Ozias

I slowly woke up to the warm sun on my scales, the chirping of birds and one very annoying boy talking into my mind. I debated ignoring him and staying in my warm patch of sun, but curiosity and annoyance eventually won out "Awake now, what want?" I grumbled

"Well I just wanted to tell you that earlier this morning Delia got us transport on a ship to the caster academy in Thorgen." He said

Mention of this mysterious academy piqued my interest "When leave?" I asked eagerly

"we leave in an hour or two, I wanted to let you get your beauty sleep." He laughed

"Am pretty enough." I snorted "want food."

"Delia asked the fishmongers to set aside a crate of fish for you, they are keeping it down by the docks." he said turning to leave, obviously intending for me to follow.

Leaving Delia's garden, I saw the most damaged structures getting torn down so new buildings could take their place. My wings began to itch as the slow ordeal of moving through the crowded streets was made worse by my nerves, and the constant rush of reconstruction. Soon we came to a clearer section of the road and a devious idea took hold of me. Torin sensing my sudden change of attitude began to turn around, but he was far too slow. I quickly grabbed him around the middle with my front claws and leapt into the sky in the direction of the docks.

It took Torin a moment to realize his feet were no longer on the ground, and once he did, he wrapped his arms around one of my forepaws with a death grip. The spike of pure panic he felt was the first thing that let me know something was wrong, in a moment of clarity I realized my mistake, Torin as a creature without wings, could never feel as comfortable in the sky as I was. Feeling a pang of regret, I tried to reach the docks as fast as I could.

From the air, the city's damage was much easier to see. One section had been flooded, while the area next to it had burnt, and just across the street from them was almost pristine apart from a small fishing boat sitting on top of a roof a bit further down. Torin's fear began to subside as we got closer to our destination, and soon after I was able to land on a less crowded road near the edge of the dock district.

Once Torin was back on the ground it did not take long before he had calmed down enough to speak. "Just so you know, most people are not comfortable with the ground disappearing out from under them." he said unsteadily, before he amended "Then again most people don't try to lead a dragon through a busy city."

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"Crowds nervous, wanted move faster" I said apologetically

"Well we did move a lot faster at least, now follow me we are just around the corner from the warehouse they showed me." He said amused

He turned and led me down one of the roads which had been cleared earlier in the day to the door of the large building where we could hear a pair of workers conversing as they moved stacked crates.

" … why the captain had to make a point of the second ones large size, not like we ain't never seen a fat noble or merchant." the first voice said

"Who knows, if they payin enough, we may have ta carry em aboard and feed em peeled fruits." the second one said with gruff laugh as the other man joined in "I'm sure we can pick up one of those cloth stalls to shade them from the sun too." he said laughing

I could see Torin trying to hold back laughter at the idea of them carrying me. I started to move forward so I could find the fish I was promised when Torin stopped me and shared an idea to prank the two of them.

I slowly crept forward through a darker portion of the warehouse so I could get around the workers, trying to practice the grin Torin showed me. As soon I was where I needed to be, I let Torin know I was ready. Soon he walked out from behind a stack of boxes in full view of the workers and walked up to them.

Seeing that he intended to talk to them, they stopped what they were working on and the gruff one asked "Watcha want boy, we got ta restack the crates since we've finished loadin."

"Well I heard you two talking and I wanted to know your rates for peeled fruits and carrying people you see my large friend and I will traveling with you and he is feeling a bit peckish."

The gruff one seemed to catch on quickly "Well I do na want ta overcharge, I'd have ta see him fore I could tell ya my price."

Torin smiled and said "Well the good news is, he's right behind you."

Taking my cue I leaned closer and gave my widest grin, so that when the man spun around all he saw was a row of jagged teeth. The gruff man let out an undignified yelp as he fell over backwards and the other man jumped to the side, the only thing that stopped them from running outright was the sound of Torin's laughter.

"Well lad, ya definitely got us." He said warily as he picked himself off the floor "Now did ya actually need somethin or na?"

"Yes, I was told there was a crate of fish for Ozias here." Torin supplied

"Ah tha fish box, Jingles here can show ya where it is." he gestured to the side where the other man was nervously fidgeting with a pair of coins.

Jingles shot him a look of betrayal as he was put on the spot before resigning himself "follow me." he sighed

We were led on a winding path through the rest of the warehouse to the other entrance where he pointed out a crate off to the side "That's your fish crate, if you give me a minute I'll get the crowbar." He turned to leave but before he had even taken a few steps, I had already used my claws to pry the top off, so I could dig in. The smoky flavor of the fish tasted divine and soon I had emptied the box of all but small scraps.

Seeing that I was finished Torin asked Jingles to show us where the ship was moored. Heading out the near door we walked along the pier for a few minutes before we stopped in front of a large ship bustling with activity.