Chapter 20
They weren't supposed to grow this quickly.
In fact, this is out of the ordinary.
Lady Tiamat assumed she had ten years before Yuuji or Suiryu would need to feed themselves to grow up. After all, they are earth bound dragons, but still dragons. In the heavenly realm, if a young male dragon makes it that far, it's ten years before they start getting into a feeding frenzy mode. When this happens, it means their bodies are getting conditioned to create their adult forms. However, she thought that process would be delayed in the earthly realm. But it appears to be the opposite.
She had to take them out of the world in order to ensure they don't destroy it. Their appetites right now wouldn't be satisfied with anything in the realm. If she had left them, they would have devoured every living thing just to satisfy their hunger.
There was little choice but to taken them to another realm. Where the dragons feed.
She called this world Ether.
For if it didn't exist, the dragons would have no method to keep themselves full, without destroying worlds they reside in to do so.
The moment she arrived with her sons, Lady Tiamat turned into her true form. She took to a mountain that she claimed years ago and a large cave. This will be perfect to raise her children in for the time being. Carefully, she laid them in an old nest she had made ages ago, but it will have to be redone. "It will do for the moment, you two rest here and I'll get you food."
With that, she took off.
The beasts here were plentiful and large, one in particular she knew will help her growing children thrive.
Behemoths.
Large massive creatures with shaggy green fur, if humans saw them, they would be mistaken as a dinosaur, but these creatures as the perfect thing for a young dragon to eat. The blood of them alone has enough nutrients to sustain a baby dragon. But the meat… will accelerate their growth. She was quick to hunt down one and bring it back to the nest. Leaving the carcass outside she went into the cave and saw Yuuji and Suiryu had woken up.
Their eyes told her everything. Neither one are in their right frame of mind, their instincts have taken over, and it's the urge to eat that has dominated their thoughts.
"Umph! Umph!" came out of them.
"Come, this way, I have food for you." She said gently.
They got to their feet and ventured out, when they saw the beast before them, she couldn't even get a word in when Suiryu threw himself at it and tore into the prey!
Yuuji was quick to follow suit as they began to devour the beast without hesitation. "I had no idea you were this hungry… quite frankly, you are far hungrier than any baby dragon I have ever seen," she said.
It was true, a behemoth she brought them could feed a litter of young dragons for three days.
This would barely last one by the time her sons were through with it!
In fact… they devoured a five ton beast within an hour.
But after taking their fill, they settled instantly. They licked their lips contently, they laid belly up from the feast. Tiamat could only giggle at her sons as they soon passed out. "At least they will be easier to bathe this way…"
#
A week would pass.
Yuuji and Suiryu have changed rather drastically. When they had their first, full meal. They grew taller. They stood over seven feet if she were to guess, they also began to put on weight. But the most drastic change was their physical appearance altering. Yuuji and Suiryu were starting to get broader horns, their finger tips have turn to dragon claws and scales were starting to form around their faces. Their wings have already started to look more dragon like compared to before. They grew claws on the tips and they too were starting to turn scaly.
"Remarkable, you two are growing so fast… but you won't be mature dragons just yet, still, remarkable…" Tiamat said with great admiration.
The two have gotten a bit of a potbelly on them, but that's to be expected. A baby dragon will start to store food in case it gets harder and harder to come by. But, by the looks of it, it appears the two are going to be fine. After all, Tiamat is an excellent hunter, she also has a guarantee source of meat if needed. But for the time being, she has no problem feeding them.
As they start to grow, soon, they will have their own auras, scent and power. When that day comes… the males will too. She has no doubt there will be dragons out to kill her children. So, if they are growing this fast, she will take full advantage of it!
"Yuuji, Suiryu. I am going to get more food. Do not leave this cave no matter what! Understood?" she ordered.
The two nodded to her, Yuuji went one farther and sat himself down, and he does this to show he is willing to listen. Suiryu merely nods, respecting her order. She nodded back to him and took off. Behemoth meat is no longer needed. Their bodies are growing at the perfect rate, but now, they need stronger, denser meat in order to build up their bodies.
There is only one creature here who can offer such a feast for her children…
#
Suiryu watched on as mom left them be.
She did this often, but at the same time, he doubts she knows that there are strangers outside, trying to peer into the cave. Yuuji sat on the ground but glared out the entrance and growled lowly. They were gathering again.
Suiryu sneered as well, he could sense how many were lingering below the mountain, trying to plot their next move and take them out. So far, they have thwarted five attacks on their cave. But more were coming, after all, these were merely tests to see if there was something there.
They have a solid strategy.
Suiryu doesn't like it, however it has worked for the past five attempts.
Each time someone strange comes closer, they manipulate the ground below them. They allow the earth to swallow them up and they wait within the mountain until the threat is gone.
The males would linger around for an hour or so, sometimes they would get caught by mom and forced out. Other times they merely lose interest and leave. But the problem was, Suiryu has picked up on a scent that keep coming. There's a dragon out there that is aware they are within the cave, and won't stop until he gets them once and for all.
Today was no different.
Yuuji even paused as he sensed the same male lingering near by, he turned to Suiryu and nodded. They fell back to the ground and controlled the earth under them, they would sink into the mountain and hide at least twenty feet deep and wait.
Suiryu would listen in complete darkness to the world above him, he could sense the power of those who came within the cave. Many of these males were not too strong. In fact, he and Yuuji could defeat them with ease. However, he heard them speak of another male, they answer to someone else. So taking them out would not be the wisest course of action.
But, something else was happening too.
He listened as the males hissed in anger to find nothing again. "Lady Tiamat is keeping brats here, we know she is isn't she?"
"She must have, there is no other explanation! But where are they!"
"Is this not intruding?"
Suiryu would strain his ear as he heard another male's voice; in fact, he believes this is the scent he picks up when the others leave. "You know the rules!" one snapped back.
"Indeed, and yet, here you stand, obviously looking to break them. It isn't breaking the rules if there are no witnesses correct?"
"You're a wildling! You have no right to judge us!"
"No right you say? I beg to differ!"
Suiryu could feel the ground above them tremble. Whoever this male was… was looking to protect them?
"It's because of males like you, I became an orphan, I had to rely on myself to survive. Males like you… took away my brother and brood mates. I refuse to allow such a thing to happen again! Get… OUT!" he roared.
The males left disgruntledly.
This one lingered a while longer before he spoke again. "Wherever you are hiding, it is now safe, I sense your mother will return very shortly, you may remain where you are, or you can rise up to greet her."
Suiryu waited for the male to leave.
By the time they came up through the ground once more. Mom returned with food. Suiryu was already licking his lips towards it, as was Yuuji.
Yet, before either one could bring themselves to take a share of it, pain began to echo through his body.
In fact, Suiryu fell forward, but caught himself before hitting the ground. Yuuji too was feeling the same anguish!
"Yuuji… Suiryu… deep breathes and calm yourself. Okay, deep breaths, In and out." Mom said gently.
So… this is suppose to happen?
Suiryu could only nod as he took deep breaths. Whenever he breathed in, he felt his body grow and extend. When he breathed out, his skin would flake and tear. Yuuji was the same way, the once soft, human skin began to break away from his body, and dark, black scales started to poke through…