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Ryan looked out the window in his human form, of course, bored as he could be. He had to find something to do or he would go crazy, he just knew it! He had to find something to do or he would start brooding over what happened last night and he wasn't sure he wanted to try to deal with that right now. It was an instinct of some sort, he knew that much, and he knew it upset his parents by the way they didn't discuss it with him at all.  He breathed in a deep breath, held it, and let it go in a huge sigh, announcing to the world (or at least his parents) that there was a bored 14 year old needing something to do (not work or chores) and, as everyone knew, a bored 14 year old was to be avoided at all costs. He looked at his parents. They were reading, again, utterly ignorant of his plight. Or perhaps they were just ignoring him, which was just a little vexing. He considered what to do about it, preferably things that would not get him spanked or grounded. Maybe, just maybe, his father would allow him to go outside and explore a bit, if he weren't on one of his dragon kicks as Ryan thought of them. "Mother? May I go outside and look around?" he asked. Mother was usually on his side, so to speak. She looked at his father. "I don't have a problem with it so long as you stay fairly close and your father is okay with it." Ryan looked at his father with a hopeful expression, not quite pleading. His father looked at him, considering, and just when Ryan thought the answer was going to be no, he said, "That's fine. Be back before church and don't talk to strangers." "Yes father!" Ryan said, almost chirping. He gave both of his parents a huge hug and kiss and then walked out the door into the bright spring sun before they could change their minds. The day was quite comfortable, a light breeze blowing made eddies in the mud puddles left by the previous evenings rain. Bird song echoed from the trees, bright shapes of the singers flitting from branch to branch, from tree to tree, announcing their ownership. Ryan walked along briskly, kicking a small rock ahead of him as he hummed happily to himself. He made his way along the trail, heading up a slight grade. He considered going all the way to the fire watchtower be decided that was probably too far and besides, he was rather enjoying being alone anyway. Ryan looked about pondering about what to do next as he walked along the trail. Huge trees lined the sides, Ryan wasn't sure of the type, hiding everything from the view of the road. It was overgrown with brush and flora of all sorts and the sudden desire to explore ceased him. He walked off the trial into the brush eagerly pushing ahead. He had gone a goodly ways in, small animals scurrying away in front of him, some of them chittering angrily at his intrusion into their domain. He finally shoved his way into a secluded clearing and looked around, a huge smile lighting up his face. The clearing was utterly vacant save for himself and the odd wildlife. He walked further into the verdant glenn, grinning the whole way.  He was so seldom alone and while he did enjoy the company of others most of the time, he did enjoy his solitude as well. His parents being protective of him made that difficult, one of them was forever checking in on him as if he were in danger of being lost or something. He looked around the clearing, almost a small valley really, and the illusion of being utterly alone was very strong. He couldn't see or hear the campground from where he stood. He briefly worried about wildcats or bears, though he wasn't certain that either were common in this part of the state, but dismissed the thought. He was a dragon! Any bear foolish enough to bother him would quickly learn to regret it and besides he could always just fly away. The urge to be in his dragon form hit him hard, the desire to spread out his wings and fly. Should he? It would make his parents very angry if he did, even his mother who was usually more understanding about such things. He grumbled and kicked a dirt clod causing it to disintegrate into a million pieces. It just wasn't fair! He had to be in his human form most of the time and just felt so cooped up! Always having to being careful, making sure the blinds are shut, watching how he spoke, making sure no one saw him. Be quiet Ryan, don't make dragon noises, don't act like a dragon, as if he could act any other way! He had to be in the house to be in his dragon form and even then his father seemed to dislike it. The few times he had been allowed to be in his dragon form outside, they had always been far out in the country and even then his mother and father would look around nervously and tell him all to quickly to go back to human form. He could count on one hand the times he had been allowed to fly. Didn't they understand just how important flight was to a dragon? A dragon without flight was like a hawk being hooded and jessed, tucked safely away in the mews.  Ryan started to pace, becoming more agitated as his thoughts boiled over in his mind. He had to watch how he acted, watch how he spoke, watch out for his instincts, and even watch out for his own father. It was almost as if he couldn't be what he really was! He had to conform to Ryan as a human and keep the dragon under control at all times, keep the dragon caged and tame. He couldn't talk to anyone about it and he certainly wasn't allowed to try to find other dragons! No staying in dragon form, no basking in the sun, no flying, no, no, and no! He couldn't even roar when he wanted! (Sometimes, you just had to roar...) In a surge of defiance, Ryan shifted to his dragon form an let loose a roar! Well, maybe it was a small roar, not in full voice, but had roared right?  And, Ryan being Ryan, promptly felt guilty for loosing control. When he was younger, his parents would sometimes not allow him to go out and play with the other children, fearing that he could loose control and shift forms or hurt somebody. Deep down Ryan feared that his parents would become scared of him as he grew older and stronger. That thought had haunted his nightmares for years, but he never spoke up about it for fear of making it true. He almost shifted back to his human form but decided that it wouldn't hurt to stay in his natural form awhile longer, after all no one could see him. He stretched himself out his full length, yawning with a snap of his jaws. It felt so very nice to be able to stretch out in his full form. He wasn't that big, even in full form, about the size of one of the smaller great cats, a leopard or maybe a jaguar. Not terribly large but not exactly house sized either. Ryan scented the air, darting out his tongue, thrumming at the wonderful smells of flowers, trees, the earth, clear air, and even the distant scent of water. Humans were so scent blind! He looked around the valley, using his vastly improved sight, easily spotting squirrels playing in distant trees, spotting a hawk as it soared above the valley, clearing seeing the wind ruffling it's plumage. His own wings half unfurled with the desire to take flight, to be as free as the hawk. He looked around the valley again. Surely it wouldn't hurt to take a low flight, just ever so briefly around the valley would it? Just a quick turn with no one the wiser. It would be so very, very nice to be able to fly if even for just a short bit. Ryan crouched down and shook out his blue and grey wings, opening them to their fullest, letting the air fill them with a soft pop. He took a deep breath, bunched his muscles, and pushed off with his hind legs, making a mighty spring, bringing his wings down hard. A few more furious wing beats and he was airborne. He leveled out and glided in a long slow loop around the clearing, occasionally beating his wings to maintain height, his tail gently lashing behind him, keeping him on course. He wanted to roar, wanted to let the whole world know that he was a dragon flying free, and happy to be free. He didn't of course, knowing that it was far too dangerous. He was already in enough danger just flying; no need to do something else to call attention to himself.  He back winged several times and dropped his rear legs down, landing as neat as you please, folding his wings tightly to his back. He preened in pride at the landing, then settled himself down in the soft grass, luxuriating in the feel of it, in the feel of the sunlight as it beat down on his back, thrumming in contentment. He lowered his head to his crossed forelegs with a happy sigh. He wasn't sure how long he had dozed; he had not meant to fall asleep at all, but the sun was very comfortable. The sound of someone coming through the trees startled him into wakefulness. He tasted the air, trying to figure out who or what it was, but there were too many scents for him to sort out. Frustrated he shifted back to his human form, praying that no one had watched him flying. Cursing himself for a fool, he started towards the trail away from the noise. Too late. A man wearing khaki vest and shorts, white shirt, and a brown cowboy like hat walked out of the trees holding an aluminum hiking pole in one hand. He waved with a cheerful smile, his teeth bright against his tanned skin, his expression care free. The sun glinted off his reddish hair and Ryan couldn't help but note that the man bore a striking resemblance to Danny Kaye. "Hello!" he said in a cheerful, british accented voice, furthering Ryan's thought that he looked as if he stepped out of the outback. Ryan was a little disappointed that it was not an Australian accent. "Beautiful day isn't it?" "Uh Yeah," Ryan said, the echo of his father's warning not to talk to strangers ringing in his ears. "Lovely place, this camp. Are you staying here?" he asked, voice still bright and cheerful. Ryan nodded and the man grinned. "Very good then! But I'm being intolerably rude, my name is Tanner Wilberforce. A bit of an odd name to you yanks but quite normal in jolly old England." He looked around, still wearing a bright smile. "What's your name, if you don't mind me asking?" he asked cheerfully. "Ryan, sir," he said quietly, beginning to think that Mr. Wilberforce would announce armageddon cheerfully. "A good strong name," Mr. Wilberforce said approvingly and walked over to sit down on a log close to where Ryan stood. "Feels good to take a load off," he said as he sat down. Ryan took a small step back, nervous at the man's close proximity. "You said you were from the camp?" "Yes sir," Ryan said, trying to keep the nervousness from his voice. "My parents and I are here on vacation." Ryan winced internally. Why did he tell him that? "I'm on vacation too, a sabbatical actually. I work for a university in England teaching natural sciences. I also contract for Saint George Steel as a senior contractor. By chance have you seen any interesting or unusual creatures about?" Ryan almost started. "No sir, nothing so very interesting." He cursed himself for talking like a dragon. His father would be twice as angry if he found out, not only talking to a stranger but talking like a dragon as well. Foolish dragon! "Nothing so very interesting?" Mr. Wilberforce asked with a smile. Ryan flinched, he couldn't help it. "No sir." "Ah well, no matter." "I need to go; my parents will be looking for me soon," Ryan said as he nervously looked over his shoulder towards the camp. "If you don't mind I'll follow you back; I get turned around frequently I'm afraid," Mr. Wilberforce said easily Ryan couldn't think of any way to refuse. "As you wish, sir." They had only gone a few short steps when Mr. Wilberforce stopped and knelt down. "Well, well, what have we here?" he said.  Ryan turned to look at him and froze. Tanner was looking at a footprint in the mud with a look of intense fascination. A dragon footprint.

Ryan's heart pounded fair to beat it's way out of his chest, his mouth going utterly dry at the sight of Mr. Wilberforce looking at his footprint, poking at it with a pen, a look of curiosity on his face. What should he do? Even if Mr. Wilberforce had no idea what made the footprint, which Ryan felt it wasn't likely he did, it could well call attention that there was some strange animal in the area. What if he brought others in to start looking or worse yet, start hunting it? He shook himself and walked over to where Mr. Wilberforce was looking at the footprint, mashing his foot into it, distorting it beyond recognition. "What? Where?" he asked, feigning curiosity. "Well, its was a footprint," Mr. Wilberforce said, looking up at him with a smile. "Oh! I'm sorry! I did not, didn't mean to ruin it," Ryan said, forcing himself to use contractions. "Don't worry about it Ryan; it's no big deal," Mr. Wilberforce said, standing and dusting himself off, brushing the mud off his pen and putting it in his pocket. "Let's get you back to your folks shall we? You never know what kind of creatures could be about, after all." Ryan managed to control his reaction and nodded. "This way, sir," he said as they set of for the trail again. He glanced up at Mr. Wilberforce from time to time as they walked, but the man seemed utterly unconcerned about the footprint. He probably thought it was a bear or something like. "I guess it was probably a bear of some sort?" he asked tentatively, trying to keep suspicion away from him. Mr. Wilberforce smiled at him. "Oh, I don't think it was ursine at all, Ryan." Ryan stumbled, nearly falling, but Mr Wilberforce caught him. "Careful Ryan!" "I just do not wish to be caught by it, whatever it is!" Mr. Wilberforce shook his head. "No fear of that Ryan. They're not dangerous unless threatened." Ryan froze, heart pounding like a sledge hammer against his chest. He looked up at Mr. Wilberforce, trembling. "Mr. Wilberforce..." he trailed off "Just Tanner, Ryan, you're not one of my students," Tanner said with a smile. "Uh, Tanner then," he paused for moment, trembling slightly unsure of what to do. "They are not so very dangerous?" he said, barely able to say the words. Tanner shook his head, looking thoughtful. "No Ryan, they're not. Even if threatened they would be more likely to flee rather than try to hurt someone." He paused. "You have nothing to fear from it, Ryan. They're rather shy creatures actually; I'm a bit surprised to have found a footprint." Ryan froze again. Oh Lord, he knows, he knows about dragons he thought. Tanner watched him curiously. "You had another question, Ryan?" Ryan shook off the freeze. He had to put Tanner off, had to get him to stop questioning him! "What is the biggest animal you have ever seen?"  "Biggest? Hmm. African bull elephant I think. They're huge!" Tanner said smiling and Ryan breathed a sigh of relief. Surely a dragon would be larger! His relief was short lived when Tanner said. "But dragons aren't really animals in the classical sense, so I suppose they don't count." Ryan recoiled, taking several steps back. "D-dragons?!" "Yes, dragons. Some breeds are far larger than the biggest elephant." "D-dragons," Ryan stammered again. "That is so very stupid! There is no such thing!" Tanner just smiled. "No such thing?" Ryan shook his head vehemently "No! Only a fool would believe that there are real dragons!" Tanner laughed quietly. "Well, I suppose that makes me one of the fools then." Ryan stared at him, wide eyed, shaking. Tanner sighed. "I know you're a dragon Ryan," he said softly.  "No!" Ryan yelled, nearly bolting. Tanner held his hands up in a non threatening gesture. "Easy, easy Ryan. I won't tell anyone." "That is so very crazy! What makes you think that I am a dragon if there even were such things?" "So very crazy, that footprint that you covered up back there, even the way you hold yourself and how you react," Tanner said, still smiling at him. Ryan tried to run but he found himself completely frozen to the spot, he tried to shake it off but failed, terrifying thoughts tumbling over in his mind, each worse than the last, all threatening to overwhelm him. He had been found out! He had been caught! His parents were going to kill him, if Tanner didn't hurt him first. Oh God don't let him hurt me, he thought. His parents had forever been warning him about this, about being found out, about people wanting to hurt him just because he was a dragon. Or even the government finding out about him! He had read many books about aliens being found and tortured by the government and now it could happen to him. Locked in a cage, laid out on a cold steel table with shadowy figures with hungry eyes standing about, poking and prodding with their steel instruments, doing things to him.  He gave himself a violent shake as Tanner looked on, puzzled by his reaction. "Please, please Tanner! Do not take me from my parents! Do not hurt me!" Tanner looked startled. "Hurt you? Ryan why on earth would I want to do that?" "Because I am a dragon..." Ryan trailed off. Tanner shook his head. "Ryan, most people don't believe in dragons as you know and those that do know about them usually like them. I like dragons, Ryan, I've grown up with them and nothing but respect for them as a whole. I would never want to hurt one, much less take a young dragon from his parents. That would be a horrible, cruel thing to do! Who told you such things?" he asked soothingly. "M-my parents," Ryan said, trying not to shake. Tanner shook his head again, looking frustrated this time. "I don't understand Ryan; they should know better than that! Dragons have been keeping themselves hidden from humans for centuries now; you're all quite good at it. I'm sure their parents taught them how to avoid detection and they passed that on to you." "No Tanner, you do not understand. My parents are not dragons, they are humans."

Humans? Tanner thought. Why would a dragon give their hatchling over to a human? Dragons were fiercely protective of their offspring and the idea that a dragon would give it's hatchling over to a human family who evidently had little knowledge of dragons was unthinkable. Yet there Ryan stood, fidgeting nervously under his gaze. The boy looked as if he were ready to bolt.  "Humans?" Tanner asked very softly. Ryan nodded. "Yes. I think that I was given to them shortly after I hatched. If I hatched, I am not even so very sure of that either." Tanner mulled this over for a moment. "You really know much about dragons, do you?" Ryan shook his head. "No, my parents will not tell me very much at all. I did not even know I was a dragon until I was about 8 years old and I only just found out that they knew my dragon parents. They seldom talk to me about dragons at all." Tanner smiled reassuringly. "Well, I can tell you that you did hatch. There are no dragon breeds that give live birth." "Breeds?" Ryan asked curiosity overcoming his fear. Tanner nodded. "Yes, there are several different species or breeds of dragon if you will." Ryan swallowed, looking down. "And for so very long I thought that I may be alone," he said very softly. "You're not," Tanner assured him. "There are many other dragons out there, dragons of your breed I'm sure." Ryan smiled but the smile faded as fast as it appeared. "My parents will not allow me talk about dragons, much less go near them." "I'm not sure why that is Ryan; it makes no sense to me." He closed his eyes lost in thought. Should he tell the boy more about dragon kind? He had no idea why his parents wouldn't allow him near his own kind and wasn't sure he wanted to disobey their wishes in telling him, but the boy seemed so scared and lonely, so confused about the whole situation. "I can tell you a little more about dragons if you like," Tanner said carefully. Ryan looked startled at the though rand the smiled hesitantly. "I think that I would like that so very much." "Well then, the first thing we need to do is step back into the woods where it's more secluded and have you take your dragon form so I can see your full conformation," Tanner said as he walk back towards the log, whistling happily to himself. Ryan followed along warily, wondering if this was some sort of trap. He shook his head at the thought; he was more than a match for one human and could simply fly away if needed. "Alright, this should be secluded enough," Tanner announced, "go ahead and take your dragon form." Ryan hesitated, wondering again if he should be doing this. Clearly his parents would not in any way approve of it in any way, shape or form, and yet the thought of knowing more about himself, about dragons, was so alluring.  To maybe even find his parents. "It's okay Ryan," Tanner said gently. "I promise not to try to hurt you in any way or to tell anyone about you." Ryan swallowed nervously and then took his full form. He looked at Tanner, still edgy about the situation, and then drew back in confusion at the sight of Tanner grinning at him.  "Lord, he's beautiful!" Tanner thought, amazed at the sight of Ryan. He was easily one of the most interesting looking dragons that he had ever seen in his life. His colors, the way they picked up the sunlight, their depth and lustre was something seldom seen in dragons. And grey and blue! He had never seen a dragon with such coloration! Ryan's eyes were a bright gold color, slightly luminescent, watching him warily, his wings closed tight to his body, attached the whole length stopping a little before the base of his tail. His muzzle was elegant, front and rear legs well in proportion, tail balanced. In short, he was as near a perfect specimen of dragon kind he had ever seen. As he looked at him he tried to figure out what breed he was; he had never seen quite the like of him before and the thought that Ryan may be one of the more rare or exotic breeds set his curiosity to racing. He was clearly of north american stock, he could tell that much by the shape of the wings, muzzle and a few other hints. He would have to check into it; he could hardly claim to be an expert on North American dragons. "Wonderful!" he exclaimed. Ryan blinked in confusion. "Wonderful?" "Yes! You're quite the handsome dragon, Ryan. Your colors are amazing; I've never quite seen the like! Very well built, well in proportion, you're a wonderful example of dragon kind," Tanner said enthusiastically. "Oh," Ryan said, embarrassed, trilling softly to himself, and surreptitiously pushed his chest out a little in pride. Tanner laughed quietly at the little dragon and carefully reached out a hand to stroke his nose, keeping his hands low, palms up, movingly slowly. Ryan drew back a little, trilling nervously to himself, and Tanner stopped, keeping a non threatening stance.  "Easy Ryan; you're fine," he said soothingly. Ryan cocked his head. "My parents do the same thing." "What's that, Ryan?" "Talk to me like that if I am nervous. They come up to me the way you were, hands up and all." 'They must have learned it from your dragon parents. It's the standard way to approach a nervous dragon. Dragons are not animals by any means but you still have to be cautious of their instincts." Ryan cocked his head again, and then slowly lowered it, allowing Tanner to stroke his muzzle, trembling only a little. "So very soft and warm," Tanner said with a big smile. He carefully scratched around Ryan's chin and then over the slight ridges that protected his eyes. Ryan found himself thrumming at the attention without meaning to and Tanner gave a soft chuckle. He took a step back to get a better look at Ryan, starting to walk around him, but Ryan turned with him at first until Tanner said, "Ryan, it's hard to get a full look at you if you keep turning like that." "I am so very sorry, Tanner." Tanner grinned. "No need to be." He walked around Ryan, looking at him closely and then stood before him. Ryan looked at him curiously, ears perked, wounding what he had found out. "Well, I can say for certain that you're a North American breed of dragon, though I can't tell you what breed you are exactly as honestly I've never seen the likes of you. Of course I'm not an expert on North American dragons either." "How many breeds are there?" Ryan asked curiously. "A lot! Dragons don't really keep track of such things or even consider themselves by breed most of the time. The tend to look at themselves as dragons first and by species or breed second. Well, except maybe for certain political reasons, but that's different." "Oh," Ryan said, a little confused. "How many dragons are there?" Tanner grinned again. "A lot! No one knows exactly, dragons don't keep records or do a census. Human friends have tried to in the past but it's hard to keep track of them all to get a good count and there are many dragons who won't deal with humans at all." "I do so wish that I could meet some," Ryan said wistfully. "I can't go against your parents wishes, Ryan, and I don't really know many dragons on this side of the Atlantic anyway," Tanner said. "Even still, I would happily be your friend and talk to you about dragons if you like." Ryan felt a lump swelling up in his throat and he swallowed hard, looking away from Tanner. "Why are you doing this?" Tanner carefully reached out and stroked Ryan's muzzle again. "I think that perhaps you've been alone for some time Ryan. I think that you could use a friend who knows what you are, knows about dragons, and can maybe help you a bit. I would be honored if you would accept me as a friend." "I think that I would like that so very much," Ryan said softly. Tanner smiled. "As you would I, Ryan. As would I."

They agreed to meet again as Ryan had to hurry back to camp before his parents became worried or more worried, he figured. He did worry a little about deceiving them but he couldn't very well tell them about Tanner, his father would have an apoplexy. He was an honest boy and didn't like the idea of hiding things, but he just had to know more about himself and it was painfully obvious that his parents weren't going to tell him anything. He worried at the thought that they had deliberately lied to him. Why would they lie? Were they just trying to protect him? He could understand that, understand the fear that he could be taken from them, but dragons were his people, his own species. Perhaps they simply didn't know any other dragons. Why did things have to be so complex? Why couldn't his parents simply tell him more about himself, just tell him the things that he wanted to know. Why did he heave to feel so bad about going behind their backs to find information that he should, in his opinion, be given freely? As he walked down the muddy path to towards the cabin he caught sight of his parents standing in front of it, looking around as if searching for him. He quickened his pace, not wanting to worry them and certainly not want to be in trouble. I would be horrible were he not allowed outside tomorrow to go see Tanner. He walked up to them, smiling and they both looked relived to see him. He hugged his mother tightly. "Did you have fun?" she asked. "Very much so mother!" "Where did you go?" He gestured back the way he came. "I walked part way up to the fire watchtower and looked around. The country is so very pretty from up there! Perhaps we can go up together?" "Perhaps," she said ruffling his hair in a way that she knew annoyed him. "I'm glad you enjoyed yourself, Ryan." "You didn't talk to anyone, did you?" his father asked. Ryan forced himself not to react. "No father." "Good," he said, "You never know what kind of people there could be out there." "I know father," he said and wondered if Tanner was not as he seemed to be. What if Tanner really wanted to take him from his parents and was just waiting for a good time to do it? No, Tanner said that he wouldn't, that he liked dragons and that was the truth. It had to be. He just had to learn more about dragons. "Go on inside and get ready for church, Ryan." Ryan rolled his eyes. "Yes mother!" Fortunately for Ryan, the kids didn't seem to make a big deal of him freaking out the day before, other than a few odd looks and sniggers. The youth pastor seemed to drone on forever about how everyone should be nice to each other and Ryan fully agreed with him though his experience had been quite otherwise, even in the church where you would expect people to be nicer. That had always puzzled him. The other kids were supposed to be Christians and yet would treat him as badly as anyone else if not worse sometimes. Why would someone profess to be one thing and then act another? Ryan knew the answer of course and just wished that it were easier for everyone to simply be good rather than such a struggle. Sometimes he simply wanted to avoid the church all together because of it. He still believed in it, just because some people acted poorly didn't mean that the whole religion agreed with or supported it. People were far from perfect and you couldn't expect them to act good all the time, though Ryan wished they would try a little harder.  Ryan's father decided that they would eat out that night which suited Ryan just fine. They decided on a Mexican restaurant that was suggested to them by one of his parents class mates who lived locally. The atmosphere of the restaurant was perfect painted in bright reds, yellows, and aquas. There were large fake cacti, sombreros, chaps, spurs, and other accouterments of the gaucho. Bright mariachi style music played in the back ground and there were even little pepper shaped christmas lights strung over the doorway.  The waitress looked as if she had stepped right out of an old western movie, dressed in an elaborate red dress, hair done up and held with a peineta. She had a huge smile, large brown eyes, and a ready laugh. Her voice had a spanish accent to it. "Are you from Mexico?" Ryan asked curiously. "No, señor, I am from Barcelona. I am visiting my family here and helping out with the food," she said giving Ryan a winning smile. "My uncle owns this place. You will notice that the food is a little different from traditional Mexican food or even the food you call Tex-Mex." "It all sounds good," Beth remarked. "Except for maybe all the shellfish." The waitress laughed. "I am not very fond it myself!" Ryan decided on chili rellenos, one of his favorite dishes.  His mother ordered chicken mole and his father decided to a combination platter. The food was served quickly and Ryan's eyes grew big at the size and portions. "I am not so very certain I could eat all of this in my dragon form!" He said, and then looked up at his father, startled. His father just smiled. "So much food for such a small dragon," he said and Ryan grinned at him. After their meal was done his father treated them to deep fried ice cream. It was one of the best evenings that Ryan could remember.

They could see the flashes of lightning in the distance as they headed home from the restaurant. Beth glanced back at her son who flinched from her gaze. "Easy Ryan, you're fine." "I am not so very certain of this! I know not what is even happening to me!" his voice climbing in stress.  "You're fine, Ryan, there's nothing wrong." He shuddered and sat back further in the seat, looking out at the storm with wide, nervous eyes. Something happened the last time there was a storm and he knew it and his parents had never said what. Now another storm was brewing and they were looking at him as if they expected him to freak out or go feral on them.  As they pulled into the cabin there was a roll of thunder and Ryan whimpered. Beth sighed and went around to his side of the car, opening the door for him. "Come along, Ryan," she said, pulling him to her. He threw his arms around her as she guided him into the cabin. "Have him take his dragon form," Allen said as he went for Ryan's medical kit. "You heard your father," Beth said, stroking his hair. "What is going on with me?" Ryan asked in a frightened voice. "You're just getting older, more mature, that's all," Beth said soothingly. Ryan watched his father pull out a syringe and draw some medication into it with wide eyes. "I do not wish to have a shot!" "You need the medication, Ryan." "I am not so very sick!" "No on said you were." "Then why must have it!" Allen turned. "Stop arguing and shift forms." "Mother, please!" "Ryan, do as he says," Beth said. "Here, shift forms and I'll hold you." Ryan shifted forms just as a resounding crash of thunder shook the cabin. Instantly he felt that strange pulsing in his belly, those odd feelings and he started to pant, backing away from his parents, shaking his head, trying to clear it. Beth and Allen looked at each other and then back at their son. "Ryan, go to your mother, please." Ryan stood on his hind legs, tasting the air, then dropped to all fours, shaking himself, his wings coming slightly unfurled. "Feel....feel..." he started to say and then shook his head. He looked at his father holding the needle and the looked at the door. "Ryan," Allen's voice said, rising in warning. Ryan looked at him, looked at the door again, and then bolted for the door, jumping and scrabbling at the latch. His father tried to grab him but he squirmed away and shoved the door open, bursting out into the pouring rain. He looked around wildly and a large rock sitting in front of the cabin caught his attention. He ran to it and scrabbled his claws against it, marking it heavily with his cheeks.  Arms closed around him and he squealed and snapped his jaws, trying to get away but they held him tight. His father ran with him back into the cabin and literally threw him on the bed. "What the hell are you doing?" he shouted, "Are you trying to get yourself taken?" Ryan reared back and hissed at him and Allen recoiled, then brought his hand down across the bridge of Ryan's nose, hard. Ryan yelped in pain, his vision going blurry, and dropped down, holding his fore claws over his nose, whimpering and trilling in pain. He felt his mother grab him and hold him as his father injected him with the medication once, twice. The feelings faded instantly, leaving a breathless void and the throbbing pain of his muzzle. His father pet him, crying promising to never strike him like that again, his mother holding him and weeping. He wanted to tell them that it was his fault, he shouldn't have ran, he shouldn't have hissed, but he didn't have the strength. A wave of darkness crashed over him suddenly and he lost consciousness.

Ryan lay on his bed sleeping, his breaths coming in deep, regular intervals, wings occasionally giving a twitch. The only sign that something odd had happened was the slight oozing of the scent glands at the corners of his mouth. Beth stood and gently wiped them with a warm cloth and Ryan muttered something, curled in tighter on himself, but did not rouse. She sat down beside Allen and both of them wondered at what to do next. "We should probably get out of here. It's monsoon season," Allen said quietly. "Oh Allen, he's been looking forward to this for such a long time! He already blames being a dragon for so many things that aren't his fault," Beth said pleadingly. "I know, but is it fair to have this happening to him? I'm not sure if the so much inhibitor is good for him." "It will stop storming soon," Beth said with a false note of confidence. "I think you're just hoping Beth. I don't want to take him away from here either, but if it's the best thing for him..." He trailed off and they both drifted off, lost in thought. Allen stretched himself out and yawned. "Well, I suppose we could always have him fixed."  Beth looked at him in shock. "I was just kidding, Beth." She thought back to all the times he had yelled at Ryan for being a dragon, all the things that had happened on this trip. "Were you?" she asked quietly. Allen looked startled. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" "It would make him easier to manage wouldn't it? Take care of all those pesky instincts, make him more docile and eager to please, never mind that it may have some horrible side effects! He'd probably be so fat and happy afterwards that he wouldn't much care that he's treated just a like a servile dog!" "I would never do that to him!" "You think about it! You wish to God he was just a regular human little boy without this 'dragon side' as you call it!" she yelled, standing up in fury. Allen stood. "Damn it I--"  There was a sudden knock at the door and Allen stopped, eyes flashing. "I'll get it," he snapped. He opened the door to see a slender woman standing there. She was a little shorter than he, her face narrow, eyes piercing. "You work for St George Steel, do you not?" "No, I'm afraid you have the wrong cabin," Allen said and started to shut the door. "I think not," she said, pushing her way past him, looking down at Ryan where he lay sleeping in dragon form. "What the-- get the hell out of my cabin!" he shouted "Calm yourself," a she said, annoyed, trying to peer at Ryan as Beth placed herself between them. "Get away from him!" she cried out. "I wish to get a closer look at him." "Leave him alone!" "Why are you so protective?"  "Just leave my son alone, please!" Beth said, nearly sobbing. "Why are you here? What do you want?" "I caught his scent marks and was curious." Allen staggered back. "You're a dragon!" The woman looked confused. "Of course I am a dragon." She stepped into the cabin and shifted to a bipedal dragon form. Beth cried out again and threw herself across Ryan. "Please don't take him from us! Just leave! Please!" "Take him?" she said, sounding confused. Her eyes narrowed. "You are humans!" she said nearly hissing.  She shook her head in disbelief. "How is it a human has a dragon for a son?" "It's none of your damned business!" Allen yelled. "When it involves a dragon it becomes my business, human." "What the hell do you want with him? Just go!" "I will not hurt him," she said, annoyed. "I caught his scent marks and became curious; I mean him no harm." "Oh I'll bet you don't!" Allen said, angrily "I do not wish to have him; he is too young," the woman said indignant. "How did you get him?" "His parents gave him to us after he hatched! Please, just get out, he's not supposed to see other dragons!" Beth said. The woman's features softened. "Ah," she said softly. "Please, may I get a closer look at him?" she asked in a gentle voice. "I will leave afterwards, I promise." Allen and Beth looked at each other. "Fine. Fine! Just look at him and go before he wakes!" The woman went over to where Ryan lay and knelt down before him. He opened his eyes blearily and rumbled and she crooned to him, stroking his neck, making soothing noises, and then gently rubbed his eye ridges and ears while Beth and Allen looked in in fear. "I see," she said softly. "What?" Beth asked, frightened. "He..."