As some of you know, my hatchday was earlier this month and to commemorate it my good friends  Riokh and  Jarren_Ironclaw schemed together to create these two gifts. Thank you both for this wonderful surprise! I think it's adorable!

Art by Riok. Story by Jarren:


“You’re sure she’ll be here before we run out of air?” One of the small dragons asked, a red, spiky creature.

“We won’t run out of air, don’t worry,” the other, an orange beast assured him. “Besides, she’ll show up and if I know her and presents, she won’t be able to resist opening this box.”

“If you insist,” the other responded.

“I do! Now, be quiet. I think I hear something…” Riok and Jarren had shrunk themselves with the aid of a potion and, through the assistance of a cooperative gryphon, secreted themselves into a neatly gift-wrapped box alongside some chocolates, candies, perfumes, and a new pair of stockings. The present was placed just inside the entrance of her lair. Both diminutive dragons rustled about a bit, trying to settle in and be stealthier, but sabotaging themselves in the process. Their noise was just the thing to draw the attention of the blue dragoness who had strode into the cave, shaking off the cold from outside.

Valia folded her wings as she finally arrived back at her mountain home. It had been a long flight back from across the sea, but the trip had been worth it. Good food, good friends, and some very good fun. But, frankly, she was just relieved to be back. As fun as the hatchday celebrations away from home had been, there was just a certain comfort to one’s own living space. So lost was she in the joyful feeling of return, that she nearly tripped over the package sitting in the middle of her entryway. Wrapped prettily with a paper and a bow bearing a single tag that read “Open me! -Jarren & Riok” She stopped for a beat, perplexed, then smiled. They must have come by while she was away and left their gift for her to find when she returned.

But it had made a sound. What had caused that? Her look of mirth turned to one of confusion as she scooped it up in one forepaw, holding it to her chest as she three-leggedly hobbled deeper into her lair. She’d open it once she was settled. Maybe she’d just been hearing things. Valia bore her package with her all the way to the backmost chamber of her lair where, secreted away in the depths of the glacier-rimmed mountain, a hot spring burbled and pooled. A quick jet of flame lit the brazier beside the water and, leaving the gift on the edge, the blue dragoness entered the hotspring. Each step deeper into the warm water soothed away the soreness of the long flight and the chill the outside wind had put into her and she let herself drift for a few moments, floating on the surface and just basking in the delightful sensation until another rustling noise disturbed her reverie and she paddled back over to the box. This time she was sure she’d heard something.

It took a moment to shake her forepaws dry before, filled with a renewed excitement, she lifted the lid from the box. The look of shock on her face was something for the ages. Instead of finding something mechanical, or a small pet, instead she was greeted by the significantly shrunken and party-hat-adorned faces of the two same friends who had gifted her the present.

“Happy hatchday!” they chirped in unison, popping up to the edge of the package, tiny claws leaving small tears in the wrapping.

Valia’s face went from shock to glee. Certainly not the present she’d been expecting, but nonetheless adorable and welcome. Not only that, but the other gifts in the box did catch her eye. The grinning, much reduced dragons, however, were still front and center.

“Awww, thank you both so much! You really shouldn’t have, but this is so sweet!” she suppressed a chuckle. “How did you manage this and how long have you been waiting in there?” Both Jarren and Riok fell silent in thought.

“A few hours, I think?” Jarren said. “We weren’t in there the whole time.”

“And the how,” Riok answered, nodding at Jarren’s assessment, “a simple potion.”

“This isn’t permanent,” Jarren chimed in, reassuring her that they were not, in fact, going to remain hatchling-sized.

“How long, then?” She asked, peering down at them.

“A few days, at most. Depends on the dosage,” Jarren said.

“Well,” Valia chirped, scooping her small friends from their square container and hugging them against her as though they were a pair of stuffed animals. “Let’s see what else you got me.”

“We hope you like it!” Both of them said, somewhat stifled by the hug.

“Oh, I know I will! It’s from both of you, and you know me too well.”