A Tale of thirteen [A dragons' cove story]

-None of the poor dragons in the Orphanage have not been used in such a long time, I thought they needed some exercise, as well as maybe some motivation for those who haven't adopted but can!

Wedged in a tree, not far from the town of Larthumb was the ungainly figure of Hone, neck straining upwards towards a half open packet of chocolate digestives twisted into a high fork of the tree. Her back legs scrambled against the bark, trying to find a better hold to push her those final few centimetres.

“Oust tha' devil did'ah get these up 'ere?” She grunted as she moved hardly a centimetre forward, one leg hanging precariously as she stretched further…Then all of a sudden the branch beneath her gave way and she plunged towards the forest floor with a cry…

…And ended up in the middle of a bustling London roadway, cars screeching to a halt as startled humans gawped at the dragon that had just fallen out of the sky! Likewise, the startled dragon gawped back, until a passing woman dropped her many shopping bags and screamed at the sight of her, making the sensitive-eared dragon run in fear away down another, calmer street.

Unnerved by the noise and sheer number of humans, Hone continued to run through the streets until she came to a deserted area of the city, the tall office blocks of the city centre where she had appeared replaced by shorter, uglier warehouses and boarded up, derelict houses. There were no humans around, except from one exceptionally tall security guard standing near a gate, his face covered by the hood of a long coat. Slowly Hone approached the man, hiding in the shadows (but hardly unnoticeable due to her bright colouration and unusual appearance) as she went. As she neared him, she had to almost look up as the man was almost seven foot tall, and completely still- until he moved and beckoned her closer with one coat-obscured hand, before launching into a stilted run and disappeared into the nearest warehouse through a large black doorway.

Her curiosity aroused, Hone followed him inside at a slow, halting pace, surprised by his speed- Which was quickly understood as he threw his coat off to reveal the scarlet and green body of a scythe claw dragon. She gaped, not knowing there were other dragons in this place, before volleying off a multitude of questions- “Wh'ista? Wherst we? Wha tha forest gar? Wha my half coated's gar?"
The scythe claw held up one pointed claw for quiet, then replied,
“My name is Typhon, and this (so I gather) is the city of London. We are no longer in the land of Dragons’ Cove. This is another world to the one we know, at least metaphorically speaking. As for "Half coated's"…Well, they aren’t here!”

Gasping again, Hone took a look outside once more at this other world, drinking in the grotty sight before stumbling over the words,

“Well this explains a lot.” Her tail swished uncertainly and she took a step closer to the other dragon. He gave her an encouraging smile, then beckoned again and turned away down the dark corridor, walking towards a nearby door after scooping his coat over one arm.

“Come and meet the others.”

The main warehouse was home to twelve other dragons, eight females and five males, including Typhon. As Hone and Typhon entered the warehouse there were several exclamations of amazement as the other dragons noticed the newcomer, and a few moved closer to quickly introduce themselves. One of the first to introduce themselves was a lean, friendly, golden coloured dragon that went by the name of Suji the Desert Chaser. Next that leapt up in synchronisation were a young excitable pair of dragons, who were obvious friends, announcing one another’s names as Mistridle the Peppermint and Zeal the Red Rock. The Lash dragon took an immediate liking to the pair, and nearly ran off with them there and then, had it not been for another quiet emerald green dragon who formally requested that,

“I introduce you to our fellow dragons.”

Taken aback by the dragon’s formal speech patterns, she nodded dumbly and allowed herself to be lead away by the dragon, who said that he was a Griffa dragon named Ryuu.

Tucked into a dark corner of the warehouse was a multitude of other dragons clustered around a large tank full of dark, murky water. At her approach, the dragons turned away from their conversations and watched her settle before Ryuu began to slowly introduce them one by one.

“This is Athena, a beautiful Winter dragon,” He started, the dragon in conversation blushing and fluttering a wing,

“Calista, the Boneweld dragon; Kelp, a Coral dragon who is waterbound and her mute friend Silento the Nessie dragon.” He gestured with the tip of his tail towards the creamy blue dragon who had appeared at the top of the tank, then again towards the general direction of the tank where, supposedly, another dragon resided amongst the murk.

Blinking, Hone sat back on her haunches and looked around at all the new different faces, trying to make sense of the day’s events. The others, after a moment of quiet, resumed their previous conversations, whilst the other dragons from earlier wandered over to join the group, bar Typhon who had returned to his lookout post outside the warehouse.

Outside the sun was setting on London, and humans were returning to their homes as four more dragons returned to their warehouse home after a short hunting trip and a long scheming meeting, avoiding the occasional human walking home after a day’s work, evening newspaper in hand sporting the surprising headline, “Dockland dino: Trick or Truth?”

“What the hell are you doing back so bloody late?” Typhon snapped at the four dragons that had appeared as the sun was setting, their faces smug with disobedience- Until anger replaced this.

“The sun’s almost below the horizon, yet you went hunting before sunhigh! Where were you, the others need to hunt and exercise.” Before him stood the four last dragons that made up the pride of dragons that lived in the warehouse- Krayt the Tyrannosaurus Rex dragon, Botsu the Venomous, Irentius the Terrorwind and Birthdron the Horn. At Typhon’s sharp words they scowled, Botsu sliding forwards from her perch on Irentius’ back onto the ground before Typhon, hissing like a snake and spitting her words,

“We may come and go as we like here, we have no ties to your…Pride, as you call it.” Her head spikes rattled menacingly as she wove before him at almost his height for a moment, before flicking the tip of her tail at the others and slinking past into the warehouse with a look of loathing upon her face.

Inside, Hone was continuing to make friends with the other dragons near the large tank where Silento and Kelp lived. Beside her, Zeal groaned and stretched along the ground, grumbling with hunger.

“When are those others going to get back, I’m starving!” She moaned, rubbing one foot along her belly. Hone watched in bemusement before asking,

“Wha do’you’s eat around ‘ere anyway? Humans?”

The others stared at her in horror for a moment before Mistridle repeated the word.

“Humans? Of course not! They would attack us if we tried t eat them, and anyway, we voted not to eat them. We don’t eat them in Dragons’ Cove! Here, we’d rather be safe and hungry that chased and full, don’t you think?”

Hone nodded in agreement, but behind her came a soft, silky smooth voice that spoke the opposite.

“Would you not rather be full and safe though, as we would be had we chosen to eat the two-legs using stealth such as mine to hunt, rather than the blatant stalking that you use when catching prey?”

Turning, Hone saw that the Venomous dragon had entered the circle that the other dragons had made, her purple scales gleaming in the dim light of the warehouse. She tried to catch her eye with a friendly smile, yet this faded when she saw the malicious glint that resided there, and her ears drooped. Botsu herself showed no recognition of the friendly gesture, or even the appearance of the Lash dragon.

Following Mistridle’s point, the calm voice of Suji took up the side.

“If we were to start eating the humans, someone would eventually notice. Anyway, we do not eat them back home, why should we here? The vote we took stands: We do not eat the humans.”

The steely looks of distrust given by the other dragons stopped Botsu’s crusade, and she had to satisfy her anger with a hiss, slithering off into another part of the warehouse. Behind her, Krayt appeared out of the gloom momentarily with a snarl, tail swiping through the air as he too disappeared.

Once they had gone, Mistridle gave a sigh and moved closer to the Desert chaser, gratitude written across her face, speaking louder than any words. Suji smiled back at her, tucking close to share heat in their cold building.

Ryuu the Griffa spoke suddenly,

“What if they break their word? What if they feast upon a two-leg?” Worry made his face drawn at the idea of their peace shattered.

“They will, and havoc will ensue.” Prophesised Calista, speaking in front of Hone for the first time. At her words, silence befell the group, each lost in their separate nightmares.

“Silento declares that he will never eat the flesh of a human.” Kelp was the first to break the silence, her high floating voice unfamiliar with the dark course the conversation had taken. At this, Hone frowned, then asked,

“Oust come thew can’ear Silento? I thought Typhon said ‘e was mute.” Kelp smiled back at the Lash dragon, then replied,

“My dear, there is more than just one way to communicate. Just because he does not speak the language of land dwellers does not mean he cannot communicate with dwellers of the sea.” With that, she disappeared with a splash, leaving Hone even more confused than before.

Mistridle gave a laugh and got to her feet, wandering towards the doorway.

“Now that the others are back, it’s time to go hunting!” She gestured with her muzzle to Suji and Hone before disappearing into the corridor beyond the doorway. A victorious squeal came from the vicinity of Zeal as she ran past, wings stretching for flight and inviting Hone for a race.

As they clattered through the doorway, they nearly crashed into Typhon who had appeared to issue instructions.

“Don’t go too far and be back by eleven rings of the bell. Don’t get seen. Hone, fly with Zeal. Suji, Mistridle, run as normal.” At this, Hone quickly interrupted with a wry look on her face as she explained tha she couldn’t actually fly, despite her wings. Zeal looked shocked, her own wings aching to get into the air. Typhon nodded serenely however, then called inside the main warehouse to Ryuu,

“Come and stand guard Ryuu, I’m going hunting with the others.” With that, he threw off his coat again and lifted into the air with a beat of his wings and a quiet “Off we go then!”

The five dragons travelled through the quiet streets for a while, Zeal telling Typhon of Botsu’s words and the prophecy of Calista. Below them, Hone dashed excitedly around the city at speed, doubling back often to follow Suji down the right path instead of the one she had sped ahead into due to her lack of knowledge of the city. Soon they arrived at a large green park, having leapt over a locked gate by way of a tree. They gathered for a moment to arrange the leaving time before splitting five directions to catch themselves a meal for the night. Above, the Moon looked onto the city, watching the dragons in their element, and not watching the warehouse dragons who were slumbering, or speaking together or scheming, each and every waiting for the day when they would return to their own world with their own Moon.

Stalking along the park, Hone held the remains of a bird in one clawed paw, occasionally tearing at it with her teeth as she waited for the other dragons to arrive back at the gate. She was early- It didn’t take long for her to hunt- and worn out after an exciting day to boot. She gave a yawn and sat down to wait, watching the silent city beyond the gate. Far away she heard the rustling of bushes as another dragon caught food for the night, then a gentle tolling of ten bells. She had an extra bell left, and so she disappeared back into the bushes to catch some more prey, this time for the other dragons in the warehouse.

An hour later, Hone had amassed quite a stock of prey, what with a pair of birds, a pair of mice and a fat rabbit she had caught snoozing outside his hole, now laid crook-backed on the other carcasses by the gate, Hone herself proud and preening beside them. Slowly the others arrived, creeping out the bushes from many directions- First Suji, a bird between her jaws that she place next to Hone’s pile, then Zeal and Typhon together with a hearty congratulations on her catch. Finally Mistridle clattered in at the eleven bells, a feather stuck behind one ear. Once they had greeted one another they each took a part of the catch in a paw or pair of jaws and set off back to the warehouse with full bellies and food for the other dragons who had not had the chance to hunt that day.

When they reached the warehouse, a friendly cry came from Ryuu as he saw their bundles of food, and he hurried over to help them carry it in. As they walked into the main room where the dragons were, Hone crowed in delight,

“Deek wha we caught!” before dumping the offering she was carrying in her claws before the others with a grin. Shouts of excitement came from the others at the prospect of a meal, and they fell upon the food, bringing a quick silence broken only by the crunching of bones.

Zeal flew up to the top of the tank and dropped in the rabbit and a mouse, ensuing large amounts of splashing which quickly drenched her, who then sprinkled droplets over the others with a dog-like shake and a laugh. At their friend’s wet appearance, Hone and Mistridle also burst into laughter, making the sound echo around the room- And attracting unwanted company.

From out of the gloom stepped the hostile figure of Birthdron, lips twisted into a sneer at the happy emotions shared by the trio of dragons. He looked around at the other dragons, looking from one guarded expression to the next, for her was liked by none, and then spotted the last small mouse that lay at Typhon’s feet. His eyes immediately became greedy and he unconsciously licked his lips, moving forwards with a lisping word,

“I see there is prey left for me…”

However, before he could reach the morsel, Hone stepped into his path, an angry look on her face,

“Appen ‘aint for thew. Thew (so es gather) hasta hunted long ‘nough today, it’s thine problem yar ‘aint caught ‘nough prey.”

Birthdron looked surprised at the competition, but quickly hid this with a snide remark;

“And who are you to challenge me? My master?”

“Naw, I’m tha dragon wha caught this ‘ere mouse for those who ‘aint had tha chance to gar hunt today ‘cos of yer selfishness.”

“Oh really. Well congratulations on your chivalry, don’t expect to see any from me.” He snapped back, trying to move around the Lash dragon, but again she stepped in his way, tensed. A growl slid from between her lips which Birthdron almost matched had it not been for a nasal “Leave it.” Behind him. Instead he had to consent to just a narrowing of eyes at Hone as he stalked off with Irentius who had appeared.

A wide grin split Hone’s face as he went, and Mistridle gave a leap in the air at the win, before pressing against Hone’s side in congratulations.

“I would never have been able to do that.” She whispered in awe as Hone smiled at her and picked up the mouse, placing it at Ryuu’s feet.

“This is for yar, ‘cos yar guarded tha warehouse well while we were gar.” She said, bowing away back to her place. He stuttered a thank you before attacking it ith his teeth and claws carefully, such as one might with a gourmet meal. Typhon looked on approvingly, pleased at Hone’s choice, before announcing that he would be back to his post- An idea that was greeted with a chorus of melancholy cries from the other dragons (as well as a quiet “Shut up!” from Botsu in her corner), pleading him to stay and take a break- Which he finally did, resting his back against the wall of the tank where Silento and Kelp lived.

Yawning, Hone stretched out beside Mistridle and Zeal, eyelids drooping with sleep. Beside her Zeal gave a quiet “Night”, which the Lash dragon answered with a repetition of the word, and Mistridle answered with a quiet rasping snore.

-Part Four coming with more than a little madness!