A Hatchling's Day

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Nick's POV:

I woke up to see my father curled around me. I soon noticed that it was somewhat bright outside, so I nuzzle him softly. I then remember about the dragon and Viking from yesterday and start to wonder about the two of them. I still felt a connection to the black dragon, and if what Soulver said was true, then how come the dragon wasn't dead yet. The Viking also seemed to show a close bond to him.

I look up to see Soulver with a smile on his face as he continues to sleep. I smile as I wondered about what he could be dreaming about. I look at the sun starting to rise and I soon purr as the rays hit my scales, warming me. I snuggle back into the protective embrace of my father before laying my head down, waiting for him to wake from his slumber.

Soulver's POV:

Stirring awake unintentionally, my heart ached painfully at the dream I had. Slowly opening my eyes, I first saw the dim ray of light of the sun flooding the cave. Raising my head slowly for I was still somewhat groggy, I shake it as I take in the morning while I yawned. The scent of moisture was in the air outside of the cave, followed by the scent of wildlife of boar, sheep, trees and plants. Looking down to my right for I felt something nudges me, I see young Nick looking up at me with happiness behind his eyes.

"Did you sleep well little one?"

The little one nodded before nuzzling against my side, "Yes, I slept wonderfully," he responded. "I was waiting for you to wake up," when I looked over at him, he had an expression of joy evident on his face for he looked so content. This was the first time I've seen him this happy since I first met the little one.

"That's good to hear..." I say with happiness in my voice. Thinking to everything that has transpired thus far for it has been one thing after another, it's about time for young Nick to do something of his own choice. "Say, what would you like to do today little one?"

Nick's POV:

I jumped onto Soulver's head as my instincts started to show me how to retract my teeth. I gave Soulver a toothless smile before saying, "I wanna play!" I then jumped off from his head before tagging him with the tip of my tail.

"You're it!" I shouted before running out of the cave and into the nearby forest. I jump over a branch and hide in a tunnel that was created by a tree that effectively hides my body. I looked back at the opening just in case I needed to run. I soon hear the flapping of wings followed by some small vibrations in the ground, signaling Soulver landed nearby, for I soon see the black paws with white claws near the entrance to my hiding spot. I held my breath as I waited for him to either come after me, or leave. He first seems to leave and I soon let out a big sigh, but then he pops his head near the entrance.

"Surprise!" He says with amusement in a thundering voice, effectively scaring me. I screech in fear at first before smiling as I attempt to escape out the other end of the tunnel, but somehow Soulver was at the other end already and tags me with his white arrow tipped tail as I tumble out.

I pout before exclaiming, "you tricked me!" He only chuckled without saying a word, finding my pouting amusing.

I nuzzle him before asking my next question, "Do you think I can fly yet?" I ask, longing for the experience.

"In the future, yes. But at the moment, no young Nick, for it's only been only four days since you hatched. I don't want you to hurt yourself trying to fly sooner than need be." He looked at me as he said this, hoping I understood.

I pout again, but this time in disappointment knowing that I wouldn't be able to fly anytime soon. I heard a small rustle from above, so I look up to see a bird taking flight from the tree I was hiding under. "Must be nice," I grumble under my breathe.

Having heard me, he states "That it is young Nick for flying is one of the many things that a dragon holds dear."

Shortly after his statement, an idea starts to form in my small 4-day old brain as I thought of another way to experience the awesome sensation that was flying without Soulver having to worry about me hurting myself.

Looking at him, "Can you give me a quick flight by any chance? I-I know I can't fly on my own, but maybe with your help..." I trail off, somewhat nervous that he might refuse the request.

He chuckles for what seems to be at either my nervousness or request, not sure which it was, "Sure young Nick, but promise me you'll hold on, okay?"

I nod my head before smiling, "I promise," then I hopped onto Soulver's back and use my tiny claws to hold onto one of the many spines that lined his back. I then felt a sudden thrill, knowing that I soon will be able to experience flying while being consciously awake.

"You ready little one?" He asks when his wings started to extend, getting into a position to take flight.

"Yep!" I respond quickly and enthusiastically as my heart raced, "ready as I'll ever be!"

After hearing that I was ready, Soulver took off from the ground. He made sure that he was going at a speed where I was able to keep a steady and firm hold on his back spine, but also fast enough to make it an experience I will never soon forget. We first gained height before going into a small dive. Afterwards, we gained more height while spinning rapidly. As we flew, we were going out of the small forest and past the shore of our small island. We then descended to the ocean and he skimmed the water with the tip of his wings and claws. Angling himself to where I could reach the water, I extend a paw into the water to feel it moving fast past my claw and laughed out loud with a smile on my face. I then noticed Soulver looking back at me while flying as he cracked a soft smile at my joy. We soon rose before doing a loop followed by Soulver ascending, higher and higher into the air, passing the clouds before ending in a dive bomb that left me cheering and laughing. This feeling, this exhilaration and freedom and joy. This is what it truly meant to be a dragon, to be free and happy. To fly as high as you wanted and still be free of the earthly tethers such as sorrow and fear.

My cheering continued as we came out of the dive bomb, leaving my body full of exhilaration and energetic.. I got quieter as we leveled out and started to head back to the small cave that we had stayed in before. I got off Soulver's back before looking at him with a toothless smile on my face.

Shaking his wings before resting them on his side, he asks, "How was it young Nick? Was it as you expected?"

"I LOVED IT!" I exclaimed before nuzzling Soulver, "Thank you so much dad. It was so much fun to go flying with you. It was better than I could have ever imagined. I can't wait to fly next to you."

"That's good to hear little one."

"Hey dad," I asked, remembering something he had said to me earlier, "I was wondering, earlier you said that flying was one of the things a dragon holds dear. What are the other things a dragon hold dear?" I ask in innocent curiosity.

Chuckling softly as he nudges me with his head, "That young Nick, you must find on your own. Every dragon holds something dear to them that differs from another."

I looked at him in the eye before asking with wisdom beyond my days, "Do you hold me dear?"

"That I do young Nick."

I then start to think about my own appearance and how it differed from Soulver's. My curiosity got the better of me and I decided to ask about something that was on my mind since I saw the black dragon yesterday.

"Hey dad?" I ask, "Are there different kinds of dragons in the world?"

At that, his ears perked as he looks at me, "What makes you say that little one?"

"It's just that, ever since I saw the black dragon yesterday, I've been wondering why me, you, and that other dragon all look different from one another." I respond, interested to be find out the reason behind our differences. I wanted to learn something about myself.

Having to think his answer out for he turns to look at the evening sky, "...There are different kind of dragons, yes. Even dragons among their own kind are different for each one is unique." Turning to look at me again, "What brought this up?"

"Well... I just wondered if you happened to know what kind of dragon I was. I also was curious as to the kind of dragon you are." I answer.

"What kind of dragon you are, I don't know the answer to that. What kind of dragon I am..." pondering on his words, he pauses for a second before continuing, "... I'm not really sure myself young Nick."

I nod in understanding. It was a little too much to ask for the kind of dragon I was when I didn't even know the kind that my birth parents were. I was feeling a little sad. I just was curious about why I ended up being hatched alone in the first place. I just wanted to know who it was that was going to raise me. Don't get me wrong, Soulver was an incredible father. He was patient, kind, and compassionate.

'And at least, he was around... unlike my biological parents' I bitterly thought to myself.

Noticing it was getting dark, I thought about the sun and how it rose in the morning. That got me wondering, did the sun fall when night approached?

"Hey dad," I ask Soulver, "if the sun rises in the morning, does that mean it also falls at night?"

"That it does Little one, for its called the sunset."

I hesitated, before asking my next question, "Could we- could we watch the sunset together?" I ask.

Chuckling softly, "If you so desire young Nick."

I snuggle next to Soulver and watch as the orange orb starts to descend past the horizon. The sky turned a pretty pink and orange. My pupils rounded in awe as I saw the beauty that was a sunset. The sky kept turning shades as the sun kept getting lower and lower. First bright orange, then orangish pink, and finally a delight purple before fading to the black of night.

I crooned in awe and amazement as the sight finished. I looked up at Soulver before saying, "thank you for showing me that," as I nuzzle his side.

"Always a pleasure to make you happy," he said with a smile on his face, amusement in his eyes as well.

I purred before yawning. I smiled, thinking about the day I've had and how incredible it was. I laid down next to Soulver before closing my eyes, knowing that he would keep the chill of night away.

Soulver's POV:

Seeing as how young Nick snuggle into me, I brought my tail closer to curl around Nick's small, fragile body. Stretching one of my wings out and laying it over young Nick, I look outside to see thunderclouds in the far distance. Estimating when they'll hit the island seeing as it could be a massive one, it could be either tomorrow at midday or late evening for the clouds were approaching slowly without disappearing in the least. Feeling young Nick snuggle even closer to me, I curled my tail tighter and raised my inner fire slightly for this night was going to be a bit more cold now for the winter cycle was fast approaching. Laying my head down as I close my eyes, I thought about tomorrow, feeling a bit of uneasiness at the mere thought.