Shiro Bara

A bit of angst here and more friendship between Atem and Dreamer. Also Mana is involved.

Ch. 3: Friends

I continued to come to Atem and play with him throughout his childhood. Soon he spoke more and even gave me a name to call me when I was speaking with him.

...

"Dreamer!" The human called. I looked up from where I was napping and gazed down at the Prince who was calling my name. I yawned lazily.

"Human Prince." I called down from my perch. He looked up, "It is not wise to awaken a Night Fury."

Atem just smiled at me. He was no longer a small pudgy nestling but now a tall, lanky thirteen summers old male human. His crimson eyes were still bright with myschief and his hair was even wilder now, three streaks of the gold bangs in his hair shot up into the black and red. On his forehead he wore the half circlet of the Crowned Prince. Soon he would wear the true crown of Egypt.

My eyes suddenly widened when I felt an intense pressure behind me. Next thing I knew I was on the ground in front of Atem, laying like a skin on the ground. I lifted my head and turned to flame whoever had been foolish enough to attack me when I saw who it was. My fire imediatly died in my throat and I settled for a playful glare. Mana, my human's best friend since they were nestlings, was sitting on my back with a grin on her face.

Mana was the only other human I allowed to touch me. She was loud and overly excited at times while my Atem was quiet and polite, but they were still very tollerable. I really liked them a lot. They were like my own clutch even though neither had been mine from the beginning.

"Hi, Atem! Hi, Dreamer!" Mana waved enthusiastically and I gave an indignant huff.

"Mana, you have one millisecond to get off of me." I warned her. She giggled and hopped off quickly. You can only resist flames to clothes so often. Once the human female was removed from my back I got up and shook off some of the dirt that had gathered. Atem and Mana had already run off into the gardens. I snorted and followed them.

When I finally got there I saw that they were with Mahado, a human with the rare gift of magic, mainly used in healing and for useful things. I wouldn't put it past him to have aquired his skills from training with a dragon master.

I watched as Mana jumping for a fruit that was just out of reach of her. It always amused me how she thought she could reach things by jumping. It amused me even more how Atem would reach up and pluck the fruit for her. It was almost like a mother watching her young and providing food. Or perhaps a sign of affection through mates. Mana would have made a good choice for a mate for my Atem.

For some reason though, I frowned at the thought. A strange throb in my chest coming from my heart pierced through yet nothing marred my scaled armor. What was that feeling? I was pulled from my thought when I suddenly heard Mana scream and Mahado shout. I caught the scent of one of the once noble reptiles that I was to concider a distant cousin. Serpent.

The serpent lunged for Atem and for a split second I had the thought to attack the snake. I heard Mana scream again and then Atem give a surprised yell. Then the most unexpected sight met my slit-pupiled eyes.

Atem had Mahado's arm-still attached to his body of course-in his hands and was sucking on the wrist then withdrawing and spitting whatever he had sucked up out onto the ground. I heard Mahado's protests and Atem declining them. I then realized the human Prince was sucking POISON from Mahado's arm. Mahado had SAVED Atem...Why? Because he was a Prince? Or something else?

As a dragon I had grown up alone. My dame had left me alone early and I had to learn how to survive on my own. Dragons fend for themselves. If one is near death they are left to die. Only the strong can belong. That was what the humans of my homeland said before the peace between dragons and humans was formed. Before I knew friendship and caring.

Perhaps what Atem was showing was...Friendship? A friendship beyond normal friendship. Perhaps this was something that only humans understood.

"Atem." I spoke later when Atem and I were able to be alone at last. He looked over at me curiously. Even for his age he was still shorter than most boys. Especially Seto.

"Yes, Dreamer?" He asked. The way he said my name felt right. So sweet and tender. As though he was speaking to someone he really cared about.

"Earlier today, when you were with Mana and Mahado, why did you get rid of the poison? Were you in his dept?"

Even dragons knew the laws of repaying. It was commonly used. The first to commit the deed was a Night Fury that had caught a mouse and was about to eat it. The mouse promised the Night Fury that if he didn't eat it, the mouse would someday return the favor and save the dragon's life. Later in the week the Night Fury had been caught in a human trap and the mouse had cut away the ropes with it's small teeth.

This was an ancient story dames told their clutch when they were still in the shell. One life lesson never to forget. A code to be honored.

"No, it was because he would have done the same for me." Atem replied, pulling me from my thoughts. I looked at him surprised.

"It's what friends do for eachother." Atem explained. Did that mean that Atem and I were FRIENDS? I had done exactly what he had. I had saved Atem's life. But I never thought it was friendship. I was merely the boy's guardian. A protector and companion. Dragons did not need 'friends'.

"I'd do the same for all my friends." Atem continued, "Mana, Mahado, Seto, even you."

I blinked and stopped walking. Even me...? He DID concider me a 'friend'? I, a Night Fury, am concidered an EQUAL? I snarled at the thought. I was a dragon! I did not want nor need 'friends'!

I froze midrage when Atem's small hand touched my thick scaled neck. I shivered at the touch and my rage imediatly died down. Atem smiled at me and I couldn't help but let my eyes soften a bit. I only smiled when I needed to. Then was not the time.

Yep. Dreamer has learned the meaning of friendship. And she's beginning to become more and more fond of her human companion.

Yami: I thought you said this was a FRIENDSHIP story.

Shelen: 1; She didn't mean it like that. And 2; Are you saying you don't WANT it to be a romance?

Yami: No, no, no, no, no! Nothing like that! I was just confused!

Atem: As he always is.

Yami: Shut up!

Kaze: We forgot to meantion this the last few chaps so Review please.

Next-Another new term is introduced to Dreamer.