Daughters

The hallways were eerily silent as night fell. We reveled in our solitude, our laughter subdued by the thick walls that shielded us from our children’s chambers. Our daughters, Juno and Luna, couldn't possibly have overheard our conversations, even if they put their ears against the door. They were simply spinning tales. I morphed into an Earth dragon and glided surreptitiously to their door before dissolving into a shadow. As I surveyed the room, I realized they were lying in ambush. Suddenly, a shadow out of place caught my eye. It twitched. It was one of them. I pounced, revealing my target to be Juno. Luna then sprung from the shadows and cried, “Oh no, the fearsome Earth dragon is here to eat us!” She lunged at me, but I snatched her mid-leap and retorted, “And the fearsome Earth dragon just caught you.” She slipped from my grasp, turning into a shadow. Juno taunted, “You can’t catch us, big snake.” She echoed the same insult I had once thrown at the Earth dragons, prompting me to counter, “I will. Come back here!” And thus, our playful chase continued.

In the midst of this joyous pretend play in their bedroom, I paused to ask, “Do you know what an Earth dragon would do if it found you?” They burst into giggles, responding, “It would do what you can’t: catch us.” I countered, “It would bite you, and then you would be trapped. Its venom would inhibit your elements.” I bared my fangs as they squealed and hid under the covers. Luna peeked out, asserting, “No way, those are just mildly poisonous fangs. They won’t block any element, and they aren’t lethal. They only induce sleep.” I retorted, “Oh, I see a smart little dragon with a big brain, but her facts are incorrect. This venom can be deadly.” Indeed, the venom varied among Earth dragons. The fact that Vexus could counteract Siveth’s venom, but it still caused significant pain, testified to this. However, Juno leapt at me, lightly tapping my head, prompting me to display my fangs once more. Luna then feigned a strike at my neck.

As Juno launched another assault, Luna switched gears and started crafting a rope from their blankets. They were hatching a plan to ensnare me, but I played along, pretending to wrestle with Juno while inching towards Luna. Once close enough, I whispered, “Hey, is that for me?” She feigned surprise, retorting, “No, it’s for me.” She attempted to loop the blanket rope around my legs, but I caught her, and she vanished into shadows, abandoning the rope. Juno and Luna were a formidable duo, their moves well-coordinated. While one was darting around, the other circled me, reclaimed the rope, and wrapped it around my legs. This tactic caused me to stumble and fall. As I fell, my jaws slightly parted, and I inadvertently bit Luna. She maintained her silence, advising, “Never scream when an Earth dragon bites you. It will only make them more dangerous.” I hastily retracted my fangs, apologizing, “Sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean to. Let me heal you.” But she transformed into shadows again and was expelled from them. Somehow, my bite had poisoned Luna, my courageous daughter. She bravely confessed, “I can’t believe it. I can’t manipulate my elements properly.” I reminded her, “I warned you. If an Earth dragon bites you, you’re in trouble. Come on, get back here, and let me heal you. I’m sorry.” She halted. The venom was swift, paralyzing her in under a minute. She confessed, “I can’t run away. You won. Great Earth Dragon, I’m at your mercy.” As I approached to aid her, Juno interjected, “I’m still here. I’ll save you from the fearsome Earth dragon.” Unaware that her sister wasn’t pretending, Juno rushed to Luna’s side, transforming her into a shadow.

I trailed them as they scrambled to a corner of the room. “Juno, please bring your sister back down. The game is over,” I implored. But she defied me, “No, I won’t.” Luna’s voice quavered as she beseeched her twin, “Juno, dad is right. The game is over. I need help.” I reverted to my original dragon form and attempted to reassure them, “Listen to your sister. It was an accident. I would never purposely harm you. I’m sorry.” She seemed to sense my sincerity and carried Luna back to her bed. Then she observed, “She’s trembling.” I nodded, “I see . Don't worry, I can handle this.” I healed her wound and neutralized my venom, whispering, “I’m sorry, Luna. Dad didn't mean to hurt you. Truly.” She offered a weak smile, assuring, “It’s okay, dad. Next time, I won’t let you catch me, eheh.” She yawned and snuggled under her blankets. I tucked her in, commending, “Good night, Luna. You’ve been brave. I love you.” I planted a kiss near the spot where I had unintentionally bitten her. Juno joined her under the blankets, hugging her sister tightly. She teased, “The fearsome Earth dragon who bites my sister and poisons her, then reveals himself to be our father, saves her, and apologizes. What a kind dragon, isn’t he?” I chuckled, responding, “Oh, thank you. That’s very kind of you, Juno.” I kissed her too, expressing, “I love you. Good night.” I left them to their peaceful slumber. They looked so adorable, cuddled up together - two truly inseparable twins.

Exhausted, I returned to Freya. She was already asleep, and I too was drained. As soon as I settled on the mattress, I was claimed by sleep. I was in dire need of it.