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"What the hell is it?" Artos said, staring at me with interest.

"I'm not rightly sure, Lord Artos. I've certainly never seen the like and I've roamed these woods since I was strong enough to draw a bow," Lady El said. She was not actually "Lady El" at the time, but I still feel I must address her as such.

"So, what, three years old or so?" Jerim joked and got a smack on the shoulder for his wit. I remember ducking from that, perhaps fearing that I would be struck next.

"Huh. As chief hunter, I would expect more of you," Artos said pointedly and then grinned. "So you don't know what it is? Anyone have any guesses?"

"I'd say dragon, but it don't look quite right," one of the retainers said. Gage, I think his name was. He died during the war.

"You may be on to something there. It's head is dragon like, it has wings, a tail...", he trailed of. "If that's what it is, brother, then we should probably kill it now before it gets big enough to cause some serious damage."

"Most likely right, though it hardly seems dangerous now," Artos agreed.

"A lion cub doesn't seem dangerous either, when it's small," Lady El said.

"Lord Artos?" a hesitant voice asked.

"Yes Ren?" Artos said, smiling at a young boy dressed in wizard robes.

It was clear that the boy was shy speaking in a group of his elders and it was equally clear that Artos was trying to encourage him to overcome that shyness. I do not know if this is something that I realized that the time, or something that I see in hindsight. The boy smiled at walked closer to me. I drew back, still so exhausted that I could barely move.

"If it is a dragon, or something like, then my master would be interested in knowing about it and probably seeing it," Ren suggested in a timid voice.

Jerim snorted. "Like as not you're right, though I can't say as though I care for the notion. Phaegus tends to get into things that he ought not."

"And you, my brother, are ever so slightly biased," Artos said, grinning at him.

"Perhaps. But do we really want a dragon of any sort anywhere near the keep?"

Artos sighed. "Well...damn. I don't want to make a decision without further input from father, Lady Dawn, and yes Ren, Phaegus."

Jerim grunted. "Figures."

"Oh stop it," Lady El said. "I'll keep it trussed up and fed. It's only a few days to the keep. If you're so blasted worried I'll send one of my riders ahead of us."

Artos shook his head. "And have father scold me for leaning too much on others?"

"Like he isn't going to now?"

"I would hope he would understand."

Jerim laughed. "Not likely, brother mine. He's been trying these 'leadership' projects with you for quite some time now."

"Good leaders know when to ask for help," Artos pointed out.

"And they also know how to make choices and live with the consequences."

Artos stared at his brother with a cold stare. "Hmm. Your'e starting to look and sound like father. If figured the crankiness and gray hair would not set in for a few more decades."'

"Gray hair?" Jerim exclaimed, his hand going to his rather long tresses and everyone laughed at him.

During this, I had managed to raise myself to a sitting position and was watching everyone in fear. I had never been in such close proximity to humans before. Ren knelt down to better be at my level. I drew away from him. "We won't hurt you," he said in a soothing tone, as if to a dog or other frightened animal. Again, I do not fault them. No one had ever seen one of my kind, how would they have known that I was intelligent? Even had they know, I had no words with which to communicate myself.

"Careful," Artos warned. "He could still bite and I'd wager those jaws can do some damage."

"I know, but I don't think he'll try to hurt us if we're careful and gentle with him," Ren replied, keeping his eyes focused on me.

"How do you know?"

"Just a hunch," Ren said and shrugged.

"I hope your hunch doesn't cost you a hand," Lady El said. "I've seen enough animals that look utterly docile turn on their masters and we don't know a darned thing about it."

"Him, actually," Ren said.

"Ah yes. Well, him then."

"Hmm. El, Ren, I leave him to you. Make him secure and keep him from hurting anyone," he said, pausing to look me over. "And feed him; I can see his ribs."

"Yes sir," Ren said and eagerly went to pull out some leftover meat.

Lady El sighed and shook her head. "We're going to wind up regretting this."

"Perhaps," Artos replied.

"Even if he turns out to be tamable, we have no idea how big he's going to get or what other abilities he may manifest. For all we know some of the legends about dragon are true and he'll wind up setting the keep on fire or worse."

"Leave it to El to be gloomy!" Jerim said.

"Someone has to keep a realistic view on the situation!"

Ren came back with some hunks of meat and carefully sat them before me. I eyed them, not being certain of what to do. Up to this point, any attempts to get food from humans had been met with violence and threats. Was he really giving this to me or was he waiting for me to try to take it so he could strike me?

"Go on, it's yours," he said in a gentle tone. "Come on then. Eat."

I hesitated, even still. I recognized a soft voice, of course, and associated it with welcome, but was still not sure. I slowly made my way towards the meat, crawling the best I could with my hands bound behind me, and then, watching him carefully for any sudden movement, took the meat into my jaws and ripped off a hunk with a sharp shake of my head, wolfing it down greedily.

"I'd say it was hungry!" one of the retainers said.

Artos watched me for a moment. "Awkward, eating with his claws tied."

"I don't think it's safe to release him," Jerim cautioned.

"Keep him bound until the keep," Lady El agreed.

"As you say. Ren, watch after him," Artos said, musing. He looked about. "Secure him to that log and whoever is on watch needs to keep an eye out for him."

"Do will kill it if it tries to escape?" a guard asked.

"No, just call out and we'll bind him again."

"Artos..." Lady El said worriedly.

"It'll be fine, El," Artos said. "I don't think it has much fighting spirit or it would have fought harder to stay free. Right now I think all it really wants is some food and comfort."

"He, Lord Artos," Ren said, never taking his eyes off of me eating.

"As you say, Ren. He."