Arcturus held firm onto the wooden training sword he carried within his hands. The strong, athletic human boy of twelve stood tall with a grin on his fair face. Confidence sparkled in his bright green eyes. The golden rays of the sun above bathed his dark-green-shirt-clad chest in its warmth. 

Arcturus stood opposite to two other children of roughly the same age and build as himself. One had long flowing blonde hair with bright icy blue eyes, while the other had olive skin with eyes of amber, and hair of mahogany.  They too held training swords at the ready as they all circled one another, their eyes looking for the first error to capitalize on. Although Arcturus already knew trouble was coming. He bravely stepped towards them, for he was trained by the best dragon hunter of them all. He was the son of Markis Lund.

His sword struck his target's sword as the enemy rose to block his own strike.  The rules were simple. Arcturus thought as such as he parried a child's swing, then back stepping and avoiding the other child.  You get three strikes onto you and you were done, it did not matter where they were, nor how hard the blow hit. The only thing that mattered was the number. Three hits for elimination.

Arcturus grinned as the first child took a swing, and he stepped under him, letting two hard thwacks of his wooden sword be the boy's reward. Right after his assault, Arcturus nimbly backed away with a laugh of victory. For you see, he had already bested this boy numerous times. That is why he currently had a partner, even if that partner was not doing him much good.

“Hey, watch it!” The blonde hair boy yelled out, bumping into his useless partner.

“Watch yourself!” The boy Arcturus struck sneered back, as they turned to face him. “He’s fast.”

Arcturus backed away, keeping his breath in check and his excitement from getting too high. He had not yet won, something his father had always told him to be mindful of. Keep your eyes up and expect the unexpected.

“Arcturus!” came the shout of a bearded man bearing the same eyes as him. They glared at him inquisitively, as they traced his body up and down. “Keep your form up and don't get cocky! Focus, remember? It has to be as sure as your feet.” The man thrust a finger at him. “Now to add a slight twist. If you fail to answer my questions correctly I will count it as a hit against you!”

“Try your best, father!” Arcturus shouted back as the two children advanced on him with grins of mischief. Clearly they were thinking they could get the best of him with this little change in plans. With a shrug Arcturus met their attacks, he would just have to show them how wrong they were the hard way.

“Name the weak spots of a dragon!”

“That one’s too easy!” Arcturus grunted as he shoved the olive skinned boy back, only to strike the blonde haired one square in the chest. “Those are the eyes, the wings, the underside of the paws, the joints....and...Their genitles!” Arcturus flustered at that one, as he backed away from the other snickering children. “What? They have weaker scales there.” Arcturus stuck his tongue out. “You would know if you read the books.”

“Read books about their...regions?” the blonde haired boy snickered, almost dropping his sword. “What sort of weirdo are you?”

“Right answer m’boy!” the man shouted. “He’s right you know. Perceptive. Good one, good one. Now tell me, what kind of breath is typical for a brass dragon?” His father shouted out as he smacked the olive skinned child, taking him out of the contest.

“Take that!” He cheered out as the blonde haired boy swung and struck him on the side. “Grahhh.” Arcturus stumbled backwards as the other boy grinned at him.

“I’m waiting boy! Or do you want two strikes against you?” came the demanding voice of his father. Clearly not caring that he just been struck so hard in the chest that drawing breath came a little hard for him.

“F-fire!” Arcturus coughed, his eyes narrowing at the blonde child. Clearly if he was going to be swinging hard he would not have to hold back now. “You asked for it now blondie.” Arcturus mumbled as he recomposed himself, holding his sword aloft to point it at his annoying enemy.

“Good job! Keep it up Arcturus. Don’t fall prey to distraction. Pain is your greatest enemy out there in the field. I’ve known slayers able to withstand wounds so horrifying they’d put a normal man on his ass. Now tell me, where do green dragons like to nest?”

“Forests, swamps, marshes!” Arcturus shouted, charging at the blonde haired boy, blocking the child's strike, and then twisting his blade so that it struck the boy once on the underside of his leg. It struck just the right spot to make then boy fall backwards onto the dirt clad earth. Arcturus did not let up for an instant as he easily avoided the boy's retaliation, and then struck him in his sword arm.

“And what do these dragons typically like to hoard?”

“Mortals!” Arcturus swung his sword hard enough that it sent the other boy's sword flying from his grasp to clatter to the ground below. Arcturus finished him off with a solid strike to the torso.

“Gah!” the boy exclaimed, falling back to clench at his chest. “That stings you dolt!”

“Next time don't swing with all your might in a training match.” Arcturus snapped back as the boy rose up to glare at him with eyes full of hatred.  Arcturus simply returned the stare as the clearly embarrassed boy walked out of the white fenced in area and back to a collection of pockmarked people in multicolored clothing.

“Great answers, great fighting, great spirit! That was a splendid display of keen ability m’boy!” His father cheered as he stepped into the ring with arms wide. “You did your family proud, son” The proud smiling man turned towards the large collection of people “See there Jenkins? Takes right after his old man!” His father placed a rough hand to his hair and ruffled it with a chuckle. “You’re going to be the best dragon slayer this world will ever know. Just make sure you don’t get lazy like the dragons you’ve learned about, eh? If they spent half as much time hunting us, well, we’d not be here today talking about a dragon’s legendary laziness, would we now?”

“But not all of them sit in their nest.”

“They do, boy. They do,” Arcturus’ father patted his son on the back. “There’s a couple active ones who can’t stay idle, but after you take your first one, you’ll start to learn that dragons are just as capable of dying as we are. They just have a hard time learning that, so it is up to us to teach ‘em a pair of wings and a few scales do not make them better than us, eh?”

Arcturus cringed as he thought to a life spent hunting the great winged beasts that roamed the country of Sethera. It was something that made his blood run cold every time his father ever mentioned it, especially when he looked so proud and happy at his combat efficiency. Arcturus did not want to be a dragon slayer like the rest of his family, and he certainly did not want to spend his life hunting the creatures simply because he was told to. It was something his mother would have objected about, if she were still around, after all.

“Uh…Sure dad.” He replied sheepishly as the man before him continued to grin.

“You know what? You did so well in besting those two kids.” Markis thumbed behind him. “I think I owe you a treat after that show of Lund swordsmanship.”

A treat? Arcturus' thoughts twisted to what ever his father could mean. Did he bring chocolate? Perhaps his favorite paints? Was it a new horse? Possibly his own set of armor?

“What do you mean, father?”

“Come here and I shall show you.” The man replied with a grin as he wrapped his strong arm around his son's shoulders.

“Come on, father. Don’t keep me guessing. You look practically ready to burst with excitement as well!” He laughed as the strolled through the rows upon rows of brightly colored tents. The air was filled with the scents of hundreds of people massed together, mixed with sweat and the smell of cooking meats in the summer air.

“It is better if I showed you. Words cannot do justice to what I’ve prepared for you.” His father held up a finger and pointed it skyward. “Trust me Arcturus, you will be glad I did not spill the beans on this surprise.” He chuckled, as they passed a band of singing gryphons, who by the sound of their slurred speech had already gotten piss ass drunk despite the sun being straight overhead. He rolled his eyes as the three stumbling birds nearly collapsed as they strolled on by. His eyes traced to a large green banner that was fluttering in the wind. One that had a golden lion stitched into it holding a shield and sword. Arcturus knew this flag well, for it was the symbol of the Lunds, the greatest dragon hunters in all of Lumara, according to his father of course.

The flag that bore his family crest was gathered with a collection of other flags. They were all different colors and symbols, each one belonging to a different family that came to this place to compete.

Each one an opponent for Arcturus to best. For you see, this large collection of tents, this gathering of peoples from all over his nation was all about one thing to his family. It was a celebration of each family’s strength, a chance for each family to show off their latest offspring. There were humans, elves, dwarves, minotaurs, heck Arcturus thought he had even saw a gryphon bragging about his skills. It did not matter all these differences, since one single thing bound them all together.

Each one of them was a dragon hunter.

His eyes fell to another collection of massed people as they parted for his father like water. He thought he spotted his cousin Horace, a portly man who was a simple farmer, a man who had never harmed a dragon in all of his life. He was just one of the many that came to spectate these sorts of things, for it was not just for the dragon hunters themselves. It was something for all their clans to enjoy over song, drink, and cheers of happiness.

“This walk is starting to bore me. Tell me, where are you taking me father?” he asked as it became apparent his father was leading him away from all the noise, the people, the drink, and the drunk gryphons that had just smacked a lady’s ass, only to get a swift kick to the groin. Arcturus had stifled a laugh as the creature rolled around to the squawking laughter of his feathered friends.

“Be patient. What I prepared requires us to get away from all this commotion.” His father waved around to the collected masses. “They did not want to disturb the gathering just yet.” His father pointed to a larger tent then the others. It was a dark brown thing, whose sides were completely enclosed. It had one entrance, which was bound up tighter than a vice.  “That is where we are headed.”

Arcturus stared at the tent in wonder. As they strode across the brightly lit field of green, his heart starting to beat faster with every careful stride. His thoughts danced around in his head at what could be kept waiting in this tent. He knew there would be challenges during the week for them to overcome. Each contestant would get to best a beast specifically collected and prepared for this moment. The moment that would test their skills to the limit. Although what kind of beast would they hold out here, away from all the noise and the people? Would they not want to build anticipation? Get the crowd riled up for the games ahead? It seemed like something Arcturus would do if he were in charge of these games.

“Wha-”

His father silenced his mouth with a palm as the strong man guided his son around the tent. “Shhh...” He held a finger to his mouth as their path carried them to the other side of the tent. His father gestured out with a wide sweep of his hand and said nothing, letting the sight before him speak for itself.

Arcturus felt his mouth drop at what his father had gestured to, for bound before them on a large wooden carts were the imposing bodies of dragons. They were bound with heavy brown leathers that seemed to be soaked in some sort of liquid, most likely a flame retardant. Their wings were bound tight against their mighty scaled bodies, and their limbs were bound together in irons. One was a scaled in bright golden armor, with underscales of a soft brown. His wings were feathered and the color of fresh snow.  The black horned male gazed out to the human with his emerald like eyes. However, it was not this dragon that drew the boy's gaze, but the other female that robbed his interest.

Her scales were a bright bronze that sparkled in the sun. Atop her back was a frill that extended down from her horned head all the way to her tail. The base of the membrane was a dark navy, slowly fading until it turned into a light turquoise near the edges. She had talons and horns to match the color of charcoal black, and eyes like molten amber. Their carts were sitting still for the moment, each one still latched onto a team of large bay horses.

“D-Dragons?” Arcturus quickly snapped his attention away from the things he had only read about back to the father who looked down to him with a stern face.

“Yes...Dragons. They were going to be used for the end of the tournament, but I figured we can extend their purpose to some other things like an early preview for my worthy son.” His father looked back to the bound creatures with a slight grin. “We helped bring in these vile creatures that were plaguing the countryside. It took some effort to overpower and subdue the beast, but each one, as you can see, fell before our combined might.”

“What did they do?” Arcturus asked, looking to the female that had locked her eyes onto him. They did not seem like the eyes that belonged to a monster, in fact. If Arcturus had to point to what they indeed looked like, they looked rather kind, anxious, and full of fear. “What crimes did they commit, father?”

“Does it matter? They’re here now awaiting a most deserved end!”

He must have spoken louder than intended, for he quickly lowered the tone of his voice. “Theft of property, maiming of helpless farmers, burning of houses that still housed whole families. That bronze there has some heinous activities attached to her head like the slaughter of hunters who wanted only to provide for their families, and the murder of some of our beloved lords. These beasts have no compassion for the other living beings they share the land with, and as such they have to be punished. Oh yes, they have to pay for their crimes.”

Arcturus wrinkled his brow as his father continued to list crime after crime that the beasts had committed. He was unnaturally coherent, as if he had memorized the entire list. Arcturus even got bored of the humongous list of accusations. He even rolled his eyes as his father seemed to continue until he ran out of breath.

Arcturus instead focused on the beautiful dragons before him. Their strong looking scales, their smooth looking wing membranes. Arcturus twitched his hands as he wondered what one would even feel like to the touch. In fact… he had never actually touched a scale before. He laughed to himself. Here he was, son to the best dragon slayer and he had yet to touch a living dragon’s scale or a wing membrane. He had only read about the mighty beasts in his books, and tested against illusions his father had conjured with the help of spellcasters.

Arcturus also wondered about the accusations. How could something so beautiful be as evil as the men said? He crossed his arms as the horses started to pull the dragons into the now opened tent, disappearing with a flapping of the fabric. He remembered the picture of the supposedly evil dragon Radiant Flame from his grand-father's dragonology books. The red dragon that had tolled mortals and killed those who could not pay and built a bridge from their bones. He had always thought about how pretty her turquoise scales where, and her cerulean eyes that matched the color of the brightest sky. When he looked to them on the pages of that book, or when he went to his father's study, he found himself thinking that dragons could not all be evil. There had to be some good ones out there in the world, right? It just…had to be fair.

Arcturus let out a heavy sigh as these were questions his mother would have had. The mother that was no longer there, stolen away from the rearing of a horse, and the hard rock connecting with her neck in the most tragic accident Arcturus knew.

“Don't worry your mind about them, son.” His father swung his arm around his shoulder again and started to lead Arcturus back towards the collection of people, tents, and ever loud voices. “They are for the victors of this tournament of ours. You can bet it will be your strong arm that gets the honor of delivering justice to these foul beasts. You are going to learn first-hand what it means to be the hand that delivers justice onto the world.”

Arcturus felt his blood freeze once more at the thought of himself running a blade through a dragon’s head. His hands quivered and his breath got short, and he felt sick to his stomach as he pictured their bleeding corpses, and blood dripping from his hands. He shook his head to force his mind towards something pleasant. The image of the dragonesses’ bronze scales sparkling in the sunlight helped him more than he could admit to his father. Arcturus knew he had to sketch her. No. A mere sketch was improper for such a majestic creature.  He had to paint her, and if he was able to, speak with her.

* * * * * * * * * *

That night Arcturus laid down on the bed of straw. It was not the most comfortable thing to be laying on, since they were away from home. It made him miss his oversized bed in his room with the softest blankets he had ever known. He sighed at the pleasant memory as he gazed down to the book held within his hands. The soft glow of mana lantern light was all that lit the tent that was serving as his room. Thankfully he had gotten this one to himself, as his father had shared one with the gryphon nanny of his while they were here. He had rolled his eyes at her giggling laughter as she ruffled her earthen brown feathers, his father leading her away with a flick of her lion-like tail.

His eyes came across the picture of a bronze dragon drawn onto the pages. This one was a male, Arcturus could tell by the way the horns were sharper, and more pronounced than the female's had been. He ran a finger along the old vellum, taking a deep breath and letting the pleasant smell linger his nostrils.

“What am I doing?” He tossed the book to the other side of his bed as he leaned back, his mind full of bronze scales. “Here I am... reading about the blasted dragon, when I could…”

He shot up with a smile, practically tossing on his boots and belt as quickly as he could. He snatched a leather-bound pack, stuffing some painting materials inside, including a vial of ink, some parchment, and his brushes.

“I'll just greet her...Ask her some questions maybe. Not like I’m breaking any of father’s rules if I look at her from a safe distance.”

Arcturus pulled a dark brown cloak around his shoulders. He smiled, pushing aside the curtain of his tent, and holding his mana lantern aloft in the night air. He hesitated as he took his first few steps into the darkness. His father’s cautious words rang in his mind.

“Always be able to protect yourself my son. No matter how safe you think you are, it’s always better to be cautious.”

it was words his father lived by, yet Arcturus did not think anything dangerous could happen. It wasn’t like the dragon would wait for him to break free if it was able. Still, it always paid to be prepared. With a shrug of his shoulders he quickly dashed back into the room, grabbed the dagger, and stashed it on his person before heading back towards the dragon’s tent.

He looked around at the sea of tents, only lit by the mana torches that were placed every ten feet along the rows upon rows of cloth. The only other light came from the sky, in the form of thousands of stars shining down on them from above. Arcturus wrinkled his brow as his friends had told him that they were all small portals to the realm of fire. He disliked this theory honestly, as it felt too mundane. Especially in a world where the impossible could be done by magic, like heal the sick. Legend said some people were able to even bring the dead back to life. He took a deep breath of the cool air, coughing on the scent of smoldering fires and horses.

Silent as a cat, Arcturus made his way towards the dragon. He made sure to ignore anyone walking around this hour by keep his eyes low, and sticking close to the shadows of the night. There were typically only party goers or drunks up at this late hour anyway. Even the tent Arcturus sought had no guard, although there was a chair planted there, supposedly to rest the absent sentry. Arcturus rolled his eyes, but was thankful the guard was out drinking, or as these celebrations had it, passed out on the floor of some tent. The guard’s absence nonetheless saved Arcturus the trouble of sneaking past a sentry as he slipped under the tents door and into the wide, open area.

The tent was practically empty, except for the metal chains, bonds, and piles of hay that littered the place. There were several mana lanterns that hardly did a thing to rid the darkness of the place. However, that did not matter to Arcturus. He paid the surrounding tent little mind as his world narrowed onto the bronze dragon that was laying down in chains upon the layers of hay. He looked around quickly, not finding a scale or hint of the whereabouts of the other one. He shrugged, figuring they must have hidden it in another tent. He felt his heart skip a beat as he crouched low, and snuck over towards one of the stacks of hay to get a better look at the bound dragon. He peaked over the hay to see that the creature had leather belts wrapped tight around her neck. Arcturus remembered from his books this would prevent them from blowing their breath attacks. He wracked his mind for the information that told him bronze dragons could breathe bolts of lightning from their maws, then sighed in thanks for the belts. The last thing he needed was to be dancing around lightning bolts hurled from the annoyed dragon.

From the belts he looked to her forelimbs that were bound every so tightly to her hind legs it seemed, with her tail having a belt wrapped around it, forcing her to curl it towards her bound limbs. Her chest was rising and falling in time with her breaths as she had her eyes shut.

Arcturus felt a small pang of guilt course through him as he looked to the dragoness, all defenseless, stripped of every sense of freedom. He thought she even looked kinda helpless like that. He wanted to take a step forward and introduce himself to the beautiful creature from his books.

But he quickly found he lacked the courage to do so, his legs refusing to budge no matter how he tried to force them forward. “Come on…” He sighed softly to himself as he pulled his pack off his back and set it on the ground. “Fine…If you won't carry me over to the dragon so I don't have to shout...I will just draw her then.” He spoke to himself, pulling out a piece of parchment, a bottle of black ink, and his feather quill.

He started to trace her form quickly with the quill, first doing the head, and then working his way to the rest of the body. His eyes would peer from the paper to the find bronze scales on her body, although from this distance it was hard to determine any detail on her frame. How he wished to be closer and inspect them. It would certainly help him get his picture correct. He sighed as he finished making the latest stroke when he noticed something. He looked up to see that she had risen her head and was staring at him with her amber eyes.

“What are you doing over there, scribbling in the darkness?” She spoke sternly, her voice deeper and more booming than he thought it would be. However, it was just as surprising, causing him to jump back and fall into the hay.

“Woah....umppffhh...” He landed on his back, spitting out some hay as he laid sprawled on the ground.

“Is the hay giving you trouble, little human?” Her voice came moments later. It cracked slightly from the sternness she had shown. It occurred to Arcturus she may have been putting on an act for him.

“I-I-I...I'm fine. Isn’t as hard as it looks, because it’s hay, same as the one you sleep on, actually.” He stammered slowly, dusting himself and sitting up, then turning to face the dragoness, who -despite what his father taught him about how all dragons were evil, had a silver tongue, and would eat him at a moment's notice-  had kind eyes that stared to him as if a mother would a hurt child. He lowered his head as he remembered his own mother's eyes.

“Are you so sure about that?” She chuckled, “You are not supposed to say I three times...Unless I have been speaking common wrong all these years.” She licked her nose with her long, dull pink tongue. “Did my speaking surprise you, hatchling? I had no intention of sending you sprawled onto the floor.”

“N-No.” the boy replied, looking to his picture that now had a large streak of ink down the middle. He scrunched up the side of his face at the ruined image.

“Why are you making such a weird face? The one where you are trying to fold your hide together?”

“Like this?” He made the scrunched-up face again, pointing to it with a finger.

“That’s the one.”

“I...well…I kinda ruined my picture when I fell.” He sighed, glancing down to the drawing again.

“Picture? Is that what you were doing? Scratching away with that feather of yours?” She snorted in amusement. “You surprise me perhaps even more than my voice surprised you. Can I see what you produced?”

Arcturus almost approached the dragoness when she had asked that all too inviting, dangerously suspicious question.

“I would want to…only that…” He looked to her many pristine teeth, only getting flashes of them when she talked. Despite her friendly demeanor, he knew the damage she could do with those. Even with a belt restricting her movement to mere inches, he could not help shake the feeling that she could reach out and grab hold of him with those deadly white daggers.

“You think I am going to bite you.” She said flatly. She let out a small rumbling chuckle from the back of her throat. “That is most wise of you, young hatchling. it would be foolish to approach one such as myself without knowing me first.” She snorted, letting out gusts of warm, humid air as she pointed with a claw to the ground. “You can stand fairly close without worrying about repercussions. Just hold out that bit of parchment for me. I shall see it fine even from a distance. Does that sound fine to you, hatchling?”

“Why do you keep calling me a hatchling? I am clearly a human.” He took a few tentative steps towards her, his heart starting to beat faster as excitement built within his chest. He was actually getting closer to a dragon. One that seemed to not want to hurt him, maim him, or kill him. Even so, he was reminded of his father’s words to stay vigilant. She could be lulling him into a false security after all.

“Hatchling, boy, child.” She rolled her eyes. “All these things describe you in the same way, boy. I just used the term I am most familiar with.”

“Uh...yeah. Makes sense. Here. Take a look.” He held out his parchment for the dragoness when he was close enough to her. He watched her eyes look right at the drawing that he had done and waited with baited breath for her answer with his hand trembling slightly. “What do you think? Still pretty, even with that ugly smudge in the middle? I messed it up by falling down at such a bad time...” he trailed off, his face going a slight shade of crimson.

“It’s wonderful little human!” She smiled, eyes closing as she did so. “You really captured my likeness impressively well, although I think it would look even better in color.”

“I do have paints that can do that.” Arcturus excitedly thumbed back towards his pack on the ground. “I do like to do that as well. Painting I mean. It’s even more fun than sketching.” His mind drifted to a small cave near his home, where he had painted a rather large painting of the red dragon Radiant Flame. One that his father had not known he had done. No need for the man who hated dragons with a  passion to know his son fancied painting them.

“Do you now?” She gave a slight croon as he watched her scales ripple and strain slightly against the leathers. Against his better judgement he felt himself back away suddenly.

“Oh, don't worry your little snout, human.” She groaned, looking back as much as her belt allowed. “I am thoroughly restrained...graaarrr...by your uncomfortably tight belts.”

“Well… they are there to make sure you don't go killing everyone. Or using your lightning breath to do what your claws can’t.” he added.

“Is that what you think I would do if given the chance? You wound me, human.” She gave a slight growl.

Arcturus stepped back further as she glared at him with those amber eyes of hers. “I-is that not why you are here? To be done away with like a criminal? Did you not steal, kill, and hurt others?”

“I did none of these things, human!” the dragoness snorted almost angrily, then licked her nose. “Your brethren took me when I was going for my morning flight. They ambushed me like a pack of vicious monsters, tied me up, and dragged me here to be made an example of.”

“T-they can’t…be…monsters. I mean…no. We aren’t like that. We punish evil dragons,” he stopped his retreat as her eyes softened.

“Do you honestly believe that? Tell me, human...Are people that attack innocent creatures...bind them up...spout lies...and then kill them in front of an angry horde that demands blood the kind, gentle creatures you speak of? How is this justice? How are they not the monsters that should rightly scare you?”

Arcturus paused as he thought over her words. “Y-yes.” He said after a pregnant pause. “You are…you aren’t wrong. People like that are bad. Maybe even worse than some of the dragons I heard about.”

“Indeed.” She snorted, her mood instantly brightening. “The world is not a fair place, but let us cease this prattle about horrible deeds and monsters. It will only sour my attitude further. You mentioned you like to paint, little hatchling?” Her voice sounded sweet, as if it were a mother talking to her own child.

“Yes...Yes I did. Creating makes me feel much better than training, though father insists I should practice for…uhm, things. Stay in shape, I mean,” Arcturus put a timely stop to his words to avoid upsetting the dragoness with further talk of dragon slaying. She seemed to understand him, able to see past the hardened warrior he would become in a few years under his father’s tutelage. She saw him. The real Arcturus Lund, not the offspring of dragon slayers.

“That is good. Becoming a master requires knowledge from all fields, including some that might be considered less important. Did you bring those painting things in your leather sack?” she gave him a tooth filled smiled.

“You mean, my pack?” he asked, tilting his head to the side.

“Yes, that.” she rolled her eyes. “Unless you brought two of them with you.”

“I did. I mean I have one pack here, not two. Why would I need two?” He realized the female was joking, and, reddening once again like a ripe tomato, Arcturus looked back to the pack, then quickly back to her. “Why so interested in my crafts? Dragons can’t paint.”

“We can. Just not in the same way you do. Besides, I hardly think you look like an aspiring artist,” came her voice as he slowly made his way to his pack to retrieve all the tools he needed for the job at hand. It was when he grabbed it and turned around did he truly take in her size. She must have been at least three times his height if she were able to stand up fully without the leather bindings holding her captive. Arcturus took a few more steps towards her. His eyes traced her entire body, from the tip of her snout to the end of her tail. He figured that she was at least seven times his length from head to foot, at least. He had not realized he was staring as he continued slowly towards her, because she chuckled at him.

“Admiring my splendor, little one?” She pulled against the straps gently. “I did not think my scales would have the same effect on a human as they do on other dragons. Ah yes, our species is very good at flaunting even the most basic of things.”

“B-basic?” Arcturus stammered. How could she name such dazzling beauty basic?

“You think otherwise?” the female gave what Arcturus believed to be a snort right after he nodded. “I suppose you don’t gawk at each other’s hides. That’s why you keep them hidden under these ridiculous crafts you call…cloth, was it?”

“Clothes,” Arcturus said. “You were close.”

She smiled again, her tail twitching slightly within her bonds. “I find the concept of adorning your body with the hide of prey and plants ridiculous. You understand that, right?”

“I suppose.”

She must have noticed something in his eyes, for her lips moved to reveal her sharp, deadly, and at the same time, beautiful fangs. “Are you attracted by the way I look, little slayer?” She laughed deep in her throat. “That would certainly be amusing.”

“I don't fancy dragons like that.” Arcturus sat before her cross-legged. He was at least three arm lengths away from her head when he opened his pack again and pulled out his painting supplies. He looked up to see her staring at him with her piercing eyes. “I... just find your scales...beautiful...and… and striking like the setting sun...” He stopped as he saw her grin at him from each edge of her snout.

“If you are trying to convince me you don't fancy dragons, you are doing a poor job, little hatchling. To my ears it sounds like you will have a dragon lover in your future.” She chuckled again in the back of her throat, making her scales clink against one another.”

“Ahaha, no, no,” He laughed, dismissing her with a wave. “I have hardly enough time with girls my own age.” He pulled out some brushes and set them aside the vellum he had procured. His thoughts went to all the time spent training, the hours and hours of reading, fencing, practicing. It was like that was all he ever did. He never got a moment to himself to do anything he cared about. In fact, this was the most alone time he had gotten in the last few weeks. Inside, alone, with a beautiful living being that was seen by his family like any other dangerous animal. He wrinkled his brow as he pulled out a few pots of paints. “Seems like all I ever do is train, train, train. Going where? Doing what? I don’t want to be miserable like my father. He hides it well, but I know he’s not happy, and he wants so hard for me to follow in his footsteps.”

“You sound like you’re in a cage of your own.” She gestured back to her straps. “Or bindings at the least.”

“Don't get me wrong, fair dragon. I do like the training. It keeps the mind fresh, and the body ready. I just wish there was more to do is all.”

“Does that mean you look forward to slay a few dragons of your own?” she asked him with a slight raise in her voice.

“We don't train to just kill dragons. Silly,” he sighed as he grabbed a brush, dipped it into an open pot, and started with gently strokes on the page. “We also train to kill monsters, undead, and anything else that would threaten a small village.”

“How about your own kin? Do you train to kill other mortals as well?”

Arcturus stopped what he was doing to think back to the many times his father had taught him how to wield a sword and watch for his opponent’s movements. He remembered the weak spots his father taught him about, and how to easily strike and fell an opponent he was fighting. He had asked at the time what good it was to learn how to kill other people when they were going to be fighting monsters and dragons. His father had only replied with that it was a dangerous world, and who knows what you would need to defend yourself from when put into the wrong place at the wrong time?

“Yes, we did.” He replied flatly, his blood turning to ice as he remembered his father talking in grisly detail of some of the numerous kills that he had gotten over the years. “But I do not fancy the killing part yet. Probably never will.”

“Mmmmm?” her eyes widened into amber slits. She looked surprised. Stunned, almost.

“I mean I can kill a beast for food, like a deer or something. I can also defend myself...but to murder an intelligent creature in cold blood?” Arcturus shivered as he felt a sensation of cold tingle down his spine that made his hands quiver. “The mere thought chills me. I don't want to be a murderer for hire that is fueled only by the desire to get rich, or by hate for that matter.”

“Those are strong words for a hatchling...What would you want to be then?” She asked softly, in almost a whisper as she continued to stare at him.

“I prefer to be a knight.” he thumbed his chest. “Protecting the innocent, helping others, defending those in need.”

“You sound like a genuine paladin...Now hatchling.” She cleared her throat with a snort. “What is your name? I would rather cease calling you that title or human, or little one. You have gained my interest, but perhaps you can earn even more than that by lending me your trust.”

“My name?” He asked, sounding a bit more surprised than he should have. After all she would be dead in a few days time, right? His mood darkened at the thought.

“Yes, your name. I assume you have one at this age.”

“Ahem.” He cleared his own throat in imitation of her, which got another mmmm and widening of her eyes. “Please call me… Arcturus Lund.”

“Lund?” She wrinkled her snout at the mere mention of his last name. “You’re their whelp?”

“Yes.” He replied, cringing as she continued to glare at him. “I see you’ve already been introduced to that name by someone or something…”

“Every dragon family that hasn’t lived centuries inside their cave knows the Lunds.” She growled slightly. “They have most likely claimed a life from every dragon family by now, at one point in your family history...So yes.” She continued. “I know of the Lunds, and their legacy.”

“Oh, I’m…sorry. I think. ” There was a pregnant pause as he averted his gaze away from hers, and back to the painting he was doing. He made sure to only take quick glances as he worked, finding it hard to look her in the eye. “What…is your name?” He asked after a few minutes more of silence.

“You may call me the Howling Tempest for now.” she replied proudly.

“That’s...a fancy name to have,” he chuckled, dipping his paint again and returning to his work.

“What did you expect from a dragon, hatchling? The purry cat? The soft rabbit? Such names hardly befit a dragon.”

“No, none of those.” He looked up to her amused eyes. “But why Howling Tempest? I’m curious if you like storms or something like that because I am a bit scared by them. Sometimes I wonder if dragons even fly during a storm. Do they?”

“That, I'm afraid, is a tale for another time, little Arcturus. For now all you need to know what I’ve already told you.”

“Fine.” He sighed, shrugging his shoulders. “There!” He pulled the brush away, smiling at the fine work he had done. He was proud he was able to capture her radiance all in a simple amount of time. Despite her talking and engaging him, he found it quite pleasurable to do.

“How did it turn out?” She asked with a pleased croon. It made him laugh to hear such a noise coming from quite a large dragon.

“You want to see it?”

“Why else would I suggest you paint it? Of course I want to see a picture of me!” she laughed. “Now show it to me! I wish to see!”

Arcturus turned the paper around and held it out proudly to her, just like the drawing before. He saw her eyes squint this time as she stared onto the page.

“Bring it closer. I cannot make out the fine details from here...but it looks nice!” She smiled, closing her eyes as she did so. “Can you bring it closer so that I may gaze upon your fine work?”

He stood up with a smile, finding that, despite the previous warnings of his thoughts, he was moving towards the dragoness, returning her good cheer. If she was trying to distract him and manipulate him through her mood and flattery, then it was definitely working. Forgetting his safety, he took one last step towards her, but his foot caught a loose chain. His leg snagged, and he fell forward, but when he held his hands out to catch himself he did not hit ground. Instead, his little fingers found warm scales and the dragon's snout pressed against his chest.

She had caught him from falling with her head.

Terror gripped Arcturus’ heart for a moment as he just realized she was right under him. And that if she wanted to, she could sink her bright teeth into him and end his life in a mere moment of time.

So this is how it ends for me, huh? He thought as his breaths came quick, and his heart threatened to leap from his chest. He closed his eyes and waited for the end to come from the swift strike of the dragon’s gaping jaws. However, after a minute of silence and breathing he was still alive. There was no sudden jerk or a snarl. There was not even growl of displeasure. The only thing that did grace him was a puff of warm air as she snorted into the vest he wore.

“As much as I enjoy your soft touch along my scales, little one, please remove yourself from my head. It is ill fitting of a dragon to be used as a mere resting place for your lazy body.”

“Oh!” he pushed himself away from the dragoness as he resumed his sitting position before her. “I-I’m so sorry about that. I-I…I’m sorry.”

He made sure that he was at least three arm’s lengths away from her head. He stared into her eyes while she stared into his own. There was an awkward silence between them as he could only hear his own breathing, and feel the rapid pounding of his heart. “You…you didn't bite me!” he exclaimed at last, more loudly then he meant to. He quickly covered his mouth with both hands in surprise.

“No.. No, I did not.” She replied quietly, then quickly snorted. “Why would I do something so…thoughtless? Senseless even!” She rolled her eyes. “One important thing you need to know about me, young one, is that I do not harm hatchlings with my talons nor my teeth, no matter what species they belong to. That is simply beneath me, I am not the monsters that your kind are.”

“Oh, that’s…I’m relieved. In a weird way, I am happy to hear that.” Arcturus placed a hand to his chest, his breaths calming him down with each exhale as he gazed at her. She held him within her stare, unblinking. “I-I would never harm a hatchling too. Goes without saying. I’m not like those monsters you talk about either.” He said at last, causing her to smile for a moment.

“Then you might be different from the rest of your kin even if you bear their name.” Her eyes suddenly shot up over his head, as he heard a rustling noise from behind him and the drunken burp that must have been the guard returning to his post. “I think you might want to spirit yourself away before you are caught, Arcturus.”

Arcturus ducked low as he gathered his things, hoping that those flaps would not open. He had no idea what would happen if the guard were to return and catch him, but he was sure it was against the rules to talk to the dragon. I mean why else have a guard here in the middle of the night? Maybe it was to protect her from the others outside in case they wanted to carve out a bit of personal vengeance from the female’s scales?

“I am grateful for the talk we had, human.” she suddenly spoke up, causing him to look to her once more. “You will return tomorrow, will you not?”

He tilted his head slightly to the side as he raised an eyebrow. Did she think she could predict his actions? That he was this easy to read, like an open book?

“What makes you think I will be back tomorrow at all?” he asked, trying to lower his voice and sound as though he did not care.

“Oh...well, I have been stripped of everything but hope,” she gave a rumbling noise in the back of her throat, that sounded like a purr. “I saw the way you were transfixed by my scales, your hands when you drew upon that paper of yours.” She gave him a sweet smile and closed her eyes. “You will be back to talk to me...because you’re...different.” She ended the sentence with a soft snort, and a lick on her nose.

“Good night, Arcturus.”

“Good night to you too, Howling Tempest.” He waved to her, slipped under the tent as quickly as he could, and quietly made his way back to his own bed. He plopped onto his comfortable bedding with a sigh, and tossed his sack onto the floor.

“What an encounter.” He ran his hands through his hair with a smile. His heart was pounding as his thoughts went to what had transpired. He had talked to a dragon! An actual, living, breathing dragon! She had also been big and radiant, and much kinder than he could ever imagine. He sighed deeply as he sank down onto his bed. She had been much different than what his father had kept on telling him. Once again, he found himself doubting his father’s words.

“All dragons are evil, son. You must never trust the poison that comes out of their mouths, for even their words are a vile weapon. Allow your defenses to slip, and you’re dead.”

“Shut up,” Arcturus sighed as he turned his face towards the window. This night was too beautiful to be spoiled by his father’s hateful advice, so Arcturus looked at the stars until his mind became clear. Only then he allowed himself to fall into the realm of dreams, a realm where he could share the sky with his beloved dragons.

* * * * * * * * * *

The next day was a blur for Arcturus as he went through the usual routine that preceded his combat training. Although it was true that the final test was still a few days away, his father had kept him attending his training the entire time. There was the morning run of several miles, followed by pushups, sit-ups, squats. The entire time during these exercises, his father was shouting questions to him on dragon weak spots, along with various questions about their lives such as their eating habits. Arcturus got many of them right, and, as he was getting cocky, his father started asking him questions about other creatures like werewolves, vampires, and displacer beasts.

But as the day went on, it became harder for Arcturus to focus. The entire time his thoughts could not get away from the dragoness that was just in a tent several hundred meters away. So, when his father and him split ways for lunch, Arcturus made sure to quickly gather something from his nanny.  He asked her for two helpings of the pork that she had managed to cook up with her deft talons.

Her feathers ruffled as she had glared at him with her inquisitive eyes. “It’s for a date!” She had laughed through a series of squawks and chirps. “I knew it, you finally took my offer to go date my niece! You really are doing yourself a favor.” She gave a pleased chirp from her orange beak as she started to put the slabs of meat on his plate. “Gryphons are more fun after all.”

Arcturus rolled his eyes as the gryphon nanny gave him the requested food. She always had tried to set him up with her niece. The young lass had a fun attitude as bright as her snow-white feathers, and often spoke of interesting things that charmed Arcturus. Still, even with all those qualities, the gryphess was not his type. Besides, he always was far too busy for pursuits of the heart anyway. “No...I'm just hungry is all...Growing boy and all that.”

“Oh...sure, sure my dear boy,” she clacked her beak and handed him the plate. “Just don't get up to no good. Your father will have my head if he finds out you two got into any FUN activities.” She gave him a wink along with a flick of her tail.

“You can certainly bet on nothing of that sort!” He protested as she just gave him a smirk like she knew something he didn't. Gryphons. They were always up to no good, not him!

Arcturus knew better than arguing. He quickly shoved a piece of bread into his mouth and left the cackling brown gryphon to her own devices. His steps carried him through the tournament grounds, past the people that frolicked around the sea of tents, passed the stern-faced contestants, and across the brightly lit grass field. Soon enough he had snuck around the tent he visited last night, and with a quick glance to confirm no one was looking, the boy snuck past the wall of cloth to greet his mysterious dragoness once again.

“Hello.” She turned her head slightly towards him, seconds after he had snuck under the flap. “I honestly did not expect you back so soon hatch- excuse me. Arcturus.” She corrected herself with a smile. “What wind brings you back. The sun is still high. Is it not risky for you to be here in broad daylight?”

“This!” Arcturus blurted out as he held out the plate to proudly display the assortment of tasty meat he procured for her. “I know it’s not the best food you can catch…but I figured they would not be feeding you anything.” He scratched his head sheepishly while he waited for her response. The dragoness looked to him, as if in deep thought for the moment.

“Could you bring it closer?” She asked, to which he found himself complying, setting the plate down softly before her. She gave him a pleased croon before quickly snatching up the pork, and swallowing the pieces whole with a loud gulp. “Thank you.... that was most kind of you.” She looked to him with soft eyes.

“You’re welcome. It’s the least I could do, heh.” He turned to leave, quickly gathering the plate. He did not have long before his father once again would be looking for him to continue their grueling training. 

“I’m sorry I have to leave so soon. Wish I could have talked to you more, but…”

“You must be going,” the female’s gaze dipped. “I understand, Arcturus. Do not feel sad. Even though it was short, your visit pleased me greatly, and not only because you brought me food.”

“Really?” the boy’s eyes lightened a little. “I’ll return as soon as I can. Promise.”

The way she spoke pinched his heart. Oh, how much he wanted to stay here and listen to one of her stories. To catch a glimpse on how life felt through the eyes of a dragon!

It’ll just be a few hours. A few hours that felt like a drop of eternity for sure. Nevertheless, it was better than to risk being discovered. Arcturus sighed as he went to leave the same way he had arrived, taking a quick peak back at the dragoness that was still looking at him. Her tail tip flicked ever so slightly, reminding Arcturus how a cat's tail might do the exact same thing.

“Fare you well, little Arcturus, and may the sun warm your path.” She called after him as he slipped under the tent flap and quickly returned to the day’s boring routine of training, with the thoughts of the dragoness swirling around within his head.

His day was filled with sword training with his father, horseback riding, listing off weakspots of various monsters, and finally techniques on how to kill a dragon swiftly. His little heart shriveled as his father listed off gruesome ways on how to stab a dragon right through the eye. With shaking hands, the young boy pictured himself with a cold, glimmering blade of sharpened steel in hand. He approached his quarry, pulled his arm back to gather momentum…

Then sunk the sharp tip into the beautiful eye of the dragoness that had been staring at him so kindly before. The voice that came out was not the calm soothing river that cascaded upon his ears the night before, but a wail, sharp as the knots that tightened into his gut. Arcturus closed his eyes. He didn’t want to be here. To see her.

But after years of training, his father’s voice had a way of slithering into the deepest crevices of his mind, filling his thoughts with vivid images of the techniques he imparted. Warm blood sprung forth like a river, washing over Arcturus like a tide, covering his body in a curtain of the sticky, warm, crimson goo.

“Imagining the glory of your first kill?”

The heavy hand that fell on his shoulder ripped Arcturus away from those dreadful images.

“You’re shivering.”

Arcturus froze. He dared not even look at his father out of fear that somehow, his old man could read his very thoughts, so he kept his eyes on the ground and his lips tightly pursed, hoping that he would not be the death of the bronze female. Praying that the flashes of cruelty produced by his mind would not come to pass.

“It’s ok. There can be no strength without weakness.”

Arcturus let out a short sigh once his father took his hand off. “I felt the same way when I was your age.” He paced around with his arms crossed. “Afraid. Undecided. Wondering if my first dragon won’t make a meal out of me instead. But here I am, standing in the same place as my father, teaching my own son the things I learned.”

The man approached once again, this time ruffling through the boy’s hair. “Worry not about the future, Arcturus. This weakness you feel will be forged into courage. The trembling in your arms will give way to strength! And when you are ready, know that I will look upon you with pride as you bring glory to our name.”

Arcturus couldn’t listen to another one of his father’s words. There was no glory, only the sight of innocent blood being spilled for no reason. He ran to the shelves of books and buried his nose into a drawn-out lecture of dragon habitats as his father went on and on about how to kill the beasts. Arcturus did his best and managed to answer every question correctly, but during this time, he occupied his mind with more pleasant things. Things that did not have him killing such majestic creatures based on his family’s history of hatred.

It was no surprise that when the sun sank below the horizon, and the moon started to bathe the countryside in its white light that Arcturus quickly gathered his usual things and practically sprinted towards the dragonesses tent. With a quick, deep breath, he entered the tent to stand once more before the great bronze dragon. “Psssst....Howling Storm.” He whispered harshly as he slunk his way through the dimly lit tent.

She turned her head slightly with a pleased trilling noise as her eyes locked onto him and narrowed into amber slits. “Welcome back, little hatchling.”

“I thought you predicted my arrival?” He carefully made his way to her front, peaking his head up to make sure that indeed they were alone.

“If I must confess… I was not certain you would return.” She licked her nose. “Although it is pleasant to know that my words proved true...So.” She tilted head slightly to the side. “What wind brings you back? Do you wish to talk to the dragon you are supposed to hate? Or is it another reason that got you here?”

“I am not a hunter.” Arcturus snapped back rather harshly, pointing at her with a scowl. She had to understand he was not like his father, or the rest of the hunters.

The female didn’t get angry. Instead, she just gave him a chuckle, her amused eyes sparkled with a set of feelings Arcturus could not fully understand. “You seem very sure of your words.”

 “That’s…that’s because I mean them, and I…” his words stopped coming as he thought back to the conversation they had the night before.  How her words had proven so different than what he had come to expect.

“I don’t want to harm dragons. Even thinking of that makes my stomach feel weird. Instead, I want to know more about dragons. About you.”

He blushed and quickly looked down to avoid the female’s eyes. “You think I’m weird.”

“Not at all,” said the dragoness. “I am a bit surprised considering you are a Lund, but I also realize that I cannot always see you through the eyes of my memories. You are not your name. That is what you try to convince me of, is it not?”

“Mhm.” Arcturus quickly nodded. “So…you don’t think I’m weird?”

She gave another chuckle. “Not at all. In fact, what I see here now is the same sweet boy that brought me a tasty treat this morning.”

A rush of pride and excitement rushed through the boy’s spine. Her warm words instilled him with the unrelenting urge to hug her, but she was still a dragon…and he, a feeble little boy. Arcturus settled for a meek smile instead of the hug and sat down before her, still outside her reach but with a relaxed posture.

“What’s on your mind, hatchling?”

“Nothing.” Arcturus lied.

“Nothing, is it?” the female teased him with her wonderful voice. “Well then, nothing, one thing you need to know about dragons is that our eyes can not only pierce shadows, but lies as well.”

Arcturus scrunched his face. She caught him. How, he could not tell, as the books mentioned nothing of a dragon’s ability to divine lies. Sure, there were plenty of mentions of manipulations, yet in this case, he was the one doing the lying.

 “Uhm…ok. I guess I…what I want is to…” he shook his head off the embarrassment that twisted his tongue. Do you think I could get a better look at your scales?” The confidence with which he spoke surprised him.

And by the look of it, surprised her as well.

“You may approach.” The female smiled kindly.

Arcturus remained conflicted. Trust her? Or trust his father? Dragons were supposed to be dangerous monsters that lashed out at the world around them, harming any mortal they came in contact with. But when he fell on her last night, she had not attacked him. No slash of claws mauled his flesh, no teeth broke his bones. In the back of his mind, he felt a little more at ease, enough so that he pulled himself closer, enough so that she could reach him if she wanted to.

“I am curious about one thing. Why not look in a book to learn more about us?” She snorted, her eyes still giving him an amused look. “Your family is also renowned for its resources, and I am sure the answers you seek hide within the pages of a book.”

Arcturus shook his head.

“No?” The female inquired. “Why not ask your father? He must have had a few close encounters with my kind during his life.”

“I don’t want to.” Arcturus said sternly. “Please. Don’t make me talk to him.”

“Alright, little one. It is not my intention to put you in an uncomfortable position.” She lowered her snout towards him, making his heart pound a bit faster. He fought the urge to run. She had not harmed him before, after all. “As for that closer look you speak of…I can always give you a better look if you undo some of these straps.” She gestured back to the leather binding her. “They feel like rugged vines twisting and coiling around me. I’m not surprised if they peeled a few scales off.”

“I know what you’re doing.” Arcturus scowled as she slowly turned her attention back to him.

“You’re trying to play me. Trick me into freeing you!” He crossed his arms defiantly, like a knight standing in the face of danger. He was not Arcturus the child anymore, but Arcturus the dragon slayer. The boy who trained for years to resist a dragon’s manipulation.

“Arcturus, I assure you that-“

“NO!” his frown deepened. “I won't be tricked into doing your bidding. You will have to find some other sucker.”

“Sucker?” she laughed, “I begin to think you are for assuming the worst. Have we not talked peacefully before? Have I harmed you in any way so far?”

Arcturus’ conviction faltered a little. It wasn’t fair to attack his feelings like that.

“I am only asking for this small favor so that I can offer exactly what you requested. Just release one limb at a time to get a good look at any part of me you wish. You would still get to gaze upon my scales up close, and I can stretch that limb. Then, after you are pleased, you can redo the binding, and undo another one. One by one you can get a good look at all of me.”

Her words were true. More than that, they made sense to him. After all, he yearned to see every part of her majestic body. He just wrinkled his face as she just smiled at him. It was like she knew what he was thinking. She was aware she was winning this little game with him.

“And the book thing? You can agree that you are certainly not a book written by mortals. You can give me deeper insight and knowledge that I would not be able to find there...as for my father…” His face darkened at the thought of the man that was comfortable with killing that he could smile and joke about doing it. The man that despised dragons so much that he shut down any pleasant talk about them in the slightest. They were always monsters, silver tongued devils, evil beings that were never supposed to be trusted or shown mercy. “I want to learn things not burdened down by his hatred.”

“Once again you speak strong words. Are you sure you are not a hatchling?” She gave a pleasured rumble from her throat. “Now...What was your first question? I do have one condition to mention.”

“What is that?” he asked, raising an eyebrow. Despite being slightly against what the books had said about her kind, the dragoness still seemed to be planning something.

“For every question that you ask, I request you release a limb to inspect. It will pass the time and allow me to stretch. And besides.” She snorted. “Maybe after a few questions and a thorough inspection of my scales, you will see that we are more than mere monsters to be hunted and killed. Do we have a deal?”

“We have a deal.” he approached closer. “Uhm, so for the first question…I want to know…how does it feel like to fly with the sky beneath your wings?”

“Do you not know?” the dragoness seemed surprised. “I know you don't have wings, but surely you have been on a gryphon's back by now. I heard of no Lund, child or otherwise, to stay away from the grasp of the sky.”

“No…” he fidgeted slightly. “I… I am afraid of heights. Never been on a gryphon or on the deck of an airship before.” He looked away, his face reddening as he admitted that fact.  He waited for a moment for her reply, then looked back when she cleared her throat. He turned to see she was gesturing to her right forelimb.

Mentally kicking himself he approached her, placing his hands on the tight leather. He took a deep breath as he hesitated with the bindings. Was he really going to do this? Risk her getting loose to get some answered questions? He looked back to her kind eyes, and her soft smile that melted away his doubts. Of course, she could not escape, and she had been quite nice to him. Without another thought he undid the binding.

“Aahhhhh...That’s better.” She let out a small groan as she stretched the scaly appendage. “Thank you for trusting me, Arcturus. Here. Look as long as you wish.” She replied, holding her limb out for him to see. The fine smooth scales shimmered in the mana lantern light as he reached out to touch it with his hand.

His breath quickened as he hesitated at first, hovering his fingers over the smooth armor. With a quick shake of his nerves, he ran his fingers along the warm scales. He could not believe what was happening as he traced them. Here he was, getting to touch the dragon without fear of her hurting him. He could feel her muscles tense and relax as she sighed from his touch. “How about that answer?”

“Hmmmmm...mind on task…” She chuckled. “The wind feels nice beneath my wings, dear little one. When I am up there, I feel as if I were freer than any creature that inhabits the world. To be up there along the white clouds is pure joy. I especially love the feeling the sun bathing me in its warm rays. There...is hardly another way to describe it...it’s pure bliss.”

Arcturus closed his eyes as he continued to touch the dragoness. For a moment he imagined himself as a dragon, with wings flapping high into the sky. His green eyes full of joy as he let out his own roar of happiness. “That sounds delightful,” he laughed as he made his way down to her paw. “Now tell me about-”

“That was not the deal little human.” She cut him off with a snort. “One limb for one question.”

He retracted his hands, letting her place her limb back on the ground. “Okay.” He grabbed the leather and rebound the limb. He was surprised when she did not resist and let him do so. “You did not fight me.”

“Why would I? I gave my word on what was going to happen.” She lowered her voice, taking a deep breath. “I do not lie to somebody I care about.”

Arcturus looked back to her as the words lingered in his mind. They certainly sounded truthful, honest, and he felt that familiar feeling about his father’s words spring forth. He followed her scales, down her belly until he was near her paws.  He undid the leather there to allow the female to stretch out her hind leg with a groan of relief.

“Are dragons afraid?”

“What kind of question is that Arcturus? I am a living being that is intelligent...I have of course felt fear that has shook me to the very marrow of my bones. I have felt joy that has threatened to lift me into the sky aloft in its embrace. I have held love that has made my heart threaten to leap from my scaled chest.” She suddenly stopped, as her mood darkened and her head drooped. “And I have also felt sadness that has stabbed at my heart and made my wish that I were dead.” Arcturus watched the navy color of her frills turn a darker shade of blue, almost midnight black. It started out slow from her head frill and worked its way all the way down to her tail.

“I...” Arcturus felt guilt strike him like a spear to the chest. He turned back to the dragoness.  Her eyes were closed. For a moment it looked like she had a tear coming down from her eyes. That was ridiculous right? Dragons could not possibly cry! However, with the lingering silence that engulfed the tent, he was not so certain, as that tear dripped down her pebbly cheek and dripped onto the ground.  “I'm sorry.” He approached her snout without thoughts for his safety, and wiped her tear away from her warm cheek. “What was it?”

“I...” She opened her eyes with a sniff, and Arcturus saw an honest look of pain within them. The look his father had the day his mother had died, the look he had seen in the mirror as well. “I lost a mate to hunters.” She snarled, “Hunters like your parents.”

Arcturus took a step back as it felt like she had struck him with a dagger. “M-m-m…Mmmy…” he stuttered heavily as he remembered her kind brown eyes, her soft touch, and the voice that had brought comfort to him for seven years of his life. Despite her being gone for five years he still felt like a frightened child when he thought about her. “M-My mother was not a hunter…s-she loved dragons.” He felt his eyes start to mist up as he looked away from the dragon.

“Oh,” he heard her voice. “Are you crying, little one?”

“N-no.” he wiped his eye with his sleeve. “M-men don't cry.”

“That's stupid. You are not a man yet little hatchling...Tell me please. What happened to your mother?”

“She...went on a riding trip with her horse. The horse got frightened and reared up. My mother fell from her saddle and hit her neck on the hard ground.” Arcturus painfully gestured to his neck and made a cracking noise. “She died almost instantly.” He wiped his eyes again, this time clearing away the crystalline tears that made his vision fuzzy. With a few deeper breaths and extra help from his sleeves, his eyes were dry again. He tried to focus on the dragoness in front of him instead of his missing mother.

“It's okay to cry.” She said softly, sounding more like his mother with each word she spoke from her snout. “You don't have to hide your feelings from anyone. Especially me...I bet you miss her dearly.”

“I do.” He hung his head as he felt his heart wrestled away from his chest. “Miss her every day.”

“Tell me about her.” The bronze dragoness lowered her head towards him, slowly approaching him with those same kind and caring eyes. He found himself raising his hands and running them along her snout, with one hand on her nose.

Her scales were once again soft to the touch, and made him think of a warm blanket pressed against his skin. One that had been warmed by the afternoon sun. He told her through misted eyes about all the times his mother and he shared. He told her about the pleasant days, the great nights, and how he longed to hear her voice once more. When he was finished his throat was tight, sore, and his eyes were red from tears.

“She sounds like a very kind human. Please excuse my thoughtless words. I am truly sorry for judging such a fine human on a whim. I have allowed hatred to pierce its way back, but that is wrong…so wrong.” She suddenly opened her maw quickly and gave him a gentle lick across his face with her large, slimy eel of a tongue.

Arcturus froze as the tongue retreated back into her maw, leaving him covered with a thin layer of slime. His eyes widened in shock as he just stared at her for a few moments longer. She had just licked him. Right across his face and he had done nothing. “W-Why did you do that?” He asked her quietly, looking up into her eyes once again.

“It's a comforting thing to do when someone is in pain.” She replied quickly without skipping a beat. “That is something dragon mothers do to their offspring. To show them affection, tell them out feelings, and help fight away the encroaching sadness that might lurk within their minds.”

Arcturus wiped away the sticky liquid from his face, sticking his tongue out as it slowly dripped down his finger. He flicked it away without another thought. “It's gross.”

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“You’re welcome.” she snorted and narrowed her eyes.

He quickly snapped his mouth shut, as he realized that he might have hurt the dragoness. She was close after all, close enough to bite him if she wanted to. “I-I didn’t hate it though.” He said, lowering his head. “It was warm, and it helped. Thank you very much.”

“You are most welcome my dear little human.” She said soothingly.  “Quickly, hide!” she said suddenly, causing Arcturus to bolt to hide the closest thing available, which was her.  He crouched low behind her neck, finding himself pressed up against her scales. He lowered his head as he listened to the sounds of heavy footsteps moving within the tent.

“Anyone in here?” came the slurred voice of the midnight guard. “Cause ya aint suppose tabe hya...its da rules!” Arcturus heard him burp, and suddenly take a large gulp from whatever he was drinking from.

The boy just stayed crouched low, trying to keep himself as tightly against her as he could. He covered his mouth as he felt his heart beat faster with each approaching foot step. He could sense the sensation of his heart being pulled in all directions at once. He dared not think they would do if there were to find him here with the dragon. Would they disqualify him? The thought sent a shiver down his spine as he pictured his father's disappointed gaze, his wrinkled brow, and his stern words about failure.

“Coulda swore I 'eard someone talkin’ wit ya.” He heard the sound of a sloshing bottle as Howling Storm just snorted in disgust. He could feel her muscles tense up beneath her scales.

“There was no one in here except me you sweaty pig. I suggest you go somewhere else before you fill up my tent with the fine scent of a distillery.”

“Oy? What’s tha? Ya haf da guts to speak to me? Don't need a talkin’ to from a fockin monster. Besides...who'd want to talk to somethin’ like yaself? Tis like…courtin’ death or somethin.” The man laughed, turned back around and exited the tent as quickly as he had come. Arcturus emerged from the warm dragoness when he heard the sound of the flaps closing behind the man.

“That was close.” She said, relief ever present in her voice as she looked to him.

“You can say that again.” He wiped his brow, giving her a smile. “Thanks for acting as my hiding spot.”

“Did not really have the choice, dear.” She pulled against the leathers. “Not bound as I am anyway. Arcturus, can I ask you a question?”

“Yes?” he found himself asking, as he placed a hand to her snout once again, running a hand gently up her warm cheek.

“We have grown…closer over the few time we had together, and I am wondering if perhaps you can find it in your heart to free me from these shackles.”

“I..I...” Arcturus stammered, feeling his chest tighten back up again. The dragoness spoke truly. They had grown closer, but to go against his father, his family, against everything he knew…it was too much, even for a friend.

“I can't,” Arcturus pulled his hand away. “I’m sorry, but you are asking me the impossible.”

“I understand. It was worth a try.” She lowered her head, her eyes drooping. “I thought you would be able to help me.”

“I...” She was a dragon sent here to be bound and killed. There had to be a reason for getting sent here. There had to be, not unless his father was interested in killing innocent dragons for no good reason. “I want to help you. I really do, but they’d start to suspect me, and they’ll probably track you down and capture you again anyway.” He finally admitted with a sigh.

“No matter then.” She replied almost in a whisper. “I think you must go for the night. I wish to be alone with my thoughts right now.”

“With who? Why?” he found himself asking as turned to sneak out of the tent.

“If you return tomorrow I will tell you why.”

Arcturus nodded as he snuck his way out of the tent, offering her a sweet goodbye. She just returned the sentiment with the same endearment she had shown before. Arcturus tried to fight the guilt building in his heart as he passed the plethora of tents, but it was no use. He turned back to the tent to admire it flapping gently from the breeze in the air. He made a mental note to return tomorrow night. He had to know why she was here, and where her thoughts were keeping her.

* * * * * * * * * *

“Welcome back Arcturus,” came Howling Storm's voice as he entered the tent the next night. The entire day had been a blur, everything he had done was just a way to get back to the dragoness. The scaled creature that had him captivated with its magnificence, drawn in with her unnatural kindness.

“Hello.” he said back quietly, looking around quickly and taking a seat cross-legged before her. “How was your day?”

“You ask as if I were not bound in these leather straps while I wait for my death.” She glared at him, snorting a small plume of air out of her nostrils.  “But to answer your question...Boring.”

“Sorry. I could not sneak you food today. My father had his eyes on me like a watchful hawk.” He looked down when she pulled against her bindings once more. “Can we go back to the conversation we had the last night? The one where I ask a question and I let you stretch a limb?”

“Once again straight to the point.” She sighed, lowering her head to the ground. “We may do that, but I have to change our little arrangement in that regard. Instead of being asked every time, I wish to ask you a few questions of my own.”

“I…yes, that’s doable,” he nodded, “what do you want to know?”

“Arcturus...I want to know what you honestly think of dragons. I want to know what lurks within that part of your mind that is still unburdened by your father’s judgment, your family’s history, and most of all, their hatred. I want to know what the hatchling in front of me thinks.”

“That’s…complicated. Need to think.” He searched his mind for the right answer, finding it fairly easy. He remembered all the nights looking into his books, and every story where he wondered if his father was telling the truth. Every time he looked to Radiant Flame, or any other dragon and wondered if there were more sides, more details to the story. “I don't honestly know, Howling Tempest. I want to know more about you...about all dragons. I want to learn so I can make my own decisions regarding them.”

“Would you ever harm a hatchling that had done you no wrong? Even if their parents had done terrible things?”

“Never.” Arcturus stuck his tongue out in disgust at the thought. “That would be horrible. Can you tell me what you were thinking about last night?” He moved closer to her as she rumbled in her throat, then took a deep breath that made her scales clink slightly.

“I can do that. Yes.” She gestured back to her hind paws. “Although I wish to stretch my left leg if you would not mind. I think it has fallen asleep and is driving me with a madness you would not even know.”

Arcturus nodded and quickly undid the bindings on her leg, letting her stretch it before him with a groan.

“Oh...That is nice...” She closed her eyes and started to purr as she wiggled her leg slightly.

Arcturus ignored the cute noises she was making and touched the paw that moved towards him. Stopped wiggling as his soft hands caressed the digits there, running over the smooth scales and finding the hide beneath them. He laughed as she suddenly pulled away with a giggle. “Whoa....Didn’t expect you to be so ticklish!” He gasped as she let loose another giggle as he followed her paw with his deft fingers.

“Grrrr....” She closed her snout, and continued to steadily pull from his grasp but never getting away. “As embarrassing as that is to admit, even dragons have their weak spots.”

“Tickly dragon tickly dragon tickly dragon!” Arcturus giggled himself as he traced from the soft digits to the paw pads beneath them. He caressed the soft leathery hide with the palm of his hand, finding them rather warm and pleasing to the touch. It was hard to believe a creature like this would have such soft paws, especially when the rest of them was armored with heavy scales that could turn even metal blades with their strength.

“Ok, I’ll slow down. Tell me about your thoughts.” He continued to caress the soft paws, finding them captivating and soothing as his thoughts drifted to his mother.

“Well…this might not be what you expect.” Her voice lowered as her laughter died and her mood darkened. It was like some shadow had wrapped itself around her heart. “I was thinking about the little hatchlings I left behind. They are small, vulnerable, just like you…waiting for their mother to come home and comfort them.”

Arcturus’ fingers froze on her paw. She was a mother? His heart began to feel heavy again as the guilt started to creep back in. Not just because it was his family that was keeping her here, but that she had a family. She had offspring that cared about her, that would miss her, that would...Arcturus thought back to his mother and how he had hurt so badly when she had died. How he still hurt after all this time. “I...” he coughed, the tightness in his chest getting heavier. “Sorry. Didn't know you had offspring.”

“Oh yes.” She snorted weakly. “They are a bundle of energy, and they make my heart crack and go as soft as your human skin. I cannot fathom what their life will become if they are forced to grow on their own...if they even manage that.”

“No…they can’t…die. Can they?”

“They are still small, Arcturus,” the dragoness’ whisper seeped into his flesh. “Imagine you are left in the wilds to fend for yourself. How long would you survive?”

“I can let you go!” he found himself saying without another thought. He was surprised, covering his mouth instantly after the words flew from his mouth. He imagined his mother would have just been proud as his exclamation.

“You can do what?” she asked, as if she did not hear his words.

He froze for a moment as she stared at him expectantly. Her breaths were the only sound he could hear as his heart beat against his chest strongly. He thought to his mother, who was surely watching him in this moment. He cleared his throat and found his bravery as he looked into that dragon's eyes. “I said I can free you.... on one condition.”

“You but only have to name it, human. I imagine you want treasure or something of material value like most of your kind?” She rolled her eyes.

“No…I want to know if you did any of the crimes they accused you of. I want to know if you belong here in these bindings.”

“You want to know if I deserve to die over my actions.” She chuckled. “I hunted in what one of your lords deemed his forest. I killed what he considered his deer, a big stag that I needed just for my hatchlings and myself. The coward must have hired your family to capture me, all in the name of one little beast I took for food. Are you happy now, little one?”

“Sorry. Didn’t mean to sound mean.”

“The fault is mine,” the female spoke over him. “My hatchlings…I worry about them so much. If you’d only know how heavy my heart feels, maybe-“

“I will free you.” Arcturus forced himself to smile. “A promise is a promise, yes?”

The dragoness closed her eyes.

Arcturus nodded as he felt his heart pound harder. With shaking hands, he undid one belt around her limbs. One by one the others followed, his quick fingers letting the leather plop onto the ground before he undid the bindings on her wings. His smile broadened as she stood up, easily towering over him.

“B-b-big.” He stuttered as the female spread her beautiful wings. The dark navy of her membranes had shifted to a bright shade of pink that reminded Arcturus of the cherry blossoms that he heard about in Drenedar. “There you go, Howling Storm...Go home to your....”

His words were cut short as the dragoness suddenly wrapped her limb around him and charged through the tent. She bounded over the grass, stretching her wings wide and giving them a mighty flap that carried them into the air. “Aaaahhhhhhhh!” He screamed out, holding tight against her limbs as he felt his stomach lurch in his body. This is how I die...Please....Not here. Not now. Not before I get to…

He felt her tighten her grip on him, holding him firmly against her warm scaled chest. He felt sorry for himself as she carried him higher and higher into the dark, cloud filled night sky. The chill of the biting wind made him shiver in her grasp. His heart sank as his father turned out to be right. Dragons were good for nothing silver tongued devils, and now he was going to die for being a gullible fool. If not from the fall, she was no doubt going to bring him somewhere and eat him. He cried out into the night air as loudly as he could, tears starting to come to his cheeks.

“Cease your screaming little human.” She snarled out. “You sound like one of those banshee creatures that can kill with a shriek like yours. Stop it unless you want me to cork that little mouth of yours.”

“Eep!” Arcturus shut his mouth and hugged the scales tighter. Fear wrapped his heart in its embrace as he continued to sob quietly into her scales. For he, Arcturus Lund, was going to die this evening at the claws of the dragoness that he had trusted. The one he decided to help.

This is what your good deed gets you...Eaten by the dragon you tried to save.

It was almost ironic how right that sounded.

* * * * * * * * * *

Arcturus shivered again in the night air. His breath, along with his heart rate, slowed down during the cold flight. The dragoness had not looked to him once the entire time, her wings beating steadily against the air. It was their constant rhythm and her steady heartbeat that allowed him to shift his focus away from how high up they were right now. Not like he could turn around and look, for she clutched him so painfully close to her chest. He had stopped his sobbing a while back, trying to think about what needed to be done. He was trapped in a dragonesses' grip with little chance of escape. His mind went to his dagger as he wrinkled his brow. There was always the option of making a last stand, one final effort before devoured alive.

His heart started beating faster when he felt her decent towards a rocky area located near the ocean if the sound of the waves crashing against the coastal stone was any indication. He closed his eyes and readied himself as he felt her back-wing and touch down with her hinds with a soft bump on the stone. Arcturus was let go softly, landing onto the stone, and falling backwards onto his read end. He was left staring up at the towering dragoness that had plucked him from the earth. He went to scramble away from her as she refolded her wings against her back.

“Please don’t try anything foolish. We are miles away from civilization, and I assure you the best choice you can make is to stay here with me for the night.” She quickly reached out to him with a paw like lighting. Arcturus made sure to turn, and in one swift motion he yanked the dagger out of hiding and plunged the sharp tip into the underside of her soft paw.

“I will not be eaten without a fight!” He shouted out with false bravery as she reared back with a snarl.

“You call that an attack?” She lifted her lips to expose her teeth as she advanced on him. “I have felt thorns inflict more pain on my paws. What were you thinking, little Arcturus? What result did you hope for? Please, tell me. I am extremely intrigued to hear your escape plan.” She snapped at him, causing Arcturus to yell out in fright.

“Stay away from me! I know what you plan. What you want to do. Dragons…you’re all the same, and I stupidly fell in your trap!” He shivered, stuttering as she just glared at him. He looked past her towards the rocky ground beneath her paws. She was blocking the only way out, and the way behind him was to her cave. She had him trapped. She knew it, and he knew it as well. He narrowed his eyes and held the dagger out in shaking hands.

“Oh drop the act already.” She smacked the dagger out of his hand with a swipe of her paw that made him stumble backwards, rubbing the reddened area. “You are not a warrior, Arcturus. Give up.”

“P-please...you can’t just…eat me…” He cried out as she advanced on him and pushed him into her cave with her scaly tail. “I helped you! I let you go! Please, we’re friends!”

“Will you ever stop talking? Consider yourself lucky that I bothered to bring you all the way here.” She growled, guiding him with her tail whenever he slowed down or tried to shift directions. “You are mine now. I suggest you deal with your predicament in smarter ways than fighting like a drunkard or shouting like a little banshee.”

This is how I die. He found his eyes misting again as the female’s tail smacked him roughly to continue down into the dark confines of her cave. It was only like that for a short portion. A glow came from inside the cave thanks to the glowing algae on the walls that painted the dark stone with a soft turquoise light. They did not stop as he felt another smack of her tail along with a growl that escaped her throat.

“Don't think about escaping.” She pulled him again with her tail. “I have some dragons that are very eager to meet you, little hunter.”

“For the thousandth time, I am not a hunter! How many times do I have to say it? You’re right! I’m not a warrior!” He shouted out, causing her to turn to him with a great big snarl.

“That remains to be seen.” She held her head up as they came to what looked like a large room of stone spikes jutting from the floor. On the opposite side of this open space was a rather soft looking nest laid out in a circular shape.

Arcturus' eyes widened at what lay inside the nest. There were three little bronze scaled hatchlings, all huddled together, shivering and whispering to one another when they strolled over. He felt the female's tail leave him as she bound towards her little offspring.

“Momma!” they all cried in unison as she began to lick and nuzzle them with an affection Arcturus never witnessed before. The hatchlings bounded around her legs, grabbed at her scales with their tiny paws, all to get their share of attention. A bleak smile forced Arcturus’ lips to move slightly. He was almost certain Howling Storm had forgotten about him completely now that she had been reunited with her children.

Maybe I can hide and avoid getting fed to her little monsters. Arcturus quickly bolted to hide behind one of the stone spikes that grew from the ground, peeking out for a few moments as he watched the bronze mother continue to purr and pull her offspring close against her. She fell back with them clutched in her limbs, laughing as her wings hit the back of her nest. He could not make out what she was saying, as the only sounds escaping her maw were snarling, hissing, or growling noises. It could only be described as cute as she touched her hatchling's snouts, licked their cheeks and nuzzled their little bodies.  She continued this up for several minutes more before carefully picking them off of her one by one and setting them on the cavern floor. It was when she shot her snout right in his direction that he noticed his hiding place had not been as useful as he imagined.

She advanced on him, looking like a great predatory cat as Arcturus scrambled backwards away from her. His heart threatened to burst out as she quickly closed the distance, and cut off his escape with her tail.

“You will be staying for dinner, little human.”

He gulped as he turned around to face the imposing dragoness. “Don't eat me!” he screamed out, tears filling his eyes as he begged. “I'm sorry for stabbing you! I'm sorry for speaking bad things of dragons. Please just don’t eat me!”

“Grrrah you are exasperating! I am not going to eat you.” She snorted, “What I am going to do is hunt something that will fill my belly after the warm reception your family gave me.” She thrust a talon right between his eyes. “You are to stay here with my hatchings. If I catch even a single scale of theirs out place I will start assuming things you don’t even want me to think about. Then I will personally eat you, letting you experience digestion while still being alive. Got it?” She snarled loudly, snapping her jaws right in front of his face, causing the frightened boy to yelp.

“Y-yes!” He collapsed onto all fours as he hung his head.  He only rose it when she had made her way out of the cavern and up the rocky path. He was left alone to look at three sets of green eyes staring at him from the nest.

Great…now I have them to deal with. Arcturus scrambled back towards his protective spikes as he saw three tails swish back and forth behind them. The little dragons started to whisper in those same growls and hisses to one another. He thought he saw them shiver, and crouch low to avoid his gaze, although he pushed that thought from his mind. Why would they have to be afraid of him? He was the one who had been captured by the deceitful dragoness and was going to be on the evening menu for sure if she returned empty handed. He imagined himself as an appetizer or possibly a snack after they feasted on whatever she brought back.

Arcturus waited among those cold stone spikes for a time lost to him as he just continued to glare out in terror at the little hatchlings looking to him from the nest. He finally devolved into small whimpers as he hugged his knees and looked away. If only he had listened to his father, if only he was not stupid enough to fall for her lies. He might still be back in his tent inside his bed under the covers, instead of on a cold stone floor about to be fed to her hatchlings. Sure. She said she was not going to eat him, but she had already lied once to him. What difference did it make if she lied to him now? He shivered and hugged himself tighter when he heard the sounds of Howling Tempest's claws against the stone as she returned into the cavern.

Howling Tempest had in her jaws the scruff of a large stag hanging limply. Her bronze scales were painted in a thin layer of red that made Arcturus shiver at the thought of what she would do to him. Her eyes went to her hatchlings, and then straight to him. It felt like she was piercing into his soul as her eyes narrowed. It caused him to crouch lower and hug the stone spike as the female made her way over to her offspring and set down the animal a few feet away from the nest. She spoke to the little dragons with the same hisses and growls, getting little pleased sounds back. Like little rumbling purrs or chirping noises like the gryphons made.

Arcturus’ mouth dropped in horror as the female ripped into the stag, pulling it apart in one great tug, painting the stone beneath it in dark crimson ooze. As if on cue the little ones grabbed hold of sections of the stag with their little teeth and started to rip and tear just like their mother had done, chomping away happily as their little snouts started to resemble that of red dragons instead of bronze. '

Arcturus almost vomited as he continued to watch. The sounds of flesh ripping, snouts chewing, and the feasting lingered in his mind like a thick haze you couldn’t get rid of. Despite how disgusted he was of what was happening he could not look away from them. To his surprise something else happened in this feeding frenzy of blood. The dragoness was acting very loving to them. Her saw her lick their snouts once or twice to make sure they were not splattered in the blood of the deceased stag. She would cut out sections with her onyx claws and hand them over to her hatchlings. Arcturus was not familiar with sections of the animal, but it occurred to him she might be offering them the best parts to them. This continued until there was only a small section of the stag left. All three hatchlings were purring as they pressed up against their mother as she licked each one in turn from snout to tail, until not a single drop of blood sullied their little scaled bodies.

“Are you going to come out from your hiding spot, fierce, brave Arcturus?” Howling Tempest looked up with a smile, licking her snout with what Arcturus painted as satisfaction. “You’re not doing a good job at hiding, so I suggest you come over and grab this last piece of stag. For me, it is insignificant, but to you, this is very much life, unless you prefer to clutch your growling stomach through the night.”

Did she want him to feed it to her little ones? He took a step out as she growled her instructions again. He sheepishly walked over towards the family of dragons. What choice did he have? She could just snatch him up whenever she wanted, and feed him to her hatchling whenever she wanted. Without a word he hung his head and sat down before them. “What is it you want me to do before you eat me?” He shut his eyes tight, and fought off the sob.

“Eat you?” her voice devolved into growling laughter. “It’s the third time I have to explain that and you...Oh…I see what the problem is.”

Arcturus opened his eyes to see that her snout was wrinkled up like she was going to sneeze.

“Since I snatched you, you think I am still lying to you.” She lowered her snout as he hatchlings dove under her. “I have a family like I said. My mate is not here for the reason I mentioned in our earlier conversation. To say I lied to you is an overstatement.”

“A what?” Arcturus frowned. “You took me from my home!”

“Yes, for reasons you made me painfully aware of. If your hunters come looking for me, I can make a deal with them. Your life in exchange for the lives of my hatchlings.”

“That’s what I am? A pawn?”

“An insurance for a day that hopefully won’t come. Now please relax. I am not feeding you to my hatchlings, nor am I eating you.” She gestured to the bloody mess of the stag. “I figured you were hungry, and since you were kind enough to feed me during my captivity, I thought it best to return the favor.”

Feed him? He looked back to the stag, trying to not vomit as he looked to the ragged bits of flesh left still on the corpse. “I…that’s not…I can't eat raw meat. It makes humans sick.”

“Oh, that.” She said flatly. “I forgot you mortals don't have strong stomachs in that regard.” She reached down with a talon to cut out a section of the stag for him. She made several quick and precise cuts with her talons. Arcturus watched and imagined what those things could do to armor, or even her enemies if she wanted to really hurt someone. “Here,” she held up another paw, and with a simple touch the meat started to change color from the dark red to a well-cooked brown. “Simple bit of magic, and you have yourself a cooked piece of stag that you can hopefully digest.”

He felt his stomach rumble, like wolves were ripping at his insides. When the dragoness lowered the meat he grabbed hold of it with his hands, the juices leaking right onto and through his fingers. He wrinkled his brow at the thought of getting so dirty, but he was hungry, and the piece was not that hot to the touch. He took a bite as he saw her, along with the three sets of eyes watch his feeding. It was not the tastiest meat, he took it as the spell did that bit of work. However, he politely chewed, swallowed, and offered a pleasing sounding. “Mmmmm.”

The dragoness gave him a pleased trilling noise as he continued to gobble up the meat she had provided, and when he was finished he set it aside with the stag, patting his belly as he did so. “That hit the spot. Thank you for being...well, like this, and sorry for my behavior. After you captured me I jumped to the worst conclusions and eeeeeep!”

He was greeted by her slimy tongue as she licked across his face. The warm organ bathed him in dragon saliva in the same sloppy way it cleaned the hatchlings. “H-Hey!” he tried to protest, but she insisted. He tried to push her away at first, finding it disgusting and a bit weird for her to be doing it. But then it occurred to him -as she continued his assault on him with her tongue- that she was doing it to him like she had done with her hatchlings, so he stopped resisting and let her work. It was hard to describe what the tumultuous feelings that coursed through his body were as she licked across his brow, across his neck, and eventually all over his clothes. It felt like he was one of her offspring, and could feel the caring nature she held within her heart through each one of her tender licks. He even found himself after the first minute of her grooming liking the sensation. He even felt a pang of disappointment when she licked her nose and pulled away from him.

“There now. You are clean, just like the rest of my little ones.”

Arcturus mumbled his gratitude when the shrilling voice of a hatchling startled him.

“Story momma!” The little male jumped on her right forelimb, rustling his little frills that looked like his mother's, except he bore a dark red strike at the base.

“Yes! Tell us story!” Came the voice of another one, clearly a female with a yellow stripe.

“Please?” the last one bounded over, another male with a blue stripe. He nudged and pushed the others out of the way as all three snouts looked to her expectantly.

“Story! Story! Story!” the three hatchlings chanted in unison. They tapped their tails against the stone, refolded their wings against their backs, and at times clacked their little charcoal talons together.

Arcturus felt a smile come to his face from that display and let out a small gasp as suddenly a larger bronze tail pushed him to sit with the little bronze hatchlings. “Whoa…” he went to protest only to be silenced when she started speaking in a loud and booming voice.

“This is not a story per say little ones, but a statement of facts.” She lowered her snout to each one of them in turn, including Arcturus. She lingered for a few moments on him, her eyes looking tired and pained as she began to speak again. “We are leaving this home, these lands, and everything they offer behind.” She rose her head to gaze out to the way out of her cave. “I will take my clutch far from Lumara, away from the clutches of a despot who kills dragons based on nothing but lies.”

Arcturus was about to ask a question about this. His king killing dragons based on lies? Was the man just like father in that regard? Lumping the bad deeds of dragons in with all of them? Before he spoke however she carried on.

“Your king would rather kill us based on numerous small offenses. Theft of animals, trespassing on his land.” She snorted, “He spews such horrendous nonsense. As if all of us were murdering monsters of old. As if all of us kidnap mortals, eat them, or destroy your villages. All we want is a patch of land to call our own, peace to raise our hatchlings, and freedom to soar along the sky. Surely that should not doom a whole species to death. Gryphons are not targeted for extermination as far as I know.”

Arcturus said nothing as she continued telling her tale about the king's misdeeds towards her kind. Several more dragons that had been killed with nothing more than minor crimes, or some that had done nothing at all. It was a rather difficult thing to stomach on such a strange night, but with the conviction of her words and the honesty blazing in her eyes, Arcturus found himself believing every word that was coming out of her maw. He was even deeply saddened when he heard a story of hatchlings that were stoned to death by an angry mob of mortals, because they thought the little dragons were associated with a villainous monster that had lurked within their hills in ages past. He watched as her own hatchlings shivered at the story, quickly bounding under her wings. They even pressed themselves against her with little whining noises.

Arcturus felt his heart start to ache as she wrapped her wing around them, whispering soothing sounds to them, and nuzzling their little snouts. It made him long for his mother's touch, and to hear her words once again grace his ears.

With her tale about the state of dragon kind finished, she brought her little ones back into her nest, laying down and having them cuddle against her in one pile of striking bronze scales. She wrapped one wing around them and just looked up to Arcturus, then opened her other wing. Howling Tempest gestured to it with her snout. “Come and slumber with us. My wings and scales are much warmer than the cold floor, and much more comfortable.”

Arcturus looked to the dark stone, then back to the expectant female dragon that had fed him, shared tales, and licked him in the same affectionate way she treated her hatchlings with. He shivered from the cold air of the night before scampering over to her. Once there, Arcturus lowered himself into her warm embrace. He felt her wrap a forelimb around him, followed by her wing. It was rather warm, pleasant, and the comfort of being protected by such a powerful creature made him want to sink further into her grasp. He closed his eyes, sighing at the pleasant heat exuded by her body and the pleasant comfort of her scales. Arcturus realized that with her breaths, and steady thumping of her heart, he felt at peace. With a final exhale, the young boy left his dreams take him away upon the ethereal winds of a realm where he too could soar upon the sky like a dragon.

* * * * * * * * * *

Arcturus sat down on the grassy land that grew near the mouth of the cave’s entrance. The sun hung in the air, sending its warm rays to bathe the human in its pleasing embrace. He took a deep breath, taking in the smell of the ocean lingering in the air. With a sigh he looked out to the surrounding forest, with tall trees that bore the darkest bark and greens of every variety sprinkled in their leaves. Howling Tempest had allowed him to venture this far from her cave, yet he was still being forbidden to leave. With a sigh he realized that despite her warmth, pleasing touch, and food, he was very much still her captive. He wondered how long it would take until someone from his clan came looking for him. How long until this place was swarming with dragon hunters of all kinds. How long until this family of dragons would lay dead.

His attention was drawn to a section of large rocks scattered around the grassy field. Like stone monoliths, they rose from the earth in a formation that reminded Arcturus' of teeth in a dragon's snout. The three hatchlings were climbing the tall stone, leaping from top to top with little growls as their talons dug into the stone each time they would catch hold of their destination. The activity repeated several times until the hatchling with the red striped talons did not find purchase. The hatchling kicked frantically for support, then fell with a yelp of surprise, landing right onto his wings. When the dragon stood up, he went to stretch his left wing, but suddenly stopped, let out a pained whimper, wincing at the stiff pain that rendered his wing immobile.

The human hesitated for a moment as he watched the dragon try to move his wing several times, only for the dragon to have the same reaction as before. With the latest bit of whining Arcturus  could not fight the impulse to help somebody in need any longer. He ran a hand along the leather strap of his pack, and strode over to the little dragons, who parted away from their brother. He saw their eyes look to him with fear, as if he was going to kill them and turn them into belts or boots. Even the red striped one tried to get away, but Arcturus offered a soothing sound like their mother had done. This caused the hatchling to cease his struggles for just long enough for Arcturus to grab the limb that was troubling the dragon such.

He felt his way along the smooth scales, much softer than the female’s. The hatchling’s armor felt like leathery plates rather than solid material. With the next pass of his hand he saw the hatchling close his eyes and offer a whine. It did not appear that anything was broken. Arcturus's eyes traced along the limb as the little dragon tried to pull it away from him. It was then when he remembered having something similar when he was smaller.

“Your wing is dislocated.” Arcturus said softly, patting the dragon's scales gently. “I can fix it...but it might hurt for a moment. Try to be strong, ok?”

The dragon nodded without a word, looking up to him with emerald eyes full of worry.

“Alright. Ready?” He asked, paying no mind to the other two snouts that descended on his hands, curious on what he was going to do. “One…two…three!” He shoved the limb back into the socket with a small yelp of pain from the red striped hatchling.

“There. The worst part is over.” Arcturus retracted his hands and dusted them off, a smile coming to his face as the little dragon rose to all fours and started bounding around with a smile on his snout. He opened and closed his wings several times, letting out a little happy roar.

“My wing feels right again. You were right!” the hatchling said, stopping to stare at the boy that fixed his wing, tail flicking eagerly behind him.

“Thank you!” the female hatchling nudged him with her snout, an act that caused him to push back against her, laughing.

“It was no problem, really. I could have been faster, but I had to feel my way around the wing to be sure, cause I just couldn't see....um...that bone that connects the wing to the back. It’s called…uhhh, it’s the…I forgot the name, but maybe you can help me? Uhhh…” Arcturus slapped his face with his palm. He wanted to feel heroic, yet instead all he did was embarrass himself further. He gestured to the dragon he had helped, too shy to even ask the hatchling’s name.

“I am Xervir!” The red striped hatchling proclaimed, slinking over and nudging the human, running his scales over his clothes.  “Thanks again for the wing fix you did. It feels so much better now!” the hatchling looked over to his siblings, his eyes no longer filled with fear, or worry, but full of mischief. “Do you play games, human?”

“Arcturus.” he said with a laugh.

“What kind of game is Arcturus?” the yellow striped female asked, tilting her head to the side, and ruffling her wings. “Does it involve wings or tails?” she opened up her left wing and gestured to the soft membranes.

“No…that’s my name.” Arcturus chuckled, thumbing his chest.

“That can't be a name.” The blue striped hatchling replied, licking his jaws like his mother did. “You look more like a Zenthyn.” the dragon nodded. “Yup, most definitely a Zenthyn.”

“I agree.” Xervir laughed. “It suits you much better than this weird name you claim to have.” The hatchling sat down onto is haunches, his snout tracing along Arcturus' clothes, until his gaze fell onto the sack that he had.

“I don't know about Zenthyn...” the yellow striped hatchling suddenly put both of her forelimbs up on the human as she moved her snout ever so close to his face. “I think.... he looks exactly like a....like...mmrrrrr.” She gave a quick giggle before suddenly licking him across the face and scampering away. “I'd say an Ordis.”

“Hey! That’s not fair!” Arcturus wiped away the slimy strand of saliva.

“You have to be faster than that, Ordis!” The female leaped around happily.

“Ordis?” Xervir asked, turning to his sister and baring his teeth. “That is a stupid name for a healer!”

“It's better than spell-wrangling Zenthyn.” she rolled her eyes and swished her tail, hitting the grass. “Right Arcturus? Ordis is a much better name, right? You don’t look like a wizard at all.”

Arcturus nodded with a laugh, causing the two male hatchlings to pout and glare at their sister, who was just smiling and puffing out her chest.

“See? My name the human prefers.” She strode over to sit beside him, scooching close, and looking up to him. “Ordis here is on my team from now.”

“Your team?” Arcturus chuckled nervously, concerned he had just entered a game he did not understand.

“Does he have any weaknesses?” Xervir asked, his snout getting close to sniff at his clothes. “Well…your scales are really soft...I bet you’re ticklish like our wings!”

“Your wings are ticklish?” Arcturus laughed, causing Xervir's eyes to widen.

“N-no.” the dragon backed away from him, folding his wings closer against his back. “Mrrr...no… of course not. Why would they be ticklish? Dragon’s can’t be tickled.” Xervir looked away as if he did not care. “That would just be silly...right?” The dragon than snapped his gaze back towards him with a smile. “Get him! Let's find out human tickle spots!”

“Hey!” Arcturus managed to shout out before he was suddenly bombarded and tackled over by three eager hatchlings. He laughed out as their little claws raked across his skin, one or two piercing into his skin by accident, but he paid it no mind as Xervir found by licking his neck that he recoiled with laughter.

“His neck is ticklish!” the dragon proclaimed to the other two roaming snouts as Arcturus desperately tried to push them away.

The human reached out with his fingers through the bouts of shrieking laugher coursing through his chest. The dragons did not relent for a moment, as one found the back of his leg made his entire body spasm and giggle without care. His eyes began to tear up as the dragons continued their tickling, until his fingers found Xervir's wing membranes. It was then when Arcturus wiggled his fingers. A wave of accomplishment surged through him as the dragon suddenly fell backwards with cackling laughter, causing the other two to suddenly stop.

“Get him!” Arcturus gasped out, pointing to the dragon, hoping his siblings would join in as he began to tickle the dragon on the ground. He was pleased when they both joined him with their snouts and claws as they ran them along Xervir's soft membranes. “Go go go! Show him no mercy! Give no pause to your assault!” Arcturus ordered with the gruff voice of an army commander, delighting in the dragon's whines, his cute small kicks, and his smile as he cackled into the morning air.

“Nooo! S-ssssstop! I’m not…you shouldn’t-” He shouted out, his tail wiggling under their assault.. “Raawwwwaaaaaahhhh I’m not the enemy!”

“WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS?” came the loud booming voice of their mother. Arcturus and the others grew silent as they unwound themselves from one another as she strode over with powerful steps, her tail swishing back in forth, and her eyes full of anger. “What were you all doing together?”

“We were playing with Arcturus here.” Xervir rolled over on his belly, refolding his wings. “They all then ganged up on me to tickle my poor wings with-”

“WHY ARE YOU PLAYING WITH THE HUNTER?”

“Hunter? But I wasn’t-“

“Shut your snout, human. I heard what you said about assault. You want to poison my hatchlings with the vile things you learned from your family?” She snapped her mouth at him, thrashing her tail, and growling from her throat. “I have you here in my clutches, under my roof. That does not give you the right to play with my hatchlings. I have not forgotten what your family has done, and keeps on doing.”

Arcturus looked to the others as she continued to scold them, their little snouts drooping as her chastising words sank in through harsh growls.

Arcturus’ eyes began to mist up. Was this how his life was going to be from now? To be the puppet of this dragoness? Get shouted at? To be berated, snarled at? To be tossed in with his father’s hatred? He could not help being who he was: a kind, cheerful boy who never dreamed of harming these hatchlings.

“I…wasn’t…trying to…” Arcturus turned his head back to the female to sniffle by himself. Tears began to stream down his face as he lowered himself to all fours and began to cry in earnest.

He suddenly heard her stop her snarls, growls, and reprimands. He felt her snout press onto his back, and she let out a warm puff of air through his ruffling hair.

“What moves you to tears, little one? Was I too harsh?”

“It’s…” Arcturus sniffled. “It’s that...You welcomed me under your wing last night.” He lifted his head, the tears still coming down his cheeks. “And now you snarl, hit, shout…And when I have a little fun you break it up and yell at them.” He wiped his eye with a sleeve, sniffing. “Why can't I play with the hatchlings? I swear I don’t want to hurt them! I thought…I thought we are friends. We were having so much fun together…”

“Yea!” Xervir went to speak but was silenced quickly by his mother’s claw.

“Because, little human, we cannot ignore the truth. You belong to the Lu-“ Her eyes then widened before him as she froze in place. The only movement she was making was her tail wagging back and forth, and her chest rising and falling with her breaths. She then lowered her snout and averted her gaze. “By Bahamut's grace, I have been most unwise.” She turned away, her tail wrapping around the boy and pulling him towards her.

“Hatchlings...continue to play.” She turned back to her offspring, offering them a warm smile. “I am sorry about my outburst. Continue to have fun together. I will return the human shortly...I just need to talk to him a bit.”

Arcturus wondered what she wanted to talk to him about, but quickly scampered after her when the little dragons all nodded to her and resumed their wrestling match with one another. He followed Howling Tempest for a few more minutes, until she turned around, sat down on her haunches and patted a spot on the ground by her tail.

“Sit here with me, Arcturus.” She said softly. “Please.” Her voice softened even more. Arcturus saw her eyes fill  with the same fond-ness she had shown to her hatchlings. How could he resist? He took a seat within the curled confines of her tail, and she gently pulled him closer and brought her snout close to his face. “I...am sorry for stealing you from your home against your will.” She said after a long sigh. “I only wanted to make sure I could get away without you raising the alarm.”

“But I was the one who-”

She silenced him with a talon softly pressed against his lips. “You are a sweet boy, Arcturus, but I never fully trusted you. Your family name still blinded me from seeing the truth.” She pulled away to show him her paw. There was still a dark red mark on the underside, where his dagger had found purchase. “Perhaps you would not have been so terrified to lash back at me if I unveiled my plan. I realize that was my mistake.” She sighed again before returning her snout to his face. “Can you forgive me?”

“I'm sorry for stabbing you.” He quickly replied, ignoring her question as his eyes returned to her paw. “I was so scared…”

“I know.” She licked him across the face. “It was not your fault, and truthfully I admired your courage. That, despite being placed in such a dire situation, you chose to fight your way out. You held your head high and stood your ground against me even if you had no hope of winning.” She chuckled and nuzzled him gently with her snout. “It was a very dragon thing to do, little human.”

Arcturus touched her enormous snout and held it close to his face when her words came to a stop. Then, he pressed his head gently against hers, sighing under her warm embrace, and her soothing breath. “So what happens now?” he asked softly, a sense of disappointment running through him when she rose her snout above him to look back to her hatchlings. They were still rolling in the grass with a series of growls when she called out in the same tongue.

The three hatchlings suddenly stopped and quickly scampered over with blinding speed, until they were right beside their mother's tail, paws pressed against the scales, and little snouts close to Arcturus with smiles and grins.

“I think I would like you to meet my children.” She smiled, “properly, this time.”

“He already knows my name!” Xervir shouted, puffing out his chest and thrusting a wing talon in his direction. “He relocated my wing when it came out!”

“He did?” she smiled to the dragon, and licking him, causing Xervir to giggle out. “That is a most helpful human to have!”

“Uh-huh. He is a very good healer. Then we played wrestling, and I found out he’s even more ticklish than us!” Xervir than wrinkled his snout and glared at Arcturus. “And then he recruited Briva, and Emmess against me.”

Howling Tempest just chuckled, pointing to Xervir. “This little bundle of joy is Xervir.” She then brought her snout over to the yellow striped hatchling, and licked along her spine, causing the little one to laugh in return. “And this one is named Emmess.” The dragoness did the same thing to the navy striped hatchling, who turned to smack her snout playfully in an attempt to thwart of her assault of affectionate licks. “And lastly, this one is Briva.”

“Hi...I am Arcturus, and I am not a game,” he laughed, waving to the smiling hatchlings.

“So...” Xervir rose his head up to his mother, followed by the others joining beside him. “Can we play with him? Please?”

“Please mother?” Emmess added, tapping her paw against her mother's scales. “We promise to not hurt him! Well...” She looked to the tiny scratches on his skin. “Besides scratches, but those were accidents! Honest!” Emmess' tail wagged like a blur behind her as she spoke.

Howling Tempest's grin only got bigger as her eyes went to Arcturus, then back to the hatchlings who seemed to be bouncing on their paws as they waited her response. “He is all yours, little ones. Try to be gentle. He does not have the resilient scales we bear.”

“Hey, that is not true. I have clothes and-and I’m more than capable of handling a couple of dragonlings!” Arcturus suddenly exclaimed.

“Oh really?” the dragoness inched her snout close to his confident face. “Guess we’re about to see if you are indeed as strong as you say. Get him!”

The little dragons growled heartily. They leaped on the human at the same time, once again tackling him with laughter and soft paws.

“Got you now human!” Briva shouted out, giving a little growl in the back of his throat.

“Go for his tail, Ordis!” Emmess cackled as she fought Xervir away with her tickling talons. “That is his tickle spot!”

“On it!” Arcturus wrestled with the navy stiped hatchling, who now squirmed to get himself free when the human’s deft fingers descended onto his tail.

“No! You won’t get my tail healer!” Briva kicked back with his hind leg, knocking Arcturus back onto his butt, allowing the hatchling to bound away with laughter. “You can’t catch me, Ordis!”

How could he resist a challenge like that? Arcturus pulled himself free, letting Emmess keep Xervir pinned to the ground with her tickling attacks as Howling Tempest watched over them. The thought occurred to him, that she was watching over them all. Like...they were all one big family...and he was part of it.

Need to focus. No time for thinking! Arcturus shook his head and chased after the hatchling, who cackled and leaped around in glee.

Arcturus spent the rest of the day with the hatchlings as they practiced tag with one another even if that game always ended with the hatchlings turning on him and tackling him once more to the ground with a series of laughter. They then explored the surrounding forests, although every so often when they would look around, he would see that Howling Tempest was always nearby like a sentinel, ever watching. He smiled at her diligence each time, and would go back to following the scampering little dragons through bushes, plants, flowers…he even joined them by rolling in a large field full of grass. They all ended that little play on their backs, looking into the sky. Arcturus pointed out clouds to them, and asked them what they saw. They all would reply with food, animals, or other dragons in flight. He was having so much fun with them he did not keep track of the time, and it felt like the day had passed in a blink of an eye. The sun was already sinking below the mountains in the distance, basking the land in the pleasant fiery caress of a gentle flame.

Arcturus sat outside the cave’s entrance, with all three hatchlings pressed up against him. He giggled as he put his arms around the scaly bunch. He figured if anyone were to come see it would look like the dragons had adopted him right into their little clutch. Arcturus fought off another wrestling match that had started when Emmess had poked Bravis on his snout with her paw, laughing the entire time as he assisted his teammate in the affair. He thought back to his time with his own family, the grueling training, the demands of his overly exigent father, and the hatred he was trying to impart onto his son. With a sigh, Arcturus caressed the dragons as they all piled on top of him in a giant hug of affection. Their scales warmed him up to the very core of his being. How could his father be so wrong about such a magnificent species? Dragons were not all evil like he had said. Part of him wished to stay with this family forever, for how bad could it really be?

He ate again alongside them when Howling Tempest brought back another meal for them to eat. She cut him off a section and used the same magic to cook the meat as her hatchlings worked away with little rips and tears. Arcturus diverted his eyes from the grisly work as he chomped away at his own food. When that was finished it was another round of licks from their mother dragon, to which Arcturus found himself laughing, not minding the shower of saliva in the slightest. His reaction even caused Howling Tempest to pull her snout away with a rumbling pleased noise from her throat.

“You seem to have adjusted quite well.” She looked up fondly to her hatchlings that had started to yawn and cuddle against one another. “They seem to adore you. I wish their interactions with mortals were always this nice.” She gave him one last lick before retreating to her nest. The dragoness nestled herself into the nest as the hatchlings bounded for her, and wiggled under her wing.

“Come on, Ordis! Sleep here where it’s warm.” Bravis squeaked, waving him over with a yawn.

Arcturus looked up to Howling Tempest's smile, then to the three hatchlings looking to him with smiles, and expectant eyes. How could he resist? He leaped into the collection of scales, and sighed as they all squirmed and packed themselves around him tightly. He closed his eyes from the feeling of content he felt, and when Howling Tempest's wing wrapped around them all, he truly felt like one of her clutch.

* * * * * * * * * * *

“Come on, wake up.”

Arcturus felt a warm snout press against him, causing his arms to raise and grab hold of warm scales. With his eyes still closed, the boy unleashed a satisfied sigh. He was still in the warm embrace of his new family. Nothing had changed.

It wasn’t a dream.

Arcturus was so relaxed now that he almost felt like dreaming. The pleasing feeling of all the hatchlings still cuddled with him, the warmth from the dragoness they were snuggle against. He could not bring himself to move away from such serenity.

“You have to get up ,Arcturus.” The dragoness nosed him again, a tad more forceful than before. The last poke caused him to open his eyes as the three hatchlings scampered off of him with little whimpers of dissatisfaction.

Arcturus rolled off the dragoness and stretched his limbs with a yawn. That had been one of the best sleeps of his life. Sleeping under a dragon’s wing was surprisingly warmer than his ben, and even more comfortable. He found himself looking back to her stretching form, wishing to be back within her embrace. To be held so lovingly as he slept. It reminded him of his own mother. He wondered what today held in store for him. Would they get a chance to explore the land again? Would they fly with the mother in the sky? Would she take him with her when she went to leave this place? His eyes widened when he realized he did not mind the last option at all.

I can live amongst dragons, Arcturus’ fascination rose the more he pondered on this. I can fly with them, learn so much. And the best thing is I never have to hold a sword in my life ever again!

He could be a painter, selling off beautiful depictions of the dragons he’d encounter at various markets to people who found dragons equally captivating. Maybe even change a village’s whole perceptions of dragons. How would his father feel then, when he, Arcturus Lund, would make the world love dragons instead?

The boy’s little heart all but fluttered at the beautiful images his optimistic mind could conjure.

“You have to go home this morning.” Howling Tempest said softly as she noticed his stare. “We are leaving, and you cannot stay with us.”

Arcturus’ dreams all came crashing down upon hearing those words.

“Wh-what?” he blinked, unsure if he heard that correctly.

“I have to take you back to your real home, Arcturus. Please. Don’t make this more difficult than it is. It’s…hard for me to part ways so soon after…” she sighed and looked to the cavern walls.

“B-but, you can’t do that!” Arcturus protested as his heart sank into a shadowy pit of disappointment. “I don't want to go back home! I have all the training, the testing, the expectations, and then there’s my father who wants to kill all of you!”

“Nonetheless, it is where you belong, little one.” She lowered her snout, her eyes not daring to look him in the eye. “I want to keep you here with us, but your family is big and powerful. They would send out scouts to track us down, then parties, whole squads…there would not be a single place in the world where they would not hunt us, and I don't wish to put my family in that kind of danger.”

“But they won’t find me! Can't you just take me with you and fly away?” He asked, tears starting to form in his eyes as the little hatchlings all gathered around him.

“Can't we keep him, Mother?” Xervir asked. “We will take good care of him!”

“Make sure he gets fed!” Bravis added with a smile.

“Ordis is not some pet to keep around.” Emmess rolled her eyes, pressing herself up against Arcturus with a purr. “I'd like him as a brother. Who wants to adopt him?” She raised her paw, followed by the others doing the same thing with a bout of laughter.

“Please...I don't want to be like my father, blinded by hate. I don't want to be a killer, I don't want to murder dragons!” the tears stung his eyes now, rolling down his cheeks as he collapsed. The three hatchlings wrapped themselves around him as Howling Storm lowered her snout to him and gave him one long lick across his face.  Arcturus sniffed, and with blurry eyes saw that she too had tears in her amber eyes.

“I wish I could take you with us Arcturus. You are different from your kin, you have a fair heart. One that allowed you to cast off your father’s words and free me. Thanks to you I am not dead, and my family is reformed. I will always be grateful for your deeds.” She gave him another lick across his cheek. “But I cannot take you, for your father would hunt us to the end of the earth, slaying us for taking his son away from him.” She nuzzled him next, pressing her warm scales against him. “If I do not take you we have a chance.... I am sorry Arcturus...know I truly wish to take you away...and I truly wish to make you one of my own, but…” She pulled her head away, wiping the tears from her bronze cheeks. “The only thing I can give you now is my name. Rasionynth.”

“Rays…ion..ynth.” Arcturus stumbled with the words, trying several times but failing at each one. “What good is a name to me if I can’t come with you guys? Can…” Arcturus wiped the tears from his eyes. “Can’t I call you Howling Storm? It’s the first name you gave me when…when we became friends.”

“You may, little one. But I would keep saying my real one…practice makes perfect after all.” She licked him one more time as he wiped away his tears. “Now come...I wish to show you something.” She rose up and guided all four of them to one of the cavern walls.

Arcturus looked up to the grey stone, finding something that once again surprised him. Along the wall were pictures of all sorts, drawn it seemed with a claw of some kind. Most were at the same level of the hatchlings. These drawings were of things like trees, animals, the sun, the water, little stick figures for humans. He looked to the hatchlings that were on their haunches, tails wagging with big smiles as they admired their handiwork.

“Here.” Rasionynth rose her claw and dragged it along the stone swiftly, drawing shape for a human, and three little shapes for her wrymlings. He could tell by the little wings and smiles on their snouts. Lastly she drew a bigger dragon around them all, with her tail curled around their playing form. “Now...no matter where we go...part of you will remain here, with us, in the same place we called home.”

Arcturus approached the stone carefully, running a hand along the surface. The shapes were rudimentary, lacking the refinement he displayed with the brush, yet the gesture touched him deeply. Howling Storm drew art for him, same way he did for her shortly after they met. He felt more tears come to his eyes as the pain in his heart grew at such touching gesture. “I…it’s beautiful,” Arcturus sniffled. “Please…take me with you. We can do so many things together. I can teach you how to draw with the brush, and-and color the sketches. It doesn’t have to end like this, please, I don't want to go back!” He looked up to the dragoness, whose amber eyes started leaking honest tears.

“I know.” She picked him up gently with her paws, and pulled him against her warm scaled chest. “And it kills me to let such a fine painter go.” She wrapped her head around him, and pulled him tighter against her, as he felt her body began to shiver. They stayed like this for a moment before he was set down against the stone. “Well...” She looked up to the exit. “We should be off then. Get close enough to Drenedar before your family’s scouts spot us.”

Arcturus nodded. He had to be a man. If he truly cared about these dragons, he had to let them go.

Putting the stern look of a warrior, Arcturus went to follow her as she strode right past him with a swish of her tail and clacking of talons on stone. He stopped however after several steps, an idea forming to his mind as he remembered his pack. “Wait!” he shouted out, throwing his pack onto the ground.

“What is it?” Rasionynth turned around, tilting her head to the side.

“I know a way to keep you with me as well.” He pulled out a small journal that he always kept in his pack. With a leather cover, and a belted binding, the book was as fine as it could get. He set it on the cavern floor and pulled out his vial of ink. “You just have to let me put ink on your paw, and you can press it against the pages here.” he smiled to the hatchlings and gestured to the vellum.

“Mama, can we get our paws dirty for Ordis?” Emmess looked up to her, her eyes misting. “I want to play with him one last time before…”

“You may.” the dragoness nodded, causing all three of the hatchlings to cheer in joy.

One by one he helped them get their right front paws covered in black ink, then letting them press it against the paper. They giggled about how cold the ink was, and each dragon felt the need to press their snout against the vellum and sniff their handiwork. Arcturus finished off their art with a signing of their name right below the paw marks. When the task was finished they all followed Rasionynth out of the cavern and into the morning light.

There was a slight fog in the air that made the surrounding countryside look lost in a sea of murky white. Arcturus took a deep breath of the crisp air, sighing as he was reminded would soon be full of horses, gryphons, and the smell of dragon hunter families. He turned to the hatchlings, who bound to him and wrapped him up with their wings. Each one had tears in their little emerald eyes as they all wished him a farewell.

“You will see us again at some point, right?” Bravis asked, his head drooping.

“Please mother, will he see us again?” Emmess looked up to the dragoness with expectant eyes. Her tail twitched slightly.

“I…do not know where out next home will be.” She sighed, “But I think Drenedar is a fine place to settle. I heard of a blue dragon that might help us there who goes by the title of Swirling Storm if my memory serves.”

Emmess looked back to Arcturus and licked him gently across his face. “You hear that, Ordis? Just look for this Swirling Storm one day.” She nuzzled him with her snout. “Find him, and we can be a clutch again!”

“I will…one day…” Arcturus ruffled her frill with his hands, tears still in his eyes as he wished them all goodbye. When Rasionynth picked him up and brought him into the sky, he never thought it would have been as hard as it was to say his farewells. He started to cry once more as he pressed his face against her scales, wishing to be held within her forelimbs forever, and never go back to the family of hate that he was bound to.

* * * * * * * * * *

Rasionynth settled him down within a mile of the fairgrounds. She made sure to keep low to the ground and hug the trees as she flew. When she said her goodbyes she did so with tears, licks, nuzzles, and hugs. “Remember to keep your heart true, Arcturus.” She licked him one more time across his face like he was one of her hatchlings. “And if you want to be a knight, to protect instead of punishing...you go be a knight.”

He nodded, caressing her scales one last time. “Good bye Ra...sionynth.”

“May the summer winds lead you into a life of prosperity, Arcturus.” Rasionynth spread her wings, and with a mighty flap, the majestic dragon was gone, her shining scales soon disappearing, leaving Arcturus alone near the edge of a vast forest. He looked around to see in the distance the large collection of multicolored tents, and the black smoke rising from the fires they most likely had going. He found his next few steps hard to make, like his legs were weighted down by stone to stop his advance. He glanced back, hoping to see the dragoness had changed her mind. However, all he saw were trees. All he heard, silence.

“Be a man. I need to be a man.” With a deep sigh, he picked up the pace and made his way back to a family he no longer wanted.

He wandered into the collection of mortals once again, no one seeming to pay him any mind as he got lost in the sea of sounds, people, and smells. That was until he came across the familiar tent of his own kin, where he was assaulted by hugs, ruffled hair, and caring eyes.

“Where did ya go lad?” came the voice of one of his uncles, a farmer from the southern regions near Trost.

“We were worried half ta death ye basterd!” came the call of one of his cousins, a gryphon rider from whitedell to the east. She carried a concern look in her radiant hazel eyes. “Found a lass an’ spirited her away into the forest? That what you done, boy?”

“I…I was…” Arcturus tried, but he could not get out a word thanks to the continued questions that he was being bombarded with. Where he had gone, what he had gotten up to, if he had a fling with the gryphon nanny’s niece. Even if he could do something that ridiculous, he could not tell them the truth. How could he when it would put the dragoness at risk?

“Yes...Where did you get off to, son?” came the demanding growl from his father, who pushed aside many of the Lund clan with a sneer on his face. “Where did you run off to? Is it true you went romancing some lass? How thoughtless is that? Did you not know one of the dragons went missing? You could have been killed!”

“Father…I…” His mind raced for an answer as he kicked himself mentally for not running over a comprehensible story. He figured he was just so distraught over not staying with the family of dragons it had simply slipped from his mind. “I was hunting a boar in the woods!” He rubbed the back of his neck and gestured to his soiled clothes. “Damn thing sent me on a chase and I got lost…Stupid, I know, but I wanted to prove I can be a warrior just like you, father.”

“Your poor thing!”

“Are you hungry?” came the squawk of his nanny as she pulled him right against her fur. “You must have been alone, cold, and oh how hungry! I will whip something up for you.” She poked him in the stomach with her talon. “Can't have you hungry for the trials ahead, young man.”

He looked up from his concerned nanny to his father, who wore a stern face. For a moment he was concerned what was running through his father's head. Thankfully his father did not yell, nor did he scream. The man just gestured for him to follow. “Arcturus, follow me. We need to share words.”

Arcturus gulped as he let go of his nanny in order to follow in the footsteps of his father, who strode away from their tents. He looked back briefly to see the rest of his clan dispersing and going back to the festivities around them. He picked up the pace and stepped in tandem with his father, who looked down to him with that still stern gaze, his eyes filled with disappointment.

“A boar? Is that the best you could come up with, whelp?”

Arcturus froze. “F-father…I swear it’s-“

“Do not patronize me, boy! I know you freed the dragon.” He finally spoke with a growl as they came to a stop far removed from anyone else. “What...on this fair earth… were you thinking? How many times have I told you of the destruction spread by their wretched kin? They are evil, vile, twisted monsters that wish only to see us killed to the last!”

“T-that is not true!” He shouted back at him, clenching his left hand into a fist. “I got to see they are not all evil. She was kind and caring and good unlike you lot!” Arcturus blurted out, his face stern, just like his father. There was no point to play the role of a coward any longer. He had to be a warrior. The same steel-hearted fighter that stabbed a full-grown dragon in the paw. After all, if his father divined the truth, he might as well go all out. “She was nothing like you said, and you are too blinded by what happened to your brother to see-“

Arcturus was thrown backwards as his father backhanded him to the ground. “Gah…”. He picked himself up, glaring up the man who had raised him as he rubbed his warm cheek. “This just proves my point.”

“Point? Point?! You are my son! How dare you disobey me like that, boy?” His father picked him up by the scruff of his shirt. “How dare you accuse me, your family of being infested with hatred to protect a beast? I can’t believe it. My son would never betray his family for a dragon! I bet she enchanted you, boy. Filled your head with a spell and sweet words, so that you would not follow after her.” He continued with a growl.

“If that is true… why did she not end me, father? Remove the evidence as it were?” he shot back, struggling to pull himself free from the strong man, but could not. “Explain that to me.”

“Easy.” His father moved in again, taking his belt off as he did so. “She used you as a fockin’ token. A distraction. Did not want me to go after her out of vengeance. Now she gets a chance to fly away, far away from here, far enough where even our scouts couldn’t find her. You denied us more than a dragon, boy. You stole our right to judge the beast for its crimes…and for that…you shall be punished.”

Arcturus felt a strike of pain as his father struck him with his belt as hard as the man could. The stinging lash made him gasp out, and wince his eyes. “Gahh!” he could not help himself for his weakened cry as his father continued to hit him again and again and again with the firm leather.

“Dragons....*thwack*...Are....*thwack...Evil....*thwack*....I am doing this for your own good, boy! Even if you hate me. Even if you curse me. You are still my offspring, and I know what’s best for you!” Each strike against his back was a strike right to Arcturus' heart. His gasps of pain filled the air as his father continued to lash him mercilessly, spouting off more lies about dragons. “Do you want to end up like my brother? That what you want? To get yourself killed?”

“Your...brother?” Arcturus gasped out, his brow sweating. He gave a weakened pull against his father, but still could not find the strength. “You...never mentioned...”

“He liked dragons just like you did, boy.” His father narrowed his eyes. “But the beast he decided to call friend killed him where he stood! Was that a proper reward for a kind-hearted man? Hmm? I will make sure you do not end up like him.” His father shoved him to the ground. “Now pick yourself up and get ready for the tournament ahead. You WILL do your best and beat the others, and when it's all said and done we will drill into your head the evils of dragons...Until you forget this little slip in judgement. I will make sure you are never tempted by such evil again.”

Arcturus groaned as he pulled himself to his feet once more, wincing in pain from the marks no doubt left on his back. He wanted to narrow his eyes and glare at his father but minded his face. It would do him no good to fight fire with fire. That would just give his father another reason to continue his beating with that awful belt. So Arcturus just nodded to his father, “I will do as you say.” he hung his head afterwards, clenching his fist as his father grabbed his shoulder firmly and started to lead him back to the others.

“I'm doing this for your own good, son. One day, you will thank me for this, and you will teach your own son. I love you Arcturus, and I won't let those beasts take you away from me. They’ve already taken far too much from our family. I will make them pay, understand? They will all pay their due.”

Arcturus did not raise his head as he was finally let go to his tent. He rubbed his shoulders and winced in pain. His thoughts went back to pleasant warm scales, affectionate licks, and the pleased sounds of the hatchlings. With those thoughts present in his mind, he was able to push the pain from his back away, as he collapsed onto his bed. He knew it would be only a moment of rest and lunch before his father was back to him again with no doubt more training to be had. He wondered what he would be doing tomorrow at the tournament. He knew the last reward would be to slay the dragon, that had to be it. But how could he slay the creature now? He had just had the best day of his life with the dragons that were supposed to be his mortal enemies. What if this one was just like the female he had set free?

He closed his eyes with a sigh as he thought to the gold dragon's scales. He made a vow internally to find the creature. He would free him just like he had done the female. He only opened his eyes when he detected the alluring scent of roasted lamb, as his gryphon nanny called out to him.

“Arcturus! Come eat your lunch before it gets cold! Your father wants to go test shooting with you after!”

Arcturus sighed, opened his eyes, and strode outside to eat his meal. He sat down at a wooden table and wolfed down the roasted lamb, corn, and peppers that were mixed together on his plate. He sighed, and savored the flavor. It was at least better than his food with the dragoness. The spices made things so much better in his opinion. However, the relief did not last forever, and he soon found himself washing the meal down with a swig of water. He bowed slightly to his nanny, who ruffled her feathers and offered him a kind smile. He stood straight up, making his way to the target range where he knew his father would be waiting with his stern face and crossed arms.

Arcturus spent the rest of the day working with his father, trying his hand at the energy crossbow his father had been given by the king, usually something only reserved to those in the military. Arcturus liked the feel of it in his hands as he lined up his shots and easily blasted apart the targets that were brought before him.  He rolled his eyes and groaned the entire time as his father continued to question him on dragon weak spots, how evil they were, and then went into a rant of all the horrible deeds they had done, most of which he'd witnessed with his own two eyes. Arcturus willed himself through by thinking of the dragoness and her hatchlings, so no matter what his father was throwing at him, it met a mind hardened by love and determination. Protected by the pleasant memories of the dragoness Rasionynth.

That night Arcturus quickly gathered his things around his room, ready to set out to find the other dragon. He just knew that all he needed to do was talk to the gold scaled beast. In his mind the dragon would tell him a story about how he had been wronged by the hunters and placed here to be killed unjustly. Surely that was the case, just like the female had been? He took a deep breath as he pictured the dragon flying away into the sky, roaring happily at being freed. It brought a smile to his face, as he went to open his tent, only to find a guard sitting on a chair watching his flaps.

“Evening lad.” the pockmarked guard in chainmail smiled, waving to him from his chair.

Arcturus quickly pulled his head inside, wrinkling his brow. His father must have placed that guy to make sure he never left his tent, knowing he would want to go find the other one. Damn it!

He went to the other parts of his “room” and peaked under each wall, only to find each one had a different guard placed in front of them. Double Damnation! He crossed his arms as each one was positioned in just the right way that there would be no way around them, no way through without getting spotted. He collapsed onto his bed with a sigh, pulling his journal from his pack and opening it to the page with the paw prints. He looked to the ink, remembering how happy he had been that morning. How he wished he could have stayed with his better family. He eventually felt tiredness take him, and he closed his eyes when he could not fight off slumber any longer. He wiggled once in his bed, his dreams filled with dragons flying high in the bright sky.

* * * * * * * * * *

Arcturus made sure to wake up early, early enough so that when he was peeking out from his tent, the guards that had been so vigilant before were fast asleep.

Perfect.

He slunk by one of them without a word. He had changed his clothes before heading out to another pair of his. He wrinkled his brow as he grabbed hold of the dark green tunic and the charcoal leggings he now wore. Arcturus shook his head and began his search, paying no mind to the sun that was just beginning to crest over the horizon. He checked the outskirts of the place, just like he did before introducing himself to the female bronze dragon Rasionynth.

Only now, he was on the trail of a different dragon. Arcturus started his search at her tent, thinking logically that the golden dragon’s tent would be close to hers. It also had to be big enough to accommodate the size of a dragon. He scurried from tent to tent, quickly peaking under them for any sign of the golden scaled dragon. With each failed attempt he would look up to the slowly rising sun and wonder how much longer he had before one of the guards would grab him from behind and shout all sorts of profanities in his ear.

I have to do this, Arcturus fought the pit in his stomach and pressed on. I’m a man. Men aren’t afraid.

On the fifth such tent, he came face to face with a dark brown colored cloth. It was held down with many ropes, and bore a guard in the front wearing chainmail, just like the female's tent from the nights prior. This man even bore a spear in his hands as he shifted his elven head from side to side. Arcturus realized someone must have told the men to be be more vigilant after the first dragon went missing. He snuck past the man, going the long way around to the other side of the tent, where he lowered himself into a crouch and felt with his hands at the taught cloth. He hooked a hand on the underside of the material, then gave a great tug, but nothing happened. The tent fabric was being held down too tightly, and no matter how many tugs he gave it would not budge.

No no no…come on. I can’t just let him die you stupid piece of cloth!

Simmering with apprehension and anger, Arcturus stood up and crossed his arms. He did not come this far to be stopped now by this overly tight tent. He unsheathed his dagger, and like a hunter, plunged the sharp tip of the metal into the fabric. With several loud tearing noises, he cut a circle into the material and made his own entrance.

Arcturus bounded into the tent, his eyes adjusting to the dim light that illuminated the insides of the tent. He squinted and looked around the boxes, the hay, and what looked like torture equipment. The ground around the place seemed to have been ripped up with claws. Arcturus frowned as he realized that the knives, blades, and other such sharp objects in the place had blood on them, most likely carved from the innocent dragon.

Don't worry, my friend. I will free you from this unjust torture. Arcturus navigated through the maze of items, each drop of blood or torn ground slicing another painful gash into his soul. When he came to the golden dragon to see him bound, and bleeding, his heart nearly cracked, for the beast that had looked so beautiful the day prior was now covered in thin red lines. Scales that had looked so majestic now bore cracks and dents, in some places looking like a spiky mess of twisted flesh. His feathered wings were bound just like the female’s had been, and his limbs were chained together with a large lock in the middle that needed a key. Oh no. Unlike the female, there would be no undoing of straps or any way through them.

The golden dragon looked up to the boy with his emerald eyes full of worry. It filled Arcturus with a feeling of guilt that made him dizzy. They had done this. His kin had inflicted untold pain onto the dragon before him. A dragon that was most likely not at fault to deserve such unjust punishment. His mind went to the bronze female and her hatchlings, longing for their presence as he took a few tentative steps. The golden beast said not a word and simply watched him, most likely confused why this human was slowly approaching him.

“Hello.” Arcturus spoke clearly, his voice soft and gentle. He even bowed slightly to the dragon, thinking it was the polite thing to do. He felt his heart quicken and beat with excitement as he neared the scaled creature.

“Greetings, little hunter.” the dragon replied, his whiskers flicking as he rose his head slightly.

“I...I’m not one of them. Mhm. I’m not a hunter.” Arcturus replied without skipping a beat. “I have actually come to free you.”

“Really? What have I done to deserve such stroke of fortune?” The gold dragon tilted his head as much as he could to the side as he did not stray his sight from the boy that continued his approach. “What compels you, young hatchling, to seek me out and lift my heart with tales of freedom?”

“Uhm…well…there’s this…” Arcturus gulped on his words as the golden dragon fidgeted slightly against the bindings. “Let’s just say I have come to an important realization recently. I have seen…no, I’ve been proved that not all dragons are the shadowy evil monsters from my father’s twisted tales.”

“Mmm, intriguing words you bring to my ears. Perhaps this is the day when righteous justice finally dawns upon a land basked in darkness.” The dragon gave a deep rumbling sound from his golden scaled neck that sounded like tumbling stones.

Arcturus cracked a meek smile at that. “Yes,” he said as he felt the same exhilarating confidence he tasted when he freed Rasionynth fill him up again. “I am just trying to do the right thing.”

“Then by all means, little one.” The gold dragon gestured to his bindings with a smile. “If you think you can free me from these shackles, go for it. I will make sure you are rewarded appropriately for your kindness, young one.”

“W-wait. Before I do it, may I know what your name is?” Arcturus made sure to stay away from the creature’s head movement but found his way to the metal bindings and the lock that fastened them together. His fingers traced along the cold smooth metal for a weakness. A few moments later he sighed with a frown as he realized they were fine craft. Probably the finest he had ever seen, the same kind his father would use if it were up to him. It probably was up to him.

“You may have my title, savior of dragons. You may call me the Shining Sun.” the dragon swelled his chest out proudly, his scales clinking together. Shining Sun then let out a pleased sound like a purr that made Arcturus giggle. Did all dragons make such cute noises that made Arcturus think they were just oversized cats?

Arcturus continued to examine the lock. He had practiced picking them from a young age, it was yet another task his father had drilled into him. However, with each passing second it was becoming clearer that he would not be able to undo this lock without the blasted key. It would mean possibly trying to nick the thing of the guard outside, if in fact he was the one who possessed the thing.

He was about to tell the dragon this when he heard the voice of the last person he wanted to hear. The voice of the man that made his blood run cold.

“Arcturus! Where in the blazes are you?” Came the loud booming voice of his father from the entrance of the tent. His face was contorted into a snarl and was the brightest red known to mankind. The fuming man stomped his way across the tent as Arcturus froze up. “What?! What in damnation’s name did I tell you!?” His father barked through his teeth, roughly pulling Arcturus away from the dragon, who looked away and snorted his disapproval.

“F-father, I-“ Arcturus could not find the words to defend himself. What he was doing was much too obvious to explain. There would be no lie that could get him out of this. He had done this knowing the risks. “Father, you are wrong! They are not all evil! If you’d just let me prove this to you, please!” He spouted his words again, but they fell on deaf ears as he was tossed to the ground by his father, who stared down on him like he was one of the dragons that he so hunted with a passion.

“We will drive this poison out of you, Arcturus.” His father grabbed some rope and bound them around his hands. “I will make sure you don't end up like my brother, even if you kick and scream the entire time. I will not let the dragons take what I have from me, Arcturus. They might have my brother, but they won’t rip my only son away from me!”

“Please…listen to my words, father!” his voice cracked as his father finished his bindings around a wooden pole that was thrust into the earth. “They are not all evil. I just need you to believe that! Please…If I mean something to you…if you ever loved me… just listen to my words! Mother…mother wouldn’t have wanted this. You know this, father. You know it!”

His eyes began to mist as his father backed away, disappearing for a moment and returning with a cat o’ nine tails. Arcturus' eyes widened at the thin ropes held tightly in his white knuckled father's hand.

“N-no. No father please, don’t torture me!” Arcturus cried out in desperation. “Think of mother. What she’d say if she was here right now?” he desperately called out as his father grabbed his shirt and raised it to expose his back. He then held the device back, ready to strike.

“She would smile at me.” The man’s gruff breath fell over Arcturus’ back. “She’d approve of anything to save your life, boy. Now let’s set you free of the poisonous words the beast twisted into your head.”

His father lashed out with the device.

Arcturus winced and cried out as the tails of the device struck his skin. The vigorous lash made his whole body tremble as he fought to stand up.

Then another came. And another. The whip crackling upon his back like the forks of lightning that split the sky apart during a storm. Arcturus’ vision blurred as his father continued his incessant whipping, each stroke bringing a fresh dose of pain that made the young boy scream his guts out. However, despite his screams, despite his words, his father continued with the flogging.

Arcturus’ thoughts struggled to form words on the nightmare he was living through. Each time he got several words out of his shaking mouth, they were cast from his mind by the forceful arm of his father. He was left gasping after the twentieth such whip, and could feel the blood dripping down from his wounds.

“Now boy...tell me again about the wretched dragoness you foolishly spirited from the grasp of deserved punishment. What happened? And what do you think of her? I want to hear it all, down to the last word until I am sure her poison leaves your body.” His father asked, his voice laced with hatred.

“Mghh…nrrrhhh.” Arcturus knew what his father wanted him to say. He wanted him to tell the same lies that came from his own vile mouth on the subject. He wanted to hear about the dragon's evil, and how she had manipulated him in freeing her. He wanted to hear that his son, the soon to be great dragon hunter, had not been swayed by the beast. “She was…a monster.” Arcturus whispered, his hollow eyes staring into the ground. A bead of saliva made its way down his lower lip, trickling onto the ground beneath.

“When her words failed to succeed…she enchanted me with magic. Twisted my mind. Made me… think of dragons as if they are my brothers.”

“Correct. Correct!” his father said with evil satisfaction. “I’ve seen the effects of such spell before and you are describing it perfectly. More. Tell me more, son. What did she do next? Tell me how you freed her.”

“I…I just did.” Arcturus said with the same helpless, confused voice.”

“No. They can twist the mind. The mind, son. Your head.” His father tapped at his own skull. “But they can’t control your body. So tell me again. How did your hands find their way to the bindings?”

“Her claws…” Arcturus gestured towards the golden dragon’s sharp talons. “She threatened me with evisceration. Told me that…she’ll skin me like a deer and hang my pelt in her cave. I was afraid. Had no choice. She told me of all the gruesome spells she could cast on me if I didn’t obey.”

“Wretched creature.” His father spat on the ground and stroke his chin to vent out some of the anger that made his temples bulge. “To threaten my son like that. My son!”

“If I wasn’t a Lund, she would have killed me where I stood!” Arcturus cried out. The words flowed from his mouth made him hate himself with each passing moment. Lying was always distasteful for him, but he wanted the pain to stop.

“You…you’re lying to me, aren’t you?” his father grabbed the boy by his chin and sneered into his face. “I can see it in your eyes boy. You’re only forming words to appease me, but you don’t believe them because your head’s still with them! With those blasted, deceitful, worthless creatures that took so much from us!”

“Aaahhh, no matter.” the man sighed, pulling back the cat o nine tails again. “We can keep this up all morning until your eyes speak the same truth as your words. If I ever catch that dragoness…oh my young, stupid boy…you can bet she will be getting more than she ever bargained for. This flail, see this?” he flaunted the blood-dripping tool before Arcturus’ frozen face. “I’m going to craft a flail ten times the size and rip the scales from her body, like this!”

“No father pleeeaaasse! AAHHHHHHH!” Arcturus screamed out to the heavens as the coldness of the whips once again kissed his bleeding back. He collapsed onto the ground, a squirming mess of hisses, groans, and endless pain. He cried out to any god that would listen, but no matter what deity he called on, the man above him silenced his with rivers of pain. It continued for so many strikes that Arcturus completely lost count. He only remembered standing slowly up, wincing at all the pain he had endured. His hands shook as his father undid the bindings and thrust a red potion into his hands.

“Drink it down to the last drop. We need you at top performance for the events we have prepared today.”

“I…” Arcturus could not find the strength to resist his father and just took a long swig from the horrible tasting liquid. He could not find the taste, but it reminded him of curdled milk, and he forced himself to swallow the entire potion if only to rid himself of the infernal pain. He finished with a gasp, and a wipe of his mouth, finding his strength starting to return. The lingering pain from his wounds soon started to fade away as the magic potion swirled through his body Rasionynth’s comforting touch.

“I hope you understand that what I’ve done is for your own good.” His father spoke the the same words that he had used when he had whipped him the other day. Arcturus just looked to his father and nodded, internally hating the man that was staring back at him expectantly.

“I understand.” he lied again, handing him back the potion. He looked around to see the dragon was now missing from his resting place. However, the metal bindings were laying on the ground, including the lock that had stopped him. They must have traded those bindings for one that were more easily moved. Someone had obviously come to retrieve the beast while he was being tortured by his father. He must have been so focused on the pain that he did not notice.

Arcturus narrowed his eyes when he was led out into the light of the day. The sun hung midway towards the center of the sky, among a vast, vibrant blue expanse that knew no clouds on such a fine day. The warm rays bathed the entire collection of tents in a warm glow as tournament goers walked among each other, chatting away about the upcoming tournament.

Today came the day of the festivities at last. The sounds of people was deafening, and Arcturus was led right through the thickest crowd. The folks parted before him and his father like water, signifying the respect they had for the name Lund. Arcturus lowered his head and looked to his boots as he heard a mention of his name in passing. It seemed like an eternity before he was tossed back into his old ‘room’ and told to get ready.

“The games will be starting any moment now, son.” His father crossed his arms and waited for him outside. “You will do your best. I know it. Then, after you best the rest of those buffoons, you will stand proudly at my side at the end, when you get to finish off that beast for good.”

Arcturus scowled as he gathered his things. He strapped on a darkened, worn leather vest that bore the symbol of his family stitched into the hide. He ran a hand along the surface, disgusted by how it looked, and how it made him feel sick to his stomach. He imagined a dragon would look way better on his chest. He grabbed his steel sword, thrusting it into his leather scabbard, and then tying it with a belt around his waist.  With that done, Arcturus closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he tied a dark green cloak around his neck. He would win this little talent of contest, and he would stand at his father’s side, just not for the same reason the old man expected. In spite of his words, Arcturus still had a mind of his own. When he was supposed to kill the beast, he would set the dragon free instead to prove his father, the Lunds, and all of the attendants how wrong they were. He would let everyone see with their own eyes that not all dragons were monsters. He would stand proudly up there, a final look of defiance before his stupefied father. Arcturus opened his eyes and nodded to himself, rather liking the mental image of that. Without another word or thought he strode out into the sun and took his place at his father's side.

Arcturus took to the center of the arena of cheering people. He was lined up with many other young aspiring dragon hunters from all around the kingdom. Their own faces were full of good cheer and expectation, and were thrilled when the dwarven announcer had proclaimed the winner would be the one finish off the golden dragon. Arcturus watched as they had wheeled out the dragon on a cart, bound in leather. The crowd had gasped at first, then suddenly roared their approval at the excitement that was going to be had.

Arcturus? He just gripped the hilt of his sword until his knuckles went white. Make sure to watch me, father...I will win...and then the dragon will be out of your torturous hands for good.

The tournament started with a target practice of any weapon they were able to choose. Arcturus went with a hand energy crossbow like the one his father had him practice with. He lined up his shots carefully, and nearly got bullseyes the entire time, only getting out performed by an elven child with a bow and arrow. They next moved onto beasts. This involved setting each hunter against a magical beast that they had captured in the wilderness for this contest. Arcturus was set against a pair of blink wolves. These brown canines could teleport short distances as they hunted their prey. Arcturus made short work of them, easily side stepping or avoiding their attacks. He met their throats with his metal blade, wincing as their blood stained the green grass. When the last wolf had fallen back with a whimpered cry Arcturus offered a short prayer for the creature that was being used in such a gruesome way. He finished it off with closed eyes, ending the thing's pain once and for all. He cleaned his sword and ignored the praises that were being sung about his performance along with the cheering of the crowd.

The day continued with challenge after challenge. Some were mental ones, involving testing the weak spots of creatures, others were more physical like the beast contest. In each one Arcturus was one of the best contestants, once again only being followed by that elven lad that had bested him in the target practice portion of the contest. The last challenge presented before them was a tie breaker, to decide which one of them would be able to slay the beast. The elven warrior, or the human hunter? The crowd went into another screaming frenzy when Arcturus held up the training sword they provided him. There was no need for the contestants to maim themselves, after all.

He took a deep breath and focused on the golden scaled dragon that needed him right now. He could not afford to lose to this elf that was most likely three times his age. If he did, that dragon was going to end up with a slit throat, or a sword straight to the eye. “I cannot fail.” he mumbled under his breath as he bounded at the elf with his sword held high.

The elf side stepped his attack easily, striking at him in a horizontal fashion.

Arcturus crouched, the sword passing over his head by mere inches as he brought his own sword up, striking the elf right in the chest. He backed away with a smile as they separated and started to circle one another. Arcturus held his sword out as the elf narrowed his eyes and did the same. 

They then met again and again. Wood on wood clacked out, only to be drowned by the cheers around them. Arcturus grit his teeth as they went at it like a blur, trying to find a weak point in the elf’s defense.

With a pinch of luck, Arcturus found it. He took a step back as the elf swung down at him. The wooden blade missed his torso, and Arcturus struck him twice with his own sword. Once on the shoulder, followed by a quick strike to his left leg.

“ARCTURUS IS THE WINNER!” came the shout of the dwarf announcer, adding to the screams of the excited crowd. A few men strode over, grabbed Arcturus' wrist, and rose his hand up for all to see.

I did it! Arcturus smiled to himself. Just like I knew I was going to!

He glanced back to the bound golden dragon, his heart not letting up for a mere moment. He had gone from one battle to the next one that was going to take place. He did not pay any mind to any of the words the dwarf was speaking until he mentioned finishing off the bound dragon in the company of his father. Arcturus was given back his sword and was led over to the golden creature as the whole crowd grew silent.

Arcturus looked to his father, who wore a grin from ear to ear. He could see pride swell in his eyes as he looked to him. It made him almost happy to see that look on his father's face, but he frowned when he realized it was only because the man thought he was going to follow in his footsteps and murder the dragon that was displayed before the raging crowd.

You’re about to be proved so wrong, father. Arcturus returned his father's grin as he was brought before the beast. He unsheathed his sword with a hiss, the sun shining brightly off its metal surface. He took several deep breaths as his hands shook at what he was about to do. He saw the golden dragon look away and close his eyes, clearly resigning himself to his fate. Don't worry, Shining Sun. This human hatchling is going to save you, and you can fly away and live your dragon life in peace. Have mates, hatchlings, do whatever you wish.

He twirled the sword in his hand as his father started his speech.

“Dear warriors, beloved clansmen, families, and friends. We thank you all for participating in these events. It truly is a chance to show off the best and brightest among us while we hone ourselves for the battle ahead.” His father clenched his fist. “For we must all remain at our best to fight against the looming threat of dragon kind. For years we have tried to teach them a simple lesson. We want to live in peace. But such savage beasts know not the sweet embrace of calmness. They thirst for blood. Our blood. The same blood that courses through the veins of our children, who now have the distinct honor of carrying forth the flame of our unyielding justice. Behold, Arcturus! Winner of today’s tournament, and soon to be slayer of dragons!”

The man smiled as the crowd erupted into frantic cheers.

“See? They love you,” the man smiled and gestured to his boy with a wave of his hand. “There is a time in every child’s life when the boy must become a man. Today, it is my honor to see my son take the first powerful steps into a much larger, and dangerous, world. By finishing off the vile gold dragon we have dragged before you, Arcturus is going to prove he is ready to carry the mantle of a true Hunter. Behold, Inferno’s Bite!”

The crowd started to boo, throwing insults, vegetables, and whatever objects they had on hand at the bound dragon.

“This horrible creature that now stains the grounds of our tournament with his festering presence slew a whole village because the honest, kind hearted people refused to fall into his schemes. They fought against the beast’s greed, paying no gold for protection because they put their trust in their rightful king -our king- to protect them, as he promised to us all. Sadly, it was not so. After he dispatched the scant number of guards, this terrible monster killed every last woman and child, then burned the whole village to the ground, bathing its accursed deeds in the same wretched flames it draws its name from!”

The whole crowd gasped, while others called for the beast’s quick death.

“I know, fair people. Believe me, I know what must be done. There’s only one thing a rampaging monster deserves.” His father held up his hands. “That is why we have the beast here right now. Displayed before your very eyes. To be made an example of by none other than the winner of the tournament. My son!”

His father turned to him with a smile. “Please finish off the beast, just like I have told you.” He pointed to his eye and gave Arcturus a wink, a signal he wanted Arcturus to plunge his blade right into the gold dragon's eyes, delivering his steel blade right to the beast’s brain and finishing it off for good.

This was it. This was the moment of truth. Arcturus felt sweat come to his hands as he rose his sword. He took an anxious breath from his lungs to steel his nerves. Am I really going to do it? Defy my father and all the young hunters right in front of their parents? His thoughts went to his mother, and her own love of dragons. He remembered falling asleep to the dragoness' wings, and the three hatchlings pressed against him. Yes...I am going to do it...I am not only going to become a knight, be an example to the others. Teach them that hatred is not the only way to peace.

“No, father. It is you who is the monster for condemning an innocent creature to its death.”

The man’s eyes widened with shock. A wave of power surged through Arcturus. Moving his eyes towards the dragon, he slashed down rapidly into the leather bindings, easily cutting them in two with the razor-sharp sword. “THESE DRAGONS ARE NOT EVIL!” he slashed again, and again until Shining Sun's bindings were reduced to tatters.

“Arcturus! What are you doing, my son?!” His father snarled as the crowd gasped in horror at the newly freed creature. The golden dragon shook his head and stood proudly onto all fours, spreading his majestic feathered wings for all to see.

“I am doing the world a good thing this day!” Arcturus turned with a large grin. “We need to move away from old concepts. We need to understand that dragons are just like us!” Arcturus winked back at his father and sheathed his sword. “No matter what words you sneak into my ear, no matter how much you whip me…” He gestured to the dragon as people began to scream. “I will prove you that dragons are not the monsters that-”

His words were cut short as the golden dragon opened his maw, letting loose a large golden ball of fire that flew straight towards the crowd. To everyone’s horror, the thing collided with the stands and exploded with a bright flash of white light. It sent wood crackling, bodies flying, and horrible screams cried out into the air as the same people that cheered moments ago were now melting before his very eyes.

“N-no…this…this can’t be hap…happening…” Arcturus felt his whole body go numb as the golden dragon took flight and fired another ball of fire into the crowd, claiming more lives with its engulfing flames. Thick smoke started to billow up from the stands, making Arcturus drop to his knees in terror. What had he done? His eyes looked to the bodies, broken, unmoving, scattered in the crowd, and he clutched at his heart when he spotted the burned, tattered colors of his own clan. People that left the comfort of their homes and came to the tournament to watch the new generation train over a laugh and some good food. People that had never hurt or even dreamed of inflicting pain upon a dragon in all their lives. Friends, relatives, acquaintances, now dead because of him his naïve actions.

“The debt is paid,” Shining Sun looked back to Arcturus. “Run now. Find your bronze female.”

“Wh-“ Arcturus choked, his chest so tight he could barely speak. He knew? How in the blazes could this monster know of Rasionynth? How could he even speak of her after unleashing such destruction upon innocent people?

“The drunk told them everything.” The golden dragon growled back at him. “He knows, boy. Your father heard every word you spoke to her. He’s been testing you from the beginning!”

“Shut your blasted lying mouth!” Arcturus’ father shouted with the same spiteful voice he used during the flogging. “I’ll carve your blackened heart out, hear me? I’ll rend the limbs from your pitiful body and thrash your mangled scales beneath my boots!”

“Rrrraaaaahhh!” The dragon quickly looked at the several men that started to surround him. He swiped the first attacking force with his tail, buying himself a small reprieve to look at the stunned winner of the tournament. “What are you doing, you stupid boy? Fly away from this wretched place and free yourself from their shackles before it’s too late.”

Run where? Arcturus was more confused than ever, head feeling on the point of bursting from the sudden turn of events.

The dragon snarled as he forced back another group of attackers. He threw several looks at the boy’s petrified body, and when Arcturus failed to move, the beast gave a mighty shake of his head and flapped his mighty wings, beating hard against the air, and taking him higher above the stands. It looked like the dragon was going to get away, as it roared into the afternoon sky. His tail flicked behind him as the sun shinned off his scales, almost mocking the human that had let him go. How in this world something so beautiful could cause so much destruction and death? How?

“Fire the blasted cannons already!” came the forceful sound of his father’s voice. Like a light in a vast sea of darkness, it broke through the screams of terror. It made Arcturus look up to the dragon once more, who was almost gone now, probably smirking to itself. That’s when he saw a group of nets fly towards the dragon at a speed he thought impossible. They collided with the golden dragon, wrapping themselves around his scaled body, binding his wings in such ways that rendered him unable to keep his altitude.

The dragon hissed and fell from the sky like a stone. Arcturus could not see where it had landed, but he could hear its pained roars as hunters no doubt were now converging on it with poisoned weapons, wicked blades, and righteous hearts.

“Come this way.” His father grabbed him roughly by the scruff of his neck, easily dragging him across the field. “You have embarrassed our family in a way I never thought possible.” he hissed, his words filled with hatred. “That you have defied me so crudely.... despite your punishments...speaks louder than any lie! Look what you have done you dumb child!” He gestured out to the stands that were now covered in the corpses of spectators and his kin. “Look at how many have died for your little show of defiance!”

Arcturus could not look away as his eyes began to mist. He did not mean for this to happen. He had not meant to trade so many lives just to prove a point. “I…nghh, I’m...I can’t…” He stammered, words failing him as his father violently pulled him again by his neck.

“We will work on this every day if needs be. No son of mine will be led astray by the vile lies of the dragons. I want you to remember this day, Arcturus.” His father brought him to the golden dragon that was now being bound once again, his pained hisses and snarls of protests useless against the army of hunters. The creature was flailing, but it was no use. The many gryphons and other mortals had it completely pinned, Arcturus' eyes were drawn to the numerous arrows that had been plunged into its hide, no doubt covered in dragon bane poison. “Like what you see? You should. Here. Have a closer look.” He roughly shoved Arcturus towards the dragon as they finished binding its snout to the ground.

Arcturus felt so small and alone when the other hunters looked to him. He could see their accusing eyes at what he had done, so full of hatred. He truly felt like he did not belong among them. He wanted to run away like the dragon said, never look back and forget this entire thing ever happened.

“Blame nobody but the monsters standing before you. My son, though addled in other ways, has done no evil, for he was enchanted by the beast’s foul magic!” His father spoke loudly and clearly for the crowd. “I should have seen the signs, and that is my failing. We all know the magics these things can work. But we have snapped him out of it.” He snapped his penetrating gaze towards Arcturus in a snarl. “Isn’t that right, boy?”

Arcturus nodded through tears. What else was he supposed to do?

“Now we will have him take rightful vengeance by finishing off the beast that had enchanted him so! The beast that settled itself free with the arm of my son and loosened its destruction on the innocents of the crowd!” he grabbed Arcturus by the shoulder and brought him to the beast’s head. “Now you are going to cut into every weak spot the dragon has, and only when I give the order will you kill him. Do you understand?”

“B-but…” Arcturus stammered, tears coming to his eyes now, rolling down his cheeks as he looked to the dragon that had killed so many.

It’s my fault. All of it.

“You will do this, Arcturus...or so help me, I will have your clothes used to hunt down that dragoness that you so vehemently claimed was good. Her scent is still in there, and you know how good our gryphons are at tracking their quarry. Why, you grew up amongst them.”

“Y-You wouldn't!” Arcturus gasped, his heart cracking as his father's face did not falter. He knew that the man had meant what he had said with every fiber of his being.

“Do not think me the fool for not standing up to my own words. I am not weak even if you’d like me to be. Now face your prey.” He turned Arcturus' head roughly towards the dragon. “Finish off the beast here, extract vengeance for all those who have fallen, and I promise to you that we will not pursue the bronze female. This dragoness of yours will be given a day to flee from my hunters. If she seeks peace like you said, she’ll leave our lands, but if I hear reports of a bronze scaled terror inflicting pain upon another one of us ever again…there will be no forgiveness for her actions.”

Arcturus nodded as his father pulled away, and once again he pulled his sword free with a hiss. He held it out in front of him as tears continued down his face. Despite the death the creature had caused he still felt guilty for what he was about to do. Maybe if he was not bound the entire time, he would not have felt the need to strike out in revenge.

“Now Arcturus! Show us the work of my craft! Show us all the weak spots of this dragon!”

Arcturus hesitated as he stared into the dragon’s clear eyes. There was no hint of malice there. No monstrous intentions that made his hairs stand on end. His mind jumped back to what the dragon said to him after he blew up the stands. Of how the drunk guard was not what he appeared. He was playing a role. The role of a spy hired by his father for a much grander test than what Arcturus had been led to believe.

He tried to…help me… Arcturus blood chilled at the gruesome realization that the convenient meetings with Rasionynth had been nothing more than a ploy orchestrated by his father. The simplest, surest way to test the strength of his son’s conviction was not to order him to kill a dragon. No. What his father wanted was for Arcturus to take upon the mantle of a slayer himself. To want to kill the captive dragons with his own hands on his own volition.

But something went wrong. Nobody could expect -not even Arcturus- that human and dragon could find common ground. The unlikely friendship threw a wrench in his father’s plans…That’s why he had been so driven, so angry.

He feared that he lost control of the same son he tried to groom into a slayer.

Arcturus looked at the sword he held in his shaking hand, then back at the dragon whose eyes have not moved in the past few seconds. There was something strange swirling deep within his eyes. Sadness that he would not be able to take upon the skies any longer. Regret that his life had to end here.

And shame that his actions condemned a young, kind-hearted, dragon-loving boy to a fate almost as bad as death.

You wanted to… free me… Arcturus’ chest tightened when the dragon moved his eyes to the sides where a thick pair of leather straps bound his limbs, then back at him. I’m as much of a prisoner as you are…

The dragon’s lips twitched briefly. He could not speak or form any other sounds other than a defeated sigh. A shuddering sigh escaped through Arcturus’ trembling limbs. The dragon’s closed eyes could mean only one thing. He made peace with his sins, his past, his failures, as well as the inability to prevent this very moment.

A man must be strong even when his heart feels on the verge of crumbling, Arcturus formed a steel-like grip around the grip of his sword and sniffled hard, forcing himself not to cry.

“Have you not heard me the first time, boy? I told you to show us the weak spots of his beast!“

Arcturus shot his father with a piercing glare. “I heard you…father…” Arcturus' voice cracked as he plunged his sword expertly into every area that had been drilled into his mind by his father. He started with the wings, easily slicing into the unarmored feathers, draping a curtain of blood over the dragon’s shivering joints. He coated their white plumage with a sick layer of crimson as he worked relentlessly on a creature that had not coaxed a single whimper. Each cut from his blade was like a dagger strike to  his armored soul as he danced around the dragon like a storm of steel and destruction.

He rammed his blade against the base of the joint, and hit, and hacked, until the whole wing toppled over the ground in a gushing spray of warm blood. The dragon shivered from every of his joints. Only now Arcturus realized that the broken whimpers were not his own sniffling, but the dragon’s cries, his eyelids jerking over his tear-flooded, half-closed eyes.

“Next one, son. Strike him when he’s weak!”

Arcturus ducked under the two men that lifted the dragon’s numb leg and dug his blade up the creature's pink, fleshy, unprotected genital slit. His blade sunk through the flesh much easier than expected, and Arcturus had to wrench himself back to avoid sinking his entire blade into the dragon’s soft insides.

“There we go!” he heard his father cheering as a pair of hands pushed him back to his feet. “Do you hear that, people? The beast is poised on wetting itself!”

The dragon stared at him with pained, teary eyes. Thick strands of saliva poured down his jaw where froth gathered at the edges of his mouth.

Arcturus stared back, feeling…nothing. His nerves went completely numb, making him immune to the sharp scent of blood and the pained noises that assaulted his nostrils. It was easier to do perform when he distanced himself from his actions. This was not him, but the dark image of his father causing all the pain and suffering. The same man who used a good dragon and her hatchlings in order to cement his son’s transformation into a killer.

“Good, Arcturus, good! A fine display you’ve put up, but you have not yet finished your training. The wings and the genital slit are obvious targets, but some of the weaker spots are hidden from your eyes.”

With a flick of his fingers, Arcturus’ father had two men unwrap the dragon’s snout so they could part his jaws wide enough apart to reveal two sacks at the base of the creature’s tongue

“The fire glands,” Arcturus said with a flat, emotionless voice.

“The very root of destruction. Pluck them out, son. Show this beast what happens when a dragon plays with fire.”

Arcturus stared at the dragon’s fire glands. The things that helped him kill so many of his kin. With a swift strike, he plunged his blade into the dragon's neck and slashed wildly to the side until the things came off, forcing the dragon to literally choke on his own blood.

Arcturus backed off from the creature’s sickly coughs. This time, when he carved his way into the dragon’s flesh, he actually felt a small bit of pride. Like he was getting vengeance for the dead that had been piled up on the stands. The people that had only come to cheer him on. He retraced his sword, and lowered his head, pushing the pleased thoughts from his mind. Now came the last moment, the last thing that his father wanted of him.

Arcturus carried his limbs to the front of the dragon. He pulled his sword back and stared into the beast’s emerald eyes with an iciness uncharacteristic of a boy his age. The dragon just glared at him, with no regret for its actions. No remorse for the scores of mortals that now lay dead because of its fire, because in his mind, fulfilling a debt was more important than human lives.

A small part of Arcturus felt bad for the dragon. The dragon used wrong methods to accomplish something he considered good, but that little bit was insignificant compared to the shock of seeing his clan mates perish. Arcturus could not forgive, nor forget the screams, the pain, and all that suffering. He plunged his sword as hard as he could into the beasts eye, carrying himself right to the hilt of the sword and right into the dragon's brain, coating his arms and hands with a warm spray of red blood.

“There we go!” his father pronounced loudly, pride latching on every one of his words. “The beast is brought to deserved end and justice is finally done!” the man clasped his hand around Arcturus' shoulder so hard it made him wince.

The world faded away as Arcturus cleaned his blade and sheathed his sword. His nerves were numb, his feeling shot. He only focused on the dragoness he had helped save. He ignored the cheers of victory from the hunters, fools who still believed he was free from the dragons that had enchanted his mind. He looked up into the sky, wishing he was flying high and free as the golden dragon wanted him to, for all his father had done was cement his feelings on the subject. He was not going to be like that man, cruel and horrible. He was going to be a knight one day, protector of the innocent, defender of the weak.

“I…I’m sorry,” he closed his eyes and began to cry, tears once again coming to his eyes as the pained cries of Shining Sun echoed in his head. “I had no choice. You knew that. I had no choice…”

Arcturus jerked when a dragon’s roar echoed in the distance. He looked ahead, past the sea of tents and the trees, wondering if what he heard was real, or if it was nothing more than a manifestation of his own, broken feelings.