Disclaimer: I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh
XXVI: Sunlight
Yugi poked his head over the lip of the long tunnel, peering out into the sunlight dappling the ground. The leaves made the ground bright green and slightly red where the autumn leaves cast a partial glow. The ground stank of decaying leaves and sun baked moss. The roots of a tree made a jagged arch like a fork of lightning over his head as he blinked and peered further into the forest. He pressed his paws to the mossy stone near the lip and poked his head up just enough to see as far ahead as possible. He blinked slowly and glanced around before flattening himself to the ground again.
His parents had just left. They'd told him to remain there. They'd said to stay quiet, to stay toward the back of the den, and never to make a peep should he see the Sky Dragons—hatchlings or adults. He was told not to approach or speak to anyone else should he see them. They'd said not to even get close to the entrance, but Yugi couldn't abide by that. The outside world was too exciting.
The forest floor smelled too amazing. The air was so nice and warm outside whereas it was colder in his den. A bird chirped and a bug scuttled across a stone near his paw. He tilted his head and leaned forward, waiting and peering about the clearing.
The trees were huge when he tipped his head back. They were even taller than his parents, the branches large and tied together across the sky overhead. The leaves left almost no room for light to travel through the more he considered. A small furry red-haired animal scrambled across a branch and launched itself onto the bark and ran away.
Yugi watched another one chase it. Its long bushy tail twitched and danced like a flag before his eyes. He wanted so badly to chase it, but his parents had told him otherwise. He had already broken the rules in coming so close to the entrance. He'd get in so much trouble if they saw him there. It was better he didn't push it and just stayed where he was. He forced himself to remain still, to lay back down and settle.
The sunlight was warm when it shifted. He yawned and closed his eyes, tempted to sleep. But he knew better. He'd be caught if he stayed there. He knew that. Yugi yawned again and moved to stand, getting ready to turn around and go back.
But something darted into the trees.
Yugi's head snapped up. He looked about and frowned, considering in bewilderment. He couldn't tell what had caught his attention for a long time. He stared and searched and frowned as he found nothing else. He tilted his head and narrowed his eyes, trying again to search for something or other.
And then he froze.
Something bright red sprang forward. It launched itself up into the air. Then it landed with a thump. Yugi blinked huge eyes, then craned his neck forward and stared.
His hearts skipped beats. His eyes grew wider. His entire body tensed with excitement.
It was a dragon!
It was a tiny little red dragon, perhaps only a few inches taller than him. It had two mouths, with bright scales and huge eyes and teeth. Its wings were folded along its flanks. Its scales were bright red and its tail longer than average. Its tail tip had what looked like a feathery plume, like an open flower bud of some kind. It crouched upon the ground there, then straightened and looked around. Its eyes were huge, brilliant and golden like the sun, and on its forehead was the shiniest little gemstone Yugi had ever seen.
Where the light touched its body, it looked like a flame. It was as if the forest had caught fire, its body glowed so beautifully. Yugi found himself unable to breathe, stunned by the red aura it produced.
The other hatchling looked around and sprang about again. It wiggled its rump and tensed, then sprang forward once more. It sprang with its paws wide open, with its toes tipped bright white with undefined claws. For the first time Yugi saw its belly, a striped formation of black and white like a snake. When it sprang forward and into the air, upright and almost facing him, it looked amazing. Its belly somehow seemed like a dancing rippling form of water in sunlight, or a ribbon of starlight against the night sky.
It had to be as young as him, he realized. His hearts raced faster and he wanted so badly to spring forward. He wanted so badly to chirp and get its attention, so that it would come to him. They could make friends and—and he'd love it forever! They'd be best friends and they'd be inseparable and they'd love each other forever.
The other dragonet turned around and shook himself out, blinking its bright eyes. It did not spot him and Yugi was too stunned to speak. It pounced away after a moment and Yugi heard someone calling, "Atem, come here" as it darted off again.
Yugi threw himself halfway out of the den to watch the other dragon dash away. It scrambled about the path, chirping in the loudest voice it could muster, "Coming!"
He watched them until they disappeared, then scrambled and pushed himself backwards. He hurried to the back of the den, chirping with excitement, tasting the name on his tongue and trembling with satisfaction. He sprang forward and down the tunnel of the den, moving to the center and lying down. Atem, Atem, Atem…
He curled up into a ball and closed his eyes. He smacked his lips and yawned, and dreamed of a tiny red Sky Dragon darting about the forest and wiggling its rump as it pounced about the tree roots.