Finding The Red Dragon

Fate Is Cruel

Ella spent the day in the garden, reading her books and working on her notes. The boys left her alone, and only once did Liv stop in to check on her. Ella offered to leave the garden, but Liv would not hear of it. Liv told her it was her garden too now, and to enjoy every moment of it, so she was.

"Where do you find the most beautiful flower? In the garden of course." His voice came through the flower bushes and she sat up with a smile. Where was he? "Hello to you too." She stood and waited for him to come in as she straightened her hair up in her bun.

"Meet me here at dark tonight." His voice came through the flowers. "Here, in the garden?" "Yes." "We can talk now?" She waited. "Hello?" Nothing. What the hell? Ugh, he was being a bit too mysterious. "OK!" She called out, then laughed as she took her place back on the bench, letting the sunshine warm her.

A commotion caused her to drag herself out of the garden and her book, yet again. There in the middle of the lawn was Ragnar, Liv, Neesa, and Petra. Oh, this was golden. The women were around him and he was agitated.

"Stop touching me." He grumbled at the woman. "Ragnar, how are we supposed to get to you know you?" Neesa said. "You're not!" He grumbled again. He looked so unhappy and Ella knew she had to intervene. Big dumb dragon.

As she crossed the lawn, he perked up. "Human." He stood and walked to her. "Hey Ragnar." She put up her hands without thinking and rubbed under his neck and chest, getting a purr in return. She loved that sound.

"What is going on over here? Are you causing trouble?" Ella asked. "No, these women will not keep their hands off me." Ragnar stomped. "I don't blame them you are very touchable." She patted his side and he huffed. That was her second favorite thing he did.

"We are trying to get to know him, and one of the ways we do that is by touch. We were taught early on that touch is a bonding that words cannot match." Petra pouted. "Ragnar does not like to be touched." Ella offered.  "We got that." Neesa huffed.

"Earn his trust, show him he is special, then ask to touch him." Ella laughed as he pushed his snout against her. "Think of him as a big fluffy dog, he is scary when you first see him, but underneath it all, he loves belly rubs and cookies." Ella nuzzled against him, feeling his warmth and that amazing feeling of being safe.

"Did you just compare me to a dog?" Ragnar groaned. "I did." "Human that is rude." "No more than you giving these beautiful women your temper." He huffed again instead of answering and she laughed.

"Do not let him scare you." Ella laughed. "He doesn't, we are dragons too." Petra growled and suddenly Ragnar growled louder, moving next to Ella. "Never growl at my human." He snapped and Ella jumped at his outburst.

"So, what are you like his pet?" Petra teased meanly. "Watch it lady. I spent many days and nights getting to know him, the real him, not the dragon exterior. I earned my right to be his friend, and I expect you to do the same. If I hear that you hurt him, I will make sure you feel it back ten times worse." Anger was building from nowhere and Ella surprised herself as she grit her teeth and moved in front of him.

"Ella, sweetheart, no one is going to hurt him." Liv tried. "They better not." Ella gave Liv a look and she held up her hands. "Again, we are dragons, I could turn and..." Petra tried, but Neesa cut her off. "Petra, stop." Neesa laid her hand on Petra's arm.

"What? She is the one that came over here and interrupted our bonding time. We have a week before he has to choose, and I for one am not going to sit and listen to her talk like we are dogs." Petra growled.