The truck rumbled along the highway, the dragon confined to the massive cage within. Inside the cage, the dragon contemplated its predicament. It had tested the strength of the cage's bars and found them wanting. Freedom was within reach, but for now, it played the part of the captive.
From his vantage point in the cage, the dragon could see the sprawling city of Berlin on the horizon. He decided to rest, conserving his strength for whatever awaited him next.
Hours later, he awoke, still inside the cage, but now in a different environment. It was a vast enclosure with concrete walls and reinforced glass on one side, hastily repurposed to house a creature like him.
Heater, the blonde woman with curly hair, approached the cage, her eyes fixed on the dragon. "Heater," Mc Gyvor spoke through an intercom, "This is Sarge, who managed to capture the wyrm without resorting to violence. Our files suggest that the wyrm might have once been a trained pet, abandoned due to its size, and left to fend for itself. It appears to be sociable and intelligent, but we must exercise caution. Even trained animals can revert to their primal instincts when thrust into the wild. The wyrm seems to have formed connections with social groups, like the wolves, and we will need to study it."
Heater nodded, "Hello, you. Can I call you Dragon? I am Heater, and I'll be in charge of you." She hesitantly extended her hand towards the dragon's snout, and the dragon allowed her to pat it.
"He's very docile, not showing any signs of aggression," Heater reported to the others who were observing from behind a reinforced glass partition.
With the remote control in hand, they unlocked the cage doors, allowing the dragon to step out. "Let's test its reactions," Sarge said, with a concealed air of skepticism.
As the dragon emerged from the cage, it observed its surroundings closely. The enclosure had a roof with an iron net, large glass panels, potted plants, dry herbs for bedding, a water reservoir, a hook with a dead deer hanging from it, and UV and IR lamps for reptiles – essentially, a vast terrarium.
The days passed uneventfully, with the dragon appearing disinterested in its surroundings. It lay in front of the enclosure's door, its gaze distant as it daydreamed.
Inside the enclosure, the vet team grew increasingly concerned about the dragon's health. "Heater," Mc Gyvor spoke through the intercom, "I am worried about its deteriorating health. I will go inside to interact with it. I'll take an electric prod, just in case."
Heater entered the enclosure cautiously, armed with the electric prod. The dragon remained unresponsive, testing the limits of their interaction. It wanted food, freedom, and perhaps more.
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Heater reached out to pet the dragon, running her hand beneath its jaw. In response, the dragon licked her hand, unexpectedly causing her to lose her balance and fall to the ground, dropping the electric prod.
Quick as lightning, the dragon's tail knocked the prod away, and terror filled Heater as the dragon's snout hovered mere centimeters above her abdomen. In the animal kingdom, this stance usually meant imminent death. But the dragon turned its head and began to nuzzle Heater gently, requesting more affection.
Tension melted away in the observation room, and the guards, armed with electric prods, backed away. Heater, lying on her back, looked into the dragon's eyes, her terror slowly giving way to a growing understanding. Tentatively, she began to crawl away, never breaking eye contact with the dragon.
"All-clear," she called to the team, her voice shaky but excited. "It seems to understand submission. We can work with this."
The dragon returned to a calm state as the observers breathed a collective sigh of relief.
A helicopter transported a large ball used for training dolphins and killer whales into the enclosure. Heater tossed the ball to the dragon, and to everyone's amazement, it deftly caught it with its front paw.
"He's incredibly intelligent," Heater remarked.
"Indeed," said Mc Gyvor, "but we must proceed cautiously. Despite its intelligence, it's still a wild animal. We have much to learn."
As days passed, the dragon remained docile, displaying a level of intelligence that surprised the team. It spent its time studying its environment, its interactions with the humans providing insight into its adaptation and training.
One day, as Heater approached the cage with a container of various foods, the dragon's sense of smell was instantly piqued. It hesitated for a moment before opting for the pasta in the container, using its claw-like fingers in a manner that resembled a fork – a stark departure from its more animalistic instincts.
Heater watched in amazement as the dragon ate the pasta with surprising grace, contemplating the creature's complex nature.
Inside the enclosure, the dragon continued to scan Bluetooth devices, capture internet signals, and gather information, secretly building a network of knowledge and contacts.
Heater, curious about the dragon's preferences, offered a can of soda. The dragon, seemingly understanding the concept of carbonated drinks, nodded in agreement. She poured some into its mouth, and the dragon lapped it up with evident pleasure.
Heater's fascination grew. "What are you?" she wondered aloud, locking eyes with the dragon.
The dragon averted its gaze, finishing its meal. It seemed to possess a level of intelligence and adaptability far beyond what anyone had anticipated.
Heater, still intrigued, made her way back to the observation room. "Did you see that?" she asked excitedly. "This creature appears to have preferences. It even drank a soft drink, and I don't know of any other animals that do that."
The team observed the dragon's interactions with growing wonder. They marveled at its ability to adapt to human objects and its clear intelligence.
Mc Gyvor cautioned, "Let's not forget its primal instincts. Training or not, it's still a wild creature. We need to be cautious in our approach."
Heater returned to the enclosure, now armed with a large ball used for aquatic mammal training. She tossed it to the dragon, initiating a game of catch. The dragon's responses demonstrated its remarkable dexterity and intelligence.
"Good, good, dragon," Heater praised, her bond with the creature deepening.
As the days passed, the team grappled with the complexities of their unique situation. They were tasked with protecting a creature that defied categorization, a creature that was both intelligent and wild, and a creature that held secrets beyond their comprehension.