Andrew felt a hand shake him lightly and opened his eyes, finding the dragon man from before standing over him as he woke him up.
“Tide. I’m glad you listened to me and didn’t leave. But if you think that makes me any less angry, you’d be wrong.” Tide’s dad scowls, clearly still upset that Tide had gone missing for an entire week. Although Andrew can see a shred of relief on his face, happy that his son was back safe and sound.
“Dad! I can explain!” Andrew sits up and motions his dad er… Tide’s dad to calm down.
“I’m listening,” he says, crossing his arms and staring at Andrew with a doubtful expression.
Andrew then began to explain what Tide had told him, mentioning the ancient temple and how Tide had accidentally activated it before jumping into the portal. However, Andrew excludes the parts of what happened in his world, not mentioning the humans, the wizard, or the fact that Tide was trapped as a ring for 700 years. And especially not any of the parts involving himself, keeping the information regarding him now piloting Tide’s body a secret.
“So, I guess time passes differently there because I was only gone for a few minutes,” Andrew lied as he finished his explanation, Tide’s dad looking at him with a surprised expression on his face.
“Wow… Tide. I can’t believe what happened to you. Honestly, I feel sorta ambivalent about your story. On one hand, I feel disappointed that you ventured far from the city on your own and entered a mysterious portal without thinking. But on the other, I feel happy knowing you weren’t gone for that long and that you were able to come back home safely.”
Tide’s dad then brought Andrew into a hug, reaffirming his son’s presence before letting go.
“Are you mad?” Andrew asked him, fearing that his new father would continue to confine him to his room.
“Not really, no. A little disappointed, yes, but not angry,” he responds before letting out a sigh. “Just promise me you won’t leave the outskirts of the city on your own again.”
“Dad, I promise!”
Tide’s dad breaks into a smile and reveals his sharp teeth. “Well, as long as you know better now, I see no reason to continue your punishment.” He pats Andrew a few times on the back before exiting the bedroom.
Andrew was about to leap off his bed, when his dad re-emerges from the doorway, peeking his head into the room. “You still have a few hours left to go out and play but remember to be back home in time for dinner.”
“Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll stay close to the house,” Andrew replied and Tide’s dad shook his head in approval before departing again, leaving Andrew alone.
Now that Andrew was no longer grounded he had the ability to explore the world he was now in. “What should I do now?” Andrew thought to himself.