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Underneath the town's wooden water tower, Kaaneth's jaw tensed as the man next to him coughed violently into a folded handkerchief. Even though neither would admit it, they both knew that the man's sickness was getting worse. The drake shuffled his wings tighter against his body in discomfort as the man coughed deeply one last time before gasping and wiping his lips with the cloth.

"Gods above," the man groaned as he straightened up and tucked the cloth back into his breast pocket. He was standing shoulder to shoulder with the dragon next to him while they waited for the distant train to arrive. The rest of the townsfolk readied the long line of carriages, which would carry the recently mined ore towards the smelteries. The pair could see the train's path on the horizon, not much more than a white smudge from the steam billowing from its chimney. Adjusting his suspenders, the man's fingers lingered on his marshal's badge before looking up at the concerned drake. "Oh, don't be a worry wyrm," he teased, playfully punching the drake's muscular shoulder. "You're already pale enough."

Kaaneth snorted at the old man's joke and relaxed his wings. With the exception of his muddy brown paws and neck frill, his otherwise pristine cotton-white scales gleamed in the afternoon sun. "Of course I worry about you, Jeb. You've taught me so much and kept me out of trouble, you're basically like a father—"

"Oh, nonsense," Jeb said with a wave of his hand to dismiss the drake, "You aren't no goose, imprinting itself on the first thing it sees when it hatches." He looked down the main street. Halfway towards the saloon at the end of the road stood a small saddlery and leather shop, with a pair of older dragons working an animal hide. "Raahn and Tiirah taught you how to be a dragon—"

"They may have taught me how to fly, but you raised me," Kaaneth said, pausing to smirk before lifting his head and holding his neck in an elegant 'S' shape. "Master—"

"Oh no, don't you be calling me that," Jeb retorted, tucking his thumbs under his brown leather gun belt. He had told Kaaneth not to call him master long ago and knew the drake was just trying to get a rise out of him now. "If I had known how much cheek I'd get from you, I would've asked for a discount," he teased and shared a smile with the dragon before looking the drake up and down. It still amazed Jeb how small the drake had been when he hatched just over two decades ago. Even before he could speak, the young Kaaneth had happily followed him around as he performed his duties as a marshal. He had purchased the dragon egg just after his last deputy left for the big smoke and hadn't regretted the decision as the dragon grew and helped him. The many dragons that lived in Windslow quickly trusted the Marshal when they saw how well Kaaneth was treated, and while some of the human residents thought he coddled the drake, none would complain when they came to help.

The pair watched as a dragoness pulling a cart laden with timber trundled past them, with a middle-aged man walking alongside her. The man's clean coat contrasted with the fine layer of sawdust that dulled the dragon's teal scales, and as the afternoon sun shone down, the dust seemed to almost glow. As the duo passed the marshal and his dragon, the teal-colored 'ness glared at the unladen Kaaneth without saying a word. The leather straps that bound her to the heavy wagon creaked, and the axles protested under the weight, but she said nothing to complain as she hauled the cargo for her owner. The pair could see the countless cuts and scars that marred her sides and tail, and as her owner lifted his cane and tipped his hat toward Jeb, they both gave a stiff nod in acknowledgment.

"Some of those scars looked fresh," Kaaneth muttered under his breath once the teal dragoness and her owner were out of earshot. His wings shuffled tighter against his body, and when he glanced down at his own owner, he was reminded of how lucky he had been that Jeb had purchased him and not someone else.

"Aye, I'll try to have words with him again," Jeb said with a defeated sigh. "For what good that'll do. I told you he wrote to the city and tried to get me removed, didn't I?" he asked and, when the drake shook his head, he adjusted his gun belt. "It was after the last time I told him to lay off his 'ness. The bastard wrote that I must be queer with you, on account of us sharing a roof, and that a man of my stature should have a wife," he said and stifled a cough before clearing his throat.

"Really?" Kaaneth snorted with a wry smile, looking the man up and down with an exaggerated tilt of his head. Lifting a foreleg, he clenched his digits into a fist and glanced between the man and his front leg to compare their sizes. "You ain't even close to my size," he added, looking back toward the train in the distance as the man chuckled. "Also, how does that even work? It's not like you have a couch or anything... right?"

It was Jeb's turn to roar with laughter until he coughed and spluttered again. Fishing out his handkerchief, he covered his mouth and waved a hand as the drake gave him a concerned look. With a deep hacking cough, he cleared his throat and folded the handkerchief again. "Oh, Kaaneth, bless your horns," he said after regaining his composure. "No, I don't have a 'couch' as you put it." He added, shaking his head in disbelief. After sharing another chuckle of amusement, the man nodded toward where the teal dragoness had taken the wagon of timber. "Still no luck with Maakina, then, I take it?"

Taking a deep breath, Kaaneth shook his head before slowly exhaling. "No, she has made it abundantly clear that I am not her type," he said sadly, before looking out to see the steam train in the distance, coming closer. Across from them, on the other side of the railway, gangs of heavy-set, muscular dragons pushed ore-filled carriages against one another, while humans darted between the carriages to link the couplings together. Looking over the group of workers, the pair knew each of them by name, even if they looked almost uniform while covered from head to toe in dirt and grime. "Maakina would rather be with a 'real drake,' apparently. One that could match her brawn," he added, just loud enough for the man to hear.

"Really, over a smart and funny drake like yourself?" Jeb asked and scoffed when Kaaneth shrugged his wings. Seeing that the drake didn't want to continue the subject, he simply shook his head and looked down the main street towards the large, barn-like structure where he had once purchased the dragon. "Ah well, don't let it get to you. If you want, I can talk to the Edwards—I'm sure they wouldn't mind if you serviced one of their 'nesses," he said, trying to hold a straight face as the drake's head snapped in his direction. "Couple of dimes, and I'm sure they'd find you a pretty 'ness to wrap your paws around. I could probably order you one in your favorite color if you don't mind waiting—"

"Jeb!"

"Just saying, a drake like you, in your prime. Handsome white scales and a level head on you—they could probably get you a 'ness in heat and even pay me for your—" His words were cut off as the dragon flicked his wings into his ribs, sending him stumbling and laughing. Catching himself on a horse trough, he looked up at the drake and tried to contain himself as Kaaneth looked down at him with an unamused expression. "Oh, come on—"

"First of all, I'm not some smelly horse that you can make a quick buck off of," Kaaneth retorted, shuffling his wings tight against his sides in indignation. "And I don't want to burden a 'ness with an egg. If I was going to be with someone who lives here, I wouldn't want it to be something that makes it awkward afterwards." He curled his tail tightly around his paws. "I'm not against the 'nesses in town, but I'd rather have a proper connection with them if I'm going to be seeing them every day."

Jeb gave the drake a respectful nod of understanding before snorting in amusement. "Well, it would be a connection of sorts," he said, snickering and pushing against the drake's shoulder. However, as the dragon simply glared at him with amber eyes, he patted the drake's shoulders and began wiping the corner of his eyes with a clean corner of his handkerchief. "Well, good on you. Your first time should be memorable," he said, noticing the drake's neck frill flatten against his neck in embarrassment. "But let me know if you just want to blow off some steam. I know the mine rewards their top workers with a night at the traders, so I'm sure the Edwards family could fit you in."

“Thanks… Master," Kaaneth said flatly, glancing down to see the man shake his head in disapproval of the title. While the marshal's offer had once tempted him, he always felt uneasy seeing the dragonesses or their eggs auctioned off at the end of the month, especially after hearing the degrading boasts from the dragons that worked in the mine over who was responsible for their round bellies. A fantasy that often came to him on such days was to purchase an egg with what little money he had and try to raise them away from the burdens of servitude. Unfortunately, the prices often escalated past what he could afford. Despite his own egg having come from the traders, he had been told that he hadn't been sired in the tall barn. Instead, he had been brought to town on a trade and was then sold to the Marshal by the Edwards family for a fair price.

While he had nothing but respect for Jeb and was truly grateful that he was an honest man, a small part of him wondered who his sire and dam were. What were the circumstances of his conception? Was his mother nothing more than a reward for a hard day's work? Or were they star-crossed lovers whose egg was snatched away from them? Growing up in the small town of Windslow, he had spent many daydreams wondering where his family could be now, and if they longed to find him or not.

“Ah, don't worry, Kaany. You will find someone," Jeb said as he noticed the drake looking off into the distance, giving him a reassuring smile. The drake blinked suddenly and looked down. “Some fine 'ness will swoop into town and sweep you off your feet," he said, sharing a smile with his partner. “Or pin you on your back and change your life," he added with a grin.

“Here's hoping," Kaaneth muttered sarcastically and looked towards the train as it puffed its way closer. Listening closely, he could just hear the clatter of the tracks and the dull thuds as the steam pistons on either side of the locomotive thrashed back and forth. “We're expecting someone important today, I take it?" the dragon asked, glancing down at Jeb's clothes. While the Marshal was never unkempt, it was clear by the crisp shirt under his suspenders and pressed pants that he was dressed for an occasion.

“Aye," Jeb said, adjusting his suspenders and turning to face the dragon. “Auditors. Apparently, the mine's yield was down last quarter," he said, reaching up to tug on the straps of his dragon's harness to make sure it was tight and tidy. The dark brown leather harness was a simple but lightweight rig, with thin straps that coiled around the dragon's legs, tail, and the base of his neck. While the harnesses that the mining dragons wore consisted of broad, sometimes padded straps to aid in pulling carts or heavy mining equipment, Kaaneth's harness mainly served as a way for him to carry a small collection of pouches and offered a way for Jeb to be secured while flying. Unlike the riding saddles common with messengers and other occupations, the straw-filled saddle that Kaaneth wore could be removed by the dragon when not in use to spare him from carrying the added weight.

“We'll be taking them out to the mines. The mayor should be here any moment," Jeb added as he tested the buckles that secured the saddle to the harness.

Frowning, Kaaneth mulled over the Marshal's words as he used a paw to check the straps on the other side of his harness. “That can't be right, I heard Yaaneh complaining that they had all been working their wings off and shifted more rock than ever," he said, taking a deep breath when the Marshal simply shrugged. While their role in the town was primarily law enforcement, and they weren't privy to the mine's operations, it wasn't uncommon for them to shoot the breeze with the townsfolk and learn scraps of information from those who worked in the mine.

“They may be shifting rock, but if it ain't got silver in it, it's not worth the time," the Marshal explained, trying to give the drake a reassuring smile as his neck frill drooped. “Ah, don't worry, it's probably just some hotshot from the city, wanting to make his mark and drum up production," Jeb said, stepping back to make sure the dragon's harness wasn't crooked. “Mayor Daniels thinks they want to shut the mine down, but you know how he is—stressed out and always overreacting. Either way, we get to look pretty and make a good impression."

Kaaneth nodded in understanding. While it was rare for anyone of importance to come to Windslow, today wasn't the first time he had been asked to hold himself proudly and escort a group of pompous humans around town. “Good thing I washed my wings," he mused, turning his head as he heard the crunch of boots approaching.

With a velvet black top hat and a tailored coat, the mayor of the town approached, a cane in one hand and a silver-chained pocket watch in the other. “Train is right on time. For once," Mayor Daniels announced stiffly. Despite his formal presentation, Kaaneth could tell the man wasn't at ease and wondered if there was any merit to the claim of reduced yield from the mine. Without acknowledging Kaaneth, the Mayor walked past him and stood next to the Marshal, watching the train slowly arrive.

“Aye, looks like it," Jeb replied, giving the man a nod in greeting. “Good weather for an inspection, don't you think?" he added loudly, attempting to ease the tension hanging in the air as the train approached at a slow speed. The thudding pistons slowed to a steady beat while steam billowed from the sides of the locomotive as it chugged past them, continuing towards the makeshift station a hundred yards away. Unlike the stone elevated ramps common in bigger cities, Windslow offered nothing more than a hastily made, low wooden ledge for passengers to step down from the train. Apart from the locomotive and coal tender, the train consisted of a rickety carriage for transporting dragons and half a dozen passenger cars, followed by a caboose where two guards stood watch with their hands resting on rifles.

Kaaneth's jaw tensed as the shrill whistle rang out from the train. With the grinding of brakes, the train came to a halt. As soon as it stopped, the dragons and humans working on the mine's carriages snapped into action. Large levers that controlled the points were rammed to one side, and the long line of open-topped mineral carriages were heaved by dragons toward the back of the parked train, all while voices bellowed, urging them to put their backs into it. The drake couldn't help but shuffle his wings tighter as he watched the larger, more muscular dragons work together to heave the ore-laden carriages closer to the train. The many steel wheels protested against the tracks as they were pushed, and finally, with a dull thud, the extra carriages connected to the back of the train. As the passengers opened the doors to the carriages and climbed down onto the platform, the trio began scanning the group to see who could be their guest.

“Eyes up. That's gotta be him," Jeb said loud enough to be heard, but only by Kaaneth and the Mayor. With a nod, he gestured to a smartly dressed man wearing a bowler hat and waistcoat. Compared to the other men who were helping the women out of the carriages, this man looked slightly lost, carrying a newspaper under one arm with a briefcase in his other hand.

Following the Marshal's gaze Kaaneth watched, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the newcomers. The man seemed in no rush to leave the platform as he began walking towards the front of the train. Only once all the passengers had disembarked did a pair of the train's crew begin unlocking the large wooden doors on the foremost carriage. Due to their size and status, dragons were kept in a segregated compartment near the loud and smelly locomotive, in a car that often served double duty for livestock. With broad timber siding and a flat roof that offered little shelter against the wind, the car lacked anything more comfortable than a thin layer of straw, which every dragon knew would blow away after a few minutes.

Kaaneth watched as the well-dressed man engaged in an animated conversation with the crew, complaining that they were taking too long to open the doors. He then stepped back to give the occupants room as the doors were slid open.

His jaw dropped as the auditor's personal mount emerged from the car. With long, slender legs, she stepped onto the platform, her paws tipped with perfectly curved talons. Moving with an elegant, feminine grace, the clearly female dragon's polished scales radiated the vibrant yellow of the morning sun's rays slicing through a dawn fog. Two long horns swept upwards at their tips, balancing her narrow jaws and slender body, giving her a dangerously sharp look as she surveyed the town while waiting for her rider to retrieve something from her bulky black harness.

The drake's heart skipped a beat when her gaze briefly locked with his as she scanned the town. His frill flicked up to full height when she nodded towards them, speaking to her rider.

Placing a hand on his drake's shoulder, the Marshal looked down Kaaneth's length before leaning closer. “You're peaking," Jeb murmured under his breath, grinning maniacally as the white dragon suddenly turned his body away and lowered a wing to cover himself. Only after the dragon quickly checked himself did he whip his head around to glare at the Marshal.

Kaaneth's snout burned with embarrassment as he tried to relax the muscles that kept his frill perked up, but to little effect. The troublesome frill still remained highly erect. Looking towards the newcomers, his heart seemed to stop beating as he noticed that his reaction had been observed. With her wings tucked tight against her sides and a knowing smile on her snout, the dragoness began walking slowly towards the trio with her master by her side. Each polished paw landed in line with the next, causing her hips to sway from side to side while her shoulders rolled like a predator stalking towards him.

Only as she came closer did Kaaneth notice the subtle shift in her scale color. At first, he had thought she was a single sunburst yellow hue, but now he saw that she had a daffodil yellow underside. Unlike many dragons he knew, the color wasn't confined to her thicker throat scales. Instead, the pattern curved as if drawn by the wind itself, flowing under her in flight. The lighter color started at her narrow chin, curving up her angular cheeks before diving down her neck, swooping between her forelegs, and back up at her waist. As her tail flicked from side to side, Kaaneth became entranced by its slender length and wished to see what it would look like without the bulky tail bags that hung just behind her soft rump.

She scanned the street as she walked, watching for any passersby coming too close to her charge. As she did so, Kaaneth noticed her fierce blue eyes, framed by tapered ovals of the same soft yellow, drawing him in.

“Mayor Daniels, I presume?" called the well-dressed auditor as he approached, swapping his grip on his briefcase to extend his hand toward the man.

Kaaneth swallowed but found his mouth oddly dry and his throat tight as he sat next to Jeb and across from the dragoness. She looked to be roughly his age, if not perhaps a few seasons older. While he sat rigidly, in a regal posture, she held herself with an ease that spoke of years spent in higher society. Finding himself unable to hold her gaze, Kaaneth looked down towards the humans and tried to follow along with their conversation. However, try as he might, he found himself distracted by the blue eyed dragoness who looked up and down his body. Shuffling his wings, he felt somewhat exposed as she continued to stare but when he looked back at her, he was greeted by a warm smirk pulling at her snout. As the men discussed the journey and the weather, Kaaneth caught Jeb stealing glances at him while the dragoness continued to watch him with an expression he couldn't quite place. After a few minutes of pleasantries and small talk, it became clear that the conversation was transitioning to the tasks at hand. Kaaneth shuffled his wings in preparation for carrying the Mayor and Marshal out to the mines.

“...Well, if it's all the same, I would like to see the mine for myself before the sun sets. If that is permissible," the auditor said politely. When the others agreed, he turned toward his dragoness. “Keelara, if you wouldn't mind."

The dragoness began to lower herself so that her master could mount her, but paused when Jeb quickly cleared his throat. “Ah, well, actually, instead of flying out there, how about we inspect the railway tracks that lead to the mine," he suggested, smiling as the men frowned in confusion. With a subtle wink toward the Mayor, the Marshal addressed the auditor. “After all, your company has invested so heavily in the infrastructure for this mine. It would be a shame not to take that into account for your assessment."

The Mayor, while clearly not thrilled by the prospect of walking the distance, nodded in understanding at the Marshal's suggestion. “What a splendid idea. These tracks have been worth their weight in gold," he said with a welcoming smile. “It would be good to get your opinion on how efficient they've allowed us to become."

To their surprise, the auditor looked towards his dragoness as if seeking her input, and only when she gave him a small nod did he turn back and smile politely. “Of course. It would be good to stretch my legs after the long ride. Keelara, can I ask you to find somewhere for us to sleep for the night? And find somewhere you would like to eat for supper." He clicked open the locks on his briefcase, balancing it on his leg, and retrieved a folder full of printed papers. “Then come and join me at the mine."

The bright dragoness flicked her eyes briefly towards the white drake before giving her owner a small yet sincere bow. “Will you be needing me after that, Master?" she asked softly and blinked twice as if something may be aggravating her eye.

A flicker of a knowing smile flashed in the man's face before he shook his head and double checked the paperwork he had in his hands. “No Keelara, the evening is all yours." he replied with a curt smile and closed his briefcase with a click.

"It's settled then. Our saloon just opened recently, and the rooms are clean, and the pens, I've heard, are quite accommodating," the Mayor said, glancing toward the two dragons. "Jebediah and his dragon can make sure she is taken care of," the Mayor added, adjusting his top hat.

"Thank you, that is much appreciated," replied the dragoness politely, her voice soft yet unwavering. Though she hadn't been asked to speak, neither her master nor the others made an attempt to correct her. Turning around, she pulled her tail to one side to give the man more room to secure his briefcase to her saddle while smirking back at the white drake.

With a small tug to ensure it was secure, the man turned back toward the Mayor, clutching a folder in one hand, and gestured toward the mines. "Shall we then?"

Rising quickly to his feet as the dragoness's owner and the Mayor began their way toward the mine, Kaaneth glanced at the striking yellow dragoness. Her brilliant blue eyes made him quickly look down, focusing on the bulky bags she carried. "Would you, ah… like me to carry some of that?" he asked and was rewarded with a polite smile and a small shake of the dragoness's head.

"Well, aren't you a gentle drake? Thank you, but no," Keelara said, rolling her winged shoulders. "It's against policy to let anyone handle this. Integrity of the reports and all that," she added, walking alongside the drake down the main street. Her paws landed softly on the ground as she moved slowly, looking around at the buildings on either side of the road. "So, this is Windslow, is it? It's nice."

Kaaneth dipped his head and glanced to his side, only to see Jeb smiling at him while lingering further back than necessary. "Umm, ah… yeah," he said before swallowing and clearing his throat, "It gets a lot busier when the miners finish for the day, which should be soon." He found himself smiling as the dragoness looked at him sideways. "Keelara, was it? That's a… ah… name—I mean, a pretty name!" he quickly corrected, tightening his wings by his sides as the dragoness let out a small laugh.

"Why, thank you, and yes, it is indeed a name… pleasure to meet you, Kaaneth," Keelara said, briefly brushing her folded wing against his.

The sudden contact made Kaaneth jolt, and he quickly took a step to the side to give her more space. However, as he saw her eyes flick to the gap between them, he became unsure whether he should move closer or not. Instead, he focused on the shop fronts they walked past and thought of something smart to say.

Jeb bit his knuckles to hold back a snicker as he watched his partner flounder, and when Kaaneth opened and closed his mouth a few too many times, he quickly stepped closer to the drake's side. "Kaaneth, how about you tell Keelara what it is you do in town?" he offered, placing a calloused hand on the white drake's shoulder and giving him a subtle push back toward the dragoness.

Trapped between the old Marshal and the stunning dragoness, Kaaneth's chest tightened as his wing brushed against her side, coming close enough that he could faintly smell her scent. Being in a mining town, he was used to the scents of dragons who worked tirelessly in the stifling heat and humidity of the mines. But instead of the sharp, sticky scent of manual labor, she smelled of a mixture of lavender and crushed pine needles. While not her natural scent, it was a clear indication that she was accustomed to finer things and likely rewarded by her owner with expensive soaps. “I-um. I'm a deputy—"

“A deputy?!" Keelara said, her tone astonished and carried a hint of disbelief until she looked across and saw the small brass badge on the strap of his harness. “You're not joking? Wow, I've met plenty of dragons that worked for the town's Marshal, but none have been a deputy before. That's impressive, and quite progressive."

Kaaneth's chest swelled at her praise, and he dipped his head in acknowledgment. “Yup, hatched here and have been helping Jeb from day one," he said proudly, then looked across the main street. Many of the miners' wives were out, running errands or collecting goods before their husbands finished work. When Kaaneth spotted the two older dragons that worked in the saddlery watching him, he looked back to Keelara and nodded to her harness. “I haven't seen a harness like that before. Is it a new style?" he asked, internally praising himself when the dragoness' smile grew.

“Oh, this? It's nothing special. Just a company issue with a few additions," she said before stepping ever so slightly closer to him. “It's a bit of a pain to take off. Especially the tail bags—I always need someone to help me with the straps that hold my hips," she added with a hint of playfulness in her voice.

“Oh, tell me about it," Kaaneth said, using a knuckle of his folded wing to gesture to the buckles that held the saddle onto the harness. “Jeb and I went through maybe three different styles until we found one we could both undo easily." He frowned when he heard Jeb groan slightly, but when he looked down at the man, the Marshal simply shook his head and took a deep breath.

“So, you've lived here your whole life?" Keelara asked, looking around the small town. Many of the buildings looked hastily built, a sight not uncommon in smaller mining towns like Windslow. When the drake nodded, she pursed her lips. “Have you ever traveled out of town?"

Kaaneth felt like he was being subtly judged by the dragoness and nodded again. “Of course, Jeb and I have visited the city. It was very… busy." His neck frill flattened as he realized the dragoness was probably expecting a more exotic location than a simple day's train ride. “But I think you've probably done more than me."

With a snort of amusement, Keelara giggled and gave him a reassuring smile. “Oh, I think I have too," she mused, grinning as his frill twitched upward. “But I agree, the cities are far too busy for my liking," she added, taking a deep breath of the country air. “It's always good to get away from the chaos and come to towns like these."

“Which city do you call home?" Kaaneth asked, noticing her lips twitch with a hint of sadness before she shrugged her wings and flashed him a smile.

“Oh, a 'ness like me doesn't stay still for long. We are always on the move; there's always some underperforming mine that we need to check out or some new site that needs surveying," she said, shuffling her wings, “I think I've spent more nights sleeping on the train than in any one place. But my master treats me well, he is like a friend more than an owner."

Kaaneth could hear the loneliness in her voice despite her reassuring smile, and again was reminded of how lucky he was. “I bet you've visited some pretty cool places, though," he said, feeling warmer when her smile turned more genuine. “Where's the coolest place you've been?"

Keelara looked ahead and tilted her head from side to side as she thought. “There's a canyon a few weeks' flight from here. It's absolutely stunning—larger than anything we've ever seen and an absolute blast to fly down. The rocky walls have these layers of oranges and browns that show the history of the land—it's incredible," she said, before realizing she was rambling. She looked at Kaaneth, only to see him listening intently. “We try to visit every chance we get, but it's getting rarer these days."

Feeling bold, he glanced down at Jeb, and when he saw the man nod towards the 'ness, he cleared his throat and looked to Keelara. “So, other than exploring the land and flying down canyons, what does Keelara do for fun?" He asked, his chest tightening as she looked at him with a playful glint in her eyes. “I mean, you do get time for fun, right?"

“Oh, yes. We work hard, but we try to find some time to unwind," she said, smirking toward the drake and leaning closer. “He likes to read, but me?" she added, moving her head close enough to whisper in his ear. Her gentle voice and warm breath against him made him shiver as she spoke softly. “I like to sample the local cultures, see what they have to offer."

Kaaneth felt like he was going to strain a muscle in his frill as it stood as high as it could, much to her amusement as she giggled. Swallowing, he looked towards the saloon, then back to her, smiling sheepishly. “The local culture, eh? I'm sorry to disappoint you, but not much is happening tonight. Most of the townsfolk work the mine, and there will just be more work tomorrow—" His words drifted off as her smile faded, and a low groan came from the Marshal next to him. Correcting himself hastily, he nodded towards the saloon. “But, if it's the atmosphere you want, the saloon is the best place to be. And also, in the morning, the owner makes the most amazing coffee," he said, continuing when she giggled in amusement. “He has this new brass boiler that somehow makes enough coffee for the miners—even us dragons. You have to try it."

“Oh yeah, maybe you could get me one in the morning," she said with a sly wink and another brush of her wing against his sides. “Assuming your mate will be okay with that?"

“Mate? I don't have a mate," Kaaneth replied in confusion and looked down at Jeb when he snorted in amusement. “So, yeah. I could get you a coffee in the morning. What time do you wake up?"

“I'm not sure, but I'm hoping to wake up when you do," she giggled, sharing a look with the Marshal, who shook his head at Kaaneth's obliviousness. “If that works for you."

“Yeah, that works for me." Kaaneth said and as they approached the saloon, began to wonder if she was suggesting something else.

The large building was divided into two sections: the southern half consisted of an open-air pavilion with canvas-covered hay bales as cushions for dragons to lounge on, while the northern half was laid out with more traditional tables and chairs for humans. Beyond the long tables that were set out for the human patrons, ran a long hallway with a dozen doors leading to rooms that could be rented. In the middle of the two sections stood a proud bar with a variety of barrels of ale, whiskey, and other refreshments.

Wiping down a mug with a clean cloth was a young man wearing a dark shirt and pants under a light brown apron. Upon seeing the Marshal, Kaaneth, and the dragoness enter, he smiled warmly and nodded towards the trio. “Good day, Marshal. I wasn't expecting to see you this early. The usual?" he asked as he flipped the mug over in the air and caught it before placing it under a small keg.

“Aye, thanks, but not right now. On the job, see," Jeb said and gave a subtle nod towards the yellow dragoness. “But this fine 'ness is looking for a room for her charge. Got any spare?" he added, raising his eyebrows slightly to emphasize the importance of the request.

“Of course, of course," the barkeep said and began sorting through a drawer under the bar. “I try to keep my nicest rooms open for occasions just like this," he added, as he retrieved an iron key with a leather tag embossed with a number.

“Why, thank you." Keelara said and approached the bar. Sitting down on her haunches, she curled around to reach into her tail bag and retrieve a small pouch of coins. “Do you need to see my letter?" she asked. Due to the occasional dragon who had tried to escape their master, it was common for an unaccompanied dragon to carry a letter from their owner stating their business to ensure that they were not arrested.

“Ain't no letter necessary here, lovely. If Jeb and Kaaneth are vouching for you, that's good enough for me," he chuckled and smiled when the dragoness placed a coin purse down on the counter. “It's two dollars for the week, or two quarters a night. Each room has a complementary place for you out back, fresh bedding every night, and breakfast for yourself and your master in the morning."

With two digits, she spread the mouth of the coin purse open, fished out three quarters, and slid them across the counter. “Just the one night, but I need to be sure no one enters my master's room. Do you have a second key for emergencies?" When the man nodded, she smiled warmly with an expectant look. “May we have it?"

The barkeep hesitated but he trusted the marshal's judgment and when He gave him a subtle nod, he retrieved the second key from the drawer before exchanging it for the money. “I just ask that you return both keys to me when you leave. They are expensive to replace," he said as he pocketed the money.

“Of course, and thank you." Keelara said as she slipped the money pouch into her tail bag and tucked both keys under the strap of her harness. “This is a nice bar you have here. Does it get very busy?" she asked, and instead of addressing the barkeep, looked to Kaaneth for the answer.

Kaaneth swallowed as he nodded and gave her a reassuring smile. “Oh yeah, once the miners finish for the day, this place becomes really loud," he said, feeling like he had said the wrong thing when she pursed her lips. “Why's that?"

“Oh, after the train ride. I was wondering if there was somewhere quiet that I could go to unwind," she said with a hint of a smirk. “But I'm not sure if I want to be alone somewhere I don't know," she added, raising her eyeridge at the drake to see if he would take the hint.

Kaaneth hesitated and swallowed hard before glancing at Jeb to see the man also waiting to see what he would say. Not wanting to tarnish the saloon's reputation he cleared his throat and smiled politely. “Oh, well. Your pen for the night is probably pretty quiet. And most of the noise dies down a few hours after sundown. The miners work very hard and start at dawn," he said, catching a look shared between Jeb and the barkeep. Again, he felt like he had misspoken as the dragoness took a deep breath and forced a smile in acknowledgment.

“Well, I'll get rid of these bags then. I shouldn't be long, if these buckles don't cause too much trouble," she said with a slight huff and turned away from the males. As she walked across the saloon and down the hallway, she made sure to keep her wings tucked tight against her body and swayed her hips in a deliberately seductive rhythm.

Kaaneth's eyes were glued to her display, wondering what it would feel like to have a mate of her caliber, until a damp cloth suddenly landed on his face with a wet slap. “Hey!" he exclaimed and shook the cloth free. “What was that for, Mike?" he asked, before tossing the cloth back at the man with a flick of his paw.

“Oh my gods, Kaaneth. What the heck?" Jeb sighed as the cloth landed on one of the kegs behind the barkeep. “Are you always this hopeless around females? Or is it just because she's all sleek and shiny?" he asked with an exasperated smile.

“What—"

“Oh, come on! She likes you!" Jeb retorted in a hushed voice with a broad smile. “She was practically begging for you to help take her harness off, and she wants to go somewhere quiet tonight but not by herself?" he added, chuckling as the drake opened and closed his mouth in realization.

“Kaaneth, buddy, really?" the barkeep chuckled as he retrieved the cloth and began washing it in a pail of water. “She was practically throwing herself at you. Didn't you see that?"

Kaaneth's frill drooped low against his neck as he looked toward where she had gone. “Really? I thought she was just being friendly," he said in his defense, shrinking back onto his haunches as the two humans shared a look of disbelief. “What? It does get noisy in here, and yeah, those buckles do look tricky. That doesn't mean that she's interested in—" his words failed as Jeb shook his head. “Besides, we only just met."

“Kaaneth, partner, trust me, she is interested," Jeb said, reaching up to adjust a strap on the drake's harness. “I'm no drake, but I can tell she wants to spend more time with you. I'm not saying she wants you on her back, but she's definitely interested in getting to know you."

“You really think so?" asked the drake, looking between the pair to see if they might be teasing him, but when they both nodded, he swallowed and glanced toward the hallway where she had gone. “But she'll be gone tomorrow—"

“And?" Jeb interrupted, slapping the drake's shoulder, “She's not here for a long time, but she definitely doesn't want to spend tonight alone," he turned to the barkeep, “Get this, Mike. Kaany asked her what time she wakes up, and she straight up said she wants to wake up with him."

“Kaaneth… really?" Mike chuckled, seeing that the dragon was clearly out of his depth. He shook his head in disbelief. As he wrung out the cloth and tossed it over his shoulders, he looked to the Marshal, “I think your partner here needs a little help on his first solo mission."

“I'm getting that impression," Jeb replied, grinning up at the drake. “Say, Mike, you wouldn't be able to put together a basket of food for a couple of dragons, would you?" He winked at Kaaneth. “I'm thinking my partner needs to guard the southern pass tonight."

The barkeep chuckled and nodded. “Aye, I think I can put something together. Just give me a few minutes. I'll even throw in a cushion cover—just don't be afraid to ditch it if it gets… dirty," he added with a deep laugh that made Kaaneth's frill flick back up.

The drake's amber eyes darted between them as his two friends played matchmaker. “Oh, come on, guys, I doubt anything is going to happen—" he quickly closed his mouth as he heard the telltale click of polished claws against hardwood come closer. Whipping his head around, he watched as Keelara strode toward them. Without the bulky bags on her harness, she looked even more sensual as she smiled warmly at him.

“What's going to happen?" she asked, glancing at the drake's fully erect frill with a smirk. “Sorry, did I interrupt something?" she added when the two men shared a knowing look and stifled a chuckle.

Kaaneth shook his head to clear his thoughts, before returning her smile. “Nothing. Nothing is happening—"

Quickly coming to his senses, Jeb placed a steady yet firm hand on the drake's shoulders to silence him. “I was just explaining to my partner that I need him to guard the southern pass tonight. We've heard rumors of something out there snatching livestock, but nothing out there is a match for Kaaneth. His presence alone will probably scare anything off." He gave the dragoness a subtle wink.

Keelara looked at the white drake, who quickly nodded and pulled her neck into an elegant 'S' shape. “That's really brave of you. Are you out there by yourself?" she asked, and when he nodded, shuffled her wings. “And really quiet," she added, hoping he would say something.

Kaaneth opened and closed his mouth as he tried to formulate the words before swallowing and thumping his tail against the ground in frustration. “Ah—well, yeah. No, I mean. Sorry. Yes, it's quiet, but that's sometimes nice, isn't it? If you wanted, I mean, it's not like anything dangerous will happen, but would you like to, maybe—" his voice became hoarse as he ran out of breath and chuckled nervously as she tilted her head in confusion. “I mean, if you wanted to get away from the town tonight, you're welcome to join me," he finally spluttered.

His offer hung in the air for what seemed like an eternity, causing his frill to droop and his stomach to churn. But finally, her smile broadened as she nodded. “That sounds nice," she said warmly, only to giggle as his frill flicked up again. “And you can show me how long you can keep that… erect," she added with a glance between his horns.

It felt like the weight of the world had suddenly lifted from his wings as he shared a small laugh with her. But as a distant horn blared out from the mine, the pair looked outside the saloon. “That's the end of the shift. Things are going to get pretty loud here," Kaaneth explained and snapped his head to her as she began to walk out of the saloon.

Pausing mid-stride, she looked back at the drake and was pleasantly surprised to find his gaze holding hers rather than being fixed on her rump like most males. “I should probably go collect my master. Shall I meet you at the pass?"

While reluctant to see her leave, Kaaneth nodded. “It's only a short flight down the south road; I'll be there with some supper."

“Funny, handsome, and able to provide. I think I'm going to like you, Kaaneth," she said, before giving them all a subtle bow of her head. Locking eyes with the Marshal, she gave him a quick wink. “And thank you, Marshal," she added as she turned away and stepped out of the saloon. She had only just exited the building when she bounded forward and leapt into the sky with a powerful flap of her wings. Once clear of the buildings, she stretched her pale wings wide and began a steady glide off toward the mine.

“Kaaneth, real talk. Man to man," Jeb said as he leaned closer to his dragon, who was now fixated on the dragoness disappearing into the distance. “If you come back before dawn, I'll sell you," he added and grinned when Mike roared with laughter.

Reality began to set in for Kaaneth as he realized that he was now going to be alone with a dragoness for the whole night. “What… what do we do?" he said, pulling away as Jeb looked at him with a wide grin. “No! I mean. Before that. If we even get to that," he spluttered before shaking his head and tightening his wings against his sides. “I mean, what do I say?"

“Oh, relax. Just talk about her. Dragons love it when people talk about them," Jeb retorted and laughed as the drake's expression turned unamused. “I don't know; I've never had a date with a 'ness. Tell her she is pretty, compliment her or something."

“All night?" Kaaneth asked but didn't find the pair's laughter helpful. “Come on, guys, I need a paw with this stuff. Maakina is well, Maakina; I've known her my whole life. But Keelara, she is… different. I don't want to mess this up," he said, and finally, the pair of humans settled down.

Seeing the drake flustered, Jeb cleared his throat and tried to reassure him with a pat on the shoulder. “Kaaneth, you will be fine. Just ask her what it's like being her, where she grew up, and what she wants to do in the future. Between that, the food, and the setting, she will make it clear what she wants."

“Well, she may make it clear. But will he notice?" Mike chimed in with a chuckle and went about filling a large wicker basket with food from the cabinets under the bar. As he stood back up, he saw the uncertainty in the drake's eyes and waved a hand to dismiss the idea. “I'm joking. You will do fine. Something tells me she doesn't mind taking the lead if she has to."

“You will do fine, Kaany," Jeb said, giving him a reassuring slap on the shoulder. “Just don't eat all the food, talk about her, and don't bring up any other 'ness. You hear me? No comparing her to Maakina or anything like that, okay?"

Kaaneth nodded. While he still felt strange about being pushed so rapidly toward the dragoness, he couldn't help but feel giddy at the idea of getting to know her more.