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Freshly cooked eggs and bacon. The scent of a hot meal was such a pleasant thing to wake up to. I yawned and sat up in bed. A plate of food had been left on the nightstand next to me.

"'Bout time you're up." The familiar voice of my dragon companion came from the floor next to the opposite side of the bed. I quickly looked over and found Dresnath doing crunches. It certainly wasn't unusual for me to catch him in the middle of a workout; I'd seen him working out before. It was usually in the mornings when I was waking up. Generally, he'd be wearing pants, though. Maybe he did that because he was on the forest ground, because this time he was going completely nude. And based on the sweat beading down his scales, he'd been going at it for awhile.

I couldn't help but blush light at the sight of the muscular dragon working out. I was very tempted to pounce on him and give him another bout of endurance training, but I restrained myself. "Must've tired myself out more than I thought last night," I said with a grin. I grabbed the plate of food and began to eat. "Thanks for getting me breakfast"

"No problem," the dragon replied. He paused his workout to look at me while I ate. He had on a wide smile and a look in his eyes that I couldn't quite identify.

After I swallowed about half my meal, I asked, "What?"

"Just enjoying the view," he said casually. I felt fluttering in my belly at his compliment. "So, you planning on keeping that collar on?" There was a strange mix of excitement and hesitation in his question. He seemed almost anxious to know the answer, which urged me to ask my question.

"Where'd you get it, anyways?" I asked. "You said we'd be able to talk about it today, which makes me think that there's some kind of story attached to it."

Dresnath stood up and nodded before getting back into bed with me. I could smell his strong, sweaty musk as he got closer. It was kinda nice, actually. Strong but not repugnant. "Yeah," he said, "I suppose it would be best if I told you about that first. Where to start? You said your home is on the edge of the peninsula, yeah? Way far from just about everyone else?" I nodded, slightly confused about why he was asking about that. I didn't ask, figuring that I'd find out soon enough. "I suppose you wouldn't know too much about the slavery system of the country, would you?"

"Just the basics," I replied. "It was briefly covered in school. They talked about how Nakama reinvented it to be more humane and beneficial with people being able to become slaves to wipe away their debts or crimes."

Dresnath nodded, "Right. Well, even with legal slaves being available, plenty of people still seem to think that the illegal slave trade is still profitable. For awhile, I worked with a group, well, more like an organization, that went out and tried to locate and free those who got captured and forced into the situation."

"That's such a noble cause," I said with a genuine smile. I inched closer to him and rubbed his arm. It was a bit slick from sweat, but I didn't care. "So you got it from them?"

"Yeah," he said. "I was with them for a few years helping a lot. I probably would've stayed longer, but..." he paused.

I waited for him to continue, but when he didn't, I urged him, "You remember how I mentioned I traveled with my cougar companion before, Emile?" He barely waited for my nod before continuing. I hadn't heard his name before, but I definitely remember him talking about the cougar. "Well, he was someone I met while working there; a forced slave that I rescued. He grew rather attached to me for rescuing him, but he didn't like the facility we were at. It's a big building where we housed the forced slaves and rehabilitated them until they were ready to leave. Most of them spend a month or so there, but he barely stand being there for a week. Said that he wanted to put everything about that behind him. Everything except for me, that is." He smiled a bit at the memory.

"He begged me to take him away," Dresnath continued. "Practically offered to do anything I wanted if I'd leave with him, travel around doing whatever I wanted. It was really flattering having someone so infatuated with me. Made me feel special, ya know?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I definitely understand that," I replied, moving a bit closer to him. He moved an arm around my shoulder and pulled me flush against his side. 'Gods he smells good.' The thought entered my mind before I even knew it. I couldn't resist resting my head against his sweaty chest, inhaling his powerful musk.

"Anyways," Dresnath said, "I'd had a bit of a... fantasy, let's call it." I felt his heart start to beat a bit faster. He was clearly nervous about telling me. Instead of saying anything, I simply wrapped an arm around his middle and hugged him, doing my best to let him know that I wouldn't judge him. He took his time to continue, but I didn't urge him this time, letting him go at his own pace. "There's this sort of... subculture, that I'd seen in some of the places I'd checked out. Many of the tips about forced slaves turn out to be wrong or even intentionally false allegations. Several of the places I'd gone to, the masters of the house had these caring, even loving relationships with those who served them. I had been curious and asked some questions, and it actually turned out that those people that I had thought were slaves, the ones that I had seen have such love and admiration for the masters, ended up not being slaves at all."

I couldn't stop myself from looking up at him, catching him gazing down at me with a smile. "Why'd you think they were slaves if they weren't?" I asked curiously. "Don't they usually have vastly different outfits to show their station?"

Dresnath nodded. "Yes, most do," he answered. "And these people wore them. Some had on the simple clothes, others wearing more enticing ones clearly meant to show off for their masters. They all wore collars, too. It turned out that those people chose to willingly submit themselves to the masters. They enjoyed the act of serving not out of obligation, but out of affection. There was no contract or obligation, it was just a different type of relationship."

I could see where this was going. "So you asked that of Emile?"

"I did," he admitted in a steady tone. "He actually jumped on the idea readily. Took on the role with pride and joy. It probably wasn't the healthiest thing to do right after being a slave. I felt a bit guilty about asking him, actually, but I can't deny that it made me feel really good when he accepted." Dresnath's hand slowly rubbed at my arm.

"So this was his collar," I said. It wasn't a question, just an observation. I suddenly felt weird wearing it. It had such a strong history to someone that Dresnath clearly loved. What did that say about him giving it to me? Did he plan on asking me to become a pet, too? I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

"It was," he said with a nod.

I gingerly touched the collar. "This was your closest friend's most valued possession," I mumbled. It suddenly felt very wrong around my neck. As touched as I was that he trusted me with it, I couldn't wear something so personal to his deceased lover. I began to unfasten it, and I could immediately feel Dresnath's body tense. "I'm sorry," I said as I sat up to take off the collar, "but I just don't feel right wearing someone else's collar like this."

Dresnath nodded solemnly as he said, "I understand. I hope that I haven't crossed a line or caused you to think any less of me for my actions." He seemed genuinely concerned about it, and I could tell that he was hiding most of his emotions.

I took the collar off and set it down before hugging him. That seemed to throw him off. "Don't be a fool," I said kindly, "I think what you did was very kind, and it's clear that you didn't try to do anything to take advantage of him. I just feel weird wearing something that holds such an important memory for you." I kissed his cheek. "And I certainly don't think any less of you. In fact, I don't think I've ever felt such pride for someone else. You're noble, selfless, and generous, certainly something most people strive to achieve."

Dresnath blushed brightly and rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, a rare sight. "I dunno about all that," he said. "I'm certainly not faultless. It wasn't exactly a selfless thing to do to agree to travel with Emile on the contingent of him allowing me to indulge in my fantasy."

"Nobody's perfect," I replied simply. "And by the sound of it, it wasn't just your fantasy that was being fulfilled. Emile probably enjoyed being with you as much as you did him. I certainly can't blame him." That simple sentiment seemed to soothe the dragon and earned me a tight hug.

"You're such a sweet otter," Dresnath murmured as he nuzzled my neck. I hugged him nuzzled back, more than happy for the affection.

"Now I'm gonna smell like sweaty dragon all day," I teased.

Dresnath chuckled and squeezed me tighter, lightly rubbing himself on me. "You got a problem with that, ott?" he asked with a teasing smirk.

I dramatically tried to push him away with a laugh, but he clung tight. "Ewww, gross," I said in an obviously joking manner. "Sweaty, stinky dragon!"

"You haven't seen anything yet if you think this is sweaty and stinky," he retorted. I felt the tell-tale tingling in my sheath. I was mildly curious about just how potent his musk might become if he really pushed himself, but I wasn't going to let that on. Not yet at least. He eventually let me go after a minute of playful struggling. I certainly did have his scent stuck in my fur now. "I suppose we should bathe, huh?"

"Yeah," I agree, "we definitely should."

"I'll grab us a couple towels," he said as he slid out of the bed. He went over to his bag and grabbed a pair of towels, tossing one to me. He wrapped his around his waist and began to walk out. I quickly followed suit and walked out with him after quickly tying the towel around my waist. We strutted through the public area towards the bathing room. Well, he strutted. I felt awkward about going out like that and practically scurried after him.

We were lucky to find the bath unoccupied. I locked the door behind us while Dresnath began working the enchantment controls on the bath. It was a pretty fancy-looking enchantment for just a simple inn. I concluded that these sorts of amenities are what inns and taverns spend their coin on in order to make their establishment seem more appealing to the weary traveler. I knew that I was just dying to get into that slowly filling pool of water and let it soothe my body.

"Let's see," Dresnath murmured as he went over to the large cabinet at the side of the room. He opened it up and found all the washing supplies from soaps to cloths and some other items I didn't recognize. I suspected they were more expensive types of soaps or something "Any preferences on scents?"

"Anything's fine with me," I replied as I dropped my towel onto a nearby bench.

Dresnath grabbed some bathing supplies and set them down next to the spacious tub. Rather than being the type of wooden tub I was used to, it was more like a tiled pit in the floor. It was almost like a pool, but smaller. It would fit the pair of us comfortable, but there was no way I'd be able to do any swimming in it. Dresnath dropped his towel nearby before grabbing a small cube that looked as if it were made of red chalk and tossing it into the pool.

I was a bit confused at first, but then the water soon began to change color and a pleasant aroma began to fill the air. I sniffed up the scent, but it was hard to place. It was a gentle aroma that pleased my nose. By the time the color stopped, it was a light pink and I was able to identify the scent. "Roses?" I asked curiously.

Dresnath smirked as he replied, "You said you didn't care, so I decided to pick one that would make you smell nice and pretty." He slipped into the tub, barely causing a ripple. He let out a hiss of enjoyment as the pink water washed over him. "That's good. It's nice and warm, Ere, so come on in and join me."

I smiled. "Don't gotta tell me twice," I replied as I slid in next to him. The water was hot, much hotter than I was used to with how I was used to bathing. I wasn't complaining, though; on the contrary, it felt amazing. My sore muscles sang with joy at the rejuvenative heated water. I let out a soft moan as I soaked in the heat. "Gods, this is nice."

"Never been in an enchanted bath, have you?" Dresnath observed. I shook my head and stretched my legs out in the bath, curling my toes in delight. "Thought not. They're a pretty expensive luxury for a personal one, but just about every inn and tavern has some variant of one to attract more customers. And to keep their establishment from smelling foul from traveler sweat."

"That makes sense," I replied quietly as I enjoyed the sensation of the warm water soaking through my fur. "It's really nice."

Dresnath chuckled. "Yeah, it's definitely great. Taking baths is so relaxing." He stretched his arms upwards with a few pops. It looked as if he was going to wrap one around me, but decided against it and simply let it rest under the water between us.

It was strange. It would've been such an easy thing to do. It certainly wouldn't have been the first time he'd done something like that. Had my rejecting the collar offended him somehow? I decided to prod him for answers. "You okay?" I asked.

"Me?" he asked, his voice as cheery as normal. "Of course, why wouldn't I be?"

"You just seem a bit distracted," I said as I moved a bit closer. I moved my hand under the colored water and found his larger hand, gently trying to interlock our fingers which he moved to accept with a smile. "Is it about the collar?"

His smile wavered for a moment before returning. "No, no," he said, "I completely understand. It was a foolish idea anyways." He sounded perfectly normal. If I hadn't been paying close attention, I would've missed the twitches of his lips.

"You don't need to lie to me," I said. "And you don't need to hide your feelings from me either. I'm not going to judge you for your feelings. I'd like to hear what you're thinking." I squeezed his hand and he squeezed back.

"You're such a sweet kid, you know that?" Dresnath asked rhetorically. I looked into his eyes, silently asking him to tell me what was wrong. He let out an annoyed growl before saying, "Fine, fine, just stop with those damn sad eyes. Totally not fair to use those..." I smiled and relented with my sad stare, now waiting for him to speak. "Alright, I'll admit that I was hoping you'd accept the collar. But what you said certainly made sense. I wasn't exactly thinking about what it might imply with formerly being Emile's. You were right to say no." He looked away, appearing to be embarrassed about his carelessness.

I nodded as I tried to find the best way to reply to that. "I really was touched by the offer," I said. "I thought it was really sweet. I actually liked the look and feel of it, too." I blushed lightly. "Maybe... if you truly do want me to wear one, we could find a new one for me?"

Dresnath's head whipped back to look at me, a look of surprise on his face. "You really want to?" he asked

"Well, sure," I replied, "why wouldn't I?" He hesitated in replying, but it dawned on me why he thought I might reconsider. "Do you mean because people might think that I belong to you? I suppose they might since they do typically represent that." I could see in Dresnath's eyes that I was correct in my deduction.

"Exactly," Dresnath confirmed. "Especially with the stereotypes surrounding your species." I was confused by this. The only stereotypes I knew about my species was that we couldn't go more than a few days without taking a hearty swim. It wasn't exactly true since we technically could, but we just preferred not to. At my visible confusion, Dresnath said, "Oh, you didn't know. Guess being in a small village those sorts of rumors either didn't make it there or just were squashed out as they should've been centuries ago."

"What do they say?" I asked.

"I," he hesitated. "I'm not sure you want to know." He actually seemed nervous to tell me. It was the first time I actually saw him like this. He was usually so collected. I concluded that he was likely still rattled and off-guard from the collar incident.

"But I should," I reasoned. "If I'm going to be travelling where people make judgements on me based on my species, I should know what those judgements are." Dresnath scratched the back of his neck, possibly considering my argument and weighing whether or not he should tell me.

It seemed he saw my logic as valid and told me in a slow, methodical manner as he picked and chose his words carefully. "Now, before I tell you, I assure you that not everyone believes these types of stereotypes, least of all me. Most species have certain traits attached in a lot of people's minds. Wolves tend to be thought of as being great in teams, cheetahs tend to be thought of as being incredibly fast, and us dragons are generally associated with physical strength and fire breath. Generally only about ten to twenty percent of the species fit the stereotype that everyone sees while the rest fall short of what people expect."

I was starting to get annoyed by his long-winded defense. I wanted to tell him to just spit it out, but I figured that it wouldn't speed him up much, so I kept my mouth shut and listened. Dresnath continued, "Well, I'm sure you've heard many stereotypes tend to revolve around sex. It's one of the favorite topics of gossip, so it's no wonder that species tend to get categorized by it. A lot of people think all horses are massively-endowed, but I've actually found studies that have shown that they're average length is only slightly more than an inch longer than the average of all species. Just a rumor most likely started by some women who'd found a few particularly massive stallions."

I stopped him to ask, "Why were you reading scholarly studies on the size of horse equipment?"

Dresnath chuckled a bit and replied with a grin, "It looked like an interesting subject. Anyways, I bring that up to show that even the most common rumors can easily be wrong and usually are." He paused. I squeezed his hand again in an attempt to convey that I understood that he didn't believe the stereotype he was about to reveal to me. "Somehow, people got it into their heads that certain species, otters, foxes, and rabbits, are more likely to be... eager tailraisers, to put it lightly."

So that was it. A lot of people would immediately assume that I was going to be not just willing, but eager to let them under my tail. It wasn't a thought that I enjoyed. Sure, I had no problem with being on the bottom, but I also liked being on top. "And if you didn't put it lightly?" the question spilled from my mouth before I even realized what I was asking. I could feel Dresnath flinch, clearly not wanting to tell me. For a moment, I considered just letting it go and telling him not to tell me, but for some strange reason, I felt the need to know what the worst of the worst had to offer. "Please, tell me."

Dresnath sighed. "Before I tell you," he said, "I need you to know that I've never bought into any of this, and I've always tried to set people straight on their misconceptions."

"I know," I replied. "With how kindly you've treated me, there's not a doubt in my mind that you're not one of these people." 'If he were, he likely would've tried to take advantage of me the day I woke up,' I reasoned. 'With how he'd just saved my life, someone who thought I was like that probably would've insisted that's how I should thank him.'

Dresnath smiled as he squeezed my hand. He soon released my hand in order to wrap his arm around my shoulders and pull me closer to him. "I'm glad for that," he spoke in a soft, sincere voice. "What these... uncultured swine seem to have stuck in their mind about these three specific species is... well, if I'm to quote the most uncouth of them, the worst of them think that 'they're cock-craving sluts who might as well be eunuchs with how little use their own dicks get compared to their asses.'" I could feel my fur bristle in anger at the sentiment, not something too easy to do when it's wet. Dresnath rubbed my side apologetically. "I think he was the worst one I've met. I, uh, I actually punched him out for that. Got into a bit of a bar brawl with his buddies."

I couldn't help but smirk a bit at the thought of Dresnath kicking the asses of a bunch of speciesist pricks. "How very rugged of you to defend our honor in such a way."

"I sure as hell wasn't gonna let him get away with that bullshit," Dresnath said seriously. "Besides, he'd been hitting on this rather cute fox for an hour before that and I'd had enough. The fox had told him that he was straight, but the guy wouldn't let up. It served as a good distraction to let the poor guy slip out while he and his buddies ate the floor."

I smiled and rubbed at his firm chest a bit as I leaned into him. "I enjoy hearing about your acts of heroism," I admitted. "A bit more brutish than I'd expected from you, but I think it was highly justified."

Dresnath smiled and rubbed at my back, running his clawed fingers through my soaked fur. "Well, I was a bit drunk, so it seemed like a brilliant idea at the time." I laughed at that. "I stand by my actions, though. He most certainly deserved the beating." He looked down into my eyes as I looked back up at him. "He was the very worst person I'd encountered regarding that. Most people are better than him. It's hard to tell for sure, but I think most people are just under the impression that the gays and bisexuals of those species generally prefer to bottom. I'm sure that the average person will believe you should you correct them of your preferences. There are people out there who simply cannot be reasoned with however."

"And if I do run into them, I'll just sic you on them," I replied cheekily.

Dresnath laughed lightly and nodded. "I shall consider it my duty to defend your honor. You have my word on that, my lovely otter companion." I felt his claws tease the base of my tail, getting a soft purr from me.

"So kind," I murred as I rested against him. We stayed like that for a bit as I digested what Dresnath revealed to me. Even though the topic of conversation had taken an uncomfortable turn in the middle, I was happy to have had it. I had become more aware of the people of the world and learned that Dresnath was not only a protector of people, but of ideals. He was truly a kind a noble dragon.

He suddenly shifted and I moved off of him. "We should probably actually wash while we're in here," he said with a smile. He grabbed the brush and one of the bars of soap to hand to me. I thanked him and began soaping up the bristles of the brush before scrubbing myself with it. He meanwhile soaked the washcloth and soaped it up before using it on his smooth scales rather than a brush.

It didn't take long for us to wash everything we could reach. It amused me watching him cleaning his wings. He had to wrap them around to his front in order to wash them properly, but he was having trouble getting the back side of them. "Would you like some help with the back?" I offered. He hesitated for only a second before accepting my offer with thanks. I took the soapy rag and began firmly rubbing it along the backs of his wings. I small, curious idea snuck its way to the forefront of my mind. "So, is this something that pets usually help with?"

Dresnath seemed caught off-guard with my question, "Uh, well, I suppose so. I know Emile often did this for me. I did his, too. Only fair, right?" After a short pause, he offered, "I can do yours after you're done with mine."

"I'd like that," I said. "So what else do pets usually do?" I wasn't exactly being subtle, but I didn't care. Perhaps part of me wanted him to figure out my intentions.

"It really depends on the master," Dresnath replied. "From what I've seen from others, they generally have them just to small tasks. Wash their backs, brush their fur or feathers, I believe some reptiles have their pets apply oils or waxes to their scales to make them shine. A lot seem to ask for massages quite often. The tasks are similar to that of most slave owners, although it's generally used as a means of bonding."

"Do you often use oils or waxes on your scales?" I asked curiously as I finished his left wing and moved on to his right.

"Not usually," he replied. "I do occasionally when it's called for or when I feel like spoiling myself a bit." He paused for a moment as he stretched his wing a bit. It was odd feeling the thick membrane quiver beneath my touch. The muscles beneath it were thin compared to the rest of him, which made sense. Most of the muscles were probably in his back where the wings connected. "Why do you ask?"

"I'm curious about the culture," I replied honestly. "It seems like an interesting concept. It almost sounds like an intimate, loving relationship style."

"To some it really is," he replied. "Some see it as more casual, but to others it's just how they most feel comfortable expressing their feelings of affection. It's fairly common for masters and pets to having loving feelings towards each other; some even get married."

"That sounds nice," I said softly. I had finished his second wing and now only his back was left. His strong back littered with long streaks of scarred scales that criss-crossed over each other. I was hesitant to try washing it, fearing that they might be painful to the touch. When the rag touched his back he flinched and I quickly pulled back. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

"No," he replied. "I just- It's been some time since my back's been touch bare of clothes."

"I'll be gentle then," I said softly as I began to run the soapy rag over his back. I could feel his strong muscles twitch under the touch. It was clear that he was having trouble not flinching to the touches I made on his cracked scales. I wished that there was some way I could fix them for him. "May I ask?" I didn't say what I wished to ask; it was obvious.

Dresnath took a very long time to respond. "Perhaps another time," he said with a sigh. "It's a long, long story that is best joined by a stiff drink."

"Whenever you're ready," I said gently. I finished washing him off before turning to offer my back. "You're turn." I heard the dragon give a soft chuckle and then I felt the firm bristles of the brush drag through my fur. I let out a soft purr as the brush ran over my back repeatedly.

"Sounds like you're enjoying yourself," Dresnath observed.

"It's a nice feeling having something rub my back," I replied as I arched my back. My tail was wagging under the water happily as I enjoyed the treatment. It felt so great having someone else dote on and clean me. I could understand why people would enjoy having pets or slaves do this for them. It was surprisingly relaxing and pleasant as the bristles dug through my thick fur, giving me the thorough scrubbing that I needed. He was generous with how long he brushed me for, my purring likely urging him on, but he eventually stopped. I let out a soft whine of disappointment without meaning to.

Dresnath chuckled lightly, "Silly, little ott. We can't spend all day in here, and you're clean enough." He stood up and got out of the bath, activating the drain to swallow up the water. With no hot water to urge my stay, I got out as well and grabbed my towel to dry off as best I could. Luckily my fur was exceptionally good at drying off quickly. After a quick pat-down, we went back up to our room to get dressed, then went down to grab some breakfast before heading out.

"So," I said, "we're going to the blacksmith's shop, right?"

"That's right," he replied as he started walking off. I walked next to him, likely closer than most people would. "Hopefully we can find something out there. It's the next most likely place that could profit."

"Right," I mumbled. The blacksmith's shop wasn't far from the inn, so the walk was short. The building was made out of white stone, which was peculiar for city from what I could gather. Most of the buildings were either made out of red brick or different types of wood. I spotted smoke coming from behind it. It was the dark smoke from a coal fire rather than the light grey of wood fires, so I gathered that it was from the smelting furnace.

Dresnath placed a hand on my shoulder. "It looks like the smith's doing some work out back," he observed. "You go inside and see what you can find out while I speak with him."

"Yes, sir," I replied immediately as I took my task to heart. I was eager to find something to help our case. I walked inside the building and was greeted by the sight of dozens of weapons varying from simple sword to ornate halberds; there were even several styles of armor displayed.

Looking ahead, I could see a young vixen with light tan fur and big ears behind the counter. She smiled at me and said, "May I help you with anything?" she asked politely. I recognized her as the smith's apprentice from the description the miner gave me.

Fen sounded kind in her offer, a smile displayed on her muzzle. She didn't look like the devious types I'd read about in stories, but I knew looks could be deceiving. Based on the timing of when the thefts started, we believed her to be behind it. The righteous part of me wanted to confront her about it and get her to confess, but I knew that was too idealistic to work. I had to play this with my head, not my heart. I walked up to the counter with my gruffest expression. "You offer sword sharpening services?" I asked as I placed my hand on the pummel of my sword.

"We do indeed," she replied cheerily. "For two coppers I can let you use our grindstone or I'll personally sharpen it for you for six."

I pulled out six coppers from my pockets and set them on the counter, soon followed by my blade. "Careful of the inscription. Should I find it marred, I'll expect compensation."

The fox nodded, her smile turned into a more serious expression to indicate she knew I meant what I said. "Understood, sir," she replied as she placed the coins in a lockbox. "It should only take a few minutes if you wish to wait here or possibly look around at other merchandise."

"Very well," I said. I stepped back from the counter to give a look around at the shops offered wares. Fen took this as her cue to take my sword to the grindstone that was apparently in another room.

I listened for her pawsteps to fade before starting my true investigation of the area. Once I was sure I wouldn't be caught, I slipped behind the counter and began riffling through the contents in the shelves below it. The lockbox was the first thing I saw, but had seen that it stored only coins. There was a sword and a knife stashed on the shelf as well, most likely for quick access in case anyone attempted to rob the shop. There was also a cup of water and a half-eaten sandwich on a plate. Then I found what I was looking for: the ledger.

It was a big, leather bound book with tiny scrawls of handwriting to count up everything sold, everything forged, how much material was used for each item, and most importantly the purchases of said materials and from where. I quickly flipped through back a full month to before Fen was employed. I took a mental note of the average amount before flipping forward to the front to check out the latest purchases. They looked the same. So far as these records knew, there had been no change in purchases, which contradicted the mine owner's records. The handwriting looked identical, so it was obviously the smith who was recording it as such.

The soft pawsteps soon began returning. I quickly stuffed the ledger back where I found it and went back to the other side of the counter to appear as if I had been looking at one of the sets of armor. Fen returned with my blade in hand. It looked somewhat shinier than before. "It didn't take long to sharpen to the best edge, so I took the liberty to apply a wax to protect against damage and give it a proper sheen. I hope that's acceptable. No extra charge."

I nodded. "Acceptable," I replied curtly as I sheathed my blade in its scabbard. If she was put off by my gruff attitude, she didn't show it. I supposed that she got a lot of the rough types with bad attitudes here. I was likely just run-of-the-mill to her.

"Is there anything else I can do for you today, sir?" She asked politely.

I had the information I needed. Without knowing how to use it, I wasn't sure what else to do. Bringing up the robberies at the iron mine would likely spook her into running. I decided to play it safe and simply leave with the knowledge I'd obtained. I shook my head and turned brusquely to leave the building. I walked around the building to where I had seen the smoke from before. It was easy to spot Dresnath talking to the large doberman smith. They both seemed to be enjoying the conversation with smiles and the occasional laugh. I couldn't quite make out what they were saying, but I stayed hidden to not interrupt them.

The conversation didn't last too much longer, though. They bid each other farewell, and Dresnath came walking back around the build towards me. He spotted me as soon as he rounded the corner. "Good timing," he said as he locked eyes with me. "How'd it go?" He ushered me along, walking us back to the road to put some distance between us and the smith's shop

I grinned widely which seemed to make Dresnath already ready to congratulate me. "I took a peek at the ledger under the counter. Apparently, the shop is still spending the same amount of money on iron as they had been a month ago. At least, as far as the ledger is aware."

Dresnath smirked as he said, "And how about you tell me what that implies."

"Well," I replied, "it most likely imply that the smith is still under the impression that he's purchasing the same amount as before. If he does believe this, then Fen could very well be the thief, basically paying herself for the ore that she's stolen with the money that's supposed to go to the mine."

Dresnath nodded. "That's one possibility," he said. "But what if Sly, the smith, is actually the thief? He could be trying to set up his apprentice to make some quick coin."

I gave him a quizzical look as I asked, "But wouldn't that make it hard to keep accurate count of his money if he were to put false amounts in it?"

"It would," Dresnath affirmed. "Unless he, say, had a second ledger with the real amounts. Most shady business practices have two sets of ledgers. One to show to the officials for taxes, and the other with the real stuff."

I hadn't thought of that before. False ledgers. Had I been duped into Sly's scheme so easily? "Do you think it was him?" I asked.

"It's not impossible," he mused.

"So what I found might have just been useless?" I asked. I had thought I just found a case-cracking piece of information. Was it truly worthless?

I suddenly felt a hand on my head. "Not in the least," he reassured as he gave my head a few scritches with his claws. The feeling of those sharp claws gently digging through my fur felt amazing and sent tingles down my spine. "What you found was very important. And quite the sneaky way to do it, as well, might I add."

A feeling of pride welled in my chest. As much as I wasn't pleased with having my emotions toyed with like that, I couldn't argue with the end result. It was incredibly satisfying to know that I'd done something meaningful and important to support the investigation. I couldn't stop the wide grin from spreading across my face nor the involuntary wagging of my tail.

Dresnath chuckled as he saw my excitement. "Looks like someone's pleased with himself," the dragon said as he stopped the head scratches in lieu of wrapping his arm around my shoulders and holding me closer to him as we walked.

I smiled and reciprocated by wrapping my arm around his middle. "I like being helpful," I replied simply. I felt the scaly hand rub my shoulder lightly in acknowledgement. I suddenly realized that we were in a different part of the city. "Where are we going?"

Dresnath answered me after a moment of getting his bearings and turning down a different street. "Well, while you snuck your way into their books, I got a bit of info from Sly. I'm taking you to a mage proficient in illusion magic that lives right here."

My ears perked. "Do they give lessons?"

"I'm not entirely sure," he admitted. " I was told that she's friendly and is always willing to give a few words of wisdom to those new to the craft. I also thought that perhaps she might have some insight on the ouroborus."

"Yeah," I said, "perhaps there's some magical meaning of it that we aren't aware of."

"Exactly my thought!" Dresnath said with a smile. "I may be a mage, but I'm hardly the studious, scholarly type that so many people assume all mages are."

"You're plenty smart," I said. "At least in certain subjects"

Dresnath looked at me and I looked back. He gave a kind smile and said softly, "You're a really sweet kid, you know that?" He leaned down and kissed my forehead gently.

A light blush spread across my face. The street was far from empty, and I felt eyes staring at us, which made me even more embarrassed. "Th-thanks, Dresnath," I mumbled.

The dragon rubbed my arm a bit more as he held me close to him. It almost felt possessive the way he kept me so close to him. It wasn't in a bad way, though. It wasn't intimidating in a way that said "you are mine and I won't let you leave me." It felt more like the tender but firm hold that said "I've got you and I will keep you safe for as long as you let me."

Sadly, the comforting hold didn't last much longer. He led me down a side-street to a small house. There was a sign in the window advertising magical services. Dresnath released his grip to open the door for me, gesturing as he said, "Beauty before age."

Damn, did he know how to make a guy blush. I entered the house with a smile of appreciation to my dragon. The place looked surprisingly mundane. I had imagined a mage's home to be a bit more spectacular with mystical artifacts or something. It actually looked quite similar to my home, except it was much larger.

Dresnath hadn't moved from the doorway yet, and when I looked back at him, he said, "Alright, while you're here, I'm gonna do a bit more investigating."

"You are?" I asked. The thought of being alone in the city without Dresnath was a worrying thought. I liked having him as my guide.

"Yep," he said with a grin, clearly not picking up on my tone. "This kind of investigating requires me to be alone, so now would be the best time to do it. We can meet back at the inn later, alright?" I didn't see much of a choice, so I just nodded. "Good. I'll see you there." With that, he left, closing the door behind him.

"Well, who do we have here?" a female's voice spoke calmly from behind me. I turned around and saw a lithe red panda woman with a huge, bushy tail swishing behind her as she descended the stairs. "Someone looking for an illusionist for entertainment? Hmm... no, not likely. Are you a seeker of knowledge?"

I nodded. "Yes, my name is Erebus Steele and I had a few questions if it's not too much trouble," I said politely.

"You may call me Amber. Go ahead and ask your questions," she said, gesturing to a chair at a small, circular table while she took the seat opposite.

I sat down, slipping my tail through the opening in the back. I pulled out the parchment with the sigil on it, setting it down in front of her. "My first question is if you have any knowledge that could help me identify this," I said. She picked it up gingerly, seeming to understand the importance it held for me. " I know it's similar to the ouroborus, but I'm not sure what else."

She studied the sigil for a moment before asking, "And what has you so keen on ascertaining this knowledge." When I hesitated to answer, she continued, "Consider it my price for my insights. I'm keen on knowing where you saw this."

If that was the price for the information, I was glad to pay it. "As a tattoo on my father's killer. I hope that by learning more about this symbol, I can find a way to track him down and do to him what he did to my father."

"I see," she spoke softly. "A path of revenge is a well-travelled road, yet still a lonely one. I hope you're prepared for the consequences."

"I am," I answered. "I'll do whatever it takes to avenge my father."

"I suppose only time will tell," she said. It sounded as if she doubted my conviction, and that irritated me. I didn't let it show, though. "I've not seen this exact rendition of the ouroborus, but I can try to interpret its symbology." She placed the paper back down and pointed at the draconic wings. "The ouroborus can have several meanings depending on which version. A dragon version generally represents eternity or immortality. The fact that the dragon doesn't reach its own tail changes the meaning though. It's as if they're saying that immortality is unachievable, which while true, seems odd to have tattooed on yourself." She paused and examined it some more. I waited patiently for her to continue. "You said the bearer was a killer?"

"Yes," I answered. "My father was a simple fisherman who earned little more than enough to support us and a few luxuries. We weren't rich, he didn't steal anything except my father's life."

"Hmm." She looked at the parchment again. "A killer welding this kind of emblem might be trying to say that they're in control of life and death. By severing the circle, they reverse the meaning of immortality. I hate to ask this, but was you father a wanted man? This sort of ideology is popular among mercenaries and assassins."

I was stunned. My father was a good, honorable man. He worked hard to bring home a modest living. The only beings that might want him dead were the fish of the sea he pulled his bounty from. I shook my head firmly. "No," I answered with conviction. "He was kind and friendly. He went out of his way to not piss people off like that."

"Alright," she said,taking my word for it. "I've given you what information I can glean from it. I hope it helps. Is there anything else?"

"Yeah," I said, "I've actually started learning magic, and I've taken an interest in illusion magic. It was Dresnath, my mentor, who suggested I come here to ask you for advice."

A warm smile spread across her face. "Illusion magic," she said. "Quite an interesting choice for someone on a mission to kill. I would've thought you'd take up something better suited to violence like pyromancy or perhaps lightning magic."

When I realized this wasn't rhetoric and she expected an explanation, I fumbled for a response. "I- well, I suppose those would be better suited for my goal," I admitted. She waited longer, seeming to study my face deeply. I considered the thought that she might be using some mind-reading magic or something on me, but I couldn't sense any sort of intrusion. "I just really like the thought of being able to make the images in my mind come to life."

Amber's smile widened. "You wish to change reality, make it bend to your will." I nodded at how well she put it. It sounded more grandiose than my ambitions, but it was elegant. "That was my dream as well. If it's reality you wish to change, though, transformation magic is also available. Why choose illusions above the physical reality?"

Was she testing my resolve to learn this school of magic? Perhaps she had learned to weed out those with less conviction so they didn't waste her and their time. That was my theory at least. "I had considered it. My mentor actually knows transformation magic, although, he said he's not a great teacher. Also, I read that there are a lot more restrictions on what exactly can be transformed into what. Illusion magic sounded much more... free."

Amber nodded. "It is indeed quite the malleable craft, if not the most malleable." Suddenly the image of the dragon ouroboros appeared in front of me. It looked like a true dragon chasing its own tail. It was moving around in a circle, its tiny wings flapping. "I'll give you the advice I give everyone. Magic is rooted in emotion. The stronger the emotion you employ, the easier it will be to summon the energy to cast your spells. Most people know this. What they do not know, is that each type of magic has a different root emotion that works best for it." The dragon suddenly turned and flew straight at me. I shielded my face as I saw its open maw dart towards me. I felt an odd sensation as it flew straight through my arm and then through my head.

The red panda smirked at my reaction. Despite knowing full-well that it was simply an illusion and couldn't physically hurt me, I flinched. I tried to protect myself from a harmless collection of magical energy. She continued, "Illusion was one of the trickier ones to figure out. Some still debate the best resonance to this day. I believe it's not a simple emotion like anger or joy. I believe the best emotion to utilize illusion magic is a specific type of regret. The type of regret that makes you wish with your entire being to be able to go back and change the past, to change the very reality you exist in today."

The memory of my father being murdered in front of my very eyes flashed through my mind. For the longest time I had felt guilty for not doing anything, for just standing there and watching from around the corner like the terrified pup I was. I had wished that I had stepped out and distracted him or something that would allow my father to escape. I knew now that it would've likely ended in both our deaths, but I still regret my lack of courage regardless. Perhaps that memory was the type of regret that she was speaking of.

"I can see in your eyes that you have a strong memory linked to the emotion that I speak of," she spoke softly, knowing that the memory I was experiencing would have to be a painful one. I suspected that she knew I was thinking about the death of my father, but neither of us said as much. "Be careful, though. You must be sure to employ the emotion without letting it control you."

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind while I practice," I said thankfully. "Do you know what emotion is used for transformation magic?"

"Curious about your mentor's magical style, hmm?" she said knowingly. I nodded, seeing no reason to hide that fact. "The leading theory is that it's rebellion. The need to deny one's current reality and shift it into a new and better one. Not everyone uses this sort of technique, though, so there's no guarantee that he uses a memory that has that emotion attached to it."

"Regardless, I appreciate it," I said politely. "Do I owe you anything for the advice?"

"For that small bit of information," she said, "no money. Especially not for an aspiring illusionist." She gave me a kind smile and a wink. "Perhaps just a conversation. I enjoy the company."

"Oh, uh, sure," I replied as I was caught off guard. Even from being from a small village where barter is very common, I'd never thought payment would be a simple conversation. "Mind telling me what illusionists do to make money if not tutoring?"

"I don't know about others, but I make my money as entertainment at parties," she said with a smile. "Why hire a troupe of actors or acrobats, when you can hire a single person who can simply make the illusion of them and much more?" She waved her hand over the table and created a small scale group of anthro rats tumbling around and juggling. "It can be quite taxing at such a large scale, but I can undercharge most troupes and make a much higher profit as I don't have to split the money. I've made a bit of a name for myself around these parts as the best in the business."

I watched the rats perform their spectacles flawlessly for a minute, smiling in amusement. "You're very talented," I said. "They're so realistic. How long have you been practicing?"

"Hmm," she tapped her finger on the table a few times before answering, "I think it's been about fifteen years, give or take a couple years. I don't remember exactly when I started illusion magic. I toyed around with a few others before landing on illusion as my specialty. For awhile, I thought I'd become an ice mage, they were becoming increasingly popular when I first started. It was during one of the hottest summers I'd experienced, and cooling magic was in high demand with only a few people who learned them."

"That's a pretty standard starting spell," I said as I recalled casting it during my initial practicing. It hadn't been altogether difficult, even if the effect was mild. "Just about anyone could learn it if they put in a little effort, couldn't they?"

"That's mostly true," Amber answered. "It's suspected that over ninety percent of people have the aptitude to cast spells to some degree. Obviously there are a lot of variables with magical attunement, aura storage, and focus, but many don't pursue the craft for many reasons. The most common is that they don't have the patience to get over the learning curve required to initiate their magical talent. Most think that they can simply buy a tome and say a simple incantation and everything else will happen on its own."

"Is everyone else so impatient that they'd give up so easily?" It was a rhetorical question, but it seemed so odd to think it to be true. I spent years learning how to wield a blade and am still training. Had I been able to get ahold of magical tomes before, I knew I would've put just as much time and effort into them to learn, no matter how long it took.

"You come from a small town, don't you?" Amber asked knowingly, a smile on her face.

"Yes," I said, "a small fishing village named Rorsche at the edge of the peninsula."

"Something you should know about people in cities is that they're lazy," she spoke bluntly. "There are exceptions of course, but by the majority, they'd rather pay a few coins every now and then for someone else to do a task rather than spend a couple weeks learning to do it themselves and have it for free for the rest of their lives. This goes especially for tasks that are boring or difficult. Luckily, their laziness gives many people jobs, and in my case, allows people like me to hold a monopoly on illusion entertainment. You'd be surprised what some people are willing to pay to make their parties memorable."

"I'm sure I would," I said with a chuckle. I had a strong hunch that it was more than my entire savings just for a few hours based on her skills. "I bet it's worth every copper, though. That little show with the rats was a pleasure to watch, and I could only imagine what other tricks you have up your sleeves."

"My, isn't that a kind thing to say," the red panda said sweetly. "You're not just trying to flatter me, are you?" Her tone shifted into one that I recognized. It almost sounded as if she was being flirty?

A very light blush heated my cheeks, hidden by my fur. "I'm merely speaking the truth," I replied honestly. "You're quite talented and knowledgeable. And quite generous as well for not charging me for your advice on magic and insight on the tattoo."

She chuckled lightly and tossed her hand as she said, "Oh, please, it was nothing. I'm more than happy to help out those interested in the craft. We could use more in our ranks, so to speak. And as for the ouroborus, well that was simply an intriguing symbology exercise. Certainly not something I get to do everyday. Besides, you are paying for them. It's also not often that I get to have a pleasant conversation with such a kind, young gentleman."

I rubbed the back of my neck bashfully at her kind words. "Well, thank you," I squeaked. "I was brought up to always be polite, especially to people who've shown kindness like you."

Amber's warm smile practically lit up the room. "Oh, please," she waved it off, "it was hardly anything. I'm sure that a polite man such as yourself would've done the same for me if the situation were reversed." I chuckled lightly and agreed. "Your mother must be very proud of how you turned out. I know I would be proud of a son who turned out as brave and kind as yourself."

I nodded and felt a wave of pride well in my chest. "She is," I said. "She was very supportive of my decision. She's a bit of a warrior in her own way. Strong-willed and would do anything to protect me and my brother. I bet that if I hadn't decided to go out in search of the killer, she would've at some point."

"She sounds like a wonderful woman," Amber said kindly.

"She is," I agreed. There was a lull in the conversation that gave me time to ponder how my family was doing. They were probably going on with their day-to-day. I couldn't help but wonder whether or not Jace had received my letter yet and whether he had written one in return to me. I hope that it would get here in time before we left.

"So," Amber said in a cheery voice as she leaned over the table slightly, "who's this mentor of yours? I heard his voice as he dropped you off, and he sounded quite masculine."

I chuckled a bit and nodded. "Definitely masculine," I agreed. "His name is Dresnath and he's a large dragon with a mix of green and purple scales."

"A dragon," she said, a light lilt in her voice. "Haven't seen one of them since my last party. He handsome?"

I blushed at the direct question. I hadn't expected it and it made me slightly flustered. "I, uh, well, yeah."

"How about you tell me how handsome this dragon is," she requested in a teasing tone, making me blush deeper, likely more than enough for her to see it through my fur. I fumbled for words for another five seconds before she asked, "Or are you the beauty of the pair?"

I whined as I realized she was simply teasing me. "You heard that?" I asked. It was an obvious question, but I couldn't think of anything else to say.

"Of course I heard it," she said with a pleased smile, clearly enjoying my reaction. "These aren't just for show, you know." She twitched her ears. "He's more than just your mentor, isn't he?"

I nodded; I was still embarrassed, but my blush was fading slightly. "I'm not exactly sure what you'd call us, but he's definitely more than just a mentor to me. He actually saved my life from some bandits when I first started my journey. Then he insisted that I travel with him, wouldn't take no for an answer. Not that I minded. I needed him. And now that I know more about him, I think he needs me, too."

"That's sweet," she said softly. "You're lucky to have found each other."

"Incredibly lucky," I agreed. "I've only known him for a short while, but I don't know what I'd do without him."

Amber smiled sweetly and said, "Ah, young love. Let the flames of romance burn, hot, bright, and long and let Enasfu bless your pairing."

A deep and heavy blush coursed through my entire body as she called upon the goddess of love and lust to bless us. It was embarrassing yet sweet. It only took me a few seconds to get over it. "I- uh, thank you, Amber. I appreciate that. I hope we stay together for a very long time." I paused for a moment before an idea struck me. "Hey, Amber, there's one last thing I could use your help with."

It was several hours later and I was back in the inn room that Dresnath and I shared. He had yet to return, so I was just waiting with my surprise. Amber had been quite helpful with finding it, and I was very excited to see Dresnath's reaction. A pit of nervous excitement was gnawing at my chest. I was wishing that he'd hurry his sexy ass up and return already.

I looked over the box on my lap. It was a simple dark wood with an elegant red ribbon. I fiddled with the ribbon a bit to make it more straight and even. I tapped my claws lightly on the box, taking care not to leave any scratches in it. I brushed off a few stray strands of fur that had fallen into it, a fruitless effort as they would soon be replaced by more of my fur as I scratched my neck in nervous anticipation.

I nearly jumped out of my pelt when I heard the doorknob turn. Dresnath walked in with a neutral expression. He saw me and immediately started speaking, "Well, if Fen is the one who stole the iron, it's not in her house. Searched every nook and cranny as much as I could without arousing the suspicion of her roommate." He sat down next to me and lay flat on his back, his wings spreading out behind him to avoid being caught between him and the bed.

I considered ignoring the obvious question and give him the box instead, but I was too curious not to ask it. "How didn't a big dragon snooping around the place not arouse suspicion in the first place?"

Dresnath smirked and replied cheekily, "Because I wasn't a big dragon. I was a small, very familiar fennec fox who'd forgotten her key and asked her roommate to let her in so I could look for it."

"So that's why it required only you," I said in realization. Dresnath nodded in affirmation. "I didn't realize you could make yourself look so convincingly like someone else, though."

"I could make it so you couldn't tell me apart from your own mother," he bragged. "Well, so long as you don't ask too many personal questions. I'd look and sound identical, but I can't mimic how they'd act with magic. Well, at least with transformation magic."

"That makes sense," I said.

"Anyways, we'll need to keep looking for wherever the iron is hidden. Based on how much was stolen, there should still be plenty left so long as it wasn't sold to a traveling merchant." Dresnath sat back up, his wing landing on my back and covering me like a warm, leathery blanket. "Whatcha got there?"

I grinned and handed it to him. "It's for you," I said nearly bursting with anticipation. I was still very nervous, but I was very excited to see his reaction. "Well, kinda. You'll see."

A warm, loving smile crossed the dragon's muzzle. "Ere," he drawled, his voice filled with appreciation, "you didn't need to get me anything. You're too sweet for your own good, you know that?" He leaned over and kissed my head, his wing tightening in a hug. "So, should I open it now?"

"Well of course you should," I said with a laugh. "I wouldn't have given it to you if I didn't want you to open it yet. Silly dragon."

Dresnath chuckled and carefully undid the ribbon. He was surprisingly gentle with it and had it unknot perfectly, leaving the ribbon only slightly creased, but in one piece. He clicked the latches up and opened the lid. His face showed a mix of emotions as he saw the contents of the box. At first it was surprise and joy, then it turned a bit more serious. He pulled out the object: a deep green leather collar to match his scales. A single, round, metal tag was attached to it with an engraving on both sides. One read, "Erebus" while "Dresnath's Pet" was on the other side.

"Ere," he spoke softly. For a moment, I thought that I had gotten the wrong idea and just made the most embarrassing mistake of my life. Then he continued, "are you sure?"

"I wouldn't have went through the trouble of finding and custom ordering it if I weren't," I said as a sense of ease fell over me. I leaned into his side as he gingerly examined the craftsmanship.

"People might treat you differently while you wear it," he reminded me.

"Ah, who cares about people," I said with a wave of my hand. "I only care about how you treat me." I hugged the big dragon tightly as I nuzzled against his side. "So, what do you say?"

Rather than answering with words, Dresnath unhooked the collar and gingerly wrapped it around my neck. He gave a wide smile as he fastened it firmly, making sure to give me enough room to breathe without any hindrance. His finger slipped between my collar and my neck as he pulled me into a passionate kiss. His lips pressed against mine firmly as a deep growl rumbled through his throat. Despite the forcefulness and the intimidating growl, I felt nothing but safety and love from him. Even if there was much I didn't know about him, I knew he would never harm me. I knew I had nothing to fear from my master.

He broke the kiss and gave me a toothy grin. "Mine."

A shiver of excitement and a sense of joy spread through my chest. I never knew a single word could make me feel so wanted, so loved, and so appreciated at the same time. I nodded with a goofy smile. "Yours."

I was suddenly tackled onto the bed, making me give a sharp squeak of surprise. I was expecting him to tear my clothes off and claim me with some long, hard sex, but he didn't. Instead, I found myself being held close to him. My face was nestled to his chest as his arms hugged him into him. I could hear his heart racing, I could smell his scent. I smiled and hugged him tightly, pressing myself as close to him as I could. I had been expecting sex, something for him to show me how much of a dominant master he could be. This was much better, though. I realized that Dresnath wasn't just the type of master who'd always keep the dominant, powerful face on. He was the type who enjoyed showing his tender and vulnerable sides as well. And honestly, as I snuggled up to my new master, I couldn't have been happier.