She idly listened to the ponies and dragon talking, he didn't reveal that he could understand her, and apparently neither of them even saw the interaction. According to what she was hearing from this genuine fire-breathing dragon was a certain Twilight Sparkle's younger brother... whom was somehow still smaller than her. Maybe he wasn't getting enough food or something. She'd examine him later. She may not know dragons persay but reptile and deathclaw care were definitely coming to mind... she really needs calcium and a dust bath. Too much really heavy moisture caused spike-rot.
She felt something shift her, tail up and went a bit wide-eyed, apparently whoever did it was definitely straining though. She looked over, and saw Twilight straining a bit, horn aglow, and tail in a similar colored glow. Fluttershy was coming over with what looked like a quetip and Spike was nowhere to be seen in the immediate vicinity. She knew exactly what was about to happen and would much rather they not find out they'd have to stick a hoof in her rear to sex her like they would a reptile, so she flexed and purposely 'winked' in her own way, both ponies gasping and Twilight dropping her tail quickly. Twilight was flustered and Fluttershy was pleased and professional.
"Well your a girl, that's for sure! Thank you for being so cooperative miss." Fluttershy smiled at the still unknown creature and turn to Twilight, seeing her still blushing and giggled a bit before patting her friend comfortingly.
It made her uncomfortable she had to do that, but, the thought of a quetip getting lost in her genitals did not appeal in the slightest so that was the easiest thing to do. She may be all reptilian now, but she didn't want to be sexed like one. Her tongue flicked, she scented books and dust, ponies, and a certain dragon coming back.
She moved her head to look at the returning drake and huffed, glancing at the two ponies excitedly talking to each other again before she jerked her head in a motion for him to approach. She watched him look around and try to sneak over, it was a pitiful attempt but at least his purple scales mixed semi-well with the rest of the purple crystal if the castle. Though, his 'sneaky' form was broken when I reached out and plucked him up when he got close enough, immediately bringing him closer and nuzzling against him, huffing in the reptilian scent with no small amount of appreciation. She smiled as much as she could and closed her eyes, shifting a little and tail gently thumping against the couch as she carefully nuzzled Spike. She could practically feel the eye roll from him but this was nearly perfect for her.
Unbeknownst to her, the two ponies were watching the exchange and smiling broadly.
"Awww, she's just the sweetest towards Spike isn't she?"
"Do you think it may be an imprinting habit for her kind or are the females really that nice or maternally driven?"
"Right now it almost looks maternal but I can tell her heart just hasn't quite clicked yet. Oh! By the way, I'm going to be taking her to my cottage today, then tomorrow the vet to check everything over medically, if you'd like you can come with me tomorrow and take notes... only if you promise not to mess with the doctors and such unless they ask for it." Fluttershy sheepishly grinned at Twilight at that last part, a little flustered for having to make such a bold request. Remembering how an appointment went the last time she didn't make said request though, definitely made it a little easier to ask. Goodness she hoped she didn't sound rude or anything.
The sheepish chuckle from Twilight relieved her inner thoughts and she found herself sighing and giggling a bit.
"I'll make sure to be there tomorrow Fluttershy." Twilight glanced at the cuddling duo on the couch. "Though if she steals away Spike when you try to get home I wouldn't mind if he went out, between you and me, I think he needs a little bit of sunlight." She smiled at Fluttershy.
Fluttershy saw the glance and nodded happily. "If anything, maybe while I examine her a bit more in depth and let her rest at the cottage Spike can keep her calm and happy. It seems like she'd like a friend!"
Unbeknownst to either pony, the Deathclaw heard and understood everything. She grinned, a pleased sounding growl/click leaving her, and she reluctantly got up, hunching at first before she stretched, staying on both legs before she shook herself a bit and looked around. She needed to walk around, and apparently that was enough of a cue for Fluttershy to take the leash, and start flying up next to her head. She promptly picked up Spike who was surprised but glad to semi-reluctantly go with her and Fluttershy.
Spike suddenly remembered something important and yelled out "Twilight! I need to pack stuff!" He squirmed in his new friends grip.
"I've already got it handled, Spike! Don't worry, I'll send it over to Fluttershy's when you get there!" She grinned and waved as the trio left, turning around, and immediately squealing and pouring over her notes.
It wasn't long when a knock was on the castle doors again and she paused her studying to go answer it, concerned immediately when a very upset Applejack was suddenly hugging her and she heard.
"I thought that monster had gotten you like it got Hilda last night, Twi! Don't ever let that thing near you again!"
There was going to be a talk.
--
Meanwhile, the Deathclaw was walking upright through the town, once again letting her nose take in the scents instead of her tongue, and inhaling deeply on some occasions. She was being lead out of town somewhat, over to a bridge, and a very homey cottage on a hill. Though, it was actually pretty big, the myriads of animals coming to and from it said as such. She silently wondered if it was bigger on the inside.
They got closer and as they crossed the bridge a white rabbit came skidding to halt in front of Fluttershy then promptly bound off away from the Deathclaw on a leash next to her.
"Oh my. I've never seen that before! Angel are you okay? Spike can you lead our new friend inside while I check on Angel." She put the leash in Spike's hand and quickly darted away to find Angel Bunny.
Spike in the mean time blinked owlishly at the sudden responsibility and looked up at the being carrying him. "Mind walking in there? The front door should be open."
She watched Fluttershy turn a corner around the cottage after the rabbit (another surprise), she nodded and walked to the door, able to get the handle with ease and crouched a little low to walk in, letting go of Spike and looking around. Hesitant to stick her tongue out but just the thought made her do it anyways. Being assaulted by scents both familiar and unfamiliar made her snort and cover her mouth quickly though, earning the concern of Spike.
"Tol unslaad tahrodiis unvaar pook! Luv nin miin!" She hissed out, tail thrashing slightly and Spike quickly backing away.
"Hey hey! I know it smells but calm down! It's not that bad."
"Vol! Vol!"
"Okay now you just sound like the flower trio, it's not that horrible!"
"Vokul pook!"
"It's not an evil stink! Jeeze! You sure are a picky whatever you are... Miss?"
"Dinokclaw. Lilth."
Spike suddenly looked very nervous and a little pale. "O-O-Oh, so uh, Deathclaw is your name? And your a Lilth?"
She hissed and shook her head. "Mey!"
"O-Okay! Okay! So a De-Deathclaw... named. Lilith?"
Her nod made Spike gulp and laugh nervously. "Heheheeee, well alright then. Hopefully that name's just for show. But uuuuh, hmm... yeah."
She snickered at his reaction, there wasn't really a word in dragon for claw but thankfully she could say that. M's if followed by E's or A's tended to come out as 'knee' or 'neigh' which oddly enough worked somewhat closely with making an M sound in spite of the lack of proper lips. P's tended to sound like K's mixed with T's, coming out like 'tea' half the time. N's sounded the same though thankfully so no biggie there... she found it incredibly ironic that the literal dragon in front of her could understand dragon, but apparently not speak it.
She had a very hissy snicker and looked around, not quite willing to settle down in the house but for now having to do so... unless that backdoor lead elsewhere.
She started walking, regardless of Spike's protest and opened the door, stepping outside to be greeted by the sights of hundred of animals and insects, eyes widening as she paused and scanned over each and everyone. it must've been a vault or something that had taken care of and bred pure animals, she doubted humanity had remade earth's original animal selection, though, maybe synths could've, or the one other sentient deathclaw she knew working in secret, he was albino as well... She barely stuck her forked tongue out, assaulted by scents but she wanted to be this time, adjust herself, figure out what scent belonged to what creature... sadly she wasn't taking the reptiles first. She got on all fours, turned her head to Spike and nuzzled him a little before walking forwards towards the sanctuary slowly, almost every head turned towards her. She saw they were intelligent, but only to a degree. Her tongue flicked put slowly, lazily as she started approaching the birds first, looking up at them curiously just as they looked at her. Her tail curled and she sat down on her haunches to lift her head a little and gently flick her tongue at each individual, getting very well acquainted with each scent. Slowly but surely she made it through the birds, she could pick out their individual scents with a few tongue flicks in the area chock full of animals.
Mammals were next. She turned her head, and started walking towards them slowly and carefully, cautious. She flicked her tongue towards the group, it seemed the animals got a sense of what she was doing and started getting in groups before dispersing again. The birds had immediately re-spread themselves across the area once she finished with them. The mammals, going back to what they were doing once she got enough of their individual scent. Mice, squirrels, cats, moles, chinchilla, there was even a kangaroo, a giraffe as well. A baby elephant. Sugar gliders. Bats. Goodness the amount of variety in the group staying at this sanctuary.
It took a while to get through the dizzying array of mammals and she looked around to make her way towards one of the ponds in the sanctuary. She drank deeply from it, tongue flicking about in the water, washing it. Regular water tasted delicious and she purred. The noise startling a few creatures around her, but a large curious snake made an opportunity out of the cleared space, and the furnace-like purr-machine distracted by drinking, and slithered on top of the newest resident, curling up calmly and slowly moving to their head, resting inbetween and around the horns, tongue flicking lazily.
She paused, but then kept drinking, body slowly but surely relaxing, she moved away from the water, and found a large empty spot to curl up and bask in. She recognized the feeling of a snake even in this form. She relaxed. She closed her eyes. She let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, a deep low shuddering huffing sound leaving her as a response. She moved a hand slowly to gently pet the large reptile on her, which according to the other reptiles in the area meant she was willing to be their warm-bottle equivalent as well. The moment her arm was back down and resting, she was surrounded. Though one in particular felt irradiated, a familiar warm feeling, it was a small red gecko, right on her snout. She stuck her tongue out, scenting the group of reptiles on her, and purposely licking the small one gently. Peppers. She liked it.
She closed her eyes again, and fell asleep. When she awoke, the majority have left her to her dismay, but it was because they only just noticed her blue glow. She breathed in slowly and deeply, the glow brightening and dimming with her breath. She watched their pupils dilate and then expand as the light brightened and dimmed. She smiled. She shifted slightly, and lifted her head, looking over her shoulders at her back and seeing an even bigger snake than last time on her, and for a split moment made her tail twitch. She huffed, tongue flicking out, and playfully the snake had done the same.
She's not sure she's ever been able to blush as a deathclaw but here she was, blushing. The blue on her growing bright for a moment or two then slowly dimming. She laid her head back down, looking forwards, then off to the side to watch the cottage, seeing Spike and Fluttershy quietly chatting to each other and looking in her direction. The snake had moved over her horn and to her cheek. She rolled her eyes, huffing lightly. Of course she got a cheeky one.
Her tongue flicked lazily, not yet retracting and in fact going kinda limp outside of her mouth, she sorta forgot it's existence for a moment cause where a tail was travelling was not a place she was accustomed to having touched. She growled for a split moment, a very gentle warning sound, and the tail left the area. She nuzzled her snake companion and moved back around to rest some more, eyes practically sparkling in the night to the dozens of reptiles and amphibians going out and about hunting insects around her that were attracted to the glow on her. Things felt good. She may have almost broke down a little before she fell asleep, but things were still good.