Storm woke up as the sun shined on his scales from the glass dome above the nest.
He basked in it's warm glow for a moment longer, wishing he could spend his day just basking in the sun.
But unfortunately, that would not be possible. There was still too much work for Storm to do.
Storm was suprised to find Aurora already up and sitting by herself.
He got up and went to sit by here side.
"What are you doing up so early?" Asked Storm.
"I couldn't sleep." Aurora replied.
Storm could feel the tension in the air.
"You're still upset with me?!" Asked Storm.
"I'm 'disappointed' in you. I thought that I had earned your trust. " Aurora replied
"You do have my trust!"
"Not enough to tell me about Mimereus it seems!!"
"Aurora! I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings! But this situation was extremely difficult!
I was afraid of the reaction you would have had!"
"I would have respected your decision, even if I didn't agree with it!
...Just like I do now..." Aurora replied.
"You're right! I'm sorry! I promise I won't keep.such things from you again!"
Aurora was silent as she considered something else.
"That wasn't the only thing bothering me however. "
"Tell me then! I'll do what I can do remove your concerns. "
"When we were imprisoned, and the Lich made his offer?"
"You mean when he tried to make me his 'Breeding slave'." Said Storm distastefully.
".... When the Lich came for me, and threatened to throw me at the Chimera to be used.
I was afraid that I was going to lose something I had always intended to give to you. "
Storm was taken aback by the direction the topic had taken.
"I thought you weren't ready to take such a big step!
"Come now, Storm!! I've been making advances and dropping hints for months!
You always were observant so I doubt that you haven't noticed!
And yet you pushed me away every time?!
Which means you've been doing so intentionally!!
Why?!" Asked Aurora.
Storm could tell that she was very upset at the moment.
The truth was that he had long realized her intentions, and was afraid.
He didn't believe he could handle the responsibility becoming a father would force on him.
"I just didn't think it was the proper time to do so!
Things are much too uncertain right now!" Replied Storm.
"Was that your only reason?" Asked Aurora.
"What other reason is there?!" Replied Storm.
"That perhaps you don't love me enough?
Or that you're unwilling to ever become a father?" Asked Aurora.
Storm was taken aback. Before he could answer, Aurora continued.
"I need to know if this relationship is going anywhere, Storm!
Eventually I will want to have children of my own and if we're together, I would want them to be with you!
I don't want to grow old like Razor, then look back on my life and regret not having them when I had the chance.
So I have to ask. Is our relationship a serious one?
Or just a simple 'daliance' to you? Asked Aurora.
Storm considered how to answer her concerns.
"I love you more than anything else, Aurora.
I will do anything and everything to keep you safe and happy!
You don't have to fear about my devotion. " Exclaimed Storm.
"And about becoming a father?
You didn't bring the subject up before, or even ask for my input on this!" Accused Aurora.
".... I.... I don't know.... I want any children we have to be safe and that they don't have to fear either of us dying.
It seems like it's not the best time to consider this with us currently in the middle of a war. Too much could happen." Explained Storm.
"The humans will always be around! And there will always be risks.
This war could go on for centuries!
What you are suggesting will mean that it will never be the right time for you!"
She stood up and began to leave the room.
Before crossing the threshold, she turned back.
"I'll give you until tonight to consider it.
If you're unable to commit, then I think it might be best for both of us if we stopped seeing each other."
The words struck Storm like a hammer blow.
"Are.... we... breaking up!?" Asked Storm.
Aurora had tears in her eyes.
"I don't want to, Storm.
But there's no use staying in a relationship that isn't going to progress.
It will only get harder for both of us as the time goes on.
It's better to end it quickly then, to minimize the pain for us both.
If you can't commit, then I'll be returning to our clan with your siblings tomorrow. " said Aurora.
With that, she turned around and walked out of the room.
Leaving Storm all alone.
Storm spent the day in a complete daze.
Amoung younger male dragons, it wasn't uncommon for them to enter short daliances with a female dragon as they started looking for potential mates.
They took the first month or 2 as a trial to get a feel for each other.
If they were incapable, they would both seperate and start the search anew.
If they felt they had a future together, then the male would approach his partner and express his intentions.
If the female dragon agreed that they were compatible, then they would proceed to the next step.
Having a child together was the ultimate expression of love and devotion to each other and so was never done lightly.
Once the first egg is laid. The dragons are expected to become a mated pair for life with death being the only barrier that could seperate the lovers.
Storm and Aurora had been together for much longer than the time it traditionally took to decide.
And even though they had been seperated from each other for several decades, they had long since rekindled their relationship and had begun to make up for lost time.
He knew he was lax for keeping Aurora in suspense, but it never seemed like the proper time to broach the subject.
He was partially afraid of approaching too quickly and that he could potentially scare her off.
He thought she was content to wait. But he clearly had read the signs wrong if she was this frustrated with his inaction.
She was his bonded partner, Storm had no doubts about that.
But he was fearful of taking on the responsibility of becoming a parent.
He remembered his own pain when his family was slain and he didn't want to inflict that same pain on a child if he or Aurora were killed in battle.
"I've kept her waiting too long already!! It's time to make a decision!
If I am incapable of committing, then she deserves to find happiness in the embrace of another dragon!
I can't keep her waiting any longer and risk her losing her only chance to start a family together!"
Normally Storm would ask one of his parents for advice on the matter.
But both were long dead.
So, in desperation, he contacted Mimereus to ask the elder dragon for advice.