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A New Beginning

Today was a beautiful day. The sky was clear, the sun shining, emanating a soft and enjoyable heat, the birds were singing... ...At least until AuRon's shadow covered them. The young adult dragon was enjoying the day as well, his grey scales shining under this late-spring sun. After this long winter, the premises of a new summer were warmly welcomed by all the animals there. And having nothing else to do, this was the perfect occasion for the dragon to patrol his territory. Lying somewhat between mountain and forest, this small piece he could claim his own was just perfect for him. His main cave was a bit higher than where he was, allowing a clear view on his surroundings when standing at the exit. It was facing south, guarantying some heat even in winter, and some very small holes aerated the cave, keeping it enjoyable in summer and evacuating unwanted smelling. Next to the cave was the rocky formation from which he just jumped, his favorite spot in summer as the stones were deliciously hot under the bright sun. And the view over the woods also was enjoyable. The rest of his territory was this piece of the forest he was flying over, with its large river and lake - another of his favorite spots - and of course its preys. The forest was so large the five or six dragons having their territories on it never lacked of food, maybe only a bit in winter - but winter was a rough season for anyone, anyway. And on top of that, AuRon wasn't even annoyed by his neighbors as their own territory was big enough for them not to bother trying to claim more. In fact the situation was a bit the opposite, since AuRon had been gifted this small territory. It was a bit of a tradition that when a young dragon was trying to settle his own territory, the older dragons donated a bit of their own lands - and both sides where benefiting from this since for the older dragon, it meant securizing a part of their territorie's border, the younger dragon usually not trying to claim more than he had for some dozens of years. The only times AuRon's territory got intruded were by really young dragons that fled as soon as the grey dragon came. Yeah, life was good. What could he expect more than what he already had ? A nice territory, no real threat, enough preys to satisfy his hunger, a nice place to rest... Well he only could wish a mate, but this kind of things usually happened later in a dragon's life. Even if, now being an adult, he was sometimes feeling like an urge to find someone to spend his life with, a feeling that never lasted too long though.

Deciding the day was nice enough to enjoy a walk in the forest, AuRon landed in an open spot. Sometimes being young had its advantages, especially when trying to land in narrow places like between the trees. The grey dragon only reached his maturity two years ago, and was about the size of a horse. Still, his wide wingspan broke some small branches on the trees next to him as he landed, but AuRon didn't even really noticed it. The grey dragon headed toward the river that was next to the place he landed. He could hear some small animals fleeing at his arrival, but AuRon wasn't really in the mood to hunt right now. And anyway these animals were too small to be more than a snack.

This part of the river was the frontier between AuRon's territory and one of his neighbors's, before it turns to flow deeper in the grey dragon's territory, finally joining the lake lying at the center of it. AuRon walked closer from the water and, bending his neck, began to drink some water. A detail suddenly drew his attention. On the other side of the river, there were some paw prints heading right in the water, deeply printed in the mud. And those were dragon paw prints. Interrupting his drinking and frowning, AuRon walked a bit along his side of the river, until he was facing the direction the paw prints were indicating. The smelling caught him before he noticed the prints on his own side of the river. There was absolutely no doubt about it : a dragon just intruded his territory. The paw prints and the smell were still fresh, meaning the intruder went there less than an hour ago. But something was slightly disturbing AuRon. The smell wasn't as strong as a dragon's scent should have been, it was a more subtle scent. And the paw prints definitively couldn't be the one's of his neighbor, they were too small to be the black dragon's ones. The owner of those prints must be about his own size, his neighbor was bigger than this... And, why was he feeling so weird ? He was feeling some kind of heat in his underbelly, something he never felt before. AuRon blinked as he understood. It wasn't a dragon that intruded his territory, but a dragoness ! And judging his body's reaction the dragoness was in heat... The grey dragon blushed as he caught himself thinking about seizing this opportunity - and literally blushing. AuRon's scales had some color-changing properties, like chameleons - and while this was handy at time, it was just awkward when he was under strong emotions as his skin changed color by its own like in this case : he was literally turning red. The worse was that as he was thing to resist, instead of completely turning red, AuRon was stuck to a pinkish color. The pinkish dragon grunted, trying to get his skin back to its normal grey color. It took him some minutes, but he finally managed to, grunting again as the pink tone totally disappeared. Now he could get back to his investigation. The paw prints were continuing along the side of the river, following it. The earth becoming less muddy, the prints were harder to see, but the smelling was still easy to follow. The grey dragon continued to follow the trail, feeling at the same time excited and stressed at the idea to meet a dragoness - and mostly wondering what the heck he could tell her.

The dragoness lied down where she was, panting. Now she was safe... for a moment. She didn't expected the black dragon's territory to be so wide, she had flown for several hours before spotting the river that she knew delimitated it. Because of course she never had been allowed to go that far, in case she would want to escape like she was doing today. And of course he never taught her how to keep her strength for long flights... These few hours flying were enough to completely exhaust her. Her wings were even sore ! But she did it. She was out of his territory, finally out of his grasp ! The dragoness couldn't help to sigh, relieved at that idea. It had been so many years since she dreamt of that moment. Now she only had to go through several territories before reaching her goal : a small piece of land no dragon can claim. This place was known to be a refuge for all the dragons without any territory, whatever the reason is. The life would be harsh - not many preys for everyone and not many caves for the winter - but it was still better than staying were she was. And who knows, maybe she would find a nice male to spend her life with, to mate with... The delicate red dragoness shook her head. Her thoughts were drifting again ! Damn heat, she couldn't help to think about such things and it really was starting to get annoying, not to mention that annoying feeling between her loins. And also not to mention she was pretty sure any male would smell it from miles away. This wouldn't make her trip easier if she gets interrupted by all the males whose territories she had to cross... But after all, this was the reason why she began that trip. Though, back to the present. The female dragon finally managed to calm her breathing, but she still was feeling like her muscles were burning, especially her wings. And she was feeling so thirsty, not to mention she really needed a bath. Only her yellow underbelly was clean since she had to cross that river. Her delicate red scales were wet from sweat and itchy as plenty of leafs and insects got stuck under them, and her paws were muddy. That lake was a providence. A nice spot to rest, far enough from the river - and the black dragon's territory - with plenty of water, everything she needed. The dragoness bent her neck and began to drink long sips of water, satisfying her thirst. She never felt so thirsty in her life, and never appreciated that much to drink. Whatever her new freedom would bring her, it surely would be harsh for her who had been protected her whole life - first by her parents, and then by the black dragon, for different reasons... And she would have to learn to hunt by herself. A noise behind her suddenly interrupted her thoughts. The red dragoness's heart missed a beat as she looked behind her and saw a grey male looking at her. Oh no, the problems had begun...

AuRon's heart had missed a beat as he saw the dragoness drinking in front of him. Damn, she was beautiful ! He couldn't help to admire her delicate red scales, her yellow markings and her pale green mane. He suddenly felt quite ordinary with his slate grey - even if he could change it at will, but still... However the dragoness seemed to have made a long trip, her wings were miserably hanging from her shoulders and her paws were muddy. He blinked when she suddenly turned back and looked at him, seeming worried. Was he just staring at her ? He wasn't here for that... or was he ? With all this he still didn't really know why he was there. But anyway he had to say something, at least to reassure her... "Erm... Hello ?" was all he managed to stutter. Okay, screw the psychological reflection about what to say.

The dragoness couldn't help to look at the dragon she had in front of her. He maybe was of a slate grey, color many considered as the non-noble color, but it actually suited him pretty well. And he also was kinda muscular, compared to her... And again her thoughts were drifting. Even in the worse situations she still was thinking about such things ! But she got surprised by the rather shy greeting he made her. He was on his territory, with a dragoness he could plan to make his, and he was just that shy ? She would have expected him to be arrogant, or at least self-confident... In fact he seemed nearly as shy as she was right now. "Hello... I'm sorry, I... I know I'm on your territory, but..." she began to apologize. Sure it was easier when she was imagining what she would say in a such case... The grey dragon shook his head, interrupting her. "No... No need to be sorry... You're simply going through my territory, I would mind if it was a male... Erm, I mean, you can stay here a bit if you want, you seem exhausted..." AuRon mentally swore. Why was simply speaking suddenly so hard ? The dragoness's smell was clouding his thoughts a bit, he had a hard time thinking correctly - and without mentioning all the bad ideas he was getting. He was feeling some kind of heat between his loins, feeling he never experienced before. The moment was so awkward AuRon suddenly began to blush. And again literally : with his color-changing scales, his cheeks became of a bright red and the color was expending. And of course the more he was blushing the more he was feeling awkward and so the more he was blushing. "I... I wouldn't want to abuse..." the female began before noticing the phenomena. She blinked when she did, not sure of what she was seeing. "Are you... turning red ?" she asked. AuRon gave her an awkward smirk. "Yeah. My scales can change color, and when under strong emotions they do it by themselves... I must look just awkward..." "So you've got chameleon scales ? I heard about dragons having those but I never thought I'd see one by myself !" the dragoness commented, her curiousness taking over. AuRon smiled a bit. "Yeah, that's handy for camouflaging, though at some other moments it's just really awkward. The worse is when I try to fight that, I'm getting stuck in a pinkish color... Just look." AuRon tried to get back to his usual grey, and indeed got stuck in a light pink. "See ? And I just can't do anything against that." he grumped. The dragoness giggled at the result. "I personally think it's cute. I mean, to show your feelings like that..." AuRon raised an eyebrow. "Oh, really ?" he asked, surprised. "I feared you would laugh at me..." "I wouldn't, that's really cute ! And I really would love to be able to change color like that." the dragoness smiled. "Well, you're already really pretty like you are." the pinkish dragon smiled. She felt a really enjoyable heat at her heart at the compliment - no one ever made her such a nice one. "Oh... Thank you !" she widely smiled. She briefly had the thought that finally, that meeting wasn't a bad thing at all. Gone, the stress she had at the beginning. And the other dragon seemed to have regained some self-confidence as well. "Eh, with all that I haven't told you my name !" he suddenly exclaimed. "I'm AuRon." "And I'm Hazel." she replied, still smiling. AuRon got lost in his thoughts for a second. She was even more beautiful when she was smiling, and it was the first dragoness that ever complimented him. He briefly wished she would stay... He blinked when he realized his thoughts drifted away again. Was simply focusing on a discussion that impossible ? "May I ask where you were going ?" he asked her. "I'm heading toward the north, in the free territories." Hazel explained. But she got surprised as AuRon frowned, making her lose her smile. "Are you really sure you want to head there ? I don't want to hold you, but..." Hazel smiled a bit as he blushed again, indicating that he somewhat wished the opposite. "It's just that the life is really harsh there, and a young female in heat like you would be quickly... taken, if not forced if you see what I mean..." he awkwardly finished. Hazel lost her smile, considering what AuRon just said. She never thought about what she would do after she reached the free territories, and what AuRon exposed seemed plausible... dangerously plausible. She was starting to doubt. "That's still better than staying and being forced to mate with that black dragon !" she snapped. "I hate him with all my heart." AuRon cocked his head, slowly understanding her story. "You mean he held you captive to be his mate ? Doesn't really surprises me from a black dragon..." he commented. "I guess that's why you escaped now." "Yes..." Hazel admitted. "I panicked a bit when I understood I was in heat." AuRon thought a second. "I'm wondering, is it he who told you about the free territories ?" Hazel frowned, surprised by the question. "Erm, yeah, he anyway never let me speak to someone else... But why are you asking ?" "Well... I don't want to discourage you from doing the trip, but... that means he knows that if you evade you'd go there, no ?" the grey dragon told her, awkwardly scratching the ground with one of his paws. Hazel was going to ask him what he meant when she suddenly understood. She had been manipulated ! Since the beginning he knew she would eventually try to escape and he made sure she would go here he wanted her to !

The shock made her sit down, desperate. All this for nothing... All her plans, all her dreams, all her projects for the future just had been destroyed by that simple statement. She was lost, she had nowhere else to go. Unless... "Then keep me with you !" the red dragoness exclaimed. AuRon blinked, surprised. "What ?" he nearly shouted. "You're my only chance ! He'll never know I'm here !" "Do you really believe it ? You left so obvious prints and smells at the river he'll know you're here ! And if he knows it, I'm dead ! He will fight me to get you back and I'm of no match against him ! I can't keep you here for nothing !" the grey dragon objected. The worse was that he himself wasn't convinced by his own arguments. Letting her stay was suicidal, but a part of him wanted her at his side. And seeing Hazel so desperate wasn't helping. "I'll be your mate if you want me to ! I know you're a nice dragon, you'll be kind with me... But please !" she begged him, nearly crying. "No ! I don't want you as mate because you're forced to !" AuRon replied, stepping back. It was breaking his heart to refuse her the protection she needed, but he couldn't accept while knowing it would bring him so much problems with his neighbor... Could he ? "Please, AuRon ! I implore you, let me stay ! I've nowhere else to go, and if I head back he will strife me... With my heat he's probably going to rape me as a punishment !" Hazel was getting so desperate she began to sob, unable to stop. AuRon stopped stepping backward as he saw this. He only could watch the dragoness sob, torn between the two options he had. He couldn't let her so desperate, but he also couldn't let her stay... And the subtle scent of her heat was clouding his thoughts, so that he couldn't think properly. The grey dragon let his wings drop on the ground, unable to take a decision. He lowered his eyes, unable to watch her sob any longer, but he still heard her. How could he take a decision when both alternatives were so unpleasant ? AuRon never knew what made him finally take a decision. Was it the fact he just couldn't let someone in such a desperate case ? Or did the dragoness's scent cloud his thoughts enough to influence him ? "Hazel ?" he called her. The red dragoness didn't answer, still sobbing. AuRon suddenly fell some pity for her, she didn't deserved the life she had since then. It comforted him in his decision. The grey dragon stepped forward and nuzzled Hazel's cheek, wanting to comfort her. It made him feel a shiver in his spine, and he wondered if that attempt to calm her wasn't too intimate. Hazel also shivered as she felt the soft nuzzling on her cheek, followed by a strange heat in her heart. She raised her head, looking at AuRon as he gently smiled to her. "Eh, calm down, Hazel. I don't want to see you in that state." he softly told her. "It's going to cause me a lot of troubles, but... you can stay here." The red dragoness blinked before getting a huge smile. "Oh, really ? Thank you ! Thank you so much, AuRon !" she suddenly exclaimed. To show her gratitude, the dragoness curled his neck around his, resting her head on his shoulder, and slightly purred. She somewhat liked the smelling of the grey dragon, and as she closed her eyes, she had a feeling she never really felt : at his side, she was safe. Nothing could harm her anymore. Nothing bad could happen. AuRon got surprised by that affection mark, and stood some seconds his neck straight, not wanting to disturb the dragoness. Then he decided to do the same, feeling a bit awkward to do so. The scent of the dragoness was invading his nostrils, and he suddenly blushed as he caught himself taking long breathes to enjoy the smelling. But he was feeling well in this position, starting to purr as well. After a minute in this position, Hazel opened her eyes and broke the hug, blushing a bit. "Erm, sorry. I maybe did a bit too much... Sorry for having make you feel awkward, but it was so good." she apologized. AuRon smiled, his scales still of a bright red. "I have to admit... I enjoyed it as well. Now, what about you take a bath before I show you my cave ?" "Nice idea. I really need a bath and I'm so tired after that escape..." Hazel nodded. AuRon chuckled. "Go make yourself some good then." Hazel nodded again before heading toward the water. The lake was a bit fresh but it was exactly what she needed after all this. AuRon watched her as she bathed, a smile on his face. He was sure of one thing : for the better or the worse, his life would never be the same after that meeting.