With her arms folded, Rhajat slowly trailed accompanied her eager associate as they reached the outside of his family's stable. It was here when Percy hastily turned around to face her, bringing a finger to his lips with a mischievous smile. Rhajat furrowed her eyebrows.
"Thanks a bunch for coming along today" he whispered, "I'm just…I'm so excited about this! You don't know how badly I've wanted to introduce you and Ace to each other."
Observing his hushed tone, she whispered too. "This won't be the first time I've interacted with your pet, remember?"
Percy adopted an offended expression. "Hey…OK, two things. One: Ace is not my pet, he's my best friend! And two: that was different. This time will be the real introduction."
Rhajat rolled her eyes.
Approaching the entrance, Percy coiled his head around towards her and counted backwards from three with his fingers before jumping excitedly inside. Rhajat followed behind absentmindedly.
The young woman was surprised to find the stable completely empty. While she might have been suspicious, judging by her boyfriend's demeanour he wasn't at all.
"Ace" called out Percy, "it's me! Where are 'ya, boy?"
Excitedly, Percy began inspecting ever inch and surface of the stable for the wyvern with excitement and curiosity. A growing feeling of uncertainty developed inside of Rhajat over the absence of the creature.
"…It hasn't escaped, has it?"
Percy laughed softly as he inspected a mound of hay. "Who, Ace? Nah, 'course not; he wouldn't do that!" He reassured. "He knows he's not supposed to leave here without me." He returned to Rhajat with his hands on his hips, visibly puzzled. "He's probably just hiding or something."
All of a sudden, Rhajat observed a large figure emerge from behind Percy and charge towards him.
With her heart racing, she extended her arm. "Percy!"
It was too late, however, as the large being pounced on the unsuspecting boy and wrestled him to the ground. Frightened, Rhajat averted her gaze and recoiled in horror, trying to prevent exposure from the massacre that was about to commence.
However, she was suddenly treated to the sound of ecstatic laughter. Opening her eyes, she was astonished to see the young boy suspended upside down from the ankle as the reptilian creature, clutching his foot in its mouth, shaking him excitedly.
Percy tried to protest through fits of laughter. "N-no, stop it! Cut it out, Ace; seriously, you're gonna make me sick!"
As if on command, the dragon gently returned him to the ground, and Percy wasted no time in enveloping the creature's neck in a tight embrace. Rhajat could only stare in disbelief.
"Ha ha, there's my best friend in the whole wide world – I knew you were hiding somewhere, you can't fool me!"
The wyvern emitted a mournful cry.
Percy caressed his companion's head gently. "I know, I know, I'm sorry" he spoke apologetically, "I know I promised I'd come earlier…it's just" she smiled nervously towards Rhajat, "I've been a little busy lately."
Releasing the wyvern, Percy placed his hands on his knees. "Alright, boy, there's someone here I'd really love for you to meet." He eagerly gestured for his girlfriend to approach closer, to which she did reluctantly.
Percy stood up excitedly and gestured politely between the two. "Rhajat, this is Ace. Ace, meet Rhajat."
The young woman stared uncertainly at the beast, and it too looked just as confused.
"Go on" encouraged Percy, "say 'hi' to one another."
Rhajat bit her lip. "…Hello…"
The wyvern released a screech.
Bashfully, Percy returned to his companion's side and eagerly whispered in its ear. "She's…she's my girlfriend."
Ace screeched once again.
"Yeah, I know right?"
Rhajat rolled her eyes with irritation. "Must you tell everybody we encounter?"
Offended, Percy developed a meek expression. "Oh, don't you want people to know?
Suspecting what he was insinuating, she folded her arms; "I didn't say that."
"Well, Ace didn't know. I wanted it to be a surprise for him."
Rather than pursue him further, Rhajat began to recoil with apprehension as the wyvern in question slowly approached, beginning to circle her methodically while breathing heavily.
"…What's it doing?"
"Oh, he's just picking up your scent."
"It's what?"
The wyvern suddenly stopped its inspection and stared at her curiously, prompting Rhajat to hold her breath in bated anticipation.
"Hey, c'mon, Ace, you recognise Rhajat, don't you?" Percy joined his companion's side and patted it softly. "You remember that day you were feeling real sick? Rhajat was the one that made you feel all better." He smiled hopefully. "You remember that, don't you?"
As if on cue, the wyvern suddenly returned its attention to Rhajat and eagerly nestled itself against her, gently rubbing the young woman with its body.
"What's it doing now?" She didn't dare move a muscle.
"Ah, that's just his way of saying 'hello."
Ace released another screech of content, prompting Percy to giggle excitedly.
Rhajat furrowed her eyebrows. "What?"
Percy turned to her. "Hehe, he just said 'thank you saving my life, I was really scared.'" The creature emitted another cry, clearly approving of its rider's statement.
Bewildered, the young woman exchanged an curious glance between her boyfriend and the reptile. "…Wait, you can understand it?"
Percy scoffed playfully. "Yeah, duh, of course! Ace and I are best friends, aren't we, boy?"
In response, the wyvern returned to its companion's side and nestled against him, breathing contently as Percy began to scratch its snout gently.
Still struggling to process everything, Rhajat cautiously approached her boyfriend and his dragon. She ceased, however, when the beast returned its attention to her.
"What's wrong?" Percy asked curiously.
Rhajat folded her arms and steadied her breathing. "Forgive me, I've just…I've never been this close to a wyvern before…"
Percy smiled encouragingly. "Hey, there's no need to be afraid - Ace wouldn't hurt a fly." The young man politely gestured for to approach. "You can pat him, if you want; he won't bite."
Reluctantly, she accepted his proposal and stepped closer towards the dragon, hesitantly extending a hand towards its dorsal spines. Upon applying contact, Rhajat was surprised to discover how smooth the creature's scales were and begin rubbing gently, prompting Ace to lie on the ground with content.
A small but excited smiled graced her lips. "It's such a fascinating creature" she whispered.
Percy smiled with approval. "Ace is the best, isn't he?"
Curious, Rhajat migrated further down the reptile towards his folded wings. She turned to Percy nervously. "Could you get…him…to unveil his wings?"
On cue, Ace immediately unfolded and extended his wings triumphantly, allowing Rhajat to inspect further.
She traced a finger down one of the appendages. "Impressive wingspan" she mused, "have you documented its top speed?"
Percy greeted her with a nervous smile. "Well, not, not really…but Ace is super-fast, aren't you, boy?"
Excited, the wyvern screech in response.
As Rhajat continue her inspection, she observed as the reptile slowly crept towards its rider and growl softly. With wide eyes, a flustered expression suddenly appeared on Percy's face.
"H-hey, Ace" he playfully scolded, "come on, boy, stop that."
In response, the wyvern cried again.
"Well, that is true…but you can't go around saying stuff like that; it's embarrassing."
Concerned, Rhajat returned to him with an expectant expression. "What did it say?"
Giggling mischievously, Percy playfully nudged the creature's head prompting Ac to return the gesture. "Nothing" answered Percy impishly.
Rhajat folded her arms and glared.
Sighing with defeat, Percy sheepishly placed his hands behind his back. "…Ace said you're really beautiful…"
Eyes widening in disbelief, Rhajat glared stared accusingly at the dragon in question and averted her gaze, conflicted and overwhelmed.
"…He's right, y'know?"
Returning to her boyfriend, he greeted her with a sincere smile and tinted cheeks. "You are beautiful…"
Don't turn around / Don't turn around again
Don't turn around / Your gypsy heart