FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

*If you like dragons and adventures, this story is for you. Ray, a modest man with big dreams is a devourer of dragonology. Dragons are his life. He thinks about them, reads about them, and dreams about them. But what if dreams can become reality? Does a human have what it takes to become a magnificent dragon? Read and find out! There will be hatchlings involved near the very end, so make sure you don't skip on your daily dose of adorableness! *

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Ray shuffled through one more page of 'Dragon's Descent' and frowned. This promising book with a beautiful red dragon on the cover turned out to be a boring, drawn out lecture. Talrath, the protagonist of the first book in a trilogy, did the same thing he did for the last two hundred pages. He lazed in his nest, ran around the outskirts of his village and took all sorts of menial tasks from random villagers. Why was a dragon herding sheep or carrying bales of hay for lowly peasants? Ray couldn't wrap his head around such ridiculous way of thinking.

"Come on..." he turned a page, then another, eyes scanning quickly through the bulky paragraphs. Description was everywhere. The author seemed ridiculously obsessed with thatched roofs, pig farms and clothes. She described how every human looked with vivid details, forgetting about Talrath's glimmering hide or his forest green eyes. He barely got a reference to his long, bladed tail or the pale membrane knitting together his gigantic wings between the walls of description. There was an obvious bias in the humans' favor. Ray hated that. With every word, he became more and more pissed the longer he advanced into the story.

"This isn't..." he shuffled a handful of pages. "This isn't a lecture about dragons!" He ranted and closed the book with a thud. He got up from his bed, tidied his mangy hair, took a deep breath, and jabbed a finger at the beautiful dragon roaring fiercely at a band of thugs attacking his village.

"You're not a dragon," he accused angrily. "Dragons don't defend dirty peasants and go around solving simple chores. They fight, and hunt, and mate, and you're not doing any of that!'

His azure eyes moistened. Ray blinked and wiped away the tears. This was the twentieth book he read this week, and it was just like all the rest. A dull, lifeless interpretation of a dragon's life. No author seemed to have the proper knowledge concerning these magnificent creatures. They all treated them like humans, giving them ridiculous traits and thoughts. Who wanted to read about dragons kidnapping princesses or fat knights mounting up to slay them? Only fools. That was the only sensible answer Ray found.

He coughed twice. Great. His chest was all tight, and tears threatened to overflow once again. His mother always told him he frets and exhausts himself over nothing. She was no longer here to prattle her useless advice after Ray's drunk father got her in jail, along with his sorry arse. Ray never had any respect for his parents. They complained constantly about how difficult children were and how Ray ate their freedom.

Like he didn't have his own apartment or job to start with.

"Now this is stupid," Ray mumbled. "I went from pathetic dragons to disgusting parents. Is there anything else I should sulk about?"

Bills came to mind. And George, Alex, Trey and all of Ray's two faced friends. Oh, and his colleagues too. His buddies from work had no idea how to fend for themselves. They relied on others to solve their problems, using sweet words to lure any helpful individual to their cause. Ray declined again and again, but he always wanted to help and make an impact...

"Fuck that," he shook his head and walked around his room. "All of that stuff can wait. Right now I need a book," he said to himself as he looked over the titles in his bookshelf. "A real book. Something like..." he traced his fingers across the hardcover of every title until he met a scaled, silky surface. "This."

He pulled out the pine smelling book and smiled. Unlike 'Wings of Vengeance', the cover of this book was plain. Golden letters were engraved upon the sapphire leather, reading 'Dragon Chronicles.' Quite a plain title for such a voluminous work.

"Hope you're as good as your weight," Ray appreciated, measuring the weight of the tome with a half smile. Irritation still coursed through his veins, and only a good read had the chance of banishing it.

He walked to his desk, seated his back against the comfortable cushion of his tall chair, and took a peek out the window. The clear sky and the warmth of the summer invited him out of his ordinary room, but dragons were a lot more important than mundane walks. Turning back to his book, Ray pushed it open. He skimmed over the acknowledgements and all that customary nonsense and immersed himself into the pleasant lecture.

The beginning seemed promising. A family of dragons fled from their forest after humans cut down their trees and invaded their land. Ray winced at that. Dragons were fighters. They never turned tail when their offspring were threatened, but the humans had powerful mages. Flying away made a bit more sense than dying. Ray acknowledged the author's mistake with a forced nod and kept reading. The writing style was catchy and fast paced, complementing the many behavioral mistakes the author made.

"Don't think. Just read," Ray bit on his lip, turning the page. This was the last book he had left. For good or worse, he was going to finish it. Or at least attempt to.

Four chapters later, Ray closed the book with an exasperated sigh. "I...I can't. I just can't!" he shook his head in disbelief and placed his chin on the bridge of a fist. He turned a couple pages more and skimmed through most paragraphs, but the same forced prose greeted him. The hatchlings barely hatched from their beautiful eggs and greeted their parents through a very strange and formal dialogue. Not only was that extremely weird and stiff, but went against everything Ray knew about wildlife. Once they made acquaintance, the dragons started speaking about humans. Yes, the same humans that invaded and stole their home from them. Lagertha, their black scaled mother, preached about a union between dragons and humans while her mate urged caution. Out of all the possibilities he had at his wingtips, he chose fleeing. Running again like chicken on a farm field.

"This is horribleeee!" Ray complained, shuffling pages by the dozens. "Is this all there is? Dragons acting like scaly humans?"

It certainly seemed so. After an hour of skipping through the book, Ray found out how this masterpiece ended. All the hatchlings found homes among humans, elves, or other bipedal creatures. They never had the urge nor the curiosity to seek out their own kin.. Humans provided everything, even spouses for the two male dragons. Ray went to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash his face after accidentally stumbling upon a wedding ceremony. Humans married dragons! Keyara V. Pierce, the author of that disgrace of a book, was a follower of tradition.

Ray couldn't be more appalled. His hopes at finding a tether for his dreams flew on errant winds with 'Dragon Chronicles'. That was so freaking stupid. The cold water soothed Ray's rising temper. Few things angered him more than the butchering of dragon characters. Nobody had a clue on how to write true dragon prose. Nobody. Humans projected their own thoughts and emotions into the work, failing to grasp the concept of instincts and feelings.

"There's always the library though," Ray reminded himself as he wiped on a fluffy towel. "I should pay them a visit since the weather's nice and all. There has to be a proper book there. Has to be..."

Ray put the book back into his shelves of shame -as he graciously named his bookcase- and dressed himself properly. He chose a white T-shirt, brown hoodie in case the wind grew teeth, and a pair of black jeans to go with it. White and black went quite well together. A blue cap topped his outfit, followed by his striking, gold framed glasses.

Ray glanced in the mirror before leaving. His curly hair looked a bit messy, and his physique hinted at malnourishment, but he didn't care very much. Other assholes could have the girls and the means to get them. He was a man with a purpose, and right now that purpose led him to the city's library.

Panting, Ray stopped before the humongous building. Groups of three to five youths hang on the grassy patches around the Central Library, one of the biggest in the city. Were they readers too? Ray saw a book here and there, but every time he thought about socializing his face reddened and his temples throbbed. Loneliness fit him better than a group. Like dragons, he was a lone soul until he found a mate. If that ever happened. His own race seemed exquisitely drab compared to the winged predators he favored.

Ray walked towards the entrance. Two guys walked out, lost in the thrill of the conversation.

"Rider of Storms is going to release next month!" one of them said.

"I know. Isn't that like super awesome?" his friend bumped his friend's shoulder.

"Exactly! The guy is a genius. I've read the preview and it has dragons in it. Dragons and tons of action!"

"I know! I've been reading all this crap, hoping that I'd finally find a book like that."

They passed by Ray, acknowledging him with a short wave. Ray coughed. A crisp and hearty hello waited to be voiced, and instead that came out. A pathetic, scared choke. Luckily, nobody paid attention. Ray gathered himself and stepped inside the library. The humongous shelves and the smell of old books surprised him only the first hundred times he visited. Now, the friendly staff and the rows of books became something as ordinary as walking.

Ray walked straight to the fantasy section. Kindly Jay was there, fabulous as ever.

"Hello Ray!" she said with a wide smile. "You haven't visited last week. Troubles with your parents?"

"Books," he admitted as she pulled him into a hug. "You gave me quite a load."

"I know, I know," Jay laughed. "I'm a mean gal. Did you finish all of them?"

"Kind of," Ray frowned awkwardly. He disliked lying to those who liked him. "I mean yes," he corrected with a shake of his head. "Yes, I read them all."

"Aww. That means you're after a couple more, aren't you?" she smiled innocently, brown eyes glimmering with glee.

Ray nodded. "Yes. What can you offer me?"

Jay turned towards the right row. "Well lets see... I know you don't like these dark novels with blood and death."

"Not when dragons are involved."

"I know that, dear heart," she turned around, smirking. "Give me a minute to search the latest arrivals."

Ray nodded again, giving her a meek smile in return. He liked Jay. She was brilliant like the morning sun and warm as its gentle caress. He watched her as she touched and mumbled over the titles, sliding her fingers across slim and pudgy books alike. There were hundreds of books there. Maybe thousands. Ray's heart quickened. One of those had to be fit for him.

With a radiand smile, Ray approached, stretching his neck closer and closer until the titles revealed themselves. "Do you mind if I look. I can-"

"Of course you can!" Jay wrapped an arm around his neck and pulled his scrawny form closer. "Pff. Listen to him. 'Do you mind if I look'?" She repeated in that silly, melodic voice of hers, gesturing around before looking Ray straight into his eyes.

"My books are your books, and my job...well, you know about my job. If fat Joe complains about havin' my favorite reader taking a close peek, then I can shove one of these tomes up his bottom!"

"It's-it's ok," Ray chuckled. "I'm sure we won't have to get there..." he tilted 'Dragons of Doom' and winked suggestively. "Even if some of these books deserve to be thrown into a damp, dark place."

She burst into laughter. "Damp and...ghahaha...d-dark? Haaaaahaha!"

Her fit carried certain ripples. Multiple pair of eyes settled on them, some scornful, others amused.

"Jay, they're looking at us!" Ray pointed out, pretending to disregard the unwanted attention.

"Let them look," she pulled Ray closer to her warm, voluptuous body. "A bit of silly will do them good."

"No doubt about that," Ray whispered, continuing his search.

"Hmm. Silly me," Jay grumbled. "We're looking at the newest titles. This row has all the new stuff, but I will go checking the old ones as well. Poke me when you find it."

"You're leaving?"

"No way!" she bumped his arm. "Just looking on this bottom row to see if I missed something from last year or beyond."

"When was the last time you missed something, Jay?"

"Can't remember," she shot Ray a quick smile and started whispering the titles of the books.

Ray continued his own search. He started from the right and advanced left, towards the newest releases. The titles made him cringe. So many books had usual or bland names like 'Fireborn', 'StormWing' or 'IceFang'. He opted out those without even thinking. If the author was too lazy to pick a proper title, then the content of the book reflected his mediocrity. Pressing his lips, Ray went through every book until he hit the end of the shelf.

"There's..." he turned to Jay, frowning with disappointment. "There's nothing here."

"Come on," she walked towards him, throwing her arm around. "Just look at that shelf. It's full of books!"

"None interest me," Ray said plainly, hiding the contempt in his voice.

"Come on Ray..." Jay folded her arms. "There must be something that meets your sky-high expectations."

"There isn't. That's what I'm trying to tell you."

"What about this?" she pulled out the third and newest volume of 'Stormwing' and began reading the teaser.

"A dragon fights a desperate war for survival while the evil mage of the east..." she trailed off and looked at Ray. "Evil mage of the east?"

Her laughter only confirmed Ray's stone hard conviction. "See? That's not how you attract readers. Would you honestly give something like that a chance?"

"With so many books around? No way!" she placed the book back. "What about Sun Scythes?"

"Cliché." Ray answered.

"BlackWing's Betrayal?"

Ray cringed. "Cheesy and cliché."

"The Fabulous Life of the Six Golden Dragons?"

"Fairy tale for amateurs."

"You are hard to please," Jay laughed, stuffing the books back in their place. "Tell me again about your favorite titles."

Ray scratched his chin, thinking. "DragonSong comes to mind. The Undying Forest. Upon Crimson Wings," he listed the names with awe and reverence. "Those were deep books, doing justice to their characters. The dragons were not merely pawns, but fleshed out beings, with their own needs and desires."

"And what would you desire?"

"Something similar. Something that touches my heart, not only my wallet. Please tell me you have more books like that," Ray pleaded.

Jay looked again, then shook her head, obtaining a disappointed huff from the young reader.

"I'm sorry! All we received lately were these shallow fables written by shady authors. Rider of Storms should hit the shelves soon though."

"It has Dragon Riders," Ray pressed the last word.

Jay grimaced. "That tickles you the wrong way, eh?"

"Badly. Very, very badly."

"People say it's a good book though..." she said silently.

"And they are misinformed," Ray approached, face reddening with rising emotions. "Dragons are not meant to be ridden like beasts of burden. They're fierce and majestic and..."

"Ray, you're turning redder than my shirt."

"I'm sorry," he exhaled deeply. "I get invested in these topics."

"As I well know," Jay said. "Well then, if Rider of Storms falls short, Dragonology might interest you. It comes out next week and it's written from the viewpoint of your favorite beasties."

Ray's eyes brightened. "I researched about that! It's supposed to be the best up to date dragon anthology. There's EVERYTHING in it. Anatomy, different breeds, habitat, gender discrepancies, mating, hatchlings, stages of growth, and much more, one hundred percent dragon approved content!"

"Mating?" Jay smiled innocently and raised an eyebrow.

"Yes. It's...documented," Ray pretended to look over the book rows again as embarrassment took hold of him.

His plan failed. Jay approached, sneaking a hand around his neck. "What kind of mating."

"Erm, straight," Ray nodded. "Straight mating. Male and female."

"I know that, silly. How do dragons actually do the deed?"

Ray thought for a few seconds over his pounding heartbeat. He had to get out. Run. Flee. Jay was a friend though. A good friend. Being awkward around her was unnecessary.

"They mate like...Like..." Ray bit his lower lips, searching for a proper answer. "Like dogs, yes. They lick each other until they're both ready, then..."

"Then what?" Jay whispered.

"Please don't make me say that."

"I insist," she grabbed his neck, squeezing the soft muscle underneath.

Ray winced.

"You caught my interest, and now you have to satisfy it."

Ray groaned. "Ghah, alright, alright," he rubbed his sore neck once the grip receded. "The male just mounts the female and he just thrusts until you know what happens."

"Maybe I don't," Jay giggled.

"Until he cums," Ray whisper, hissing between his teeth. "Is that what you wanted to hear?"

"Kind of," she replied, squinting her playful stare. "I also want to know how the male's anatomy looks."

Ray sighed. Jay was too stubborn to let go, so he bit back his fear and annoyance and explained everything related to mating in no uncertain details. When he finished, Jay's questions vanished from her lips, replaced by a big smile and a wide, dreamy stare.

"That's...wow. It's like...wow."

"Farewell, Jay," Ray patted her shoulder.

He didn't escape so easily. Jay pulled him in a hug, mewling excitedly. "Thank you for sharing that with me. It was so sweet! It seems like a dream. How they lick and cuddle each other. Awww..."

"You only- only had to ask," Ray coughed after he pulled back from the hug.

"I'll ask more next time!"

"You better have the right book to bargain with!"

"I definitely will!" she waved, still giggling like a schoolgirl. "Byeeee!"

"See ya Jay!" Ray waved back and struggled to walk out of the library. His jeans were abnormally tight against his crotch. The talk of mating brought vivid images into his thoughts, making him as stiff as the black marble floor he treaded upon. He greeted the security guards awkwardly, passed through the double doors, and started into a jog.

"Think of trees. Think of wildlife."

Think of this and that. Nothing worked. The harder he breathed, the quicker he throbbed. Ray stopped behind a pole to catch his breath, looking left and right like a deer waiting to be pounced upon. Nobody paid attention to his bulge. Nobody aside from two girls that jogged just past him.

"Smooth," the red haired winked at him, while the blonde one simply giggled.

Ray turned around, blushing furiously. He needed to get home, fast. Sprinting did the trick. His throat was a parched mess and his lungs hurt when he opened the door to his apartment. Ray shut the door and dropped on the floor, panting. He waited five minutes for his breath to settle, but not his erection. His trapped member still pushed and poked against its fetters, demanding freedom.

"Ghaaah!" Ray pushed himself up with a groan. "Why are you doing this to me? Why? I thought about you all day. I even went through two matings..."

But with Dragons, that was never enough. Ray changed into his pajamas and jumped into his fluffy bed. With no books to read and little means to distract himself from such a sticky topic, Ray resorted to his imagination. Daydreaming was wonderfully vivid. The creativity and the sheer power of his mind surprised even the man himself. Authors trembled in defeat before the vivid scenarios rolling inside his mind, and movie directors only wished they had Ray's vision. He perfected it. Molded it. Thanks to his training, he immersed himself in his fantasies deeper than any human could.

Ray pressed his cushy blanket tighter and closed his eyes. Blackness followed, until his mind's eye awakened. With that, Ray could see every dragon in detail. Their scales sparkled in the young light of the dawn, still wet with the morning dew. A male and female they were, rubbing necks and licking snouts until they took proper mating positions.

Ray approached. He was there, with the dragons. No, he was the dragon. A blink was all it took for him to switch places. He felt the surge of instincts as his own, followed by the enveloping warmth of his mate. She was burning hotter than any human being, and squeezed him tighter than his own hand ever did.

Ray roared. He tore deep gashes into the ground as he thrust with ravenous lust. Climax rushed through him faster than he expected. With a savage roar, Ray buried himself as deep as he could, filling his mate with the love and promise of future hatchlings. She turned her neck around. A soft growl escaped her. Licks followed, warm and tender just like her silky insides. Ray licked her back. He wanted to taste and smell more of her. He wanted to push deeper. Deeper...

He blinked. The trees and the song of nature vanished, revealing a blank ceiling. He blinked again. Further details rearranged themselves. A light bulb near the center of the white ceiling. Windows to the right, spilling the warm light over a cluttered desk. Ray traced his room all the way to the left, where dragon paintings hung over the walls and sculptures rested on his elongated nightstand.

"Darn. Lost it again..." Ray sighed. He was back in his boring room and into his colorless, ordinary life. Only a trace of warmth lingered between his legs, reminding him of the silvery dragoness and the warm tongue sliding across his snout.

Ray groaned. His underwear was completely soaked. He took a quick shower, cooked himself an easy meal and read one of his favorite books from start to finish. By the time he finished, the sky turned black and he was tired enough to turn in for a proper sleep. He munched on a few crackers, looking over the dragon paintings while the sound of crunching filled his ears. He needed more art. A direct drawing on the ceiling seemed particularly enticing. Waking up to a pair of dragons was almost as good as a vivid dream.

Ray wrote a reminder on his schedule book and jumped straight into the bed. He thought of hunting amidst the high peaks of a lush valley. He dove through the abnormally large canopy of the Elder trees, settling his eyes on a deer with a wolf's head and a scaly thing for a tail. Ray beat his wings. He twisted between trees and followed his prey until his wings hurt. No matter how much he strained, he never made any progress. He continued beating his wings again, and again, until sleep washed over him like the warm embrace of a dragon's wing.

The gentle thrumming of rain slithered into Ray's ears. He opened his eyes, blinking several times to clear his blurry vision. Strangely enough, no dragon dreams accompanied him in his sleep.

"This will be a bad day," he pushed himself up from the bed with a tired groan. "I can feel it."

His head felt tight, the temperature was cold enough to make him shiver, and his left leg throbbed with a nasty morning cramp. Ray put his socks on, and the shoes quickly followed. They took him all the way to the kitchen, where the coffee maker eagerly awaited to be turned on. Ray flipped the switch and oiled his frying pan. He liked to prepare breakfast before sleeping. The coffee grinder was filled, the eggs and the bacon were just on the left of the frying pan, and the pan itself awaited its fine meal. Ray placed everything in and turned the omelet from side to side until it acquired a golden color. He flipped it onto a clean plate, took his cup out of the coffee machine, and seated himself with a satisfied sigh. He had good food and plenty of coffee to wash the morning drowsiness away.

Ray ate quickly. He normally took his time with breakfast, but the pounding rain made him giddy. Its ethereal song had a musical tinge to it, a rush that emboldened him to match its rhythm. So Ray ate fast, washed everything even faster, and ran towards his room. Healthy downpours rarely hit this hard. This was a one time occasion to experience the thrill he always dreamed of. Ray took a quick peek out the window. Nobody was out on the streets. He couldn't count even one human figure. Served them right. A dragon had no problems braving storms, whereas humans huddled inside their dens when their comfort was threatened.

Ray was nothing like that. He had a dragon's spirit, and the determination to live his life to the fullest. He found his raincoat quickly and dressed himself with the same clothes he wore yesterday. He opened the door towards the hallway and got a pair of water resistant shoes. The brown wasn't a perfect match for his black jeans, but who was around to criticize?

"Nobody cares. I look-" Ray's tongue twisted. The words left his open mouth in a long gasp. The mirror was covered in raindrops, and his own image was impossible to discern. Ray blinked twice and slapped himself. The pain felt real, along with the pinch that burned in his left hand.

"I'm not dreaming," he stated, extending a hand towards the mirror. Strangely, the water was lukewarm to the touch. He wiped it with a single swipe of his hand, then looked again.

His eyes widened. Other droplets replaced the previous ones. Ray wiped the mirror twice, then thrice, obtaining no different results.

"What the heck is this?" He grabbed a nearby coat and used it to absorb the water. It got wet, yet at the same time the droplets replenished themselves, blocking out his reflection.

"This isn't real," he placed both hands on the glass and felt the moisture underneath his palms. "Maybe just not as real as it seems."

He stood there for a couple of moments, straining to discern the image behind the glass. Was that him? Certain colors did not match. There were specks of red, gold and green, whereas he wore only monochrome clothing.

Ray swiped the mirror as fast as he humanly managed. It took a fraction of a second to peek, but he still obtained the same result. He drew back with a soft curse upon his lips and opened the door of his apartment. Nobody stood in the hallway. An eerie silence hung over the block, dispelled only by the sound of falling rain. Ray closed the door behind him and took the stairs. He did not trust his elevator to behave properly after the mirror incident. Once he climbed down the rows of stairs, he went out into the downpour.

If it poured before he left his apartment, now the sky was completely flooding the street. Ray pulled up his hoodie and went into the downpour. Large drops fell and surrounded him, bearing the same gentle warmth as the one coating his mirror. He extended a hand, testing them.

"This is too weird," he mumbled. The air was colder than the rain itself! "Maybe I should go back to-"

His lips froze when a gentle clink swished upon the winds. Ray strained his ears and looked around. There was nothing and no one around that could produce such suave sound, yet it came again and again like a gentle, haunting whisper. The melody picked up and softened every time the wind increased, matching the rhythmic pelt of the droplets. What kind of dream was this?

Ray found the answer when a large shadow crossed the street just a short distance away from him. It moved fast, but a dragon obsessed fanatic such as him recognized that shape within a blink.

Ray ran. He jumped over the puddle forming at the edge of the paved street and followed the slithering shadow. Like in his scenario with the wolf headed deer, the shadow kept ahead at every turn. Unlike before, Ray didn't give up. He was lucid and in full control of his actions, and was not about to give up this chase. He followed the shadow between alleys and across streets, stopping only when his throat stung.

He leaned against something and panted. The rain became impossibly heavy. It covered everything, forming a curtain of flowing water. Ray barely saw the cars across the street. He had troubles recognizing his own hand if he held it in front of him. When he looked down, Ray only saw water. It had a strange purity to it, and seemed as solid as the ground he kept trying to recognize.

"I'm freaking dreaming," Ray shook his head quickly. He couldn't be walking on water...could he?

The melody picked up, as did the rain. It fell down like a waterfall, trailing on each side of his head. Ray removed his hoodie and allowed the water to wash over him. He closed his eyes, basking in the warm, soothing embrace. He opened his mouth, allowing the liquid to fall into his mouth. It had a sweet fragrance to it, and he swallowed more. Before he took the fifth gulp, the stream stopped.

Ray opened his eyes. The rain vanished, as did the melody. For a few, panicked moments, he only heard the repeated thrums of his heartbeat. He pressed himself tighter against his support until one of his hands touched it. It had a roughness to it. Like...bark. The bark of a tree.

Ray turned his head back. He was leaning against a tree, for he was inside one of the wildest parks he set his eyes upon. Trees rose all around, shadowing the warm light of the sun with their rich canopies. Birds sang joyously from the safety of their branches, creating a tune not unlike the hum of rain.

A wave of soft relaxation washed over Ray. He dreamt of living in such a lush place. Slowly, he pulled away from his tree and walked around, bending to touch the tall grass with his fingers. The scents of nature rose all around him, delighting every one of his senses. Ray smiled, then found himself laughing. This dream was better than he expected. He looked around, taking in the wild sights until something eerie caught his attention.

Purple? He never saw a flower so puffy before. Ray approached slowly, circling the large tree until his foot was within striking distance. He prodded at the fluff, then watched it disappear faster than he could blink.

"Whoa," he drew back, only to bump into something too wide and warm to be a tree.

Ray turned around slowly. Smoothly. Hesitantly. He had no idea what manner of creature or thing lurked behind him until he caught glimpse of scales. Purple, glimmering scales, covering everything all the way to that slim forepaw. It seemed to belong to a-

"Hello!"

Ray opened his mouth to scream, breathe and exhale at the same time, but he managed none of that. He stumbled back, tripping on his own legs. He fell awkwardly on his back, embracing the soft earth with his bottom.

"Gah!" He picked himself up just enough to stare at the creature crouching before him. You- you're a...a..."

"Neither a choke, nor 'a'. Try again, dear."

Ray tried to speak, but his jaw refused to bulge and his tongue twisted awkwardly inside his mouth. She was the most beautiful creature he ever laid eyes upon. Her sleek, serpentine body was with different shades of amethyst scales, getting smaller as they advanced towards her extremities. A thick, violet mane flowed across her neck, surrounding her sleek shoulders before giving way to a row of upturned fangs. The golden spikes curved back towards her tail, giving way to the hyacinth fluff once again as they stopped just behind her lean flanks.

"You're a dragon..." Ray whispered softly. "A beautiful, serpent-like dragon."

"Still not close enough," she approached slowly, placing one paw over the other across the grassy soil until she was a few meters away from him.

"I'm a Rakur. Well, Rakura," she smiled. "Female version of the same species. We are what you humans would call dragons, but not quite."

Ray nodded quickly. He still couldn't believe what he was seeing. Dragons filled his imagination and dreams for many years, but he never stumbled upon one so glorious. The serpent-like female crouched before him, touching the grass with the pale violet scutes of her belly.

"A-are you real?" Ray asked, blinking.

The female lifted a forepaw and sneaked her indigo tongue between her toes, touching the tips of her snow white claws.

"You tell me," she growled playfully and rolled on her back, exposing her pale underside. It had a very soft shade of violet, flowing from her lower jaw all the way to her fluffy tail tip.

Ray blinked again. He watched in utter amazement how she arched her tail backwards, sliding its sinewy length between her playful paws. With a quick nip, she grabbed the fluffy tip in her mouth and threw Ray a playful glance.

She looked so cute and beautiful and amazing! His fascination urged him to go to her. Pet her and cuddle her and share all the words of praise he could think of.

Yet nothing happened. His body was glued to the earth, and his mouth to stiff to form proper words.

"Oh, you can approach," the dragoness lashed out with a forepaw, barely missing his leg. "I promise not to bite."

"Snakes eat their prey whole," Ray found himself saying, then bit his tongue. Where did that come from? School? Highschool? Such bad jokes should have been banned.

"Too bad I'm not a serpent. You look somewhat tasty though," she licked her snout, hissing a strange form of laughter.

Ray smiled too. "I...I may?" He extended a shaky hand.

"Of course! I'm not presenting myself like this for nothing!"

Her forepaws gripped him when he was halfway to her gold plated snout. Ray laughed excitedly. He was being hugged by a dragon! The female pushed him firmly to her chest, then brought her antlered head to his level.

"So what do you say? Am I real enough for you?"

Ray bowed his head, extending a hand to her twitching nostrils. "Can-can I?"

He shouldn't have asked. The dragoness shoved her snout into his chest so hard he coughed.

"You may now," an onrush of warm air followed her words.

Ray's heart thundered inside his breast. He cupped her snout, touching everything from her smooth, solid scales to the leathery whiskers flowing from each side of her snout. She was truly an exotic being, with a warm breath and even warmer fur. Ray sunk his hands into her silky mane, gasping softly.

"Warm..."

"Yes you are," she sniffed his chest with short puffs of heated gusts.

Ray was unprepared for her tongue. The slimy eel slid across under his jaw, leaving behind a damp trail of saliva across his shirt.

"Did you just lick me?" He shivered with giddiness.

"I wanted to catch a taste," the dragoness slid her tongue around his ear. "You are one of the few humans I encountered."

Ray squirmed as the wet tongue played around his head.

"I'm honored," Ray scratched around her ears, making her hum with obvious delight. "If I were a dragon, I would not spend a single minute among humans."

"Why?" she asked softly.

"Because we're drab. Uninteresting. And nowhere as majestic and beautiful as dragons," Ray spoke the words from his very soul. He hated being a human. Every day reminded him of his mediocre condition, and of the mundane things he had to do for a living.

"And us?" the dragoness drew her head back, blinking her golden eyes. "How would you measure one such as me?"

"I wouldn't measure," Ray said quickly, sliding a hand underneath her jaw. "I would touch, and feel..." he slid down her neck, all the way to her forepaws.

He grabbed one between his hands, feeling the smooth pads resting underneath the rough scales of her foot. He traced the small scales across each finger, touching the claws with obvious fascination before moving to a meaty flank. The dragoness growled softly, lifting one of her hind legs. Her underbelly lay completely exposed.

Ray gasped through his half parted mouth. He read about this in books. Dragonesses did this for their mates or other dragons, but he was a human! It was undeserving of him to massage her flanks and touch her so closely around a most private and sensitive area.

"Proceed," the dragoness encouraged him, flexing her nimble toes lazily. "I like your touch. Stronger than I expected from such a frail being."

Ray gulped and crawled on his fours until he reached her lower belly. He placed both hands around a meaty flank and massaged the strong muscle underneath. Shivers coursed underneath the tough scales, traveling across the dragoness' belly like riptides of delight until they climbed up her throat. A soft, sensual growl left her maw, and her leg gently kicked, urging Ray to continue. He massaged every bone and tendon, including all her curling toes. She especially liked that. Dragons were probably very sensitive around there, judging from the female's excited hissing. Such elation became a lot more obvious when Ray's eyes fixed on a delightfully tempting sight.

Her vent twitched, spurting a glob of hot liquescence. The fluid smeared and dribbled over her scales, leaving them slick and shiny. Ray slowly shifted to her other leg, working his aching fingers in the same manner as before. He tried switching his gaze upon her tail, the ground or anything that did not include her privates, but he failed. Each pitch in her growl reminded him of her enjoyment. He stared, long and hard, until his member became as tough as the female's amethyst scales.

"Tail too," she demanded, pushing the fluffy tip into Ray's face. He grabbed it with one hand and removed the tangles from her luxurious fur.

"All of it."

"Shu-sure," Ray mumbled. He worked from tip to base, thinking only of her vivid gender. He wondered how many dragons mated her, and how they felt doing it. Such lustful images quickened his blood and picked at his determination until it slowly crumbled. When Ray reached the base of her tail, he purposefully slid a hand over the wet mess she made.

The dragoness snarled over his surprised gasp.

"Not there," she scrambled on her paws.

Ray drew back as if struck. He made a mistake. A huge oopsie. He should have ran or apologize, but instead he only stared at the ground, dumbfounded. Her quick movement revealed a glimpse of her drenched insides. She curled around him like nothing happened, and brought her beautiful head around.

Ray turned to her, red with embarrassment."I'm sorry! I'm- I know I shouldn't have touched there, and...oh jeez..." he bowed his head and facepalmed.

"Curiosity is not a sin, so don't fret about it," she nuzzled his forehead.

"But I-"

"You did nothing. Trust me."

Ray gulped. Maybe dragons had a different view on this. "I still need to make up for it. Please give me a chance to right my wrongs."

A bright smile stretched across her lips, revealing rows of sharp teeth. "Chance is the reason I'm here!"

"Really? Why-"

She loved to interrupt. Ray found himself grabbed before he had the chance to finish his words. He screamed as the earth and sky switched places, but found her warmth most agreeable.

"I have been watching you for a while, Ray. Your thoughts are pure and your desire to become one of us has been felt across the fabric of the worlds."

"Worlds?"

She squeezed him closer to her chest, drawing out a cough from the trapped human.

"There is only one question I seek answer to."

"And...that is?" Ray struggled to speak.

Her grip lessened as she pressed her warm nose against his face.

"Do you want to become one of us? You can have a pair of wings to brave the skies, strong limbs to carry you across the earth, and power to defend life against those who threaten it."

Her breath didn't allow room for a reply. Ray turned around, slightly nauseous, and coughed two times.

"It's this problem I have," he lied. "Polen make me sneeze and cough, and there's plenty of..." he looked around, seeing only grass. "...things around," he finished.

"Have no concern," the female slapped her tail. "I only want your answer."

"Yes!" he looked into her fiery eyes. "I would give anything and pay any price to become one of the dragons I always loved and admired."

"Excellent!"

She assaulted him before Ray had the chance to defend himself. That warm, moist tongue was all over him, sliding between every gap and licking him all over.

"Can...can stop now," Ray drawled, breathless with laughter.

"Only because I'm excited for your first trial," the female said. "Licking is something you need to get used to once you become a proper Rakur."

"No doubt about that. So what are these tests?"

"Trials," the dragoness corrected. "Your mind will be tested. Your willpower will be tested. All you are outside this mortal coil will be judged before your rebirth."

Ray remained wordless. She really meant all those words. He didn't know if this was still a dream or not. Everything felt awfully real. Ray had such deceptions before though, and every morning he awoke to the blank ceiling and the lifeless dragons hung on his left wall was another bland day. Dream or not, he wasn't about to waste such chance.

With excitement running through his veins and a determined, booming voice, Ray voiced his answer.

"Lets begin then!"

"I knew you would say that," the female coiled around him. Before Ray could make sense of her actions, she roared. A wave of dizziness washed over him. His legs buckled, and his balance wavered.

Ray fell. He didn't know why or how, but he fell until he felt something solid once again. He blinked his blurry eyes, trying to discern what he landed upon. He smelled grass and other vegetation. A lush land, probably. He pushed his hands into the sandy earth and got up. Trees rose around him. The kind one only encountered in the desert.

"Palm trees? What the...?" Ray looked around. He stood on top of a hill, nestled in a lush patch of vegetation. Sand spread as far as his eyes saw outside the oasis, golden as the sun bearing down upon its arid dunes.

"Fancy..." the human mumbled as his eyes set on the watering hole. It was teeming with wildlife! He saw crocks, gazelles of all kinds, predators, and even fishes jumping out of the aquamarine pool. He took a step forward.

"Welcome to my trial!"

Ray turned around so quickly, his balance wavered. He gripped thick ferns with both hands, stabilizing his wavering weight.

"Jeez, that's what I call stalking," he said. "What happened to your...body?"

The serpentine dragoness hissed with laughter. "I left it behind!"

"You...what? How does that even work?"

"Quite simply," the dragoness said. "But I'm not here to offer explanations. This here is your trial," she waved a paw, encompassing the entire oasis. "Well mine, since I created it, but I don't need to take it since I'm already pure and sparkly."

Ray moved forward to touch her. His hand slid right through her ghostly form. The violet particles tickled his skin, blazing with a soft, warm radiance.

"Warm too," Ray observed. The dragoness pretended to coil around him, trapping his small body between all her paws.

Ray couldn't help but smile. He touched her snout and she pretended to bite, blinking her fiery eyes in quite an innocent way. She was such a playful and light hearted dragoness!

"Couldn't feel that," he chuckled when a jolt of energy shot through his arm.

"OW!"

"Sounds like you felt that one," she hissed with amusement.

"You're cheating now!"

"I play by the rules, human. There's no rule breaking involved when I make all the rules."

"So this is what this trial is about? Me getting - OW!"

"Not exactly. And before you complain, that was the last one."

Ray wanted to do just that. He opened his mouth, then left it like that as the dragoness passed right through his body and crouched in front of him, sliding her tail underneath a forepaw.

"This is a trial meant to test your selflessness. Are you kind? Brave to stand up for those who cannot defend themselves? Careful of their well being?"

Ray thought a bit and nodded. "I...kind of am."

"No no," she licked her snout. "You need to be."

"How?" he folded his hands.

"In order to pass this trial, you must prove your selflessness to me."

"I was just about to-"

"Through actions, human," the dragoness interrupted with a short hiss. "Words can be woven and spoken in many different ways. It is deeds that define us, and show what lurks within our hearts."

Ray allowed the information to sink in. "Alright then. I understand. How do I prove myself?"

"That is up to you to discover."

She vanished into a cloud of purple sparks before he could ask anything. Ray closed his eyes. When he opened them, only the vegetation before him greeted his eyes.

"How common," he paced around. "You could at least...gah! I knew this would happen. The hero is always left with a cryptic advice to solve by himself. I've read that in a book!"

No answer came. Ray laughed at his stupid realization and climbed down towards the watering hole. He could pass these trials without breaking a sweat. Books were amazing at teaching tricks.

But they did not mention what one was supposed to do when faced with a pride of lions. Two of the felines fixed their golden stares on him.

"I'm just... Just passing."

Their ears flicked, and before Ray said anything else, the lionesses were upon him. He turned around, but couldn't manage to take a single step before teeth wrapped around his neck.

He gasped. The canopy of the palm trees loomed above him, and insects buzzed all around. Ray shoved and kicked at empty air until he realized his folly.

"They're not on me," he whispered. "Not on me."

His heart pounded, and the fear still burned strong in his frozen veins. Trial or not, that bite felt as real as the shivers claiming his body. Ray waited until his blood settled and his temples stopped pounding.

The dragoness mentioned selflessness. Obviously he had to do something selfless, but what? Ray pondered, picking at the soft leaves of a fern. Waiting was useless, and he started to realize thinking was the same. All his mind conjured was dragons. Not a single drop of useful advice resided there.

"Why do I have to pass trials anyway? This is stupid," Ray rose on his feet. He knew that was the exact reason for his tests. Whiny brats had no place among such magnificent creatures, so he swallowed his pride and balmed his hurt ego on a long walk around the oasis.

That's when he noticed two things. The sun never moved in the sky, and leaving was not an option. Every time he touched the sands outside the oasis, Ray found himself on his back in the same position he entered this strange world.

The oasis had to be the key. Ray approached, being punished each time he was too loud or quick by either panthers, giant spiders, or other horrible predators. He noticed everything had a pattern, so after a handful of tries he managed to find a safe position behind a rocky outcrop. What he still needed to learn was the nature of his task.

Selflessness. What was it related to? Ray watched as the animals drank. It looked like a wildlife documentary. Antelopes approached vigilantly, weary of the crocodiles stalking beneath the water. The lions came after the prey departed, drinking their fill until they too left. Ray waited, and waited, and waited, staring at the jumping fish. When nothing happened, he jumped in the water and hugged the first crocodile he encountered. Gaping jaws embraced him.

And then he found himself in a bed of fresh vegetation. Ray repeated his previous steps, obtaining the same results. He had to get involved. Be selfless. Prove himself. Yet the nature of his task still eluded him. Nature just seemed to follow its course even inside this strange world. Predators hunted the prey, trimming the weak from the healthy individuals.

The weak! Ray's eyes widened with the light of realization. He died and started all over again, watching the antelopes with newfound fascination. Selfless individuals always stood up to those who couldn't protect themselves. Ray noticed that, and more. The hunting had a pattern too. One of the young calves always found itself trapped between a crocodile's jaws.

That was who Ray needed to save. He reset the trial, then approached the small herd with careful consideration. He waited in the bush until the proper time came, then sprung forth, scaring all the antelopes away. They scattered and ran, attracting the attention of a lioness.

"Darn!" Ray ran after her.

She just tackled the young fawn, preparing to sink its large fangs into its frail neck. Ray jumped and kicked the tawny feline as hard as he could. Its head tilted under the impact, and the upcoming snarl seemed a lot more ferocious than a whimper of pain. Ray punched her nose, obtaining a paw right across his chest. The claws slid right through his shirt, lacerating the soft skin underneath.

Ray fell back under the momentum of the blow. Blood flew from his wound, splashing on the vegetation below. He bit back the pain with a grunt and fought for his life. He punched and scratched, aiming for the eyes. The lioness was upon him with two huge paws and a big, looming head. It took all of Ray's strength to keep her huge head at bay, but it wasn't enough. Her slimy fangs slipped between his fingers, and her claws rarely stood still.

"Run, you fool!" He glanced back at the tripping fawn. "Run before-"

Ray screamed, finding one of his arms shattered between the lioness' strong jaws. He hit and flailed with the other one, but pain made him weak and dizzy. With a jerk of her head, the feline ripped his bloody arm off and snarled in his face. Ray screamed in pain and sheer terror. He was about to die, and there was nothing he could do. With his depleted strength, he kicked at her belly thrice and lacerated her oozing nose. That only proved a mere distraction for the bigger predator. With a swift bite, the lioness tore into his throat.

Ray choked. His eyes overflowed with tears of pain, and air refused to enter through his crushed throat. He never imagined dying felt so cruel. He threw his head back, watching the little fawn leap away on uncertain legs. He proved his selflessness, and paid the ultimate price.

With a strained gurgle, Ray closed his eyes. Specks of light danced before his eyes, and cold shivers claimed his trembling flesh. His fading instincts still urged him to fight. To survive.

To do something!

Ray jerked and kicked his legs, awakening with a long, choking gasp. He still felt strangled under the lioness' crushing grip, despite the air flowing through his open mouth. He kicked and swiped the pelting rain, blinking rapidly. He wasn't under her. He wasn't dying.

Ray stilled his quickened breath and looked around, arms wrapped around his exposed form. It was cold. So cold. Rain fell down from a sky too dark and burdened with looming clouds. Each drop felt colder than the last, pelting his exposed body with relentless chills.

"An-another trial," Ray rubbed his freezing palms together. "It's just another trial."

He breathed into his palms and rubbed himself to keep warm while he looked around for shelter. Grasses rose all around, whipped and bended by the lashing winds. Nothing rose higher than the occasional bush, and the vegetation was too thin to make a proper shelter. The only hope was provided by the clutch of mountains rising in the distance. Their dark shapes pierced the very clouds, but they seemed so far, so distant...

Ray got on his feet, shaking all over. "Hello-Hello?" his voice crackled under his trembling teeth. "Who's in charge of this trial?"

"I am," a thunderous voice answered. Ray squeezed his eyes shut when a lightning bolt struck the earth a few paces away from him. When he blinked, he saw a dragon of pure light standing before him. He had a big, muscular form, with four legs supporting his massive bulk and two wings sheltered at its sides. He padded forward, yellow eyes narrowing.

"So you are the little human Niyue bragged about."

Ray bowed his head, nodding stiffly. "Ny-Niyue? Was she the...the dragoness from bef-before?"

"Indeed," the dragon crouched, bringing his trident-shaped tail tip around a forepaw. "Her trial was simple. What I am about to test is far more...enduring," he said the last word with a rumbling growl that instilled doubt into anyone lesser than a dragon.

Ray shivered. "What must I do?"

"It's quite simple. Shelter is an integral part of life. It offers protection and a safe haven for defenseless offspring. It is also what I chose for my trial," the dragon turned his head around, light fizzling through his ethereal form. "See those mountains?"

"They're far..."

"But still close enough to see them."

"Right. That's right."

The lightning dragon hissed, whipping his head around so fast Ray stumbled back. "Yet you seem displeased. Disheartened. Afraid."

"All of those, your...your brightness," Ray looked into his blazing eyes, then right back at the ground. He did feel weak and incapable of fulfilling the dragon's task. The last trial still lived in his memory. All that gruesome pain and the fear begged him to reconsider and just flee. Run back to his ordinary life where he was warm and safe.

"Purge that taint from your heart, little human. If you invite darkness inside you, then darkness will shroud every joy."

Ray gritted his teeth. "And what am I supposed to do? I'm cold and weak. I can't...can't run a hundred miles in this!" he swiped his hands around, shoving the water off his drenched clothes.

"Endure," the dragon snarled, revealing rows of terrifying teeth. "If a trickle of water breaks your determination, then a human body is better suited for you."

The dragon's form vanished in the roar of thunder.

"No, wait!" Ray shouted. "I didn't mean what I said!'

Too late. Every trace of light dispersed into the encroaching darkness. Ray's words vanished in the howling wind, where no living being could hear them.

Defeated and battered, he fell on the sticky mud, facing the weeping sky. Surrounded by cold and darkness, Ray cursed silently. He could have obtained wisdom to use in the trial, and instead he complained and ranted. As if that did any good. He wanted to be a dragon more than anything, yet the trials seemed a lot harder than he anticipated. Maybe they were made specifically for dragons. It still seemed surreal to Ray that he was in another world or dimension, fighting to become a dragon.

What if everything was a lie? A deceit covered with tasteful intentions? Or perhaps just another wishful dream? Nobody could know. Nobody aside from Ray.

He planted a fist on the ground and rose with an angry groan. Dream or not, he wasn't about to waste this one chance. Ray shook the water off his soggy shirt and shielded his eyes from the rain. The mountains seemed far, but...

"What's tha?" he squinted. A flicker of light burned defiantly against the rain at the foot of a mountain. The dragon didn't want him to quit. He wanted him to endure the cold and succeed!

"I'm not weak," the human grumbled. "I was chosen for this task, and by all that I have, I will endure!"

He took his first step proudly, despite the debilitating cold. Slowly, Ray warmed his walk into a a jog, then a slow run. Deep, measured breaths helped him maintain his speed and avoid untimely fatigue. Mud splashed under his drenched trainers and his skin almost felt numb from the cold. Nevertheless, Ray kept up a reasonable speed. The burning light ahead stirred his determination and chased away his doubts. Warmth and comfort awaited him. Just a few more steps, and the trial would be over.

Ray told himself those words each time doubt prodded at his consciousness. He was tired. His muscles stung and trembled with exhaustion, and his neck felt heavy.

He stopped, panting. A glance at the campfire gave him a measure of strength, but it seemed so far. He had been running for what felt like hours. Ray bit his lip and rested his rapid breath. When he was ready, he ran again, repeating the process until he fell from exhaustion.

"Darn..." he whispered, embracing the mud with his knees. He planted his trembling arms on the ground, barely keeping himself away from falling face first on the wet mud. He wiped his eyes on his shoulder and looked again at the mountains. Hopelessness crashed into him when he realized how far their shapes were.

"I can't...can't quit." Ray cried out. "I've no life to return to. No life! And these clothes are too freaking heavy!" Ray unburdened himself of his drenched attire during his fit. He threw his shirt to the right and removed his trainers and pants, remaining only in his underwear. It seemed crazy, but the rain lost a part of its sting.

"Bring it," Ray slapped his hands, a scowl of determination stretching over his squinted eyes. He dashed ahead and leaped over a bush with surprising speed.

Ray screamed, unleashing all the taint of doubt and fear he harbored inside him. Without the burden of those useless clothes weighting him down, Ray found out he ran faster, tired harder, and endured a lot more. Rain fell and pelted his naked skin, but he did not feel its bite. Wind whipped and chilled his exposed flesh, and he gritted his teeth at its touch. The earth slowed him down, yet every step sent him soaring, broking free of the mud's treacherous grip.

When fire filled his heart and lightened his soul, Ray saw his trial for what it was: an obstacle to overcome. The meaning of endurance revealed itself to him when he cast his doubts aside. So he ran, rested, then ran some more until the mountains themselves gave way before his relentless determination.

Ray rushed towards the light, emboldened by its warmth. It shifted and changed, erupting like a dragon's blazing breath. The blanket of living flames spread throughout the clouds, melting them until the sun burst through.

Ray closed his eyes, blinded by the intense light. Warmth flooded him, soothing his sore muscles. He delighted in the gentle touch for a few heartbeats before the sensation of nausea returned, stealing away his senses.

"Is he dead?"

"Dead? No, no. He's still breathing."

"But he looks dead."

"Caw caw. Cease this nonsense."

"As if your caws make any."

"Listen, you morons. He stirs."

Ray blinked. His eyes felt unreasonably heavy.

"He is alive, just as I said!"

A bestial growl followed, then a pair of throaty caws. Birds and lions? What was this trial about? Ray pushed himself up and found himself staring at a pair of black, ethereal feet.

"Welcome, fledgling," a smooth voice said. Ray looked up to see the proud shape of a rather large dragon. His azure eyes bore into his, black slits widening in the lack of light.

"H-hello." Ray managed to say.

"He has manners," the squeaky voice intervened.

"Not all of us are as...roughly edged as you, Rhany!"

The dragon growled softly, silencing the voices. "My minions get excited when I bring new recruits before them. Pay no mind to their chatter."

Ray nodded, but he couldn't avoid sneaking a glance. He was surrounded by a dozen pillars of black stone. Each had runes and images carved into its surface, and four made convenient perches for the creatures settled above. Ray saw a golden lion with a luxurious pale mane, a human dressed in a strange, tribal attire that sat with his arm crossed, a sapphire vulture with startlingly long plumes and...a dragon? He couldn't tell. The trial keeper sat on his haunches, summoning Ray's attention with a curt growl.

"You find yourself before a trial of pride, human. My name is not important, just as yours is irrelevant to me or my kin. Do you have the necessary conviction to become one of us? Or find your decisions swayed like leaves in the wind?"

"I know what I want to be," Ray said.

"Good," the dragon flared his black wings. "That means you will have no problems to prove it."

With a flap, he blazed into nothingness.

"That was fast," the human said drily.

"Of course. The master has more important tasks than guide simple minded fools."

Ray turned around, scowling. "Who said that?"

"He's looking at you, Rhany," a smooth, silky voice replied.

The vulture flapped her wings and dug her head between the lightning-shaped cobalt feathers. "Do I look like I care?"

"No, you look quite exquisite, my dove."

That one was deeper. Ray looked towards the strange draconic creature. It seemed busy preening one of its wings, giving the human a perfect opportunity for a retort.

"Such sweet words. Makes me think of how you acquired those pigeon wings, Rentzy."

"Grawr!" a throaty roar interrupted the noise.

"Arston is getting aggressive," Rhany observed.

"Only because I want to get this done so I can..."

"Can what?" the human asked.

The lion rose on his fours and snarled. "Patrol my territory. Hunt. Mate. I don't know!" he empathized that with a growl. "Anything is better than doing trials."

"The master won't like hearing that."

"Only if one of you tells him."

"Maybe I will!" the hybrid said. "He promised me an improvement. I'm thinking of a soft, bushy tail like Niyue's!"

"Rentzy, that was five trials ago, and you're none the prettier." the human snickered.

The hybrid made a strange, screeching noise. "Ouch. I almost felt insulted."

"Good, because your fat paws too deserve a compliment."

"Humans..." Rhany cawed, fluttering her wings. Arston rumbled approvingly.

Ray slapped a hand to his forehead. If this was a trial of annoyance, these four fools were doing a good job at it.

"Fledgling's crying!" Rhany the thunderbird cawed.

"I just may if this elaborate discussion keeps its pace," Ray ranted.

"He has quite a mouth. Maybe you should start, Anze. Put this offspring of yours into place before I eat him."

Ray went away from the menacing hybrid.

"I guess you're right, even if I hate to admit that" the human sighed and motioned Ray to approach. "Alright then, lets do this so my dear feline can mate in our name."

The lion whined softly. "Sounds good, yet..."

"The quicker the better! Isn't that what you advised?"

"Before I started grooming," the lion pointed out, holding a forepaw in his mouth.

"So you want me to wait until your tongue makes love to your paw?" Anze chuckled.

"Caw!"

"I agree with my beloved. Preening is important! Maybe you should give us a bit of-"

"Whatever, beasties. I'm starting," he summoned a luminescent shard in his hand. The other creatures roared, screeched and cawed with obvious desperation. The chorus lasted only for a few seconds, stopping abruptly. All the other creatures fell silent as the prison of light shattered, illuminating all the pillars. The carvings flared to life, lighting the intricate patterns webbing across the dark stone.

"Trial is hereby in session!" Anze declared with a wide smile on his face. "And yes, it feels much better to hear the wind over your annoying prattling. Don't you love it when we get turns to speak?"

No answer came. Ray had to hold back his laughter when the others continued their self grooming, paying no more attention than before.

"Gah. " he looked at Ray. "Bloody piles of feathers and fur, they are. I'm telling you, fledgling, those two buzzards and that crazy mewler are more effective at driving people away than my jokes."

Ray nodded slowly, pretending to understand. "Is this part of the trial?"

"Souls, no! I just felt the need to rant a little before we get started." The human seated on the edge of his pillar, crossing his legs. He dragged his voice, rubbed his palms, and placed them on his knees.

"So tell me, is this your first time?"

"Yes."

Anze scoffed. "That means I have to go through the rules again. Alright...it's very simple. Me and my select group of companions are powerful. Like, immensely powerful."

"Like Gods?" Ray leaned against the pillar.

Anze chuckled when the boy drew back, cursing. "It's hot."

"You should've warned me!" Ray suckled on his burned finger.

"Yes, but I chose not to," he smiled, revealing his pristine teeth. "Some things are told. Some are discovered by through sheer brilliance or stupidity. I prefer the latter."

"Thank you," Ray smiled drily.

"My pleasure. Now, as I was saying, we can all grant wishes, powers and desires. Choose my offer, and you can skip past this stupid trial and jump straight to the end. Simple. Efficient. Fast."

"That fast?" Ray inquired.

"Mhm," Anze nodded.

"Is this a trick?"

"Oh no, dear man!" he gestured. "No lies allowed. It burns me you would think such of your own kin!"

"The humans I know are quite proficient at lying and deceiving."

"I'm obviously better than them," Anze laughed. "Now, will you accept?"

Ray thought for a moment. "All gifts come with a price," he turned eyes away from the human and analyzed the pillar. The carvings made no sense to his eyes. Lines were too jagged, ending before forming coherent shapes. Skipping seemed to be a fit attribute for Anze.

"True. My price is...this body," his hands flowed sinuously from the top of his long crimson hair to the wild leathers covering his feet.

"I'm to become a savage?" Ray chuckled.

"No, dear man! You will retain your body in its pure, unaltered form and gain unbearable speed and intellect. You will be faster than anything living, and smarter than the most intelligent creature in the universe."

"Tempting..." Ray turned away. "But four paws can be swift too, and a pair of wings gives you free reign over the skies."

"Oh come on!" Anze shouted. "You can build your own wings with the wisdom I am sharing."

"Not interested!" Ray waved him goodbye and approached the lion's pillar. The feline crawled to the edge, nostrils widening as they took in Ray's scent. Ray extended a hand. The lion's pupils widened, and a paw rushed to trap his hand.

"I'm only licking you if you accept my bargain."

Those pads felt incredibly warm. Ray tried to turn his hand around and feel more of that cushy surface, but the feline retracted his foreleg.

"What do you offer, fire-mane?"

"I like that name," he licked his long whiskers. "And you seem a better human than the fool I'm forced to endure daily. If only I could use my strength to silence his babbling mouth."

"Strength?"

"And skill!" the lion growled, sliding his unsheathed claws along the inscriptions. "Look there, fledgling. My claws shear through the toughest rock, and my legs are nimble. If you choose to accept my gift, no living being shall ever scratch you. Their inferior strength shall pale before your own, and their skill wither under your superior reflexes."

"Hmm." Ray grumbled. The lion was right. The fiery carvings depicted encounters with horrifying creatures and whole mountains being uprooted from the earth.

Ray looked up at him. His hopeful amber eyes tugged at his heart, but he already made up his mind.

"Strength is useful, but what is strength without intelligence to guide it? And what is skill, absent cunning?"

"It is power, and power achieves everything."

A smile stretched upon Ray's lips. "I don't need all that power. Just enough to defend those I care about and uphold my ideals."

The huge feline mewled softly and retreated back to the center of his pillar. "Suit yourself, fledgling."

"Anze and Arston lack vision as much as they lack intelligence," the bird spoke, clacking its beak when Ray approached her pillar.

"And you don't?" Ray asked.

The bird cawed, lunging for a quick nip. Ray drew back. She was way out of reach, but that huge black beak looked somewhat imposing when paired with her intelligent eyes. They had the color of jade, glowing like two, fiery orbs.

"Caw! Choose your words carefully, little chick. I am not as benevolent as my hatchlings."

"They don't look like birds," Ray stated the obvious.

"Just like you don't look like a chick. Does that prevent me from attributing whatever description I see fit?"

"Erm, no," Ray scratched his head, feeling suddenly stupid.

"Caw! I can feel a bit of intelligence nesting beneath that black fuzz of yours, but it can be greater still. My gift will grant you wisdom as expansive as the sky above us."

"Anze offered me the same."

"That's why he trips over every significant challenge. He always treads upon the shortest road. I can give you cunning to dismember the most puzzling obstacle and outwit anyone. After all, what is power without guidance?"

"Nothing..." Ray traced the patterns formed by the blue flames of Rhany's pillar. She knew her way around everything. No obstacle outlasted her abilities, and her enemies and prey defeated themselves once her plans were in motion. She didn't even need to approach much. Clever use of traps and tactics won more victories than a straight combat.

"I'll think about it," Ray said, turning his back to the giant cobalt vulture.

He heard the sound of scratching, and turned around to see her perched at the edge of her pillar. "If you were, you wouldn't be leaving."

Ray nodded solemnly. Disappointing others was something he hated. He walked towards the last creature. Even now, he couldn't give it a proper name. The hybrid standing atop the last pillar had the wings of an eagle, the head of a dragon, and the smooth, tufted tail of a lion.

He analyzed Ray, bowed his head, then laid on his belly, flapping both pairs of wings. Only now Ray realized that underneath his feathered wings rested another pair. They were black, just like the feathery ones, and looked exactly like a dragon's.

"Trifles bore me too, so I won't bother with too many words. I can be anything I wish, and can have everything I want. That is my gift to you."

Ray opened his mouth, but only a soft gasp left him. "Everything?"

"Yes," the hybrid blinked his amethyst eyes. "You will ascend to the power of a God, and have dominion over everything you see fit. Creation and destruction are at your clawtips, along with everything that comes in between."

"What of my form? Can I change it too?"

He flicked out a black, serpentine tongue. "You can do everything, fledgling. Imagination is the only limitation."

The power to shift and control everything...it seemed overwhelming. Ray never imagined himself as a God. Being an immortal being with no needs and no struggles seemed awfully boring. Perfection was nothing without the cracks of failure.

Ray bowed his head, then looked into the creature's sparkling eyes.

"I cannot accept," he said softly. "Flaws are a part of our core. They shape who we are, define our traits, and help us overcome challenges. It is the greatest flaws that often reveal the greatest strengths."

He got a hiss in response.

"You seem deluded by a principle of self righteousness, fledgling," the hybrid licked his maw, placing one scaly paw over the other. "There is nothing glamorous in death and sacrifice. If your strength, intelligence, or any of your assets proves insufficient, you will bear the consequences."

"As all living beings do. There is no perfection in nature."

"I somewhat contest that view."

"Then fly away to create or destroy. What is stopping you?"

Ray noticed a spark of defiance inside the hybrid's violet eyes. He turned his head away and buried it under a wing. No further words left his maw.

"Well, that was awfully drab. Four awesome beings offer you their greatest gifts and you refuse everything." Anze's voice came, oozing with disappointment.

"I made my choice," Ray walked to the middle of the stone circle.

"Then voice it out loud before the time expires. You have five heartbeats starting from this moment until chaos erupts in this serene and lovely place."

"I choose to be a Dragon."

"Rakura," Anze swiftly corrected. "They're called like that."

Ray shook his head. "I choose to be one of the Rakura."

"Traits and flaws, quickly. Three heartbeats!'

Anze's urging didn't make this any easier. Thankfully, Ray had his vows prepared. Being a dreamer had certain advantages.

"I will fly only as high as my wings allow, hunt only to fill my belly, and contest only those within the reach of my abilities."

"That did it," Anze said cheerfully. "Now fly the fuck out of here before my companions try to convince you otherwise."

Ray looked around. He had no wings to fly with! Roars, caws and screeches assaulted his ears within a second. Thankfully, the horrible nausea returned, washing away every last bit of that noise.

Unlike before, Ray felt quite good while he dozed. Warmth surrounded his form, flowing across his skin like warm water. The earth underneath was soft and cushy, and the air he breathed carried the suave scent of flowers upon its breath. Ray turned on his side and forced his rebellious eyelids to remain closed. He wanted to rest and enjoy this blissful tranquility a bit more.

Sadly for him, trials had been built for a certain purpose. The warmth that previously bathed him because hotter and hotter until his eyes snapped open.

"OW!" Ray rolled away from the intense heat.

"I barely applied any bite!" a feminine voice lashed back at him.

Ray turned towards one of the most beautiful dragons he had the pleasure of seeing. Like before, she was a mere projection, but her features retained their sharpness. The dragoness bowed playfully on her flame-scaled forelegs, digging her impressive claws into the soil.

"I'm a bit more sensitive than a dragon," Ray smiled.

She blinked her crimson eyes and continued her stretch, revealing the full span of her wings. Tongue of flames played across the pale membrane, mating across the underside of her wings like real fire.

"Grrawwwr, I noticed that," she licked her snout after yawning, swishing her tongue across the three different nuances of her scales. Her nose and what followed behind had the color of the earth, while the sides retained the orange scales of her legs. Only her jaw was a light shade of flaming yellow, stretching far under her plated belly.

By all Gods and Creatures, she was beautiful. Ray blushed faintly as he approached. "So uh...how hot will be my next trial?"

"Heat? No," she stood up on all fours and pulled her wings at her sides. "My trial will be far simpler than what you've previously been subjected to."

Ray tried to smile. "I heard that before each trial, and they never were as simple as advertised."

"Adv...advartas?" She cocked her horned head. "That is a strange word."

"Erm, predicted," Ray laughed awkwardly. Advertisement was such a human word! "Yes, not a single trial was easy!"

"Well, mine is," the female swished her leafy tail as she turned around and walked through the tall golden grasses. "Follow me, and you will see why."

Ray did as instructed. He followed the dragoness while his eyes traced the brown streaked underside of her tail, all the way to her flanks and between them. He crouched and bent his head this side and that, trying to catch a glimpse of her gender. Books said dragon genders were infuriatingly hard to tell apart, and Ray was curios to see if that theory had any merit. During one of his bending poses, he almost lurched and fell, attracting the female's attention.

"You will walk on four legs soon enough. Don't fret."

"Heh heh," Ray laughed forcibly, masking his furious blushing.

He wasn't about to strain his luck twice. During the rest of the journey, Ray observed his surroundings. This area resembled a savannah close to perfection. The trees were scarce and bent in all manner of ways with their humble canopies, and grasses were all around. Ray had to pay attention to thorn shrubs or other mean vegetation. Unlike the dragoness, he felt everything he touched.

"This is as far as I go," the dragoness stopped.

"Why? What's down there," Ray pointed towards the waterhole surrounded by blooming vegetation.

"Your trial. I am positive you will absolutely love it," she growled warmly and embraced Ray with a big, ethereal forepaw.

He put his arms around her leg and pretended to squeeze it. He felt warmth coursing around his head, and he closed his eyes, enjoying the radiant feeling.

"You are so interesting for a human. I'm sure you will be a fine Rakur."

"I can only hope..." Ray whispered. "What else can you tell me about my challenge?"

She paused for a moment. "Treat it with love, kindness, patience and utmost care."

Her mellow hiss washed over Ray in a wave of emotion. She could almost feel the warmth and affection in her voice, along with a little bit of longing. She spoke the last words as if she desired... no, needed something.

"I will. I promise I will," Ray stroke the air as if it was a real dragon standing beside him.

When he opened his eyes, the radiant dragoness was gone, replaced by a soothing breeze. A slight amount of regret filled his heart. He wanted to spend a bit more time with the female, and inquire more about his trial.

"Patience and love, eh?" Ray smiled to himself and descended the gentle incline. He kept his eyes open for the trial, but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary aside from the waterhole nestled between a patch of shrubs.

"A waterhole? How exciting!" Ray walked around, trying to measure its depth. "Too bad it's not deep enough to hide pirate treasure or..."

"SQUEAK!"

Ray turned around. He looked left. Then Right. Nothing stood out.

"SQWAWK!"

Behind him!

He caught a brief sight of its aggressor before the creature pounced him. Its little claws gripped into the shirt, and its teeth nibbled one of his hands. Ray was about to hit it in self defense when he gazed into a pair of big, crimson eyes.

"What..."

He received a quick lick across his lips. Ray closed his mouth at the upcoming storm of warmth and saliva. The creature licked him with its tiny tongue and rubbed the sides of its head across his cheeks.

Ray closed his eyes and tried to push it away. "Ok ok. I love you too, cute little thing, but lets see what kind of beastie are you!"

The creature shrieked its displeasure, but it didn't have the necessary strength to resist. Ray had a firm grip around its belly. In one swift motion he pulled, unlatching the creature from his chest. It kicked and flapped something, but Ray could only see what when he stretched his arms far away from his face.

"Keep quiet you..." his tongue twisted and his mouth widened in surprise. "Whaaaaaat?" he mewled. "You must be the most adorable hatchling in the whole universe!"

The hatchling blinked its vermilion eyes and sullenly bit around the oppressive fingers. Ray winced, but couldn't stop laughing. He held a copy of the dragoness he met earlier, only smaller and infinitely cuter.

"Alright, I got the message," he placed the hatchling on the ground, where it squeaked and continued its exploration. Ray let it sniff around his ears, bite, tangle its paw in his hair, and jump on his chest as it pleased. He liked watching its tiny paws and small, flapping wings until the little pest got aggressive with Ray's leggings.

Ray gently pushed it to the side and treated it with belly rubs and scritchies. The little whelp squeaked and kicked all of its legs, squirming uselessly against its captor.

"Resistance shall be punishable by tickles!" Ray prodded and touched its belly. It was nowhere as sensitive as the wings. Every touch there made the hatchling wail a pitch higher.

"Alright I'll stop. Too much tickling can turn into torture, and we don't want that for you," Ray approached and kissed its small head. "You cute little hatchling!"

He got a lick and a soft bite as a reward. If this was how heaven felt, Ray was deep into its hallowed halls. He played with the hatchling and satisfied every desire it had, from fish hunting in the shallow pool to chasing. It was impossible to treat such a cute bundle of joy with anything less than love and affection.

Ray was crafting a spear out of reeds while he the hatchling bathed and splash water all around.

"You're scaring our prey," he smiled and continued breaking reeds until he obtained a somewhat pointy rod. "Just wait until the fisherman steps in!'

It didn't listen. Ray entered the water anyway, gasping at the change in temperature. He advanced towards the center and looked around for fish. The water barely reached past his chest, so he safely made use of both of his hands. Ray struck a dozen times, and every time he missed. His temper started to flare, yet a single glance at the playful bundle of scales soothed his nerves.

"You're too damn adorable, that's why!" Ray laughed and resumed his attempts. He caught two fish before he knew it, and fed them both to the curios hatchling.

Ray watched it inspect the fish when the nausea came for him.

"No no no...fuck no!" He shouted and blinked as the images shifted before his eyes. "A minute. Just a minute longer. Please..."

His pleas went unanswered. Ray fell on his side. The hatchling squeaked softly, licking around his face. Ray touched one of its tiny paws, then gave himself to the soothing darkness.

"Wake up, tiny fledgling."

Ray blinked his eyes open to the soft prodding of yet another dragon. Unlike the hatchling, his one was fully mature and fully ethereal.

"Wha-" Ray coughed, stilling his upset stomach. "Another trial?"

"The last," the green scaled dragon answered, removing his angular head from view.

Ray had paws to stare at instead. His black claws were only matched by his long, sinewy tail. It was emerald, like the dragon's scales, and had a very generous length to it.

"Wait, let me guess. It's simple."

"Not quite," the dragon swished his tail through Ray. "Follow me."

Ray grumbled as he got up. "Give me a moment. Head's still spinning."

"You can catch up," he growled, slapping his tail again again.

A sigh escaped Ray's throat. "I'll still remain here. It's your fault for pulling me out so fast. I begged and...gah, doesn't matter."

The dragon turned around, extending its neck until his snout almost touched Ray's face.

"I am sorry about that. Trials are not life experiences. They expire after certain conditions are met."

Ray chuckled. "Expire? You sound like you work in mergers and acquisitions."

"I...I don't know what those are," he admitted, dipping his horned head. "But I offered you my apology."

"I know," Ray slid a hand under his jaw. "I don't know why I feel the need to blame someone when there was no mistake involved."

"But see? Involved is the right word." The dragon blinked slowly, licking one of its long whiskers. "Attachment leads to regret, and regret can descend further into dangerous emotions."

"I know," Ray exhaled with longing. "I just loved that bundle of scales. It was so cute, so warm..."

"I understand more than you can imagine," the dragon released his own, pained growl and turned around. "But that doesn't matter now. My purpose is to test, not distract you."

"I don't mind that," Ray said.

The dragon nevertheless remained silent. Ray followed him through the lush jungle. The air felt humid and warm, and insects were everywhere. Ray cut through spider webs and slapped annoying mosquitoes all the way to a small river. He wasn't thirsty, but ducked anyway, tasting a few mouthfuls of a most cold and delicious water.

"My trial involves everything you learned, fledgling. Nature lives in balance and harmony, but certain forces are always seeking to disrupt the flow of life for their own benefit. In this trial, you will have to prove your connection and understanding of Nature's Perfect Balance."

"Sounds simple," Ray joked.

"Not this time," the dragon hissed between snowy teeth. "As I said, this test is different. Can you feel what threatens this forest? Are you in tune with the will of the land?"

Ray nodded his head after every question.

"Prove yourself then, and you will shed your shell for good."

The emerald dragon vanished into motes of dancing fireflies. He seemed serious, just like his kin.

Ray walked along the river's edge, pondering everything he learned. If the dragon was right, he needed to make use of every asset. He looked around, thinking about the nature of his task. He kept his senses opened to every smell, sound and touch, but nothing happened. Discovering an evil source of corruption surely involved more than meditating by a river's bed.

Ray seated himself on a boulder and revisited his previous trials.

"I explored and planned in the first one," he pushed down one finger. "And I ran like an idiot in the second," another finger followed.

"The third involved pointless arguing since I always knew what I wanted to be, and the fourth had plenty of love in it..." he bent the last two fingers.

"To think I loved a hatchling more than I loved anyone in my entire life is a bit concerning, but whatever... if I pass this, I will never return to my old life."

The thought of his home made him feel a tinge of regret. Jay the book keeper would never know what happened. Nobody would. Ray assumed he would die or turn into a dragon. For all he knew, he was still back in his room, dreaming of all these trials.

"This is crazy," he ran a hand through his hair. "If this ends up to be the most kickass dream I ever had, at least I'll end it in style." He got up, opened his mouth, and screamed from atop of his lungs.

"I'LL BE A FREAKING DRAGON!"

Several birds fled their perches, and Ray was pretty sure he heard monkeys and even a roar inside the thick jungle. He still laughed, despite how ridiculous that shouting was.

"Ok ok...back to the trial. I need to identify the problem before finding the means to solve it, so that means...exploring!"

He felt a bit more afraid than he should when looking into that gloomy thickness of trees. Biting his lip, Ray advanced slowly. The dragon mentioned dark creatures, and Ray could only hope he wasn't referring to spiders. He pushed through ferns and jumped past stones and roots, occasionally tripping on them as he explored the vast jungle. It looked like that until he met a fake edge created by impassable brambles.

"Smooth," Ray touched a huge spike. "Very smooth."

At least he had no way of getting lost. He followed the wall, noticing this jungle was no larger than the waterhole in his previous trial. Enduring and patience lost a bit of their purpose when Ray explored the whole jungle before tiredness took him.

He splashed water all over his sweaty face, drank a few gulps, and resumed his seat atop the big boulder. His eyes scanned the trees, going up and down as Ray followed the network of vines. He saw little in the ways of wildlife. Animals actively avoided him, making his task infinitely more difficult.

"Maybe I just have to become one of them," Ray joked. "Being in tune with the land!"

A few stupid ideas passed through his head, increasing his determination. Closing his eyes, Ray pushed every distraction out of his mind. Everything related to his old life vanished. Slowly, he even forgot about his trials. It was just him, and the soft whisper of every living being. It flowed like the river. Calmly. Smoothly. Uninterrupted. Ray explored the line, feeling across its edge until he met a fracture. A dark presence flashed before his eyes, and the smell of putrid wood filled his nostrils.

"Gah!" Ray coughed. That gruesome sight vanished, along with the smell.

"That was weird," he shook his head to throw off all that despair. For a moment, he felt like the land was speaking to him, whispering of its great suffering.

"Could be I'm losing it, or..." Ray squinted his eyes at the forest. "There is something ominous hiding in there. Something stealthy that can only be felt, not seen..."

He explored the jungle once again, passing between every tree. He kept his senses opened for anything conspicuous until the scent of death tickled his nose.

"There!" Ray pointed at a tree. It looked ordinary, aside from a pustule of black sap. He inspected, felt around it, and even touched it. Sticky resin met his finger, cold and dark as the pelting rain in the second trial.

"I'm gonna get you out," Ray grunted, punching the tree. The hollow sound only meant one thing. Another creature took residence inside, poisoning the tree with its vile liquor. Ray kicked until he chipped off the bark, then pulled, stripping off whole chunks. He tore away a particularly large piece when a threatening shriek erupted.

Ray took defensive position, but the creature was already upon him. It latched on his chest like living slime, crushing the breath out of him. Ray delved both hands into its viscous body, tearing at it like a frenzied predator. The creature pushed harder.

Ray choked, expelling the little air he had left in his lungs. It was strong. Stronger than it had the right to be. Ray desperately looked for something to use. He grabbed a piece of bark and slammed it on top of the living blackness.

It shrilled. Spines materialized from its essence, becoming as tough as the bark.

Ray choked as crashing pain slammed into him. His whole body felt pierced, then burned all at once. He still smashed and fought against the blackness, using everything he had. Nails, bark, a fistful of dead leaves, spit...

He ran out of options as quickly as he ran out of breath. He still fought though, punishing the slime for its insolence. Nothing that did this much harm had the right to exist. Impaling his hands onto the spikes, Ray twisted and bent, forcing the slime to wail its horrendous screech.

"Endure. Outlast. Heal." The dragons whispered in his mind. Ray tried his best, despite the pain and his fading strength.

He wanted to fight, yet his body was spent. Ray no longer had the strength to keep his eyes open. He embraced the dizziness, but not before giving a final good whack to that blackened bastard.

Growls and whimpers filled Ray's ears long before he awoke. He blinked his eyes, rubbing away the haze with a hand. He saw stones. Big slabs of black stone, and a lake behind them. Or was it something else? The vegetation made it difficult to see.

Ray pushed himself up. "The trial...did I...?"

Roars erupted around him. Twelve or more perches surrounded him, each taken by a different dragon. They beat their wings, swished their tails, and looked at him with obvious fascination.

"Trial?"

"What trial?"

"Trial not over."

"Never over."

"But you must pick now."

"Yes, choice. Must make choice!" another joined in with an excited growl.

"Wait, wait!" Ray extended his hands, wishing for a moment of silence. He got none of that. The dragons urged him to choose with obvious desperation.

"The green one said it's my last trial!" Ray yelled.

"Me, me!" A small emerald dragon jumped excitedly atop its perch.

"Not him. Me! I can lend you fire!"

"Fire burns. Water gives life. Me me me!"

Ray closed his eyes against the torrent of noise. It was hard to tell who spoke when all dragons behaved like hatchlings.

"How do I choose?" Ray yelled out his answer. "I don't know how to pick unless you tell me!"

"Not by looking."

"Not with eyes."

"Feel. Feel!'

If annoyance was what they wanted, Ray had plenty of it to offer. He fixed his eyes on a red dragon, and suddenly his perspective shifted. Ray saw...himself.

But he wasn't a human. He saw himself as what he could become. Images flashed through his eyes. He was a big, fierce dragon, with colors bearing the shade of late sunset. He fearlessly threw himself against mightier prey and succeeded. He felt brave and strong, but the desire to only improve and hunt seemed slightly scary.

Ray gasped, pulling back. He was human again. A human surrounded by horribly noisy dragons.

"F-feel?" he whispered to himself, still shaken by the recent experience. "is that...is that how I choose? I focus on a dragon and I become...them?"

The following answers were too jumbled to understand. Ray looked around and focused on one dragon at a time. Each had its own traits, personality, desires and means to accomplish them. They were like humans in that regard, but a lot more instinctual. Ray encountered dragons that lived like any ordinary animals, needing only the basic of necessities. He also found explorers, hunters, or protectors. The diversity amazed him.

Despite his fatigue and the mental trauma of switching bodies and memories, Ray explored every dragon. If he became one of them, he needed to research. Ray filtered through his options. He only had a vague idea of what he wanted to become. Protecting and fighting for others fit him. He always wanted to make the world a better place, yet to accomplish that, he also had to punish those who threatened and besmirched his vision.

The blue dragon he connected with had all those, and more. His personality matched Ray's to perfection. It was like the water, calm and gentle during gentle breeze, yet fierce and unpredictable when needed. Blue was his favorite color too. Ray liked all dragons, though sapphire ones impressed him the most.

He withdrew from the blue's mind and pointed. "I choose you, sky-scales!"

"So might it be," the dragon bowed his head, then leaped off its perch. Ray was unprepared for the fierce tackling. Paws and claws were all over him, restraining him. Before Ray could react, another dragon joined, then another, until their wings blackened the sky.

"What is...this?" Ray asked. He felt tongues licking him, and teeth grazing every part of his body.

"Your rebirth," a voice came.

Ray couldn't tell who said that. The dizziness returned with a vengeance, and he lost consciousness before he realized what happened.

He woke up wrapped in a thick blanket of darkness. Something was squeezing him. Something wet and warm. Ray tried to breathe, but air didn't enter his nostrils. Mucus traveled inside his throat, choking him. Ray kicked and lashed with everything he had. The need for air became dire, spurring his panic.

A crack followed. Then another. Ray struck again and again, kicking his legs against the shattering wall. He shifted and turned towards the crack, pushing his head towards the blinding light. He almost succeeded until a big, violet snake snuck inside his sanctuary. It pushed against his belly, then drew back with a soft growl.

A dragon? Ray couldn't know. His senses felt unreasonably dull. He choked again, pushing the mucus out of his clogged mouth. He took a quick, sharp breath before his pierced sanctuary rocked. Ray tumbled and fell. A sound escaped his throat, strange as the claws piercing through his shelter. He saw a pair of them. No, a dozen. No creature could have that many claws unless those were teeth. Huge, sharp teeth!

Ray backed away, but a huge chunk of his refuge trembled and collapsed, revealing a huge, flaring nostril. A warm gust of air flew across Ray, warming his drenched body. A soft growl came, but not from the sapphire snout Ray stared at. Was there another dragon? Ray found the answer when a crunching bite rocked and destroyed the frail remains of his sanctuary. He lurched and fell on his side, exposed to the two pairs of nostrils sniffing at him.

He blinked and opened his own little maw to squeak when two huge, fleshy tongues rushed forth. One went between Ray's legs while the other brushed its moist tip around his tiny head. He tried to step back and flee, but he merely tripped on his unsteady legs. The comforting warmth washed every worry away. The two dragons hissed warmly as they licked him clean, sliding their tongues softly around his form.

Ray knew he was a human no longer. He felt it in the touch, he smelled it upon the air, and sensed it within himself. His body felt different. Changed. An extra pair of arms felt strapped somewhere upon his back, and his tail kept swishing without his accord. He squeaked, surprising himself with the sharp sound when the touch lingered on his belly. The sapphire dragon pushed Ray gently with her paw and looked at him insistently with a pair of honey colored eyes.

She said nothing, but the warm rush leaving her maw filled him with more warmth and affection he ever felt. Ray squeaked again, kicking. His tiny claws were wide as the small spaces between scales, managing only a brief touch. The sapphire dragon pushed her head forth, nuzzling him gently. Ray melted into the touch, enjoying it thoroughly before a soft shove sent him rolling. He protested, but his parents had little regard for his personal desires. They moved their huge paws around, trapping Ray in a cage of scales and claws. Apparently, he wasn't completely clean, and the dragons made that quite obvious with their persistent licking.

Only when they fulfilled their curiosity Ray had a moment of peace. He pushed the ground with his unsteady legs, stumbling on all fours before falling back. He tried again, and again, squeaking for his departing parents. Even their long tails went out of his reach. Ray lunged towards the spiked tip of the sapphire dragon, but he only embraced the ground yet again.

Growling and hissing with both frustration and determination, he found purchase under his legs and strode awkwardly towards his parents. He wanted...no, he needed their comforting scent and touch, even if the smells of nature enticed him.

He sensed the fragrance of the grass mixing with the aroma of wildflowers and many more as he breathed in the warm air. Insects buzzed and birds chirped louder than ever, delighting his enhanced hearing with their song. Ray even picked the gentle breeze as it met his sun-basked scales. It had a sound and scent of its own, carrying secrets from distant lands.

Squeaking joyfully, Ray ran towards his parents. He tripped between the tall grasses and the occasional bumps, squeaking all the loudest. Every failure taught him something. Without even looking or intending to, Ray discovered he could beat his wings. His cerulean membrane slapped the grasses it met, pushing the small hatchling forth.

He climbed over a slim golden tail, crawled under a similarly colored wing, and pushed himself between three huge legs before discovering what his parents inspected.

It was another egg! Ray approached, stealthless and tactless. The golden dragon turned its great horned head towards him. Ray ran faster. He jumped towards the crimson egg, only to be caught within a protective paw. He squirmed and squeaked, biting at the tough scales. The following tongue strokes relaxed his temper. That warmth felt so good, so caring. It brushed Ray's spine as he watched the sapphire dragon breaking the crimson egg. It only took a soft bite and a skillful maneuver of its claws to free the hatchling trapped inside. The little one cried out and stumbled on its trembling legs. With surprising gentleness, the large dragon pushed its little one to its chest and the tongue did the rest.

After his sibling was clean of fluids and goo, Ray found himself free. He rushed towards the red hatchling and leaped. He didn't know how or why. He just felt an inexplicable urge to play and test his mettle. His sibling had the gentle fragrance of a female and a proper temper. She retaliated with an angry squeak, biting one of Ray's forepaws as the two hatchlings tumbled in the grass. They clawed and nipped at each other's necks and paws quite ineffectively. Grips never held, and their claws were almost useless against the resilient scales.

Ray found himself pinned underneath his sister when their sapphire mother intervened. She crawled across the grass and scooped up her hatchlings with a forepaw. They protested, but only briefly. Her warm touch felt safe, and her scent comforting. She licked both of her little ones, making no distinction between either color or gender. Ray flicked his small tongue out, licking at his mother's tongue. It had no particular taste and only a stale scent of meat.

Meat...he really wanted meat! He nipped and pawed at his mother's snout, making his need known through shrilling squeaks. His sister joined in too, pestering the sapphire dragoness until she relented.

With a loud growl, she sent her mate away. Ray's eyes squinted. He watched with obvious fascination how the golden dragon disappeared into the bright sky. His wings were so big, so majestic... Turning his head around, Ray nuzzled and licked his own. They were so small and insignificant. He nipped around the joint, squeaking in pain when one of his teeth grazed the scaleless membrane. His mother pushed her snout into his side, sniffing. Her soothing licks followed shortly after.

Time passed quite slowly for the two hatchlings. Nestled within their mother's embrace, they could only play with each other. Ray took that opportunity not to inspect only himself, but his sister too. She allowed him to touch wherever he pleased, dazed by the surrounding warmth. Ray licked her head, pushed between her small flanks, then caught her tail between his jaws. He tugged, unable to resist the temptation. That was a mistake. A storm of tiny claws and fangs was upon him. He snarled and answered with equal ferocity.

They scuffled and played until exhaustion. Unlike the last time, mother kept to herself. She was licking a forepaw, with Ray as the only witness. He watched the long tongue play across the scales, leaving a damp patch that reflected a part of the sun's light. Her sapphire scales were beautiful. Ray stared at their brilliant hues until a roar announced the return of his father.

A wave of excitement washed through his little form. Ray got up with a squeak, hardly containing his excitement. He leaped and ran around his mother. She got up too, waiting until her mate touched the ground. When he did, she rewarded him with affectionate growls and plenty of licks. Ray watched them nuzzle and lick each other, but the carcass waiting at their feet enticed his eager instincts.

He approached, taking in the foreign scents. Fur smelled odd, and blood even weirder. It had a pungent fragrance, and an even sharper taste. Ray dipped his tongue into the wound, tasting more of the red liquid. Every lick awoke a hunger inside him. An urge, waiting to be satisfied. Baring his fangs, he gripped and pulled at the fur. One try. Then another. And another. He used his claws for purchase, but no matter what he did, his frail teeth failed to expose the meat underneath.

The two hatchlings squeaked their displeasure until one of the parents cut the carcass with a single swipe of a claw. Blood rushed, wetting their paws. Ray jumped back. The red fluid was not only thick, but warm too! It spread around the grass, blanketing it with that pleasant, rich odor.

Ray approached in spite of the mess. His paws squelched in the crimson mess. He inspected a few organs. He didn't know what they were, or if he could eat them. Instincts drove him forth, guiding him towards the exposed flesh. Ray licked it, then took a bite. The succulent muscle released warm juices inside his maw, igniting the hatchling's hunger.

With quick, messy pulls, Ray feasted on the delicious meat. He took one of the deer's muscular legs, as did his sister. She competed for the best parts with Ray, but the meat was plentiful. Instead of striking back, Ray simple moved over to his mother. She licked along the deer's neck, lapping the blood. When she saw Ray, she ripped a small chunk and placed it before him. Ray gulped it down. He lost his prime feeding spot, but gained something even better. The meat chewed by his mother was softer and easier to swallow, and Ray ate his fill.

He felt slow and tired afterwards. All his energy and curiosity vanished, replaced by an overwhelming sense of lethargy. He dropped on the ground, watching his parents clean the rest of the carcass. The red hatchling approached. She brushed her bloody snout against Ray's, sharing a quick lick before she settled besides him. Ray welcomed her. He licked her snout, cleaning whatever blood he could before his parents returned. Settling their giant forms around the hatchlings, they growled out their affection and cleaned their little ones.

Satisfied, Ray slowly closed his eyes. The world was large and brimming with possibilities, yet for now he just wanted to rest. Closing his eyes, he fell asleep to the scents and warmth of his parents, but not before squeaking softly, only like a true dragon could.