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A Dragon's Path

Chapter Five:

A Decision to Adventure

"Give me a second," Skytail replied.

"Alright, well... You might as well come and think about it in my den," Nightclaw invited.

Skytail's eyes lit up at the prospect. "Yeah... I could use a moment to rest," she said. "Thanks!"

The two dragons flew down towards the cave, and Skytail thought over the decision she faced throughout the process.

She really should consult her parents with the decision... Not for their permission, but for their guidance. If she went, it would probably be the last time she'd see them for a while- perhaps even ever. She wanted to consult with them one last time before she did that, and make sure they were okay with her leaving.

But yet... As she thought the ideas over in her head, it became more and more apparent to herself that she wanted to go through with it.

As they landed, she quickly stepped into the cave, and looked back to Nightclaw. She caught his eyes glancing over her swollen belly, and then darting up to meet her.

"You can lie down if you want," He said.

She nodded, and then leaned against the wall, getting down and lying on her gut, the sides squishing out as the humans inside were compacted and pressed to the side- much to their displeasure.

"So?" Nightclaw asked again. "What do you think?"

Skytail opened her mouth, but wasn't exactly sure what to say. Part of her still wanted to think about it... But before she could say so, she found herself blurting out something else.

"I... I'll do it,' she said.

Nightclaw's expression visibly brightened at that. "Really?" he asked. "You'll come with me?"

"Yes..." Skytail replied. "I've been wanting to get off of this island too... But I have to tell my parents, and talk with them about it first."

"That's perfectly fine," Nightclaw assured. "When do you think you can do that by?"

"I was going to visit them after this..." Skytail replied. "Why? When were you thinking of leaving?"

"I was hoping to get going as soon as you could," Nightclaw admitted. "I know it's a bit last minute, but... I've been wanting to do this for a while now."

"Alright, well... I'll get back to you on when," Skytail replied. "But really... I'd love to go with you, Nightclaw."

Nightclaw murred. "Good," he said. "I couldn't be happier.

* * *

The two dragons stayed and talked for a while. But, eventually, the Deadly Nadder decided that it was time to go.

As she flew to her parents' den, she felt her belly sloshing beneath her, and realized that it was no longer moving. The humans in her belly had passed out, and were nearly without form now; almost entirely broken down and converted to mush by her digestive system.

Smiling in contentment, she continued on her way to her parents' den.

When she arrived, she alighted down upon the outcropping of stone outside of their cave, and then peaked her head inside. She found it empty.

Huh, she thought. I wonder where they could be.

She decided to wait it out. She sat down on the stone outcropping, and pressed her sloshing belly against the warm stone. Sitting in the direct rays of the sun, she tilted her head up and closed her eyes, enjoying the warmth washing over her scales as she basked.

Her belly glorped and gurgled happily as the stone warmed it, and helped it digest her meal. It felt great.

Eventually, however, she heard the sound of wings flapping in the distance, and opened her eyes.

Up in the sky above her, two familiar Deadly Nadders were flying towards her. Even from this distance, she recognized them as her parents.

As they grew closer, she eventually noticed that their bellies hung distended out beneath them. They too had taken a trip to the village.

Huh... Bad day for the humans, she thought.

When they got close enough, they shouted out in greeting. "Skytail!" her father, a large, green and blue Nadder with a pale yellow underbelly called.

"Father!" she called back.

Then, the two of them landed. Her mother, a red and purple Nadder touched down first, and immediately made her way over to her daughter, nuzzling the side of her face with her own.

"Hello mother," Skytail greeted. She nuzzled her back, and then did the same with her father.

When they were done greeting, the two parties stepped back and looked over each other.

"I see you two have eaten," she commented.

"We see you have," her father replied. "Humans have had a bad day, eh?"

"That's what I was thinking," Skytail replied.

For the next few minutes, the dragons caught up on each other's lives, and what had been going on since they last met. Eventually, they moved into the cave, where they all laid back to relax and talk.

Soon, Skytail found she couldn't avoid the subject any longer.

"So... There was something I wanted to talk to you about," she said.

Her mother tilted her head in concern. "Oh?" she asked. "What's going on?"

"Well... I was thinking about leaving," she said.

"Oh..." her mother replied.

All three of them were silent for a few moments, unsure of how to proceed with their conversation. Then, finally, her father spoke.

"What's brought this on?" he asked.

"Well... I've been feeling... restless, lately," Skytail explained. "There's a whole world out there, and I've only seen a bit of it. And then... Nightclaw came to me, and said he was leaving. He wants me to come with him.

Her mother looked worried at her words, but her father only looked mildly amused. "Well," he said. "We both knew this day would come eventually."

"Stormwing!" her mother exclaimed. "You can't tell me that doesn't bother you!"

"It does," he replied. "Of course it does; she's my daughter and I'm worried about her. But we can't just keep her here forever, Wisteria, you know that. Sooner or later, she was going to go off on her own, and the most we can do is help guide her on her way."

Wisteria sighed... Then relented. "Oh, fine... You're right. It's time for her to go see the world. I'm just worried about her."

"We'll both be," Stormwing replied. He then looked over at Skytail. "But she'll be fine. Right, Skytail?"

"Right," Skytail replied.

"I know you will be," he continued. "You're a strong, brave and beautiful girl, and I'm proud to be your father."

Skytail stepped forward and nuzzled her head up against his. "Thank you, dad," she purred.