Chapter 6: House of the Dragon (Part 1)

After that encounter, Balqis was slowly gaining her confidence to spend some time with Gosha outside of their kindergarten meetings. She loves telling the children stories of what she has seen as a human in a world of animals and sometimes the books she has read, which will encourage them to read.

But the best part was watching Gosha inventing games for the children while they wait for their parents. From his happy expression to the gentleness of handling them, Balqis imagined him to be a father at some point. A part of her understood that meant that he might have an adult child at some point.

Instinctively, she placed a hand on her stomach lightly.

It had been two years since the accident. She has not forgotten about what's gone, but knows how she much moving on might help. The past can be haunting, but one must remember to live in the present. Even if it meant surviving each day and not get eaten.

Right now, she became fascinated with animal behaviours and biology so that she would be prepared on how to approach any beast without experiencing any repercussion. She sat at their meeting spot between two shelves with a brown paper bag that was slightly soggy underneath from the cooking oil.

'I hope Gosha's got an appetite,' she thought to herself. Construction work ain't an easy job without suffering a few aches and hunger pangs.

Oh, yes. She fried some fresh banana fritters with cinnamon just for him since he couldn't get enough of them. It warms her heart to know that beasts love her comfort food, let alone large ones such as the Komodo dragon. What she finds fascinating were how some food that humans were used to, were in fact toxic towards some animals.

Chocolates and grapes to name a few...

On some occasion, she was beginning to wonder about how each species interact and bond with one another. One of the books she was currently reading was about horse biology and the types. She wanted to know about the stallion that threatened her and will prepare in case he decided to pay her a visit.

"...strong legs...a few are hot-blooded..." she murmured those words to remember. Rereading some passages, she had not noticed a familiar figure sitting on the opposite side until he cleared his throat. Balqis looked up and then adjusted her headscarf that covered her entire face except her eyes.

"What are you reading?" Gosha asked. The young woman turned the book around to show him a page of a horse's skeletal structure. He raised an eye ridge before giving her an amused grin. "Interesting...you have a thing for horses?"

Balqis almost choked at the very idea! She giggled and shook her head. Her expression became forlorn as her finger traced the image on the page. "Oh, no. I'm just researching since I need to be prepared. Out of all the animals I have met, the horse scares me."

Silence hung the air as she began to read, a way to avoid getting into this conversation. When the both of them rekindled their friendship, Gosha told her about his childhood friend named Yahya, a dark brown stallion with black mane that fitted the description of her encounter. So far, she had not seen the horse, but felt the need to put up a front when in public.

If these beasts say that carnivores were vicious, they have never met an angry herbivore. They are much worse.

"Balqis, you shouldn't let Yahya's threat get to you," Gosha told her gently. "He's used to carrying the world on his shoulders and sometimes, he needs a good kick as a reminder that he's done with the whole Beastars vigilante business and let his protégés take over."

"Still, I don't like how he threatened me on that night," Balqis rubbed the spot on her arm where the horse had grabbed her. "So, should I get used to having a big target on my back?" she asked her own question before answering him.

He pressed his snout against her shoulder in a light touch, but also replied, "I will protect you the best that I can. Yahya is my friend, but I'm sure things will be smooth once I talk it out with him."

The woman only nodded, deciding not to say anymore since Gosha does think highly of him. Wanting to change she subject, Balqis pointed at the book in his hand. "So, what about you? What book did you pick?"

"Oh, it's just something I picked up. The book you read when we first met, about dragons. I gotta say that I've never read anything like it. It's a damn shame that no one survived in the end of the Dance. Dragons fighting each other, families pitting against each other for the throne. A damn shame none of them made amends, leaving the princess' only son to face the world on his own."

Balqis gave a small 'hmm', reaching out to place a soft hand over his large, scaly one. Before he could ask, she assured him that she had used a special hand cream to be able to touch him. "I feel bad for the princess. Becoming an heiress to the throne, fighting her brother only to be devoured in the battle and losing all of her children except her only son," she told him. What they don't realised was how close they were to each other's presence. Slowly, Gosha began to ease her in so that she was sitting between his legs, much to her surprise.

His scales were cool against her soft, warm skin and a part of her wanted to turn around and straddle in his lap. Instead, she leaned back so that her back was against his chest.

"G-Gosha?" Balqis asked, looking up to see the Komodo dragon having a teasing smile. "Sorry, Balqis. I think after our meet-ups, I think I want to get to know you better. If...you would have me?"

His tone was soft and somewhat shy with how he averted his eyes when she tried to look into his. Shifting in her position, the young woman reached up one of her hands to caress his cheek. Her touch was soft enough to make him close his eyes and let out a contented growl.

"I'd like that, Gosha," she told him with a smile. However, she began to tap him gently on the snout, causing him to open his eyes in questions. Her green eyes twinkled with amusement under the library's LED light. "This is how you're staking your claim?"

Gosha hiss softly into her ear. "Careful, sweetheart. I may not be like these dragons in your stories, but I am protective of what's mine."

Balqis felt her heart leaped at the sound of his voice. Sweetheart? His?

Despite wanting to reciprocate, a few things held the woman back from acting upon her heart. This kind, sweet Komodo dragon was drawing her near, quite literally, and she was afraid to repeat the same actions that costs some lives in the past.

No, she will not lose another life again!

...

Gosha was walking back home with Balqis by his side. The fried bananas she fried were delicious and very addictive. Thankfully, there weren't many animals at the library, so he could use the washroom to wash his hands. Unlike other reptiles, Komodo dragons were segregated and isolated due to their venom. Other venomous animals were allowed except his kind.

If he were to live in this society, he had to let some things slide. Nothing could be solved by fighting his way out. That was in the past, this is the future.

While walking, a few animals paid no mind to them, but a few reptiles have flickered their forked tongue at her direction. They were taking in her scent, wondering if they would devour her. Gosha gave them a few glares, which backed them off.

"Say, Balqis," Gosha cleared his throat. "Are you free this evening?"

"I am. Why?"

"W-would you like to join me for dinner? I'm making some simple yakisoba and since we're friends, I thought..." he trailed off, because his venom sac was starting to flow from excitement. 'What the hell am I thinking?! I'm acting like some giddy teenager. Get a hold of yourself, Gosha!'

Balqis adjusted her covering, but her eyes showed her excitement. "I'd love that very much. Do I need to bring anything?"

"No worries. Just your appetite will do."

All of her sudden, she held his large clawed hand as he swallowed his venom back. "Well, at least let me make dessert for the both of us."

Gosha chuckled, his heart was beating rapidly at the idea of bringing his dear friend to his home. A part of him wanted to pull her close, but another was still thinking about his late family and grandson. Could this be considered a betrayal?

Sighing, he led her to his home, his tail unconsciously wrapping around Balqis' waist. This human was starting to stir something within him that he had felt when he first rescued Toki on that very night.

'God, help me.'

Yes, this chapter has a second part. And, I might let you guys experience some...interesting things in the next chapter ;) It's safe to say that this chapter's title and what book Gosha and Balqis were discussing about were references to a certain fantasy book series that's also a popular show