How A Dragon Trains you

Part 5 – The Unknown Hero

…

My doze was interrupted by a grumbling noise which I observed emerging behind me. Nothing further happened, so I didn't think anything by it and continued my rest. But then the grumbling reoccurred and got louder, almost sounding like a growling. It made me finally open my eyes.
“Nrrf-"
The dragon made another one of those noises and its head lifted off the ground, looking down to me with big eyes. Before I could inquire anything else the dragon was already moving up suddenly, the forelegs unwrapping and taking away the support, causing me to roughly drop onto the gravel ground. The abrupt change of hospitality concerned me. Why was it doing that all of a sudden? Did I do something wrong?
It looked at me apologetically, as if it would know that I would've liked to rest. Then it proceeded to trot off to the water. I just lay there on the ground, turned to the side and leaned on one arm, and stared after its moving body.
I didn't stay motionless for long. I soon pushed myself up and followed, standing not too closely but also not too far off behind the dragon's shoulder and approached gradually.
I watched what it was doing, almost curious about it. The dragon began to gradually crouch down as it was entering the water, padding slowly into the surface, not even making any ripples or waves.
I felt like as if I was a scholar observing animals behavior in the wild. That's what the dragon was after all, a feral creature. That'd explain the rather rough treatment. Animals are not as used to that type of sensitivity like us humans have… Strange, I thought to myself. How did this creature develop such a strong connection to me? I thought love didn't exist in between animals, only mating instincts. Were only those responsible for that? Or was there more behind it?
Having ended up standing there while those questions rushed my head, my focus was quickly brought back as the dragon, who was standing in the river's water to the upper thighs by now, lowered and dived its head down, staying like that underwater. I only caught a glimpse of the widely opened eyes before they had dipped and disappeared beneath the surface, which left me awed. Were the eyes really so resistant that they can hold off flowing water? Or did they have something like… second, transparent eye lids? In curiosity I stepped closer, observing from the side and seeing the yellow blur in the water of the carefully swaying head.
The dragon stayed hunkered, as its head suddenly stopped any movements entirely, only the abnormally large eyeballs in motion. They kept scanning and looking back and forth. It waited for a moment… then several moments… couple minutes…

Ambient noises of the water flowing and breezes rustling the trees filled my mind as, beside the slow readjustment of the paw's stance, nothing more happened… yet, the lack of movements didn't make me become bored or anything. The dragon's body was enough to keep my thoughts from slipping away in boredom, and despite the monotony of nothing more happening… it had caught my whole focus. Examining the different shapes and form the dragon's muscles molded kept me busy for as long as the dragon was occupied itself. I figured it was looking for fish to catch, to feed that big and strong body of it... At least that's the only logical explanation I could come up with to myself about why on earth the dragon had its head held down into the water like this-

The silence was shattered as the whole body rushed forward all of a sudden, jerking so hard that the unexpected movement made me flinch and snap me back to what was happening around me. For a second or so almost the entire dragon had disappeared underneath the water's surface, leaving only its wings and part of its tail visible, which were, along the rest of the body, hastily wiggling and swaying around, splashing water everywhere.
The dragon reversed as it dragged and then carried something out big and slimy of the water. As it turned around I saw what the thing was.
It had caught a salmon! A very big one, even. The fish nearly didn't fit into its maw, the rather blunt teeth barely able to withstand the panicking waggling and not let the catch drop out of its grip. Therefore hurrying, the dragon ran ashore and tossed the large fish away, landing a couple feet in front of me.
I just stood there frozen while the catch was splatting and flopping on the gravel. Should I do something? I asked to myself. But before I even got to set a move the dragon already lunged at it, a paw on placed the head.
(slight gore warning for this paragraph lolol)
Before I could realize what it was about to do I heard a loud crushing-like snapping noise and some inwards were already pressed out to the sides. Usually I didn't mind seeing any gore, but as it oddly reminded me of George's head… I flipped my head away in disgust. I knew, it was just a fish. But it made me imagine that it was him, laying beneath the strong paw, and I couldn't stand that thought.
In the corner of my eye I saw the dragon's head lift the humungous bloody salmon off the ground and leaned backwards, the fish quickly traveling down its throat. I turned back around, figuring that now I could look again…

The dragon was staring at me too, having its head tilted. It was most likely confused about why I was acting so strange, but as we did nothing but exchange awkward looks again, the dragon eventually just turned away and walked off, its head now looking up the tree's crowns. It picked the largest one it could find, in front of which it hunkered its hindquarters down to the ground. Then it wiggled a little bit, before all of the legs extended in one fast movement and the dragon was seemingly already up the tree, clawing into the wood and quickly ascending along the rest of the trunk up to the thickest, sturdiest branches which were toward the lower middle. It took a couple moments until the dragon found a position comfortable enough to lay to rest amongst the various heights and widths of the limbs. It relaxed, dropping to its front… closing its eyes…

I stood there for a while, looking up the tree, still in awe… but not sure what to do now. For a second, I had the crazy idea of climbing after it like I once did before when it was hiding away near the Inn, but remembering how that turned out back then… with me almost falling to my death… I quickly pushed that option aside.
My thoughts were interrupted by a acheful feeling in my stomach. A hunger so strong it felt like a blunt pressure slowly creeping up to my throat.
Damn! I thought. When was the last time I've eaten? The last thing I remember consuming… was the steak at the inn, which I shared with the dragon. Else? Nothing. I gasped a little by the realization. I haven't eaten all day!

I was nervously pacing around the place, aimlessly looking around, occupied with thinking of something that would help me… I didn't have my hunting gear with me! And I couldn't just walk the way to the river and catch something at ease like the dragon just did…
Should I leave and get something? Almost automatically I looked up to the dragon on its tree, as if I was about to ask for permission. I felt bad about having to leave it behind, probably having no idea why or where I would have gone.
But where do I even want to go? The only place which would ought to be close enough for a foot march with my current amount of energy would be… the inn. No way! I thought to myself. No way I'm going back to that place! Not after what I've done… and after what they've done to the dragon. If I'd show up there they are most likely going to do the same to me…
While I continued anxiously strolling around, walking up and down the river side and turning around each time I figured I was walking too far away from the dragon… I eventually came across the dagger, barely having noticed it stuck out amidst the gravel. It was the one which I had extracted out of the dragon's body, laying there on the ground, having gathered dirt which paled the very dark red stains. The entire thing was covered in dried up blood -but was still usable.
I crouched down to one knee, reaching down and carefully picking the small blade up by two fingers. As I held the dagger there out of the dirt, now able to get a proper look at it, I noticed something rather disturbing. This thing was serrated! I almost dropped the dagger as I winced a little. The grooves were poorly carved in but were still able to do its job. That's why it hurt the dragon so much as I pulled it out! I turned my head around, glaring back up to the dragon. The improvised bandage has fallen off long ago and I still could see the wound from down there. God damn… I thought to myself. I wish I could have five minutes alone with the thug who used this thing on the poor dragon… I clenched up the dagger by the handle in one of my fists, now being able to see the blade's full might. The tool was little, but if it hits in the right spot, an important artery namely, this thing could kill anything! Even a… dragon…
I held the weapon thoughtfully in front of me, examining the blood a little closer. This gave me an idea. What if… I were to return to the inn and pretend that I would have slayed the dragon with this dagger…
For a second, I tried to push the idea away. Lying has brought me nothing but trouble so far! Yet… it was perfect. What could go wrong? I might even save some lives with that. When people think the dragon, which had attacked some people by the inn… is dead, then they wouldn't have the legion search this place… Oh, right, the legion! Since that thing in Helgen they are eager to kill or imprison every living dragon they can get underneath their swords, spears, and arrow tips… I must do this. For the dragon! And for the poor people who would lose their lives trying to fight it.
I was about to leave but felt a certain uncomfortableness inside my guts. A few steps more I figured what it was, as my head turned back towards the tree with the dragon, the big black, kind of sexy, streamlined body barely visible from this distance. It would be wondering where I would have gone. And more importantly, why I would have left it. Should I tell it?
There was no way it could somehow understand what I mean, considering that it didn't even get that it was supposed to stay put until I return to the spot I've showed and ended up following me towards the inn and causing all this trouble in the first place. The only reasonable thing I could do was proceed to go ahead and perhaps return before the dragon awakes, although that'd be nearly impossible to achieve. I'm lucky if I arrive there before sun dawn -My stomach interfered into my inner debate with another ache followed by a rumbling noise.
I can sort out what I'll do about the dragon while I'm on my way… I really need to get going now, I thought to myself.
Despite the determinedness of my clear decision, the feeling of uncomfortableness didn't get out of my guts. I repeatedly caught myself looking back to the each time less visible outline of the dragon, resting amidst the branches and leaves, as I distanced from the river, only able to figure from which direction we've come from. If I wouldn't have been around this place a couple times already, I surely would have been be lost. But luckily I was able to remember significant tokens of this forest. The rock-builds near my old camp namely, which was very well visible throughout the trees of the forest's edge once you've happened to come close to it. Or various ominous clawed looking tree trunks, sometimes accompanied by clear forest patches not far away from them. I had to do a lot of aimless strolling before I came across some of those traits, giving me an approximate orientation of my whereabouts. At least it was enough to determine the direction in which I should head to get back to the path, which is ought to lead me back to the inn. But seeing those… characteristically lined claw marks and those strangely clean areas on the floor… I couldn't believe that back then I didn't understand that those indicated the presence of a dragon. How foolish of me… but I didn't have the time, or the energy, for self-loathing. I needed to get going. The hunger in my stomach had become so strong by now it drowned itself out to a pressure of emptiness, reaching all the way up to my throat.
…

Finally, there it is! After having trotted over another meadow from the forest's very edge I could see some of the pale grey cobble kind of contaminate the monotone green of the landscape. As I spotted the travel path, I began to scamper, taking a very short break once I felt the hard and leveled stone take place beneath my soles, relaxing me... Now… just down this way, and the sign of the inn should appear on the side of the road. As I was about to continue, I couldn't help but glare back to the forest again. The dragon's forest. It looked so different to me now than it did before, now knowing what beauty lived in here. But my hunger didn't give me a lot of time for admiration. Once again, I needed to get going. Farewell, dragon! I almost said out loud. We shall meet again! Hopefully -No, surely. I'll ensure that. I swear, as true as I'm standing here!

…  
My mind had acquired this state of this certain travel-trance again I sometimes get when doing nothing but walking, my thoughts wandering around my head just like I was wandering, only that my thoughts could go wherever they want. Yet they kept sticking to that dragon, and the discomfort of leaving it behind made me become hesitant sometimes… and sometimes hasty about getting food from the inn and returning to the dragon's forest as fast as possible. I barely even noticed the hunger. It had quieted down, only sending this low but constant pressure up to my throat. But I was almost there. Or at least should be. I must have been traveling for at least two hours by now. The inn shouldn't be far. Just past those few hills…

…

There it is! The path to the inn! Despite looking the same as before, the sign of the inn at the corner, just like the forest did earlier, seemed so different to me. “Moonlight Inn" the letters read underneath the firm layer of dust and soil. It made me wonder, will the people remember the same as I did under this name? George's death? The dragon encounter? Or perhaps… me? Once I've told them what deed I've done… they'll do for sure. Although I wished that this wouldn't get too much heat. People calling me a hero would be nice, but what if they'd actually need a hero, and they'd pick me? I can't kill a dragon! Or befriend another one and pretend I've killed it… But that's something I could worry about when I had a full stomach. My priority for now should be to not starve. Else the dragon would have to find another human to get its rocks off.

…

There it was… Moonlight Inn. I stopped again, looking over the place as if it was the imperial penitentiary itself. The outline of the tall wooden building now had a rather sinister look to me. Did the dragon feel the same when it got here? If it didn't back then, it sure did now. After what those people did to it. But I shall bring an end to that conflict. No more killing, no more hate. I was to end it all and restore the peace this place had when I got here the first time. An innocent, uninteresting and boring inn, in which you could last one night before continuing your travels.
The hunger rudely interrupted me again, urging me to go ahead now that the food was in a graspable nearness. I didn't hesitate much longer, then I forced my feet to move forward and carry me closer to the cave of thugs with their serrated knives, drunk imperial watchmen and infuriated inn ladies.
I had a terrible feeling in my guts as I stepped closer to the gate of the surrounding fence. I could see the area in which the dragon was surrounded stick out from the Inn's behind. Surprisingly, there was no one outside. The yard was empty. I thought that maybe they placed look-outs to see if the dragon would come back, but it seemed like they either didn't care or were too scared, hiding away inside.
Before my mind could properly ponder and figure out another reason, I was already at the gate, pushing it aside and headed for the front door. I felt my face already charge up with a nervous warmth as I, step by step, walked towards the entrance, slowing down by hearing the voices from outside, as if nothing was different at all.
I was determined to move forward, but as I lied my sweaty palm down onto the handle of the door, I stopped in motion, looking down to the ground as I heard the voices continue as if nothing was different at all. What am I going to say? What if they're so mad that they'll charge at me? I was already so thrilled up with the anxiety, my mind didn't work properly already. But I couldn't back out now. I took one last breath… and pushed the heavy entrance door open. For a short moment I still heard the voices from inside. I haven't even entered the room yet, and already they've quieted down immediately, a shattering silence attacking my nerves. I kept my hand on the door, as I slowly lifted my gaze off the ground and dove it into the crowd of people, both staring in surprise and glaring in anger. They were all gathered around the tables, some of them having been busy wrapping various cloths and linen around each other's limbs, having frozen in motion and their heads turned towards me.
Nobody did anything else but look. Stare at me, the dirt on my clothes, the expression on my face. I heard a few whispers. The exchanged messages weren't for my ears but the room was so quiet, everybody could hear them. “That's him!" “That's the liar!" “Wasn't he carried away by that damned dragon?!" 
I glared at the crowd, and so they did at me. My thoughts were as silent as the room, and in nervousness I almost forgot what I came for, and what I intended to tell.
I didn't dare to break the quietness. No words came to my mind which would be somehow fitting for what I was about to report.
The crowd was as still as me. As I spotted the inn lady, sit by a table near some other guests, I looked her directly in the eye. George's helmet was placed on this table, Lavenders placed around it, as it was tradition for honoring those fallen in battle. She was mad, but confusion held her back.
I was about to say something, but ended up staying silent, as I began to reach into my jacket which I had rummaged out of my knapsack and put on during the travel, groping for the dagger. I could feel the suspense in the room arise, some leaning forward in their seats. With a shivery hand, I pulled out the blood covered dagger out of one of the inner pockets. Gasps broke the quietness, the absolute lack of words. I held the weapon up, for everyone to see, presenting my achieve, but not proudly. I clenched my holding hand to a fist, making it shiver even more, and my fearful face filled with a trace of determination.     
I stepped forward, leaving the door open behind me, still directly staring the inn lady in the eye. I said nothing. Nobody said nothing. As I stood in front of her… I reached down for one of her hands, carefully let her open it, and placed the handle of the bloody dagger inside hers. To me it seemed like the silence had intensified, even though that wasn't possible as nobody was already saying anything. They stayed speechless in confusion. What does that mean? I could hear them ask, despite no one having said anything. Their eyes spoke for them.
The hand of hers unwillingly grasped the wooden handle, the anger in her stare disappeared, seemingly begging for an explanation. And so was everybody around me. My jaw was trembling. My eyes were wide, but without expression. My face was pale. For one last time, my head lifted and my stare went around the people. They all had that confused and hopeful look on their faces.

I lowered my head again, looking back at the concerned inn lady.

“George's fate will never repeat" I finally mumbled, loud enough for everyone to understand.

People rushed towards the lady with the dagger I've just handed to here, observing it and noticing the un-human blood on it. An upset buzz filled the room. I heard fragments, such as “The boy killed the dragon?" “This can't be!" “That is its blood…"
The heads were hastily turning towards me and back to the dagger, their jaws dropped, as if asking “You!?". An impressed smirk was on each of their faces. But I wasn't smiling. I only stared back at them, backing off and headed for the door, as if my job was done here. As if it was time for the hero to go and carry on to his next adventure.
On my way out I spotted some neatly prepared beef stew placed on one of the abandoned tables, and took it with me, figuring that the heroic dragon slayer would have the permission to do that. Most of them probably didn't even notice. They were too shocked and filled with disbelief. How did that boy kill a dragon? I suppose they'll never know.   
I shut the door behind me, hearing the buzz from inside being significantly louder and spunkier. Almost sounding like cheering. But it just made me leave faster, wanting to be gone once they'd find out the untruth behind my claim. Once they'd get me to know so much they'd find out who I am. Yeah, give three cheers to your unawareness, I thought to myself. Let's hear it for illusion!
I left the Inn's fenced area through the gate one last time, still having this nervous walk. Slow and weary feet, seemingly dragging me across the floor. Away into the setting sun, along the cobbled path which lead to the main road, bringing me back to Dummerston.
If it wasn't for the comfortable warmth of the wooden bowl, I would have forgotten about the beef stew I took with me already. Once I've figured I would be far away enough to not be seen from the Inn's outside, or inside, I sat down by the path's side, underneath a neatly large tree trunk of which I could be sure that it wouldn't have anything creep up from behind. Finally pausing, I just sat there… still feeling my heart fluster… still feeling my hands tremble… still feeling my forehead clad in sweat pearls running downward. It took me a while until I was calm enough… to just eat. I felt the hunger return, having been replaced with discomfort in my guts until now.

The sun was almost set entirely, the sky was dark on one side and the orange was gradually disappearing behind the hills, covered in trees and bushes, and the more I've watched it leave me behind, the less I was able to relax. So far, I haven't eaten much from the stew yet, and had ended up just poking around in it yet again. My head was too busy. I didn't even know with what exactly, the Inn issue should be over and dealt with. They think the dragon is dead, and I that I had made up to lying, and being partly responsible, about George's death.

I should stop worrying… In case they'd find out, I'm screwed. No doubt. But there was barely a chance that that could happen. The only risky situation which could arise from now on is that the dragon would return to the Inn, again, and look for me. Then I would be in real trouble, but those folks have no idea who I am anyways. They don't know where I came from, and they'll never know where I'm headed. Gosh, they don't even know my name! I never got to tell anybody. Besides, if they are gullible enough to think that someone like me was able to take down a dragon, then they're surely unwary enough to think that, if the dragon would actually return, it's another one.

Those dragons didn't look much different from one another anyways in my eyes, although I have to admit, I've never seen a dragon like that before. Entirely black, a rather round head shape… with its large yellow-green eyes, which did look threatening at first, but now seemed beautiful to me. I haven't even seen a creature like that before in those strange lexicons I browsed through as a child or haven't even heard of one. Not in rumors, not in telltales… it wasn't even one of those creatures people thought of to scare, especially those younglings, off from going into the wilderness or pretty much anywhere outside the village. At least I hoped that they would be just myths back then. This dragon was different… And it did not only look different, it acted differently as well. Or entirely differently from what I would have expected a dragon to act, according to what I've heard. I haven't heard of any dragons having their ways with humans... and come back and sort of apologize for it afterwards.

…Perhaps there is more to those dragons, I thought to myself. Maybe each is not the same as one another, and has individual traits, kinda like us humans. Strange. Every scholar would call me crazy for claiming that. Dragons are feral beasts, they say. But would a feral beast come back for me and let me pet it? Would it feel bad about the killing of another human being?

I was so lost in thought that I've entirely stopped eating for a while, the beef stew steaming less, being notably colder.

…Maybe it is just this one dragon -my thoughts continued to slip off. Just this one… and the rest is how they say… I could hardly take one dragon as an ambassador for the behavior of the whole dragonkind. There also might be something that just I don't know about those creatures. Maybe dragons are known to, in rare cases, do such unusual things… I need to ask some people once I'm back home. Some people who are better informed about that than me.

…
I raised the bowl and drank out the rest of the sauce. As I was finally finished with the beef stew, the sun was set entirely by now. Stars decorated the night-blue sky, the moon shined brightly. Having to travel during night time made me slightly uncomfortable… but I didn't want to go back to the Inn again. The longer I'm staying there, the more they'd end up knowing about me. About the unknown hero, the mysterious dragon slayer. I preferred staying a secret. It was safer that way. Besides, I didn't mind traveling through the night. It's not as bad and scary actually. Everything would be as usual, except that you can't see -and when you hear something suspicious or worrying, you run away. Problem solved… or maybe not. I had to think back to when that dragon chased me through its forest… and then did those things as it caught me. But still, I couldn't just stick around here. Yet I just sat there for another while, leaning back onto the tree… catching some more rest before my long travel back home… or just how far I would manage to last with my current amount of energy…

…

I rather unwillingly stood up from the spot where I've been lounging around, feeling my back and legs and back being a little sore. The air felt cold around my face. I looked around the darkly moonlit silhouettes surrounding me, barely able to make out the bright cobble of the path. I didn't have the torches with me, so I had nothing left but get used to it.
I didn't even get to properly step onto the path, then I noticed it stand there already. Amidst the high grass, another black silhouette protruded from all the others, except that it wasn't just outlines of the recognizable body that caught my eye. I immediately recognized the dragon by its beautifully bright and yellow eyes, curiously staring at me from the distance, and the characteristic head shape. The dragon had returned, not seeming to worry about anything else. Not paying attention to the inn, or the fact that some late-night travelers could come along this path anytime, and also not seeming mad about that I left it behind, having gone away as it slept on the tree, without saying a word or flourishing a gesture.  
The dragon just held its posture and its rather solemn looking facial expression. Its stance seemed mysterious to me, almost magically. How focused the eyes were tracking me almost made me feel uncomfortable. I didn't move too, standing there frozen, still in surprise about that the dragon managed to find me yet again. It made me wonder how it was doing this all the time. Was my scent really that notable? Or could it somehow predict where I was going? Inn's are a common place to look for travelers. Or was it just… coincidence? Or destiny? Perhaps all of this was just a bad joke from the gods above? It remained a secret to me. I didn't know. But I did know that it felt like the dragon was bound to me. Anywhere I went, it felt like it was omnipresent. From the moment we hugged by the tree, of which I almost fell off, I never really felt alone again. Even when I couldn't see it being around, and I was left to only figure its whereabouts, it surely must've known where I am, perhaps still watching from the distance… from somewhere up a tree. Or hunkering in the bushes. Or peeking over a hill, watching everything that I was doing… I could feel in my heart that it was with me all the time. A certain warmth, which expanded widely each time I spotted the yellow of the dragon's eyes, like I felt it do now. If the motionlessness of the dragon wouldn't be so concerning, I would have rushed to it and lunged to its chest, hugging it like I missed to do so, for the full six hours in which we didn't see each other. Yet, I waited for it to come to me. It felt more comfortable that way… but after a while of standing around, it seemed like the dragon was doing the same. Did it want me to approach? I stared questioningly into the dragon's eyes, unable to figure if it understood my confusion. It did but hold its stance, its mysterious expression.
I experimentally stepped forward, looking if the dragon would react. A small and hesitant step, placed unnecessarily slow. As I observed nothing happen, I took another step. Then another. I was already in the high grass which reached to my knees, then suddenly the big black body began to move forward. Slowly approaching as well, one paw placed in front of another, we made our way towards each other. Despite having already spend so much time with the dragon, I still felt this dread inside, walking to a dragon dead ahead. The eyes were locked on me, not letting off, even while the dragon was walking. It was what made me hesitant the most. So far, each time the dragon had approached me it had a rather submissive body stance, the ears low and the belly close to the ground. But this time, I figured it strived in confidence. How I would have expected it from a usual dragon. But I didn't know. I thought to have roughly understood this creature by now, but mysterious traits like those reminded me that I had no idea. Was it mad at me? Or just slightly upset? What did it intend in searching me out once again? I was somewhat scared of finding out. The fear of the unknown is something I couldn't stand.
It took uncomfortably long until we were finally in each other's reach. We both stopped in front of one another, merely looking into each others eyes. The dragon kept its solemn, somewhat grave, expression on its face, while my eyes were full of curiosity and confusion, just staring up to the large head.
Come on, we didn't come here to just gaze at each other! I thought to myself. But I didn't dare to do anything else. We were staring around for so long the dragon eventually sat down to its haunches, still not having moved the focus off me even once. I didn't know what I was doing, that was clear to me, but did the dragon feel the same? Again, I had no clue. For a feral creature it was acting quite complicated.
I eventually had enough of the waiting and just stepped forward, dropping myself into the dragon's large chest, my arms reached around on each side of the upper body. I clenched myself onto the dragon, as if never wanting to let go, pressing my head into the scaly and chilly hide tightly. One of the paws lifted and was softly brought down onto my neck. Then another paw reached out for my back from the side. That's the only thing I noticed the dragon do, as I had my eyes closed… The paws began patting me and pressed me in a little harder, as tears started to exit my eyes… feeling the emotion uncontrollably take over me, as if it was a levee which got overwhelmed and had broke, letting through what it has been holding back. I'm just not used to this type of eventfulness and negativity around me. People dying, people hurt, people lying, people wanting to kill the dragon or me because of the thing with George… in this moment, I couldn't take it.
As I opened my eyes again, something was strange. The silhouettes which were surrounding us so far were… gone. Something was different all of a sudden... I looked around fearfully, pressing myself into the chest even more like a scared child.
The ground clad in high grass has turned into nothing but a platform, the edges shattering off and falling down, bringing everything down with it and leaving behind a dark abyss. The floor was disappearing! I was panicking, but the dragon didn't seem to bother.
The platform was barely large enough to keep us both standing.

“Goodbye, Mervyn" I suddenly heard a low but somehow soft voice speak, resonating through my whole body.

Then I already felt the hold of my feet disappear, the forelegs unable to keep me up and letting me drop backwards into the abyss—

Sunlight illuminated my closed eyes. I flinched, as they shot open, immediately pressing myself out of the grass from the spot beneath the tree where I've paused, loudly gasping. The sudden rush of the brightness made me screw up my eyes and shield my face with a hand held up high in front of me.
I sat there, panting, dreadfully looking around the now lit landscape. The floor was there again. But what happened?! What was that?! Where is the dragon?
I stood up, still panting, holding my head in my hands and pacing around the place. I was still at the spot where I had the beef stew, which's empty bowl was lying there, having been carelessly dropped aside. My head turned into all directions, seeking the spot where the dragon was just now. I eventually spotted the typically high grass in which it had appeared, and nearly sprinted into that direction… in which I could've sworn I saw the dragon standing right there… yet everything was… as usual. This mysterious feeling that something was different was gone. As if nothing happened. Has that been… a dream? I asked myself, looking around the high grass which seemed disappointingly normal.
I eventually started to make my way back to the road. This… was a dream. It must've been. But it felt so realistic! The spots on my body felt like they were still warm from the dragon's arm, having gently pressed me into its scales.
I felt shattered in disappointment… I couldn't believe it…
The dragon actually didn't come back for me? It was… all just in my head? In surprise, I realized how addicted I have become to the warmth the dragon gave me. Not even for another real person I've ever felt something like this. And it's the first time I've wanted the dragon to seek me out again, like it had spontaneously surprised me at the Inn. Or at the hillside.
Why didn't it come now? It must be still asleep… but that was unlikely. When it lied down yesterday it was about afternoon. It's morning by now and the sun's orange is coloring the horizon once again… It should be awake..
Not wanting to accept the dragon not coming after me, I stayed near the spot where I've unintentionally fallen asleep, catching myself prodding over to the high grass and staring at the spot every now and then… in my imagination I saw the dragon stand right there, just like it did in the dream… or at least in what must've been a dream. I was stubborn about the idea that the dragon would eventually come… it'd be just a matter of time… but the longer I've wasted my time there, the more frustrated I felt myself become. The thought that the dream was nothing but a wishful fantasy, and the dragon wouldn't return to me, grew stronger. Just like the thought that I should just get going, back to Dummerston, just like I had intended to do. But I refused to accept that. The dragon would surely arrive soon…     
Business on the road was starting to emerge. I repeatedly had to scamper aside, off the path, so the traveler and merchants which were coming from the inn wouldn't see me. I didn't know how much time I've spent there, staring into the direction of the dragon's forest, my glance watching the sky and desperately checking every tree and bush. But finally, as the familiar feeling of hunger took away my focus, I gave in. I had to go. And I couldn't go back to the Inn to get more food… I had to carry on with my travels and find another spot to stop by. The dragon would surely be able to follow after me if it wanted to… even if the way is far more distant… I'll just be on my way…
That was easier said, or thought, than done. I strolled down the road so unwillingly my walking pace was as fast as an old woman's. I caught myself almost constantly looking back. Scanning the sky, the trees… There was this kind of hope left in me. Like dirt on the floor you're scooping up. There's this last tiny bit of it that just won't go away… The dragon might come back! My mind kept repeating, making me flip my head around each time, and sinking it back down in disappointment once I've seen nothing.
…
I was standing at the sign again, about to proceed into the other direction, the new one. I knew, I've already come across it once on my way here, but when I thought back to the recent events it felt so different, just like everything did. I spent a long time staring around. The path which ran near the dragon's forest… the Inn path… and the sign. “Moonlight Inn" it still read… A place that now has history. Because of me, mainly, but no one shall ever know that it really was me. I hoped that the telltales, which would surely spread like wildfire, only speak of an unknown rather young boy, kidnapped by a dragon! -and then he returned the same day, reporting the creature's death and bringing the sacred weapon along with him, its blood a trophy… No, I'd rather be known just as the boy who survived a dragon attack… Thinking about that I slipped the sleeveless shoulder end of my shirt a little higher to take a look at the biting wound again. It was still present, and very well visible. I let go of the cloth… finally moving my glance into the new horizon with determination. The boy who survived a dragon attack, my head repeated… as I confidently strived forward.
… 
It took me awfully long to get rid of this looking back habit, and even longer to get my thought back to my own business, and not thinking about the dragon all the time… but it felt like the more I tried to suppress those thoughts, the I ended up thinking and fantasizing about it… recalling the things we did together… and what I'd do if I would just get to see the dragon just one more time… I sometimes entirely stopped walking and glanced back down the path, into the direction I've just came from.

(Perspective switch to Fahren)

...

Fog..

…flying through fog..

...

the wind buffeting…

It looks cold, but the temperature feels like..  nothing

...

To my right.. I fly by something large and dark, like a cliff face. I fly on, just barely grazing past it, and then it fades away behind me.. Then on the left, I fly by another cliff.. the looming structure slowly passes by.. As it fades away behind me, I get this sinking feeling in my gut.. and my wings grow heavy. But I doubt have time to dwell upon that before another huge, dark wall begins to show through the fog.. directly in front of me! I swoop straight up with just millimeters to spare, so close to dragging a leg against the.. smooth.. surface..? I start to pump my wings as if my body knows what's going on before even I do. The cliff face turns out to be quite round, almost like if it was an absolutely humongous, smooth river rock. As the object beneath me flattens out, so does my flight path, taking me just above the fog level. But as I level off, I again find myself flying harder and faster than before. I look back.. and see all three of the huge objects I flew by.. and I start to panic as I see some of the fog begin to get sucked down underneath them. As the fog level decreases, more huge objects begin to appear. Hundreds of them into the horizon. And their shape become clearer. They're.. gigantic.. stone night furies.. with no wings.. And just as I realize this, they begin to stir. Their eyes open one by one, revealing a lava red glow inside. Their heads lift up really slowly out of the fog, dragging some of the mist up with them, which makes their glowing red eyes and mouths shine out in rays. Huge stone demons.. bearing unique markings on their heads and bodies.. every friend I ever made and lost.. or betrayed, or hurt. I flew faster and faster, trying to escape. I turn to look back forward and I see something new.. I see my tiny human.. perfectly placed on top of a spire of rock that sticks straight up out of the fog. It's far away, but I can make it. Behind me, the stone giants begin to open their mouths in rage, but their angry eyes start to pour lava out.. as if crying. They lift further from the fog and begin to raise their paws, reaching for me. I fly faster and faster toward the human. I'm almost there! I race forward as the giants begin to run toward me, making up the distance I flew incredibly fast. Now they're roaring, the lava coming from their eyes getting flung every which way as they gallop for me! A strong headwind picks up and begins to drag on me, slowing me down.. drawing me back toward tree clutches of the monsters behind. I reach out with a paw as I fly closer and closer to the human. 100 feet, 50 feet, 30, 10, 8, 5, 4.. 3... 2..... 1!

..

I grab the human's outstretched hand and time stops. Everything freezes. It's peaceful.. I can only hear my heart beating.. but, it's nothing like a regular heart beat. It's entirely erratic and has no pattern at all. I look at the human's hand and arm.. and I feel a backwards pull.. The peaceful quiet moment is broken by my own worried noise as I grab the hand tighter.. But the tugging on my tail pulls ever so slowly harder. I tighten by grip even more, but it's no use. I can feel and see myself slipping.. "No. No! STOP!" In an excruciatingly, torturously long moment, I watch myself slip off the human's hand.. and I slowly float backwards.. But then it speeds up.. exponentially slow.. but then fast. Drifting away from the human.. faster and faster and faster until suddenly, I get ROCKETED backwards. I ROAR OUT IN PANIC!

---

And then I jerked awake from my perch high in the tree, losing my hold and stumbling through the branches, hitting my head and legs until I finally managed to grab a branch and stop my fall.

Panting and trembling, I sprang into action, placing my hind paws against the tree trunk and launching myself off, out of the branches, spreading my wings to go looking for my human…