2 Evolution of a Chameleon
True love is supposed to be other-focused. Ches knew it. Somehow it seemed a little less important than not becoming tomorrow's potty training lesson.
So, like the chameleon he was, he quickly moved from romantic to cold-hearted lizard. "If I'm to be Amiel's true love then I'll need to become worthy" he said to himself.
Ches didn't have much self-awareness but even he knew he was making excuses.
Quietly he snuck up behind the beautiful hatchling. Finding a snippet of skin just below the young drake's neck he took a nip. Droplets of blood formed on the surface of the tender skin. He was pretty sure that Amiel didn't feel anything which relieved a small fraction of his guilt.
"This won't hurt" he lied to himself. Then using a sharp claw he sliced a long gash along his arm. Ches then repeated the cut on his other arm. "Mixing the magical blood of a newborn drake with mine should cause me to change."
Confident that he could lose himself completely Ches made his way over to the broken shell to wait out his hour (well, fifty seven minutes to be exact).
He didn't realise that all change comes with pain, especially forced evolution. As his little heart beat, the mixed blood around his little cold body caused a burning sensation to build just below his throat.
Dragons and drakes are cold blooded but the fire they create has to come from somewhere. For Ches, this meant he needed to change. In this case, to change meant to burn. But Ches was no Phoenix and he wasn't designed to burn.
The first scream caught the hungry baby drake's attention. The second scream made him seem like a chew toy to her. The third scream came with a bit of attitude.
"Who do you think you're biting?"
He smacked her gently on the end of the beak.
"I'm here to teach you to hunt not to be your first snack."
Ches sounded so authoritative he impressed even himself.
"Now, quickly eat the cytoplasm from your egg. There are essential nutrients that you're missing out on. Meanwhile, I need to put the final touches on your training regime."
Ches had no idea if it was true or not but he'd heard that some mammals ate their own embryonic sacks so it should be true. Going by the sounds and sights occurring in front of him it seemed it might actually help.
"So glad drake's are born with some knowledge of their heritage." Ches was an avid reader. His favourite reading matter was the habits of predators higher up the food chain. He'd never found it a waste of time. Part of the heritage they knew was how to speak. He hoped it included that chameleons tasted terrible.
When Amiel had finished her meal Ches had her grind the shell between her teeth and consume it.
"There are essential minerals that you'll miss out on if you don't eat it up."
Though Ches came across as nonchalant and knowledgeable he was literally burning up on the inside.
"Finished all that? Good girl. Come and have a sleep for an hour and then I'll take you to hunt. First, have you ever heard the story of the toad and the swan?"
