Dragons' Bandits

Green leaves softly brush against the scales of a beast that reaches both sides of the trail with the broad shoulders.

The trail is within an old forest which is built and maintained by dragons. Warm earth, tall trees, and plentiful of shrubbery.

The beast that is on this trail, while the sun sets, the fully grown dragon walks along the path to discourage any new growth.

Along the path, where the old forest meets with the new, the dragon discovers a new growth left on the trail. These new growths are known to die off quickly outside of this tropical forest, yet it also requires its own kind to be raised.

The elder looked and sniffed for the new growth's kind. A hint of their smell could be found, but the elder dragon also has a duty of avoiding the humans.

The war is over. They are no longer needed.

The elder chose to decline the offer.

He grabbed the small growth of its loose skin and placed it on his back. That is how he noticed that the human features he remembers, was changed slightly.

He looked at the new growth and studied it, all the while it stares back at the elder dragon.

This toddler’s body seems to have grown strong features which are different from the humans he created for the war. Yet, dragon’s blood can be seen running with this toddler’s golden irises.

The Elder puffs out his warm breath while his jaw tightens. Showing hints of sharp teeth.

The forest dragon continues his tasks along the trail through the forest while the toddler rides on the back of the beast. Seeming to be too scared to move and the chance of falling off to run away is null due to the dragons’ frills along its sides.

The tasks were abandoned quickly.

Elder dragon dealt with adult humans, ordered them, but never did he sense them at ease. So, when the toddler become at ease with his ride, he started to poke at the spikes along the spine. This little human stroke the frills whenever they look like large leaves filtering the sunlight. The elder dragon stopped when the toddler had succeeded in peeling off a blue scale that was covering the rib cage.

With the long navy-blue neck, speckled with green spots turned towards the toddler, the head of the beast is swung towards the face of the little human. Having them face to face within inches.

The elder pushed his hot breath onto the face, having the child to instantly react to protect his face. The dragon wanted this and bit the forearm.

Blood flowed from the wounds. Tears had formed from the child.

Shock went through the toddler so fast, the thoughts of running away had stopped. Shock then increased when he heard a voice within his head.

‘Stop’

A simple command. Clearly from the dragon. Those eyes are obviously angry, and the blood, his blood, dripping down the whiskers, tells that he indeed should stop doing everything.

‘’Why”

Both of the creatures stared at each other until the toddler realized that the elder asked about the scale he took off of the dragon.

“Umm.” He fumbled with the blue sapphire scale. “You are real. I need the proof.”

“Humans are proof” The thoughts from the dragon are emotionless. “We gave birth”

“I now have this proof.” The toddler held the scale in both his hands. Still barely able to cover the scale

The anger in the eyes disappeared.

“Go home. Borderline here.”

The head of the elder points to the town while the dragon’s body tilts to encourage the child off.

Fear is shown on the toddler’s face.

“I have no home!” The dragon is intrigued by seeing the toddler hanging on to his spikes. “They told I must stay till morning.”

The elder dragon is reminded of the youthful dragons through this child’s eyes.

With no reply, the dragon walks off the path, which makes the toddler tightens his grip.

Silence followed. Only the branches snapping, and brushed leaves are heard.

The toddler might have asked questions if the branches did not grab at him.

Once the branches and leaves parted, they both entered into a tree trunk.

“Sleep”

The toddler watched how easily the elder fell asleep and tried to follow.

The back of a dragon moved too much to sleep on and with the ribs of this forest dwelling dragon feeling like logs, he finds a way over the frills that stretch along the neck. Unlike the rest of the body, where the frills are larger than most leaves and stick up, the resting neck allows the toddler to slide off.

The floor of the hollow tree trunk is littered with soft leaves that are strangely dry despite the moisture in this old forest. It acted as the best bed that the toddler ever had.

The Elder and toddler huddled together for the whole night.

This is the beginning of how true friendship starts.

It was a slow process, which neither knew was growing between them.

In the morning, the child left when the Elder asked. The toddler was proud to have discovered a dragon and wanted to show his treasure to the people in the town.

Two days later, the Elder discovered him wandering around the border in the most particular pattern.

The toddler was focused on checking every tree, making him circle around each tree as he searches for something.

By the twelfth tree he had circled around, the dragon’s interest was not answered by watching the human child.

“What strange behavior”

The toddler jumped and turned around to finally notice a dragon half hidden within the undergrowth. Despite the dragon being mostly colored in sapphire scales, the green frills make him blend in within the large undergrowth of the old forest.

“Hello…” The toddler’s thought showed fear again, but he is now able to greet the dragon.

The child and dragon stared at each other for a while.

Finally, the child remembers the manners that the town claims he does not have.

“I am Bogot. Son of Sunve and Drake, the hunters of this forest.”

Dragon knew of hunters. It is the reason why the old forest and new did not grew into one forest. It also explains why this little human walk through the forest with skill.

“Elder Doga” The dragon walked up to the toddler and sniffed the fur the child now wears. “Felidae hunter”

The child nodded. “Yes, Elder Doga.”

“New forest is the hunting ground”

Bogot looked around, making his head shake. “No. I’m not hunting. I need home, like yours!”

The Elder knew then, that Bogot’s parents have passed. Hunters know the town is a safe space. The old Forest is guarded by the Elder Dragon and she prevents humans from encroaching.

Yet, The Elder showed him a place where the child can live within the old forest. Unbeknownst, the dragon slowly becomes Bogot’s guardian and teacher.