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Chapter Seven: Cain

Rain belted down from dark thunderous night skies, streaks of purplish lightning illuminated the landscape and I sat smiling. The past three days have been rather interesting for me. Now here I sat, on a small rooftop terrace in the city of Cain, naked with the rain running in rivers over my scaled hide. In the room behind me Mathias's brother, Julian Arnen, slept soundly and the eggs I carried now sat safely near a dying fire.

Over the last three days Julian had told me a great many things about Mathias, things I never knew. Granted I should have asked Master Virgil about the others when I had the chance, but that curiosity had never crossed my mind. Then again Mathias had always been sour toward me. Now however, I understood.

The two of them had been separated years ago, when Mathias was only two years old. They had been on a ship, migrating northward from Volthume to Mirodel's Highlands. Their ship had capsized in a storm somewhere in the northern tip of the Salth Ocean and Mathias had washed up somewhere in Mayroan or Gillian. Ever since then Julian had been searching for him.

It made me smile at the irony of my situation. Here I was, able to help reunite a family and all I had to do was let Julian collect a bounty. Mathias was no doubt on Master Virgil's Zeppelin with the others, he was likely still being grumpy as well. I understood why though, why Mathias was always so sour toward me. At least I had an idea of understanding. Still, we had a long way to go yet. As I stared out into the night, I could see my destination far off in the distance illuminated in the flashes of lightning. It made me anxious, what if my mother and sister had been moved somewhere else? What if someone attacked the Keep? What had happened to Emet and Scarlet and Digger? I felt especially unhappy about Digger, I missed his company, I missed being around my own species. That thought alone hit me hard as I realised I no longer thought of myself as human, it had taken half a year, but the memories were still there. As much as I tried to forget them, the sound of those chains, the crack of the whip, the blistering heat and humidity.

But I was getting there, I was still learning, but I was getting there. A sharp boom of thunder made my ears twitch and I stood up, stretching out skyward in the rain before trudging back inside. Julian was sound asleep, his armour and my own neatly bundled in the corner. I moved to check on the two eggs, they were nice and warm, snug and safe in my makeshift insulated pack. I smiled and doused the dying embers of the fireplace.

Rubbing myself dry with a towel and slipping into my frai, I made my way downstairs. Cain was unlike any city I had seen. It was built in a narrow passage between two mountain ranges. The buildings were all tall, five, six, even seven stories tall. Made of dull grey slabs and bricks, with wooden shingled roofs and wide framed windows. There were balconies and terraces everywhere and the streets were few but winding. Colour was used sparingly, the people here were mostly human and mostly quiet. It felt strange.

Caprii had been loud, bombastic, energetic, arousing. Ludos was crowded, dusty, otherworldly and cruel. But Cain, Cain was mysterious, it was quiet and hidden away. Like someone just minding their own business. It was strange, but I liked it. Julian and I had arrived here earlier this night, just as it began to rain, a local innkeeper who Julian knew had given us bored for the night, but I could not sleep.

I made my way down the five flights of wooden stairs slowly before I came out in the tavern on the ground floor. Surprisingly it was quite well populated. I spotted a dart board in one corner and smiled for a moment but shook my head. Not tonight, I did not need to draw attention to myself. I was hungry but did not have the money to buy a meal, as I looked around I noticed the food did not appear to be too appetising anyhow. Most of it appeared to be bird meat of various sorts, which I had always found to taste dry and unpleasant.

So I strode out onto the streets, welcoming the rain to my hide once more as I decided to explore. I knew it was reckless to be out here alone and unarmed but I was in too good a mood to care. Well, I was mellow enough not to at least. I had a good feeling about how my plan was going. I get up to the Claw Keep, gather up my mother and sister, Julian takes us all to a bounty office or wherever it was he needed to take me. Wait around for Master Virgil to arrive in his Zeppelin and that was that. My family would be safe, Julian would get his brother back hopefully and I could hunt down my mysterious pursuers whilst continuing my training.

I could also maybe look for Emet and Digger, Scarlet I didn't much care for, she seemed weak to me, not physically but mentally. She seemed frazzled and mentally unhinged, if not on the verge of it in some way. She was also mean. I did not really like Emet either, he seemed completely insane and untrusting. Digger was nice, he had just been happy to see another of his kind.

I also wondered what had become of Roderic as I strolled languidly down the winding, shadowy, rain soaked streets. It was funny really, how many people I had met since leaving Aldoran with Master Virgil. I let the thought sit in my head for a while, thinking of all the names I knew. But eventually the thought wafted away.

I absentmindedly followed my nose and ears, a faint scent hung in the air, and my ears caught the sound of cheer and music. I followed them, down narrow winding sidelines where the upper stories of the buildings nearly kissed high over my head. I turned this way and that way and smiled as I found myself in a small dead end square, tucked away deep in the city. A group of my fellow Vermians danced naked in the rain, moving in unison and kicking up water with their claws and tails. Oil lanterns cast glowing trails upon the damp, soaked stone, they danced with fire and passion. Spurred onward by the music of drums of various sorts, being played by Vermian, Icarin and Velkenfolk alike. Behind them, tucked away down a shallow flight of stairs I spotted a sign above a wide and welcoming double barn door.

It was a tavern. One which spewed forth an aroma of scents that mingled with the damp crispness of the rain. My stomach growled lightly as I watched the dance with keen eyes. The three Vermian dancing were all male, clad in drab coloured hides, the lone Vermian drummer behind them was much more vibrant, a bright and stunning platinum blonde. The pair of Icarins playing lighter hand held drums caught my eyes. It was not the first time I'd laid eyes on their kind. But these two looked so much more beautiful and alive than the ones back in Brant's Dungeon had been. The Velkenfolk present were also mostly nude, a tall hare played a cello, plucking its strings rapidly. Next to him a fox played a snare drum with finesse. There was even a pair of mice dancing on a window sill next to them.

The lead dancer of the troupe spotted me and smiled, he held out his arm and gestured for me to join. God I wanted to, it looked fun and exhilarating. But I knew too few steps and was not confident enough. I shook my head and watched a moment longer, before my growling stomach turned my attention to the tavern.

I moved around the partiers, down the steps and paused to read the sign.

'Welcome to the Dragon's Cave,' it read. I smiled and went inside. The warmth welcomed me to the spicy smelling atmosphere. Filled with musk and food and sex and alcohol. The scents all blending together into something that made my tail prickle and my lips curl with delight. There was not a single human in sight. That made my smile widen as I took it all in at once.

There were round tables made out of huge wooden spools, crowded with non-humans from every corner of the world. Food was piled high, many patrons' fur and scale were bare for all to see, shanties were being sung and cheer was in the air. For once in my life I felt content, carefree and properly safe. No one owned me here, no one was in charge of me, I had a plan, I was comfortable in my body, I was sure of myself. I was in control.

And tonight, I was going to celebrate it. If only I had the money to do so though. My ears flickered with annoyance. Maybe I could still celebrate this small victory of mine without any coin. The atmosphere was still warm and enticing, I could sit here and just enjoy it. Then I spotted a dart board. I paused, watching the several patrons of various species that crowded around it. I smiled. Why not? Surely there was no way I would attract any unwanted attention here.

Twenty minutes later I had successfully gambled my way into eighteen copper pieces and a single silver one. I decided not to push my luck, I had enough coins to buy a few drinks and maybe some palatable food. The thick, round metal coins were a good deal heavier than the rectangular coins of the Sovereign. I took my winnings over to the bar, skirting around a pair of absolutely wasted Velkenfolk racoons who danced on a table top amidst a cheering crowd.

I ordered a mug of mead and a pot pie, both of which I quickly descended upon with a smile and a joyous mood. It felt a little odd though, relaxing like this, feeling comfortable in my own skin. Feeling comfortable and safe full stop really. It was new and strange. Sure my time aboard Master Virgil's Zeppelin and my time spent in Siricuse had been fun and relaxing in a way. But I had been following orders and a routine that whole time. Now here I was, for the first time in my entire life, on my own, using my own head and deciding entirely for myself what to do next. Yes, I wanted to reunite with my Master, I owed Virgil as much. He had saved my life. Slavery was all I knew and until recently in my life I had no skills of any sort.

I let out a sigh as I took another mouthful of the deliciously sweet, frothy drink, licking my lips in delight afterward. Half a year ago I lived chained to a wall, in a basement, in a city filled with lawless degenerates of the worst sort. Half a year ago, I was hopeless, weak and broken.

I smiled faintly. I'm still weak yes, but I'm getting stronger every day. A week ago I did not know how to hunt or forage. Now I do. A week ago I could not swim. Now I could. A Score ago I thought my family was dead and gone. But they were alive and they still loved me. Even though I was no longer the same.

I took another mouthful, my smile growing. I was living up to the promise I had made myself half a year ago.

I was stronger now.