Chapter 4: Amphithere

"YOU... YOU FUCKING BASTARD! FORGET CAPTURING YOU! DIE!" Ucail screamed in rage, sending a flurry of ice attacks at the unmoving and unfazed Tahmut.

—

Seeing the oncoming attacks, Tahmut didn't falter, and with a wave of his claw, produced an arc-like shield of aura around himself, and the still sleeping Dragon behind him.

*BOOM*

Cracks appeared like spider-webs throughout Tahmut's shield, however the young Dragon's expression remained stoic.

With another wave of his claw, Tahmut opened a small hole in his shield in front of his mouth, and exhaled a poison breath that scarred the earth as it made its way to Ucail.

'Fuck! Is this really a young Dragon? Ucail thought, using the ice from his previous attack to create platforms high in the air to avoid the toxic substance.

Looking down, Ucail could only grimace. What was once the ground he stood on was now a small, narrow trench, everything surrounding it either wilting or already dead.

'Who is this Dragon?' Ucail thought. He held pride in himself knowing that he knew all there is to know about the supernatural. Gods, Devils, Angels, Dragons, he studied it all religiously. But this Dragon, there are no reports of one with such a poisonous breath.

'Did Vritra have a child?' He thought.

'But that can't be right. He was sealed almost two decades ago. This Dragon, although strong, I can tell is a hatchling using its innate powers on instinct. By its size, I would estimate it's about to be a decade, maybe slightly older, so who…'

Too busy in his thoughts, Ucail failed to notice the looming figure of Tahmut behind him.

"Wha-"

With a swing of his tail, Tahmut sent Ucail hurtling toward the trench at great speed.

Just as he was about to hit the ground however, an unlikely hero swooped in. Tahmut grabbed Ucail by the horns on his spaulders, and flew high into the sky, saving him from certain death, only to send him hurtling to the ground once more.

*BOOM*

—

"Did you teach him that? Tanin asked Tiamat, his wide smile matching his eyes.

The two Dragons, accompanied by the Dragon newt Luna, were currently on a mountain overlooking the young Tahmut in battle.

"I didn't…" Tiamat said in a tone of shock, her eyes just as wide as Tanin's.

'He does go out on his own often. Maybe it's then.' She thought, remembering the times Tahmut would disappear for hours before he would come back home.

"Tsk." Tiamat clicked her teeth watching the Devil get away from Tahmut's breath using ice platforms.

"He's just using instinct. This is his first real challenge Tiamat, it's as to be expected." Tanin commented, noticing Tiamat's action.

Tiamat stayed silent but nodded, acknowledging Tanin's statement.

"Don't you want to find out why there were Devils in your territory?" Tanin asked, mildly curious himself.

"I do." Tiamat replied.

"So won't you stop your hatchling?" Tanin asked, watching Tahmut launch the Devil toward the trench he made.

Tiamat side eyed the purple Dragon before turning her attention back to Tahmut.

"In a moment, but right now he seems to be having fun." Tiamat replied, a smile on her face as she watched Tahmut toy with his opponent.

Hearing her reply, Tanin could only smile and shake his head before he resumed watching his new student, excited at the thought of the days to come.

*BOOM*

—

*BOOM*

Violently crashing into the trench and ricocheting out of it, Ucail's mangled body flipped and rolled into an adjacent tree line, being stopped abruptly by a large, and very familiar boulder.

"Ugh…" Letting out a pained groan, Ucail tried his best to heal his wounds while he could, however, his efforts proved unfruitful.

Before he could heal any potentially life threatening wounds, Tahmut landed in front of him, and pursed his mouth like he was blowing a whistle, expelling a small stream of poison breath that melted his legs much like it did Konak's.

"AGGHH!!" Ucail screamed, desperately trying to move, but he couldn't. From his knees down, his legs seemed to melt, combining with the earth almost as if he was one of nature's very own creations.

Opening his mouth wider, Tahmut began to condense a small ball of energy inside it, intent on delivering the final blow, however, just as the ball of energy finished condensing, he heard his mother's voice from behind him advising him not to follow through.

"Tahmut, enough." Tiamat called out in an authoritative tone. "They shouldn't be here, but they are, and I want to know why." She continued, eyes narrowed as she looked upon the marred and unconscious form of Ucail.

Acquiescing, Tahmut tilted his head skyward, and released the ball of energy, the colorful display resembling purple, red, and blue fireworks.

"Yes mother." He replied, somewhat apologetically.

Tahmut didn't mean to take it so far. He was just… excited- too excited. So caught up in his first real fight, he forgot why he sought the Devils out in the first place.

"It's alright hatchling, it happens." Tanin laughed, patting Tahmut's shoulder before continuing:

"But that's why I'm here, and after what I saw today, I'm sure I'll enjoy teaching you." Tanin said, his signature smile plastered on his face.

For some reason, although Tanin's words held no I'll will, Tahmut shivered, and decided it best to find the Dragon he felt when he sensed the Devils.

Approaching the surprisingly heavy sleeper, Tahmut stepped within feet of the Amphithere before his eyes widened.

'Dead? But… how? I'm sure I felt-'

Before he could complete his next thought, a high pitched squawk was heard coming from underneath the deceased Dragon.

"I see," Tahmut said out loud. "I felt the hatchling, not her." He finished, his voice soft.

With a sigh, Tahmut walked forward, and gently picked up the feathered Dragon's corpse, revealing a hatchling that greatly resembled its mother.

"Do you think it'll survive?" Tahmut asked out loud to seemingly no one, scooping the hatchling in his arms.

"Without its mother, no." Tiamat replied solemnly, her eyes softening as she looked at the Amphithere hatchling from over Tahmut's shoulder.

"Do we have to-"

"No," Tanin cut Tahmut off, appearing at his side. "I'll take him to my territory, there he would be safe." He continued, his face no longer carrying a smile

'Safe?' Tahmut pondered. 'What does he mean? We're Dragons. Even the weakest amongst our kind are strong. Is something happening?'

Filing his thoughts away, and making a note to ask his teacher what he meant later, Tahmut turned to his mother, who was now standing beside him.

"What will you do with the Devil?" He asked, looking into his mother's ocean blue eyes.

"Me? Nothing." Tiamat replied honestly. "Luna has already frozen him and is on her way to the cave. I gave her full authority over the interrogation as well. I trust she'll be through in her questioning." She said, walking over to the corpse of the Amphithere Dragon, setting it ablaze with her blue flames.

"Luna?" Tahmut quirked a non-existent eyebrow. "Are you sure?" He asked, slightly apprehensive.

"Despite how she carries herself around you, Luna is a very capable Dragon. I wouldn't have her so close if she wasn't." Tiamat responded proudly.

"Really?" Tahmut was genuinely confused.

The Luna he knows isn't capable. Ditzy? Sure. Clumsy? Definitely! But capable? HAH!

"Are we talking about the same Luna?" Tahmut asked his mother incredulously, a small chuckle leaving his lips.

Turning to her son, Tiamat's face grew serious, and her tone motherly. "I've told you before Tahmut, appearances are often misleading. It's best you not forget that." She chided, her words triggering a memory of an incident Tahmut would rather not remember.

"Adhere to your mother's words." Tanin commented from behind the two, gaining both mother and son's attention.

"This world is filled with many unforeseen perils, and the words your mother spoke, they are words to live by. You must always expect the unexpected my student, Tiamat, I will be going now." Tanin finished, jumping in the air with the Amphithere hatchling still tucked in his arms, and flying in the direction of Tiamat's mountain.

"I will be going as well." Tiamat informed Tahmut, getting up from her seated position.

"I'll be there home shortly." Tahmut said, wanting to be alone and reflect on his fight, if it could be called that.

Looking her son once over, Tiamat didn't say anything, and simply flew off to her mountain, already having an idea of why her son would not come home yet.