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The next morning I went into the bathroom first before Tom and Jasmine. Who did not object to getting woken. When I went outside I saw not only Earl but about three dozen dragons waiting for those inside to come out. He comes up to me and bows. After I return it I see many other dragons doing the same for me. Earl comes up to me and think about it a minute. “ I hope your friends do not have high hopes Earl. There are only about a dozen of us here and Ms. Garreson...”

I trail off realizing that she would not like the sight of so many first thing in the morning. “ You better lead them away till breakfast. That way they will be less likely to be startled or surprised.”

He thinks it over and makes a yelping noise and the others start following him to across the road. Tom and Jasmine caught sight of them moving away and Tom wrapped his arm around my neck. “ Erik, care to explain that?”

I smile evilly. “ After breakfast. I'm starving.”

They knew something was up but decided to let things play out. The ranchers were already wise to the situation and had a plate of biscuits ready for me. I take it and my breakfast before sitting. I waited till everyone had at least half ate before I picked up the biscuits and waved a watching Earl to bring them over. Again we showed each other respect before Earl put his snout in my hand. “ Now you'll get one of these as whoever is suited to one of us.”

The sight of the dragons swarming over me for a biscuit got the others riled up. “ Tom pass them out.”

I said as I handed him the tray. I managed to get some for Earl and many of them followed the tray and I fed him in peace. As soon as everyone had a biscuit, that wanted one, they started pairing off. Earl growled at a few who were getting a little 'demanding' of the biscuits as well. “ Now don't cave to pressure. Make sure you two are suited for each other.”

I yelled and things settled down some. I noticed Ms. Garreson standing behind a line of watching and amused ranchers. As I watched them Mr. Branson and Jacob came beside of me. Jacob slapped a thin notebook worth of paper against my chest. “ Good idea with the biscuits. We will have to start doing that.”

Jacob then says, “ I agree Mr. Branson. They do go crazy over em. Same recipe sense the beginning of the ranch and we never figured it out.”

I take a glance at the papers and then hide then in my back pocket. “ I think any food will do as long as you say it is yours.”

They both laugh a bit. “ Probably right. Here comes your lady friend with one now.”

Jasmine leads a leaner violet female out of the group. Jasmine still had her biscuit held tight. “ Well become acquainted. If she is still around after a few minutes give her the biscuit.”

By this time many of the others had paired off as well. Ms. Garreson was scared shitless as many were starting looking at her for a biscuit as well. But left her be as soon as they saw how she acted toward them. Eventually Tom was alone in a sea of dragons. It must have overwhelmed him as he tossed the biscuit away and they all went after it. All but one. One much smaller than the others. Tom moves and kneels beside the small dragon before saying, “ Hello little fella. Everything all right?”

The little dragon took a few steps back and Tom instantly knew he made a bad choice. He stood and backed away slowly as well. He was lucky the baby did not cry for his mother. There would have been nothing to have been done. So the dragons started to leave not knowing what else to do and only one remained after the unpaired left. The green fella did not seem to know what happened to the others. Tom came up to me disappointed. “ Sorry Tom. Maybe tomorrow.”

As I was saying that the lone green dragon came to us and licked into Tom's hand. Which startled him. “ I don't have any.” The dragon settled beside him anyways. Tom seemed to have an idea. “ Could you wait here a minute?”

The green dragon remained still and quiet. Tom ran off to the bunkhouse and brought back a bag of jerky. He takes a piece out and lets the dragon sniff it. As soon as the dragon was done he forced his way under Tom's arm. “ So what is his name?”

I laugh for a second. “ To quote Jacob, 'Your the one he likes.' Now make sure the name suits him.”

He starts thinking for a bit before blurting out, “ Jake.”

The dragon's attention was immediately caught fully and started licking Tom's face. I take a quick look around and notice many of those who had paired off had left with or without their new partners. The only noticeable ones left was Jasmine and her choice as hers was laying on her lap listening to her talk. I lead my small group to her and call her name. “ Jasmine.” She did not pay attention to me so I moved closer and yelled. “ Jasmine!”

She finally notices me. “ Have you fed her yet?”

She raised it in her left hand. The violet-blue dragon grew a little excited in lifting it's head. “ Feed it to her already.”

The she-dragon looks at me grateful but Jasmine said, “ But I'm not done talking to her.”

I sigh. “ You're suppose to tell her a little of yourself not your life story. Feed her.”

Jasmine looks at me annoyed but follows the demand. After the dragon ate it and sat her head back on Jasmines lap Jasmine says, “ Well anyways...”

The dragon let out a sound that would not be taken as anything but as a sign of annoyance. I could not help but slap my face embarrassed. “ Jasmine she is not your cellphone. I'm surprised she did not just leave. Now pet her neck and be quiet before you annoy her too much. Also name her.”

It was surprising that she followed my instructions further. “ Lisa.”

The newly named Lisa licks Jasmines face many times before Jasmine stood. “ So now that is over with when can I ride Jake in the air?”

I hear Tom ask me from behind me and I could already tell the look on the dragons before seeing them. I laugh weakly, in hopes to lighten their moods, before saying, “ When they want you to be on them. When they lower themselves as you've seen Earl do for me. By my understanding and guess I think ten years. Maybe more.”

Tom's jaw drops in surprise. Jasmine then asks, “ Then how did you get to be on Earl earlier?”

I look down at Earl while I answered. “ Well that is complicated. Just trust me it is better to take the time and play it safe. Me, I was extremely lucky among other things.”

I have question formed as I saw Mr. Branson. “ I'll be back in a bit. I think Earl can keep you out of trouble.”

Earl pushes me away as I move toward Mr. Branson. “ Thanks for the material. I just got a little worry. Will Jake and Lisa come with them like Earl will me or will they be doomed to waiting for a visit that may never happen?”

He starts stroking his beard in thought. “ Well they have befriended. Much more than the others. They'll go day to day here on the ranch waiting for some time but they will move on with their lives with time. On occasion they may come back when they feel their friends may come. Other than that they should be fine. They are less connected as you and Earl are. He will truly miss you if you are gone. That is why...”

He stops and seemed to smile. “ Well you will discover it in time. No, Lisa and Jake will not have lonely fates. They'll have that temporary new friend experience.”

That was a weight off my mind but the pause he did worried me. “ Thanks again.”

I turn back to the others and see Earl staring at Lisa. He was not very hard to figure out. I moved by him quietly and flicked his ear. He looks at me and growls lightly. “ Oh, be quiet. Unless you do not want my help like I did not need yours?”

He looks underneath himself by putting his head under his wing for a moment already knowing what is going on under him and agrees. I walk up to Jasmine, who was still talking to an annoyed Lisa. When she realized I was in front of her she stopped. “ We have been together all day. Why don't we let them be for a bit to get something proper to eat. Earl can keep her company.”

Lisa returns Earls look and moves her wings slightly. I guessed an acceptance at his staring. The moment she moved forward the one person that should have stayed out of it did not. “ Jake is probably hungry as well.”

I hear both Earl and Lisa growl in that 'great a third wheel' tone. Jasmine, Tom, and Jake were a bit confused from that. I literally pulled the next words out of my ass. “ Tom why don't you check on the charger. Have Jake go with you and have some more of that jerky.”

It takes him a moment to figure out the situation. Which ruins my chances but not Earls.