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** Apprentice to the Greasemonkey by Valtter Ihlahri (Ronso)**

[part 1]

Clickety-clack, clickety-clack, clickety-clack; he sat there peering out the window watching as the farmlands vanished from his sight. Steam obscured his view as the wind shifted, but there was not much to see. The feline rested his chin upon his calloused paw, thinking to himself, "These farmlands belonged to us for generations. They thrived for generations. Why did they begin dying now? Blight was never a problem." He was perplexed why he was being sent away at such a complicated time. He knew he could fix this, but felt the elders were wanting different means of fixing their lands; burning all the infected crops. They came to believe that the old ways were no longer productive. They had given up on their own tradition. The toned feline sighed and shook his head. He would not let that happen. He would not let his home be destroyed. He yawned, stretching up his arms and resting his paws behind his head. "I will bring back answers," he said to himself. "I will bring back the great green fields we used to play in." The young felid went into a more serene state of mind.

Clickety-clack, clickety-clack, clickety-clack; "Technology is the answer." A brief advertisement played over the intercom, awakening him from his brief slumber. He felt disgusted, violated even. "Already? I'm still four hours outside the great city of Y'hul and there is already too much noise." He hated the city. It had out grown its own borders, even as far as to violate the very ordinances set up to hinder complete sovereignty. Soul Dynamics did not care at all about the environment. It had already eroded most of the dated water transportation systems and it's outlying infrastructures. Most of those who lived within the city attributed it to bad weather and badly managed funds. Yet there was a more odious feel to it, and the lion knew it. He heard those who had left their urban lifestyle to the blissfully arduous agricultural life he was so accustomed to; they never forgot the corruption, and they never forgot the experiments that were performed in secret. Dabbling with the energy of the soul is akin to erasing an entire side of an equation and expecting nothing to happen. In the minds of Soul Dynamics it was only the importance of making a profit. There are countless souls, those that have died, and those that are still living. Nothing was off limits to them. Whatever they were synthesizing resulted in a hazardous byproduct that seemed to spring up thorns wherever it spilled and severely weakened the integrity of metallic infrastructure. Many buildings were dilapidated, while others still had occupants while they crumbled. Small toxic clouds of spores hovered above the ground there. Nothing could reverse the decayed state it had progressed to.

The train's chugging seemed to lull him near to sleep. He gazed outside the large crystalline window, gazing at the stars, knowing they too will vanish within the confines of the city. The moon's fullness warmed the feline's fur with a soft blue glow and his hair shined like the stars. His eyes drooped, and he took one large inhale. The scent of petrichor, sweat, and his own musk was soaked into his clothes. There was no time to change when the elders had sent him away, and with no baggage, just the clothes on his back. He had toiled arduously in the fields to the point of fatigue with sweat dripping down his brow. Mud was splashed up his legs and loin. To be sent away in such a weakened and filthy state crushed him. But that scent, was very calming to him. It was like a protective and warm embrace. He felt safe. The lion rested his head against the window and closed his eyes. The train chugged on.

** * * ***

Loud blasts of steam from the engine and gaudy chimes awoke him, "Terbassa Station." He hopped to his feet and shuffled out the wide up-swinging doors. Neon streams of light met his eyes with asphyxiation. Electric billboards were everywhere. Citizens were quickly walking without order and hovering taxicabs floated just above their heads. A loud murmuring in the distance seem to shake the ground every so often. A great miasma made the sky opaque, even the tops of the buildings remained obscured. So thick was that smog that it caused a tumultuous storm of lightning. It wasn't natural at all. But in all the thick of it, the lion was approached by a well toned and scared amphibian.

"Valtter?"

He looked at the questioning messenger with perplexity. "Yes? How did...?" He was interrupted by the amphibian.

"Valtter Ihlahria, you are the one being summoned from the farmlands are you not?" He stood their asking with forcefulness.

The lion now had a creeping disgusting feeling enter him. He did not know the exact reason why he was being sent away. He wanted to believe it was so it was difficult measures were being taken at home by the community, but now it felt like they were doing something they knew the masses would not approve of and they wanted his existence and compelling nature out of it. He replied back to the messenger.

"Yes. I am he." Before Valtter could get another word out he was interrupted with haste.

"Follow me. You are to report to your employed position." The amphibian hands him papers and atop them were the words Airship mechanic--apprentice level. There you will find your mentor." He looks at Valtter and smiles, seeing him still covered in yesterdays labor. "It seems you are already fit for the job." He turns around chuckling. "Not afraid to get dirty. Your mentor will like that. It's a dirty job."

Valtter felt weird asking, afraid of the answer, "What kind of job is this again?"

The messenger chuckled "It's not a harem," then paused in his footsteps and looked over his shoulder to lowly say "unless you want it to be." He watched Valtter's face freeze with a carmine blush. "What? Cat got your tongue?" He slithered out his tongue "Relax! You will be fine! It's just greenhorn teasing! The mentor of yours is a wonderful fellow. Even with his peculiar tastes, you will suit the purpose your elders sent you out for."

The lion felt a bit more at ease, but still not convinced at what he meant by peculiar tastes. He was still nervous. All Valtter wanted to do was browse the shops of L'hul to find something that could kill off the blight without having to destroy everything they worked so hard to produce. As he was following this boorish fellow he looked to his left and saw what appeared to be as a tiny florist shop. He was almost wanted to run over there. The plants were thriving, so brightly even within this poisoned air filled sunless atmosphere. The shop's owner was watering them as she kissed her mistress. The plants seemed to grow stronger with a sky-blue undulating haze that appeared around them then quickly dissipated. "What was this water she was nurturing them with?"

"Don't even think of going over there. You could be charged with a high crime. Since you are now employed by Soul Dynamics and the L'hul government, you will no longer have access to those luxuries unless approved by one of the high officers."

Valtter wanted to know why could a delicate source of life thrive in a place like this. Gardening shouldn't be a crime, but he learned from the messenger that only the farmers outside L'hul can grow food to serve the city. Citizens are strictly forbidden to grow life-sustaining foods. That is apparently the city government's job. Those that can't afford the organic foods end up purchasing strangely synthesized foodstuff that cannot even compare to the real thing. Yet somehow they still manage to suit their purpose. "Why are they allowed to grow within the city if it is a crime?"

The amphibian kept on walking forward. "So many questions you have. So many of these shops pop up everyday it's hard to stop them all. This one has conditional permission, they can only can grow inedible plants." He saw the lion was now looking at his own feet. "Don't be afraid. You won't have to eat the filth commoners are fed. We need you in top condition. You're accustomed to backbreaking sweat soaked work so any task he has for you won't be a challenge." He stopped for a moment, turning around. "He appreciates obedience. It's a bad idea if you get snarky with him. He has to write a daily report on your performance everyday that is to be turned in to officials. You were sent over for a very important purpose."

Valtter did not need an explanation, he understood the necessity to respect his superiors. He nodded and continued on, still thinking about that florist shop. _And why the heck was this job so important? Why does this boor keep repeating that? What did my elders send me to!_That amphibian picked up on his negativity but said nothing about it. He could smell him stressing out. So in attempt to put him at ease, he introduced himself fashionably late. They had reached the threshold of the job site. "I am Jarom, your contact. If you should see anything out of the ordinary do not hesitate to reach out to me." He showed him in and left.

** ** * * *

The building smelled old. The gothic architecture was glorious inside, but truly not as magnificent with the thorns blocking the stained glass windows. It was dark. It was dank. He heard reverberating deep sounds coming from the end of the hall. He walked towards it. A deep rich smell that prickled his senses surrounded him. He kept on walking. The floors definitely had seen better days. It is a mechanic's shop. Black sludge smeared and puddled in the shape of large footsteps trailed in the direction he was moving. The smell became more pronounced. Lights were flickering. _Seems even the government run businesses are having trouble as well._He inhaled again. He could smell the oil, the rubber, the metallic tools, and something else. That something else that piqued his senses. Yet it seemed so familiar. Why did he feel so much more at peace? He was relaxed in a strange and dangerous environment. Even his feral emotions were not awakened.

The reverberations became louder and more pronounced to a clanging. Metal on metal. A ratcheting, clicking and sliding sound. A soft hammering and many pieces falling to the ground. Valtter entered a large well lit room and his eyes focused on the large airship being repaired. His eyes looked around but his ears focused in on the direction the sound was coming from, underneath the ship. He could see someone laying on their back on a rolling dolly, their knees pointing upward. They were wearing a stained and tattered dark jumpsuit.

"Hello?" He asked. It became silent for a moment. "Hello? I'm looking for..." He was interrupted by a soothing deep voice. "For your teacher?" He rolled himself out from underneath the hull of the ship, to look at his new apprentice. Grinning slyly he said, "Valtter I presume? He stood up, the suit conforming around his chiseled dragon body as he moved. He stretched and cracked his knuckles. "Well, well, well, I do have myself a fine apprentice Jarom did more excellent job this time, hopefully you stay with me this time, unlike the others." The dragon frowned.

Valtter's left ear flattened. "Others?"

"Not many wanted to continue to work for me. They didn't have what it took." He stepped closer towards the lion, and even closer a second time, enough to put his hands on top of Valtter's shoulders. "I'm Sunclaw Bronzewing. You may address me as teacher." He was taller than him, having to look further up than he has before. He could see a gleam in the dragon's eyes. The familiar scent crept into his nostrils again. Still unaware of where it was coming from, he pushed it aside in his mind that it was himself. He still hadn't bathed since he left home. The dragon exhaled, blowing Valtter's hair to the side quickly revealing his ear piercing. He grabbed at it and gently rubbed it between his fingers and chuckled. He patted the lion's head and beckoned him to follow underneath the ship.

He began to show him the current project he was working on, hose connections and circuit boards. "You see kid, these valves have been blowing out every time this ship accelerates too fast. Simply to put it, they are too loose and need replacing and tightening down on the seal." Sun leaned over towards Valtter's direction to the toolbox beside him, he reached over him, and grabbed a new valve from the material pile. But as he was reaching over, he noticed that Valtter had a depressing look about his face, a very worried and sad look about him. He definitely picked up on his stress. Valtter wasn't exactly paying attention to Sun showing him how to fix the valves on the hull. He was distracted, almost captivated. When Sun reached over him Valtter's face was grazed by his arm, then the outside of his armpit, then his shoulder, and corner of his neck. It happened so quickly, but it verified something in the lion's mind. That must be the scent I've been having encounters with. The one that has made me feel strangely safe. He took a risk, and breathed inwardly, and softly.

The dragon noticed, and paused for a moment when fully extended over while grasping the valve. He pulled back his arm slowly, placing it to the lion's left side. "You like the way I smell?" Valtter's face froze in horror. "It's ok, I'm quite flattered. In the old days we used to smell each other in a greeting. So to say we breathed in each other's breath." Sun crawled over the lion on all four, now gently clasping at the back of his head. He pulled him closer until their foreheads touched. He exhaled. He inhaled. He closed his eyes. Valtter felt a warm feeling surrounding him. He felt more relaxed. He never had shared a moment like this before with anyone. His paw was slowly reaching around to the back of the dragon's head, feeling his soft scales. He heard him chuckle a soft sigh. He held himself there for a few moments. Their breathing seemed to synchronize, but the dragon purposefully offset it. He inhaled when Valtter exhaled, and exhaled when he knew Valtter would inhale. Sun removed his forehead from resting against the lion's.

As he opened his eyes, he saw Sun smiling and brushing his hair and his cheek. "That's how we say hello." The lion couldn't help but blush; he felt extremely relieved. The dragon lied there for awhile, staring back, playing with the ear piercing. Valtter's blush turned to a smile. He didn't do anything but enjoy the affection. Sun tuned into his heartbeat. It was calm. He leaned in closer, still stroking his cheek, and then hovered over his lips, and kissed him. He pulled back, "You really aren't like the other students of mine."

Valtter laid there stunned. He was not upset nor afraid. "I...I..." The dragon chuckled and kissed his temple. "I feel like we will be getting along after all. I was afraid you would be too intimidated by me." Again the lion couldn't form much words. Sun chuckled. "You're from the farmlands. I thought you'd be a bit more combative. Didn't even think I had not much of a shot with you. Now I can clearly see that you're really sweet, and polite! I'll take good care of you."

"Wh...what am I to you?" Valtter's paralyzed tongue finally broke free. The dragon raised his eyebrow as he rolled back over, grabbing the valve as he went back to repairing the ship. "I've been looking for a student like I've said before. I cannot get all this work done by myself; it gets exhausting."

The lion did not know what to think of what just happened between him and the dragon. Is that how they greet each other in the city? Or is he just being extremely cordial? Somehow, he began to feel strange inside, warm even. He knew he hadn't found anyone he cared about on the farmlands he lived and worked on, and certainly no one else had shared similar attractions. "Is this why all your other students have run off? Is this how you greeted them all?"

Sun was tinkering with a red wire trying to free it loose, but his fingers were to large. He retracted to look for some hooks to grasp at it. He turned to Valtter and asked if he could have the needle nose pliers as he sorted through his toolbox. "No. Not all. Some of them I became close with, but they were very disobedient. They fought back. They didn't want to learn, and just prowl the city bars at night. Those students were very disrespectful to others, shaming them for their differences." He stopped trying to grab at the wire and rested his hand on his chest before taking a deep sigh. "They were repulsed when they found out about me."

Valtter was listening intently. "I had to terminate their contract with the L'hul government for insubordination as much as it hurt me. I knew where they came from, but defiance isn't acceptable." He saw how much trouble Sun was having trying to reach the wire and offered assistance. "Care if I lend my paw, teacher?" Valtter grabbed the needle nose pliers and the hook tool, and quickly managed to free out the corroded wire. The dragon grinned with delight. "Hey, you catch on pretty quick." Valtter returned the praise with a cheesy grin himself, but still had not forgotten what had just happened. He implored again.

"Why did you kiss me?" Sun looked sweetly towards his student. "You felt something didn't you dear? My scent drew you closer didn't it? You didn't run when I shared the hongi with you. You were really relaxed I could tell. So I made a guess." He paused for a moment, "Did you like it?" Valtter thought about it briefly, and with a soft calm exhale he nodded a yes. "I thought so." The dragon rested his arm around his student's shoulders and kissed his cheek. "Well, let's say I show you around this old gal! She's taken quite the beating lately. I think you'll be able to understand the in and out of her by the end of tomorrow. This older technology is easier to repair. Parts are cheap and easy to come by, if you know where to look of course!"

He went on to show him the more destroyed parts of the airship and what tools are used, where they are stored, and how to clean them. There was a board in the back of the room that displayed the daily chores. Sweep the floor. Mop the floor. Clean out the oil drain. Dispose of the wires. Dispose of the parts. Wash the towels. Return and organize all the tools. Audit the tools. The list did go on some lesser tasks, but he was focused on his teacher. He wanted to learn, and maybe he could take something back with him to the farmlands and return them back to their splendor. If he was ever to get the chance. His thoughts bounced back and forth, but he came to grips he was now in an appreciative environment. Home was no longer what it once was. He loved his home, but there truthfully was not much there. He was raised and taught by the elders, and seeing them change so drastically struck fear in him.

"Whew!" The dragon wiped his brow. "I've worked up a sweat!" Beads of sweat trailed down his entire body. With a sigh he told the lion it was time to clean up and for him to shower before having dinner. Sun pointed to the push broom in the back for Valtter to use and began walking away. He pulled off the top of his suit, revealing the virile stud that he is. He stretched and turned around to lean in next to Valtter, "You finish sweeping and I'll take you to dinner dear." There was a gentle swagger in the way he sauntered off, humming a dulcet tune.

Valtter finished his first order quite quickly. Truth be told there was not a lot to clean up. He wanted to impress his teacher, make him proud, and to much his surprise, found the dragon to be watching him from afar. "Well, you went above and beyond what I asked of you. I am quite pleased!" He walked over and ruffled his hair. "What would you like to eat?"

He didn't know, it's a strange land to him. "I don't really know what to pick around here," He paused briefly and replied again, "What would you suggest?" Sun laughed and grabbed him by the paw, and led him outside. There are very few street food vendors he trusted. Real meat, especially fish is hard to come by. Most is synthesized from wood pulp and nutritional yeast with food coloring."Us dragons are very fond of fish. Depending on where we make our den, whatever is available, that can change our diet. It just so happens a lot of seafood restaurants are around." He praised him again for his hard work and threw his arm over the lion's shoulder's. "Trust me dear, you'll love this place."

** ** [end of part 1] ** * * ***