The Sample Platter
Chapter 4
0
The coast was as amazing as Atemu could expect. The differences between living inland and living on the coast was vastly different. The openness of the land, the beauty of the sea and the town itself. It was all a marvel and Yugi made sure he got to enjoy every bit of it. The first day catered to getting settled in, Yugi finding a small inn which to stay, paying with coin leftover from their dragon riding days to secure the best room.
Once settled, they headed out for a day on the town, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of the coastal paradise, trying food and looking at wares. Yugi was excited just as much as Atemu was to be there, happy to just be in Atemu's presence as they explored. The next day had them venture out to the coast itself, Yugi begrudgingly explaining how there was likely a whole new world far beyond the sea.
"I never tried to venture out there, though. Who knows how vast the sea is. If there is no place for me to rest along the way, I'd never make it to see land again."
Atemu reached out, patting the dragon's head. "I'm sure there's plenty to see. But no need to rush. We still have so much going on here. Someday we'll arrange to see what rests beyond the horizon. Until then, I would rather prepare something for us to do on your hatching day." That perked the dragon right up, too eager to see what Atemu had planned. They took a leisure walk down the coast, hand in hand, until night fell then returned to town to enjoy a sizable meal before retiring for the night.
0
The next day, Yugi's hatching day, had Atemu wake early in the morning to prepare. Making sure the dragon was still resting, he tucked him in further before stepping out from the room. He had to work fast if he wanted to get everything situated before Yugi found he was alone. Stalls were just getting set up, leaving Atemu little option to pick up something from there so he turned to the coast.
Atemu wandered the coast, combing through the sand to see if anything stuck out to him. All he came up with was cracked or chipped shells and the occasional crab. While a present was hardly necessary, the dragon perfectly content just with the time spent with his rider, Atemu still felt Yugi was owed his dues. He had been so caring, devoted and protective for so many years. He had more than his fair share of time to leave and continue on to find a place to call home.
Yet he chose to stay with Atemu, found a home with him where he could be happy with a mate that he felt was worthy of Gandora's time. Atemu wanted, no, needed to repay the dragon back for all these years. And hatching day for his precious dragon was a perfect opportunity. If only he could find something quickly which to present to the dragon. Yugi never did like vanity items, always seen as one himself by so many others yet Atemu hoped he would accept even just one token of his appreciation with what today is.
He paused on the soft sands of the shoreline, looking out to the sea in its sapphire glory. It truly was a beautiful sight, one Atemu wanted to commit to memory for a long time. He didn't know the passage of time but when something dark stood out in the blue of the sky, he blinked once to find it gone. It was too fast for his eye to track, Atemu glancing around to see if he could find it again. He just barely caught it again in his peripherals.
It was brief, a mere flash of red in the light of the sun, then he smiled. Of course he wouldn't stay asleep for long. A roar seemingly answers the unspoken question, the Gandora moving to dive down for Atemu on the shore. The rider hardly moved, trusting the dragon which was handsomely rewarded as the dragon easily banked his trajectory, sending a dusting of sand into the air. Atemu laughed vibrantly, a sound he hadn't made in some time.
"Yugi! Let's do some endurance practice!"
A roar reverberated in the air, a confirmation to his suggestion, and Atemu defaulted back to old rider's training. A dragon's success is measured by their endurance. Their ability to make snap decisions in the air when under duress.
Yugi had been one of the best dragons in that field, his hyperfocus always hand in hand with his strict dedication toward his rider's safety. Atemu raised a hand, committing to a select set of hand gestures that Yugi could see with eagle sharp vision, grinning with a curl of his beak before charging forward. Atemu watched Yugi glide through the air with a majesty that went unmatched. The memories of him outperforming others on the field and receiving the proper praise for his efforts made him proud, seeing nothing had changed.
The dragon was quick and nimble, a combination most thought to laugh at Atemu about until they saw just how limber Yugi was. The bulk of his form never hinders him, able to buck and weave through the clouds like a fish in water. The skies were his domain and no one could claim it from him. Atemu was full on grinning now, seeing Yugi had never lost his flair for flight, giving hand gesture for more complicated orders.
It has been so long, he hoped Yugi hadn't forgotten them. By Yugi's response in the air, it looks like he hasn't forgotten them either. With loops and barrels, Yugi had done it all with a flourish. He hadn't lost a single bit of speed or grace after their lengthy stagnancy trying to build a life outside of being dragon riders. It was beautiful to witness again, a reward that keeps on giving. And here, he was supposed to be the one giving Yugi a gift for hatching day.
Laughing, Atemu plopped on the sand after making one more gesture, a sign for Yugi to land, and watched as the dragon dove down, coming in fairly hot to the point that someone untrained would think the dragon would crash land right on top of him. However, Atemu knew Yugi better than anyone else, knew the dragon would never intentionally hurt him.
Of course that fact was being tested strongly the closer he got until Yugi backwinged, stirring up a cloud of sand before landing on all four paws over Atemu. Yugi panted heavy breaths across Atemu, golden eyes peering down at his beloved mate as he asked how he did. "You didn't lose your flair for flight, that's a given. Artistry in the air just as I remembered." Atemu praised lovingly, reaching to stroke across his beak.
Yugi purred happily, breathing contently that he was happy he was happy. "Best hatching day ever."
"Not yet, it isn't. I still owe you some form of gift. It's the reason I was out here to begin with."
"I need no gift. You are the best gift I could ever receive and I get to have that gift every day of my life. Hatching day doesn't need to be special for me with something material cause I have you and your love."
Atemu laughed, reaching under to scratch a specific spot under Yugi's jaw. "Always fast with that silver tongue of yours. You wouldn't be you without it." His other hand slid through the sand to lounge back when his fingers bumped into something buried in the soft granules. Atemu pushed Yugi's head to have him raise it, leaving him free to dig out whatever he hit and found a smooth, frosted piece of stone. Triangular in shape and colored a deep yellow to rival Yugi's eyes in dragon form, he was enamoured by its shape and color. This wasn't like anything he would see at the riverbanks inland.
Not even the smooth, rounded river stones were like this. He knew Yugi was eyeing him out of curiosity for his fascination, trying to place a name to the item in his hand then remembered some of the stalls back in town. With their eye-catching, cursive script about jewelry and crafts that were made from something similar. Sea glass, they called it.
A rarity, someone would say when Atemu asked about the peculiar mineral. This was it, the gift he was looking for. It wasn't much now but surely someone in town can make into just what he needed. A memory of their time here, something found by his hand alone. Atemu smiled, looking up to the dragon still perched above him, a curious tilt of his massive head gesturing to the question burning on his tongue.
"How would you feel about a necklace made from this? My gift to you on your hatching day and a memory of this wonderful trip."
Yugi's head tilted the other way before a grin baring sharp teeth met his question. "Make it into one of those collar things and you got yourself a deal~"
"I will never understand a mighty dragon's fixation on ownership like you."
"Only because I want to shove it in every open craw of dragon that thinks I'm free game. I'm yours, Atemu, and you won't get rid of me that easily~"
The dark dragon moved to curl around his precious rider, both enjoying the crash of the waves against the shore, the sun rising higher into the sky as they enjoyed the peace together on Yugi's hatching day.