forum A Dragon's Treasure // oxo //

Started September 14, 2019 by @ElderGod-yellowqueen

tune

Ooh, I like it :)
Do you wanna start? ^^

Mathis had wondered too far this time. He liked the privacy the woods gave him. It was calm and peaceful and he could escape from home and school and just everything. It was one of the few times he felt calm. He had never wondered so far from his home before. He hadn't meant too. He had been lost in his head and hadn't paid attention how far he was going. And now he wasn't sure how to get back. His body shook as night began to fall and the forest got cooler. Tears had begun to pool and streak down his face. He wanted to go home. He wanted his warm bed and warm food. He wanted to be arguing with who would get to sleep closets to the fire. He walked and walked until his feet were aching and he could feel blisters forming. At last, he had found a cave. He could rest there for nightfall, perhaps make a fire, but most of all get away from the cold wind. He stumbled inside, trembling like a leaf. However, when he got inside, he quickly found that it was not an empty cave.

Cairo was a habitual night creature. He'd been up since sun-down, watching it's lush colors bleed out over the forest and basking in the last rays of the day. As night began to creep into his cave, he had stretched his four wings, preparing to go hunting, maybe terrorize the town to the north. He hadn't been up there in ages. But before he could, he noticed a human climbing his mountain. He frowned. It certainly didn't look like some warrior, here to slay him for his scales, but he couldn't imagine why else a human would dare approach his cavern. As the boy came inside, he let out a hot breath of warning fire.
"What do you want, boy?" he growled, snaking his tail around so the barb hovered threateningly over his shoulder. "You are bold to enter my cave."

Mathis let out a loud yelp as he heard the voice. Blinking, his eyes adjusted to the darkness, and there he saw a dragon. A dragon! His eyes widened. What the fuck? What the fuck? His mouth ooened and closed. He started to back away but tripped over something and tumbled to the ground. He was too paralyzed with fear to get up and run

Cairo flared his wings, snarling down at the human, waiting for the inevitable attack, but when none came, he tilted his head curiously.
"I said," he growled, "What are you doing here?" He wasn't quite ready to let his guard down, but he also didn't want to torch this human just yet. Maybe there was something to be gained here.

Mathis trembled in fright. Tears pooled in his eyes and a few sliooed down his cheeks. "I-I gkt lost." He said in a small voice. "I j-just w-want to g-go home." He stuttered

Now this is just bizarre, Cairo thought, letting his wings fold again and sitting down.
"You got lost." He looked the boy up and down, before sighing and transforming into his human form. "You don't mean me any harm?" he asked his voice still retaining a bit of the dragon's rumble.

Mathis yelped as the dragon was suddenly no longer a dragon. He cowered against the side of the cave. He wanted to go home. "N-no! W-why w-would I?" He tucked his knees to his chest as he cried softly. He was going to die, wasn't he. He didn't want to die. He wasn't ready too.

Cairo took a step back, not wanting to frighten the human any further. "Most people who try and find me want to kill me," he explained, making his voice a little softer. "But if you mean no harm to me, I can't bring myself to mean harm to you. Besides, what would I do, eat you?" he cackled. Then his face fell as he realized that might have been a bad joke to make.
"What's your name?" he asked, hastily changing the subject.

Mathis squeaked like a mouse at his words. Oh god, was he going to eat him? He started to chew on his bottom lip. He cried silently. He looked up at the man, dragon, dragonman? He looked him up and down before quickly returning his gaze back to the cave floor. He hoped he hadn't angered him. "M-mathis." He said just above a whisper.

"I'm Cairo," the dragon replied, feeling slightly deflated. "And don't worry I'm not going to eat you, that was a…very bad joke. You don't have to be scared, you can stay the night if you want. I usually go hunting, so if you want me gone, I can do that."

Mathis didn't answer him. He just shook on the cave floor. Tears started to flow faster, heavier, but he made no noise. He hid his face in his knees, hugging his legs to his chest.

(Sorry to leave right in the middle of this, but I gotta run do some stuff. I'll be back on later tonight.)

"Hey…" Cairo was genuinely concerned now. "It's alright, I promise. I can fly you home tomorrow."
He took a couple hesitant steps forward, and reached out carefully. "Nothing bad's going to happen to you, okay? You're safe here."

(Okay)

Mathis flinched a little as Cairo approached him. He shook harder. He shut his eyes closed tight, trying to think of anything else. The field, think of planting, the terrible heat. Think of school, the work, the bullies. Anything other than where he was.

(I gtg to bed, but I'll be back early! ^^)
As gently as he could, Cairo laid a hand on Mathis's shoulder, ready to retreat if the human reacted badly. He hesitated, unsure how to comfort him, but tried his best regardless.
"I mean it," he said earnestly. "I can even take you home now if you like. Just show me the way."

Mathis flinched at the hand. He lifted his head just enough to look at him. "I-I don't know how." He said quietly. He didn't know how to get home.

Encouraged by any interaction, Cairo hurried to reassure Mathis. "We can figure it out," he promised brightly. "Maybe you'll be able to see it from the air. Do you know what town you live in? I'm sure we can get there before midnight even."

Mathis just whimpered. "I don't- I don't know if i can." He started to cry again.

"Stay the night then," Cairo sad soothingly. "I'm sure you'll recognize everything in the morning. Here, I think I have a blanket around somewhere you can use." He moved away, digging through the dark back of the cave, before reappearing with a old yellow blanket.
"Here," he said awkwardly, offering it to Mathis.

Mathis hesitantly took the blanket from him and wrapped it around himself. He curled up once more. His lips were almost purple from the cold, and he wasn't just shaking because he was scared, although that was a big part of it.

"I'm going to make a fire," Cairo said, moving away and transforming back into a dragon. He lit up his throat and breathed fire into a dip in the middle of his cave. The flames instantly roared to life, warmth filling the cave. Cairo sat on the other side of the fire, watching Mathis curiously.

Mathis yelped as he was suddenly a dragon again. His trembling increased. Oh god, he was going to be burned alive! But then he wasn't. He lifted his head and saw the fire. After a little while, he scooted closer to the fire, though he didn't drop his guard.

"Are you hungry?" Cairo asked, encouraged by Mathis's approach. "I have food, if you want…"
He trailed off, suddenly questioning himself. Why was he helping this human so much? Why did he care? No reason presented itself, but he felt compelled.
"Anyways," he finished awkwardly. "Let me know."

Mathis shook his head. He was hungry, but he didn't think he could stomach earing at the moment. He was sure he was vomit it back up.