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How A Dragon Trains You

Part 3 – Forgive and Forget

Slowly waking up from my short slumber, I began to open my eyes… Spotting the dense darkness surrounding me I figured that the sun has set entirely by now, the moonlight only leaving a few scattered outlines of the trees leafy foliage and branchy bushes visible.

It took me a couple moments to spot the dirt beneath and realize that I was laying on a weald's cold ground, face first on my front. I hadn't even fully opened my eyes yet as I hardly flinched by noticing the unusual place in which I happened to wake up. The tiredness seemingly slipped away in just a second. For one moment, I was pondering where I was and what circumstance has got me out here, napping in the wilderness. However, despite trying and forcing, my memories didn't catch up quickly. I eventually pushed myself up, feeling my limbs a little sore from having slept on the ground. While I was looking around, properly examining what the starlight has made visible, the events all got back to me in the blink of an eye.

I nervously paced around the place as my head went it all through. This… dragon had showed up at the inn… but it didn't come back to finish the job, it just wanted to see me again for some reason. My mind skipped all the happening in between and the next thing I remembered was having sexual intercourse with that dragon… right there, actually. At the spot where I had just woken up. I flushed a little by the recall, feeling somewhat mortified about my actions in what memory recalled… Did I really make out with a dragon? Gods, what the hell is wrong me…

My self-loathing didn't last for long, as I glared about and aimlessly walked around in confusion, still not being able to tie the events together. Where did it go? And why am I still here? The last thing we did before I must have fallen asleep was… cuddling. Now where I thought about it, I still had the dragon's special scent in my nose, as if it still was on my body. Perhaps, the only reason why it sought me out in the first place was just to for the fun... and left as soon as it got what it bargained for.

Not too far away, the candle lights from inside the inn suddenly caught my eye.

Oh, right, the inn! Now I remember! I went outside to have my meal… the people inside must be wondering why I'm taking so long or where I'm at, I haven't paid for the steak yet. What if they are out here searching for me, fearing that something might have happened to me? Usually people don't just… disappear like I did.

I decided, I needed to get back inside as soon as possible. I didn't want to raise any concern or suspicion.

I quickly took off, yet not running since the night has already fallen, blackening the ground, but I was still having a fast pace nonetheless. I still stumbled over a stick or a stone every now and then, having my eyes focused off of the ground, instead locked onto the yellow shining light through the windows, which I only gradually observed moving closer.

It must have been two or three minutes until I finally could make out the silhouette of the fence on which I was leaning before that dragon had surprised me while I was having a steak. Being at that place once more, some of the memories rushed back to me again. My head played the scene in which I fed the steak to that dragon and got to pet it afterwards… but my focus fell back onto the current situation, as I was about to enter the inn again.

I calmly walked the rest of the way around the building to the door, catching myself slowing down the closer I got and feeling flustered.

I entirely stopped as I was directly in front of the entrance. I held my face directly on the tinted glass window build into the door as it was too blurry to show anything from afar. However, despite squeezing my cheek onto the cold glass, I was still unable to see what's inside. The light was there, but it was too dim. All I saw was the dark wooden material the entire house was made out of color the blur of the glass, illuminated by candle and torch light.

Still seeing that there is not a lot going on in there, I eventually lay my hand on the handle, pressed it down and slowly moved the door open with a noisy squeak…

Behind the counter was no one. I flipped my head to the other direction, peeking around the door which I was still gradually opening. The dining area was mostly empty, only two persons were left. The inn lady cleaning up a desk, and a guard lazily sitting, lounging and slacking around, holding an ale in the one hand and a half-filled cup in the other. Each surprised glare quickly met with mine.

“O-oh!" the lady exclaimed “You're back! Gods, I was dreading that you'd never return, with all those rumors of what-not about, ambushing people!"

The relief was significant in her voice. She put the cloth aside and hastily approached me.

“Say… what have you been doing for so long?" she asked in a humorous manner, smiling and chuckling a little.

“Oh, I've just...-"

I stopped midsentence as I realized that I couldn't just talk about how this dragon approached me, and the stuff we did subsequently… I had to make up something.

“I- I've… just been inquiring a little. While I was eating outside I saw some common indicators of a dragon possibly being about" I stammered, headed for the staircase, already starting to back away a bit. I felt my face flush hot by what I just said, but in the heat of the moment I couldn't think of anything better. If I haven't been bound into this conversation, I would have stormed up the stairs into my rented room and hide away in the bed.

“Good heavens, a dragon!?"

It looked like the lady was about to faint. By the turmoil I've just caused with the excuse my eyes widened more and my face contorted a little in regret, despite trying to hold it back.

“A dragon?" an unfamiliar voice suddenly sounded from the very corner of the dining area. I at first was confused from whom that came… but then I spotted the drunk guard in his rather badly kept steel armor lounging there.

“Ah! I should probably go and check…" the guard added, sounding as if it was the most normal thing in the world. He put both the ale and the cup down onto the table each making a remote banging noise and was about to stand up from his chair.

“I- I… wouldn't" I quickly advised, gesturing him to stay seated with a rather shivery hand gesture. I feared that the guard might actually do find that dragon… and I want neither of them to get hurt.

“Eh, why not?" the guard asked. By the tone I could tell… this one wasn't sober no more, as I've already figured. Someone who wasn't drunk would never bail into the dark to seek out a god damn dragon!

I took some seconds to think of something.

“Why not you ask? Well, err… it's gotten way too dark by now! That's why I've just returned from my… uhm… inquisitions. Even if the dragon would still be hiding around here, you'd have no chance to fight it, let alone making it back here alive!"

I felt a lot calmer because technically, I wasn't even lying about that.

“Are you questioning my skill, young lad?"

“Don't be silly, George!" the lady suddenly interrupted.

Hold on, I thought. Those two personally know each other? He must be some sort of a very regular guest then. Probably just here for the ale. This guy's drinking habits might present the number one money source of this place!

“Why not?! I'm a guard from the imperial watch itself! It's my task!"

“You're a guard who has been expelled for being under the influence during duty, and has been doing nothing but sit here and drink ever since!"

For the first time I heard something like anger in the women's usually lovely sounding voice. But I could understand her… Her number one customer was about to look for a dragon in the middle of the night while being as drunk as I was on my seventeenth birthday.

“How else am I supposed to take those… boring shifts? I don't care if expelled or not. Finally, there might be something out here, and you two, an inn lady and that adventurer who would be young enough to be your son, tell me to stay inside?"

The guard aggressively stood up and scurried to the door.

“No way! I'll show you…" he shouted back at us, opening the door and heading outside. “Where are you, dragon?" I hardly heard the voice yell, which was muffled through the wood. The heavy steps of the steel boots disappeared into the night.

For a second, I thought about going after him, but even if he would find the dragon, someone in that state probably wouldn't even be able to take down a wolf.

“…Anyways, I'm going upstairs" I stammered, a little intimidated from the scene George just made.

“Did you enjoy the steak?"

The women's smile returned as if nothing happened.

“Y-Yeah, I'll pay tomorrow, I have to go get some rest for now" I hastily answered, already running up the stairs. I paced past the many doors until I reached mine and swung it open, almost forgetting to be quiet since most people were asleep already.

After I carefully shut the door again, I dropped myself into the bed and almost immediately blew out the candle on the nightstand turning the room's dim orange into darkness. As I was finally in a proper place to relax I noticed how exhausted I felt, next to a low but constant pain in my butt where the dragon had penetrated me. But it didn't bother me, I rolled over into my favorite sleeping position and closed my eyes.

My mind began to idle…

The last two days were pretty rough for me… but at last, I can get some good rest. Tomorrow I'll go back to town and tell my story… and will never have to worry about money or fame problems again…

…

I… couldn't sleep. I shut my eyes, tested out all sorts of laying positions, but I just couldn't fall asleep. My head was too busy, the thoughts kept sticking to… that dragon. I didn't think about what it did to me yesterday… more what we did this sun dawn. How it came back for me… for me! And it let me pet it… and the way it pressed its snout into my crotch… and gods, how good the tongue felt!

I felt my face run hot by the fantasies, and I felt myself harden by just the mere imagination… There were so many pictures in my head. The dragon's large, pink and soft member… I couldn't believe that it's been inside me twice by now.

It felt like with the dragon now being gone something was missing. It's like I wanted to be with the dragon, and have more of what we did previously… I couldn't get rid of the feeling that thinking that was wrong. I without out a doubt was a lunatic for wanting to make out with a dragon… let alone that I've already did that twice, though the first time was less voluntarily. But this slight shame just made this whole thing more interesting.

I tried to suppress the fantasies… but the harder I tried, the more I ended up thinking about it. How the cock felt inside me… how the tongue felt around my member…

I couldn't resist. I rolled to my back and pulled my pants down and didn't hesitate to proceed. Maybe this will help me fall asleep…

(Perspective switch to Fahren)

_ _

Walking, walking, walking.. wait. Why was I walking? I could've just flown away.. why was I using the slowest form of transportation I'm capable of? My body answered the question by turning around to look back. Gah! Confound this human. Why do I look back? It's over. Go back to your life. Live free and hunt.

And yet.. that all seems so pointless now. That human.. It's like nothing else I'd ever seen or interacted with. He was interesting. Small. And if nothing else, he at least made one hell of a mount. Rrhh.. he felt so good.. I wonder if at this point he would even look at me with hostility. He seemed to sort of give up after a while. And the noises he made were very much like my own. Almost like he liked it.. hehe.

Oh what the hell! C'mon! One more look never hurt nobody!

I swung around and this time took to the air, flying back the nearly three miles I had just trekked on paw. My thoughts were filled with nothing but the images of the human the entire time. As I got somewhat near, about half a mile away, I glided down to land, seeking the cover of the dense brush.

I trotted with purpose. Nearly jogging. But then, my thoughts were interrupted by a noise that made me flinch and stop dead. I stood completely still, opening my mouth and breathing deeply, but slowly, being perfectly silent. It was a two-leg call. But.. this one sounded different. This one sounded angry; it was loud. I stayed perfectly still until I heard it again. My many ears twitched and literally tugged my head in the direction of the noise. I crept backwards, letting myself move, knowing the darkness of the night concealed me. My eyes were wide, and my pupils, even wider. I saw as if it was still daylight. I saw the bushes move, and out from them suddenly came swinging a blade! A long blade. This one was certainly up to no good! Maybe the human I encountered alerted others. Damn. I thought maybe he liked me. I let him touch me and he didn't hit me.. doesn't that mean something? I didn't have time to ponder before the hole in the brush that the blade sliced through parted and a two-leg stepped through the gap, it was indeed another human, but not the one I knew.. this one was shiny. Bigger. With his chest puffed out and his arms swinging confidently.. but... stumbling a bit.

"DRAGUUUUN! SHOW YOURSELF!"

(Light gore warning, skip ahead the next two paragraphs if you're sensitive)

I immediately called out with my own battle cry, letting him know he was not alone. "RRRRRRAAAAAAAAA!"

The call rang out all throughout the woods. The armored two-leg stopped in his tracks and raised his blade. "AAAAAAAHH!" he screamed, not in fear, but in what seemed like a startle-induced rage. "WHERE ARE YOU?!" He instantly stopped stumbling, seeming to regain his wit about him. I growled and stepped forward, flaring my wings and baring my teeth. I was still a whole two dragon-lengths away from him, giving him plenty of time to see me and think twice. Little did I know, they couldn't see at night even half as well as I could.. He continued to step forward, wearing away at my patience and zone of comfort. I could feel the back of my throat twitch, the fuel chambers in my neck tensing up. Only when I was a single dragon-length away did he apparently see me and flinch. But the final straw was drawn when, instead of stepping back, he CHARGED forward! It startled me and made me bark loudly! Without even realizing, I had let off a blast that sailed the short distance between us and blew up on his chest, sending him back in the direction from where he came, sailing over the bush and disappearing behind it, his blade flying away in a different direction.

I waited.. heard gentle rustling, and then he came bolting out through the leaves again armed with just his fists, he swung once at me and landed a surprisingly strong blow to the left side of my mouth. My head jerked away in that direction.. and then I physically felt my pupils shrink. He wound up for another punch, but halfway through the arc, his fist met my paw, stopping it dead. I grabbed his whole fist inside mine and twisted down toward me, hearing cracking noises coming from his wrist. He SCREAMED in agony but was immediately silenced by my other paw on his chest SLAMMING him into the ground. Having both his body and his arm in both of my paws.. it was only a single natural next step to pull. I was met with only minor resistance before his hand separated from his now shattered wrist easily. Oddly, he made no noise after this, I thought nothing of it. But a sudden knee to my throat made me gag and cough. I have had enough of this.

He put up a decent fight, but.. in my clutches, he was basically a doll. I lunged forward, and with a lightning quick, full power snap of my jaws, his round head became.. not so round anymore. And to burn off the adrenaline now pumping into my veins, I kept what was left of his head in my jaws, wound up, and suddenly vaulted my whole front half into the air, standing vertically and then releasing my jaws, letting his body SAAAIIILL up through the trees.. aaaaand then falling back through the branches, shaking off leaves and even breaking off a weak branch, both his body and the branch falling with a thud, the branch landing rather neatly on top of him and covering most of the immediate gore with twigs and leaves, apart from the separated hand off to the side.

I panted heavily and immediately trotted off toward the inn, but just a few steps past the bush he had come through, I noticed his helmet.. I picked it up in my mouth and continued forward. A minute later, and the inn came into view. But just as I saw it, I stopped and looked up at a tree trunk.. thinking it best to hide up in a concealed position for at least the rest of the night, figuring there could be more angry two-legs. So, with virtually no effort at all, due to the residual adrenaline still in me, I gracefully leaped up and climbed the tree, curling tightly against the main trunk amongst the most densely leaved part, deciding to stay here for the rest of the night.

I looked up toward where the inn would be, unable to see it through the branches of other trees in the way, and thought about the human I knew. If it was even still in there... the helmet rested nestled just beside me in the crook of a branch against the trunk..

(Perspective switch to Mervyn)

_ _

I awoke as I heard a rather hesitant knock on the door. For a short moment I was surprised that apparently, I did manage to fall asleep after all. I stayed down for some seconds, until I decided to check. I pushed myself by the upper body into a seated position, facing the doorway. Waiting for something more to happen to confirm, I cleared my face from my hair hanging downward which was tousled from all the tossing and turning during the unrestful night.

There was another knock, this time significantly louder, probably getting impatient from the lack of response.

“A-are you there?" I heard a muffled voice ask me through the door. I immediately recognized it. It was the inn lady.

I kept silence for some moments, pondering what she could want which would have her show up at my room… Oh- of course, the steak! I still haven't paid for it!

“Oh! Just one moment!"

I leaned out and reached for my knapsack, accidentally knocking it over and off the chair while I was rummaging inside of it for my coin purse. Suddenly the door slightly opened and through a narrow slit I was met by the worried face, looking like she had a night just as restless as mine.

She held her head in, looking for me for a short moment, sighing in relief as soon as she spotted me. Her glare went down to the floor for one second, before she looked up and sighed again, this time in distress.

“C-can you help me with something?" the woman asked in a tone which told me without needing any additional words that something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

With a small nod with my head I gestured her to go ahead.

“I need you to seek out George…" she quickly mumbled, suddenly sitting down onto the end of my bed, hands folded in and staring down. Being that close I could see that her eyes were wet, as if she already has or was about to cry.

“He didn't return! His room is still empty! He's been away all night! I waited in the dining room for hours and hours until the dusk came… and I swear, I even heard strange noises coming from the hill!"

She leaned toward me and her sweaty palms grasped me by the arm

“Please, you must seek and get him! He might be in trouble, he might be hurt!" she begged, beginning to whine a little.

I stayed still for a couple moments. Could it really be… that he had found the dragon? -Or the dragon found him? No, it could be any number of things... a guy that drunk can get himself into trouble in any ways imaginable. Perhaps he has just passed out. At least that's what happened the last time someone who has been reported missing after scampering off into the wilderness, as drunk as can be before lethally poisoning oneself.

“I-I'm sorry…" the lady said after she noticed I've been quiet. “I'm just… so worried, I just-"

“Hey, it's alright" I tried to calm her down. I didn't question her why she liked him so much. To me he hasn't made the most sympathetic impression so far. Was it his coin? Or maybe she just hoped to get along with him somehow… I haven't seen a husband around here, and, I have to admit, this George guy wasn't of a bad build. Better than mine for sure.

“I'll get him" I confidently said after a while, something inside me having a doubt about that I will actually find him. In an odd way, I had the same feeling as if I just told a lie.

“Oh, thank you!" she exclaimed in relief, grasping my hand a little tighter. “I'll make you two something to eat while you're gone getting him! It's on the house for you, and George… he is going to get an earful, upsetting me like that!"

She hurried out of the room and I heard the small footsteps rush down the steps of the stairs.

To me it seemed like she was sure I was going to find him, but I wasn't so sure myself. I very hesitantly got up the bed, constantly thinking what else might have happened to him.

Tossing the sheets aside and leaving the bed I noticed what a mess I had made over the night, embarrassingly covering the spot again with the blankets. I need to be more careful next time… or at least clean up after me. If the inn lady should ask, I spilled some milk, I thought to myself.

I actually had planned to continue my travels this morning, but now I would have to use those supplies for searching the region, just because this George guy couldn't stay off the ale. What a fool if there ever was one… When I find him… If I find him… My hands repeatedly clenched up to fists as I was getting dressed. But that's not my job, to give him a penalty. I only was told to locate him.

Before I left I took one last look into the to its breaking point filled wardrobe, seeking if anything in there would come in handy right now… The only thing that seemed helpful was a large desert scarf. I wrapped it around my neck and throat, the cloth being so big it easily covered parts of my upper body and the downside of my head with multiple layers.

Now being prepared I quickly headed outside, pacing down the creaky stairs and proceeding to the door without wasting any time, hearing the inn lady peacefully humming and plates clink.

As I left the inn, the morning sun light directly hit me, blinding me for a few seconds. I stood in front of the door, covering my face from the brightness of the sun rays until my eyes adjusted.

Now standing outside, I began to ponder… where would a drunk guard go…

I remembered the inn lady telling me that she heard the strange noises coming from the hill… Of course, the hill!

I had a strange feeling in my guts as I looked it up, hesitantly approaching it. Its sides were steep and it was mostly covered with dense bushes and an overall thick tree foliage, barely letting any of the morning sun light through.

Where are you George? I thought to myself…

…

Where the hell is this guy?!

By now I've searched the entire top area and all sides from the tree and bush clad hill, beginning to get a little confused and frustrated… I was sure he would be around here somewhere! If he wasn't, then where the hell could he have gone instead?

I was just about to give up looking around there, as the sun's light was suddenly sharply reflected at one point on the ground.

It took me a while to find out what it was. Just after I stepped all the way to it I recognized what the ominous object was: it was a sword. A steel longsword. It might be George's, but I wasn't certain. It seems to be one of those swords the imperial watch hand out to their guardsmen, although they tend to use silver weapons and on the other hand… steel swords were rather commonly used by any types of adventures and hunters and whatnot... Technically, this sword could belong to anybody!

I picked it up and held it into the light, checking how worn out it was. It was barely used. A few remarkable scratch marks were towards the bottom, but those aren't from fighting… those are from hitting the ground. As if this sword has been tossed away or something. A disarm, perhaps. Or maybe drunk George wasn't even able of holding onto it anymore?

As a possible hint, I decided to keep it, letting it trail beside me as I continued to search the region, this time being very thoroughly… if that was his sword, he surely would be around here. Or at least I could locate a few other clues.

I was about to give up looking again. I was walking in circles and no matter how many bushes I've checked, rocks I've turned and what not, there was no- O-oh my god…

I saw armored legs stick out from under a small pile of branches and its leaves. I at first froze… but soon the short moment of fright was replaced with relief. The color of the steel had this typical dark tone the imperial road guardsmen had. That was him! There he is! Gosh, what is he doing? Napping under a pile of branches? Did he try to climb a tree and fell off or something?

“George?" I stammered. “Is that you?!"

There was no reply… I thought nothing by it. He surely was passed out from yesterday. Gosh, how much has this guy been drinking?

“Dude. I thought you would have died!" I chuckled. “The inn lady is looking for you, y'know -and she is worried and upset, you wouldn't believe… you better get back right now!"

As I approached there still was no reaction. I began to get a little worried…

“Hey, I found your sword by the way" I said, sounding a little cheerful and poking the sword at his legs, trying to suppress my apprehension… but he wasn't reacting. He wasn't moving. My smile quickly dropped…

“George…?"

(Gore warning for the next two paragraphs)

I reached out with the sword toward the branches, my hand shivering a little. I dug the tip of the blade in with which I pushed them off…- OH GODS-

I didn't dare to look for one second before I flipped around, shrieking, covering my face in my arms and dropping the sword. In the short moment I did peek at what I have just uncovered with the sword, I couldn't make out much. The head was… shattered. And anything starting from the forehead was missing entirely, or scattered so far I couldn't make it out.

Being in shock I stood there for a while, breathing heavy… I felt my pulse rise, my hands trembling…

I slowly lowered the arms and looked again, having calmed myself down to take a little more proper look, perhaps being able to figure out what happened to him…

But there wasn't a lot recognizable amidst the pile of gore. There were only a few small threads of the black hair sticking out in between the scattered fragments of the skull, flesh and brain matter coloring the grass and leaves beneath it in a dark red tone. The only thing that was still in one piece was the downside of the chin and parts of the jaw still containing a few teeth, the downside ending with a big yet flat opening, making an outlet for the blood and all sorts inwards.

I couldn't take the sight any longer. After the smell of the blood had reached me I pulled the scarf up, covering my nose, trying to shield myself from the terrible aroma…

After just a few seconds of examining what was left of George I turned my back to the corpse and scurried away, having to tumble and bend over every now and then from feeling that I had to throw up. Despite trying to hold it back, my gag reflex went off almost constantly. If I would have eaten breakfast already, I probably would have vomited all over the place.

…

I huddled there by the hillside, my head sunk into my arms, sobbing a little… George was dead. And he most certainly didn't die peacefully. I couldn't get the images of his head of out mine… This poor bastard. I was aware, I only knew him for a couple minutes, but to see a human being messed up like that… I couldn't believe it.

And it was all my fault… It was me who made up this lie about seeking out a dragon… It was me who made drunk George get outside and look for it… it was me who didn't bother to stop him. It was nothing but my fault… I'm an accessory to coldblooded murder. I wasn't even sure if the dragon was the one who did it, but after all, it still was me who made him go outside and look for it… I was responsible for this! I dug his grave!

How was I gonna tell the inn lady?! The worried she's been so far… it would absolutely destroy her to hear what happened to him! -This was too much. I rolled to my back, laying down, and staring up the sky, tears exiting my wet eyes. I tried to calm myself down, glaring into the bright blue and the few clouds… What have I done…

(Perspective switch to Fahren)

_ _

I slept alright, hung in the tree, but upon morning, I heard the door open and sprung awake. I waited.. and after a minute, I saw the human.. MY human. He passed right under me and I watched from above. I heard him calling out. Was it for me?

Just then, I realized. He was heading for the battle spot. Do I stop him?

I peeked out from the branches and watched him walk off..

Oh boy..

Once he was far enough away, I quietly climbed down the tree trunk, using my tail to hold on and lower me down slowly. I forgot about the helmet, though.. and on my way down, the tree shook just enough for it to come loose. I flinched when I heard it thump to the ground, eyes wide.. But I calmed when I heard nothing from any direction. I stood up tall, shook myself off, and looked in that direction, but the shrubs blocked my view of the human. Hm..

I almost started walking toward him, but, what would I do? What would I say? He'd never believe me that the man started it first! No, I had to keep my distance for a while.. I took to the sky and made a very wide arc around the human, flying off to my home part of the forest to take a drink. All this stress has me parched.

About an hour passes, and I've had my drink. I decide to walk back rather than fly, guessing that there would be more humans swarming the area now that the dead one was discovered. I walked cautiously the nearer I got and avoided the scene of the crime, curving around, which took me quite close to the human without either of us being aware of that.

(Perspective switch to Mervyn)

If it wasn't for the inner turmoil, I would have passed out, lounging in the grass for almost an hour by now. But I still wasn't able to calm down. Each time I thought about walking back to the inn and telling the lady… I just dug my head back into my hands and arms in desperation.

This is your fault! I heard an inner voice keep yelling at me. You're the liar! You're the one whose head should have been burst open! You're a murderer! You're at least as responsible for George's horrible death as whatever has killed him!

But how did that even happen? He was drunk… he was looking for a fight… it was a mistake -my mistake- to let him march out into the night. And if it was the dragon who has killed him… then it was my fault it had to do that. I owed it. I haven't tried to prevent the drunk guardsmen from seeking it out... I've endangered the dragon too…

I held myself back from whining and rolled to the side.

Perhaps there was another way. I could tell the lady I haven't found him, pretending that I never saw… what I found. I couldn't get the picture of the pile of fragments out of my head, and had to force it out, as each time I accidentally recalled it I gagged up.

I turned to my back again, staring into the sky once more. It was an option, to continue building my card house of lies… but, the lady could go out and look for herself… and might get killed too! I winced by the thought of being responsible for two deaths. No, I had to face my mistakes. I had to tell the truth. I had to tell her. As soon as possible, I'm wasting my time here. I didn't deserve anything else. George would want it.

For a few seconds I felt confident to get up… but the determination faded away in just the few seconds I placed my arms on the ground. I… couldn't…

After a while I at least managed to sit myself up again, resting my arms on my knees which were up. I felt the back of my head hurt a little from lolling on the ground for so long.

The sun was high; the morning must have passed, it was midday by now. Gosh, for how long have I been gone? She must be getting worried!

Despite feeling that I should get back to the inn… I just sat there. Glaring around the rather flat terrain, covered in various brightly green colors. The view… calmed me. At least a little…

The poor lady… poor George… and it was all my-

My thoughts were interrupted by an odd noise. I neither couldn't determine what it was, nor where it came from… My eyes opened widely, looking around investigatingly, however still staying a little screwed up by the sudden dense of light flashing me.

Without any other suspicious sounds my mind uncontrollably zoned out again to the somewhat monotone green of the grass and leaves, covering everything as far I could see. But my relaxation wasn't for long. I noticed, midst the rustling of the bushes and leaves the few cool breezes have caused, a significantly louder and repetitive one, creeping up from... somewhere. For a moment I was so scared I stayed nearly motionless, concentrating on the noises, trying to figure where they were coming from…

I winced and flipped around as I suddenly heard them being right behind me.

At first, I spotted nothing amidst the dimmed light through the tree's cover of leaves and the dense darkened wall of scrubs and bushes. Then suddenly- I flinched a little as it barked at me to let me know it was present. It was the dragon… it's come back yet again.

I froze, but, unlike from the other encounters so far, I didn't shriek or flinch. I wasn't as scared as I usually was in the presence of the dragon, but still tensed and I had a terribly nervous feeling in my guts… just sitting there, flipped over and leaned on one arm, staring at the dragon with wide eyes…

It proceeded forward through the bush, softly, head low with the ears down, as it did last time it approached me at the inn. Seeing it close in I got up to my legs… I didn't feel safe being on the ground beneath it. I knew it would never do a thing to me, at least not again and as long as I'm not threatening it in some way, but after all… it still was a dragon. According to nature we were arch enemies, but individually, we were something like… friends. From the moment I met it at the inn I knew I could trust it, and so it did trust me.

Its belly was close to the ground, even touching down this time, as if it was laying down. Staying in that position, it continued its approach, slinking forward in an almost silly way.

“Ruouuh… Nfh- Grah."

(I'm sorry, human, I didn't- H-he attacked me!)

It made those noises again… like it was trying to talk to me.

I suddenly remembered. George… did the dragon do that? No way, I thought. As submissive as it was… I couldn't imagine it. It's unlikely itself that George actually would have been able to locate the dragon, even in a sober state, considering that its blackness fitted into the night's darkness just fine and, even in broad daylight, I never saw it unless it wanted to be seen-

I spotted something on its maw and teeth, which made me stop any motion and entirely freeze…

There was a firm layer of something dark red and brown, coloring the white of the teeth and spoiling the black of the lips… is that… dried up blood?!

I did flinch, and shriek, this time, immediately springing up and backing off one step, the fear suddenly returning as if we wouldn't know each other. That was his blood! It did kill him!

My breaths got heavy again… I felt my pulse rise, only being able to see the natural murder machine within the dragon in this moment.

For a moment the dragon looked at me in a rather confused, unknowing manner -until it realized I noticed.

“Wh- RRRAH"

It sprung up, backed off a couple steps and licked, trying to clean its maw and lips.

“Rawhh.."

It proceeded to back away, rubbing its head in an attempt to wipe everything off. It looked around frantically, suddenly flipping around and running off, disappearing behind the bushes.

I stood there, a little in shock, despite having known that the fact, that it was the dragon who did that, has been the only rational explanation to what happened to him.

It took me a while to catch up and remember that it wasn't the dragon's fault... After all, it was me who didn't prevent the dunk guard from seeking it out. He… did find it, apparently. And must have attacked it… As gory as the pile looked, it still probably happened in… self-defense. It has to be. A beast like that wouldn't just go around killing people. It did spare me after all, after the first encounter… back at its forest despite my resistance.

The dragon… it felt… guilt-ridden. It must think that I'm mad at it or abhorrently disappointed. That the inner beast would be all I could see… that's why it must have run off. It was ashamed.

-No, the dragon shan't feel like that. I'm the one who should apologize… I thought to myself, looking from the bushes down to the ground… but how do I tell the dragon?

I started my attempt of following after the dragon. Midst the bushes and high grass it just ran through, the dragon formed some sort of a trail, the grass being significantly pressed down into a path. I hesitantly stepped along… feeling strange about actually approaching a dragon. So far only the dragon itself got me into that situation. So far it only came to me, and mostly I couldn't get away or resist. But this time… I had a choice… and I still chose to put myself into the presence of a living dragon. Something that my instincts would never allow… and I felt the inner protest rise the longer I trotted along the trail. But I had to make up my guilt, I couldn't leave the dragon to blame itself, when it was me who was to blame.

The haste and heavy thumps of the steps became distant until I could barely make them out. Fearing that I would lose the dragon, I picked up the pace. But it just ran and ran… as if there was no way that I'm forgiving it.

The trail ended in a glade with shorter grass, too short to form a continuation of the trail, with a large tree amidst. I stopped and looked around… where did it go?

I wandered around the place, peeking into the surrounding bushes for another path and checked the skies, turning around into all directions… -until I noticed there were scratch marks at the tree. Did it climb it up? Was a dragon even capable of doing that?

I looked it up and down. At first, I didn't notice anything, until I spotted the large black dragon's body tightly curled against the bark.

As soon as it saw that I found it, it roared loudly.

“RRRAAAAAAA!"

But it didn't move, and so did I. My reflexes were forcing me to back away… but I couldn't. I couldn't leave the dragon thinking that George's death was all its fault. I stayed near the tree, still staring up.

It roared louder this time, actually sounding infuriated.

“RRAAAAAAAAHHHH!!"

The noise rang in my ears, actually succeeding with making me back off a little bit… and making some of this natural fear come back. It wanted me to leave… and I surely would endanger myself if I'd resist that demand.

A third roar exposed a waver which sounded remarkably sad.

“rrRRRAAAA-"

Its head pulled back and was dug in between the tree and the arms. I heard low slightly muffled whimpering sounds resonate down from the place far above me…

The dragon, it felt… so bad for what it did -for what it had to do. And it was blaming itself for the deed, but… it was my fault… Evil is not the one who does evil but who lets it happen. I didn't try to prevent any of it… I could have stopped George…

I cursed to myself, looking down to the ground in thinking. How? How can I show that the dragon?! Not knowing any better I glared up and held up a hand, keeping it there as some kind of peace gesture. As if it was an apologetic handshake or… just something. But, as I expected, the dragon didn't understand… Was it even able to properly see me from up there? I surely wouldn't have many options from down here… My brows raised a little and my eyes widened as I suddenly got a crazy idea.

I looked the tree up and down once more, searching a spot midst the cluster of low hanging and stable leaf clad branches which would be suitable of climbing them up… I forced my feet to move, carrying me near the tree trunk and raised my right hand, stretching and grasping one of the large tree limbs right above me, barely an arm length away.

I froze for a moment as the dragon barked threateningly at me as soon as my palm touched down on the wood, and scrambled even higher. However, the tree made a series of worrying cracking sounds as the dragon's weight started to bend it in, forcing it to descend to the lower levels. In an attempt to fly away it spread its wings but each time it reached out and forwarded, even when just a little bit, the branches made too many worrying sounds and the tree bend way too much, scaring the dragon back to the center…

As I was actually about to ascend along the tree I took one last breath, going it all through for a moment.

I confidently reached out with the other arm and sort of wrapped it around the branch, beginning to leave the ground and pull myself up. I placed my feet on the tree trunk to push and help me get upward, having to concentrate really hard to keep a steady grip and not slipping off.

The dragon started to whine and aggressively swatted at the bark. I felt the thump vibrate and travel through the entire tree, strong enough to shake off some leaves and make me freeze for a second. It must feel threatened -and it clearly wanted me to stop… but I didn't back down.

Operating against two protesting wills, the dragon's and my instincts telling me to get out of there, I stubbornly proceeded with clambering. I pulled myself over the branch with all the strength I had until I hardly got my upper body over it, leaning it down on it subsequently. With my upper body and arms sort of wrapped around the branch, I held out an arm, grasping another branch above me, dragging the rest of my body over. I carefully got up to my feet… actually standing on the shaky branch now, bracing on various other branches. I reached out with my hand again, making the same gesture, although now much more trembly. But the dragon just gave me a questioning and afraid look with its big yellow-green eyes, as if it had no clue what I was going to do. And if I'm honest, I didn't really have a plan either…

It proceeded to climb away, chipping some of the bark off which dropped down to me, however only ascending amongst a few branches as the tree gave in again.

After getting no response, I sunk my hand down back onto the supporting branch, and I lifted my other arm, grabbing another branch above. Hanging on my arms and feet on the trunk again, I proceeded to pull myself up, doing the same thing as before on another branch, wrapping my upper body around, then dragging it across...

Now with a lot more other branches around getting the right holds was easier and relaxed. I gradually ascended along the branches as if it was some kind of a ladder, still staying slow and cautious. I stood up on another one, from which the branches I would require to continue upwards were unfortunately a little distant. I leaned and reached out, trying to grab it, all while the dragon was giving me an anxious look with its large eyes and pupils which were wider than usual. It had me wondering for second… the glare didn't look like it was worried about itself, but more concerned about me…

I quickly found out why. The branch was too slim, and it snapped away beneath my weight and I was left dangling with my arms, holding onto the branch above me, which didn't look any stronger than the one which just had broken away. I clasped as strong as I could. The regret hit me like a rock thrown at me as soon as I felt the hold of my feet vanish. How did I think climbing this tree was a good idea?!

I looked down to the ground, which was at least 20 feet beneath me… dropping down there perhaps wouldn't kill me, but it would without a doubt break my ankles… No, bailing wasn't an option. If I could just…

I tried once more to get balance on the tree trunk, but my feet kept slipping off. I wrapped my arms around the branch in all sorts of way but none worked for my upper body to rise past. I looked down again, thinking if perhaps I could swing back down to another branch-

I winced a little as I felt a grasping touch on my hand. My head flipped and I glared up, seeing that the dragon came to aid and has grabbed me by the left wrist. It did nothing but look at me for a few quiet seconds… then in repositioned, proceeding to grasp my whole arm now. I cooperated as I heard the branch starting to give in and placed my other hand on the foreleg, clasping onto it instead and still trying to pull myself up, panicking and kicking around with my legs, wanting to get ahold of something.

The dragon started to crawl downward, the tail wrapping and unwrapping from various spots of the tree and its limbs to keep itself anchored. It even took use of its wings to grab some of the branches. It eventually descended so much its body was technically right beside me. The dragon's limbs embraced me, holding me secure between the arms, legs and its ventral side.

I felt somewhat more thrilled than I already was, suddenly having the dragon's build all over and around me. And I still couldn't get rid of that constant warning feeling that I was going to fall…

The dragon suddenly pressed me into the scaly hide very tightly, leaving no way I could somehow slip out. Then, it let go of the branches. My eyes opened widely and I caught myself terribly shrieking, even screaming for the short moment I felt the sensation of free falling. In less than a second, I didn't even realize what happened, we just suddenly were standing on the ground after a few hard flaps with its wings. I was still in its arms, holding onto them, panting and my heart racing.

Once it figured we were both save, it let go of me and I almost dropped down like a ragdoll.

I just stood there. My knees were shaking, my hands were trembling in adrenaline… I hardly noticed the dragon back away again. As I glared up to it after a while my eyes were still wide and concerned. I needed some moments to catch my breath… holy shit… I almost died. Next to the rising and falling of my chest I stayed motionless…

I saw the dragon still having this sad look in its eyes, still feeling guilty…

I hastily began to approach, being very slowly and trying hard not to make the dragon back off again. With small steps I gradually enclosed.

“Raur!" it shouted, but it stayed where it was, looking... sadder. Its gaze wandered off to the ground… the guilt being obvious.

Faster than I was comfortable with, there suddenly wasn't much more than a yard left between me and the dragon. I felt my heart beat a little faster… that close to a dragon. So close I could hear its every single breath. I could make out the details on the hide… I overwhelmed my fear, and nearly sprung forward.

I put my arms on either side of the dragon's body and pressed myself into the chest, digging the side of my face in and closed my eyes, my breaths significantly nervous. I felt the dragon flinch by the touch, but it stayed right there… letting me hug it, and pondering what this gesture could mean.

“I I'm sorry you had to do this…" I whined. I wasn't sure if it could understand me or not, but I didn't care. It just needed to be said. “It was all my fault, really."

I pressed my eyes shut, trying to prevent tears from exiting… the emotion overwhelmed me for one moment. The dragon… saved my life, despite the fact that I let the drunk guard come after it.

My eyes opened and widened again as I felt a pressure on my back. The dragon has placed one of its paws on me, and now it was lowering its head down to the height of my shoulders and I could hear the inhales and exhales of its breathing loudly in my left ear. Then suddenly it got to its haunches and both of the forelegs wrapped around me, softly pushing me into its body. It… hugged me back. I couldn't believe it. Has it figured out what the gesture meant? Did it forgive me? I closed my eyes again… enjoying the hug as best I could. A little thrill always stayed inside me. But still, it felt like I could stay there… forever… I wished it from the bottom of my heart. Never having to go back to the inn… and having to tell the lady… just here with the dragon…

(Perspective switch to Fahren)

Every kill I'd ever made before was just.. I dunno. I never thought about it. I killed deer all the time.. but this man.. This is the first time I've ever had remorse for killing anything. Maybe I'm just afraid of retaliation? But.. then why am I also not running away..? This human obviously didn't mean me any harm..

(Perspective switch to Mervyn)

It proceeded to hold me there… It probably had no idea what it was doing, but by the way how relaxed we both were… it without a doubt felt nice for the both of us.

What I held for impossible had been done. The bonds of nature have been broken... by the mere power of love. We were natural enemies, yet we trusted each other so much… and wanted each other as close as possible. I wasn't sure what the dragon saw in me. Maybe I just felt good under it. Maybe it wanted to make up to its deed. But I didn't care… I just wanted to be with it…

The pressure ceased and the arms softly let go of me. It stepped back a little and sat there… looking with its huge green marbles into my comparatively small eyes with a questioning expression. It was a look as it was about to ask 'Are you for real?'

I just stood there, looking the beauty over… This feeling of fright and caution I usually had around the dragon was… gone, from just a few minutes of hugging. I didn't see a beast anymore. I saw a… I couldn't describe it. An angel with scaly wings who saved me… I didn't know what was happening inside my heart. I didn't know why I had so much of a thing for the dragon now, despite the harsh treatment the first time we met… Was it only because it saved my life? Or perhaps because of the pleasant things we've done the other night? Again, I didn't care. But what I did know was that, when I looked at it, I felt the inner storm settle… and a warmth around my heart clench, as if it was imprisoning me-

I got another crazy idea.

I quickly stepped forward and placed my hands on the cheeks, having to really stretch myself up to be able to reach up there. With my eyes closed I stirred my mouth to the dragon's maw, giving one quick kiss, being so hasty with it that I wasn't even sure if I hit the spot on the maw ends I wanted to get...

I backed down even hastier, blushing crazily in embarrassment. Did I really just do that?

It had pulled away after I was done, scared at what that was… But then, as it realized that nothing bad happened it tilted its head, wondering what on earth that was. Deep down, I wondered the same thing… I didn't know what ran into me…

The head reached forward and sniffed at me, thinking little of what I have just done. As if I would have… just tripped or something.

It stepped back once more, tilting its head in confusion.

Now! Finally! I thought to myself. Now it understood that I wasn't mad at it! It probably was confused about why I wasn't…

I cheered, innerly. Outside I still was just standing there, sort of awkwardly staring at it. And the dragon did the same, watching me, looking around. I once more noticed that I could see my reflection inside the big eyes…-

I suddenly remembered something. The inn lady. I have been gone for hours! She must be worried! But… but… I just can't leave now! …But I also couldn't stay. The inn lady is worried, and I don't want her to sent anyone after me to seek me out as well. What if they find me with the dragon? No, I needed to get back, settle everything, and then come back and spent more time with the dragon. Yeah, that's what I'm gonna do… but how do I let the dragon know?

I raised an arm, sort asking for its attention for one moment.

“You stay here" I said, unsure if it would able to understand me, pointing at the spot the dragon was standing.

“I'll be right back!" I added, pointing at me and toward the same spot on the ground. I waited for a reaction… a nod perhaps… but the dragon just sat there looking at me with big eyes. It didn't seem to get it! It was way more focused on what my hands were doing each time I moved my arms around.

For a moment I pondered how else I could gesticulate the dragon to wait for me… but being in a hurry, I just pointed at the ground again and took off pacing away, just hoping that the dragon wouldn't leave in the short time I was gone. Looking back over my shoulder I saw its glare remaining pinned at the area I just indicated… I think now it comprehended…

I hastily retraced the path through the grass I had followed the other way around before and quickly found myself being back at the hillside. Having to make high steps I inexpertly wandered through the high meadow along the side of the hill, spending a comparatively long time looking for the inn, feeling in a hurry. I couldn't look into any direction more than five seconds before flipping around and making sure that the dragon wasn't coming after me.

As soon as I spotted the inn I actually took off running, but suddenly slowed down as I closed in… until I stopped entirely and just stood there, peering over the place in thinking. What was I going to say? Tell them that George had died? That he's still missing? I couldn't take the risk and have her send out more men to seek him out… they might find the dragon too, and then… The image of George's destructed head sprung back into my mind. And sooner or later when words of the killing would get around, the watch might have sent out an entire regiment after the dragon… No, I couldn't risk endangering the dragon once again. I have to tell her something that would calm her down, and wouldn't result in more death. I… couldn't even tell her that George was dead let alone. I don't know how close he was to her, but I figured it would break her heart, and make her utterly worried. She might get so worried that she shuts down the business! No, I had to tell her something… else. I already felt bad for all the lies I have told and for the trouble they ran me into but now… I had no choice. But what do I tell her? I stood there in the grass… pondering. I eventually sat down, as after minutes I still couldn't think of something…

I got it! I thought to myself and quickly stood up again.

What if I were to tell her that George had gone back to my hometown, Dummerston? It would be the nearest town around… that has merchants. I could say that I found him… napping just around the corner… and when I talked to him that he told me that he's spend all night looking for that dragon. He wanted to go back inside to tell the lady that he is headed to town to get some gear and come back in a couple days, but now that I happen to be around, he just sent me instead.

I went it all through again. Yeah, that works! Charmingly devilish, Mervyn! I thought to myself.

I took off running again, constantly rethinking the solution I just found.

I didn't even bother to go around the inn's fence and use the gate, I just vaulted over it, almost ripping the brittle wood off under my grip. I proceeded to the door and nearly tackled it open, making a loud noise and getting a few upset and annoyed looks from the people eating… lunch!? Is it that late already? How long have I been gone!?

Midst the table occupied by very few guards but many traveling merchants and hikers I noticed the inn lady sit at a table with two more unseated chairs… it was the table George sat at yesterday. There were two plates prepared, one having an extra-large ale bottle beside and the other one on the opposite side containing another… cooked beef, the same I ate yesterday. The moment I saw it… I knew, the inn lady prepared it for us.

“Oh, praise be, you're back!" the lady suddenly shouted at me with wide eyes, being so loud that it shut the conversations of the other people whom were now staring at us, making me flush in awkwardness. She jumped up and was right in front of me and before I even attempt to shut the door she ripped it out of my hand, opening all the way and staring outside. I was secretly hoping to be able to get past her without her noticing, grab my stuff and sneak my way out of here… but that wasn't an option anymore.

“Where's George?" she asked in a flat tone, her excitement clearly being gone.

“O-oh, he's…"

I suddenly stopped speaking. Could I really do that? Lie about someone's death?

As I was thinking, her worried gaze penetrated me. The way she directly looked into my eyes… each time I was about to begin speaking my... the words just… choked.

I felt the air around my head run hot. My hands began to tremble, my breaths were shaky.

She still was expecting an answer, impatiently waiting and giving me that look…

I forced myself to speak.

“I-I… I mean, h-he's-"

For one second, I was about to tell her that George would have sent me. But instead my shaking lips said

“I-I'm sorry…"

I didn't have the guts.

She stayed frozen and nothing about her worried look changed, before she suddenly quickly walked off. She was at first headed for the table she sat at, but before she could arrive she just covered her eyes with one hand and suddenly disappeared inside the kitchen.

I cursed to myself. God dammit! What is wrong with me? I had thought it through! Why didn't I dare? I'm in so much trouble now!

Holding my hands to my head I dropped myself against the wall with my back, needing some seconds to calm down… the heat of the moment brought tears to my eyes. This was not how I planned it…

I could feel the entire small crowd of the room stare at me, but it didn't bother me... I shut my eyes, trying to fight the tears back. I felt my jaw tremble.

My back slid down the wall until I was in a seated position and my hands ran through my hair…

I didn't spend a lot of time cowering there, as I began to worry… The lady… I need to support her… it's the least I can do after what I've just pulled.

I kind of unwillingly pushed myself away from the wall and began to approach the door behind which she disappeared.

The door wasn't even closed all the way. Through a slit I spotted her sitting on a chair, head turned toward a wall with a large window and wiping off tears with a slightly soiled tissue.

I hesitated one bit before I was about to enter. What was I going to say?

Despite still having no idea… I proceeded. I silently pushed the enforced wooden door aside, pulled up a creaky stool from under one of the many kitchen counters and sat down behind her shoulder.

She didn't react at first. She just sat there… facing the ground, but the whimpering quiet down as she noticed me show up.

It made me wonder… wasn't this George guy just a guest? Or was he here so regularly that they became friends? I didn't dare to inquire that now.

I was about to say something, but as I opened my mouth… I just sighed, staring down to the ground as well.

“I shouldn't have let him go!" the lady cried out all of a sudden, turning around now, however still not facing me.

I was about to protest. Tell that it was me who should have stopped him… that I lied about the inquisitions. But again, I ended up being silent.

“It was this… damned dragon you mentioned, wasn't it?"

I hardly winced.

“N-no, it… he-"

I had to sigh again, feeling my lips start to shake again.

“He probably frostbit" I finally said. I knew it was a lie… but I couldn't have her know how violent George's death was! “At least I figured that. The night was cold and his body… was untouched as I found it. I at first thought he was sleeping."

She began to look up to me, as if the knowledge that at least the corpse of her possible friend was in a good shape eased her.

“Funny…" she sighed after a long pause of silence. “The exact same thing has already happened here before. Some guy from this would be warrior order…"

“…You mean that one apprentice from the fighter's guild?" I replied, hoping that distracting from George would ease her. “I've heard about that one. The guild's banned any type of alcoholic beverages for all aspirants."

She stared down to the ground. “Maybe I should that introduce that at this place too… it may would extremely cut my earnings, but if it's worth someone's life, so be it. I don't want this to happen ever again… George and Jerry were such fine men…"

I was about to go with that, but then I realized… I couldn't drastically lower the lady's income just because I'm afraid to tell the truth! Just look at this place! On the other hand… if George would have been sober, he would never have gone after that dragon… Maybe it was the right thing to do. But still…

“You don't have to ban it."

She gave me a questioning look.

“I mean… you can just forbid them to leave the inn being in that state."

“I don't think I'm allowed to do that… to force my guests to stay in here!"

“Then… tell the stories" I stammered. She gave me another confused look. “Tell them what happened to George. Tell them what happened to Jerry. No one will go out wasted anymore. And if they still do… I guess that's natural selection at work."

I chuckled. She didn't.

“Anyways, I- I gotta be on my way. I gotta get back to Dummerston and I want to arrive there before sun dawn."

I sprung up to escape the awkward silence. “Hey" the lady suddenly said. “I forgot to say… thank you. You took the burden of seeking George. You're welcome at Moonlight Inn whenever you please."

I froze in the doorway, confused about why after all this she was still thankful… but eventually, I just nodded and walked out and hurried to my room to pack my things and leave.