Rin

 

 

 

The dragon’s fearsome head shoots forward. He’s so close I feel his breath on my cheek. A thought races through my head: this is the end. His maw gapes open and his forked tongue flicks with anticipation. There’s a crunching sound over my shoulder, then the alien man’s grip on me slackens. I drop and roll away, desperately seeking a place to hide. Behind me I see the dragon rip the man in half, and then he spits the man’s chest over the side of the pyramid. It flies through the air and disappears into the shadows below.

Again the dragon roars as a couple alien warriors run up the steps with black-tipped spears. Arrows begin to rain down and my natural instincts finally kick in. I get up onto my feet and make a run for the back of the pyramid, where a small room stands. That should protect me from the arrows and this huge intimidating dragon. So far the dragon has helped me, but I don’t know its intentions and there’s no way I’m sticking around to find out.

I make a break for it.

Behind me there is fighting—the swinging of the dragon’s tail, stabbing spears and chomping teeth. Screams of terror and a growl that shakes me to the very core. I’m running, almost to the room, and then suddenly a sharp pain shoots up from my calf. I drop to my knees, gritting my teeth in pain, clutching my leg as the pain sets in. I feel the shaft of an arrow sticking from my thigh, and as I slump down onto the cold stones I cry out for help.

As if in response, massive talons envelop me and pull me into the air. I hear the flapping of huge wings and the steady breathing of the gigantic creature as he lifts me into the sky. Being in his grasp I finally get the true scale of his size. He’s got to be at least twenty feet long and twelve feet high. And holy shit is he strong. A moment of panic sets in. I struggle, pushing hard against the claws that grasp me, but it is no use. My meager strength is a joke in comparison to the power of his grip. It’s probably a good thing though, considering how high we are now. There’s no way I would survive the fall.

Like it or not, I am his prisoner now.

The pyramid quickly drops away from me. The screams and commotion of the crowd below dies away, and it’s almost peacefully silent up here. Stretching all around is the jungle, a scary looking place in the middle of the night. I’ve already met one group of its inhabitants and it nearly cost me my life. I hate to think what else lurks down there.

I was certain my end was near, but something about this creature is reassuring. He did rescue me, after all. If he’d intended to eat me he could have done so already. I’m a little worried about his wounds, though. He is bleeding from several gashes in his side. They don’t look life-threatening, but then again, I’m not a dragon veterinarian. Who am I to say? If he weakens too much, I’m afraid he might drop me. Hopefully we’ll be back on the ground by then. There is also the fact he saved my life, so there’s another reason to hope he’s alright.

He looks down at me, the angry burn of his gaze tempered now. Membranes flip open then closed over his pupils, and as he looks me over I swear I see desire behind his large reptilian eyes. He flicks his big wet tongue and licks me across the face, catching me off guard.

 

 

 

Targon

 

The second I saw her, gleaming like a great jewel against the cold grey stones of the Vikon pyramid, I knew I had to have her. But I’d almost been too late. The Vikon are primitive, their minds corrupted by superstition and the manipulative Other-Worlders. They would’ve sacrificed this treasure for nothing more than to curry favor with their overlords. A deep growl emanates from my depths as I think about what might’ve happened to her had I not arrived. But I brush aside these thoughts. I can feel her heart beating against my scales, feel the rise and fall of her chest as she breathes, and a great wave of contentment washes over me. On the horizon I can already make out the ridge of my mountain, and soon she will be safely in my lair.

I swoop through the cool night air, keeping my eyes open for riders. I’m relieved to see the night sky is empty, as I don’t know how much of a fight I could put up right now. I’ve been wounded by the spears of the Vikon. I can feel it in my wings as I fly over the jungle. And my breathing is hindered by pains. Glass-tipped spears and arrows are the only weapons they have that can penetrate my thick hide, and tonight they have hit their marks. But the thing that worries me most is the arrow wound my treasured one has suffered. The Vikon are in the habit of poisoning the tips of their weapons, and she will not have the resistances that I do to this poison. I must get back quickly and treat her with the proper herbs.

We reach the edge of the Wildlands, and soar over the Barren Waste and the great lava fields at the base of the Charred Peak—a huge active volcano. It erupted earlier, spewing molten rock and ash everywhere, but now the fires have subsided and plumes of grey smoke rise lazily into the atmosphere. I circle around the blackened caldera, and as I come around to the far side I see the opening of my lair. I dip my wings, descending until I’m level with the entrance. It is well concealed on the back of the ridge. It takes a sharp eye and knowledge of the surrounding area to spot. But these are my ancestral lands. I am the last free dragon of my clan. I have no problem finding it. I extend my wings fully and touch down at the lip of the cave entrance, careful not to harm the female.

I look down at my treasured one and see that she has fallen asleep. No doubt today has been traumatic for her and she will need all the rest she can get. She looks so peaceful, and her beauty is far greater than any of the gems I possess. I lean in close, taking in her scent, and feel myself stiffen with desire. I long to explore her body, to consecrate our unity by mating with her. She is mine now, finally, after all these years of searching for a blood mate. I never could’ve guessed that my mate would end up being someone so similar to the Vikon, but now that she is mine, I could desire no one else. I wish to claim her immediately, to spoil her with my riches and create new life in her womb. But for now I must see to her injuries.

I shift into the form of my treasured one and move to the back of my cavern, searching for herbs that will prevent the poison from spreading throughout her body. The poison is slow acting, and she will be perfectly fine as long as the proper remedy is given to her right away. I am bleeding from deep gashes in my arms and legs, but for now I ignore it all. Quickly I gather the ingredients and place them in a goblet, bringing them to a boil with my breath. It is a tea made of the Dangee Leaf, an herb found along the rushing riverbanks of the Wildlands. Not only will it stave off the effects of the poison, but it will help her sleep as well.

I kneel before the gentle curves of her body and reach out to touch her. Ancestors, she is soft. I exhale sharply at the sensation of her smooth warm skin against mine. I stroke my fingers up her arms and then down between the rises on her chest. Her clothing hangs loosely around her neck, her supple breasts hidden just out of my sight. The temptation to see what’s beneath her clothing is strong. The fires of desire are stoked within me, and my cock grows hard at the thought of gazing upon her fully naked body. It is only with great effort that I shake off my carnal lust and remember my priorities. I am her guardian now, her protector and mate. From this point on, her safety and well-being will always be my top priority.

I bring the tea to her lips and gently stir her awake.