FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

"Well look at you," teased Feerah as Taalli returned from the showers, her usually dusty scales now washed clean. "Getting yourself all sexy for Mike." The black dragoness added from the comfort of her bunk.

"Oh, shh you." Taalli retorted and stepped up onto her bed and began rummaging through her harness pouches.

"He's gonna get some of that Taalli tail, ain't he." Feerah added and glanced at Shane as the Marine shook his head, Feerah's grin broadening as the human blushed.

Taalli turned her head to Feerah to glare at her before continuing to search through the pouches. Making sure she wasn't about to take something dangerous with her and also to find her pager.

"So, what's the plan? His place? A hotel room? A truck stop toilet?" Feerah asked with a chuckle. "Hey, don't give me that look! Sometimes you get desperate."

Taalli shook her head, "if you must know. We are meeting up at our old university, it's where we first met."

Feerah crossed her eyes and curled her neck back before pretending to vomit. "Bleh, could you be any more cringe."

"Ignore her, Taalli." Scarecrow mused while tying his boots laces.

"Oh! Wait!" Feerah exclaimed, "which one of you has the teacher kink?" And roared laughing when Taalli's snout became a bit more crimson.

"He does." She muttered under her breath only for Feerah to roll onto her back laughing.

Gasping for breath, Feerah finally found her words, "let me guess, he is a naughty Mike, and needs to see miss Taalli afterwards."

Glancing to Scarecrow, Taalli saw even he was smiling at the thought. "I don't think that's what's going to happen." She said quietly before finding her pager.

Looking down at the three buttons labelled "I'm coming home, I'm okay, stop worrying, and I need help." Before pressing the first button and holding it until it beeped.

"Really? It's been so long I'm surprised you don't leap at him slit first." Feerah said and chuckled when Taalli glared at her again. "So why are you all scrubbed up?"

Taalli rolled her eyes, "he mentioned that I was a bit grubby last time. I know, don't say it."

"Nah I'm gonna say it, you're a military 'ness now. A bit of dirt is gonna be the new normal."

Taalli nodded, but refrained from mentioning that Mike had once said he was happy with her being a little dirty.

"Well, I think you look lovely." Scarecrow added. "Also, off topic. I've been meaning to ask you something, I know a buddy who owes me a favor or two. If you wanted, did you want to join Zulu squad once you graduate from here?"

Taalli's eyes widened, "really?" She exclaimed before catching herself. She had been thinking back to the exercise and enjoyed working with Zulu squad. While she knew eventually, she would be placed in a unit she had assumed it would be a bunch of fresh faces she didn't know, so the thought of at least knowing some of the members made her more than a little excited. "That-that would be good, but… I guess I didn't really think about what would happen after this course." She lied.

Sensing her hesitation Scarecrow nodded reassuringly, "hey, you don't have to say yes now. But the offer is there."

"Damn Taalli, you got all the boys fawning after you." Feerah chuckled.

"She is just jealous." Scarecrow teased.

"Nah, I don't have a palate for crayons, Marine." Feerah teased. "I'll be happy to be back in my unit."

"Well, thanks Scarecrow, I appreciate the offer, put me down as a tentative yes." Taalli said politely.

"Well, if it helps you decide. Me and the boys are having a grill at Bishop's ma's place. You are welcome to come." He said while fishing out an invite from his bag.

"Thanks, but I think I'll be busy with Mike." Taalli said before snapping her head to Feerah, "don't say it!" Only for Feerah to pretend to look offended.

"I was only going to say, where's my invite Shane, sorry I mean, Scarecrow." She said in a mocking tone.

"Feerah, Bishop's ma is an old classic southern gal who makes the most amazing lemonade and biscuits. She is way too wholesome for you." Scarecrow retorted. "You will give her a heart attack with your stories."

"I can be wholesome!" Feerah retorted loudly and saw the pair look at her with a raised eyebrow and eye ridge. "Oh please, I once infiltrated a religious terror group by posing as a virgin offering, I'm sure I could blend into a family Thanksgiving dinner."

"Okay, I have questions." Taalli stated flatly. "But first, how is that your definition of wholesome?"

"Oh, and now look who is the horny 'ness? I bet you both would like to know about little 'virgin sacrifice' Feerah." Feerah retorted with a wide grin.

"Fine, does Feerah want to come to our little shindig?" Scarecrow said and offered her an invite.

The black dragoness peered down at the invite before shaking her head. "Nah, I'm busy." She said with a smirk and saw them both shake their heads in disbelief, "I just don't want to be excluded is all."

"Yeah, I'm not going to unpack that." Taalli said and nodded to Feerah while lifting the straps of her harness over her shoulders and clicking the buckles together.

"Well, if you want to bring Mike, he is more than welcome to come." Scarecrow said and offered the invite to Taalli.

"Oh, he will be coming." Feerah muttered under her breath.

Glaring at Feerah, Taalli took the invite and tucked it into her harness pouch. "Thank you, we may not make it. But we'll play it by ear. And Feerah? Please don't fuck any drakes on my bed while I'm gone, okay?"

"Roger that." Feerah grinned, "but 'nesses are, okay?" She added playfully.

With a nod to Scarecrow, Taalli turned and padded out the door. "Give him a blowy from me!" Feerah called out as the orange dragoness closed the door with her tail.

________________________________________

Riimack smiled as he looked at the white dragoness, Viina, flying alongside him. Her red neck frill fluttered in the wind as they flew through the morning air towards the city. "Okay, your turn, truth, or dare?" He asked playfully, trying to build up the courage for something more in-depth.

Viina's frill raised slightly as she thought for a moment, "truth!"

"Okay, what's your favourite colour?" Riimack asked.

"Really? We are not fledglings Riimack." Viina teased but saw him still waiting for an answer. "Blue!"

Riimack chuckled and rotated his wings briefly to display the large blue membranes. "Like this blue?" And beamed as Viina nodded. "Okay, now you go."

Viina felt like she was back in high school again with the playful drake flying alongside her, she knew the flight would be long but found herself enjoying his company greatly. "Truth or dare? But be careful, I'm not going to go easy on you."

Riimack's smile faltered slightly, "dare, I'm not scared!"

Viina's frill perked with excitement before laying flat again while she looked across to him. "I dare you to kiss me." And smiled when his eyes went wide.

"But we are flying, you're all the way over there, our wings would hit and-" his words failed him as Viina rocked her wings before folding one and rotating upside down under him. Her lithe body effortlessly maneuvering until she clutched onto the underside of his harness smiled up at him.

Bringing her head up close to his she looked into his eyes and to his snout. Smiling Viina brought her head closer to his before pausing, "sorry, am I being too forward-" her words were quickly cut off as Riimack turned his head and pressed his lips against hers. His powerful forepaws held onto her shoulders as his large wings took the strain of their combined weight while he kissed her deeply. Feeling her scales against his and her warmth in his arms he felt a tingle in his loins that made him quickly break the kiss.

Seeing the shock on his face, Viina gave him a quick lick on the end of his snout before opening her wings and pulling away from him. With an elegant twist of her body, she quickly righted herself and gracefully brought herself up alongside him once again. "Now we have gotten that out the way." She teased, "it's your turn now."

Riimack swallowed as he tried to find his words. The taste of her still lingering on his tongue as he smiled sheepishly to her. "Well, that answers that then." He said and joined in with her giggle, "so truth or dare?"

Viina contemplated answering dare but gave a friendly nod of her head. "Truth, ask me anything."

Riimack contemplated asking if his kiss was adequate but paused, instead deciding to focus on her. "So, what made you join?" He asked and saw her smile fade before she looked ahead. "Sorry, I can ask something else."

"No, it's okay." Viina said while trying to sound cheerful. "I may have been a bit of a pawful growing up. So, my parents made me join."

"Really? They can do that."

"Well, let's say that they strongly encouraged me to join." Viina said, "I believe it was something like 'it will teach you some discipline.'"

"Well, they do teach you that." Riimack chuckled. "Do you have any siblings?" He asked and saw her become focused on the sky ahead. "Sorry, it's your turn." He added and saw her glance at him and smile softly.

Viina beat her wings a few times to keep pace with Riimack and settled into a glide before continuing, "so, truth or dare?"

"Dare!" Riimack said quickly to which Viina chuckled.

"I can't dare you to kiss me twice." Viina teased. "It's against the rules."

"Says who?" Riimack pouted.

"Fine, I dare you to kiss me on the cheek." Viina laughed, "you big hatchling." She added as he adjusted his wings to glide over the top of her and lower his head down to reach hers. Viina's frill perked up as the large silver drake pressed his snout against her cheek and kissed her softly before quickly pulling back and gliding over to her other side.

"You are sweet, Riimack, you know that right?" Viina said warmly before brushing her wingtip against his and watched as his eyes went wide. "But I have to ask. Why this noodle place? It seems like a really long way to fly for noodles. This isn't a ploy to meet your folks, is it?" She asked and saw him look ahead quickly.

Riimack swallowed before smiling back weakly, "not exactly…" he said quietly, his words drifting off in the wind.

"Riimack? What's so good about this noodle place?" She repeated and drifted closer towards him. "If it's your parents' place, you should really give a 'ness some notice."

"No, it's not my parents. They are just really good noodles!" He lied, not wanting to come across too strong. "It will just be the two of us! Good company and good food!"

________________________________________

Taalli found herself taking her time as she flew towards the city she once called home. As the landscape began to become familiar to her, she found her mind drifting to how much she had changed physically. Growing up she had always kept her body in good shape, although lacked the sheer strength and conditioning she had received since leaving the city. With a deep breath she resumed beating her wings at a steady pace to keep bringing herself closer and closer to the city.

Riding an updraft, Taalli stretched her wings wide and glided over a series of rolling hills before an ocean of white headstones caught her eye. She felt her chest tighten with emotions as she looked down at the rows and rows of identical grave markers, each one dedicated to a fallen service member over the countless theaters of war. A deep sense of reverence washed over her as she thought about how each one had paid the ultimate sacrifice to keep the person next to them alive. With a slight rock of her wings, she changed course to slowly glide over an area where the gravestones were spread wider apart to account for a fallen dragon's larger size.

A shiver ran through Taalli's body as she looked down at the empty plots of land that were reserved for future fallen dragons. Growing up, she had contemplated how her parents would react if she were to die, who would mourn her and how her death would impact those around her. But looking down at the countless fallen, her mind became torn between each one dying for something greater or being just another cog in the machine.

As she approached the edge of the cemetery, she felt the need to dip a wing and circle back around in an arc before giving a nod of respect to the fallen. Continuing her bank, she proceeded to beat her wings hard to climb higher and continue towards the city.

Taking a deep breath of the late morning air, she steadied her nerves as she looked at the large four structures that loomed on the horizon. Each one rising above the skyline like fingers reaching to the heavens, her old home would always make her chest tighten. The ominous black tinted windows of The Spires contrasted against the morning sky like a wound on the skyline.

Trying not to focus on the dominating structures or the memories they brought up, her lip twitched in the hint of an amused smirk. The anxious tension in her chest gripped her stronger now than when she was being pursued by an enemy dragon, something she would probably tell Mike one day.

As the city came closer and closer, Taalli adjusted her course to head towards her old university. She remembered how they had determined it was the best place to meet, they had been at the park on Veteran's day, having finished their ice creams when they had sat down and organized their Thanksgiving. Before she had joined the military, she found engaging with Mike so effortless. A sense of spontaneity and dedication to one another was all they needed to make one another happy, where she would surprise him with a skydiving flight or just grab some noodles. Yet when they had talked in the park to organize today, it felt like a business meeting.

He had wanted to meet at Ben's bar, but she had insisted on somewhere remote where her parents would never find her. In the end they settled on their old university, at the time she had thought it was sweet but now a shadow of doubt lingered in her mind. Thoughts of maybe he was also finding their relationship strained, and did he want to return to how things once were? Or was it just a case of him wanting to wash her like he did so very long ago? Should she have washed back at base? Was he expecting something to happen? Did she want to be intimate with him? Why wouldn't she want to be intimate with him? Her mind raced at all the possible variables and hidden meanings. Should she tell him about her recent medical episodes? With deployment coming up, she would be issued with a passport and would then have all the paperwork to become the dragon named Taalli for real.

With a shake of her head, she tried to clear her mind and focus on the university as she approached. The sprawl of buildings somehow exactly as she remembered it, yet also felt foreign. With the students spending Thanksgiving with family, the campus looked deserted. Dipping her wing, she circled around the campus before spotting a lone figure in the courtyard, "Michael, waiting, as always." She muttered to herself and rocked her wings in greeting before starting her final descent. Feerah's words of him being a pet taking up more space in her mind than they should have.

Flaring her wings, Taalli touched down on the grass a small distance from where Mike stood. Despite having flown for the whole morning, her powerful legs absorbed the final landing with an effortless grace.

"You look smart!" Taalli exclaimed as she looked down at the new shirt and pants that he was wearing, complete with polished business shoes. The image she had of him being the lanky uni student all but fading as she walked towards him.

"You look good yourself!" Mike said and opened his arms wide to wrap around the base of her neck. Holding her front in his arms as he pressed his cheek against the side of her strong neck.

"Oh, this little number? It's just something I threw on." Taalli chuckled and wrapped an arm around his back.

Kissing her neck, Mike smiled and looked up to her bright orange eyes. "I mean you, not your harness. You're all clean and shiny again." He explained before squeezing his arms around her tighter in a warm hug.

"I hope that's okay." Taalli offered before stepping back out of his embrace to look down at him.

"Of course!" Mike said hurriedly, "I just mean… never mind. Are you hungry?" He asked and picked up a plastic shopping bag he had at his feet.

Taalli's nose twitched at the familiar scent, "is that what I think it is?" She asked and smiled when he nodded. "But it's Thanksgiving, I wouldn't have thought Reevian would be working today."

"She said she had a family thing today and was cooking anyway." Mike explained. "I made sure to give her a good tip though."

"But how have you been?" Mike asked as they began to walk across the courtyard. "Your scales are looking more vibrant than usual, I take it your training isn't too stressful?"

Taalli nodded, "it's a different kind of stress. It's like, I don't know, controllable?" She mused and looked down at Mike's puzzled face. "Everything there is predictable and manageable. Put a detonator in a charge, press the button, it's going to go bang. Does that make sense?"

"I- I think so. What happens when it doesn't go bang though?"

Taalli snorted a laugh, "oh, that happens. You just put a detonator in another one and toss it next to the first. OH! I forgot! I made my first kill the other day!" She said proudly.

"What?" Mike asked with genuine confusion. "You killed someone?" He added in disbelief.

"Training, not for real. Riimack was being chased by two drakes, I intercepted one, and we came together in the air. He got a few good scratches on me, but I managed to get around onto his back and make him surrender! It was awesome!" Taalli exclaimed enthusiastically. "Then I led his friend through some smoke and brought him straight to the rest of the squad, you should have seen Bishop open up on him! That man knows how to aim, zipped him right across the chest here!" Taalli added and ran a paw up her front to Mike.

Mike smiled politely at her story and noted the genuine joy in her voice, "so they were just paintball guns though, right?" He asked and gestured towards a large oak tree that grew in the corner of the courtyard, its long thick limbs providing a shady nook for students to study or eat.

Taalli shook her head, "real guns, rubber bullets." She said simply and smiled when he looked shocked.

"Jesus, don't they hurt?" Mike exclaimed and gestured with his hand for her to lay down under the tree, taking extra care to ensure she was facing with her back towards the administration building.

"Only if you get hit!" Taalli teased and lay down on the soft grass. "At close range they have been known to punch holes in wings. But it's all to prepare us for the real world."

"That sounds barbaric. Here, let me get that harness off you" Mike mused and placed the food down, missing Taalli's smile fading. Reaching to her shoulders he slid a finger into a good and lifted the flap to release the heavy harness. The orange dragoness quickly using a paw to stop the container of pills from falling out of the front pouch as it fell to the ground.

"Reevian remembered your order, spicy noodles with extra chicken." Mike stated and looked back to her smiling face before sitting down between her front paws and opening the lid.

"Was that what I used to order, was it?" Taalli asked and lowered her head down to inhale the fragrant aroma. "Oh, yes… now I remember." She chuckled, closing her eyes briefly.

"Good?" Mike smiled and opened the lid to reveal the contents and pulled out a pair of chopsticks from a small paper sheath.

Dipping her head to the bowl she took a small mouthful of noodles before closing her eyes, "gods, that 'ness can cook." Taalli moaned with her mouth full.

Mike shook his head with a smile and collected some for himself. "So other than slaying dragons, how have you been?"

"Good!" Taalli lied and tried to avoid eye contact with him by taking another mouth full of noodles.

Mike could tell by the way she scanned the courtyard and didn't look to him that there was something she wasn't saying. "You sure?"

Taalli swallowed, her heart beating quickly at the thought of explaining to Mike her recent medical episodes. She could read the concern on his face and nodded.

Mike could tell there was still something unsaid, “I worry about you sometimes."

"You worry about me?"

Mike sighed, "Of course I worry about you. You are out there, fighting dragons, getting shot at, blowing up buildings." He said, his eyes flicking up to hers before he collected another bunch of noodles. "I don't want to see you hurt, is all."

"It's just training Michael." Taalli retorted and could see his unconvinced expression.

"But what about when it's not just training?" Mike exclaimed, before blowing on his noodles to cool them. "Do you have a time frame when you will be back in the real world?"

"Real world? This is real, Michael." Taalli retorted bluntly.

"You know what I mean. Here, back home, so we can be together again."

Taalli could feel her heart beating faster and adjusted her wings against her sides restlessly. "I've submitted paperwork for a military passport, and a 'real' one. I was missing a lot of info, but the good bit about being in the military is that they are really keen to make things go through." Taalli explained, "once I get them, I think I will officially be Taalli at that point."

"Do you think they will just let you leave?"

Taalli sighed, "I'm sure I could get myself discharged pretty quick." Whatever her condition was, she was sure that it would qualify for a medical discharge if she talked to the academy's medical staff.

Mike looked up at her and saw her stern expression while she ran through options in her mind. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to start our day off like this." He said and collected more noodles, "I've missed you is all. And I really want you home again is all."

Taalli found herself gazing across to the buildings at the far side of the courtyard, the noodles now forgotten. She remembered the university was once a sanctuary for her, her classes once an escape from her parents, yet now they felt so foreign.

"Taalli?" Mike asked after a minute of silence.

"Sorry, I was miles away, yes, I missed you too." Taalli answered, realizing she had left him hanging. "But you know I can't come back. Not yet."

________________________________________

Viina closed her eyes in bliss with a mouthful of noodles, "okay, these are good." She said between chews.

"Worth the flight?" Riimack chuckled and beamed when the white dragoness nodded while keeping her eyes closed.

Finishing her mouthful, she opened her eyes and smiled at Riimack who was watching her intently. The pair of dragons were the only ones in the market courtyard. Glancing around she saw that all of the market vendors were closed with the exception of the teal coloured dragoness they had bought the noodles from.

As she and Riimack went to take another mouthful of their respective bowls, Viina caught the stall owner staring at them before hurriedly busying themselves with cleaning. "I think that stall owner likes you." Viina whispered when they both had their snouts low to their bowls.

Riimack snorted and coughed as he almost choked on his noodles, to which Viina's neck frill perked up. "What? Reevian?" Riimack spluttered.

Viina nodded, "oh? You know her name, do you? Is she an old flame of yours? She didn't even charge us for lunch."

Riimack opened and closed his mouth as he tried to find the right words. Bringing a 'ness to meet the family on the first date was always a risky move and he had thought maybe he could keep his relationship with Reevian a secret. "No, definitely not an old flame." He said cryptically and took another bite of his noodles, looking around the courtyard instead of at Viina.

Sensing he didn't want to go into it, Viina gave a reassuring smile. "Good, I would hate to have to scratch her up if she was trying something." She teased. "Being Thanksgiving, I was worried I would be at a family dinner table, being interrogated by your family." She added to gauge his reaction, not missing his blue eyes darting over to the stall owner.

Riimack straightened up and swallowed. "Well, you don't need to worry about meeting the parents, they aren't around anymore." Seeing her flinch, he quickly added, "it's okay, I'm over it."

Viina looked up at the large drake and could see a hint of pain in his eyes before he smiled down at her. Not wanting to push the subject she quickly changed it, "so what made you enlist?"

Riimack's smile flickered briefly, "the judge said I could." He said simply and took another bite of noodles.

"Oh? I didn't have you pegged as a bad boy." Viina teased and knew her joke fell flat as he busied himself with another mouthful. "Well, I'm glad you joined." She added and stretched her neck to press her lips against the bridge of his snout.

"I'm glad I joined too." Riimack replied and nuzzled his snout against hers. His silver snout becoming flushed as he caught his sister watching from across the empty courtyard. Pulling his neck back in a tight S shape he focused on Viina, "So how is it? You know, out there?"

The white dragoness had mentioned that she had served a tour before joining his class. "Honestly? It's a lot of sitting around, waiting for something to happen. It's why I applied to be trained as a forward observer, to actually see some action." She said cheerfully.

"I didn't have you pegged as a thrill seeker."

"Are you calling me boring, are you?" Viina retorted, her red neck frill perking up as she smiled.

"No!" Riimack hastily corrected, "quite the opposite, I think you are very interesting!"

It was Viina's turn to blush as she smiled back at the silver dragon, "you're sweet."

"You're beautiful." Riimack replied quickly and smiled as her neck frill lay flat. "I really enjoy hanging out with you." He confessed.

"I like hanging out with you too." Viina teased and leant forwards for another kiss.

Reevian watched the pair from the corner of her eye while scrubbing a wok clean for the fourth time. It was already clean but she couldn't bring herself to dry it and close the stall and return to her empty apartment. As the white dragoness gently kissed Riimack, Reevian caught herself longing for someone to come home to.

As the pair parted from their kiss, Reevian caught a glance from Viina and quickly became busy with organizing the pots and pans under the stove.

Viina cocked her head as she looked up at Riimack, "You sure there is nothing going on with you and the noodle 'ness?"

"What? No!" Riimack said hastily. "It's not like that!"

"Uh-huh." Viina said unconvinced and stood up. "I'll be the judge of that." She said with a smile and trotted off towards the teal coloured dragoness before Riimack could stop her.

Riimack hung his head low as Viina quickly approached Reevian, the pair conversing briefly before they both began to laugh and glance over to him.

He felt like a scolded hatchling as Viina and Reevian came back to the table. Shaking her head with a smile, Viina sat next to him and gave him a playful nudge, "your sister? Why didn't you say that?"

"Yeah, Are you ashamed of me or something Riimy?" Reevian teased and sat opposite the couple.

"No! It was just… you said you were worried about meeting family for Thanksgiving, and it was already too late." Riimack said weakly to the white dragoness.

Viina leant against his side and chuckled. "I thought it was weird to fly all this way. But now it makes sense." She teased.

Riimack smiled and caught his sister's glance to Viina followed by a twitch of her own wing. With a gentle lift he draped his large blue wing over the lithe dragoness and was rewarded with a paw wrapping around his foreleg.

"Any other siblings I should know about, Riimy?" Viina teased.

"Our brother is a cop!" Riimack said playfully, "where is Teeslah by the way?"

Reevian rolled her eyes, "working, as always. But what about you, Viina? Any family?"

Feeling relaxed under the large drake's wing she sighed, "my parents and I don't always see eye to eye." Viina said sadly, her mind going back to the numerous times her and her parents had fought, often ending in either them claiming they kept the wrong egg, or Viina wishing they had picked her twin instead.

Seeing the sadness come over Viina, Riimack held her closer with a wing. "Well, you are always welcome here Viina." Reevian announced happily and smiled at the couple. "So are you allowed to date one another at work?"

Viina's lip twitched in a grin, "the rules are a bit murky. They were written for humans, so technically we are not breaking anything."

Riimack smiled a guilty smile at his sister when Viina wiggled closer against him. Reevian shook her head with a smirk. "Well, don't you corrupt my wholesome little brother." Reevian teased.

"Oh, I don't think I would change a thing!" Viina retorted. "Except maybe his lucky charms routine."

"Oh my god, it's not weird!" Riimack replied with mock offence.

"What does he do?" Reevian asked with a smirk.

Viina looked at Riimack and chuckled when he shook his head, "he takes each sweet out of the packet and lines them up in alphabetical order, based on color." She said and smiled when Reevian gave a snort before bursting out laughing. "Like, most people just toss them away as it's bad luck to keep them, but our boy here collects everyone's and makes little lines!" She continued much to riimack's embarrassment.

Riimack shook his head and blushed in embarrassment, remembering Taalli laughing at him when she caught him doing it in basic training. "Something tells me I'm going to regret letting you two meet." He added in defeat.

________________________________________

"Are you sure you're done? You didn't eat much." Mike asked and gestured to the half full bowl.

Taalli gave a silent nod and watched as he returned the lid onto the container. While he began digging through the bag for something, she found herself looking over her shoulder at the feeling of being watched.

"Okay, give us a paw." Mike announced and she quickly looked back at him. His legs were crossed on the ground with a small towel in his lap, a bottle of talon polish in hand.

"Really?"

"Yup! Just because you are a big scary soldier 'ness, doesn't mean you can't have pretty paws." Mike retorted and patted the towel in his lap.

Rolling her eyes, she gracefully extended her paw and spread her toes. Frowning when she noticed the familiar shade of paint, she held her tongue until he unscrewed the large lid and brush and saw that it wasn't a new bottle. "Where did you get that from?"

"From a drug store, why?" Mike explained and went to guide her paw to the towel.

"It's not new." Taalli said bluntly, "and that's the same shade my mother used." She added and retracted her paw.

"Wait, really?" Mike said and looked at the bottle. "Sorry, I didn't know."

"Why isn't it full?" Taalli asked and saw his face go red. Lowering her head she looked him in the eyes to see that he was hiding something from her.

Her amber eyes were like that of a predator, focused and staring intently into his as he blushed, "so, I may have been practicing." He mumbled softly.

"Practicing?"

"Yeah, I've never painted nails before." He said sheepishly and smiled nervously.

Taalli snorted a laugh, her expression softening instantly at the thought. "Practicing on what!?" She exclaimed with a smile.

"Oh, you know… cutlery." He chuckled and smiled when she blurted out a laugh. "Hey, I needed something smooth and flat to practice on!"

"Well, I guess they are nature's cutlery." She laughed and placed a paw back on his lap. Lowering her head once again she pressed her snout to the top of his head and gently kissed him. "Well, I appreciate the gesture." She added softly.

Dipping the half inch wide brush into the white polish, he began to spread the smelly fluid across a talon while taking care to not get any on her black toes. Each talon was sharp and elegantly curved, using a hand he gently guided her paw from side to side as he made sure to cover both sides.

"So how is the coffee shop going?" Taalli mused, content to watch him work.

"Good! I've got a lead on some decent machines and furniture, and I've nailed down a logo too!" Mike exclaimed while dipping the brush into the large bottle. Temporarily screwing the brush back into place, he leant back to retrieve his wallet and extract a business card. "What do you think?"

Taalli's eyes widened as she saw the logo next to Michael's full name. A stylised drawing for two black paws holding a coffee cup on an orange diamond. "Are they, my paws?" She asked and frowned when he nodded. "Don't you think that's a little risky? I think it would raise a few questions with my parents if they found out."

"Well, maybe they are another dragoness' paws then." Mike said while tucking the card back into his wallet. "Or maybe if your father asks, I'll say they are his paws." He added with a smirk.

Taalli shook her head softly and spread her toes again when he uncapped the brush, her mind torn between supporting his efforts to live his own life and also concerned of the consequences. "I appreciate the thought, I really do. but I don't know about the logo. I just don't want you getting their attention again. Okay?" Taalli said and watched as his hands trembled slightly.

"It's okay, I know I got us into this mess by taking the job offer your father gave me-"

"No, that's not your fault Michael, I should have told you where I lived." Taalli interrupted. "It was my family that fucked you over. You did nothing wrong." She said and looked down at him, "I just wish I could do more to fix this."

Mike paused and looked up at Taalli briefly before looking down at the bottle he was now fidgeting with. "What if there was a way for us to fix this." His voice low and barely above a whisper.

"There is Michael, we are doing it." Taalli stated and lowered her head to his eye level. "Once I'm Taalli officially, we will be together. I promise."

Mike found himself unable to look her in the eye as he returned the brush back to the bottle. "What if I had a plan for you to come home today?" He said softly, his voice wavering.

"What do you mean?" Taalli asked sceptically and slowly withdrew her paw from his lap. "That's not possible."

Finally finding the courage to look her in the eyes, he softly whispered just loud enough for her to hear, "but what if I found a way for it to be possible?"

Her heart pounded in her chest, she could see he was hiding something from her, something she wouldn't like. "What have you done?" She asked softly, her eyes darting between his as she tried to find answers.

"Something good, I promise. But I need you to relax. Okay?"

"I'm not good with surprises Mike, what's going on?" She asked and retracted her neck to allow him to stand up.

Getting to his feet he stood in front of her, his head now level with hers. Gently reaching out he stroked under her jaw, "please. Promise me you won't freak out."

Pulling her head back from his grasp she frowned, "tell me what's going on Michael. This isn't funny." Her heart beating harder and harder as he looked past her and gave a nod.

Snapping her head around she quickly got to her feet, emerging from the administration building strode her mother, Seelena, her glossy orange scales polished within an inch of their life glistened in the Sun as she approached with a calculated grace.

A deep growl resonated from Taalli's chest as her wings quickly mantled, "Taalli, please, hear us out." Mike pleaded as she stepped between her mother and him.

"Taalli? Is that what you went with?" Seelena asked and stood before them before sitting to appear less threatening. "I think Leena is better." She added simply.

"What the fuck are you doing here?" Taalli spat, "this is a university, a place of learning, not a place for stupid whores who prance around in harnesses."

"Taalli, please. She is here to help." Mike said as he quickly stepped in front of Taalli and looked up to her. A snarl pulled at her snout as she stared daggers at her mother.

"Ah, I see you are still as ungrateful as ever." Seelena retorted and held up a clawed paw to inspect for any grime. "Like Mike said, I'm here to help you. Like a good mother should."

"Like a good mother should, my-"

"Taalli, stop." Mike interrupted and placed both hands on her front. "Please, just stop."

Taalli's chest heaved as she looked upon her mother, Mike's hands on her scales the only thing holding her back from unleashing a tirade on the one who raised her.

Feeling her calm for a moment, Mike gently stroked her scales, "please, I have a plan." He whispered softly, "just don't do anything dumb."

Breaking her intense stare at Seelena, Taalli looked down at Mike. "You invited her here, didn't you." Her lip quivered at his betrayal as he nodded softly.

"This needs to end, Leena." Seelena said calmly before Mike could speak, "Mike told me you want to come back, and I'm offering that to you."

"How much?" Taalli said simply looking between the pair, "everything she does has a price, how much will it cost?" She glared.

Seelena sighed, holding her sharp remark before eventually opening her mouth, "No cost-"

"Bullshit." Taalli snapped. "I'm not a little 'ness anymore. What's in it for you?"

"Taalli, please, I beg you." Mike pleaded. "She wants to make amends, at least hear us out." He added while stroking her scales.

"Spit it out then!" Taalli snarled, her sharp teeth revealed for them both to see. Her world crumbling around her as she looked between the one she loved and the venomous snake she hatched from.

Undeterred, Seelena focused on her daughter, "your father wants me back. It's a decision I have not made yet." She said simply and could see Taalli's snarl waiver. "Which, as you probably have realised, puts me in a position of power over him." She paused to ensure Taalli was following. "So, I will make him drop the charges on you."

"And?" Mike said and gestured for her to continue.

Rolling her eyes Seelena relented, "and, if you don't want to see us. I will understand."

Taalli squinted slightly as she tried to determine the angle her mother was trying to pull. "Why." She said simply.

"Because I'm your mother. It's my duty to keep you safe-"

"Like that stopped you before." Taalli retorted. "Don't act like you weren't happy for me to work for him! You knew what he was like, what he was willing to do-"

"For fucks sake Leena, I know!" Seelena cried her poised demeanour wavering until she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Please, I know. I wasn't there for you when your father poached you, but I'm trying to be there for you now."

"There is a difference between not being there and supporting him." Taalli snarled and saw her mother flinch at her words.

Holding a hand up to silence Seelena's reply, Mike firmly stroked Taalli's neck to get her attention. "Come here for a second." And went to guide Taalli away from her mother.

With a snarl, Taalli relented and followed Mike, pausing as a hind paw snagged on her harness that lay on the ground. With a frustrated kick she freed herself from its nylon binds and followed Mike a few yards away from Seelena to be out of earshot.

"Taalli, she is offering a way home. It's what we wanted, right?" Mike asked softly. "That is what you wanted right?"

Breaking eye contact with her mother she looked down at Mike, "I-I…. She cannot be trusted, Michael."

"I know she has hurt you, I do. But you could stay here, today, now. We can go back to Ben's apartment while she goes back to Kaarak." Mike said softly, "we can do what we were going to, open a cafe. Be our own people, be free." He added and felt his voice break.

"Nothing is free with them Michael." Taalli said bluntly and glanced over to her mother who was now focused on her discarded military harness.

"She is broken, she really is. She sold her jewelry and has given me money to start the cafe." He said and shrunk when Taalli's gaze snapped back to him.

"You didn't take it, please, tell me you didn't take it." Taalli begged, her eyes going wide with fear.

"It was cash, as a tip at Ben's bar. Nothing legal or binding." Mike said quickly. "I know, but your wages can only get us so far. Once we open the cafe, we will be set."

"Michael!" Taalli cried in disbelief, "she will say and do anything to get what she wants, you can't trust her!"

"You're right! she will do what she can to get what she wants, and she wants the same thing we want!" Mike exclaimed, finding his voice raising. "She is not our enemy here, don't you see? We can use this! We can use her to get what we want!"

Taalli's breaths came in short gasps as she processed what he was saying. During university, Mike was always an escape from her parents but now as she looked down at him in his tidy business shirt, she started to see the real Mike.

Taking a deep breath, Mike gently explained. "She has money, and the leverage to bring you home. I will gladly use both of those if it means bringing you home safely."

Seeing her process, he reached out and went to stroke her shoulder, his voice soft but firm. "It's time to come home, Leena."

"Leena is gone, Michael." Taalli said and took a half step back out of his reach.

"No, she is still here." Mike said and stepped up to her, "I'm tired of waiting, I want my Leena back. I need you, I need the one I first met here, on this campus. The one who likes noodles in the marketplace, who takes their scared boyfriend skydiving, and makes it romantic."

Taalli's eyes stung as she felt Mike's tender hands on her scales, her emotions running rampant as he stepped closer and wrapped his arms around her neck. Her mind raced at the thought of her training ending, what that would mean for her, for them.

Her jaw clenched as she slid a paw between Michael and herself, his breath hitching as she pushed to disengage him. "She is lying to you Michael, and what's worse is that you can't see it." She said sadly and saw his eyes were bloodshot. "I'm sorry, I don't think I can come back at all now. Now that she knows." She added and nodded towards her mother.

"I haven't told her where you are, where you work or anything about you."

Taalli looked over to her mother and saw Seelena looking intently at the front pouch of her military harness, her name, rank and serial all on display. "You have forced me in a corner. If I say no, she has power over us, she could send the police to the base and find me. If I say yes, there is nothing she won't do to fuck with us. You have fucked me."

Mike's voice was a choked whine, "that-that's not true. She wants redemption. She is a mother after all and is trying to make amends."

Taalli's lip quivered as she looked between Mike and her mother. Shaking her head softly she felt the tears welling up, "I can't believe you've done this, after everything I've done to keep you out of their world, you just keep going back."

"I just want you back, Leena." Mike cried softly, "I don't know what I would do if you got hurt."

"So, you ruined our whole plan?" She retorted with a snarl.

"Your plan, I wasn't there, remember?" Mike replied quickly and instantly regretted his words.

"Yes, that's right, you were arrested, because of them!"

"Because of him! Your father did it, not her." Mike exclaimed, his voice rising again.

"They are two of the same!" Taalli shouted, her wings mantling in frustration. With a flick of her head, she began to pace in a circle. Her head twisting this way and that as she ran through the possible options for her, her teeth gnashing at the prospects of being used as a bargaining chip.

Mike's soft voice broke through her spiraling thoughts, "she is broken Taalli." He said and saw her glance to him and then to her mother. "She isn't a model anymore, she has lost her career, her daughter and her mate. She wants what we want, for you to be free." He added, wiping a tear from his eye before continuing, "she is even willing to go back to Kaarak if it means you come back."

Taalli's tail twitched in anger and betrayal at Mike and her mother. "You should have told me."

"You would have said no." Mike retorted softly with a weak smile. "It's Thanksgiving, it's a time when family is meant to come together, even if they hate one another." Seeing her expression remaining firm he knew she was hurting, "Please, I want you back." He added.

"And what about what I want?" Taalli asked, her voice tight as her emotions threatened to overwhelm her.

"You don't want to come back?" Mike asked.

"I want people to stop controlling me." She spat, "to stop using me as a pawn in their stupid games." She added with a snarl. "You are just like them." Her breathing was shallow and rapid as her emotions became unhinged.

Mike was speechless as she pushed past him and confidently walked towards her mother.

"Coming home Leena?" Seelena asked hopefully, her eyes flicking across the muscular body of her daughter as she approached.

"I ain't Leena." Taalli replied and stepped into her harness.

"Oh, stop being so dramatic! Let us help you, for crying out loud." Seelena retorted loudly, her voice strained.

Taalli quickly took two steps towards her mother with a snarl on her snout and saw her mother quickly retreat, "I will not come home to have my strings pulled by you or Kaarak. Get that through your thick skull." She snapped, holding her gaze until Seelena looked away. "I will die before I have anything to do with you or father ever again."

With a flick of her tail, Taalli spun to return to her harness. Only to freeze when her mother spoke again, "just like your father. Wanting to control everything." Seelena waited until Taalli turned to face her before continuing, "Michael here wants you home, but because it wasn't your plan you hate it."

"Don't you dare say I am like him!" Taalli snapped. "He is vile, cruel and vindictive, -"

"And sick." Seelena said smugly, causing Taalli to freeze. "Just like you are." She added, Taalli's neck curled her head back into a defensive posture as she opened her mouth but couldn't find the words. "Kaarak didn't tell you, did he? He never did like to show weakness. Those pills in your harness, you take them every day, don't you?" She said and smiled when Mike looked shocked. "He doesn't know, does he? Let me guess, you didn't want him to worry? You didn't want to appear weak?"

Taalli looked to Mike and saw the confusion on his face, "that's none of your business." She snarled to her mother. "Either of you!"

"That's what he always said." Seelena said with a sad smile, "I take it your work doesn't know either? My guess is you have a month or two left." She mused smugly. "Then you will have to come home, won't you. You will be too weak to fight."

"I am not weak!" Taalli snarled and stepped forwards, her wings half extended to appear bigger.

"He says he isn't weak either but buys the pills in bulk, so he doesn't have to keep going back" Seelena retorted and stepped up to her daughter. "Come home, let us help you. You need it."

Mike could see Taalli's tail twitch and knew they were moments away from exchanging blows. Holding his hands up he quickly stepped between them again. "Stop, please stop. Just stop." He begged, with tears in his eyes. "We are so close to having you home. You won't even have to see them if you don't want to. Isn't that right Seelena?" He asked and saw her nod. "See, Taalli? We can't keep going on like this, if you keep doing what you're doing, you may die, and I could never live with myself if that happened." Mike whimpered and wrapped his arms around her neck, holding her tightly. "Please, we are doing this for us! I can't keep waiting for you, and if you're not well we can see someone."

Taalli's nostrils flared as she inhaled and steeled her emotions. Her eyes focused on her mother as she tried to quickly find a way out, she heard Mike sniff back a tear as he held her and knew that her absence was taking a heavy toll on his life too. Finally, she spoke, her words cold and measured. "You shouldn't wait for me, Michael."

Mike looked up to her face and continued to hold her tight. "What?"

"But I can't keep saving you from my parents' plots and schemes."

"It's not a plot, we all want you home." Mike said and clung tighter.

Taalli slid a paw between them and reluctantly pried Mike from her front, his body shuddering as he wept. Focusing on her mother she snarled, "You want a deal, let's make a deal. I'm not coming home, Leena is dead, get used to it. If you tell father anything about me, hurt or fuck with Michael in any way, I'll smile as I kill you." She spat.

She saw Seelena open her mouth to retort and quickly lunged forwards, her jaws snapping closed just an inch from her mother's soft scaled face with a loud crack.

She took no pleasure from seeing the fear in her mother's eyes but knew what needed to be done. "Got it? I will fuck you up with glee and go to prison for it, if you fuck with me or him ever again." She growled through gritted teeth, "I'm laying it down, are you picking it up?" She added and saw her mother nervously nod with tears welling in her eyes.

"Taalli, please" Mike begged as she brushed past him and collected her heavy harness, using a paw she adjusted the leg loops and pulled them up onto her shoulders.

"I can't keep doing this, maybe one day it will be different Michael, maybe I'll come back and visit our shop. But don't wait, you deserve someone who can be with you. I can't give you what you need." She said, her voice threatening to break.

"Taalli, please! Don't go! I need you!"

"No, you don't. You need someone who can be there for you. I can't." Taalli mused and focused on tightening the buckles on her harness while catching a glimpse of her mother crying. "If she really wants me back and will get Kaarak to drop the charges. If she is as genuine as she says, she will do that as a good mother should. But I ain't holding my breath."

With her military harness pulled tight on her shoulders, she looked down at Mike with distant eyes, who quickly clung to her, the sound of his sobbing cutting into her heart. "Don't go, please stay!"

"I can't, I'm sorry."

His knuckles went white as he tried to hold onto her harness, her stronger paws extracting him from the nylon as she pushed him away. "Goodbye Michael."

Turning, she quickly bounded once and took to the sky, her large wings unfurling and sending her into the heavens, tears running down her snout as she left Mike behind.

________________________________________

"Wait, this feels familiar?" Teeslah asked, his dark blue body occupying a quarter of the large elevator as it surged towards the top floor of the northern spire.

Jim chuckled and nodded, "Yup, it seems even the rich have bad luck." He mused, the human police officer glancing over to his dragon partner and frowned, "what's got your horns in a twist?" He asked as he saw the drake fidget with his harness, a habit he had only seen when getting dressed down by their captain.

"My horns aren't twisted." Teeslah replied and cocked his head, "oh, you were being figurative." He said and looked back at the LED display above the doors counting up as they continued to climb. "Nothing. I just don't like this family, is all." He said bluntly

"Look, I'll do the talking if you want. You just sit pretty." Jim chuckled, "they may be rich, but they are dragons just like you." He added quickly as the elevator began to slow its ascent.

The blue drake gave a thankful nod as they stopped on the top floor, the elevators giving a polite ding as they opened to reveal the large open foyer of the penthouse. The black scaled drake who was expecting them standing with an unimpressed look on his face, his ivory throat and belly giving him the appearance of wearing a tuxedo.

"Let's make this quick, I am having a meeting with my ex in a few minutes." Kaarak said bluntly before they could introduce themselves.

Jim glanced at his partner and who looked concerned, the large blue dragon scanned the marble floor and noticed shards of glass strewn across the opulent penthouse. "Let's start from the beginning, sir. Where were you when it happened." Jim asked politely.

"I'm not a suspect! Look, I was at work when the alarm was triggered. I changed the code after my mate left me." He explained in a firm tone.

A strong smell of spilt cologne stung Teeslah's nose, its pungent fragrance overpowering any traces of scents the thief would have left behind, while fragments of the bottle were mixed with the window fragments. His gaze focused on the thickness of the flat glass fragments, “This is how thick the window is? I thought they would be almost bullet proof." he added as he moved to inspect the thick metal frame that once held the pane in place.

“At this height, they don't have to be." Kaarak lied, knowing full well that he had avoided paying for the correctly rated glass. “Please, can we just get this over with. I just need a report number to give to my insurance and then we can go our separate ways."

“Of course Kaarak, just a few more details. You mentioned your mate left, the same mate who you are going to meet now?" Jim asked while scribbling down details in his pad, his eyes flicking to Teeslah who was continuing to browse at the carnage the intruder had left in their wake.

Kaarak nodded, “But, she wouldn't have any reason to do this."

“Well, I guess Thanksgiving does bring people back together." Jim mused while he wrote. His words causing Teeslah's eyes to widen.

Kaarak sighed, "and before you start, No, the cameras didn't see anything. Whoever it was, broke a window in a blind spot, the only thing missing was some prescription meds, and they obviously smashed a bottle of my cologne. I only need a report for my insurance, that's it"

“Do you mind telling us what medication was taken? What are they for?" Jim asked and turned over a page to continue documenting for his report.

Kaarak stiffened slightly, “If you must know, it's for my scales. Air conditioning dries them out “ He lied, his heart beating faster as he felt their judgmental stares on him, “but I can get more on my way home, those are not important."

“Most places are closed, being Thanksgiving and all." Jim said, his eye brow raised as he tried to find the deception in the black dragon's answer. “Why were you at work today?"

Kaarak's lip twitched as he felt accused of the crime he did not commit, “same reason you are working, Officer. Work needs to be done, doesn't it-"

“Junkies." Said Teeslah bluntly, “probably just Looking for a high." He added quicker than he should, “we will keep an eye out for them, I recommend you place any valuables in a safe or vault or something. If they know they can get in, they may come back."

“Of course. Are we done?" Kaarak stated firmly and held a paw out for a copy of the paperwork Jim was working on. The human officer looked at Kaarak and across to his partner and caught the blue drake's jaw clenching and a subtle nod towards the elevator.

“Yeah, we are done. Let us know if there is anything else we can do to help." Jim said with a tone of defeat and tore a copy out of his clipboard and passed it to the black drake. With a polite nod, Kaarak gestured for them to leave.

Jim waited until the elevator doors had completely closed and they began to descend before turning to his partner. “You mind telling me what that was about?" He asked firmly, the blue drake suddenly becoming focused on the number of perforations in the speakers that played soft music. “Oi, Teeslah. What was that?"

“Nothing, He didn't want us there, I didn't want to be there."

Jim shook his head, “that's not how this works. A crime was committed. The whole thing feels wrong, don't you agree. His daughter goes missing, mate leaves him, gets broken into-"

“Some people just get bad luck." Mused the dragon while looking at his partner. Sighing, he looked back up at the speaker and resumed counting the rings of holes. “Did I ever tell you about a dragon called Taalli?" He added.

The human rolled his eyes and turned to face the elevator doors, knowing when his partner changed the topic there was no fighting it. “No, and if this is another one of your long winded novels, I'm not going to read it."

________________________________________

Scarecrow shook his head and smiled as Joker retold the story as he flipped the ribs that were slowly cooking on the grill.

"So, there we were right, running across the middle of the paddock. With enemies quickly surrounding us two, the others had already been clapped. When we saw the dust of the enemy dirt bikes cutting us off. Then this guy gets the bright idea of tossing a smoke grenade to conceal us, great idea at the time, but it just showed the enemy exactly where we were." Joker said, his hands animating the story while he held everyone's attention. Bishop's mother's house had become the central meeting place for their families this year and had set up folding tables in the large back yard.

"So, they circled us right, and sprayed and prayed in our general direction, we took cover behind a hay bale. I get clipped in the hip and hit the deck, but I can't see shit- sorry, I can't see past my nose. And the enemy are creeping up on us, you can hear their boots and even smell their breaths as they creep closer and closer and closer." He said dramatically, holding his hands like he was holding his rifle.

"As the smoke starts to clear, I'm laying on the ground 'dead' and I see a figure standing there, bold as brass in all his gear. And so does the enemy, who all open fire on Shane here, his clothes become completely covered in blue paint as they nail him again and again." Pausing for effect, Joker then continued, "but he didn't call the shot! This made them angry, so they kept firing, but he stood there and took it!"

Scarecrow chuckled as he knew this story well and took a sip from his beer.

"So, the enemy got close, and start shouting at him for standing there not calling being hit, and then! Out of a hay bale, he rises like the terminator m9 pistol in hand, in nothing but his underwear, Blap! Blap! Blap!" Joker mimed the actions with an imaginary pistol. "He had dressed a rake up in his fatigues and took out a whole unit with nothing but his sidearm!" He exclaimed to the amazement of the audience. "And that! Is why we call him Scarecrow." He mused, gesturing to Shane who gave a smile and lifted his beer.

The sound of large wing beats caught Scarecrow's attention and looked to the afternoon sky. Taalli's shadow flew over them as she overshot and turned around in the air. He could tell by her firm expression as she touched down at the end of the back yard that something was not right, and seeing that Michael wasn't with her, he passed the tongs to Bishop to take over.

Taalli hesitated at the end of the yard as she saw the other families looking at her, a bandage on her paw from breaking into her old home. She adjusted her front harness pouch to make sure the additional containers of pills were still there as Scarecrow approached.

Looking at the orange dragoness, Scarecrow could see her eyes were bloodshot from crying, her once glossy orange scales were now covered in an oily soot, and she held her weight off of her injured paw. Looking up at her he saw the pain in her eyes as well as a burning determination as she gave a small nod to the rest of the squad.

"May I join you?"