Plunging into the depths as a water dragon, I reveled in the freedom and joy of the aquatic realm. I desired not to be treated as a king, but simply as a friend. Around me swam ten water dragons, only two of whom were males. The remaining eight were females, their movements imbued with a graceful elegance. This gender imbalance piqued my curiosity, and I found myself pondering its cause. Hydra, in a previous conversation, had mentioned a history of bloodshed and strife amongst the water dragons.

The males, she explained, were more aggressive and territorial, engaging in relentless battles for dominance over the oceans. This resulted in many of them perishing, while the females learned to coexist in peace and harmony. These females often sought refuge in rivers, away from the chaotic violence of the sea. Here, under the moonlight, they would encounter their soulmates and form bonds with them. Despite the wars having ended long ago, this tradition persisted and I felt honored to be a part of it.

Throughout the night, these dragons remained by my side, while the others kept their distance. The sole exception was Siveth. Known amongst the Earth Dragons as a ruthless killer, she acted as our guard against any potential threats, using her fearsome reputation as a deterrent. Despite her reputation, Siveth had a soft spot for me and the Water Dragons. At times, she would join us in the water, challenging me to races in different forms. I always came out victorious, increasing the gap between us.

Siveth didn't take these losses well and once attempted to hurt me, but I easily dodged her attack. The Water Dragons were taken aback by her hostility, but I assured them we were merely playing. Trusting my judgement, they didn't interfere. They understood that breaking a bond was no easy task and would only intervene if I truly needed assistance. After all, they valued life above all else.

Dawn arrived all too soon and the night seemed to have flown by. It was time for the Water Dragons to depart. I wished they could linger longer, but they had their own lives to return to. “When will you return?” I asked them anxiously. “In about a couple of full moons,” they replied, a response that was frustratingly vague, as it could mean anything from a few weeks to an entire month.

They invited me to accompany them to the ocean for a few days. However, Siveth shook her head, reminding me of Erebus and Freya. Erebus would never permit me to leave and Freya, she needed me. After all, we were a family. I couldn’t risk leaving her alone, not after everything we had endured together.

We journeyed downstream, tracing the path of the water dragons along the familiar river. The sheep crossed the lower waters in serene tranquility. My stomach protested with a loud growl, hunger gnawing at me. After bidding the water dragons farewell, I watched them vanish downstream. It was then that I transformed into an Earth Dragon, power surging within me.

Siveth gazed at me, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Are the sheep tempting you?" she teased.

A primal urge welled up inside me. The sheep seemed so tantalizing, so easy to capture. With a lick of my lips, I admitted, “I can't explain why, but they're driving me wild.”

Siveth raised a brow. “Didn’t you pledge never to hunt them again?”

I shrugged, a new facet of my personality revealing itself. A facet devoid of rules, ethics, or the fear of repercussions. A facet solely driven by hunger. “Indeed, I did,” I replied.

Siveth sighed, “If you’re hungry, remember, there’s no harm in hunting them. They are plentiful and far from extinction. You’d be amazed at how fast they reproduce and..."

Her words faded into the background as I bolted forward, snatching a sheep by its leg. Dragging it underwater, I ended its life without a second thought. I devoured it within moments, not needing to surface for air. It was delectable. I craved more.

I seized another, and another, and yet another. I lost track of my count. I wasn't satiated, only consumed by greed. Siveth looked on in stunned silence, not interfering until I reached for the fifth sheep.

She swam up to me, pulling me back to the shore. “Enough, insatiable hunter! Stop, or you’ll harm yourself,” she warned.

I weakly protested, “Just one more, please.”

She retorted incredulously, “Do you even realize how many you've consumed?”

I guessed, “Three, perhaps?”

She snapped, “Five, Nox! You devoured five entire adult sheep!”

I responded in disbelief, “Really? It doesn't feel like that many.”

She sighed in exasperation, “Look at yourself.”

Glancing down, I noticed a subtle bulge from all the food I had ingested. I gasped, “Oh, wow. So?”

She countered sarcastically, “You're fortunate our kind can handle such a quantity of food. However, if you eat another one, you'll surely feel ill. You've reached your limit.” Perhaps she was right, as a wave of dizziness washed over me, followed by a sudden onset of fatigue. She noted my drooping eyelids and said softly, “Rest now. I'll ensure no one disturbs you.” With that, I closed my eyes and succumbed to sleep.

The taste was unforgettable. Everything felt normal again. Not a hint of regret lingered.

I awoke from a deep sleep, feeling a mild sense of relief, but a weight still lingered within me. She flashed a smile in my direction, “Congratulations! You've digested half of your lunch.” I looked at her, puzzled, “Half? What do you mean by that?”

She reached out, gently pressing on my belly. “Can you feel that?” Her fingers moved to two distinct spots. One spot felt hollow, the other bulged. “Yeah, so?” I asked, still not grasping her point.

“We have two stomachs,” she explained. “You ate so much that you filled both of them. Now, one of them is empty until you eat again.” I gasped, “Isn't that something only herbivores have?” She shrugged, “Usually, yes. But we can eat fruits too. That's why I think we have them. But you, you stuffed yourself with those...” She pointed at the sheep still crossing the river.

“What's going to happen now?” I asked, a hint of anxiety in my voice. “Nothing, luckily. Just avoid eating for a few days. Can you manage that?” As if on cue, I felt a pang of hunger. My eyes instinctively moved towards the sheep, but she quickly snapped, “Don’t even think about it. We're heading back now.”

I managed to free myself from the bones, and we began our swim back. It felt like I was carrying a stone in my gut, slowing me down significantly. The journey down the river took an hour. Occasionally, I would stop and let the current carry me. Siveth never left my side, worried I might pass out and drift off. The weather worsened, making the last fifteen minutes an arduous struggle with the river.

Upon reaching the village, I felt completely drained. I used my fire to dry myself, then collapsed onto the hammock. It was only afternoon, but I needed sleep.

A few hours later, Freya entered the room and nudged me awake, pointing at the bulge on my abdomen, her voice filled with concern, “What is that?”

I rubbed my eyes, “Oh, that? It’s my lunch. I ate so much that I discovered a second stomach.”

She gasped and stepped back, “What did you eat?”

“Siveth says five sheep. I think it was more like three,” I replied nonchalantly.

She stared at me in disbelief, “That looks like much more. Why would you do that?”

“I was starving, and I couldn't control myself. I'm sorry,” I said, a hint of guilt in my voice.

She shook her head, “Whatever. I’m not sleeping on that tonight.”

“No problem. If you're cold, take any blanket you want. I don't need them,” I said, feeling warm enough without them.

She grabbed a couple of blankets, “Thanks. I'll take these then.” She offered a faint smile, “It's been an intense afternoon for me too; I need to rest. Good night, Nox. The great sheep hunter.”

“Good night, Freya,” I replied. It wasn't night yet, but that didn't matter.

After she left, Siveth entered the room to check on me. “How are you feeling now, Nox?” she asked softly.

“Fine. Why do you ask?” I responded.

"I’m just curious,” she paused, then hesitantly continued, “I have a problem.”

“What problem?” I asked, my brow furrowing.

“My brothers are missing, and I…” she began.

Interrupting her, I asked sharply, “Where are they at this hour? Can't you wait until they return?”

“They went with the water dragons. They won’t be back until tomorrow morning,” she replied apologetically.

“Siveth, you have no idea how much I hate you right now,” I groaned.

“I know, but please, can you help me? I beg you,” she pleaded.

“Fine. But we'll try a different method this time,” I grudgingly agreed.

Instead of using my arm to pull out the spine from inside her oesophagus, I gently pressed on her throat from the outside, slowly easing it out. She winced and whimpered with every movement, and it appeared agonizing. But eventually, we were done.

“There. It’s over. Can I go to sleep now?” I asked, relieved.

“Yes. Thank you for helping me again. And sorry for disturbing you,” she replied gratefully.

“Not like I was sleeping or anything. But sure, you’re welcome,” I responded sarcastically.

Despite everything, I tried to be polite. She had helped guard me from danger when I had overeaten. Maybe this was my way of repaying my debt to her.

But still, it was downright disgusting.

As the night fell, a restless coldness pervaded the air. Freya shivered under the thin blankets, her search for warmth proving fruitless. She turned towards me, her voice a mere whisper in the darkness, "Nox, hey." Responding to her call, I opened my eyes and inquired, "What's wrong?"

"Do you have any spare blankets or something?" she asked. After a quick glance at our surroundings, I shook my head, regret lining my voice, "I'm afraid not, sorry. Maybe you could ask Siveth or check Canine and Vexus's hammocks. They aren't sleeping here tonight." She gave a nod of understanding and left, leaving me to my solitude. I could hear her distant voice rousing Siveth, the request for more covers echoing through the night.

Upon her return, her face wore an expression of dejection. "It seems I'm already using all of them," she confessed. Sympathy welled up within me as I replied, "Oh no, I'm sorry." Her eyes, pleading, met mine, "Can you make some space for me?"

I hesitated, reminding her, "Are you sure? I still have that... thing." She grimaced, her resolve firm, "I'll try to ignore that," and with that, she climbed into the hammock with me. As per her habit, she snuggled against me. Summoning my feathery wings, I wrapped them around her, providing a modicum of warmth. She made an effort to avoid touching that part of me, but I could feel the weight of her body against mine. It was a strange and uncomfortable sensation. In that moment, I disliked it, yet I couldn't let her freeze. So, for her sake, I endured it. She fell asleep in my arms, but her slumber was short-lived.

During the night, something shifted within me. She woke up with a scream, jolting me awake in the process. She exclaimed, "Oh my god, I felt all of it." Confused, I asked, "What did you feel?" She simply said, "Look."

Reaching to my belly, I felt the change. One stomach was empty, the other full. The realization dawned upon me, "Oh, it moved," I acknowledged. Her response was one of distaste, "Yeah, it did. Eww." I attempted to assuage her fears, "If you can wait, soon I'll be back to normal." She replied, "Fine, do your thing."

I left the hammock and ventured outside, wandering aimlessly under the rain, waiting until I expelled the bones. Upon my return, I dried myself off, and we finally found peaceful sleep. I made a vow to myself then and there - never again. I had to control my instincts; this was getting out of hand. I was an animal, a foolish one at that.