I awoke right on cue minutes before even the teachers woke. When the waking bell was rung me and Tom were already coming out of the bathroom. When we were coming out Jasmine was ten people back. I shrugged my shoulders signaling that we offered and she was not in the mood. Me and Tom got into the chow lines right behind the last hand grabbing a plate for himself. That must have impressed them at least some. The saying 'coffee strong enough to have a horse shoe stand up' was actually true as it fell in my cup. We were halfway threw our plate by the time the first others showed up. When we returned our plates one of the ranchers walked up to us. “ Hey your that fella who stared down that young buck yesterday.”

I set my cup on top of my plate in the bucket. “ Names Eric. How you guess?” 

He laughs a little. “ Your the only runt here wearing real boots. A good idea but ya got the wrong kind. Thay'll do thou. Also Jacob Manns.”

I extend my hand and his strong grip met mine. “ Hell you might do taken work here one day. Balls and brawn.” 

I laugh a little uncertain if that was a joke or not. “ I'll let you get to work the Jacob.”

He chuckles. “ Hell you are my work today. Strait from Mr. Branson mouth. He saw what you did. I mean serious balls on you. I've been here fifteen years and I've only ever seen em stare one down like you did. Last one to try lost a limb. Been here thirty years. Time before that was not so lucky.”

I swallowed hard. “ You and your friend must ave beat the others gettin up.”

I was relieved he changed the subject. “ Use to early hours. Two before dawn where we are from.”

He scratches his beard. “ Yea, we keep similar. Hell an hour ago I was helping one who got in a pissing match get out alive. The runt should ave known better for challenging for his tribe leaders girl.” 

The image of two dragons seeing who could pee further crossed my mind but by the look of him I could tell he cared for the one hurt. “ Will he be all right?” 

He looks at me concerned. “ Don't know. The gashes on his side are deep. The doc is checking em now. If he lives I hope he take heed and think of what he does next time.” 

I noticed it was troubling him more than I thought it did. I decided to change the subject again. “ So what are you going to show us today?” 

He looks at me a little puzzled. “ I'm not assigned to the rest of you city folk. That's Peters. I'm assigned to you.” 

This time I was confused. “ Mind explaining that exactly?” 

He looks over my shoulder and smirks. “ Why don't I show ya.”

I turned around and see the brownish-green dragon from before. The others from the bus start moving away from him and even Tom took a step behind me. He stopped a few feet from me and nodded his head and I nod in turn. He then moves over to me and starts licking my hand. “ He wants ya ta feed em.”

I immediately think of the biscuits. Soon I had four in my hands and I gave him one. Then another and so on till I had to get more. I fed them those as well and quite enjoyed him eating them with some difficulty as his mouth was never designed to eat bread. “ What is he called?” 

I asked and Jacob shook his head. “ You tell me. Your the one he likes.”

I sit at one of the tables and he moves off to sniff at the others a bit. Likely to get to know them a bit too. “ To be honest I do not know that much about dragons. What can you tell me about them?”

He laughs a bit. “ Fuck, at this point your more expert then me. I'm shitting myself right now.”

That put me in a bit of shock. I noticed he had big ears but that was all I noticed that stood out. Then I remembered some of my middle ages history lessons. “ Earl.”

I said loudly and he looked at me again and seemed to smile. “ I think he likes it.”

I commented as he came back over and licks my cheek. As if rewarding me for doing a good job. Then he moves to the side and lowers his hind half and spreads his wings. As if he wants me on there. Jacob steps in between us. “ Oh no ya don't. Your not ready ta try and he need trained and ejecated. Now get up and get Earl. The others want ta finish their meals and your makin em twitchy.” 

Both me and the dragon look around at the group obviously watching us in concern more than eating. No one was in two tables of us. When we looked at each other again I nodded. “ He is right. We can get together again later. Let us finish eating first and I might bring you some more biscuits.” 

He bows his head and walks strait out of the chow area. As soon as he had the room he took to the air. Not a moment he was not deemed a threat I was swarmed with all kinds of questions.