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The next few days Markus settled into a standard routine. He tended to the garden to the rear of the house and generally tried to make it more comfortable to live in. He cleaned, he repaired furniture and did general maintenance to the building: plugging holes in walls, replacing timbers that needed it and repairing stonework that was damaged. He wanted the place to last long enough for someone else to make use of it after he was gone.

Pirro, for the most part, stayed on the fire when he was inside or would be on Markus's shoulder when he was outside if he wasn't playing amongst the grass and plants. He also tried to play with Markus from time to time, acting almost like a bored kitten. He would bat at his face, or nibble and tug on his fur or ears. All the while he would be chirping and trilling at him trying to get his attention.

Sometimes it worked and he would spend the next few hours playing with the small dragon. Tickling him and roughing him up or playing hide and seek, sometimes even throwing him into the air and letting him glide to the bed or couch. It would inevitably end with Markus needing to sit to rest for a little while but it did tire Pirro out.

Eventually however he had to go out into the woods in search of food. He decided to hunt as it would save on his already low funds and he could sell the hide or cure it himself to use as bedding. He knew the game in the area was reasonably dense and while the town had hunting parties that went out, the population of game was such that they didn't worry about it.

The hunt wasn't exactly going as he had planned however. Unable and unwilling to leave Pirro behind, the young dragon had made noises whenever he got close to a heard of deer, scaring them off. Each time he chastised him, the small dragon looking guilty and sorry for his actions.

It was reaching mid afternoon when finally he managed to get close enough to a herd that he was able to draw his bow. He held his breath, lined up the shot and released the arrow. Thankfully it hit its mark, felling the hart with the direct shot in the back of the neck.

As he collected his kill, the heard that had run away from him came running back, nearly stampeding over him. That confused and worried him; what the hell would startle them back the other way? Especially if they knew a threat was in this direction. He squirmed on the spot with worry, trying to decide between collecting his kill or abandoning it and retreating to safety.

Finally scooping it up and slinging it over his shoulders he turned and started a quick pace back to the house with a brief “Let's go Pirro!" who trilled in reply and quickly clambered up his side to ride gripped tightly onto his back.

The entire way home there was too much noise around him. His ears picking up movement all around him and his senses warned him that something wasn't right. He felt watched and threatened and it only caused him to pick up his pace. He managed to get home and place the kill on the front porch of the house when he heard someone clear their throat behind him.

“So, this is where you have come to hide huh abomination?" A male voice called out behind him and he spun around to face its source. Around ten feet away a tall gruff looking male stood and Markus recognised him immediately as one of the hunters from his old town. He gave an angry feline hiss in his direction and tried to look threatening as he unsheathed his claws.

“I'm surprised you managed to get away, but not surprised you didn't get far," the man rambled with a chuckle “You even managed to find yourself a familiar for your dark magics, a Dragon of all things, poor creature being bound to you."

“What do you want!?" Markus asked angrily face pulled into a snarl and he tried to keep Pirro out of the males line of sight “I left town! Just like that bitch wanted!"

“Did you really think we would just let you go?" he asked and smirked like Markus was the stupid one “No, you have a bounty on you head now, the Mayoress has promised a generous reward for your head, which I plan to recover."

Things almost seemed to go into slow motion as Markus fumbled to get his bow drawn "but the man already had his own drawn, and he fired first. However it was when there was a trill and chirp that things went from bad to horrifying. Pirro climbed his back in a heartbeat before he leapt at the flying arrow, Markus watched with sickening clarity as the hatchling was impacted in his left wing.

The cry Pirro released hurt the felines ears and broke his heart all in the same moment. The hunter looked stunned but tried to notch a second shot. Just as he was about the draw his shot an arrow impacted his hands making him release his own scream and drop his weapon.

“YOU THERE HALT!" a mans voice called out and a group of town guard came rushing into the clearing, swords drawn. Markus ignored them, falling to his knees to collect his hatchling who was making almost pathetic chirps and trills tears starting to flow from his eyes. “YOU ARE UNDER ARREST!"

“I'm under arrest!? But he..." he started gesturing to Markus but was cut short by a blade being pressed closer to his throat. The guards had their weapons pointed at Markus as well and while it should have been frightening, it wasn't. All Markus could think of was Pirro who he tried to calm and collect. He hushed the infant as he snapped the arrow carefully, making him easier to pick up.

“He has not infringed on this towns laws nor committed any unspeakable acts," the head guard, a wolf, said firmly looking to Markus “He has actually lived peacefully among us for several days now. What is your business here?" at this point the hunter acquired a smug grin and pulled a scroll out of his pocket, presenting it to the wolf.

“He is wanted by the Mayoress of Libreian for acts of dark magic and casting curses against out townsfolk." he announced almost proud of himself as the wolf and other guards looked over the scroll “I am here to collect that bounty. If you want proof of his vial magic look at him yourself! he has bound that baby dragon as his familiar!"

“I had some doubts at first but now I have none," the wolf said with a growl and closed the scroll handing it to one of the other guards “What you speak of is impossible! We see tamed drakes here in town from time to time and even our lord has one himself. There is no magic in this world that could bind that hatchling to his side! You four! Take him away!"

The four nearest guards grabbed the hunter roughly and quickly started to cart him back to town. He was kicking and screaming the whole way that they were being bewitched by Markus and it was only a matter of time before he cursed the lot of them too. Something the easily ignored it seemed.

Markus tore the sleeve of his shirt off and tried to apply it as a tourniquet around the injured hatchling's wing, but the fact that Pirro was starting to show signs of being weak and tired worried him. He didn't know the first thing about how to treat himself let alone an infant dragon.

“Sir?" The wolf queried above him and he looked up, tears matting the fur on his face “Please come with us, we will take you to see our Lord's veterinarian, he has experience with dragons and should be able to help." Markus blinked and after thinking briefly nodded and quickly got to his feet to follow him.

They progressed at a quick pace, Markus keeping Pirro pressed close to his chest and he pet his back gently as they walked. He did cast a curious look to the guards who escorted him, the wolf and two humans had him flanked, keeping the townsfolk at arms length who were giving curious looks in their direction.

“How.." Markus started to question but was cut off by the wolf who simply raised his hand.

“We were on patrol on the road nearby when we were alerted by his cry." He informed him firmly yet politely “We had been told that there was a suspicious group of men wandering the roads asking about a mountain-lion Beastfolk whom they were searching for. We didn't realise it could have been you and we suspected they were bandits after a someone who had gotten away from them."

“We had just come back from patrolling the road too," the human to his left said “We also have been keeping an eye on you since you arrived. A lone injured Beastfolk with what appeared to be a brand new hatchling and staying in an abandoned house just inside the town's forest? It was highly suspicious."

“However as time passed and you caused no problems, we knew you were harmless." The wolf finished as they approached a large manor house “We apologise for not warning you sooner of the potential danger, again we assumed them to be bandits and our show of force on the roads had scared them off." Markus gave a sigh and soft sniff as Pirro gave a pained trill when he tried to move up to nuzzle his chin.

“No... I should have reported in about the troubles I had with the Mayoress sooner," Markus replied “I should have known she wouldn't just let me go... I guess I got careless and too comfortable thinking they wouldn't get this close to town looking for me... so I feel I should apologise instead." they cast him a condoling look but stayed quiet as they approached the door to the large manor.

Rapping on it firmly, the guards were startled when it was opened by a well dressed stallion Beastman. He was taller than they were, with white fur and vibrant blue eyes. He seemed just as puzzled as they were to see who was on the other side of the door.

“Lord Augustus!?" the Wolf exclaimed with mild surprise then cleared his throat collecting himself “Sorry, my Lord I had expected Clancy to answer the door."

“Perfectly understandable, I happened to be passing by when you knocked, how may I help you Guard Captain Zamiel?" He replied calmly and with what seemed to be joviality “And who is this with you?"

“Sir, this is Markus, he is living in the old homestead in the woods near town," he reported “From what we have gathered he was returning home with a fresh catch when he was assaulted by a man from the nearby village of Libreian. Apparently the Mayoress has put a bounty on him however the reason for this we have yet to ascertain." The guard to Markus's left pulled out and handed over the scroll that they had confiscated. The stallion took it and gave it a brief look before rolling it back up to look at them again.

“Hmm, Libreian... Ah yes, that was the town started by the Mountain-lion Gerald and his wife.. so you are his son I assume?" He queried and Markus nodded, it was at that point that Pirro gave a weak chirp drawing their attention “Oh my he's injured! Come in, come in, we will head direct to my stables."

He ushered Markus in and the guards saluted before leaving, relinquishing him into the care of the stallion. Markus felt out of place in the lavish manor, everything was opulently decorated and looked so expensive he was worried his mere presence would tarnish something. They walked through quickly, the only sounds being the occasional pained trill from Pirro and the sound of Lord Augustus's hooves on the floor.

When they arrived out the rear doors of the manor, a large Dragon rushed up to greet them. It was the size of a Clydesdale with deep amber scales and white along its underbelly. It rushed immediately to the stallion and bumped its head against his chest making the stallion chuckle and push it away playfully like it was a common occurrence. When Pirro chirped however, the beast perked up and turned to look at the two, leaning in and sniffing at the infant before giving a trill of its own and Markus could have sworn, an angry look towards him.

“Now now Sofia, none of that," Lord Augustus said firmly giving the dragon a light slap to the nose getting its attention in and instant “It is not his fault that the hatchling is injured. Now be a good girl and find me Cyril." the dragon gave a playful nip at his fingers before sniffing the air and turned to guide them.

“Humph, he better not have harmed him." the Dragoness spoke, voice deep yet still effeminate “This way." she started quickly heading towards the stables, weaving this way and that till she lead them to a Lizard Beastman.

“Ah Cyril! There you are." the stallion called out as they approached “Have a tough one this time." the Lizard looked up from what he was doing and rolled his eyes.

“When don't you?" he asked dully then looked to Markus and Pirro in his arms eyes going wide as he picked up the scent of blood in the air “Shit this way! Hurry! What happened?"

“I was..." Markeus started then had to take a shaky breath as they were guided into a small room. It was clean, looking much like the doctors office he had been in several days prior. However a lot of the instruments were bigger or designed for feral horses and hunting dogs rather than humans and Beastfolk.

“From the beginning please, and I mean today's events." Lord Augustus said as he followed them in. Markus nodded and handed Pirro over to the lizards when he gestured for him to do to, the hatchling giving a worried trill and kept his eyes on Markus.

“I had gone out hunting, gathering mushrooms, herbs and was after a catch to add to my food supplies as I was running low and wanted to ease up on my spending." Markus said as Cyril carefully laid Pirro down on the table and started to undo the makeshift bandaging. “I had managed to catch a decent sized hart and return back to my house when... one of the hunters from my old town confronted me. I... wasn't very popular back there... the Mayoress has a hatred against Beastfolk and my family were the only ones in town. After my father died it was just me and she did what she could to make my life hell...I would assume she is being paranoid now, thinking I would tell everyone about how terrible she is so she has put a bounty on my head, at least that's what the hunter told your guards Lord." he paused here looking up form Pirro to the stallion who was listening intently and realised he had gotten off track.

“Sorry, back to today. Sadly the town guards weren't able to get to my aid in time before he had managed to get a single arrow off..." he took a shaky breath now, tears starting to come to his eyes anew as he looked back to his injured hatchling “Pirro... he saved my life... he climbed my back and leapt at the arrow before I could stop him or move out of its path, the guards were drawn by his cry... Please... Please... Help him... I don't have much but please... he is all I have..." he gave a sob now and there was a chuckle from the stallion.

“Worry not, Cyril will do everything in his power wont you Cyril?" the lord said looking at the lizard who just rolled his eyes.

“Sofia would bite my tail off if I didn't try to save a hatchling," he answered with a huff “It isn't in too deep, looks like it impacted the wing shoulder joint and stopped there. I will need to see if it has done any damage to the bones there but he should recover. Main focus right now is removing the arrow head and stopping the bleeding." Markus felt his heart lift and a smile came to his face.

“As for payment," the Stallion started drawing his attention in a fearful way “You can let me know everything that is happening in Libreian that I am not aware of as well as how you came across this little one. As lord of this region, I feel ashamed that I am being misinformed on what is happening there."

“Y...yes Lord Augustus, Thank you sir, I will tell you everything you wish to know." Markus replied enthusiastically with an almost smile and he got a warm one in return.

“Excellent! For now I have a few things to attend to, namely a bratty dragoness who is pining for my attention." he said with a merry chuckle “I suggest you remain here, if little Pirro has bonded to you like Sofia has to me, it would be in his best interest for you to."

“And I am sure I can teach you all about him and how to care for him." Cyril said with a light chuckle but didn't look up from his work.

“Yes, Lord Augustus I understand and thank you Cyril, sir, that would be most appreciated." Markus replied and looked to Pirro who was watching him with pain filled eyes. The stallion left the room quietly and Markus stepped over giving Pirro a soft pat to the head “Don't worry Pirro, Daddy's here."