Caves Music: Part 2

Story by Sunlit on SoFurry

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I'm not a writer, I wouldn't even call myself an amateur. Aside from a couple of short, personal stories I doubt I've written more than a hundred consecutive words since university, years ago now. This is just a challenge for me to write in the first person and tell a story I wanted to tell.

The story is set in the world of Dragon's Apprentice by Linda McNabb, taking place some years after the events in the books. Of course, I claim no right to any part of her works. They're great, read them - though it's not a necessity to do so to enjoy the story.

This is actually the second part; the first part remains only half finished. It's long, has little smut in it, and I don't know if I'll ever finish it. For clarity's sake, a brief plot of the first part goes something like this:

The main character is a cave guide in his world. On a solo expedition he is trapped in a cave and injured. Meanwhile Tryx, mad that people are whispering that Toby's return to the Valley is causing the worst storm in living memory, goes to check if the portals are also failing. Finding the main character, she saves him. The main character meets Toby, Klel, Tarran and Atenir and befriends them. The council decides to kick the main character out of Dragon Valley, but also to find him a portal back to his own world. Using his experience, the main character finds caves running below the council chambers and takes Tryx into them to listen in on the council. The next day, the council chambers collapse into the caves below from the excessive rain and the main character, Tryx, Toby, Klel, Tarran and Atenir save the lives of those trapped within.

There is also plot and stuff going forward, but who knows if I'll write it, let alone post it. Guess I'll see if anyone's even interested first...

If you just want to read the M/M dragon/dragon smut, you could try searching for "Massive"

If you do like it, Great, I'd feel privileged even if just one person enjoyed it.

If you read it and don't like it; then I'm sorry in advance. Leave me an angry comment or something :).


Hearing her land outside, I set my mandolin on top of the counter. Tryx's return was a little surprising since she had only just left. Rising, I walked over to the big wooden shutters that dominated the wall of the small guest house. They were fine in the usual heat of the valley but with the all the rain I had kept them tightly closed. Now, throwing them open instantly dispelled the gloom inside as morning sunlight poured in, the sudden transition making me shade my eyes with a hand even as an automatic and irrepressible smile crossed my face. It was so good to see the sun.

Hearing the door open, Tryx's head swung toward me, her gold scales flashing. The look in her clear, bright eyes clearly said how much she was enjoying the fine day. I was surprised to also see Atenir beside her, his head bowed, and leg tucked beneath his chest to minimize the drop as Tarran, his passenger, slid from his back.

'How's Toby?' I asked as Tryx bounded over.

'We met him on the way here, he's gone to help with the council chambers.'

'A good thing too' Tarran remarked. 'No one has quite as much power with earth magic as Toby, the whole thing will go much quicker with him there'

'Or much worse' Atenir's deep, sonorous voice betrayed the levity in the remark as he and Tarran smiled at the private joke. Toby had long ago solved the problems he used to have with his power; though the older villagers, particularly those who had worked on fixing his 'mistakes', would still fondly joke about it.

'Speaking of work, that's actually why I'm here' Tarran said. 'Have you considered what you want to do while you're here?'

'You want me to work? I thought that the council just wanted me isolated and out of the way until they got rid of me.'

'Not all of us share the council's views or are quite so extreme about them. I think meeting some people would do you some good, show everyone that they can trust you.'

'And the council is okay with that?' The question was addressed to Atenir, being a council member then if he said yes then I doubted they would hold it against me.

'Well, no' he rumbled. 'But since so many of us are working on the collapse there is plenty that needs doing; no one would be annoyed if you were to help out.

'Then its settled' said Tarran enthusiastically 'We just need to figure out what you can do'

'I've been a cave guide my entire life' I replied 'If anything I should be working on the collapse too'

Tarran shook his head 'With so much magic around there no one will be physically in, or near, those caves, it's far too dangerous.'

Tryx looked despondent at that, clearly it had crossed her mind that if I were to work on the council chambers then we would have been together all day. She gazed off toward the house, her excitement gone.

'Are there any other projects I could work on?'

'Any other projects will be on hold and unsupervised as that expertise is needed at the caves, but you might be on to something there. I'll ask around today.' He turned to go.

'Wait-' Tryx suddenly shouted 'you can also play the mandolin'

'You do? Do you sing as well?' Tarran asked as he paused climbing back onto Atenir's shoulder

'He can, He's very good' Tryx assured him.

'Well, perhaps you can play at the inn, I'd have to set it up with the owner' He smiled 'Everyone always says they need some good, lively music there. Who knows, you might become quite popular'

'But that could be days away' Tryx complained. 'Send him to the nursery today, he can play for the young dragons there.'

Atenir rumbled with laughter 'An excellent idea Tryx. If he can keep them entertained, we will know that he's good.' He turned more serious 'The nursery is run by a very old dragon. The granddaughter of his late rider normally helps him, but she is a master carver and has also been called to work on the restoration. Having you there would be a peace of mind.'

'I'll do it' I replied. 'Young dragons can't be that bad of an audience.'

'Good' Tarran said settling between the dragon's shoulders 'If you set out now, you'll get there for lunch, it's to the right of the village, about an hour away. Since you're a guide I doubt you'll have trouble finding it.'

'You're not going to fly me?' I asked weakly.

He laughed. 'We're already late, the walk will do you good, besides guides like walking.' He nodded to Atenir and Tryx. With powerful downward sweeps of their wings, they launched into the air, Tryx rolling over to wave a farewell before they became lost in the bright morning sun.

An hour later I'd found the nursery. Backed onto a tree-covered hill it was styled in much the same way as my own guest house and the other outlying village buildings. The large, open air design was no doubt a mercy seeing as the morning sun was now blazing hot and had me drenched in sweat.

Inside, four young dragons sat before a dragon resting on a well-cushioned rise. His once-gold scales flickered a dusty, dull bronze in his great age. Unnoticed, I listened in silence as he finished a story. The young dragons hanging on every word told me that he was a master teller.

Too late to pay attention to the story I instead focused on the dragons. Two were gold dragons, a younger female, and an older male. The other two were white furred dragons, they were very obviously twins and, as white furred dragons had sheaths and external testicles, very obviously male.

The white furred dragons were relatively recent newcomers and were a rare sight even in the valley. Their magic was the same as the gold dragons and so they had been welcomed when the last of them fled their own world as a persecuted and dying species. The two in front of me were likely the only two born so far in the valley.

After he'd finished the story, I knocked on the frame. Four heads swiveled in my direction as the young dragons whirled to look at the newcomer.

'Welcome minstrel.' The old dragon's voice was deep and rich as only years of storytelling would provide. He seemed unsurprised to see me. After a slight pause the other dragons echoed his greeting in chorus.

'Hi, um, don't know if anyone told you.' I stammered.

'Are you a musician?' he interrupted. I told him I was. 'And is that your instrument on your back?' Again, I said yes. 'Then would you play for us? I am sure the young ones would enjoy it.' He motioned to a cushion next to him as the other dragons bobbed their heads in affirmation. Now this was familiar territory to me. Swinging my mandolin onto my front I gave a wide smile and walked inside strumming opening notes. A good musician always has a few well-known opening songs and I was no different, I launched into "Find my own way" a ballad about the many forest trails and the things you could find down them.

The end of the song was met with great exuberance from the young dragons. Their teacher also had a gleam in his eyes, impressed that I had chosen to play something educational. At their pleas for more I did "Home Harbor" a bittersweet melody about finding something better than revenge.

I played for them for a long time. Eventually it ended when I broke into a fit of coughing midway through "Finding out, Coming in", a fun and lively nonsense song.

'I think that's enough' the old dragon said before I could pick up the tune. 'You've played marvelously, though I fear that if I allowed you to continue, we would all be going home with empty stomachs and unused energy' He snorted 'At least in the case of these little ones, I myself, could use a rest.'

I had to agree with him. The dragons had been a great audience but were now quite restless. The gold female I had laying across my outstretched leg, fidgeted fitfully while one of the twins was on his back, his head in my lap and had stolen my mandolin during the coughing fit.

'There is a picnic basket set up in the kitchen. A trail loops from the back of the building and up into the forest, its clearly marked. I'd appreciate it if you would take the dragons up there to eat, afterward you can let them play in the area behind the nursery until they can head home.'

I found that the picnic basket had padded handles on either side for two of the dragons to carry in their mouths. During lunch and the trek, I told them how I had come to the valley. I learned their names and found out that the two gold dragons were also brother and sister.

On our return I set the basket down on the back porch. Oesal, the old dragon, was fast asleep where we had left him. Furtively I took my mandolin from inside. As I sat down with my back to the picnic basket Kin, one of the white dragons, came up to me. I glanced to the others playing on the other side of the courtyard.

'Can you play something?' Kin asked, standing at my shoulder

Seeing the others were happily engaged I nodded 'Quietly, I don't want to wake Oesal.' I thought for a moment then started into an old lullaby, softly humming the words. Kin collapsed across my legs and pressed his head to the instrument, enjoying the soft vibration of the wood as I played. He closed his eyes. In the warm sunshine, as my own eyelids grew heavy, I played the lullaby through a second time but as I finished my hands slipped from the strings and into the warm dragon's fur.

I froze as Kin changed his position. The near-asleep dragon suddenly nuzzled deep into my crotch. Working his snout back and forth over my shaft Kin's nostrils flared and mouth half opened as he drew my scent in over his tongue. With my two workouts that day I'd need a wash; apparently though, the little dragon was enjoying the smell.

A little too much I thought. Kin was panting now. Working my hand beneath his jaw I lifted his head over onto my thigh. In response he rolled onto his side exposing a pale pink shaft jutting up from the white fur between his legs. I checked him and saw that Kin was fast asleep and had stopped wriggling about. Tiredly, I rubbed his head. It would be rude to wake him I decided. After all, I could sleep just fine with a horny dragon in my lap.

When I woke the two gold dragons were beside me. Nysca, the female, was shaking me by the shoulder.

What's wrong? I said, suddenly fearful that Kin wasn't with me.

'What? Everything's fine' she replied, slightly puzzled 'we just came to tell you that we're going home'

'Oh, okay' I got up and checked inside 'I'll tell Oesal when he wakes up'

'Thanks' she said brightly. Suddenly she pounced on her brother, who went down under her weight before racing off around the building. Ciruin raced after her 'See you tomorrow' he shouted back to me. I waved at his back. Tomorrow? I hadn't even thought about it.

Shaking off the thought, I resolved to find the other two dragons. Oesal was still well asleep; deep, slow breaths pulsing through his body. A quick check told me that neither dragon was in the nursery. For a moment I considered calling for them but having the old dragon wake to find that I'd lost two of his charges wasn't a thrilling idea. Besides, I was a guide. I'd been tracking people for years; two young dragons shouldn't prove much of an issue.

The clearing was a mess of sign, after scouting the perimeter I discounted it. No tracks led straight off into the bush. That left them possibly leaving through the nursery or by the outside path. On inspecting it I found fresh tracks from when Nysca and Ciruin. The deep indentations, particularly at the back of their back feet and the deeper claw gouges showed that they had been running. There were other tracks, but their degradation and deeper, less defined shape showed that they had been made earlier; before the sun had baked the ground dry following yesterday's rainfall. Working back, I tried again at the exit to the loop track. I quickly found what I'd been looking for; two sets of identical dragon tracks pressed into dirt that hadn't dried in the shade of overhead trees. Significantly, they headed uphill against the trail of prints we had made earlier on our trek back down.

Satisfied they were taking the loop track I broke into a run. I figured catching them rather than trying to intercept them using the other part of the loop was the better option. This way their tracks would tell me if they accidentally took one of the side trails. Their tracks? I stopped suddenly. No doubt about it; their tracks had stopped. I walked slowly back down, scanning the ground. Finding their footprints again I saw they had turned and veered along a narrow, overgrown track. I pushed carefully through a screen of low trees; finding small branches that had been snapped off by their passing. The clearing I came into was idyllic, warm sunlight dappled a forest floor of soft grass and heather as it filtered down from a massive tree overhead.

Facing side-on to me, the two dragons hadn't noticed as I'd come through the trees. Ice stood on his hind legs, his body laying across his brother's back as his forepaws clutched the dragon beneath him around the chest. Ice had his tail raised nearly vertically giving me a clear view as to what was happening between his legs. The dominant dragon's shaft was buried deep within his brother's tailhole. Kin's sphincter contracted, then widened repeatedly as it worked to massage the erect length being forced inside by the motion of Ice's powerful hips. For his part, Kin hung limply in his brother's grip. Only the tip of his pink member protruded from the stubby sheath that swayed between the dragon's legs. From the state of the ground beneath him it was clear that the little white dragon hadn't lasted long. Ropes of dragon ejaculate covered the ground beneath him and even covered the backs of his front legs; the mess spoke volumes as to how pent-up he had been.

Ice, on the other hand, was only just reaching his peak. Panting heavily with desire he thrust desperately, trying to drive his member completely inside the other dragon. The thick base mashed into Kin's abused tailhole, denied entry as Kin clenched instinctively against the other dragon's penis. Ice's whole body shuddered as his brother's anal muscles spasmed, for a moment I thought it was over but then Ice pulled his hips back until only his tip was inside. Kin gasped at the sudden cessation of pressure in his rear end. For a moment they hung there, connected tenuously to his brother by the pink shaft that lay just inside his rear entrance. Then Ice rammed forward. The force of the thrust staggered the dragon underneath him who barely managed to stay on his feet. Kin yelped as his tailhole spread to its fullest as he received the entire length of his brother's shaft. Between his own legs Kin's shaft pushed partway from his sheath as his brother's member rubbed deep inside him. Ice gasped for air, the force of his orgasm causing his whole body to shake violently. Under his raised tail, his own anus clenched sympathetically while his compact, immature sack drew up even tighter as he emptied copious amounts of dragon sperm into Kin's rear.

Kin, shaking and weak from the stimulation, finally sunk to the ground with his legs folded beneath him. Ice shifted with him. Following Kin's movement, he placed his forepaws on the ground either side of the bottom dragon's shoulders, crouching over him. Kin twisted his head around, giving his brother a long lick up from the base of his neck and underneath his jaw.

'Good?' Kin asked.

Ice nodded and then, seemingly embarrassed, he tucked his snout into the fur that covered Kin's shoulder. As Kin licked his ears, Ice pressed his body to the dragon beneath him. Cuddling with his brother, Ice slowly humped him; seeking a little more stimulation to fuel his orgasm as he trickled the last of his sperm into Kin's butt.

Sitting up behind him Ice placed his front claws on the other dragon's rump. Shifting about, a puzzled expression crossed his face. The young dragon twisted, trying to look down his body and see between his legs.

'Kin? I can't get it out' The dragon demonstrated his difficulty by pulling back hard. Kin squealed with pain. 'Kin? What's wrong? Are you okay? Kin?' Panic seeped into his voice as Kin whimpered. Desperately he tried to yank himself from the other dragon. This time Kin screamed; he twisted his body to look back over his shoulder - and froze as he saw me.

Not that he could've missed me; at his scream I'd run towards them. Going to my knees, I wrapped one arm around Kin's underside and grabbed Ice's rump with my other hand. With a shove I pushed Kin's rear hard between his brother's legs. The relief it brought him let me use the arm I had around him to instead grab Ice's neck. The struggling, scared dragon tried to pull away, but I held him fast.

'Ice, Ice it's okay' I turned his head towards me and looked in his eyes 'Ice, it's me. You need to stop. You're hurting Kin.' That got through to him. Recognizing me, he calmed as I gently stroked his ears.

'That's better, are you alright?' Ice nodded. Kin's response was to bury his head in my chest, his whimpering sounding on the verge of tears. I rubbed his ears too as the dragon's choked sobs subsided.

'Ice, you said that you're stuck. Has this happened before?' He shook his head.

'Do you know what's wrong? He asked.

'Maybe. Kin? Do you mind if I check something? I don't know too much about dragon anatomy.' His head jerked in a small nod against my chest. Carefully, I moved his rear leg backward for better access. The little dragon's body stiffened as I touched his furry sheath. With my other arm around his neck, I hugged him reassuringly. Ice peered over his brother's side; his nostrils flared as he caught the scent of the dragon beneath him. The fur on Kin's underside was matted with his own ejaculate. When he had collapsed from their rutting the dragon had inadvertently lain in the result of his own orgasm. Seeing Ice's reaction gave me an idea. Leaning backward, I allowed Kin's head to fall into my lap. The dragon didn't seem to realize it, but the direct access to my scent was having the desired effect on his body.

Even as I watched; the dragon's penis slid from his body. When I judged it long enough, I grasped the sensitive organ. Kin moaned cutely at the contact, his body shivering as he nuzzled deeper into my groin. Gently, I masturbated him, the dragon's organ swelling until I held most of him in my hand. Pulling back his sheath gave me a good look at his full length. The dragon's penis was a relatively simple affair; thick at the base, the pale pink member tapered along its entire length. With no noticeable head it simply narrowed up to where his urethra went in at the tip. The only ornamentation to it was a slightly raised bump on either side, right before the base.

From my position Kin's butt was turned away from me. Loath to let go of the little dragon, I instead reached further back between his legs. Kin spread himself wider, giving my hand more room. His penis trailed up my arm and the furry white sack that held his testicles also crossed my palm, coming to rest on my wrist. My fingers found where Ice's shaft entered his brother's tailhole. Kin's cavity bulged outward slightly, under gentle tension from the phallus inside.

'You're tied' I informed the dragons. At their confused looks I continued 'When Ice mated you; the glands on the side of his penis swelled and stopped him from being able to pull out. You've never had him all the way inside, have you?' Kin shook his head.

'He usually pulls straight out.'

'Well,' I said, squeezing the small amount of shaft I could feel 'I think he's soft enough that I could get him out. Do you want me to try?' At the dragon's affirmation I placed my thumb and index finger either side of Kin's anus. 'Okay, just relax' Stroking his head I waited until he had taken a couple of deep breaths. Deciding that he was ready I pressed my fingers apart, stretching his sphincter out sideways as far as it would go until, with an audible pop, Ice's member wrested itself from his hole. Immediately a waterfall of Ice's sperm followed coating my hand and splashing down Kin's legs. As I pulled my hand away and Ice leapt from his brother's back. Kin's tail tucked in between his legs, the fur covering it became soaked as the ejaculate pouring from his tailhole slowed to a trickle.

'Wow' I muttered, rubbing my coated hand against the grass. 'For your size, you boys can make a real mess.'

'How did you find us?' Ice asked.

I shrugged. 'Been doing it my whole life. Remember how I told you that I was a guide? Being able to find people is second nature to me.' I paused for a moment. 'Or I was a guide; since I came here, I don't know what I am.'

I shook off the melancholy of that thought. Turning my attention to Kin I ruffled the fur on his head 'You good to go little guy? We really should head back.'

'Still hurts.' Kin moaned; his voice muffled from his muzzle being pressed into my body. I almost laughed, after all, the fluffy quadruped had just gotten his ass pounded, but the anxious look on Ice's face changed my mind.

'Ice, can you turn him around?' The dragon nodded. Working his head underneath his brother's; Ice lifted Kin away from my body. Kin quickly burrowed his snout into the fur on his brother's shoulder but catching sight of his pained expression concerned me somewhat. Spreading his back legs apart I then tried to lift his thick tail, the dragon held it down fast. 'Kin' I sighed. 'Can you lift your tail?' My concern lessened when, as the dragon realized what I wanted, his tail shot upward.

The dragon's rear end was a mess. The fur all down his back legs was saturated with Ice's cum. The same went for his raised tail and rump. Fluids that had run down between his legs still dripped from the cute, furry sack that held his balls.

'I think you'll be alright, just sore' I declared. The dragon's anus was red and raw but seemed otherwise uninjured. Gently, I rubbed around his entrance with a finger; the powerful clenching of his anal muscles at the stimulation told me everything was, at least, working fine. Sinking the finger inside him up to the first knuckle I pulled down, gaping open his anal cavity. Kin gasped as his butt released a stream of dragon semen out over my hand and down his balls where it splashed to the ground. The dragon crouched onto his forepaws and wiggled his rear, more sperm making its way out of him in small spurts.

Doggedly, I held him open until he seemed finished. At last, I pulled his tail back down. Kin finally had his head up and was looking over his shoulder at me. I patted his rump.

'Bit less sore? You were still pretty full back here.' The dragon blushed at the remark, managing a mute nod. 'Good. Can you walk? We need to get back to the nursery.' With his brother guiding him, Kin took a few tentative steps. I noticed that both dragons still had erect shafts protruding from their sheaths but even as I watched, with their movement and the fact that those parts were no longer receiving attention or stimulation, both dragon's members retreated back into their bodies, leaving only heavy white sheaths to jiggle beneath them as they moved.

Kin worked himself up to a walk, then bounded to the edge of the clearing. Ice jumped after him, relieved that his brother was alright.

'Great, let's go.' I hurried back into the overgrown path. In their excitement, the lithe dragons were exceptionally fast. Something nagged at the back of my mind, but I forgot about it as I turned all my concentration to running helter-skelter down the track after them, only just managing to stay alongside. Within seconds we had reached the end of the trail. My uneasy feeling returned on seeing it, suddenly I threw myself forward roughly grabbing both dragons and pulling them to a stop.

'Quiet!' I hissed. 'You need to do everything I say, okay?' Confused and startled the twins nodded in unison. Quickly looking about, I scooped up a big double-handful of mud from a divot beside the path and plastered it across Ice's shoulders. More mud followed as I rubbed the watery mess into both dragon's coats, splashing it across their backs, their legs, even their heads. Duly covered I wiped my hands off on a clean patch of Ice's fur then beckoned them to follow me as I made my way out into the courtyard.

Spotting Oesal I walked toward him. The old dragon stood on the back porch and was looking decidedly unhappy. All the same I waved jovially at him as I approached. Over my shoulder, Loudly, and very deliberately, I yelled to the two white dragons.

'You both best go wash off all that mud. And no more jumping in puddles on our walks.' The two dragons took the hint; they raced off around the side of the nursery to a spigot that was located on the building's wall. The sound of gushing water reached my ears as I faced up to Oesal.

'Where have you been?' he demanded. An undertone of suppressed rage crept into his voice, his eyes flashing with anger.

'For a walk' I replied coolly 'Kin and Ice wanted another walk around the loop track'

'And the others?' He asked.

'Ciruin and Nysca? I sent them home before we left.' On knowing that all the dragons were safe his anger immediately cooled. 'I admit I feared that you had kidnapped them. I was about to go and raise the village.'

'Kidnap them?' I said, an innocent expression plastered over my face. 'They're cute and all, but I don't fancy being run ragged by those two all the time.' Oesal rumbled a deep chuckle as the last of the tension left his body.

'Well, you know. Dragons are, well, never mind.' He trailed off. I knew what he was referring to. The dragons had powerful healing abilities. It had given them trouble in the past. 'And the mud?' Asked the dragon, changing the subject 'Do I even want to know?'

'Not really, just that excited dragons and big puddles don't mix.' I grinned to myself as I said those words. 'We should probably go find them.'

Together we walked around the building. The area was flooded, a high-mounted tap on the wall gushed copious amounts of water. Briefly a chill ran down my spine. Ice was again reared up over his brother's rump, but I relaxed when I saw that he was just helping to wash the other dragon's back and wings. Stepping in, I shut off the valve. I was glad to see they hadn't wasted any time, both dragon's dripping wet coats now glistened a pristine white, all trace of mud, and anything else, washed away. Ice dismounted from his brother and water sprayed from their fur as they both shook themselves vigorously. With Kin and Ice thoroughly bathed even Oesal's powerful sense of smell had no chance of picking up on what the two young dragons had really been doing in the woods.

Noting how low the sun was in the sky I turned to the gold dragon. 'I should be going' I remarked. 'It's a bit of a walk back to my house.' The old dragon studied me for a moment.

'Will you come back and play for us tomorrow?' He asked finally. I looked at the two wet dragons. Both of their gazes were riveted on me as they waited breathlessly for my answer.

'Well, I don't know...' I drawled. 'I've been offered a job at the inn, and the walk to get here is a bit ridiculous...' I laughed as the two brothers broke out into protests. 'Alright, Alright' I said once I could get a word in edgeways. 'I'll be back tomorrow' I assured them.

Kin's wings flapped as he reared up onto his back legs. I caught him under his shoulders as he fell against my front, his head landing on my shoulder. Wrapping my arms around his body I held him to my chest as I hugged the little dragon. His tail lashed happily.

'You seem to have really struck a chord with them.' Oesal observed ironically.

'Ah, well I'll admit it, they can be pretty cute.' I gave the dragon a firm squeeze and fondled his ears before gently lowering him to the ground. Ice, somewhat more reserved, pressed his head against my hip. I crouched and hugged him around his neck. He pressed into me as I rubbed under his jaw, the dragon sighing at the touch.

Walking down the gravel road I swung my mandolin onto my back. Looking back over my shoulder I raised my hand and waved at the young dragons sitting next to Oesal on the nursery's front porch, their shouted farewells echoing after me. I hiked the carrying strap further up on my shoulder as I turned back to the road. The late afternoon sun warmed my back as I walked, whistling a small made-up tune. I decided that I might try something other than playing at the inn. The walk back to the nursery in the morning wouldn't be so bad, especially since, on my return, I might find two horny dragons.