Night Fury's Wrath

Chapter 50: Death's Due

-Well, well, well... we've finally reached chapter fifty. I've waited a long time for this chapter, a little over a year now if my estimate is correct, and it's finally here! Two major events that I have hinted at and subverted many times over will finally be revealed, one of them imminently, and the other soon after. But I won't bore you with the details when you can just find out for yourselves.

Enjoy!

-NFD

~~~

Two dragons, one male, another female, stared at me with a mixture of curiosity and bewilderment. The male, Auroon, was almost a replica of the female, Astra, albeit smaller and with subtler masculine features. Their green eyes were exactly the same if one ignored the obvious fatigue in Auroon's eyes, especially the curiosity shining in both pairs. Astra was the origin of my family's endless curiosity, who gave it to Auroon, and Auroon gave it to our hatchlings. 

That curiosity got us into more trouble than I liked, though it could be endearing at times when directed at the right activities.

Astra looked irritated, but her interest in what I hid behind me kept her from lashing out. Auroon simply looked tired and worried about something, but he was just as fixated on the unknown as his mother. He definitely took after her, unending curiosity and all. Moon hung back behind them with Shadow, anxious and hopeful.

"What you will see will be shocking," I warned. "But try not to get too crazy. Your surprise will need... an 'adjustment period.' Too much all at once will make things difficult." They looked confused about my vague words, but it was necessary to avoid ruining the surprise. "Are you ready?" They nodded slowly.

I felt around with my tail to make sure it was prepared, feeling a slight pinch. Alright, here we go. I folded my wings stepped aside in one fluid motion. Auroon went rigid.

Astra blinked, confused. "What? Is it behind—"

"H-Hey, Mom," a faint voice rasped beside me.

Astra's breath caught in her throat as her gaze snapped back to the owner of the voice, realizing that it was living. Tears came to her eyes and her entire body trembled. "T-T-Tooth...less?" She whimpered shakily. "You... Y-You're... alive...?" I shot the youngest member of our generation, Toothless, a grin.

Toothless hadn't moved from his side-laying position, but his cracked-open green eyes and smile were directed at his mother and older brother. "I s-sure hope so," he quipped hoarsely. "Or this is one really screwed up dream—"

Astra squealed with joy and leaped at her son, only to be intercepted and forced to the ground by me. She snarled and thrashed under me, but I had already pinned down anything sharp that could be used against me. "Astra, stop!" I barked. "Remember what I said! He was just resurrected and can't handle a full-bodied tackle! Calm down."

"Calm down?!" She shrieked shrilly. "Calm... down?! Are you fucking INSANE?!"

"I'm not kidding!" I growled over her head. "Moon's magic is still in him and slowly repairing the rest of his body. Jumping on him will kill him again!"

Astra went completely still. "What can I do right now?" She asked very slowly, almost whispering.

"Gentle nuzzling, licking, and talking," I listed evenly. "Basically anything that doesn't include moving his body more than the smallest amounts. Moon couldn't do a full resurrection so soon after Splinter, so she restored anything vital, but everything else will take tonight and the day after at least to repair. Moving him will disturb her magic and kill him, which will damage his body beyond repair. Understand?"