The 'Dragon Defender'

A Fight For The Mundane

"Mfffh... morning, Gordon..."

"Morning!"

I pet the chipper little Cave Dweller as he playfully nuzzles me, then sit up so I can yawn and stretch without him right in my face. He curls up on my lap, so I continue to pet him.

I think a good rest really was what I needed to process all this, or at least to not panic so much over it. Gods, I was irrational yesterday. Fretting so much over 'love'? This is silly. I should be focusing on more important things, not something so frivolous as a romance.

"Why don't we get you some food, buddy?" I suggest to Gordon, scooping him up in my arms. The little guy seems happy enough, so I head out with him, scratching gently under his chin, smiling when I hear him purring softly.

We're greeted by the occasional rawk or roar or grunt as we head through the caverns, something that makes me realise for the umpteenth time how much I've missed being here at the Sanctuary. Things feel more normal back here. I can settle back into my old patterns. I can help out. I can take care of everyone on a day-to-day basis, as opposed to constant emergencies. Nobody's trying to force me to stay. Nobody's getting captured by dragon hunters. Nobody's throwing elaborate parties. Nobody's getting attacked. Everything is safe here. Everything is secluded from all the danger and unpredictability outside.

I set Gordon down and morph into dragon form so I can enjoy some breakfast with the others. I don't really keep much human food around here anymore, there's no point wasting whatever money I steal from hunter ships on my own special food when I can just eat with the others with little fuss. It's convenient. It's easy.

"What do you say we head out for a bit today, Stylive?" I suggest when I see the Nadder. "I feel like taking out a few hunters."

"Fine with me," Stylive agrees with a nod. "As long as we don't discover a new dragon species like the last time we decided to take a day out."

I chuckle at this. "No new species," I assure her. "Gods, I just want to go back to the way things were, you know? Before all this mess with the humans or the Morphwings."

Stylive cocks her head at this. "Okay, I understand the humans, but what's wrong with the Morphwings? And not just that one Plasma guy."

"I love them and all, but you have to admit it was less complicated before I knew about them," I shrug. "That's all I'm saying. Nothing more."

"Do you regret knowing them?"

"Of course not!" I shake my head immediately. "But new people brings new complications, even if those complications are more than worth the privilege of their company. That's all I meant by it."

"Mm..." Stylive hums. "I take it this 'let's take out hunters' business is you trying to distract yourself, then?"

"No, it's because I haven't done that in a while and there's still a lot of work to do on that front," I point out, not liking where Stylive's going with this.

"And?"

"... A mission can have two purposes," I roll my eyes. "Look, I've been thinking about it for ages, letting it distract me this whole time, and I don't like that. All I want is to experience a little normalcy just for the day. Just one day where I can go back to my usual self and not fuss over something stupid."

"Love isn't stupid."

"You know what I mean."

"No, maybe I don't; please enlighten me."

"You can't even say it with a straight face."

"Are you straight?"

"What?!"

"Pfft! Okay, okay, let's go."

~•~

I have to admit, it's a lovely day for a flight. It's almost weird to be riding a dragon again, but at the same time very relaxing. I don't have to worry here. I hardly had to worry while we took out the last few ships we ran into. Stylive and I are doing just fine. Just like we always have.

"Up ahead," I note, spotting another ship in the distance. Stylive flies closer while I try to get a look at the sail. A little closer, a little closer...

Yep, that's a hunter ship.

"Uh, I smell Morphwings," Stylive warns me, sniffing at the air. "And not just you. Multiple."

"What? How close are we to their island?" I question, not having paid much attention to that. "Not too far," Stylive answers. "So either they're fighting the hunters or they've been captured."

"Let's hope for the former and assume the latter," I sigh. "I don't see any Morphwings from out here... drop me in and I'll take a l- dive!"

Stylive obeys just in time to avoid a chain launched at us. "Guess our cover's blown," she grunts, flying towards the ship. "Shoot it down?"

"Not until we check inside for Morphwings," I answer. "Get me in, keep the deck busy if you can and then stay out of range."

"Got it," Stylive agrees, evading any obstacles to get me onto the ship. Once I'm on board, I take priority over the dragon, so I draw my sword and get to work, with Stylive firing spines and throwing people overboard as she goes. Fire would be too destructive at this point when we have alternative options, after all.

The fight is nothing out of the ordinary, really; a decent rabble, but nothing that leaves me too concerned. Typically these ships don't have too many real fighters on board; they're trying to catch a wild animal, not fight with an actual person with a lot of training, and that's often reflected in their ability to go against me. And it's something that tells me they're not part of the big leagues, so to speak.

"Going in," I inform Stylive, who nods and takes to the skies so she's out of reach from their weaponry. I head below deck, sword still drawn, ready to be used.

Now where are these Morphwings, and are they safe or captured?