Dragonet Mischief

[Alais d Nitesong]

The diminutive dragonet had wandered around Rhydin for most of the day after getting snarled at by Garl, the big silver in charge of the building project had not wanted a shadow while he worked. Somehow, it had left Matlal alone, and for the first time, was left to its own devices in the big town with its alien noises and strange characters. The dragonet was alone for the first time.

Some of the land marks looked familiar, and the little dragon found its way to the Arena, where it had been many times with the Sorceress. As he scampered down the stairs, he was confronted with a very odd sight. There was a lizard creature leaping against a column trying fruitlessly to reach a very large bug crawling on the column above him. The lizard man seemed almost hypnotized or entranced by the large insect, but then the dragonet spotted Drakhan, the little dragon whom he had befriended on a previous occasion.

It chirruped at Drakhan and began to scramble in the direction of the Gnome and his partner. He paused when a somewhat familiar winged creature crouched down to pet Drakhan, but the wild lizard man behind him scared him into racing across the floor toward the dragon, heedless of the winged woman.

The winged creature smiled seeing the dragonet seek out Drakhan, “It looks like you’re the popular one this eve, Drakhan.” And the Gnome with the dragon did not seem to know just what to make of the dragonet as it hastily sought to get away from the crazed lizard man, who was chasing the giant June bug across the room to another pillar.

The dragonet chirped again at Drakhan just as the crazed lizard man shouted, “Nooooooo!!!!” and slid down the slippery pillar and sprinted to the new pillar where the giant June bug was now happily crawling close to the ceiling. He was flailing his scaly limbs, and still trying to climb the smoothly polished marble of the pillar to no avail. At the front of the room floated a Djinn, who was egging the lizard man on, “be creative lizardman.”

The winged fairy said hello, and moved to allow the dragonet passage toward Drakhan, and then the dragonet paused, just out of reach to study the winged woman. Drakhan waddled over to meet him, leaving a trail of drool as the gnome asked the fairy if the lizard was a friend of hers. The dragonet glanced at the lizard man and then at Drakhan, shaking his head no. If anything, that crazy lizard was simply too crazy even for the ones it had met here on previous trips. By this time, the lizard man was flapping it’s scaly arms in the imitation of a bird.

The Gnome had been asking the fairy just what the dragonet was, and she replied to him with a smile, “Don’t you know what a dragon looks like?”

About that point, the wild flapping of the lizard man had the dragonet thoroughly upset, and it turned to look at the lizard man with a hiss. The wild flapping, and the erratic movement of the lizard man were most unsettling, along with all of the leaping and hopping.

The Gnome looked at the fairy, “well of course I do!, But it’s making them funny sounds!” as he pointed at the small dragonet. She in turn was pulling out some foil wrapped caramels, carefully unwrapping them before floating them toward Drakhan and the dragonet.

The lizard man stopped his erratic movements and turned to look at the dragonet that had just hissed at him, “What’d I do to you?” And the dragonet took a couple of more hops in the direction of the crazed lizard man, still hissing. The lizard man scrambled behind a pillar beneath the gigantic June bug, “Hey, Shoo! Shoo!” He exclaimed, waving his scaly arm frantically at the dragonet.

The waving arm only served to rivet the dragonet’s attention on that appendage, and the metallic eyes of the dragonet followed the motion, timed its leap, and launched itself just in time to grab a solid hold of the lizard man’s arm and waving hand. “AAAIEEEE!” The lizard man began frantically waving his hand trying to dislodge the dragonet; who simply coiled its prehensile tail around lizard man’s wrist, holding on for dear life at that point, and clamping down its small jaws with every ounce of strength it had.

Drahkan laid down beneath the gnomes seat, as the gnome began to laugh watching Bran, who was running in circles flailing his arm, which only induced the dragonet to hang on tighter.

The caramels unwrapped, one was floated to Drakhan, and then one was floated in front of the dragonet as the fairy informed Bran, “You’re scaring it Bran.” The caramel was used to entice the dragonet to shift its attention to the candy, but it didn’t dare let go just yet of the lizard man’s arm. Bran stopped and gave the fairy an incredulous look, “how am *I* scaring it?”

With its tail firmly wrapped around Bran’s wrist, the dragonet scarfed up the caramel, and instantly had its jaws stuck shut.

The fairy laughed, “You’re moving all panicky and you’re screaming, and you’re big.”

[Alais d Nitesong]

The Gnome shook his head at the fairy, “Oh no no, ya bad fairy, don’t distract the little beast from gnawing on Bran.”

Bran blinked, “big, panicky, sssscreaming….. oh yeah.”

Drakhan eagerly gobbled up the treat from the fairy, leaving far more of a drooling mess on the floor than such a small piece of caramel should warrant.

The lizard man tapped his chin thoughtfully, and the dragonet tried to hiss past the caramel, but its jaws were practically glued shut with the sticky stuff. And now that the dragonet could not bite Bran, he got creative, “Oh little draaaaaaaagoooooon,” using a sing song voice on the diminutive dragon.

The dragonet blinked at Bran, frantically trying to get the caramel out of its teeth. That sing song voice did not bode well.

The Gnome chortled, “It’s probably embarrassed to be stuck in the ‘scaly beasts’ category with ya Bran!”

Bran shot back at the Gnome, “Asss opposssseddd to the ‘annoying pesssst’ category like you?”

The Gnome rocked back into his seat with a hearty “O-ho!! Now yer learnin’!”

The dragonet scrambled up Bran’s arm and wrapped itself around his neck and began trying to dig the caramel out of its teeth just as Bran began talking to it, “did you know there issss a big tasssty June bug at the top of thisss pillar?” But the tail coiled around his throat at that moment, choking off his words. He began to frantically try to uncoil the dragonet, “not me! Up there!” He coughed, “fly! Fly!!”

The Gnome was still laughing merrily, “that’s it little one! Go for the throat! The throat!!!”

“Go get it!” Bran coughed again, “It’ssss helplessss and tassssty!”

The dragonet got a sort of hiss out around the caramel before launching after the June bug, and Bran took the opportunity to dart away from the pillar.

Gnimmish was truly disappointed, “awwww.”

Bran hid behind the counter as Topaz told him he had better be catching the dragonet, but he gave her a disbelieving look, “I ain’t catchin’ nothing!”

The dragonet did a fly by of the overgrown bug, then snagged it with its talons, sinking them into the tough chitinous outer shell of the bug, and began to carry the very heavy and buzzing creature toward Bran. Who peered over the counter, “Hey! Gimmegimmegimme!’

Gnimish looked down at Drakhan, “Now why aren’t you doin’ stuff like fetchin’ food for me?!?” The fairy looked askance at the gnome, asking him if he’d really eat bugs. The gnome scoffed, “Of course I don’t eat bugs!”

The dragonet chittered and went to land on Bran with the buzzing June bug still captured in its talons. The bug was the size of a small dog, and much larger than the dragonet, who so far had been lucky to be the one directing the flight, but when the bug stopped buzzing and actually began to fly, the dragonet stood no chance, and was suddenly being taken for a wild ride with the June bug in control. The dragonet gave a startled and somewhat frightened chirrup, and frantically began trying to dislodge its talons from the beast’s exoskeleton, but the June bug had other ideas, and began a wild, crazy flight pattern, swooping and climbing at frantic speeds.

Bran looked around quickly, and grabbed a ball of twine from behind the bar, making himself a lasso as the dragonet chittered loudly. He twirled the lasso over his head as if he were a cowboy at a rodeo in the old west, before flinging it in the general direction of the bug and the dragonet. The dragonet was frantically trying to put on the air brakes using its own wings in an effort to slow down the giant bug.

Bran’s lasso managed to snag the bug, and then the lizard man was yanked off the bar top and dragged along for the wild ride.

Gnimish nearly fell out of his chair he was laughing so hard as both the dragonet and Bran were apparently bested by a very large bug. Even the Djinn seemed highly amused by the events. Topaz chuckled, “good thing I didn’t try to drink that coffee yet.”

[Alais d Nitesong]

But then the bug flew with a crazy careening flight into a wall, and the dragonet reached up with its snakey neck and bit the bug soundly. Bran was dragged along horizontal to the ground, with his tail twitching wildly as the dragonet spit out bits of chitin.

The bite to the June bug resulted in a sudden veering of course and colliding directly into a pillar, where the dragonet was knocked loose by the collision with the pillar and tumbled to the floor in a heap of leather wings and tail.

Bran however was less fortunate, he went flying off diagonally from the June bug and landed splat against a wall with his scaly limbs splayed out, and hung there a moment as the stone began to crack around him.

The fairy inquired whether Bran was alright, but the dragonet and the June bug were forgotten for the moment.

The dragonet got up slowly, shaking out its wings, and then hissed indignantly at the bug which now lay upon its back, its wings buzzing harmlessly as it floundered, unable to right itself.

Bran slowly peeled off the wall and landed face first on the floor, then laid there a moment unmoving with his tail sticking straight up as Topaz asked if Gnim thought the garbled answer was a yes or no to her question whether Bran was alright.

Gnimish snickered, “Yes, no, who cares!”

The dragonet stalked off toward Drakhan again, still digging caramel out of its teeth as Gnimish spoke to the dragon, “Oo, Drakhan, do thank our guest for the entertainment.”

Bran slowly rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, “what wassss *that* all about?” The Djinn smirked, telling Bran that’s what he meant about being creative. The look on Bran’s face suggested that he might want to snap at the smoky form, but he simply groaned instead.

Drakhan greeted the dragonet with a puddle of drool, and the dragonet chattered happily at Drakhan. The larger lizard bounced his head up and down a bit, finding it hard to give much of a vocal response with a maw full of drool. The fairy commented on how cute the two were, and the Djinn pointed at the dragonet, “I merely created the June bug, the commotion was caused by the other creature there.” Drakhan in the mean time had spotted some of the caramel still stuck to the dragonets teeth and the drooling intensified just as the Gnome looked down at him, “Now don’t ya go bein’ rude, Drakhan!”

Bran seemed to abruptly remember that he still held the twine lasso, and stared then at the stunned June bug, giving a cry of victory, immediately followed by a groan of pain, he yanked the twine toward him to drag the June bug over toward himself. He fished the gigantic insect to him and wrestled it into a head lock with a look of complete triumph on his features.

The dragonet stretched its wings with enthusiasm at Drakhan, chittering the whole while, but stopped when another unwrapped caramel flowed toward Drakhan. It hopped onto a chair, looking expectantly at Drakhan, who proceeded to show the dragonet how it was done, snatching the caramel out of the air with a veritable explosion of drool in a single gulp.

Topaz glanced at Bran, “ewww! Bran! You’re not going to eat that here, are you?”

“Mmmf! You’re darn right I am! Grrrrfff, I haven’t had a meal like thissss in agessss….” He told her amidst wrestling the insect into submission.

Gnimish groaned, “Oh jeez, have some manners. I know yer excited about yer first big victory in battle and all, but c’mon, there’s ladies present!” Topaz covered her eyes with her hands.

The lizard man glanced at the Gnome, “You’re one to talk about manners!” But Gnimish did not honestly seem to care one way or another about a bug being eaten in front of ladies, it seemed more just about the chance to pick on Bran some more.

Bran got the June bug in a wrestling hold and took it to the ground, “Law of the jungle baby!” Then he sank his fangs into the Junebug with an audible crunch.

The fairy grimaced, “Yuck! I heard that!”

[Alais d Nitesong]

Bran munched happily on the crunchy beast, absently picking at his fangs with one of the claws.

Metallic eyes blinked at Drakhan, then looked at the fairy with the sweets, giving her a light chirrup, and eyed the place where the caramels had come from earlier.

The Gnome turned his attention from the bug and the lizard man, turning toward the small chirrup from the dragonet, “Looks like ya got another customer fairy!”

She paused in mid sip of her coffee, and the dragonet chitters. She floated an unwrapped caramel toward the dragonet, who hopped off the chair and chomped the caramel out of mid air, landing beside the larger dragon, and promptly getting its teeth stuck together.

There was the ongoing sound of crunching as Bran began to messibly devour the rest of the large junebug, and there were lots of fang snapping and thrashing of his tail as he enjoyed his meal most heartily. He finished off the bug, with a few legs laying around before leaning back against a wooden beam with his belly round and full, “ahhhhhhh…..”

Gnimish glanced at Drakhan, “I don’t think he’s getting’ the hang of it just yet, Drakhan, yer a poor teacher.”

The fairy chuckled, “maybe I should start carrying dog cookies around, but the lads really prefer the candy.”

As the dragonet used his taloned forelegs to dig at the sticky caramel, the Gnome looked at Drakhan again, “Whaddya mean I should have taught it then? Yer the one with somethin’ in common with it!” There was a garbled chirrup at Drakhan as the dragonet glanced at the lizard man, who was now snoring in the corner. His forked tongue was lolling out of his snout.

Drakhan looked at the dragonet with an envious expression as the dragonet tried to consume the last caramel the fairy had dispensed.

As the dragonet freed his jaws, he gave Drakhan a grin and began to stalk the lizard man once more. There was a definite amusement in the creatures expressions as it stalked the oblivious lizard man. Drakhan gave the dragonet a nod of approval, his tongue half hanging out as well as the dragonet sidled up to the lizard man quietly. The regular snore and hiss was abruptly destroyed when the dragonet leaped onto the lizard man with a loud hiss, spitting a bit of caramel at him in the process.

Bran snapped away immediately and began rolling around screaming, “AAAIEEEEE!!!”

The dragonet chattered and hissed at him as they rolled about on the floor as Bran tried to rid himself of the tenacious creature. The Dragonet was busy trying to sink it’s small teeth into whatever was closes, shirt, scales, whatever.

Gnimish glared down at Drakhan, “What? Yer supposed to be the astute one! Ohhh, mister innocent now, are ya? Foo!”

The fairy was chuckling, “You’re going to miss it Gnim.”

Gnimish grinned, “Oh, I’m not missin’ nothin’.” As Bran picked up one of the dead june bugs legs and tried to pry the dragonet off with it like it was a crowbar. But the dragonet released its hold on Bran and grabbed the june bug leg instead. Bran jabbed the lag at the dragonet, picking up a chair as though he were taming a lion, “BACK! Back!” The dragonet growled loudly at Bran, flapping its wings at him. “Behave! Or I’ll make you do tricksss!”

The Gnome spoke up then, “Oh now, don’t be rude Bran!”

The dragonet thrashed its tail indignantly, swiveling its head toward Drakhan, hoping for reinforcements when Bran jabbed a little too close and the june bug leg was in reach of the jaws of the dragonet, who seized on the opportunity to grab the offending weapon the lizard man wielded. It latched onto the leg and yanked hard, tugging the lizard man forward and off balance.

[Alais d Nitesong]

The dragonet began growling and backing away with every ounce of strength and determination, pulling the lizard across the stone floor as Bran tried to dig his claws into the arena floor. The long tail thrashing as the dragonet continued inch by inch to drag the lizard across the flag stones.

Drakhan however was sadly reluctant to leave the gnome alone, but equally sad to be missing out on the fun, but with a gnome eating overlord around, the little dragon didn’t dare leave Gnimish.

Bran started hissing himself, then switched around, and with the leg over his shoulder began pulling in the opposite direction, like an Egyptian slave pulling a rock he tugged the little dragonet, who was scrambling to dig his talons into the ground, but found only rock rather than soil or sand. The little dragonet left talon marks in the rock as he lost the tug of war to the larger lizard, who was making his way step by step toward a wooden beam as the diminutive dragon hissed and growled at him.

The larger lizard lost his footing just as he was within grabbing distance of the beam, and the little dragonet yanked him around, dragging him face down across the rock floor of the arena. The june bug leg being surprisingly resilient to the battle between these two. Bran’s snout bumped across the rough stone floor, and at length, he let go of the leg he’d held on to so tenaciously, admitting defeat. The dragonet shook its head violently once it had control of the leg.

Bran scrambled to his feet as Topaz sat back and sipped her cup of coffee, watching the entertainment. She glanced at the Gnome, “They are hilarious.”

The dragonet hopped toward the lizard man as he was scrambling to his feet, leaping onto his back with the june bug leg firmly held in his jaws. Bran yelped and fell flat on his face again, then covered his skull with his claws as the dragonet worked very hard to stick the leg into the lizard’s ears, but was having difficulty finding them as Bran effectively covered his head from the assault. Bran yelped, “What isss thisss crazy dragon trying to do to me???” as the dragonet continued to try to poke the june bug leg into an ear.

Gnimish grinned as he watched, “what a sweet little beastie that is.” Then he prodded at Bran, “Maybe its challengin’ ya for the title ya won in that epic battle with the bug Bran!” There followed a distinct snicker from the old gnome.

The fairy chuckled, “He’s a lot nicer than that ice dragon was, he hasn’t bitten me once.”

Bran reached back and tried to tug the leg out of the dragonet’s mouth again. The tiny creature hissed at Bran, but lost the battle for the leg as Bran ripped it away and thwapped the dragonet with it. “Now get off me!”

The tiny dragonet yelped as Bran brandished the leg again, “You little….” The lizard man rolled around so he was no longer on his back.

Topaz was scandalized, “BRAN!”

The dragonet hissed at Bran, but beat a hasty retreat in the direction of Drakhan as Topaz glanced at Gnimish, “He hit the baby! Did you see that?”

The gnome looked hard at Bran, “what a meanie.”

Bran got up from the ground, darting around in circles for a few seconds as if he’d been attacked on all sides before pausing. He was huffing and puffing, but triumphantly held the june bug leg in one clawed hand.

[Alais d Nitesong]

The dragonet hid behind Drakhan, but was still hissing at Bran when the fairy leaned over to check on him, making sure he was alright and uninjured. Drakhan shielded the dragonet, drooling menacingly in the direction of the big meanie as the dragonet chirruped at the fairy.

“I didn’t hit it hard, sheesh, and what about me?? That thing wasss gonna ssstick thisss leg in my ssssensssitive ear!” Bran rebutted.

The gnome snickered, “Looks like ya won yer second epic battle, Bran.”

The lizard man glared back at Gnimish, “How about we make it three?”

The dragonet curled up on the floor behind Drakhan, its metallic eyes locked on the lizard man as Topaz came to its defense when Bran asked if he’d started things, “Yes, you invited it to go hunting, and then you ate the bug, teased it with a bone, and well, then you beat it.”

The Djinn spoke up then, “the way I see it, the creature attacked unprovoked.”

Gnimish nodded sagely though, “and fairies always speak the truth, that’s what I hear.” The dragonet snorted in agreement with both the fairy and the gnome. Drakhan simply drooled in agreement.

Bran pointed at Djinx, “Sssssee! I wasss right! I beat it?? It attacked me!”

The fairy chuckled, “You’d believe a genie?”

The dragonet gave the Djinn a soft hiss as it swelled to twice its size, pouring from the urn menacingly as the fairy and the gnome questioned its integrity. Metallic eyes widening slightly, the dragonet stood up, extending its wings, trying to make itself look as big as it could, mimicking the Djinn.

The Djinn spoke boomingly, “Need I remind you all of your encouragement of the creature’s behavior? All the while scolding Bran for defending himself?”

The dragonet flapped its wings at the Djinn while the gnome was unimpressed, “Nah, we know. Do we care?”

Bran gave a pathetic performance of how wronged he had been while the little dragonet stole ever closer to the Djinn’s urn, and at the moment the Djinn retreated into his home, the dragonet dropped a dust bunny in on top of the magical creature.

As the night settled down, the dragonet disappeared beneath the sorceress’ sofa, curling up to sleep.

[Alais d Nitesong]

The day came and the arena was empty. The dragonet crawled out from beneath the sofa to an empty room. Bored and alone, the dragonet struck out on his own and found himself drawn toward the east with the scent of the desert beckoning him. The heat of the desert was creating mirages off in the distance, and the dragonet flew after the shimmering images.

He’d spent the next day and a half exploring the Rhydinian desert. Once he’d caught the sound of his name being called by the one his mistress called Xenograg, but he was having too much fun to be found, and he slipped away into the stark, rocky terrain, far from the voices and the spell that were seeking him out.

He found his way back to RhyDin, hot and exhausted from his foray into the desert, and curled up beneath the sofa in the Arena once more. It felt safe enough here, and no one seemed to bother him, and the little dragonet collapsed for a nap until the sound of people entering the room woke him from his slumber.

He poked his head out from beneath the sofa to see the old mage he’d bitten once before in the ring with the fairy that gave him the sweet caramels. He was attacking her once more, and the little dragonet scrambled out from beneath his hiding place with metallic eyes locked on the old mage, who was completely unaware that he was about to be bitten once more.

The dragonet scrambled across the stone floor toward the rings, hopping onto the lowest rope before mantling its wings in challenge to the mage who had just attacked the nice fairy that kept the sticky sweets for he and Drakhan. But the mage still hadn’t seen him, and leaned back against the corner of his ring to await the return of the Druid, who had been swallowed by the nexus.

The fairy spotted him though, and she focused on her spell, trying not to let him distract her, but his quarry was the old nasty tasting mage. He did chitter at her briefly before turning to hiss a warning at Syous.

Syous gacked and jumped away from the corner as he turned to notice the dragonet there just behind him, about to sink its tiny teeth into his flesh again. It hissed and hopped off the ropes, stalking after the mage through the sand inside the ring. Syous narrowed his eyes at the small being, his teeth gritting slightly as though remembering the last bite a few weeks ago.

The fairy spoke up then, “Oh, not during dueling little one.”

The small dragonet paused, swiveling its head toward Topaz, then chirruping at her.

The old mage muttered hearing Topaz from behind him, his cool gaze still set quite intently on the dragonet that had already shown itself quite capable of biting him.

About then the Gnome came stomping down the stairs with Drakhan. The dragon was leashed, and the gnome yawned hugely as the dragonet turned its head to study Syous with brilliant metallic eyes. Then the fairy placed a protective energy bubble around it as Druid was spat out by the Nexus, to land unceremoniously on the ground near his sofa.

The dragonet hissed and stalked through the sand toward the corner, hopping onto the lowest rope as Syous turned toward the fairy once more. Having spotted Drakhan, the dragonet hissed once more at Syous before heading over to greet his newfound friend, chittering happily as he joined the gnome and dragon.

The gnome selected a seat, and tried unsuccessfully to stuff Drakhan under his chair as the dragonet skidded to a halt near Drakhan, chattering and stretching his wings wide, telling Drakhan all about his adventure in the desert.

Drakhan gave the dragonet another drooly lick, winning a sigh and shake of the old gnome’s head, “I see ya found the li’l thing, Drakhan. I suppose Xeenie oughta take some tracking lessons from ya.” The dragonet turned its metallic eyes onto the gnome, chirruped once before swiveling its head toward the ring and taking off at a run toward the nasty mage, who was just exiting the ring. No longer on safe ground, the dragonet hopped onto the lowest rope again with a soft hiss.

Syous instantly searched out the ‘evil’ dragonet in order to defend himself should it attempt to bite another piece of him away, and he narrowed his eyes as it prepared to launch itself at him once more from the ring ropes. It bobbed it’s head in a snakey threat, hopped off and stalked him through the sand.

Syous muttered, “I won’t restrain myself this time.” He extended his arm toward the dragonet as it darted toward him.

The dragonet puffed itself up, making itself look as big as it could, and hissed. The mage simply narrowed his eyes further at the dragonet, and then it launched itself at the outstretched arm. The mage’s eyes widened briefly as the dragonet lunged, but he summoned an almost invisible barrier quickly forming in front of his hand. The small creature crashed into the barrier, landing with a soft thud in the sand. The barrier faded after impact, and the mage narrowed his eyes menacingly at the dragonet, lowering his arm and pointing at it while it righted itself and hissed angrily at the mage, resuming it’s stalk toward him.

[Alais d Nitesong]

The fairy had crouched down to pet Drakhan and speak to the Gnome, and Drakhan was happily stretching up into the petting, as Topaz commented to him, “I see your friend is back.” Then she looked at the leash, and at Gnimish, “What’s with the leash?”

Gnimish gave her a puzzled look, “The leash? He’s always on a leash, only way to keep him out of trouble.”

Syous’ focus remained intent on the dragonet, but he’d overheard Gnimish, and briefly pondered why or how this ‘violent’ creature could not be restrained. He then had a moment of inspiration and let the dragonet lunge at him again, materializing a leash of sorts in the dragonet’s intended path as he got his leg out of the way just in time to avoid another bite to the same leg that had suffered during their last encounter.

The dragonet choked at the sudden restraint, rolling onto its back, raking at the restraint with taloned claws, trying to tear the leash off. Syous on the other end of things gripped the leash tightly, keeping the creature at arm’s length and safely out of biting range. He glanced at Gnimish, “You wouldn’t happen to have anything that can hold this thing?” He motioned toward the dragonet before him still fighting the hateful leash. It was snapping and growling at the restraint, and choking itself as it fought the unaccustomed collar. Syous peered at the dragonet and then back at Gnimish, “I”ve had enough of this nonsense.”

The dragonet was backing away, choking itself in the process as Gnimish pondered, “Hmmm, something to restrain a dragonet…” He raised a gnarled hand, and a small cloud of blue mist appeared, forming first into a tiny set of shackles, then a tiny harness, and then a tiny collar before vanishing. He shrugged at Syous, “Nope, nothing.”

Wyheree arrived in time to see the small dragonet struggling against the leash, and she tilted her head, as if wondering why anyone would do such a thing. It was still half growling and half choking in its efforts to get away from Syous.

Syous murmured something inaudible as he watched the wee creature attempting to back away from him. Druid knelt down and made chirruping sounds toward the dragonet, his head tilted to the side. He didn’t know how to talk to dragons, but seemed to be making soothing sounds for the diminutive creature.

Gnimish’s grasp on Drakhan’s leash failed, and sent the waddling lizard running toward the leash Syous held, and Drakhan clamped down on the offending connection with larger teeth than the dragonet had. Syous gave a startled glance at Drakhan before addressing the dragonet, “I’m only letting you go if you stop attacking.”

The dragonet backed as far away from Syous as it could, giving a strangled chirrup to the Druid, but his metallic eyes were locked on Syous.

The gnome seemed startled, “Oh, wow, did you see that fairy? That leash fell right out of my hand….” But he sat back as relaxed as possible watching Drakhan go to the dragonets rescue. Then he pointed for the fairy, shrugging innocently, “Drakhan got loose somehow.” But he ruined it with a snicker.

Syous muttered some more about not wanting to sit around holding a leash all day, like Gnimish, then he took a few paces back toward the ring he’d just dueled in. Drakhan however grabbed the leash and both ran forward toward Syous, who missed the fact that the leash was now going quite slack.

The Druid frowned behind his mask, making another chirruping sound, trying to get the dragonet to talk to him. He was trying to make the little dragonet understand that biting Syous was not a good plan.

Topaz looked in the direction Gnimish had pointed, “Oh, so I see. Say, doesn’t anyone around here know how to treat a baby dragon?”

The gnome couldn’t help but laugh as Syous was now confronted by two scaly beasts.

The dragonet hissed at Syous, now side by side with Drakhan before swiveling its head to look at the Druid, then back at Syous. It truly wanted another chunk of the mages flesh, but the Druid was trying hard to talk the small creature out of such an act.

By now, Syous had noticed that there was a problem, and he arched a brow as Drakhan joined in with the little dragonet.

The Druid spoke to Syous then, “I think you may want to start wearing boots.” The dragonet had told the Druid that while Syous tasted like rotten eggs, he was a mean soul in need of a good solid bite.

[Alais d Nitesong]

Syous slowly backed himself the rest of the way to the edge of the ring as the dragonet hissed at him further. The mage murmured over his shoulder to the Druid, “Hardly, if people are going to let dangerous vermin roam free, I’ll simply have to become an exterminator.”

Topaz had seemed to be on the verge of trying to decide if she should intervene, but when Syous mentioned becoming an exterminator, she gave him a shocked look, “Exterminate a dragon?”

Gnimish shook his head, “tsk tsk tsk, and ya wonder why they don’t like ya!” And the dragonet advanced on Syous once more at the threat to dragons.

The Druid shuddered, “Well, I don’t want to be around when the parents come looking for you Syous.”

Drakhan responded to that threat with a big toothy grin, waddling forward toward Syous as well.

The fairy fluttered over with the intention of landing between Syous and the dragonet and Drakhan as the dragonet chattered to the old dragon. In the mean time, the Druid was moving toward the wee dragonet, still chirruping lightly.

Syous had each arm extended toward one of the beings, fully prepared to defend himself from their angered wrath as Topaz held her hands out in a welcoming gesture, hoping to lure the dragonet into jumping into her protection, but the Druid held the little one’s attention at that instant, and it chittered at him. The Druid knelt and held out his hand, snickering at the answers the dragonet was giving him, “And Syous? You may want to bathe more according to this guy.”

Syous’ temper flared a bit, clearly he was not appreciating his scaly company, and the Gnome was thoroughly enjoying himself, figuring the puddle of drool in the ring was the scariest part of the attack Syous had mentioned at this point.

The dragonet was torn, swiveling its head first toward the fairy and then at Syous and finally back to the Druid. Then the Druid frowned at the dragonet’s comment.

Gnimish decided to recall Drakhan, “Eh, Drakhan, that’ll do, c’mon back.” The dragon said something to the gnome, who shook his head, “No, no, I’m sure he gets the point, now c’mon.” The gnome chuckled, “Yer just makin’ a mess of the ring anyway, now get back here, jeez.” Reluctantly Drakhan turned around and headed out of the ring, leaving another trail of drool behind.

Topaz remained between Syous and the dragonet, holding out her hands for him, and as he went to hop into her arms, the leash got caught on a chair, and flopped the little dragon unceremoniously into the sand. She crouched down, untangling the leash and speaking on soothing tones, “hold still little one.” It gave her a pathetic little chirp before hissing at Syous. She kept talking, “it’s going to be alright, just a moment longer, and no more biting at wizards, then they won’t try to exterminate cute little babies.” She freed the leash, “There are more sensible chew toys to be had. Perhaps that bug leg is still around to try your teeth on.”

Syous muttered back at the Druid, “My hygiene is my own concern, besides, I’ve heard no other complaints. If it is so sensitive, perhaps it should simply keep its distance rather than bite at my ankles.” He shifted his attention back to the dragonet as he noted Drakhan’s retreat back to Gnimish’s side then allowed himself to relax slightly as the dragonet seemed to prefer Topaz’s care over continuing to assault his person.

Gnimish chuckled at the chew toy idea, forming a tiny rubber effigy of Syous and tossing it over at the dragonet, who attacked the effigy with vigor. Growling the entire while.

Topaz smiled and stood up, “there, that’s much better, and Alais was looking for you yesterday.” She admonished the small creature before her, who was viciously setting to the task of dismembering the effigy the gnome had tossed its direction. She chuckled watching it, “She’s very worried and even talked Xeenie into a rescue mission. You do not want her to worry, do you?” But it was clear, the little creature was wrapped up in its wanton destruction of Syous’ effigy.

Syous muttered again as the dragonet seemed to make a bee line toward the replica of himself. Watching as it shredded the effigy into little bits and pieces over the next few minutes. It was spitting out the pieces with great deliberation and enthusiasm. He then peered at Gnimish, his tone quite sarcastic, “My sincerest thanks.”

Gnimish smiled happily, “Always a pleasure to be of service, old man!”

[Alais d Nitesong]

Syous muttered a bit more before turning back toward the dragonet, watching as it ripped the effigy to shreds, “lovely.”

The dragonet spit the last piece of the effigy at Syous before turning around and scrambling across the floor toward Drakhan.

The fairy chuckled, “very nice job, little one. That effigy is obviously quite dead and won’t harm anyone no more. Would you like a caramel now?” She settled back onto her chair beside the old gnome, pulling a handful of caramels from her pocket and began to unwrap them.

Syous’ gaze remained locked on the dragonet, flinching slightly as it spits the last piece of the effigy at him, his teeth gritting a bit as he tempers a momentary surge of anger. At length, he let out a long breath before deciding to try and find himself a distraction. “Mage to duel.”

The dragonet paused midway back toward Drakhan, then scrambled after Topaz at the invitation to have more of the sticky sweets. She chuckled softly and floated an unwrapped piece toward the dragonet and then another to Drakhan. She asked it what she should call it, but his jaws were instantly glued together as he chomped happily into the sticky gooey substance. He then walked toward Drakhan, offering it to the older dragon.

The fairy then smiled and asked Syous if he would like one too.

The Druid spun around hearing Topaz, “I would!” waving his hand like a little kid. She chuckled and floated one still wrapped to the Druid.

Syous on the other hand simply narrowed his eyes at her, his frustration very obvious in his features as he faced the Arch Mage, his answer apparent without words. She gave the old man a sweet smile in return for his glower.

Gnimish grinned at the dragon taming fairy, and Drakhan leaped at the offered caramel, and would have taken the little dragonet’s claw off if it had not had reflexes as fast as the old dragon’s. It jumped back before curling up beside Drakhan, its metallic eyes still locked on Syous.

The fairy floated a second unwrapped piece to each one, and Drakhan didn’t waste a moment leaping at the second caramel, spraying drool every which way in the process. This spray of drool eliciting a matching shake from the dragonet to rid itself of the slimy shower Drakhan had bestowed. Gnimish swatted at the spots of drool on his robe, Ick, ya messy thing!”

Syous caught sight of the dragonets eyes locked on him, and he narrowed his again at the small creature.

Topaz distracted the dragonet by floating a last piece toward the dragonet, “Here, Syous didn’t want one, so you may have it.” The dragonet didn’t waste any time scarfing up the offered caramel, and promptly getting its jaws stuck together.

Syous muttered softly to himself about the audacity of some individuals to leave their pets unrestrained and unattended in the dueling venues, to which the Druid shot him a look. “You shouldn’t talk to yourself, it’s not healthy.”

The dragonet was busily using his taloned claws to dig at the caramel stuck in his teeth.

[Alais d Nitesong]

Syous muttered some more, seemingly his form of consolation, which had been interrupted by the Druid, where upon he gave the man a very cold stare, “I’ve heard many say hiding behind masks is also quite unhealthy.”

“I hide my face for a reason, and to avoid the looks I know I’ll receive.” Came the Druid’s answer as the dragonet curled up beside Drakhan, still diligently working to remove the caramel. But when it was finished, it grabbed up the last caramel and headed toward the Druid with the offering, but still paused to hiss as it passed Syous.

The Druid smiled, “We’re still both alive, so the story goes on my friend. The story of life always being written.” He nodded as he spied the dragonet, “hello little one.” He knelt down and reached out a hand to brush over its head.

Syous simply offered the passing dragonet another long, cold glare as it moved by, followed again by a string of murmurs.

The dragonet dropped the caramel at the Druid’s feet, then turned again to hiss at Syous.

The fairy smiled, talking to the Gnome, “that was so adorable. Did you see that Gnimmy? He gave the Druid a present.”

Gnimish nodded, “Yep, See, it’s a nice little thing Syous. Not it’s fault you did something to make it hate ya!”

Syous shook his head watching the dragonet, and hearing Topaz’s words, his expression suggested that he might almost be convinced that the dragonet was deliberately doing this to gain everyone’s favor despite its true ‘evil’ intentions. He then peered at Gnim, “Nonsense. I did nothing to upset that being… from day one it has had its eye out for me.”

The Druid thanked the dragonet for the caramel as it turned and skittered along the ring to get close enough to bite Syous in the leg, but the Druid caught its intention and reached out to try and grab its tail before it could get another taste of rotten eggs. The dragonet got halted in mid-skitter, and turned around to frantically chitter at the Druid, but it never offered to bite him to be freed.

Syous peered between the dragonet and the Druid as the dragonet dug its taloned claws into the cracks between stones.

“Shhhh,” the Druid lifted a finger to the lips of the leopard mask, asking the dragonet to slow down and calm itself. “I know he tastes bad and you think he’s mean, but he is my friend. And I don’t want to see him limping because you take a chunk out of his ankle.” The dragonet growled at Syous, then sat down and gave the Druid a mournful look.

Syous’ eyes narrowed again at the dragonet’s growls, then he materialized a small rubber like clamp before holding it up for the dragonet to see, an implicit threat that it would be used on its mouth should it attack again. He then muttered a bit more.

The Druid pulled out a small candy of his own, and handed the toffee to the dragonet. “Here, chew on this.” He smiled behind his mask as the dragonet gave Syous one last look and a hiss before taking the toffee. Once the creature had the toffee, he released its tail with a soft laugh.’

Syous pondered a moment, and took a mental note of the dragonet’s obvious enjoyment of caramels, storing that fact away as knowledge to be useful at some future point in time.

The dragonet took the toffee and ran immediately toward the sofa, slithering beneath it before poking it’s head out briefly to stare at Syous. Then with a soft sigh, it retreated under the sofa for another nap.