales rustling softly, and gently nuzzled Tharros's head. "Don't worry, sweetie. It's just a temporary effect of your father's sleeping gas. You'll be back to normal soon."
Thyriatrix looks at me, and the anger is slowly increasing. "Is that right? Is it only temporary?!"
I answered, "To be honest, I don't know much about my sleeping gas!"
Thyriatrix's eyes narrowed, her scales bristling slightly as her anger grew. "You don't know much about your own sleeping gas?" she repeated, her voice low and even, but with a hint of incredulity. "Aetherius, how could you be so reckless? Our child's well-being is at stake!"
Tharros, sensing the tension, looked up at me with wide eyes, his childish voice trembling slightly. "D-da, are you in trouble?"
I frowned. "I may have given him too much of the amount!"
Thyriatrix's expression turned stern again, and she gave me a disapproving look. "Aetherius, you know better than to overmedicate our children. Tharros is sensitive to your sleeping gas, and you need to be more careful."
She turned to Tharros, who was still looking worried, and nudged him gently. "Come on, Tharros. Let's get you to the fresh air chamber. Maybe it'll help clear your head."
The "fresh air chamber" is a specialized room within the dragons' dwelling that's designed to provide a unique environment for relaxation, rejuvenation, and even recovery.
In this chamber, the air is specially filtered and infused with calming scents, such as the fragrance of rare flowers or the sweetness of fresh fruits. The room is also maintained at a precise temperature, perfect for dragons to unwind and regulate their body temperature.
The walls of the chamber are adorned with a special type of crystal that emits a gentle, soothing hum, which helps to calm the mind and promote relaxation. The floor is covered with a thick layer of soft, plush moss that's gentle on the dragons' scales.
In cases like Tharros', where he's been affected by my sleeping gas, the fresh air chamber can help to accelerate his recovery by providing a peaceful and calming environment that allows him to clear his head and regain his composure.
Tharros nodded, still looking a bit dazed, and followed Thyriatrix out of the room. I watched them go, feeling a pang of guilt and worry. I knew I had to be more careful with my sleeping gas, especially around Tharros.
As I stood there, lost in thought, I heard the sound of scales rustling against the floor. I turned to see Lyriath, Vyraxys, Nyxoria, Lyrixa, Kaidorix, Kieraxys, and Niamon gathered around the entrance of the room, their eyes wide with curiosity.
"What happened to Tharros, Father?" Lyriath asked, his navy-blue scales glinting in the soft light. "He seemed a bit... off."
I took a deep breath, trying to think of a way to explain the situation to my curious brood.
"I'm afraid I made a bit of a mistake," I admitted, my voice a bit sheepish. "I released too much of my sleeping gas, and it affected Tharros."
Vyraxys's dark bronze scales seemed to darken even further as he frowned. "But Father, you know Tharros is sensitive to your sleeping gas," he said, his voice tinged with concern.
I nodded, feeling a pang of regret. "I know, son. I wasn't thinking, and I made a mistake. But Thyriatrix is taking care of him, and he'll be fine."
Nyxoria's amethyst scales glimmered with curiosity as she asked, "What's going to happen to Tharros, Father?"
"He'll just need some time to recover, that's all," I reassured her. "The fresh air chamber will help him clear his head, and Thyriatrix will keep a close eye on him."
Lyrixa's rose-gold scales sparkled with interest as she asked, "Can we go see him, Father?"
I hesitated for a moment, unsure if it was a good idea. But then I nodded, thinking it might be good for Tharros to have his siblings around him. "Yes, you can go see him. But be gentle and quiet, and let Thyriatrix do her job."
The young dragons all nodded eagerly and scampered off towards the fresh air chamber, their scales glinting in the soft light. I watched them go, feeling a mix of relief and concern.
As I watched my little brood disappear into the fresh air chamber, I couldn't help but feel a sense of pride and love for my family. Despite the mishap with Tharros, I knew that we would get through this together.
I took a deep breath, letting the tension in my body ease. It was time for me to check on Tharros and make sure he was recovering well.
I made my way to the fresh air chamber, my scales rustling softly against the floor. As I entered the room, I saw Thyriatrix sitting beside Tharros, who was lying on a soft, moss-covered under my wing. The young dragons were all gathered around, watching their brother with concern.
Thyriatrix looked up at me and nodded. "He's going to be fine," she said softly. "Just needs some rest."
I nodded, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. I sat down beside Tharros, gently nuzzling him with my snout.
As I looked at my family, all gathered around me, I knew that everything was going to be alright.
And with that, I closed my eyes, feeling grateful for this moment of peace with my loved ones.