Saabys: -joining Kantri sitting upside down on couch- That's what you put up with all summer?
Kantri: Yes. Through all seven of her new boyfriends.
Saabys: I'm sorry for calling you insane.
Kantri: Don't be. It's accurate enough as a description.
Saabys: Where'd you get the earplugs?
Kantri: Picked them up at Meijers a couple weeks ago. I have a pair for you too.
Saabys: My sincere and never ending thanks for that.
Kantri: What chapter are you working on now?
Saabys: Castle stuff, leading into the lemon and marking. I'll need your help on this.
Kantri: My help?
Saabys: You're the resident Dragon expert, and you know how their mating rituals work.
Kantri: Gotcha. What color and clan ritual do you want?
Saabys: Hmm… How about Green dragon… Cyra clan?
Kantri: Jihe Line, Cyra clan… Which continent?
Saabys: How many are they on? Wait, no, whichever ritual would be easiest to write.
Kantri: From the continent Garrill-daen then. I'll explain it as you write.
Saabys: Thanks.
Drake showed Sojourn around their simple three-chamber cave. They hadn't had enough time to do more than clean it out and furnish what parts of it needed furnishing. The smell of moss and water still clung to the stone, but overlaid now were the smells of smoke and animal furs, with a tinge of metal and vinegar.
This is the information that Sojourn processed first, then the feel of cloth-covered sand beneath her paws. She noticed the warmth of the caves and the torches lining the walls by their heat. She moved to explore one of the two other chambers, but jerked to a stop when her nose hit cloth.
"Don't worry, that's just the partition between this main area and my room. A bit to your left is the door to Geoff's room and the kitchen." Drake explained from somewhere to her right.
She tilted her head, sniffing at the cloth while her forked tongue slipped in and out. "You two do not share a room?"
From below she heard the Human Geoff laugh, "Nah, I'd never get any sleep with how Drake snores, plus I like to have company on my own every so often."
Drake snorted, "Yeah, like you could ever lure a girl into your room." He said teasingly.
The cloth was soft, and smelled vaguely of rabbit. While the boys argued in the background Sojourn sniffed around some more until she found her way back to the cave entrance. That's when a new sound hit her, one she was only too familiar with: the clopping of horse hooves against gravel and the shouting of men with the barking of dogs.
"Hunt…" she whispered, and cast about for a place to hide. Her wings fluttered fearfully at her back and soon enough she disappeared against the cave wall.
What Sojourn feared to be a hunt was really just a group of heralds from the king, riding along with their dogs to deliver news to Drake and Geoff.
The heralds were surprised when only Geoff emerged upon the sounding of the trumpets.
"Where is the Realm's Guardian?" one demanded.
"Inside," Geoff pointed, "trying to coax his new girlfriend out of hiding."
The heralds milled around for a moment, digesting this news.
"Why don't you come inside for a drink while he convinces her that you're safe?" Geoff offered. Once the horses were tethered and the dogs given bones to gnaw Geoff led the half-dozen men inside and to the table while he poured mugs of watered-down spiced wine.
Drake was off to one side, whispering to the wall. Or that's what the men saw at least. The last thing they ever expected to see was exactly what they saw. Sojourn appeared in all her dark glory directly in front of Drake and shook off, sniffing the air and flicking her forked tongue in and out.
"Another Dragon!" one of the heralds yelled, startling Sojourn and causing her to begin to fade back into the wall again.
Geoff clamped his hand down over his guest's mouth, "Don't be so loud or you'll frighten her. She isn't like Drake, she doesn't trust men yet."
A second herald spoke up, "You must present her at the gala tonight!"
"Another gala?"
"The same milord, it will last four days. His Majesty the King sent us to confer to you his wish that you and the Realm's Guardian be his guests of honor tonight as he meets foreign dignitaries."
Finally the youngest herald, a former stable boy known as Rowan, spoke up, "In shorter terms you are to sit there and be bored."
The other five glared at him, and he just grinned back. The most senior of the lot sat up straight and cleared his throat. "His Majesty will also be announcing his choice of Heir tonight."
Geoff groaned and rubbed his face with a hand, "So we are required to come?"
The herald grinned smugly, "Yes."
Sometime during this entire speech Drake had coaxed Sojourn into view again and he led her closer to the table. For her credit she kept from shivering, but she tried hiding against Drake several times.
After trading glances with Drake, Geoff hurriedly saw the heralds on their ways. Then he came back and explained what had just happened.
Sojourn was appalled at this turn of events. Now apparently her new companions had to attend a human gathering later that night… And she needed to go with them!
"Listen Sojourn, it's not that big of a deal. You follow Drake around all night, we introduce you to the King, and you sit next to Drake and eat while the King talks to other people." Geoff explained.
Her wings fluttered at her back, the only outward indication of her roiling emotions. "What do I do if Drake and I become separated?"
She could hear the young man sit back in his chair, and the sound of skin scraping over adolescent stubble told her that he was rubbing his chin. Suddenly Drake began to purr, and a wing folded gently over her back. The feel of his snout against the base of her neck caused her to relax and lean against his fire-warm side.
"It's okay Sojourn, I'll protect you. Nothing bad will happen while you are with me." Drake purred soothingly, beginning to lick at her neck and face.
Geoff got up to leave, "I'm heading to the village to find some really long, thick rope Drake, and I'll be back in an hour or two."
Just like that they were left alone. Drake licked Sojourn's neck until she began to thrum happily and she tilted her head back and away, exposing her throat to him. He gently nipped at her throat, teasing her and leading her back to his room, where he pushed blankets around to form a comfortable nest.
Sojourn rubbed against Drake's side, breathing in his scent and purring loudly. Her paw brushed the nest and she stepped in, accepting the beginning of the ritual and his promise to protect. Black sable snout turned to follow his pacing around the nest and sensitive ears were held back at rest. She lay down in the nest he had created, and listened as he left and came back. The smell of fresh blood tickled her nostrils as his panting warm breath washed over her paws, where he placed a freshly killed rabbit at the ends of her claws. Seconds later the rabbit was gone swallowed whole down black throat, signaling her acceptance of his promise to provide.
Now she stood up and stood nose to nose with Drake, feeling his warm breath on her face. A smile graced her snout, and she exposed her throat to him again, giving him what he wanted.
Drake bit her throat, driving his fangs within inches of her pulsing life's blood. Lightning shot through her body and she gasped, shivering for a moment and crooning shakily. She felt him release her and cleanse the four fang wounds with tiny wisps of his fire, ensuring that they will scar.
"Marked. Mine forever." He whispered huskily in her ear, and a tremor went down her length. She felt him move behind her and nip at her tail and she crouched down before him, her body reacting without thought, and moved her tail out of his way.
"Drake? I'm home early, since Holden had some of the rope I wanted an- what the hell are you doing!" Again they were interrupted by Geoff's untimely arrival, and again said arrival caught Sojourn completely off guard. She jumped away and hid against the wall.
Drake shook his head as if to clear it of dust, "Hi Geoff. May I remind you that I don't inquire when you do strange things with your guests?"
Geoff held up two hands as Sojourn came out of hiding, "Okay. Jeeze, who have you been taking lessons from on polite ways to tell a person to bug off?"
Drake shrugged, "It was just the first thing to pop to mind."
Sojourn half-smiled and took a seat near the cave entrance. Her tail roved back and forth across the floor. "Why were you looking for rope Geoff?" she asked, addressing him of her own will for the first time.
Geoff grinned, "I'm going to tie you to Drake with it."
Later that day, just as the sun was limning the sky with orange and red, the three of them stepped out of the cave with Geoff on Drake's back and Sojourn following close behind. It was decided they would fly to the castle, once Sojourn assured Drake that she could follow him safely by the sound of wind shear off his wings.
The flight was unremarkable and silent until they arrived over the castle. The sight of a second dragon sent the people below into an uproar. With so much noise from below Sojourn became confused and hovered, giving voice to a startled roar that sent the onlookers into a panic.
Drake and Geoff had to circle thrice before they found room enough to land, and Geoff jumped off to quell the crowd while Drake leaped back up to calm Sojourn. One of the crowd mistook Drake's return to the black for an attack.
"Look! The Realm's Guardian goes to battle!"
Sojourn hovered where she was, calling out in a high-pitched warble. "Drake!"
"Sojourn, it's okay! It's okay!" Drake flew to her and hovered in front of her, taking her delicate paws in his own. "Nothing's going to hurt you. Just follow me down."
Sojourn's ears were held upright, focused on him and his voice. Drake backed his wings, moving back in his hover and leading Sojourn to the cleared area. Once they were above it he slowed his wing beats and slowly sank to the ground, again leading her.
Once they were on the ground most of the crowd went dead silent, while others whispered back and forth. Sojourn stayed close to Drake, making sure that she was touching him at all times. Geoff came over with his heavy rope and tied them together by a forepaw each.
"Well, let's get to this gala…"
Saabys: I'll cut it here. Review please!