#daemarus

[the-world-of-enterra]

Just a closer look at the new Nightmare Prince, Kresimir! He is a very anxious, nervous and fussy baby who cries all the time. Why? Nightmare King Azmodeus and Kind King Daemarus have no clue! A physician has confirmed that he is in perfect health, and nothing is wrong with him. They haven't had a good sleep since he hatched, and they can't have him watched by servants because he screams his head off when separated from them and sometimes fires happen from distressed tiny baby! He's calmer when being held... But nobody can hold their baby at all hours of the day and night! Especially not when they have another baby to take care of, and a 9 year old who also needs attention!

Kresi isn't fond of strangers, and gets really scared if he loses sight of his parents even for a second!

[the-world-of-enterra]

If Daemarus is very fertile, then shouldn’t he be the one that’s gravid? I wouldn’t be surprised if because Azmodeus is an Astran, Daemarus also has an egg! You’d better check to make sure!

((Text based this time, because it’d just be Azmodeus talking)) Azmodeus: He’d have to be in heat for that. While I function very differently from a normal Dreameater, I do carry one thing in common; I don’t have heat cycles, it seems I’m fertile any time. I have energy, plenty of it, due to being an Astran. That, and little Nava is still far too young for Daemarus to even be able to have another nymph of his own. He wouldn’t even be able to go into heat again until she’s mature enough to go off on her own. Even then, with his age, the heat that produced her was probably the last one he’ll have. Even if he were to go into heat somehow upon her reaching maturity and finding her own territory as Dravhokonus do instinctively, protective measures would be put into place. Carrying her was rough on him. I know. I was there when he dreamed helping him wherever I could. He was exhausted, sick, laying the egg was even worse. With Daemarus’ advanced age, carrying an egg could potentially be deadly for him. When Dravhokonus get to his age, they are no longer able to carry eggs safely so their female side shuts down while their male side remains fertile because that doesn’t take nearly as many resources and isn’t as hard on their body. So, no. There’s absolutely no chance for Daemarus to have an egg. He hasn’t had a heat since Nava was born, and we both think he’s likely never having one again.

[the-world-of-enterra]

The little squeaks and mewls coming from within the egg was the first thing that alerted Azmodeus that their egg was hatching. It took a few little nudges to wake Daemarus up. By then, there was the scratching, the egg shaking, a small crack appearing in the shell. It was time! It was happening! The family’s newest member was about to enter the world, and Azmodeus felt Nava should be a part of this.  Even if it was early in the morning and Nava was still fast asleep, he didn’t want her to miss it. He hurried down the hall to Nava’s bedroom, where the young Dravhokonus was curled up asleep with her favorite plush, a little pink moth. Big, and soft, and had been her constant companion since hatching, she took it with her everywhere. The Dreameater King gently shook her shoulder to wake her. The child whined and buried her face in her plush. “Hey, Nava, sweetie, wake up.” He said softly.

The child opened her eyes and yawned. “But Azzy, it’s still dark out... and I’m tired!” She whined sleepily. She rubbed her eyes with a hand. “Come on, it’ll be worth it. I’m sure you don’t want to miss welcoming your baby sibling into the world, after all.” He said. He knew exactly how Nava would react to that news. The child popped right up, eyes wide as she snapped awake in seconds. Her tail swayed excitedly as she stared up at him. “Baby sibling???” She was up and getting dressed and scooping her favorite plush into her arms in mere moments, almost tripping over her tail in her excited haste. “I knew you’d want to see.” Azmodeus said as he scooped Nava up, and headed back down the hall to the bedroom he and Daemarus shared. Daemarus was waiting beside the egg when Azmodeus and Nava entered the room. The girl was sleepy, but excited. Azmodeus sat down beside the soft nest where the egg had been resting during its incubation. Nava stared at the egg in rapt attention. Tiny mewls and squeaks came from within the egg, growing louder as the baby worked harder and harder to get out. The cracks and tears in the egg shell widened until the baby finally crawled its way out.

“Hi baby sibling!” Nava said softly, her eyes huge with awe as she finally saw the little one for the first time.  Azmodeus gently cleaned the hatchling off. The baby didn’t fuss or squirm the entire time, calmly letting her mother remove all the bits of shell and goop still clinging to her. “The energy feels more feminine than masculine... I think I will name her Mara.” Azmodeus said, gently laying her back in the soft blankets so she could get a look around. “I love that name.” Daemarus said. “It fits her. Our little Mara.” Mara mewled happily. It seemed she liked the name, too! Her little tail twitched as she rolled onto her back and mewled again. She calmly nibbled her little hand. She looked from one face to the next, before kicking her little feet with a happy squeak and poking her forked tongue out. “Can I hold her?” Nava asked. Her voice was soft with awe. “Of course.” Azmodeus said as he gently picked the nymph back up and showed Nava how to safely hold the tiny bundle. Feeling the warm weight of her baby sister settling into her arms, those big, innocent eyes staring up at her, Nava couldn’t stop smiling. Her heart swelled with love for her new baby sister. “I love her!” Nava stated, hugging the little Nymph close. Mara let out a tiny purr, and nuzzled into her big sister’s chest.  “See? I told you she’d like you.” Azmodeus said, with a soft smile.  “I knew you’d be a wonderful big sister, Nava.” Daemarus said softly, pulling Azmodeus, Nava, and baby Mara against him.  That moment, that special, beautiful moment was so perfect that he didn’t want it to end, and didn’t realize there were tears in his eyes to accompany that huge, sappy grin plastered on his scarred old face.

[the-world-of-enterra]

Azmodeus: .... Well that explains why I haven’t been feeling well lately. I guess it is possible after all! Daemarus: Nava’s gonna get a sibling! I bet she’ll be happy! Azmodeus: Funny that you’d ask about Dreameater/Wyrm hybrids... when I find out I am going to have one myself, hah!

[the-world-of-enterra]

Azmodeus: Her egg was big because Dravhokonus go unto their true form while gravid, and lay in their true form. With hybrids, the child will take after the form the Wyrm is in at the time of conception.  Most are unable to shift back and forth. He was, needless to say, in his smaller form. Have you seen his true form? He’s gigantic! That thing’s as big as I am! And there’s two! And one of them has a knot! I may be an Astran, but I have my limits! The point is, the egg will be a normal size. It’s getting close… I am sure of it. 

[the-world-of-enterra]

It took a lot of time... a lot of research, but Daemarus finally got it. He finally found a map that lead to where Azmodeus was sealed. He left little Nava with the servants at his castle, who were happy to look after her while he was away. It took him days to figure out how to undo the binding, but he refused to give up. Azmodeus was so close. He was right there. He could reach out and touch him.  Finally, he got it. The binding dissolved in a brilliant flash of light. The Nightmare King’s eyes slowly opened, before focusing on the Dravhokonus’ face.  “Daemarus?” He asked hoarsely. He looked around slowly, weak and drained, strangely exhausted after his sealed slumber. His voice was raspy and weak, but quite pleased. He tried to sit up, but ended up needing the old Dravho’s help. “Where... where am I?” He never felt this heavy, or this weak. Everything hurt. “Awake.” Daemarus said. “I found where you were sealed. I unraveled the bindings.”

Azmodeus was quiet for a few moment, their eyes meeting. “You look exactly as you did in your dreams.” He murmured. “It’s good to see you.” His claws lightly trailed along Daemarus’ cheek. Daemarus was quiet for a few moments. Perhaps because of the surge of emotion of finally getting to see him, finally being able to touch him, though after a moment, a light smirk played across his features.  “Az, you reek.” Daemarus said with a playful hint to his voice. “Careful where you aim that thing.” He lightly tapped the Nightmare King’s lower jaw. 

“Pffh.. You try being sealed in slumber for a few thousand years and see if you come out of it smelling like a spring rose. Ass.” He joked with a raspy laugh.  “C’mon, let’s get you cleaned up. There’s a hot spring not far off.” Daemarus said.  “Ohh, that sounds nice.” Azmodeus tried to stand, but his legs went out from under him as his knees buckled. Daemarus caught him before he could fall, that sudden contact feeling almost electric. Daemarus let out a breath. He was so warm... He’d felt his touch in his dreams, but it was nothing like feeling him here, solid, in reality. Really, really here. He wouldn’t just.. wake up and have him fade from his mind. Daemarus ended up carrying him to the hot spring, allowing the fiery Astran to lean back in his arms. The hot water and healing energy it provided soothed and helped restore a bit of Azmodeus’ strength. It was a few minutes later, that a little smirk appeared on Azmodeus’ face. “I think it’s about time we celebrate, hmmn?” He asked, a light purr in his tone. He made his intention quite clear, lightly trailing his claws down Daemarus’ scarred chest.  “Wh- Az! You can’t even stand on your own!” Daemarus was taken aback, trying to hide the blush that threatened to color the plating on his cheeks.  Azmodeus leaned closer, whispering lightly “I don’t need to walk for you to pound me ‘til I can’t feel my legs.” He purred. And, I am sure, one could quite easily guess what happened next. 

[the-world-of-enterra]

Daemarus, becoming determined to free Azmodeus, buries himself in his studies any time he has the chance. The Nightmare King has been sealed away, locked in a deep slumber and unable to wake up. He feels that if he can find his body and figure out the mechanics of the seal, he may be able to wake him up and set him free.  He can’t find much on the Nightmare King, such information so old that even scrolls don’t have much. This scroll, however, seems to have a hint to narrow his search, and he feels like he is getting closer to setting his dear friend free.  Daemarus, after all... is determined. He doesn’t care how long it takes, he wants to set Azmodeus free.

[the-world-of-enterra]

With the time growing ever nearer, they have both noticed that Nava is very upset, and decide to sit down and have a little family talk and assure her that, no matter what they will always love her. She does feel better, but is still very nervous about her baby sibling.