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Markus wouldn't let Zelig off of the couch unaided for days after his escape attempt. He had opened several wounds and torn multiple stitches when he had changed and made his mad dash. All of which irritated the mountain-lion greatly, especially after all the effort it had taken to close the injuries in the first place. The drake wasn't permitted to change forms either, despite his growing instincts screaming at him to do so on multiple occasions.

Pirro seemed to quickly grow a bond between the two dragons too, despite their different appearances. The young whelp spent as much time as he could close to the ocelot, either laying upon his belly and chest or watching Zelig from afar. The only times the older of the two dragons was alone was whenever Markus took his whelp and went to their bedroom, or out hunting.

Despite Markus's best efforts at keeping his own injuries hidden, Zelig knew the puma was on the mend just like he was. The tan feline favoured his right side, still bandaged and tender, he would avoid being exposed to heat as much as he could. If Zelig didn't know what Markus was suffering with personally, he wouldn't have worked out so quickly that the Puma was recouping from, what he assumed, were serious burns.

Potentially due to his draconic biology, the fact his injuries weren't as serious as thought, or maybe the quality of his treatment, Zelig was deemed fit enough to wander on his own after a barely a week. Markus had been proven correct in assuming that the first thing he would do would be change to his draconic form. However he was surprised when the drake handed him his necklace before wandering off into the forest without a word.

Zelig had seen that Markus's hunting attempts lately had been less than favourable. He didn't know if it was because the game was becoming harder to catch, if Pirro was making too much noise and scaring them away, or if his injuries were slowing the puma down. Zelig had grown close to the two in his time with them, already viewing their home as his own.

The drake felt bad knowing he was consuming not only their supplies, making it harder on Markus to keep them all fed, but the medical ones as well. While his wing was yet to finish healing, Zelig knew his instincts would help him in acquiring several deer or boar for their stores and, so, decided to hunt.

It took a couple of hours for him to track a herd of deer due to the forest being awash with strange scents, which threw off his tracking multiple times. As he stalked up to it, his stealth belying his size, he was aware, in the back of his mind, he was being watched from above. He would have growled in irritation if it wouldn't scare off his prey.

He wasn't sure what was watching him, but it set his body on edge. His subconscious recognised that it was more than just birds or bats and that whatever it was, he should be paying attention to it and not his prey. The drake shook off the sensation as best he could however, trying to focus purely on his hunt.

As soon as he was within striking range he charged, tackling the largest male and pinned another with a powerful swipe of his tail before the herd had a chance to bolt. He gripped the stag between his fore-claws tightly and, with a growl that neared on a roar, bit down on its neck and jerked to one side to kill it instantly.

As he killed the second with the same method he allowed his eyes to gaze upwards into the trees. His teeth sank into the soft flesh of the doe's neck as he locked eyes on Sofia, gripping tightly to the trunk of a thick tree facing downwards to the ground. Lord Augustus sat astride her, held in place by his legs either side of her wings.

Zelig gave a deep growl as he eyed them, blood flowing around his teeth and his growl only deepened as the Stallion nocked an arrow and aimed it in his direction. He was starting to think the herd had been too easy to find and too convenient a size, like he had just wandered into a trap set perfectly for him.

"If I had wanted you dead, I would have done so already." The stallion warned ominously drawing a deep rumbling growl from Sofia. They began to slowly descend down the tree once the large amber dragoness relaxed her grip, claws shredding the bark as they eased to the ground. The whole time, Lord Augustus kept his gaze, and arrow, trained on Zelig.

Zelig released the doe from his jaws, carefully moving it under him with the dead stag. His eyes trained on the bow and arrow, but would occasionally flick to the much larger dragon, unsure which was the greater threat.

"I will remind you," Lord Hector announced calmly "You snarled first."

"I only act as instincts demand," Zelig warned, knowing that at least Sofia would understand what he was speaking of. Dragons were territorial about their catches, defending what they caught from others unless they intended to share it with them. "That aside, how long have you been watching me?"

"Long enough." Sofia growled out, smoke trickling from her nostrils in trails like from a freshly snuffed candle.

"I don't think Markus would appreciate you killing me, after all the effort he went through saving me." Zelig growled out reservedly. The stallion seemed taken aback, eyes widening before he gave a gusty exhale and relaxed his drawn bow slowly.

"No, he wouldn't," he remarked before his eyes sharpened again "Remember this drake, do not mistake my kindness for weakness, we don't trust you. If you hurt them, or pose a threat to my town..."

He dismounted Sofia and walked over slowly, carefully, calmly, maintaining a dark aura that had Zelig almost cowering as the stallion reached him. One hand remained on the pommel of his sword while the other stretched out to gently drag a finger from Zeligs neck to his chin. The calm yet direct application of pressure to his chin closed the drakes snarling mouth with ease and lifted the his eyes to meet Augustus's.

"It would only take one arrow, you won't get a warning shot, you wont know where it comes from, then I will have your head on my wall and scales as a new coat," he said firmly, voice cold "Just like the others. Are we clear?"

The drakes eyes stayed focused on the Lord Augustus's even if they did widen. Questions ran through his head as he now looked at the other male in fear: What did he mean by "Others"? Could he really kill him with a single arrow? How much danger was he REALLY in at that moment if Sofia was not the one he should be fearful of? He just nodded his head a little, being mindful of the finger still pressed against the underside of his chin.

"Good. Now I will help you get those deer on your back, then you hurry home. Not a word of this to Markus, understood?" Zelig nodded again and shifted to one side to let the white furred male pick up and place the dead deer carefully over his back.

Lord Augustus seemed truly fearless by the black dragons side as he heaved the fallen deer onto the drakes back. He took care to position them so Zelig could walk without them getting in the way of his legs, or pressing against his still healing wounds. Sofia kept her eyes on them the whole time, soft rumbling growls coming from her as she watched, yet she made no moves to get closer.

"There, all done," Augustus announced as he stepped away and pat him on the shoulder "Now, remember what I told you, I have eyes and ears everywhere, not a word to him, or I'll make you regret being born."

"I already do." The drake replied with a huff, shocking the stallion momentarily. Zelig gave an uncomfortable grumble before simply nodding, letting the horse move away from him and over to the large amber dragoness before he began the trek back home. He used his nose to pick up his own scent to find the way, not remembering the way having been shaken by the encounter.

Markus seem surprised to see him return when he walked through the treeline. He had been chopping wood while Pirro watched from the stump of a tree not far away. The feline looked tired and sore already despite the evidence he hadn't been chopping for long. Pirro trilled happily before running over to nuzzle at the drakes legs and hop around his feet.

"I wasn't sure you would be returning," the puma admitted with a smile as he placed the axe down carefully "Even if you did give me your necklace. I see you went hunting, you didn't need to you know... want help with those?"

Zelig smiled and his tail picked up a short wag before he nodded as he stepped over to the porch. It felt good to have been missed, especially seeing as it was not just the whelp that had missed him. He gave a gentle nuzzle into the felines chest as he walked around him and Markus returned the affection by giving his head chased hug.

"I know I didn't need to, but I felt like I needed to do something to help, I've been on your couch for how long now not able to help?" he replied as the deer were dragged off of his back to land on the wooden decking "And I know you are injured too Markus... and probably are struggling with hunting, so if I can help out by doing this, then I will."

Markus stopped, eyes widening to look at him in surprise as he backed away a step. His arms moved to clutch his sides and he eyed the drake cautiously.

"H...How did you... you know I was..."

"I have seen the bandages, have seen how you favour one side more than the other, seen you flinch when the fire pops," the drake replied watching him and gave a cautious smile "I know what it's like to be burned, Markus."

He reached out and took the necklace from the feline and slipped it around his neck, changing back to his Ocelot form. He stretched his hand out to gently rub at the mountain-lion's uninjured shoulder comfortingly. He wasn't bothered by the fact he was naked, more concerned with soothing his companions distress.

"I may be flame resistant as a dragon, but like this, I'm not," he said trying to catch the other felines gaze "And I was reminded of that more times than I would like to count back in the Enclave."

"Y...You're naked." Markus pointed out blatantly and the ocelot just chuckled.

"And so is Pirro," he replied with an eye roll "I can't exactly change with clothes on, and I know you've seen me naked before, you're going to need to get comfortable with it. For now, lets get these deer hanging, I'll get pants on, then I will help you with your bandages, ok?"

Zelig sat on the edge of Markus's bed as he helped him remove his bandages, a bowl of warm water, new bandages and medical balms close by. The black feline could tell that they had not been changed in some days, the puma flinching each time one peeled off of a sore that had gotten stuck to it. The ocelot apologised each time it happened, telling him that he was trying to be gentle.

"How could you forget to change these?" Zelig asked as he pulled them off and gave a sigh "You were more focused on us weren't you?"

Markus didn't answer, giving a soft grumble not wanting to admit anything. Zelig winced when a sour smell reached his nose as he pulled off one bandage and sighed audibly seeing one wound was slightly infected, a small amount of puss oozing free now the scab covering it had been removed with the bandages.

"You should have looked out for yourself first Markus, while I was healing, we were dependant on you," he said, continuing to strip off the bandages "What would have happened if this had gotten worse?"

"I just... wanted to help for a change.." he replied sorrowfully.

"I know... and now it's my turn to help you." he replies as he gets the last of the bandages off. He collected up the washcloth and carefully started cleaning the felines weeping wounds. Trying to be gentle as he got the puma as clean as possible before he started bandaging the worst of them.

"Most of your burns are ok to leave exposed now, we'll save on salve and bandages by focusing on the worst of them," Zelig said as he carefully wound the new bandages to the other felines body "And it will give your fur a chance to regrow healthy... tomorrow you should have a bath and I'll put some more on, ok?"

Markus just nodded staying quiet as he let the ocelot work. The dark feline could only assume he was lost in thought as he worked, getting the last of the bandages in place. He smiled admiring his handy work, glad he could remember some of the treatment his father and matriarch had taught him.

He was shocked out of his revelry by Markus pressing their lips together. The ocelots eyes went wide with surprise, but he didn't move away, finding enjoyment from the action. When finally the puma pulled back, face filled with barely suppressed fear, hope and a some level of confusion.

"This... is going to be a long night." Zelig said, face turning into a warm and comforting smile.