Winged Secrets

The Beginning - part 7

We reach the barn in a short amount of time. It's not to deep in the woods. I paid attention to the path to get here, if I need to get here quick I'll need to remember the path as soon as possible. I'm not worried though, I've always been good with directions. The barns weathered wooden beams and old stone walls still look strong. Roman opens the old door revealing its rustic inside.
"It's old but sturdy. My father use to store old weapons, and weapon making gear in here. However he removed them when he got his new shop in town. So it isn't used anymore."
I look around. It's old yeah, but it still looks beautiful, I can see what it was when it was new.
"Do the guards search it?"
Guards are required to search buildings surrounding the city walls. They have to make sure there are no threats surrounding the city.
"Yeah. But we can take that job from now on, that will stop them from coming this way." Roman starts to clear out an area as he talks. I noticed it has a floor of hay in that area, I realize what he's doing.
"Great. So all we have to worry about is making sure we keep this little guy fed and quiet."
I place my bag down on the hay area, the dragon climbs out and stretches on the hay. He sniffs around before finding a spot to lay, but he lays differently this time. He doesn't cover his head, his wings are still tucked away, but not as close as before. I smile. I'm glad you're comfortable.
"So are you gonna name him?"
Leo is lying on a hay bale. He looks over at me.
"I think you should name him something cool like shadow, or nightmare. You know, because he black and purple."
Roman scoffs.
"Leo that's stupid. That sounds like something a 9 year old would say."
He's sitting next to Leo swinging his sword back and forth. I look over at Mason. He's standing at the door watching, looking out into the forest. Searching for something, anything. I turn back to the dragon. I sit near him, not next to him. I don't wanna risk waking him. This has to be the first time he's been relaxed in a while.
"I'm not sure what I'm gonna name him. Maybe I'll go with your night Idea Leo."
"Really?"
He looks surprised. Probably because I'm actually being nice. On the way here we just got to know each other. Well actually it was more of them asking me questions. How long have you lived here? Is your dad the tavern keeper? Can you give us free booze? What idiots.
"Yeah but I'm not going with midnight. That's just stupid like Roman said. I'll name him-"
I look down at him his back rising and following with each breath.
"Orpheus."
Leo looks confused.
"Isn't that the name of the Greek god of Song?"
"It also means, the darkness of the night."
Mason turns away from the door for a moment.
"I like it."
"I second that" Roman states.
Leo looks at the two of them, and then looks at me.
"I guess I agree..." he says in a sarcastic tone.
"I'm glad we all agree on what I'm gonna name MY dragon." I roll my eyes and look down. Orpheus. I hope you like it when you wake up.
"Leo." Mason looks back at Leo who's playing with a knife now.
Idiot. I think to myself.
"Yeah I know Mason."
"Hey you signed up for extra training on Sundays. You're lucky I was nice enough to sign up with you." Mason looks in Roman's direction.
Roman looking back at him fires back.
"Hey some of us like our days off ok?" Roman puts his sword down and proceeds to lay where Leo was. Leo is now standing next to him, he raises his head and pouches Roman in the stomach.
"What the fuck dude!?!?" He coughs out.
"Looks like you're getting weak." He walks towards Mason smirking. Clearly proud of the little move he just pulled. As they walk out Mason slaps him in the back of the head.
"Looks like you are too."
"MASON!"
I can hear there arguing fade off as they walk away from the cabin. Then it's just me, Roman, and Orpheus left. I look a Roman laying in the pile of hay. His eyes are closed. I watch as his chest rises and falls, he's not moving at all other than that. Is he asleep. Seriously. As I'm looking at him one of his eyes open. I never noticed but there a dark brown color, almost black. He begins to smile, opening both eyes.
"Like what you see?" He winks.
I can feel my face grow read with embarrassment. Was I really staring that bad? No he just has a huge ego.
"Did you forget only moment ago you put me on my back. I think that lowers your chances with me." I roll my eyes.
"You came running at me, putting me in a headlock. What did you think was gonna happen?"
"I don't know. You could at least apologize instead of making it my fault." I stare at him. He narrows his eyes at me for a moment. Then he looks up at the ceiling.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you as bad as I did." He looks back at me. "Your turn."
I scoff.
"I'm sorry a little girl scared you shitless" I smirk.
He closes his eyes again. I expected him to be annoyed but he begins laughing.
"You did startle me but I wasn't scared. You know who was though?"
"Who."
"You. You were terrified that we were gonna scare that thing off. However look at us now doing a good deed for you." His eyes are still closed.
"Why did y'all even follow me in the first place?" I ask.
"We recognized you." He says.
"Well no shit. But what possessed you to follow me out into the woods on your day off? Like you said, you wanna enjoy your days off right? Then why follow some random girl? Unless you had-"
He shoots up at that comment.
"We would never do that." His eyes fill with anger at the mere suggestion.
"We were bored out of our minds, Leo and Mason had training soon so we couldn't start anything activity wise."
"Well then tell me what exactly gave away I was gonna do something interesting and not boring."
He pauses.
"Your bag."