Chapter 13 - An Unhappy Dragon

Rasp is causing a disturbance? Ash was startled by the claim. He'd just fed his partner. Then the boy groaned as he realized the problem. A sudden touch of the strap across his chest brought everything into sharp focus—the strap connecting to the rucksack slung tightly across his back.

I've still got his crystal. Rasp had most likely finished eating and looked to started gnawing on it. And not found it.

Hurrying to get Rasp's dinner taken care of, Ash had been too busy playing catch up to think straight. Then the messenger had showed up. In fact, here he was still carrying around the horn, sling, and pouches full of rocks. His cheeks reddened in self-admonishment.

The rocks?! I forgot to even dump out the rocks?! And I did all that running... Ash was severely doubting his intelligence at that moment, despite being well aware that the events of that afternoon had tossed his routine into chaos.

The dragonboy awkwardly piped up in front of the General and the Head Instructor.

“Err, I think I know why sirs. I have part of my dragon's hoard that I forgot to leave back in the stall. Rasp is- My partner is pretty attached so, he’ll keep crying until he gets it back.”

General Luke ordered, “Well hand it over, and the messenger can run it over.”

Umm, okay... Ash thought it would just be better for him to handle it, but Vor didn't dispute the general's order.

Shrugging his shoulders to slip the strap, the boy then slid the rucksack off. Before handing it over to the guard, he flipped it open quick to double check that the quartz was still secure. "Just slide it under the stall d- !"

WHAT THE HELL?! "WHAT THE HELL?!" Everyone was alarmed when Ash extended the rucksack away with a hasty yell.

The general brusquely interjected. "What's the prob-" Only to bite his tongue as the boy shakingly pulled the quartz out of his pack. Suddenly everyone understood why the boy had reacted as he had, and they were just as shocked.

In Ash's trembling hand, the large crystal bore a rapidly spinning serpentine pupil that eventually locked onto the boy, an utterly bizarre sight.

They stared at the peculiar object in Ash's grasp, their own shock mirroring his. But Ash recognized that eye anywhere, and he broke the silence.

“T-That- that’s Rasp! That’s my dragon looking out… Sirs?”

But Lukes and Vor both were frozen like they hadn’t heard him. Their attention was fixed on the leering object in Ash's hand.

Did they not hear me? “S-Sirs?”

Instructor Vor, regaining composure with a slight shake, absently dismissed him, “Ah, yes yes. You can leave now.”

What? Okay! Ash was a little bewildered, but gladly seized the opportunity to escape. He dropped the quartz back in the rucksack and saluted. "YESSIR!"

"And don't speak of this to anyone!"

The guard was included in this final command.

"YESSIR!!"

As Ash bolted past the guard and out of the office, the last thing he heard was, “Dragons are magical creatures, yes?”

Endless questions swirled in Ash’s head as he dashed down stone steps with the pack gripped tight in his arms.

Is it a magic rock? How mad will Huso be? Can my dragon use magic? What do we do in the afternoon now? How'd the spy die? Will I ever get to eat? Why did they dismiss me so quickly?

But he couldn't actually think to answer any of them. All he knew for certain was that he had done way, way too much running today! While carrying too many rocks.

A few minutes later he breathlessly entered the shaking dragonhouse. All the humans were out in the hallways trying to soothe their agitated, stomping partners over the stall doors. Ash couldn't help but turn bright red from all the well-deserved stinkeye as he ran by, so he just ducked his head.

The next few days are going to suck, he couldn't help thinking.

HISS! HISSSSSSSSSSS! HISSSSS! HISS!

Ash urgently approached stall eight, where Rasp was hissing in distress while the door shuddered under fierce clawing. And Houselead Huso was there waiting, his expression stern.

He doesn't look happy.

As he skidded to a stop, the man swiftly unlocked the bolts and pushed the door open. Before Rasp could burst out, Ash hastily shoved the open rucksack into the stall, sliding it past his dragon and into the center of the space. The hissing ceased abruptly as Rasp frantically shifted to keep the sliding pack in sight and then scrambled toward it beside his bedding.

Ash slipped into the stall and barely noticed as Huso slid shut hard behind him.

A grinding sound immediately picked up. Rasp was chewing on his beloved crystal with vigor, and had his back presented to the sweaty, tired boy. Next to him was a sliced rucksack.

Damnit, I'll need to ask for a new one. And is Rasp ignoring me? “Ah, and now you're mad at me too, eh?”

The chewing continued... Yup, I'm being ignored...just great.

Ash sighed as he stared hard at his partner's back. But all he saw were Rasp's small black scales. The grey scales from when they had bonded had blackened as the year passed.

How did he do that magic... thing?

Looking back to the door, Ash winced at the numerous gouges clawed into the wood. And at the splinters scattering the floor.

He had really wanted to get out.

Accepting that Rasp would be ignoring him for awhile, Ash lightly scratched the dragon’s back as the rest of the building slowly quieted down. The little guy permitted it. The boy kept at it until his stomach started twisting in hunger, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten since noon. But he still had things to do first. Like finally remembering to remove all his gear. And lastly, where to stash the foot-long horn.

Settling on just resting the valuable monster part atop his other gear for now, Ash could help but laugh darkly.

Not even half a day ago he had been happily going about his routine. But since then... he had found a corpse, met the general, exposed a spy, had his scouting permission revoked, and his dragon used magic. And his legs and feet were super sore.

It was enough to make his head spin. But the empty feeling in his gut eventually pulled the boy out of his fatigued thoughts, and into setting about cleaning up the stall. First of which, he had to clean the trough. He peered into it and made a face. All the blood had dried.

More work. Just what I needed. Ash tiptoed out of the stall to grab a wet rag, only to find the Huso waiting outside. Shit, why is he still here.

As Ash came to attention, the patient man abruptly spoke, “I understand you've had a busy day. But whatever mistake you made, don’t do it again.”

After his brief ultimatum, Dragon-leader Huso stalked off before the dragon-boy could reply.

Huh, that wasn't bad at all? With a sense of relief and gratitude, he stared about blankly for a moment. Then, shaking himself back to reality, he reached for a rag and began to clean the trough, sweep, mop, and replace the hay in Rasp's bedding. All the while, Rasp nipped at him when he ventured too close.

I hope he can forgive me before lights out.

Afterward, Ash used another wet rag to wipe himself down before changing into clean clothes. Only then did he start trudging towards the mess hall. Only to realize, I've never gotten food this late! He picked up the pace despite his tender feet. Is the mess hall even open this late?