Warmth seeped through his aching body. His right wing throbbed and his teeth felt like they would fall out. For being such a mighty dragon, his small, young body did him in with bruises. Steam flooded his nose every time he breathed in, soothing the sharp sting of the once cold air. He opened an eyes cautiously and slowly lifted his head.
Straight lines of wood, flat and all the same color, surrounded him on for sides as well as a clear flat top above him. Stream rose from water underneath the floor, which was also wooden but with small gaps in between. He sat on a platform made of stone so smooth it felt like ice. But the stone was warned as if it had been heated by the sun, yet wet as if it had been lying in a river since creation itself. A damp, warm fur was wrapped around his thin body, most likely the source of the warmth. It was as white as snow and as soft as the forest moss at the spring river beds that his mother would....
His mother. Was she alive? Out looking for him? Surely she was searching every cave and turning over every rock to find him. Even of he was the runt of his litter, she cared for him like his siblings. He was just glad that they had gotten away to safety.
He tried to stand, to find a escape, but his bones ached too much, and his legs wouldn't listen. He slumped onto the rock, defeated, but not failed. He would find a way to escape. The warn stream calmed his nerves and dulled his senses as his thoughts slowed to a gentle dream of his mother teaching him how to hunt.
* * * * * * * *
The sound of soft humming and gentle hands rubbing his back made him pur. His tail swaying happily back and forth, mesmerized by the luxurious comfort. His wing no longer hurt, and he felt a little stronger. He opened his eyes and looked into the eyes of a human.
He screeched and struggled free, leading to the floor and scurrying to a corner. He stared atty the human, his heart racing so fast, it should have burst right out of him. The human stared back in shock, hands clasped over its mouth. Its wide, green eyes were so full of confusion, and fear? No-name backed away as quickly and as far back as possible. The human got down on its knees slowly, and patted on the floor. Was it begging?
Then it spoke.
It had such a smooth voice, much higher and more gentle than the humans who had caged him. It had much longer hair, and it was a red color, like fire. If he could talk, he would have named the human Firehead, or something close.... What would his name be? Maybe he could name himse-
"Here boy! Come here! Don't be afraid." The human was begging! How weak. He growled at it, but the gentleness in it's eyes couldn't possibly be hostile. He walked a few steps closer. "That's it! It'll be alright." At some moments, the human could sound threatening, but it held innocence.
A few more steroids and he would be within reach. Should he dare? The human could be faking. It could kill him if he trusted it. But it had no weapons. Just soft hands. He was beginning to think it was....
That's it! Of course it was! This human was a female! No wonder it had such soft characteristics about her. Curse his young, slow mind.
She patted her legs, begging him to come even closer, before holding out her hand, palm up. What was he supposed to do with that? Eat it? He paused on the thought, then shook it away. Maybe he was supposed to lick it. No, that would taste nasty. Instead he decided to close his eyes and place his snout against her palm. Hopefully, he wouldn't die.
The girl squealed and clapped once. He looked up at her smiling face and realized it was rather pretty. Then again, the only human faces he had seen were of those who had mercilessly abducted him and nearly starved him to death. Either way, he liked this human. If only he could talk to her. Then he could figure out where he was, her name, maybe. He could find a way to get back to his mother!
