Chapter 11- The oddness continues- Kratos.

"Elders, I have a problem"

It was a serious meeting, pain was shooting through my stomach as it became too much to bear. It just started five minutes ago after Matt told me he was hungry. As I explained the situation to the five Shokan elders, they didn't look worried the least bit. "Sire, you are free to help yourself to the live stock and prisoners should need be…"

"But… Matt…"

"He will manage," they said.

Well, I started off small. A pig, that should do it. I swallowed it down after warning Matt something was on it's way down. In return I felt the lump shift and it was consumed again the second time. 'Bigger!' Uncle Matt called.

I moved up from small pigs, to boars and even swine men! Four of those later and I was too full myself to move! Perhaps this was what the elders meant by my comforts are going to come after others. I had to oblige Matt.

We were full for now, but I began to get a bad feeling of this. This would happen once a week, I go on a feeding binge until Uncle Matt said he was good. He was never in pain… but I was. Constantly! It was also when I noticed a very disturbing pattern as the Shokan doctor did weekly check ups. He always measured me. After every large meal I eat, my size remains as is until a larger feast makes me grow once more. It came to the point where I couldn't sit on any chairs, fit in my own bed or anything of the sort!

A pleasant break came a month later. Uncle Matt wasn't even hungry, which was odd. It worried me when week after week he didn't want anything to eat, but I was told it was ok, this was suppose to happen.

I took time to relax out in the open, travelling through the town, I lay on a lush grass area and relaxed myself, the sun always made me feel better.

But I wasn't alone for very long. The Shokan children were quick to approach me, they were curious to my size but more so as to who was inside of me. "Father said you chose a champion, who is he?" one of the young girls asked.

"A champion?" I asked. But then realized that's what they called whoever was chosen to tend to the expecting female. "Indeed, and a hero, one you know very well!" I said to her with a smile. I rolled myself up and found a stiff tree to lean against, the children kept staring at me wanting to know the name.

"A hero? Who is he?" The young boys kept asking. "If he is a hero he must have a name!"

I patted myself and said. "He is a great one, a dear one to me too. I call him uncle, for he is a good friend of my father. His name is Matt, Matt Hardy!" I whispered to them.

Their little eyes widened as they rushed and called to anyone who would hear them. "His name is Matt! His name is Matt!"

'Hear that Uncle, you're a legend!' I called.

Uncle Matt laughed as I found myself falling asleep against the tree.

When my eyes opened again, I found myself sitting in a madeshift chair, one with plenty of room! The Shokan people had decorated the streets in colorful weapons and festive candles. "Are you ready for tonight sire?" one old warrior asked of me.

"Tonight?"

Many were confused that I was unaware as to the evens of tonight. One Shokan woman told me it was a blue moon tonight, the night of endless hunger. I had a bad feeling about this!

She said that during the full blue moon of the year, when a dragon is with child, her host becomes hungry. "He does not eat for a month, but tonight… he cannot stop and must be fed until sunrise! It is a great celebration, we have prepared a great banquet for Matt Hardy. And we hopes he enjoys."

The sun was starting to set, the moon was in full view and just started to turn blue. Matt… grew hungry. I felt his body shake and rumble aloud as he asked for food. The Shokans had begun to approach with their offering. Many of the warrior men had gone to realms and captured swine men. Others had brought exotic monstrous creatures for the feast. I just wondered how I would hold all of this!

I had begun to bring these beasts in, I felt full after an hour, but Matt wanted more, much more. When I grew too weak to continue, the festival moved into their second phase. The chair collapsed down, I lay flat on my back as they brought a large device! It looked like a funnel forged of leather and steel. "Forgive us sire for this rude device, but you must continue!" One child whispered to me.

It was forced into my jaws and was pushed in beyond my will to swallow. They forced down their offerings, no matter how I tried to protest it was done until the sunrise the next morning. By that time, I had no use of my arms or legs. I was one giant belly of a dragon!

I was taken back to the castle, and brought into the throne room to rest. Sleep came easily, yet I was woken by a loud thrashing noise. Shokan men were letting out a battle cry as the sick sound of flesh against stone echoed the halls. One of the guards charged into the room, he forced me to my feet and told me to run. That's not much of an option right now. Walking is even a task! But I listened to him. I gradually got myself out of the room. I was lethargic and slow. Just as I got out of the room did the guard come flying through the door! I began to waddle as fast as I can, but everything strained in me as I didn't get far. I collapsed against a wall just to catch my breath. Five mortal men in black coats then surrounded me. They were armed with swords as they glistened in my direction.

"You know, I do need a new set of horns for my mantel!" One said.

"Fine, but I keep what's in him!" said another.

"No… please don't do this! What have I done to wrong you?" I demanded.

The men laughed, I have not wronged any of them. What I didn't know was someone had a price on my head!