Chapter Text
The Shade Lord stared down at the small black crawler. "So…" Shade droned. "This is the fearsome black wrym that caused a war in the Pale wrym's kingdom?" The black wrym in question squeaked out a "Hey!" Before pouting out his frustration. The Shade Lord laughed at this. Causing the young one in front of him to look the other way, clearly embarrassed. "I'm sorry, it's just.. a child caused such a huge problem? A youngling caused a freaking war?! That's hilarious!" Shade howled in laughter. The small black wrym shouted at the great beast, anger getting in the way of his fear for the time being. "Shut up! You know nothing of Wrym culture!" He hissed. "Then tell me." The young looked surprised at this. "W-what?" Shade looked down at the little wyrm & repeated himself more slowly. "Tell me about Wrym culture. Explain to me why you did this? Why you thought it was a good idea to try & take Hallownest. To take this land for your own. I wish to know." The dark wrym side stepped in place. Twiddling his thumbs in response & looking off to the side. He wasn't expecting this question at all. "W-well you see.." The youngling gulped his fear down. Looking up at the God of gods staring him down. All eight eyes felt like they were piercing through his soul. It scared him. Frightened him so badly he started to sputter & tremble. The Shade Lord sighed & began to nuzzle the young one's cheek to get him to calm down. The wrym yipped in fright before slowly calming down. He leaned into the nuzzle, almost afraid he'd lose it. He let out a small whine when the Shade Lord stopped. "Hush now. I only wish to know what happened. What was going through your mind at the time." The youngling almost didn't hear him, nuzzling himself into Shade further to maybe get some more affection. Shade smiled slightly. He found it quite cute & was very happy when the youngling started to explain himself.
"Well um.. Wrym society dictates that you're not a well liked Wrym unless you conquer something. You're not seen as part of the clan. You're seen as a weakness & are treated like one. Especially if you're small." The young wrym sniffed quietly. The sound made Shade's heart ache & anger boil in his blood. What did they do to this little one? The black wrym quickly regained his composure as he went on. "S-so I went out on my own to prove them wrong! Th-that I was a strong wrym & would conquer any land I want. That… didn't happen as you already know." Shade could sense their was a small lie in there & decided to test the waters. He shouldn't have. "On your own?" He questioned. The young wrym tried to hold back a cry of sorrow, but failed in doing so. He fell into the arms of the Shade Lord. Sobbing & trying to nuzzle into the God of gods. "Ki-kicked out for being t-too weak." The young wrym cried & Shade was suddenly regretting asking. What was he meant to do with a crying child?! He tried his best to soothe the young wrym. Nuzzling into the wrym's back & giving soft licks with his tendril like tongue. Shade hoped this was working somehow.
It did the trick alright. Within a few minutes the youngling calmed down. His sobs become nothing more than sniffles & hiccups. Shade gave one last caring lick before checking the young wrym over. "Are you alright, little one?" He nodded, leftover tears dripped down his face. "Yeah, thanks.. I'm sorry. I must look so weak to you." Shade scoffed. "Oh hush. None of that. You are just a child, what do you expect me to think of you? It most certainly isn't that." The wrym looked up at him confused. "What do you think of me then?" Shade hummed at the question & then the almighty Shade Lord's voice got softer. "I see a youngling in need of a new home. A little prince of Shade. I see a brighter future ahead of him, for everyone. Tell me little one, do you have a name?" The wrym gaped his mouth open wide. It took him a second to process the question. "N-no. I was never given one." The Shade Lord tapped his chin as if thinking, though he already had a name planned for his heir should he ever get one.
"Hmm, how about Umbra? Prince Umbra has a nice ring to it. Do you agree?" He looked down & almost lost it at the sheer sight of this kid. Eyes wide & sparkling with new tears. Happy tears that ran down as he hugged his new father. "Yes! Yes! I love it, thank you so much! I promise to be the best prince I can for you!" Shade chuckled. "No more trying to take over any lands, okay? You now rule over the void with me." Umbra nodded enthusiastically. "Yes, of course!" Shade laughed. What a cute kid, maybe this parent thing won't be so bad after all? He had a son now. Something the Shade Lord always dreamed of having & this little one had a new home. However, a few things came to mind just now. One being playmates. His little prince would need someone his own age. Then for a swift moment he thought of something & he grinned mischievously.
Reverting his form to a smaller one. He stood tall in what he assumed was bug-sized form & picked up his son. Using his powers to create clothes for them both. A black shining cape for each with spiked out shoulder armor. The clip on their cloaks being a symbol of the Shade Lord himself. "Little one, I need you to be on your best behavior. We're going up top, into the Pale wrym's kingdom. I have big plans for you, my son. "The shade prince was slightly confused at first, but he absolutely lost it at being called son. He gave a happy trill in response & hugged his new found father. "Of course dad! Anything for you!" Shade snickered at his hair's antics. He looked up & slowly made his way to the top.
"Be ready dear Pale wrym, I have a proposition for you." The Shade Lord cackled as he trekked up the cliff. Meanwhile his son just purred & held him tight.