I slept soundly, lulled by the storm's gentle rhythm and Tharros' soft snores. Hours passed, and the storm slowly began to subside. The cave grew quieter, except for the occasional distant rumble of thunder.
As I stirred, I felt Tharros stretch and yawn against my scales. He lifted his head, rubbed his eyes, and looked up at me with a sleepy gaze.
"Good morning, little one," I whispered, smiling at Tharros' adorable face.
Tharros blinked, then smiled back at me, and I knew it was going to be a wonderful day.
Pov Tharros
I smiled. "Good morning, Father! I see you still well, you know." I pause
"After eating that huge meal yesterday, I thought you might be feeling a bit sluggish," I said, giggling slightly as I looked up at you with a mischievous glint in my eyes. "But you look just fine to me, Father." I reached out and gently poked your scales with my claw, as if checking to make sure you were really okay.
I whispered, "Even know you are still fat yesterday."
I giggled at Father's teasing, feeling happy and carefree. "Hey, someone's got to keep you company, Father," I said, grinning up at him. I playfully swatted at his snout, trying to dodge his tickles. "And besides, you're the one who's always getting too full and sleepy," I teased, trying to get in a jab of my own. I wriggled around, trying to avoid Father's tickling claws, but ultimately settling for snuggling closer to him instead.
I patted Father Belly, and it jiggled around.
Father let out a hearty laugh, his deep voice rumbling through the cave.
"Ah, Tharros, you're going to be the death of me," he chuckled, playfully trying to squirm away from my touch.
But I just giggled and continued to pat his belly, watching as it jiggled and wiggled with each touch.
Father's scales vibrated with his laughter, and I couldn't help but join in, feeling happy and carefree in this moment with him.
I couldn't resist teasing Father further, so I continued to poke and prod at his belly, making him laugh even harder.
"Tharros, stop it!" Father chuckled, trying to catch his breath between laughs. "You're making me dizzy with all this belly jiggling!"
I giggled even more at his reaction, feeling happy to see Father so carefree. I snuggled up closer to him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
"I'm just trying to help you digest, Father," I said with a grin, looking up at him with innocent eyes.
Father raised an eyebrow, his expression mock-serious. "Oh, is that what they're calling it these days?" he teased, chuckling again.
Father grabbed me off his belly and placed me down, and said, "There no more playing around!"
I pouted, looking up at Father with a mischievous grin. "Aww, come on, Father! I was just having a little fun," I said, trying to sound as innocent as possible.
But Father just chuckled and ruffled my hair with a claw. "I know you're just trying to get a rise out of me, Tharros," he said with a smile. "But now it's time to get serious. Thyriatrix should be back soon, and we need to get ready."
I nodded, feeling a surge of excitement at the mention of Mother's name. I loved it when she came back with stories of her adventures.
Father question, "How was the crystals cave with your mother and siblings? I bet it is boring as hell like I was!"
I grinned mischievously, happy to share my excitement with Father. "Actually, Father, the Crystal Cave was amazing! Mother took us to see the crystal clusters, and Lyriath and Vyraxys were fascinated by the way the light reflected off them. Nyxoria and Lyrixa loved chasing after the shimmering veils, and Kaidorix was busy exploring every nook and cranny. Kieraxys was singing along with the crystals, and Niamon was giggling at the glimmering pools."
I paused for a moment, enjoying the memory. "And Mother told us all about the different types of crystals and how they're formed. It was really interesting, and I loved learning about it."
I looked up at Father with a teasing glint in my eye. "I'm not sure if it was boring, Father. I think everyone had a great time."
Father gave a smile, and I know it is some kind of a fake smile "wow that seems nice to have fun, unlike me!"
I raised an eyebrow, noticing the forced smile on Father's face. "Father, you're smiling, but it doesn't quite reach your eyes," I said gently, trying to understand what was behind his expression.
I took a step closer to him, my voice softening. "Is everything all right, Father? You seem a bit... distant. Did something happen while we were out?" I asked, concern etched on my face as I looked up at him.
Father shook his head "No everything was perfectly fine. Just play with your siblings, ok?" I can see he was about to cry.
My heart went out to Father as I saw the struggle in his eyes. I knew he was trying to hide his emotions from me, but I could sense the pain beneath his words.
I nodded slowly, feeling a pang of worry. "Okay, Father," I said softly, not wanting to push him further.
I turned to go play with my siblings, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong. I glanced back at Father, seeing the faintest glimmer of tears in his eyes before he looked away. I wanted to go back to him, to comfort him, but he had already turned his back, disappearing into the shadows of the cave.
A few minutes later, Mother went back, and I ran towards her. "Mother father seemed a bit upset. I saw he was about to cry a few minutes ago, and he went disappeared into the shadows of the cave in that direction before he cried. I told him about yesterday at the crystal cave, and before that, Father said he bet it was boring as hell!" I said.
Mother's expression turned concerned as she listened to my words. She knelt down beside me, her voice gentle. "Thank you for telling me, Tharros. I'll go check on your father and see if everything is all right."
She gave me a reassuring smile. "You did the right thing by telling me. Sometimes, Father just needs someone to talk to."
With a gentle nod, Mother headed in the direction I pointed, her footsteps quiet as she disappeared into the shadows of the cave, searching for Father. I watched her go, feeling a mix of worry and hope that she could help him feel better.
I look at Mother and stop her a bit "wait Mother it could be that Father seemed to have a boring time in the crystal cave when he was young may be when I mention how fun it was he might seem jealous about it a bit!"
Mother's expression softened, and she looked at me with a mix of surprise and understanding. "You might be right, Tharros," she said thoughtfully. "Your father's past experiences can sometimes be a sensitive topic. I'll talk to him and see if that's what's bothering him."
She smiled and gently stroked my head. "You're very perceptive, Tharros. I'm sure your father appreciates your concern."
With a nod, Mother continued on her way to find Father, her steps a bit more measured now, as if she was preparing herself for a potentially delicate conversation.
I decided to follow Mother and use my wolf-fox ears to listen to them talking from the far.
I crept quietly behind Mother, using the cave's natural acoustics and my sharp wolf-fox ears to listen in on her conversation with Father. As I settled into a hiding spot, I could hear Mother's gentle voice.
"Aetherius, what's wrong? Tharros said you seemed upset when he mentioned the Crystal Cave," Mother asked, her tone soft and concerned.
There was a pause, and then Father's deep voice rumbled, though I couldn't quite make out his words. I leaned in closer, straining to hear more.
"...just feels like I'm stuck in the past," Father said, his voice tinged with a mix of sadness and frustration. "Hearing about the Crystal Cave through Tharros...it brought back memories."
Mother's voice was soothing, but I couldn't quite catch what she was saying. I focused harder, trying to pick up more of their conversation.
"...I know I shouldn't let it bother me," Father continued, his voice a bit clearer now. "But seeing the excitement in Tharros's eyes, it reminded me of when I was young, before...before everything changed. I never got to experience the Crystal Cave like that."
Mother's voice became more distinct, and I caught her saying, "Aetherius, you're comparing your experiences to Tharros's, but they're different times, different circumstances. You have your own stories to tell, your own adventures."
Father sighed, and I could sense the weight of his emotions. "I know, Thyriatrix. It's just hard sometimes, feeling like I've missed out on so much."
Mother's response was soft and gentle. "You've had your own share of wonders, Aetherius. Don't forget the stories you've told me about the Starlight Falls and the Luminous Plains. Those are experiences Tharros and the others would love to hear."
I felt a pang of curiosity, wanting to hear more about Father's past and the stories Mother mentioned. I leaned in a bit closer, careful not to make a sound.
I heard Mother saying "look I know you when I was 2 years old, and you met me when you were 16 years old and I know you didn't miss too much and we are dragon that have a very long lifespan!" She said.
Father chuckled softly, and I could sense a bit of the tension dissipating. "You're right, as always," he said, his voice filled with affection. "I guess I'm just feeling a bit nostalgic. Being a father to Tharros and the others makes me think about my own childhood and the experiences I had."
Mother's voice was warm and reassuring. "You're an amazing father, Aetherius. The children adore you, and you have so much love to give. Don't compare your life to others; focus on the moments we share as a family."
I felt a warmth in my heart, hearing Mother's words and seeing the love and understanding between them. I decided it was time to reveal myself, not wanting to eavesdrop anymore. I stepped out of my hiding spot, and both Mother and Father turned to me.
I heard Mother saying "look I know you when I was 2 years old, and you met me when you were 16 years old and I know you didn't miss too much and we are dragon that have a very long lifespan!" She said.
Father chuckled softly, and I could sense a bit of the tension dissipating. "You're right, as always," he said, his voice filled with affection. "I guess I'm just feeling a bit nostalgic. Being a father to Tharros and the others makes me think about my own childhood and the experiences I had."
Mother's voice was warm and reassuring. "You're an amazing father, Aetherius. The children adore you, and you have so much love to give. Don't compare your life to others; focus on the moments we share as a family."
I felt a warmth in my heart, hearing Mother's words and seeing the love and understanding between them. I decided it was time to reveal myself, not wanting to eavesdrop anymore. I stepped out of my hiding spot, and both Mother and Father turned to me.
I heard Mother continued saying, "Tharros trusted you to keep him safe more than everyone he knows!"
Mother mumbled, "Not like he knows many dragons in his 8 years of alive!"
Father's expression softened, and he looked at Mother with a mix of amusement and affection. "You're right, Thyriatrix. I am lucky to have Tharros's trust. And you're right, he doesn't know many dragons outside of our family, but that's what I want for him – a safe and loving environment."
I felt a surge of love and appreciation for my parents, knowing they cared deeply for me and wanted the best for me. Father's eyes met mine, and he smiled, "And it seems our eldest son here is quite the little eavesdropper, isn't he?"
Mother chuckled, and I felt my cheeks warm up slightly, realizing I had been caught. But instead of scolding me, they both smiled, and Mother beckoned me to come closer. "Come here, Tharros. We're talking about you."
Father chuckled "Tharros I know you are eardropping our conversation, Tharros, with your wolf-fox ears!"
I grinned sheepishly, feeling a bit caught out but also relieved that Father wasn't scolding me. "You knew?" I asked, my ears folding back slightly in embarrassment.
Father chuckled again, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Of course I knew, Tharros. You're not exactly stealthy when you're trying to sneak up on us. But it's okay, we're happy to have you join the conversation."
I smiled, feeling a warmth in my chest at Father's words. I walked over to them, and Mother wrapped an arm around me, pulling me close. "We're just talking about how much you trust your father, Tharros," she said, smiling at me. "It's lovely to see such a strong bond between you two."
I nodded. "That is true!" I wag my tail.
Father smiled, his eyes shining with warmth. "I'm glad you trust me, Tharros. I promise to always be there for you, no matter what." He ruffled my hair with a claw, and I leaned into the touch, feeling happy and content.
Mother smiled at us, her eyes filled with love. "You two are adorable. I'm glad we could have this little chat and clear the air." She looked at Father. "I think we've talked enough for now. Why don't we go join the others? I'm sure they're waiting for us."
Father nodded, and the three of us walked together, our footsteps echoing through the cave. I felt grateful for my parents and the love they showed me.
As we walked, the sound of laughter and playful shouts grew louder, and soon we saw our siblings playing together in a large cavern. Lyriath and Vyraxys were chasing each other, their scales glinting in the soft light. Nyxoria and Lyrixa were building a small crystal castle, while Kaidorix and Kieraxys were playing a game of hide-and-seek. Niamon was sitting on a nearby rock, watching the commotion with wide eyes.
We joined in, and soon the whole family was laughing and playing together. Father and Mother watched us with warm smiles, happy to see their children having so much fun.
As the day drew to a close, we settled down together, our bellies full and our hearts content. Father looked at us all, his eyes shining with love. "I'm grateful for all of you," he said, his voice filled with emotion. "You are my greatest treasure."
Mother nodded in agreement, and we all snuggled up together, feeling happy and loved. As the darkness outside deepened, we drifted off to sleep, our hearts full of joy and our spirits at peace.