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Listener woke before the sun rose the next morning, disturbed by his dreams. He had gone to sleep feeling strangely satisfied, but Planet spoke to him during his sleep, revealing to him the actions he needed to do and the outcomes he may face. The path divulged, relying on the choices another would make, and he worried at what might happen if she chose against him... but he would not ignore the message Planet had given. He listened.

The dragon rose from his bed, reaching on instinct to a spot beside the bed... but his cloak wasn't there. He felt a pang of grief for it, already missing the comfort it gave to hide beneath it. It had been with him for many years, and was almost a part of him... but Planet had told him long ago that he would one day lose it. Planet had also told him what that would be a sign of... but now was not the time to dwell on that.

He rose from his bed and stepped through the curtain of his shelter, spreading his wings in greeting to the last minutes of the night sky. He stretched... then flapped, rising into the cool sky.

It was only a short flight to his destination - he lived on the edge of the clan, but their homes were all in a small area of the valley. He descended before the house, coming down in the small clearing and feeling the soft grass brush against his paws as he landed. Two more strides brought him to the door of the house, and he knocked softly on the wooden board beside the curtain.

A moment of silence, then the curtain drew aside. A male stood in the doorway, glaring back at him; beyond Listener could see a thoroughly satisfied female sleeping on her back atop a pile of males, the entire group intertwined and sharing the warmth of their bodies.

The male in the doorway huffed at recognizing Listener. "What do you want? It's not even sunrise."

Listener dipped his head. "My apologies for waking you. I had hoped to speak with Softwing; I... have to go on a journey for a while, and wanted to ask if she wished to accompany me."

The male's eyes narrowed in reply. "She _just_got back from the last trip you sent her on. Where are you dragging her off to now?"

"Somewhere even further, sadly, if she wishes to go."

The male shook his head and turned away, letting the curtain fall behind him. There was a series of sounds, then an annoyed hiss. "You had better have a good reason for waking me."

"Stunted is here, asking for you."

A sigh came from beyond the curtain, followed by the sound of bodies shifting. "That is a good reason. And I told you, do not call him that."

There was silence for a moment, then the curtain shifted again, this time revealing Softwing. She started to speak, then paused in surprise. Listener didn't understand at first, then remembered - his clothes were gone, and she wasn't used to seeing him without them.

"I apologize for disturbing you, Softwing, but I have been given a dream from Planet. I need something for when Stormscry returns, and it is a long journey to get it. In my dream you protected me on the journey, and I came to ask if you would come with me."

Softwing blinked in surprise, but nodded. It wasn't the first time Listener had made requests based off his dreams, and they had turned out well in the end. "Of course, Listener. Just let me get a few things ready, and I will join you."

Listener dipped his head again in thanks. "My gratitude. I have to ask a few more things from others before I am ready, but I will return shortly. Thank you again, Softwing."

Softwing nodded and started to turn back to her room, still seeming a little surprised, then paused. "Oh - how long will we be gone?"

Listener grimaced. "Two, maybe three... weeks."

Stormscry spent the night sulking back at the hill clan, her anger only growing stronger as she had recovered from the humiliation Listener had put her through. The females at the clan had avoided her, but she could hear their whispers, that she had been bested once again by the waterfall clan leader, that she had been bested by a male. She and had grown even more determined to pay him back for what he had done with every hour that passed. She had no grounds to challenge him again for hunting rights - clan law permitted a challenge, and if agreed permitted a retrial in certain circumstances... but the outcome of two challenges was clear, and clans were protected from frivolous challenges. Stormscry had no further grounds to challenge their clan.

So she hadn't bothered with a clan challenge.

She had descended on the clearing outside the clan's houses and roared her challenge. She hated even considering it, but the male had to be put in his place. And if that meant claiming him for her harem, then so be it; she could lock him in a far off room of her home and let him rot after. The challenge to a male was separate from a challenge to a clan - a female could challenge an unclaimed male directly, or the female who held claim to a male. She could challenge Listener again, on the pretense he be made part of her harem - and when she won this time, she could properly humiliate the male, and pay him back for what he had done to her. She even vaguely remembered him mentioning a harem of his own - if true, claiming him could also bring more dragons into her clan, even if they would clearly need years to undo whatever damage the male had done to them.

Her roar had roused the entire clan. They had come to greet her, and she had demanded they bring Listener forward. She had told them her intention to claim his as her own, to bring him into her harem... and they had laughed.

One of them - Dawnchaser - stepped away from the others and tried to swallow her laughter. "You are too late, Stormscry. It seems you have been thwarted again - Listener has left on a journey, only an hour ago."

Stormscry stomped her paw on the ground. "I was not defeated! Males exaggerate and stretch the truth; you know this! Go and get him! He cannot have gotten far; bring him back!"

"We would of course grant your request, but our fastest flier went with him. There is none in the clan who could overtake them, and they informed us they would be flying through the nights until they reached their destination." Dawnchaser spread her wings apologetically, but the trembling in her sides suggested she was suppressing laughter.

"Fine. I will go get him myself! Which way did they go?" Stormscry paced back and forth, spreading her wings restlessly.

Dawnchaser tilted her head and thought. "He went north, I think - up to the waterfall, then a turn to the right."

A dragon behind her shook her head and spoke up. "No, no - it was left at the waterfall. Towards the hill clan, but then west at the forest."

Yet another dragon spoke up after. "No, they weren't going to the waterfall at all; they were just saying they would stop there on the way back! They were just going north!"

Dawnchaser frowned and looked back at the dragons behind her. "No, I'm sure he said they would need to turn..."

Stormscry pounded her paw into the ground. "Enough! When will he be back?"

Dawnchaser turned back to Stormscry. "Oh, that's easy. He said two weeks. Maybe three, if they got delayed."

"Three... three weeks?! You let a male wander off alone for weeks?"

Dawnchaser shook her head. "He was not alone. Softwing went with him."

Stormscry just glared back at the other female. "Fine! Then I will challenge his female - whoever has claim to him. Unless you mean to tell me _she_is gone too?"

Dawnchaser looked to each side, at the dragons around her. "Listener belongs to the clan. His mother was from another clan, who died of sickness, and he is claimed by no single female. He is in the care of us all - if you wish to challenge for him, you will have to fight us all."

Stormscry hissed, spreading her wings. "So be it! I'll fight each of you, one by one, and take him when he returns!"

Dawnchaser let out a musical sound of laughter. "One by one? A claim is a single battle, not many. If you would fight us, you would fight and defeat us all in the same challenge."

The dragon paused, curling her wings in frustration. Even as strong as she was, there was no way she could fight all of them at once. The male had cheated again and robbed her of what was rightfully hers.

No. Not robbed - just delayed. She would still have her victory... just not today.

"Fine! I will return in three weeks. Inform Listener when he returns that he belongs to me now. He is not to go galavanting off; he will wait here for me to return and claim him!" The dragon hissed again, turned, and launched herself into the air.

Softwing sighed in impatience. "We should just go talk to them already." She and Listener had arrived at their destination several hours earlier, but the male had suggested watching them for a bit instead. She wasn't sure what else he could possibly learn from this far away, though.

"We can if you would like... but I think there is still something I have not yet heard." The male was frowning as he watched the dragons below and in the distance go about their lives.

Softwing grumbled. "Very well; we will wait longer." She looked back at the settlement and resigned to be bored for a few more hours. "It is strange, though."

"Oh? What is?" Listener looked back curiously.

Softwing waved her wing towards the distance. "Those dragons. It's not just females going from place to place; I've watched males going about errands too. They leave a building by themselves, go to another, and come back with something; they are clearly fetching things, maybe even making purchases, but they aren't escorted by anyone."

Listener looked back at the clan, squinting. "Why is that strange? I do that all the time."

Softwing hesitated and looked back to Listener, feeling another moment of discomfort. It was still very strange seeing him without clothes, and he looked so much thinner than a male should. They had spent the past week flying together, but he had always flown below and behind her, as was proper, and she still hadn't gotten used to the difference in his appearance. She looked away and focused on some of the far off males instead. "With you, there's no problem - you're just one male and everyone in our clan knows of you, and knows what the rest of the clan would do if they tried to claim you. But with this... the confusion must be enormous. Going out by themselves, without their female or other males... There's no way that every female in a clan that size knows every male in the clan and if they are claimed, or by who. There must be countless problems every day where a female mistakenly claims a male already in a harem without challenging his female for him. This clan's leader must do nothing but settle grievances all day."

Softwing was slightly worried how the male would take her explanation, but he just smiled. "Ah... I hear. Thank you; it makes sense now." Listener pointed to one of the males crossing the clearing. "I had wondered why the males always wore that around the base of their necks." He paused while Softwing squinted and made out a circle of metal wrapped around the male's neck, right before his chest. "When we first arrived I saw them hooking ropes up to one, and then to a boulder; I had believed it was just used to allow a male to move greater loads, but could not understand why they always wore it. Now I understand - it must also serve to show what female the male belongs to, so as to prevent that confusion."

Softwing squinted, but she wasn't sure how it could do that. From here they all looked the same. Maybe there would be something more she could see when they were closer. Whenever that would be.

Listener rose to his paws and stretched his wings. "I believe I have heard all I need to, if you wish to approach? The item we seek is in that building there - we will need to trade the treasures the clan lent us for it."

Softwing shook her head. The clan had _given_Listener the shiny stones, but he still insisted on calling it a loan. As if he had not discovered and given away double or triple the value of the stones in the past - they were probably ones he had originally found anyways. "Very well; we shall go there now." Softwing stretched her wings and silently leapt into the air, knowing Listener would be behind her.

The merchant eyed the two dragons warily as they slipped through the curtain to her store. They were clearly from another clan, but she couldn't pinpoint which... and that male was a disgrace; she couldn't imagine how it had even been allowed out in public. His wings looked long and healthy, but his body was dangerously scrawny. She would have mistaken him for a whelp with an unfortunate growth spurt if not for the age clear on his horns and tail. He didn't wear a collar... but then, that was what she sold here, so it was not unusual for a female to escort a male to her shop. But still - he could have just stayed at home...

She stopped staring at the male and instead looked to the female. "Welcome to my store. What do you need today?"

The stranger paused and looked around, obviously surprised by how many different things were on display. "We have come to buy... ah... to make purchases. Listener, tell her what we need."

The merchant felt her claws curl inwards at the insulting expectation that she deal with a male when a perfectly healthy female was right there, but she managed to unclench her paw. It must be some strange - very strange - habit of their clan, and not a deliberate affront.

The male lifted a stone jar up onto the counter and upended it, spilling several gems onto the counter. Mostly diamonds, but a few emeralds and even a sapphire. They gleamed in the light filtering through the window, and the shopkeeper could not help but focus on them. They were small... but there were many of them. She counted them in her head, then looked back at the male, making sure to keep her words simple for his benefit. "For?"

The male stretched out his right wing and pointed to a shelf on the wall, a little above him. The shopkeeper blinked, trying to remember if the male had actually looked at the items on display; that he could instantly pick out what he wanted was a little uncanny. She followed the direction of the wing...

"I'm sorry; that isn't for sale. I don't know how that even got up there; it shouldn't be on display." She slipped around the counter and leaned up to clutch the collar in her paws, taking it back behind the counter.

The strange female looked from the male and back to her, wings starting to bristle. "Why not? It is the one we wish to have."

The merchant sighed and placed it back onto the counter, moving her paws away and uncovering the thin but strong circle of metal. She turned it idly, watching the light catch on the small diamonds embedded in it, and tapping the intricately woven loop at the 'bottom'. "This does not technically belong to me to sell - the stones were a gift, long ago, from a clan that passed through here. They were fleeing an illness and stopped to rest for a few days, on their way to where they claimed Planet wished them to go. They had little possessions and were starving; they traded these and other valuables for enough food to fill their bellies. It...was a gross theft from them; the food we gave them was not nearly worth what they traded. They departed before the mistreatment was discovered; when our clan leader found out how badly they had been abused, she took the treasures and gave them to others, on the condition that they be returned if the clan ever came back. That was many years ago, but I still cannot sell them."

The stranger's expression shifted to one of intense surprise, and she turned to look at the male almost accusingly. The male betrayed no surprise, though, and instead opened his mouth to speak a few words in a raspy voice that made the merchant's ears hurt. "We are from that clan."

The merchant stared at the male in suspicion. That was... awfully convenient. A test, then, to make certain. "I do not believe you." She turned to look at the female instead - that was who she should be dealing with anyways, after all. "Though I _may_be persuaded to part with it - I can simply claim to have lost it, if the clan leader asks - but not for this paltry amount." She looked down at the gems and tried to keep a straight face at her bold lie. The gems were enough to buy the collar and several more, but she was hoping the stranger would not know that.

Success. "Then what else would convince you to part with them?"

"A night with your male."

Softwing blinked in surprise at the merchant's demand. A night... with Listener? That was unthinkable, nobody in the clan would suggest such a thing!...

It took her a second to remember she wasn't in her own clan anymore. It wouldn't necessarily be unheard of for another clan to ask such a thing - such as how Waveskimmer of the hill clan offered her males to travelers. And Softwing had noticed the merchant staring at Listener when they entered; maybe she was somehow attracted to him...

She scratched a claw on the floor, thoughtful. And Planet knows Listener deserved a night with a female. Circumstances meant he couldn't be with anyone in the clan, but here was the rare chance for him to be with one. He would probably enjoy finally getting to be with a female again... if he ever actually had. Softwing blinked, suddenly realizing she couldn't remember if Listener had ever been with a female...

She started to say yes, and turned towards Listener as she opened her mouth... but the sight of the male caused her to stop. He was scared, worried. Terrified? His head was low, face to the ground, but she could see a slight tremble in his wings. He... no; if the idea bothered him that much, she couldn't go through with it.

Softwing turned back to the merchant. "I'm sorry, but I cannot do that. Is there something else I could trade instead?" She paused, looking at the stones on the counter. If this item was so important to Listener... she swallowed at the idea, but opened her mouth again. "If you would like a night with me instead..."

The merchant surprised her by breathing a sigh of relief. "No, no; I... you really are of the refugee clan, aren't you? That was one thing... when they were swindling the refugees, one of the things our traders tried to take was the clan males. They offered extra food, and the prospect of fewer mouths, especially with some of the scrawnier ones who clearly would only be a hindrance... but the clan refused to give any of them away, not even the weakest male, even for a single night. It frustrated the traders to no end, since there were many males they wished to claim for their own... it's one of the few things I remember about that clan. You obviously want this very much, but if you would offer yourself before him... that's the kind of craziness I could only imagine coming from that clan." The merchant shook her head and slid the collar across the counter, pausing only long enough to take one of the diamonds Listener had poured on the counter. "For the metal, and the construction - everything else about the collar was already yours."

Softwing blinked in disbelief. A merchant, practically giving away merchandise? She picked up the collar, curious, and felt along it. The inside was soft, exquisitely so; it must be padded with some kind of fur or cloth. The metal was strong and resisted tugging, though she could feel a series of clasps along it that would allow for some adjustments in size, and the fabric inside stretched with the metal. It was clearly a very nice design, and she wasn't quite sure what to say. "Thank you."

The merchant dipped her head. "It is customary to clip a tag to the base of the collar, here." She pointed to the thin loop that stuck out from the collar. "I can make a tag with your name, if you'd like; it will take no time at all."

Softwing saw Listener jerk out of the corner of her eye, and only then realized that he had been staring at her in surprise. She didn't blame him - she was surprised, too - but she wasn't sure why he had been looking at her. Had there been something she had said that shocked him? He gave a quick shake of his head and spoke up again, sliding one of the stones towards the merchant. "Not her name, please; can you have it read 'Stormscry'? And... we also need a rope, a strong one, sturdy enough that even a champion cannot break it..."

The merchant grinned and pushed the diamond back, selecting one of the emeralds instead. "I have just the thing."

Softwing came down quietly behind Listener. The male was still staring at the collar, and at the heavy metal rope they had purchased - what had the merchant called it? A 'chain'. They had been assured it would not break even if ten dragons tore at it, but it had been expensive; it was apparently extremely difficult to create. After the purchase Softwing went to get food and drink for their journey home, and had left Listener to his thoughts.

"I have food for you." She held out the roasted tarbuk wing for Listener.

She was surprised when Listener jumped in surprise and stretched out his wings. He dropped the collar to the ground and wheeled in place, a look of panic on his face... which quickly changed to one of embarrassment, then to one of strange sorrow. "Softwing. You surprised me."

Softwing blinked. She had? She hadn't even been trying! She felt a thrill of pride at having finally sneaked up on the observant male. "Ha! I knew I could do it."

Listener nodded and accepted the tarbuk wing, settling down and taking a bite of it. "Congratulations. You truly live up to your name." The male chewed for a moment, then swallowed. "Softwing... is what the merchant said true? That the clan was offered to trade food for males... for me? And that they turned it down?"

Softwing brought her own tarbuk wing up and began chewing at it. "Probably. It's not something that difficult to believe; males could have been traded away to make the journey easier. Even a few nights pleasure from a male may have been worth extra meals." She swallowed her mouthful and bit off another piece. "But you were leading us, with your vision from Planet. Even a night away from the clan may have been disastrous; something may have happened to you, or this clan may have stolen you from us. We wouldn't have risked losing you even then; you're far too valuable to us."

"I see." Listener stared at his food for a moment, but didn't take another bite. "Softwing... I... I think my time with the clan is drawing to an end."

Softwing swallowed and looked back at the male. "What? No, don't say that - is this about Stormscry? You've beaten her twice already; you have nothing to fear from her. And the entire clan will rise up if she tries anything against you."

Listener smiled again, that same sad smile she had been seeing more of lately. "I know... and I appreciate how much the clan has and would give me. But... I think Planet is calling me elsewhere."

"Elsewhere?"

"I have had dreams of late... like the one that led here. Though..." A flicker of emotion passed over Listener's face, like the worried expression he had held back at the shop, when waiting for Softwing's answer to the merchant's proposal. "I need to thank you for not trading me to the merchant. I... from the dream I had... in one of my dreams you did offer me, and... she... I do not think they treat males kindly in this clan." Listener paused for a moment, but Softwing couldn't think of what to say, and eventually the male continued. "There have been certain dreams I have had a few times through the years; words Planet gave me to know when I would no longer be needed at the clan, and instead be needed elsewhere. The clan seeking my advice less often; a conquering female coming to fight me; my clothes being ripped away... you surprising me. Planet has warned me, and I think the time has come. I think when we get back..."

Listener trailed off, then closed his eyes, tears starting to fall from them. "I don't want to leave all of you. I'm scared of what Stormscry may choose to do to me... but it is what Planet wants..."

Softwing stared at the male, dumbfounded. She had known males to cry before - they were fickle, emotional things at times - but she couldn't remember Listener ever doing so. What was she supposed to do? She didn't really understand what he was talking about, so she couldn't offer words of encouragement to make things better. If it was her own male she would wrap her wings around him in a hug, or get another male to talk with him and find out what was going on, but... there were no other males nearby, and she suspected they would just be mean to him instead. Could she touch Listener? Was that appropriate?

The male's raspy voice began to sob, and Softwing pushed aside any worries about what was appropriate or not. She put her food down and drew closer, and stretched her wing over the male, wrapping it around his side and pulling him close. "It's going to be okay. Planet has never led you wrong before; if... if this is what Planet wants, then it will be for the best for you."

Listener sniffled a little more, burying his head into the scales of her side, but nodded. "I know... I know."

She held the male for a few more moments as his tears subsided, then finally drew her wing back. "Come on. You'll feel better with some food, and then we can return to the clan. We'll feel better there, and everyone will be glad at your return."

Listener opened his eyes and glanced around the dim light in his shelter. It was late in the afternoon, but it was time - he could feel her coming. He reached beside his bed and grabbed the collar, then the heavy chain.

Stormscry descended to the clearing with a heavy crash, making sure her approach was heard, and spread her wings to make certain they shown in the start of the Breeding Light. She had timed her arrival for then, thinking it was fitting to defeat the uppity male during those hours. She roared, shouting out her defiance to the sky and reaching to everyone in the clan. "I have returned for my male - bring Listener to me!"

The dragon stood in place and waited. Soon the curtains on the houses around parted, and females slipped out, each stopping next to their home and sitting up. None approached her or spoke, but they all watched.

Finally Stormscry's impatience grew too large. "Well? Where is he? Why are you all just sitting there?"

One of the dragons - Dawnchaser, maybe? - cleared her throat. "He is coming. We are here to witness the outcome - as you know, males are prone to exaggerate, and stretch the truth; we would not want it said that the outcome was in doubt."

Stormscry hissed and flattened her wings. "Fine. Watch your male's humiliation if you wish. He tricked me in the forest, but the fight today will be here, where his cheating will not help him. When we are done here I will take him here, before you all!"

The dragon simply shrugged her wings. "You will try."

Stormscry started to open her mouth to reply, but an unsteady flapping got her attention. She craned her neck to look... there. It was Listener, flying low. He seemed to be holding something, something heavy that was slowing him down. Good. Let him be tired out this time.

She spread her wings and rose on her hindlegs as Listener landed on the other side of the clan. "Listener! I have changed my mind. You are most fortunate - you will be made part of my harem after all. I have come to claim you, and when we are finished you will return with me; II will free these females from whatever perverse hold you have on them."

The male simply dropped the strands of metal he had been carrying. Sunlight gleamed off some of them, but Stormscry refused to be distracted. "I understand. This is a fight to claim the other - if you defeat me, I will submit as part of your harem." Listener paused... but continued before Stormscry could speak. "But if I defeat you, you will become one of the females in my harem."

There was a sort of ripple that passed through the gathered dragons, a muttering of surprise at the suggestion. Stormscry hissed. "You will never defeat me! We will fight here, in the open; you will have no tricks, and you will fall beneath my skill!"

"Then you have nothing to fear, and can agree to the terms. Unless you wish to withdraw your claim?"

Stormscry's eyes narrowed and she spat out her reply. "I accept!"

The words had barely reached her own ears before Listener sprang into the air. His wings flapped, bringing him airborne, but he continued to clutch the heavy object in his paws. Stormscry hissed at being beaten into the air and sprang after him. He was still surprisingly fast - for a male - but he was encumbered with the metal he had scooped back up. She could catch him, she just had to push herself, as fast as she could go...

A rasping roar of pain was the first sound of the fight as Stormscry's claws raked along his leg. She felt a whiff of air along her back, as if Listener had swiped back at her but had been too slow, and then she was flying past. She couldn't see the damage, but she was sure she smelled blood on her claws. Her pride swelled. Of course she was better. He was a male, after all; it had not been him that had defeated her, but all the trees and the low light in the forest. Here, in the open, her victory was assured.

She wheeled around, hovering in the air and glancing back down at him. He was flapping still, and... yes! There was blood dripping from his leg. The male was as good as hers, like she had known he would be.

She dove towards the male, not bothering to push herself this time, and laughed when she saw his body stiffen. It would do no good; her claws would slash through his bunched up muscles and bring him to the ground...

She blinked as she flew past, her claws striking nothing. The male had just given a single flap of his wings and been carried away, too far for her to catch.... Just like in their first fight. She cursed as she remembered back to it. Of course - he had the weight of a whelp, but the wings and muscles of a full male; she remembered now just how quickly he could move. Even with the heavy object he was carrying for some moronic reason...

Stormscry jerked as she heard a loud click and felt something settle around her neck. There was a moment of surprise - her neck actually felt strangely good, as if soft warmth was surrounding it... and then a sudden heavy weight was upon her. She had enough time to see Listener pull away from her, and see long, heavy ropes of metal fall free from his grip... and then she was falling under the intense weight.

She flapped as hard as she could, stretching her wings as far as they would go. Her fall slowed, then halted, but she couldn't manage to get back in the air. What was going on?! She looked down at her body - there was something on her neck, and the heavy ropes were attached to it, dragging her down...

The moment of distraction was too much. There was a heavy slam to her side as Listener collided with her, sending her into a spin. She tried to slash at him but was too slow; she tried to arrest her spin, but something was suddenly fouling her wings. The rope! The spin had caused it to wrap around her right wing, pulling it close against her; she pushed, but it was too heavy, and -

Another slam, this time to her back, as Listener hit her again and sent her into another spin, this time in the other direction. She heard a clanging noise as the ropes collided, and the wind rushing around her picked up speed. Her left wing was caught now, too, and try as she might she couldn't push it open. The rope must have wrapped around her a few times; she could feel the cold metal tight against her body, even as she saw the dangling end flapping in the air nearby her. The rope seemed much, much shorter now...

Stormscry felt all the air driven from her as she hit the ground hard. She lay there for a moment, winded. Her body felt sore from the impacts, and her wings were screaming - they hadn't folded back correctly, and were stretched out along the side of her body, even as they were held fast by the metal. Her wings were strong, but she couldn't push it away...

The challenge was still on!

Stormscry's eyes widened as she remembered that fact. She twisted and brought her claws around to slash at the metal trapping her... but it was no use. Her claws simply bounced away, like striking the densest rock. She tried again, this time at a different point, but it was still no use. She lifted her paw for another strike...

She was suddenly pulled off balance, and fell to her side. Listener was there, on the ground beside her, and had _yanked_the rope towards him. She snarled at him, tail thrashing as she tried to get back to her paws... but Listener darted forwards before she could. She braced herself for an impact, but it never came. Instead, there was only the metallic jangling of the rope... then a tug to her left forepaw. She looked down and her eyes widened as she realized Listener had just wrapped the rope around her leg and pulled it against her chest.

She hissed, turning her neck towards the other side... but she was too slow; Listener had already darted back around. She tried to snap at him as he approached, but she just barely missed... and as her teeth closed on empty air she felt her right foreleg snap down against her chest. She tried to struggle, tried to break her paws free... but the rope was simply too heavy; there was nothing she could do. She tried to stumble away, tried to hobble on her hindlegs... but her wings could not spread to provide her with greater balance, and the rope weighed too much. She wobbled, then fell again, this time landing on her other side.

She thrashed her tail as she heard Listener approaching, but it was no use. Her hindlegs were soon wrapped in the rope, too, though to her outrage she felt them trapped to the sides instead, leaving nothing in the way of her nethers. She thrashed her tail once more, hoping to hit the male who was not even bothering to dart away anymore... but the male simply caught her tail in his paw and held it fast. She twisted her neck around to glare at him, hissing... and he simply pushed her tail forwards, wrapping the rope over it and securing it fast to her back.

Stormscry tried to snap at him with her teeth again, but he was too far back. She glared at him, eyes burning with fury.

"It is over, Stormscry. You have lost."

"I have not! I will never be defeated, especially not by you!"

Listener tilted his head and pulled his wings in. "But you have been.- three times now. You have lost."

"I have not! I cannot be defeated by you; you are mine, male!" She stretched her neck further, straining, and tried to snap at Listener again.

The male didn't move, didn't even flinch. He just watched her, expression impassive. "I am? Then show me. Claim me, force me to submit to you."

Stormscry thrashed in anger, straining uselessly against the rope for several minutes... before her energy ran out. She hissed between pants, radiating fury.

"You see? You have lost." The male paused... then leaned forwards. "By the rules we agreed to, you are part of_my_ harem now."

Stormscry's eyes widened. No! "Y-you!... Never! I will never belong to you; I will never submit! This fight isn't over, cheater!"

Listener's eyes gleamed. "We shall see." He turned, looking behind her... then walked away.

"Wait! Where are you going?! Come back here!" Stormscry thrashed again, her tired muscles straining once more... but the male was gone. She collapsed again, hissing angrily.

It was then she was reminded of the other dragons.

She tilted her head and looked at the gathered females. "Don't just stand there! Get me out of this!"

Dawnchaser's voice came from somewhere behind her, though Stormscry couldn't get her neck to turn enough to see. "And interfere with the fight? You said yourself it was not over; if I were to remove the rope it would not be fair to Listener. And if the fight is over, then it seems you have lost - I would not dream of interfering with how Listener handled his harem."

Stormscry roared in anger and thrashed again, but the ropes refused to budge, and the dragons watching her proved just as immobile. She growled... but there was nothing she could do. She collapsed again and waited, only able to glare at the females around her.

Listener finally returned after what seemed like hours. She could hear him moving behind her, but couldn't see what was happening. Something scraping over the ground? What was the male doing now?

She felt the male's paw on her side and hissed. "Do not touch me!"

Listener chuckled. "You are of my harem now, Stormscry. Or the challenge continues - either way, you cannot deny me contact." The paw on her side was joined by one on her other side, then they squeezed against her and lifted her rear into the air. She struggled, but the male only squeezed tighter, moving her... then letting go. She expected to fall back to the ground, but something was beneath her. A rock? It held her rear in the air, with her front on the ground...

Her eyes widened as she realized the position Listener had put her in. Tail held to her back, rump in the air, face in the ground? A position of shame - one only the weakest, most desperate of females would assume, one who could not claim a male on her own, but who could bear her arousal no longer. Advertising - no, begging for a male's aid by showing off her pussy and hoping for nothing more than to be taken by him.

She struggled again, but to no use. "No! Let me go!!"

Listener shifted somewhere behind her. "Not until you submit, Stormscry. We've been through this once before; you know how this ends." There was a pause... then she jerked as she felt Listener's paw on her cunt. It rubbed, teasing her with its warmth... then the cool claw dipped back into her.

"Nngh... not again..." Stormscry hissed and squirmed, but it did nothing to slow the claw's penetration of her. It wiggled a little, teasing her, then tapped once on her inner barrier. She tried to kick, but the rope held fast, and all she managed to do was cause the claw to scratch painfully over her flesh. A cry of surprise and slight pain left her throat. "Stop it!"

"No, Stormscry. I will have your submission first." The claw was still, though she could feel the male shifting... then his tongue returned, snaking around the cool claw to stroke at her.

Stormscry closed her eyes to shut out the arousing colors of the Breeding Lights around her. She squeezed her paws into fists, trying to focus on the feel of her claws pressing into her scales instead of the growing arousal from her already-slickening passage. She would not let the male win, no matter how good that tongue felt - she would not submit!

Minutes passed, then hours. The male brought her right to the edge, slowly increasing her pleasure... then going still. If anything he was even better at it than the first time; he brought her to the very point of orgasm, when one simple touch would be all she needed to cum, when she would submit in spite of herself... and then he stopped. The first few times she endured, but after that her body betrayed her; her muscles squeezed, her limbs tried to kick, her body tried to thrust back against his claw. Anything to get the last bit of sensation she desperately needed...

But it never came.

She knew what he wanted. Knew all it would take would be a few words from her, a declaration of her submission, and then he would give her the satisfaction she sought - he would claim her submission with his mouth, fill his maw with her fluids. But she couldn't - not to him, not when she could hold out for just a little longer...

The dragons around her never stopped watching. She was painfully aware of that - when Listener stopped she would open her eyes, and in the soft colors of the Breeding Light she could make out the others enjoying themselves. Some by themselves, but most with a male called from their home. When Listener began licking her again she closed her eyes, but she could still hear them. Their moans. Their pants. Their cries of victory as they claimed their males. Their cries of bliss as they reached their own peaks of pleasure.

Her own moans and gasps as she struggled to withstand the pleasure Listener was bringing her.

It took all her willpower, every last scale of determination... but she made it. Listener denied her release once again, and her body struggled in place, desperate whimpers escaping her throat... but when she opened her eyes to wait while the impossible pressure inside her faded, she no longer saw the comforting sight of the Breeding Lights - there was only the darkness of night. She hissed. "Ha... y-you couldn't do it, Listener. It's night; I haven't submitted. N-now let me go..."

The tongue withdrew from her, but there was silence behind her; the claw inside shifted, sliding backwards... then it pushed back into her. The raspy voice held a faint amusement as it spoke, though the words chilled her scales. "Who said anything about letting you go at nightfall? This wasn't a challenge, but a claim - you are mine now. Nightfall, dawn, the Breeding Lights of tomorrow... or of next week... I will not stop until I have your submission, Stormscry."

Stormscry stared ahead, shocked. He couldn't, not... he couldn't do this to her! She needed to... she needed release, satisfaction, she needed to cum! She couldn't take one more time, much less however many more Listener would put her through. It was too much... the feelings blossoming in her painfully aroused cunt, the moans of the dragons around her experiencing the bliss denied her, the heat she could feel from Listener's paw against her, the cool metal restraining her, the warm exhales against her overly sensitive slit... the claw began a series of thrusts, bringing her quickly to the edge... and then stopping. "N-no! L-listener!!"

Stormscry shivered, her body and needs warring with her now-rusted steel will... and she broke in a wail that rivaled the loudest of thunder.

"I s-submit! Please, Listener!"

The male was still another second. "I accept your submission, Stormscry." The words hung in the air, sending a chill through the female. Words she knew well, the words of the ritual, the end of the claim. Words she herself had mockingly said again and again, each time that she claimed a new male for her harem.

Words she had never expected to hear in another voice, not delivered to her.

Listener shifted... then his tongue was inside her again. His claw worked, his tongue writhed and squirmed inside her, tapping her places of pleasure, spreading her juices around, adding more of his saliva, pushing her closer, closer, closer...

...and not stopping!

A second shout burst from Stormscry as her body was overcome with sheer bliss the likes she had never before felt. Every scale was filled with fire, her squeezed-shut eyes saw nothing but light, her pussy screamed and sent wave, after wave, after wave of unstoppable pleasure. Her walls squeezed tight around the male's claw, milking it desperately for seed it would never release... but the firm pressure it exerted back against her walls overloaded her mind even further. Her entire body writhed and squirmed, no longer under her control for the long seconds, then minutes of her orgasm.

It may have lasted even longer - but Stormscry wasn't sure. The pleasure was too much. Too great, too intense, too amazingly wonderful. Even she, strongest of her clan, fiercest of warriors... even she couldn't withstand it.

She blacked out.

She wasn't sure how long she was unconscious. It was still dark when her eyes opened, but the other dragons were gone. There was a pleasant sensation over her cheek, a gentle licking along her scales. "Welcome back, Stormscry."

"That was... t-that... w-wow..." Her entire body felt soft, fuzzy, as if every muscle was vibrating in sync. She didn't even care what humiliation might have led up to it - the feeling she had now was worth it.

"It is not finished, Stormscry. I accept your submission - and grant you the rewards belonging to those in my harem." There was a pleased rumble beside her, then a weight settling along her back. She could still barely think. What was Listener doing? Was he freeing her from the rope?

Her answer came with a poke of heated flesh at her entrance. The touch alone sent another shiver through her, pleasure radiating in a wave through her. It robbed her of any strength she had left; as his cock slid into her overstimulated passage it drove out any reluctance. The only sound she could make was a moan - no more protests, no more complaints; only happy, unobstructed joy.

The male's limbs surrounded her, clutching her to him as he began a series of slow, sensual thrusts. It wasn't what she was used to - when she rode her males she moved quickly, driving them to the edge and forcing them to give up their seed. This was different; this was for his pleasure, not hers, even though it brought her incredible pleasure too. The male rocked back and forth over her, his cock starting to throb inside her. She moaned, sensing his closeness, then he shouted in triumph, a raspy sound that was cut off by his teeth closing around her horn. He burst inside her, flooding her passage with hot, delicious spurts of his seeds. Each burst sent another wave of pleasure through her, each splurt of seed against her quivering flesh drawing another gasp from her throat... and who cared if he had filled her on his desire instead of her own.

Stormscry's pleasure began to diminish slightly, though the bursts of seed from the male seemed unrelenting. He must be exceedingly virile to have so much seed for her... or maybe he had just been unclaimed in the weeks he was gone, or possibly longer, and had stored up more for her. She didn't really care; it felt too good to feel him unload it all into her.

She blushed and heard Listener give a startled, raspy eep of surprise as a voice emerged from somewhere in the darkness. "About time. Good for you, Listener."

Stormscry woke slowly sometime late the next day. The sun was already high in the sky overhead. She felt good, felt refreshed, felt energized, felt satisfied in a way she could never remember feeling before. At some point she must have been moved a little - she was flat on the ground, and off to the side she could see the rock which Listener must have propped her up on, along with the heavy metal rope that had restrained her. There were dragons in the distance, but aside from stray smiles in her direction they avoided her. She yawned, the fog fading a little from her mind as she continued to wake.

There was a warmth beside her... she turned and saw Listener, curled up beside her. She felt a flicker of annoyance at the realization a male had presumed to lay against her and use her as a pillow, and she started to shift her wing to shove him rudely away for his audacity...

...but the realization of what had happened last night came back to her and froze her wing midair. She had been defeated. Not just once, but three times in a row, and so thoroughly that she had been driven to proclaiming her submission to the male's entire clan. After all of that, if Listener wanted to sleep next to her, he had certainly earned the right to do so. She waited for fire to rise inside her, to fuel anger and indignation and give her the strength to lash out at Listener for what he had done to her... but it never came. She still felt so _good_and thoroughly sated from the intense release she had been given last night - it was impossible to be angry when her whole body still tingled with comfort, especially where the male's body touched her own.

But even though she didn't feel anger over it, she still couldn't believe it. How could she have been so humiliated by a male? She had fought dozens of females, real fighters; she had overcome every one. She couldn't be so weak that she could just be beaten by some male, and such a horrible female that she belonged in any old male's harem. It just wasn't possible; it upended everything she knew. Planet would never have allowed such a thing.

She looked back down at the male, as if maybe she would see today that he was really a female in disguise, or something else that would explain how he could be so unusual. In the warm light he looked cute; no, adorable; curled up at her side with his wings tucked in, and his tail resting over his nose. Up close he only looked thin and weak. Even his leg looked pitiful, where a nasty slash still bled a little from where her claws had raked him in the fight. And even in choosing his position of sleep he hadn't done it properly; instead of sleeping above him like a dominant female might, he had just curled up beside her, putting himself on the same level as her. What dragon would do such a thing as sleep on the same level as their own harem?

But despite his appearance, Stormscry knew there had to be more. He had to be special in order to beat her...

The thought suddenly clicked as she stared at the male. That was it. It was so simple - he was special. He wasn't a normal male. It didn't matter if she didn't understand why he was special; he just was. That's how he had beaten her. That's how he had made her feel so good last night even as she was submitting in humiliating defeat. That's why even now, looking at him and seeing how scrawny and vulnerable he appeared, she could only feel a strange sense of protectiveness and... loyalty? Yes, that was it - she had declared him to be stronger, he had brought her into his harem, and she still felt a fuzzy warmth from the bliss he had given her last night. And only a truly special male could do such a thing. That meant he wasn't really a male, not like the others... so maybe it wasn't such a bad thing to have lost after all.

A soft blush graced her wings as another thought followed the realization. Especially if I can get him to do that to me again...

The sunlight glinted off something in the sleeping male's paws. She moved to take a closer look, but the motion disturbed the male. He yawned and lifted his head, blinking softly, then looking up at the female beside him. "Good morning, Stormscry."

Stormscry opened her mouth to reply... but suddenly paused. How was she supposed to reply? The memories from last night were _very_clear - she belonged to him now, part of his harem. If he was a female addressing a harem male, there would be expectations, but... did they apply to her? How should she address him? What were her duties to him now? What of her own clan, or the others, or her own males she had left back home?...

The male beside her lowered his head, sadness in his expression. "It's okay. You can do as you like, if you wish; we can pretend like last night didn't happen if you want."

The soft words from the male brought her a little guilt, but it reassured her. Everything would be okay after all. She could go back to her lands and deal with her clans; she never had to come back here if she really didn't want to. Though... did she really want that? She felt a strange tug towards him, more than just the sense of duty she felt to a victor; the idea of just leaving him alone... no, he wouldn't be alone, she thought to herself. Listener would be just fine with the rest of his harem, so she didn't have to worry about him; there was no reason not to just leave him behind and fly home, especially with him as the victor making the offer. Though... something suddenly struck her. The way the other dragons treated him, the whispered words from an unknown dragon last night, the strange sense of unexpected peace flowing off of him... "Listener... just how many females do you actually have, in your harem?"

The male smiled bashfully, looking away. "Counting you?" He paused for a moment, letting his eyes drift closed... and the next words surprised her, echoing directly in her own thoughts. <Only one. The strongest, most beautiful female I have ever met. I have no need for any other.>

Stormscry's eyes widened in pure shock. Had she... had those been his thoughts? But that meant... no... that was only a legend, something that only happened in truly special individuals, two beings joined together in the strongest, most intimate connection two dragons could ever experience. Was Listener... could she be... were they...

The male nodded slowly. <Yes...Planet has brought us together, and has bonded us. I knew it would be so from the first moment I saw you. You and I are mates, Stormscry.> The male shifted and brought his claws forward, showing her the metal circle under his paw - the strange item that had been glinting in the sunlight. It was open on the end, though it was clear it would snap together - it must have been how he had attached the ropes that had tangled her up in the fight. <You said before you only had the best males in your harem... but if you would make an exception just once and have me, I feel Planet is calling me back to your home with you.> He tilted the circle, the gems along the side shining in the sunlight, until he stopped at a loop with a tag attached. A name was written on it - her name. Stormscry. <May I join your harem, Stormscry?>

The male extended it, offering it to her. She took it slowly, closing her claws around it, still barely believing everything. The male stared up at her with hopeful eyes, even as he stretched his neck, baring it for her.

Weeks ago... Stormscry wouldn't even have considered it. Even yesterday, she was only using the challenge as an excuse; she had held every intention of forcing him into submission and leaving him for her own males, rather than truly be part of her harem. But now...

This strange male had defeated her, not once but three times. He had humiliated her and made her more and more enraged with him, even if she still felt so drained after the intense experience last night that she could barely even muster annoyance. He had taken her submission, had claimed her for his own... and had simply let it all go. And now, after all that, after taking for his own what males could only dream of, when by all rights he could demand whatever he wanted from her... now he looked up at her with worried eyes, and he simply asked...

And somehow she knew he would accept her decision, whichever way she chose. That was the worry in his eyes - not intimidation of her, not fear of what her claws or teeth might do, or what damage her mighty muscles could inflict on him. The fear in his eyes was that she would simply open her mouth and say 'no'.

She had been wrong. This male was truly special, more than any she had ever known.

She tilted the collar, wrapping it around Listener's neck and pushing the edges together with a soft click. <Of course. I accept your submission, Listener.>

The male's eyes swam with emotion. Surprise. Relief. Satisfaction. Peace.

Happiness.

Stormscry smiled back at him... though her smile changed to a more predatory one as she glanced back over him. "I accept your submission, Listener - and grant you the rewards belonging to those in my harem." She nudged the male, rolling him easily onto his back.

The male gasped in surprise, and pulled his wings and tail back in a blush. "H-here? But everyone can see..." The male's manner was so different, suddenly so shy, with the embarrassment and uncertainty now coming through the matebond seeming at complete odds to his calm certainty and dominance before...

Stormscry chuckled in sudden understanding. It had all been an act - no, more than that; it had been strategy. He had said it himself - he knew Planet had called them together... but he must have also known she would never accept such a bond, not with a male that looked as pitiful as him. It didn't take a message from Planet to have figured that out; she could still barely believe it. But everything he had done - every insult, every needle at her pride, every slight - had all been done to bring her to the point of considering him. And now that he had reached that goal he couldn't keep the act up anymore - his true self was showing, the part she had only gotten glimpses of before but could now feel clearly through the bond Planet had woven between them. He was out of his element - which meant he was shy, he was nervous, he was embarrassed.

But he was also hers, too. And she had a lot of humiliation to pay him back for still...

"That didn't bother you at all last night." She shifted, pressing herself down against him and sliding back until her pussy rubbed over his cock. "And I did tell them that I would take you here, in front of them all." Stormscry grinned darkly, even though her thoughts whispered through their bond that she wouldn't really hurt him..

Whatever Listener might have been about to say was cut off in a gasp as she shifted again and captured his growing cock inside of her. Through the matebond she could feel his experience - a wonderful feeling, a tightness and warmth like he had only once known. She felt a surge of strange pride - it was _her_making him feel that way, it was her body driving him to pleasure as she rode him, it was her muscles that pushed him to the edge. She felt a question come through the matebond, a strange image and a request for permission... and she returned a thought to allow it even as she sped up the motion of her hips. The male spread his wings wide and wrapped them upwards even as his tail shifted to curl around hers, grabbing her into a hug and pulling her close against him just as she pushed him over the edge and harvested his seed into her womb. A confused pleasure filled her, partly from his feelings, partly from hers. She could no longer tell which of them was in control - he held her firmly in his wings, and was wrapped around her, just as she held him firmly inside her, and milked his cock of his essence... It was confusing. But it was wonderful.

A truly special male indeed.

Epilogue: Many Years Later...

"Stormscry is away, aiding the plains clan with a threat. May I help you instead, honored clanslady? I can relay a message to her, if you would like."

The other dragon hesitated, looking around for someone else, but finally sighed. "Fine... I guess you'll have to do. You're sure you will get this message right when you talk to her?"

Listener couldn't quite suppress the grin that reached his mouth, knowing full well that Stormscry would be immediately aware of every word the female spoke to him despite the great distance between them. He nodded. "I will pass your words on to her exactly."

The female sighed, but began outlining the situation. It was a familiar one, an issue Listener had dealt with a few times himself back at the waterfall clan. The female had brought a male with her to a neighboring clan to carry treasures she wished to sell. While there she had left the male unattended, and another female had made use of him without her permission. She was demanding use of a male from the other female's harem as compensation. That was standard in situations like these, and the males of the harem would almost always be more than willing to assist with the repayment... but of course, the other female was claiming that she had not yet started a harem, and could not provide a male for the aggrieved's use.

Listener continued to listen respectfully to the specific details, but they made little difference to the overall matter. He understood that it was also important to the aggrieved female that she feel somebody was listening to her problem and taking it seriously, something Listener had noticed was rare in this clan.

<I am still amazed by how much patience you have. I would have long since told her to shut up and keep a closer eye on her males in the future.>

Stormscry's thoughts in his head almost brought a grin to his face, but he managed to hide it, not wanting to upset the female. <It isn't that big a deal. I'm used to listening.>

<And I talking. I wonder, though, just how well you are at listening... can you still pay attention to her even when I do this?...> A sudden surge of pleasure burst through the matebond, and it took all of Listener's focus not to gasp out loud and interrupt the female. Wherever Stormscry was, she had just begun touching herself...

<S-stormscry! Now?...> Listener looked around, wondering how he could slip away without offending the female still talking at him; he knew from past experience that he would not be able to resist reacting to the pleasure he would feel through his bond to his mate.

The feeling of pleasure mercifully subsided. <Sorry, my mate; I have missed your touch, and know you have missed mine - I had thought you would appreciate a sample of what will come when I return.> The thoughts held a tease to it, but also a pang of longing - they both missed each other, even only after a few days apart.

<I will stop for now, and allow you to concentrate on our visitor. I assume you'll suggest this be treated the same as the others, and she be given a week's food from the transgressor?>

<Thank you, my mate. That has worked to settle similar situations for me in the past, if you wished to do so.>

An amused tangle of thoughts came from Stormscry. <You don't have to do that, you know; you can tell me what you think I should do.>

<Command a female? You know I would never dream of such a thing.> This time Listener couldn't manage to hide the smile, but the other dragon had turned away as her words grew more intense.

Stormscry's thoughts were silent in his head for a moment, then they continued. <We have slain the groffel that was attacking the plains clan. Let the others know we should be back by nightfall, and will be bringing food for a feast.>

<I understand. Are there any injuries?> Listener paused, then conveyed his true concern. <Are you okay?>

A prideful scoff of thought. <There is no need for concern, my mate. I am victorious, and without injury! Two of the younger hunters have suffered light gashes, but can still fly.>

<I am glad to hear you are unscathed.> His relief flowed through the bond, and he could feel Stormscry's smile at the sensation. <I will have bandages and medicines awaiting the injured when you return. Fly high, and may the winds speed your journey... I have missed you greatly while you were away.>

A sensation of warmth and affection returned through the bond, then Stormscry was quiet.

Listener waited while the other female finished her story, then nodded again. "I will pass your words on to Stormscry. She should return by nightfall."

The female eyed him for a little longer, then finally huffed and flew off.

Listener smiled and turned away, walking the open path of Stormscry's home. It was a mansion, just one of the many strange things Listener had tried to get used to in his new home. He had been here for many years now, but he still felt like an outsider, even though he was gradually becoming accepted. The dragons of Stormscry's clans had thought she had gone crazy when she had returned with him and declared him a part of her harem. They had thought she had grown ill when she spoke of the mate bond between them. They had looked at Listener like everyone else had, wondering what could have possessed their great leader to permit such a puny male into her splendid harem.

But even they could not deny the changes that had come to their leader.

The waterfall clan he had spent his life in joined Stormscry's clan shortly after he joined her harem, and their presence also helped his reputation at his new clan. His friends would make the long journey to visit him often, and as the females of his new clan grew to know and respect Dawnchaser and the others, they could not help but also respect a dragon they would fly so far just to talk with. The food and supplies they often brought with them also helped his reputation, given the shortages in many parts of Stormscry's territory... but to Listener, the familiar faces in the unfamiliar land were worth more than any treasure. Even as time had gone on and he had settled in, he was still immensely grateful every time someone from his old clan came to see him.

The food shortages were resolved completely in only a matter of weeks after Listener's arrival. Listener showed Stormscry the ways he had learned of caring for tarbuks so they could grow fatten quicker; he pointed out other foods often overlooked but which the dragons could survive on while times were tough. He listened and learned the songs of the new land, and predicted the coming of storms with enough time for dragons to get supplies to shelter. And he shared the wisdom Planet had granted him for situations of conflict and unrest, preventing the waste of many other resources.

He shared those things with his mate, and she spread it to the others in her clans. Life had prospered greatly under her leadership and his advice.

And while the clans prospered, Listener's relationship with Stormscry grew stronger. She grew to trust him more, and became fiercely protective of him. She still enjoyed the benefits of her coveted harem... but it was Listener who fell to sleep beside her at night, and who woke with her in the morning. And it was Listener, and his tongue, who most caused Stormscry to live up to her name, and shout to the sky in overwhelming bliss. And then one day...

Listener smiled as he came to destination and found an unexpected surprise. "Stormfront, what are you doing here?"

The young female spread her wings and smiled innocently. "Nothing, daddy!" The girl was practically indistinguishable from the other children Stormscry had mothered by her harem, either by scent or by sight... but Listener knew. Mothers had trouble telling with all the males in their harem, but fathers always knew - this daughter was not just Stormscry's, but also his; she was of them both, and the sight of her brought another smile to his face.

Listener was quite certain the whelp was hiding something, but he let it pass for now. "Well, it is fortunate that Planet led you here with nothing to do; I could use your help. Your mother will be returning soon with two injured dragons; would you mind gathering some bandages, while I gather the herbs I need to speed their healing?"

The whelp pouted, but Listener just smiled calmly. Eventually she relented, unable to find a way to wiggle out of the request without admitting to whatever mischief she had been causing. "O-kay... But you have to give me a ride!"

Listener nodded, and smiled as the whelp clambered up on his back.

Life had prospered greatly.