Dating : Everard:

Everard looked around the clearing he had landed in and stretched his scaled body. Sinking his claws into a tree with ease, he tore at it. They were sharp enough to destroy it if he wanted to.

A soft squeak and rustling sounded from his left. Everard stopped and spied a pair of dark purple eyes.

He tensed until his eyes adjusted, and with a great smoky sigh from his nostrils, he slowly relaxed and stood tall, scales and claws gone.

A girl emerged from hiding with a gasp.

“What are you doing out here, little girl?” He stared at her as she trembled.

“A-are you going to eat me?”

“Eat you?” he scoffed, eyes glinting green.

“But you’re a-a dragon man! They said if I was caught I’d be eaten!” Her voice rose in panic, then dropped down, sending an echo through the trees.

“The only thing that will eat you is wolves. You should go home.” He sighed again and glanced around. He shouldn’t be out much longer; someone was bound to notice.

“But I’m lost, and they told me I can’t go back without food!”

“You won’t find any food out here. The nearest village is that way.” He turned and pointed the opposite direction.

“But it’s dark, and cold and they don’t want me…” Her bright eyes dimmed, and she looked down mournfully.

“Keep walking that way. It isn’t far.” He made as if to dismiss her, but she stayed put.

“Where are you going?” She looked in the direction he was facing.

He grimaced and crossed his arms. “Home, where you should be; now go on.”

“Can I come too!?” She stared at him, eyes brightening again, and took a few steps towards him.

“No. Go to your own home. You won’t be welcome where I’m going.” He shook his head and began walking briskly. Ignoring the girl’s pleas, he walked further and crouched, scales and wings turning him back into a large dragon.

He took flight and sailed through the misty evening sky. Some minutes later, a gloomy yet well-kept castle appeared, and he landed back into the cover of the forest.

He imagined the girl getting more lost or caught by the palace guards. If what she said was true, maybe she wouldn’t be welcome back, or the village she said she came from whole village would blame her for their lack of food. Why did they hate her? Her purple eyes pierced his mind, but he shook his head she couldn’t be another dragon shifter. finding the small door at the side of the castle he Crept through the hallways and stairs. He made it to his quarters with no encounters. Gazing out his small window, he watched the expanse of forest far below.

He ached to be free of these walls but knew he could not for long before being found out, and the village of his people he barely remembered would stand no more, if it still stood now like the chancellor had told him. This Everard often doubted, but he wouldn’t risk his people’s safety if he was telling the truth.

Hours later he was woken by a summons to the courtyard. He walked quickly at this unusual meeting place. He didn’t know what they wanted, they had never met there, especially in the cold. The back of his mind hoped he would be banished from this place. Maybe he and his people could be free from the chancellor for good? But no, the power hungry chancellor would never hand him his freedom.

Everard sauntered through the doors and crossed his arms in front of the chancellor and his council, shivering to their toes. The man stopped his pacing and sneered down at Everard. “Do you know this child?” He gestured with his long arm, sneer deepening as Everard looked at the girl shivering more than the council behind her. So she was caught… He frowned briefly as his memories of coming here resurfaced.

He kicked and screamed as he was dragged out of the boxed wagon. “Let me go!” his small form was easily overpowered by the guards as he was brought before a sneering younger chancellor. Everard had shivered and fear, not fully comprehending what was in store for him in the years following.

He shook his head as the chancellor continued speaking, “She claims she was hungry and that she wanted to see the ‘dragon man,’” the chancellor continued. “What’s this about?”

The girl whimpered, watching him with a pleading expression.

“Obviously she heard some myth. No ones ever seen me.” Everard shrugged slowly, looking back at the accusing chancellor. “My missions for you have always been successful. I’m the best you’ve ever had, remember?” His expression turned smug as he waited for a reply.

“Take her to the dungeons and leave her there. Everard has training to do.” The chancellor’s confidence returned, clearly reading Everard’s displeasure as the girl was taken away.

“Who was she?” Everard stepped forward, his voice firmer, already suspecting the answer.

“A dragon girl, but she doesn’t know she is. That girl isn’t supposed to be anywhere near here.” The chancellor eyed his remaining council members and dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

“I can find out more about her, chancellor.” Everard watched as he paced.

The chancellor halted, and snapped harshly, “You’ll do no such thing. Leave this to me.” He continued pacing after a moment, his boots clinking against the stone of the courtyard with each step.

“If you insist. I’ll retire now.” Everard shrugged, turning back to the castle.

“Send my council to the throne room, and stay out of our way,” the chancellor ordered, distracted.

“Gladly,” Everard muttered, hurrying off to the kitchens once he did as he was asked. He got a small parcel of food easy enough; the kitchen staff always let him take what he wanted. But getting to the dungeons was another matter. He avoided going down there as much as he could, but eventually he had to. When the chancellor suspected he was growing disloyal, he was fixed with a nasty draft of a special concoction the chancellor had been trying to perfect for years. It meant Everard was no longer in control of his dragon skin until the potion had worn off.

Taking his parcel of food, he walked lightly through the winding hallways until he found the stairs leading down to the dungeons.

An eerie light was cast by the torches lining each side of the dusty stone steps, but with his keen eyes Everard could see clearly. He made his way down extra carefully, as the slightest noise echoed down the tunnel. His thoughts wandered to his conversation with the chancellor. Did he say she was a dragon girl? Could it be they were both the same race? Glancing around, he was tempted to return to dragon form, but the tunnel narrowed as it went down, making it impossible to fit a dragon his size. Soon enough he came to the bottom of the stairs, and lines of cells started with a narrow walkway in between.

The light was dim, but he spotted several figures here and there, none with the piercing purple eyes he was looking for.

He was almost to the end before he heard the echoes of sobbing coming from around the corner. “Hello?” he whispered, voice reverberating around the room. The crying ceased as Everard rounded the corner.

She was in a tiny cell, barely big enough for her to stand. She blinked rapidly, peering up at him. “I-is that you, dragon man?” She wiped her eyes and stood on her knees.

“Everard. I brought you this.” He crouched and held the sack through the bars.

“What is it…?” She took it eagerly and opened it with an amazed gasp. “That’s so much food!”

“What’s your name, girl?” He watched her curiously. Her eyes are purple, and they glow. I don’t even know her turning age.

She devoured the food for a moment before pausing to look up and answer. “My name is Raya.” She finished off the rest of the food in the sack unabashedly. “Why does he want me locked up?”

“He does what he wants.” Everard shrugged. “He hardly ever explains.” He took the sack back and stood up. “He thinks you’re like me.”

Raya looked up at him, wide eyed. “Like you? Do I have to stay here forever too?” Her purple eyes pleaded with him.

Everard frowned deeply and remained silent for several moments. “No. You do not.” He turned to go back through the hall. “I will return at nightfall,” he said through gritted teeth.

“But…it’s already dark.” She looked all around her, hope returning. “Can’t you stay?”

Everard shook his head. “No, I have things to do. I will come back for you tonight, but do not say anything to anyone who talks to you.”

“Well…” She slowly nodded. “I won’t. I’ll wait…” She sighed and sat back as Everard left the room.

When Everard was able to escape notice, he crept down to the dungeons, this time with a bigger sack of food. “Raya,” he whispered, tapping her shoulder as he reached through the bars.

She jolted awake and shrunk back from his touch. “D-dragon man?” she trembled a moment before calming down. “Everard? Is it nighttime now?”

“It is. We must be quiet.” He took out a key and slowly unlocked the door. Raya hesitantly pushed the door open and crawled out.

“Come with me. We must be quick.” Everard stood and waited for her before turning down another hall. They continued through another line of cells, these empty and dark.

“W-where are we going?” Raya stayed close beside him as he kept walking.

“You will see,” he grunted.

Raya peered around, jumping at the slightest unfamiliar noise. The stone floor started to curve upward, and the cells fell away to a narrow tunnel; no torches lined the path. Still Everard pressed on, glancing at Raya every so often to make sure she still followed. She kept pace well, concentrating on her steps. He sighed and looked ahead. The chancellor better never find out. Or I’m likely dead.

His frown deepened as he thought. Why was he doing this? Couldn’t he just leave the chancellor’s business alone? But no, she was just a little girl; she couldn’t be here. And if I can help my people….

“Everard? Is that a door?” Raya put a hand on his arm, jolting him to what was in front of them.

“Yes. We go through it.” He unlocked it promptly and stepped quickly through into the night air. It was cool and calm as the moon shone through the trees, casting a blue hue on everything. “Wait a moment, Raya.” He stepped forward and crouched. His scaly flesh returned, and his breath came up in tendrils. He cast his glowing green eyes on Raya as she stared, and he knelt as low as he could, waiting.

After a few moments Raya gained the courage to climb on his back, clinging to what she could tightly. As gently as he could, he rose into the air staying low to the trees and took off, looking for his destination.

Nearly an hour later he landed with a thump. Raya tumbled off, having fallen asleep. “Where are we…?” She rubbed her eyes, looking up at him tiredly.

Everard huffed and nodded towards the torch light coming through the trees.

“But I can’t go back…” She shook her head, on the verge of tears again.

He shook his head and nodded toward it again, more urgent.

“Oh…will they want me…?” She stood up and moved closer to the light.

Everard nudged her with his nose and waited. Raya glanced at him one last time and snuck through the foliage and branches. Soon she was out of sight. Everard breathed a sigh of relief, casting more smoke into the air.

With no backward glances, Everard sank into the shadows, leaving the girl on the outskirts of a village he knew she would be welcome in.