𝓢𝓮𝓽 𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓮 (𝓣𝓸𝓭𝓸𝓫𝓪𝓴𝓾/𝓑𝓪𝓴𝓾𝓽𝓸𝓭𝓸)

Chapter 7

Sorry for the late update! We were traveling this past week and we forgot to update before leaving. Hope you enjoy the chapter, short as it is!

When Hitoshi found himself locked in chains and caged like a quail by bandits, the last thing he'd expected was to be found and released by another of the bandit's prisoners. Even more shocking was the fact that he was accompanied by five other dragons about his age.

:Hitoshi!:

He blinked his eyes open slowly to meet the emerald gaze of Izuku. The other dragon nudged him repeatedly with his snout.

:Come on, get up!:

:What's happening. . .?: he grumbled, lifting his head. Izuku gave him a toothy, open-mouthed grin.

:We need to wake Shoto up!:

:Shoto?:

:He was the one that opened the cage last night.:

:Oh.: He stretched and got to his feet, ambling after Izuku. :How is it done?:

:Simple!: Izuku led him to the pile of blankets and scales where the rest of Izuku's siblings (and Shoto) were sleeping. :First, we wake Ochako, Tsuyu, Tenya, and Momo. Then, we all take our positions and jump him at the same time!:

:Won't that crush him?: he asked doubtfully. They were all approaching five feet long.

:Oh, we don't actually jump on him anymore! We just bat him with our paws.:

:Oh.:

He watched from the side as Izuku nudged the other dragons awake. Once they were all up, he gestured for Hitoshi to join them in a circle around Shoto's head and chest.

:Alright, wait for it. . .now!:

As one, the other dragons all smacked the boy in the face with a paw or a tail. Hitoshi nervously did the same. Shoto awoke with a yelp and the dragons hurriedly backed up.

"What was that for?!" Then Shoto sighed and ran a hand down his face. "You know what, never mind. I don't know why I'm surprised anymore."

:It's 'cause we love you, Sho~: Ochako cooed, nuzzling him. Shoto grumbled something incomprehensible, but patted her anyway.

"Alright. Breakfast time."

Shoto got to his feet (after shifting the dragons off of him) and headed over to the fire, flicking a finger at it. Hitoshi jumped back slightly as it crackled to life.

Woah. . .

:Impressive, right?: Izuku said, nudging him. :He has ice magic too!:

Okay, that's pretty interesting.

He watched Shoto as he speared some pieces of meat with a stick and held them over the flames. With his other hand, the human rummaged in his bag and pulled out an apple, taking a big bite out of it. Hitoshi felt his stomach rumble as the meat scent started wafting through the clearing. He hadn't eaten since getting caught by the bandits.

That smells really, really good. . .if a little charred. But then again, humans seem to prefer putting their meat in fire for some reason.

He was shaken from his thoughts by Shoto placing a portion of the meat in front of him and the other dragons. The others immediately started munching, but he hesitated a moment.

It smells normal. . .

When none of the other dragons showed any signs of being poisoned or drugged, he slowly started to eat. It then took all his willpower to keep himself from shoving it all down his throat in seconds.

So good. . .

He was shaken from his focus on his meal by soft chuckles. When he looked up, he saw Shoto smiling at him.

"I take it you were hungry?"

Hitoshi huffed in his direction, but ignored him in favor of finishing his meat strips. They were gone far too soon.

Aw. .

"Well, I'm glad you liked it," Shoto said, extinguishing the fire with a snap of his fingers. "Particularly because we'll need to hunt if we want any more. That was the last of Natsuo's provisions."

Natsuo?

:Natsuo is his brother,: Momo explained, nudging him slightly. :He gave Shoto that pack when we had to leave.:

:Why did you have to leave?: From what little he could gather, they'd lived a fairly comfortable life with Shoto; at least if his clothes were any indication. However, Momo winced.

:Shoto's father isn't a good man,: Tsuyu said, jumping into the conversation. :When he learned about us, he wanted Shoto to turn us over so we could be trained to fight in wars. Shoto refused, and Izuku knocked him out; but it wasn't safe for us to stay there, and Shoto didn't want to separate from us.:

:Oh.: It felt like a weak thing to say, but he wasn't sure what else he could say. Luckily, none of them seemed to mind.

"Alright, everyone," Shoto said, getting their attention. The teenager was standing at the edge of the clearing, hand on his horse's reins. "Time to go."

:Where are we going?: Hitoshi asked as they all started padding after Shoto.

:No idea!: Ochako chirped. Hitoshi blinked.

:So you're just. . .wandering with no path?:

:Yep!: She seemed completely unconcerned by this fact, which confused him to no end. But before he could vocalize this, Shoto stopped dead and turned around, forcing him to back up so he wouldn't get trampled.

"That reminds me. Do you have a name?"

Is. . .is he asking me?

:Go on, tell him!: Izuku urged. Hitoshi looked up at Shoto warily, but he couldn't sense any sort of deceit or malice in the question. So he steeled his nerves and took the plunge.

"Hi. . .toshi? Hitoshi?" Shoto tried. He tilted his head in confusion at the partial name;

:He can't pronounce our full names, but he gets pretty close,: Momo said. Hitoshi let out a soft grumble of acknowledgment.

Fair. Human vocal cords aren't built to pronounce Draconic.

He nodded twice. Shoto smiled slightly.

"Well then, Hitoshi. Would you like to come with us?"

He sat there in silence for a moment, thinking it over. If he'd been asked that question even two days before, he would have scoffed and hurried away the first chance he had. But now, he was giving it some serious consideration.

He seems nice enough. . .

:Please, Hitoshi!: Izuku looked at him hopefully. There was no way Hitoshi could say no to that face.

I thought I was the one with the hypnotic eyes. . .how is anyone able to go against him?

Besides, it's not like I've got anywhere in particular to go. . .

He returned his gaze to Shoto and nodded; earning another soft smile.

"Welcome to the group then, Hitoshi. I look forward to your company." Then the teenager swung himself into the saddle and started down the path again.

:Yay!: Izuku dashed forward and quickly nuzzled Hitoshi's side before racing after the horse. The rest of the dragons followed after him, each offering their own form of congratulations. He stood there for a moment, stock still, before hurrying to catch up.

Well. . .I did not see this coming.

Enjoy the chapter, and please comment!

-Bookwyrm