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As they walked up to the cabin, thunder boomed in the distance and the wind started to pick up. "Oh I hope it doesn't storm and ruin our vacation!" Beth said. "I like thunderstorms!" Ryan nearly chirped. "I know you do," Beth said shaking her head. "You'd be out in the middle of it if we let you." "True enough," Allen said as they walked in.  Ryan went over to the small window and looked out at the storm clouds as they started to boil up over the mountain side. He had always enjoyed storms, lightning or otherwise. His father was right, he would happily stand in the middle of a rainstorm getting drenched so long as it wasn't too cold out. He'd often wanted to stand out in the rain in his dragon form but that was out of the question of course.  His parents went to reading their books as he watched the storm. After awhile he sighed and got out one of his books on dragons. That had been a fight, many years ago, being allowed to have books about dragons. His father had been very strict about not allowing such things for whatever reason. His mother finally convinced him that it would be OK if he had books about dragons or even books with dragons in them. Ryan enjoyed reading about dragons, most of the time anyway. He tended to avoid stories where dragons were the villains for obvious reasons. Fortunately, there were many books with dragons as good guys or even as heroes. Dragons were so very flexible, if he did say so himself. From guarding an ancient treasure to fighting off Napoleon, you never knew where a dragon would turn up. Some of the ideas about dragons Ryan found to be rather ridiculous. Of course, they were just fantasy and he was the real thing. A lot of the time Ryan found the fantasy to be far more interesting than reality, as he supposed it usually was. It's not like his life was interesting enough to write a book about he reasoned.  "Mother, did you know that the ancient Chinese thought that dragons brought the wind and the rain?" Ryan asked, looking up from his book. "Oh so you're responsible for this?" she teased. "No!" he said, indignant. "I would not ruin our vacation even if I could bring rain! It is just a silly myth." "I was just teasing, Ryan." "I know," he said thoughtfully. "But I wonder why they though dragons did so many strange things?" "They were just trying to understand their world." Ryan nodded and went back to reading. There was a sudden flash of lightning followed by a roar of thunder that made everyone jump. Ryan looked around, startled for a moment. "Sounds close!" "I'm sure we're safe," Allen said. "Yeah," Beth said looking up at the ceiling nervously. Ryan tried to go back to reading but something was bothering him, an odd feeling that he couldn't quite put a finger on. There was an odd tingling sensation in his belly, a tightness around his head that he couldn't quite explain. He finally gave up on his book, stood up, and started pacing back and forth. Another peal of thunder and Ryan jumped, startled, looking at the roof nervously. "Easy Ryan," Beth said soothingly. "The thunder isn't bothering you is it?" Ryan shook his head. "No," he said and then jumped at another roll. Allen laughed at him and he glared. "May I shift forms?" Beth looked over at Allen who shrugged. "Good enough time for it; no one is going to be out in this." Ryan nodded and shifted to his dragon form and resumed pacing. His mother looked up at him, admiring the way he moved as always. Ryan was very graceful as he walked back and forth across the cabin, the light reflecting dimly in his dark blue and gray hide, Ryan lacking the scales that dragons had according to most books.  She reached out and pet him as he walked past and he nuzzled her hand briefly before continuing on. Just like a cat, she thought. He wasn't much larger than a medium sized dog, small enough to fit in her lap though certainly a handful. She knew that he had a larger form, about the size of one of the smaller great cats, a leopard or a jaguar, but he seldom assumed it as there really wasn't the room. The had always found it odd that Ryan had more than one dragon form, but then who knew what would be normal for a dragon anyway? Ryan continued to pace as she went back to her book. Lighting flash, another roar of thunder, and Ryan literally jumped straight in the air, tasting the air nervously. She watched him, frowning. Ryan loved storms, he had never been nervous about them that she could remember. He continued to pace, the sounds of his talons ticking on the wooden floor. She frowned further. Ryan normally kept his talons sheathed when he walked. "Ryan, what's wrong?" "Nothing!" "Then why are you jumping at the thunder?" "I know not!" he snapped. "Ryan!" Allen said, looking up from his book. Ryan flinched. "Sorry father!" Allen grunted and went back to reading. Beth looked over at him and then stood up, and walked to where Ryan was standing, wings rustling irritably. "Ryan, is something bothering you?" He reared back on his hind legs and shook himself. "I know not mother; I feel so very odd." She bent down to pet him and he gave a warning rumble. "Ryan!" She exclaimed, jerking her hand back. "Ryan!" Allen yelled. "What the hell is wrong with you? You don't growl at us!" Ryan skittered back. "I am so very sorry father! I did not mean to!" He continued to pace, tasting the air periodically, nearly panting. Allen's look of anger turned to worry and he looked over at Beth she shook her head, clearly concerned for her son. Ryan paced over and she knelt down again and held her arms out. He flinched back and she sighed. "You're not in trouble. Come here, little dragon." Ryan tentatively crept forward and allowed himself to be pet. He pushed his cheek into her hand, leaving a scent mark. "Ryan?" she ask, bewildered. He wasn't allowed to mark things outside his room as it could leave a stain. He said nothing but pushed his head under her hand, giving an odd purr and growl combination. "That feels so very nice," he purred, shivering. She jerked her hand back. "Oh dear lord Allen he's going into heat!" "What? He's too young!" Ryan blinked. "Heat? What is--" he started and then flinched at the sound of thunder, panting again, tasting the air. "Get me his medical kit," Allen said. Beth picked up the kit and Allen withdrew a syringe and filled it from one of the vials. "Hold him!" Beth scooped him up before he could protest. His father hesitated for a moment and then pushed the needle into the base of his neck, injecting the contents. Ryan hissed briefly and then seemed to relax into a dreamy lassitude. Beth pet him while Allen disposed of the syringe, finally setting him down on his bed. "Well that was unexpected!" Allen said. "To say the least!" "I had no idea it would come so soon." "He's becoming a teenager, Allen. I just wish we would have figured it out sooner. He was so miserable." "Yeah, poor little guy," Allen sighed. "Well, I suppose it's just another thing to deal with." Beth looked at him. "Lovely attitude dear." "You know what I mean." "Yes," she said quietly, but wondered.

Ryan woke up with a snort, feeling very groggy. He shook his head and looked around bleary eyed. What had happened to him last night? He remembered the thunderstorm and feeling very odd, then his mother picking him up and his father doing something to him. Other than that, it was all a blur. One thing he did know for certain: he was terribly terribly thirsty. He looked over to where he parents were still laying in bed, asleep and sighed. Hopefully they wouldn't be angry with him over whatever had just happened. Ryan knew they tried hard to not be, but sometimes his instincts or draconic behavior made it very hard not to. He carefully climbed out of his bed and went over to the gallon jugs of water they had brought with them. He looked at the jugs of water, wondering how to drink without having to shift back to his human form. With the way he was feeling he didn't want to shift forms. He nosed at the lid and rumbled quietly as it popped off. He wasn't sure he would be able to lift the jugs without dropping them in this form. He was so thirsty and the smell of the water was enough to drive him wild! He darted out his tongue in frustration. That was it! He could use his tongue to draw the water up out of the jug. He darted his tongue into the water and started to lap it up. Water had never tasted so wonderful in all his life. "Ryan, what are you doing?" He flinched and looked over at his mother who was sitting up in bed, staring at him. He winced. "I was so very thirsty mother." "You know you're not supposed to drink out of the container." "But I was thirsty and did not wish to shift..." he trailed off. "Hmm," she said and climbed out of bed and walked over to him. He looked up at her uncertainly and she smiled down at him and his ears perked. "How about some breakfast?" "Oh that would be wonderful!" "Pancakes, eggs, sausage, and bacon?" "Please!" She laughed and he followed her over to the stove, nearly prancing in anticipation. "Alright, get up on the bed before your tail gets stepped on." He chuffed at her and climbed onto his bed and watched her cook in rapt fascination, tail swishing gently in the air behind him. She looked over her should and laughed at him and tossed him a raw sausage. He snapped it out of the air, chewing happily.  "What's all the noise?" his father asked blearily. "Mother is making breakfast father!" Ryan chirped. "So much for sleeping in!" he groaned. Ryan looked down, ears drooping. "I am sorry, father." "Don't be, wouldn't want to miss one of your mother's breakfasts!" Ryan's ears came back up and he turned back to his mother who tossed him another raw sausage. He snapped it out of the air again, thrumming contentedly. "Dear, don't feed him like that!" "Why?" she asked in surprise, "the raw meat won't hurt him!" "I don't know. Would you feed me that way?" "Of course not, you're a human not a dragon--" she broke off at Ryan's expression and sighed. "I'm sorry Ryan, I didn't mean it like that." "I know, mother." She reached out and gave his head a few pets then went back to cooking. "Alright you two, breakfast is ready! Shift forms, Ryan." "May I please stay in my dragon form?" "There's no place for you to eat in that form." "You could make a plate and set it on the floor." "No," she said after a moment, "no, I won't do that. You're not an animal." "But I do not wish to change..." Ryan said and ducked his head at his father's expression. "I think there's room enough at the table Allen," Beth said. He grunted. "He can stay in that form then." "Thank you father!" Ryan said, head coming up. He climbed up into the chair as his mom held it for him, thrumming in anticipation of his meal. Allen sighed to himself. Ryan wasn't exactly a clean eater in his dragon form, at least not by human standards. As he feared, Ryan was soon chewing a biscuit rather enthusiastically. He snapped up a few sausages and Allen opened his mouth to say something but Beth shook her head at him warningly.  He tired to eat but his appetite was gone. He pushed his plate back and took a sip of his coffee. Ryan looked over at him, looked down at the plate and stopped eating. "It's okay Ryan, I'll just wait for you to finish," Allen said. Ryan looked down. "I am not so very hungry. May I be excused?" he mumbled. Beth sighed. "Yes Ryan. Shift forms and clean up." "Yes mother. I need to use the restroom as well." "Alright, but hurry back we have a big day ahead of us." Ryan put his dishes in the sink and then went out the front door of the cabin. After he had left Beth turned to Allen. "That wasn't good Allen." "I'm sorry he was making me nauseous with all that slurping and smacking." "He wasn't doing it on purpose! He was trying the best he could!" "He can do a heck of a let better in his human form!" She shook her head. "He's not human, in case you missed it." Allen slammed his fork down. "No, as a matter of fact I hadn't missed it. I was wondering if you had letting him stay in his dragon form all the time. Why not put out a sign saying 'Come see the dragon!' and just be done with it! Or lock him up in a kennel and save them the trouble!" "Blast it Allen that's not what I'm trying to do with him and you know it! If you keep treating him like this, like he a human with some draconic parts, it's going to wind up hurting him!" Allen drew in a breath to say something when the door opened and Ryan walked in. "Mother, father, it is so very- I mean, it's nice out. Can we go bike riding maybe?" "That's fine, Ryan," Allen said evenly looking up at Beth.

"Come on, hurry up you slow pokes!" Ryan called as he pedaled up the hill. He made it to the summit and turned around to see his parents slowing pedaling their way up. He sighed. His parents were so much slower than he was; he had always had more endurance. He didn't think it was just because they were older than he was either. "We're old, Ryan!" his mother called up to him. "Not so- I mean you're not old!" "Old enough," Allen grunted, coasting to a stop, breathing heavy. Ryan sighed again and looked around at the countryside with a big smile on his face. It was a wonderful view and he really enjoyed being outdoors, especially without the local bullies to bother him. He wished they could live far out in the country like this but knew his parents didn't really have the money for such things. "Can we ride around that trail over there?" Ryan pointed. "Give us a moment to rest, Ryan!" Beth said, breathless. "If you're so eager, why don't you ride it yourself? It just loops around and comes out over there," Allen said. Ryan looked startled. His father very seldom recommended that he do anything at all by himself, preferring that he stay at home or not too far from. "If you think it is alright." "You'll be fine, Ryan. Just don't talk to strangers." "I will not, father," Ryan said and road towards the trail entrance. He turned to look at his parents once nervously before riding around the corner, out of sight. "Is that wise, Allen?" Beth asked worriedly. "Possibly not, but as you keep pointing out he needs to gain more self confidence." "True, I just worry about him being discovered." "So do I!" "I know Allen," she sighed. "We can't protect him forever. One of these days he's going to have to fend for himself and that includes keeping himself hidden." "Don't remind me!" She sighed again and drew him into a hug, resting her head against his chest. "I'm sure he'll be fine," she murmured, wondering if she was trying to convince herself.

As they road back Allen watched Ryan as he road ahead of them. He had to admit that the boy was very strong and graceful, despite his slight build. He would probably make a great gymnast he thought, not that Ryan would ever get into any sort of sports if he anything to say about it. Ryan's dragon side just made such things too risky to do. He admitted to himself that he tended to think of his son that way: as a human with a dragon side to him. Too much of a risk of him loosing control or being found out.  He admitted to himself that it was a constant fear that he lived with, that Ryan would be discovered and taken away from them. He had nightmares about it sometimes and tired to keep those to himself though he suspected that Beth knew and even shared them. Ryan looked back over his shoulder and saw his father watching him. His features fell for a brief moment and Allen smiled at him and he grinned back, then went back to riding. Yes, the boy was very graceful, there was no doubt about it, Allen thought. He sighed, wishing that it wasn't so hard keeping Ryan protected and safe.  And the thought that he would sooner or later be responsible for himself... Allen nearly shuddered at the thought. He watched as Ryan rode on, regretting all that was needed to keep him safe, regretting, perhaps, the dragon part of Ryan.