A/N: Drago drabble, because it seems there have been very few of them. Happens after a dragon raid. (Spoilers) Just my take on how the whole Eret-Drago thing went, which made Eret as fearful of his employer as he is now.

"So…" the gruff, terrifying voice warbled through the ship's dark cabin, which was lit only by the small circle of hot coals burning in a corner to heat the place. The coals rested on a bed of shed dragon scales, protecting the wooden cabin from catching fire. "Have you filled you quota for the day, dare I ask?"

The stubby little man, a dragon trapper employed to the man in front of him, nodded carefully and squeaked out a "Mhmm. Y-yes sir. More, actually. Thirty-one from my ship, including two monstrous nightmares."

"By more, you only mean one, single dragon then. The quota is thirty. You surpassed it by just one. You're lucky, and if it had been any less I may have gotten angry." The growling sound of the rugged man's voice made the stubby one in front of him quake in his boots. The sight caused a horrible grin to contort the scarred face that was half-hidden in the darkness. "But, you filled the quota. Dismissed."

"Y-yes master—-"

"Get. Out."

The little man scurried out of the cabin and didn't look back.

"Next" the rugged man hissed towards the door. It creaked open, and in walked a taller man, very muscled, lightly tanned, and with dark hair pulled back in a ponytail. Eret, son of Eret, the most prodigious dragon trapper known to the rest of his kind. His employer in the shadows leered. A dark chuckle escaped his throat. "Ahhhh, good to know I have at least one man I can count on in times like this."

The young man kept his eyes to the ground, but it went unnoticed.

"So, Eret" continued the scarred, rough-voiced figure standing casually at the other end of the darkened cabin. "How many dragons have you caught today? I suspect you passed the quota by at least ten, if we're talking a normal day. How many do you have for me? Forty? Fifty, perhaps?"

The young man in front of him still did not look up.

"Not… not exactly, master Drago, sir."

The sinister man's head snapped up, fully facing the trapper now. The bed of coals in the corner seemed to glow a little redder. "Would you care to… elaborate? What does that mean, 'not exactly?'" He glared across the cabin.

"It m-means… I did not fill the quota, sir." The words were forced out, not wanting to be said aloud. "I-I'm sorry, but the dragons have been scarce as of late and—-"

"SCARCE?" The other man interjected. "I did not ask about scarcity, trapper! Look at the man who was in here before you! A cowardly little thing, and he still managed to managed to reach above today's quota!"

The man in front of him tried not to let himself shiver and shake. "I know, but I can do better, I-I promise!" the look on Eret's face was desperate, pleading. Drago's voice softened. So much so that it was only a whisper. A very dangerous whisper, only audible in a cabin such as the one they were in right now.

"Oh, trust me, I know you can do better. We will fix this, you will see. I will give you one more chance… to prove I can still count on you, Eret, son of Eret."

Eret's expression became relieved as he replied enthusiastically, "Oh, master, thank you, I won't fail you—"

"I know you won't" Drago harshly interrupted, "because I have something to give you. As a reminder to keep with you, so you can be sure you will never fail me again. Ever." During his dark speech, Dragon was walking over to the bed of coals and slowly, slowly, reached down into the glowing embers. Eret watched nervously from where he stood, shifting from foot to foot. Out of the coals, Drago lifted a pair of tongs with a twisted piece of metal attached to the end, a sort of crest-like design, the symbol of Drago and his trappers. The metal glowed bright and hot, and Drago watched with malevolence as the young trapper's face drained of all color.

"M-master?" Eret stammered, backing away towards the cabin door. Drago, in turn, took a step towards him.

"Do not worry. This won't hurt… in a week. Or more. But just remember this: You are not to fail Dragon Bludvist ever again."

Just outside Drago's ship, both trappers and dragons winced at the bloodcurdling sound of pained shrieks, which echoed from the ship's deepest cabin. No one fails Drago Bludvist.