Little Scales
Part V
The Moonlit Glade.

Scales was still unconscious, as the night settled over the glade. Operia had faded, but as she did, a small "band" of crystal had formed around the ankle of Scales' right fore-paw.

The Glade was bathed in a subtle moonlight, the sounds of the late-night forest filled the air, whilst Scales lay curled up in the dirt.

"Wake up little one..."

A silent whimper left Scales as he slowly rose, a chill was in the air, a light fog limited Scales currently short vision.

"Good boy, Scales. Now go deeper into the forest. You'll be much, much safer there..."

The forest floor was cold and damp, and as Scales got to his feet, he moved his paws slightly. He didn't like the cold.

"You`ll be safer there, in the deeper Glades."

Scales started taking little, clumsy steps, heading in the direction he thought was the "Deeper Glades".

"Turn around. It's the other direction."

He slowly turned, trying not to slip and fall. Scales stepped on a rock, then proceeded to yelp, but he continued.

"What was that...? Are you hurt?"

Scales only response was a small, weakened whine.

A few moments passed until Scales finally arrived at the "Deeper Glades".

There was a quiet whine, a little growl, and the sound of a stick getting stepped on and broken nearby. Scales instantly froze in place, too scared to turn back and see what caused the noise

Scales felt something small press against his side, and it quietly whined.
He looked down, and smiled at the small, green scaled-purple eyed hatchling he saw, which looked back at him. She was much smaller than Scales, just a little under half his size.

"Is someone else there?..."

A small, but playful, growl came from the smaller hatchling. Scales replied with a chirp-like sound and stood with his claws against hers. Their tails swayed back and forth until Scales made the first move and attempted to pounce her.

The little hatchling stepped out of the way and climbed onto Scales' back when he landed.

The smaller, more agile hatchling bit into Scales back lightly, and in play causing him to yelp in surprise.

He shook himself, as he attempted to get the little one off, but she had gotten a grip onto his scales.

Scales proceeded to give dragon-smile, and allowed the other to stay on his back.

"Scales!"

Scales blinked and cheeped a "Hello" to the other, who replied by making a similar sound.

"Wait... Another Dragon hatchling? But I thought...."

The sound of a loud crash boomed in the sky. Scales and the friendly hatchling both froze, scared.

"Thunder! Isn't it such a... Wait, you're scared... Scales, find someplace to lay. It`s going to rain soon."

Scales didn't know what Rain was, so when he felt something cold and wet hit his back, he ran for the cover of a tree. The little hatchling had covered her head with her wings.

Another thunder clap, and a torrential down fall began.

As the rain fell, the sound of an obviously loud THUMP happened just a bit behind Scales, followed by another, and another, and another.

"Scales! Those are footsteps; Big footsteps!"

The hatchling laying on Scales back chirped slightly, and Scales turned his head to face her. The next thing he saw was a purple tongue licking his face.

Scales didn't know to be embarrassed, but he went as red as he thought possible.

"... Did you just get licked?"

Scales blinked when the hatchling stopped, too surprised to really notice anything.

But reality came back to him when he realized there was someone else there.

The obvious mother to the little hatchling, who was now being held by the tail, hanging from her maw.

Scales stared up in surprise, He felt so tiny!

<End of Chap. 5!>
<<Author Note: Sorry for the long wait, guys!>>