A Pet for the Dragons

8.

ARIKA

"Your supper will be served here. We don't know what Vodka is," Ivret said, and I couldn't help but frown.

"Then a beer, maybe?" I suggested. Ivret and Zorge exchanged a look.

"What's that even?" Zorge asked.

"You don't know what a beer is? Then what do you drink here to loosen up?" I asked.

"Why would we want to loosen up?" Ivret asked, and the two looked at me as if I were talking about flying pigs.

I scoffed. "Just bring me some food before my stomach digests itself,"

"Is that possible?" Ivret asked, his eyes slightly wide with surprise. Meanwhile, Zorge pressed his lips thinly as if holding back laughter. "Can the human stomach digest itself due to starvation?" He asked thoughtfully.

I was annoyed with his stupid question and was going to point out the obvious, but I stopped and pondered for a second. Were the dragons THAT clueless about humans?

"Oh definitely," I decided to test with this answer. "It happens all the time,"

The shock on his face made me want to roar with laughter. I couldn't believe that he'd think that. On the other hand, Zorge's eyes flashed with amusement. He seemed to have gotten the joke, and I realised that maybe it was only Ivret who was the clueless one.

"I'm astonished that you didn't know that as a healer," Zorge said, and I almost snorted out loud. I wasn't expecting him to join me in this.

"No, I didn't— wait a sec— alright, I'll bring you something to eat right now," Ivret hissed angrily and stormed out of the room.

"Did he really believe that?" I couldn't hold back my laughter but snapped my mouth shut when I noticed Zorge staring at me with a strangely obsessive look. The soft glow in his eyes seemed brighter.

"He could be clueless sometimes," Zorge said with a nod, his eyes lingered on me with an uncomfortable intensity. It made me feel seen— as if he could see through me, and that made me shudder. "But he'll figure out soon,"

"Oh no," I muttered, pressing my back against the wall and briefly scanning the room again to ensure I knew the way out of there in case the situation required. Zorge remained standing by the edge of my cot, staring at me.

"What's a beer and Vodka?" He asked, breaking the silence.

"Alcoholic drinks," I replied, "You don't have that here?"

"Alcohol..." He muttered, "Is it something that numbs your senses?"

"You mean drunk?" I asked back, but he tilted his head and pondered in that awkward silence. He said nothing more. Meanwhile, I took my time studying Zorge and his strange dragon features.

I couldn't help but stare at his horns and the strange scales on his skin. Despite all his dragon strangeness, he seemed somewhat human, and I was slowly getting used to that. From his interaction with Ivret, I wondered if I could befriend him with some humour and use him to escape. Having someone on my side would help me in this situation.

"So you're a dragon," I said, instantly realising how stupid I sounded.

"Isn't it obvious?" Zorge asked, staring at me with that same fascination that made me fidgety.

"I haven't seen a dragon before," I told him. "Can you fly?" I asked just to be sure. It was always great to know thy enemy. I searched him for wings but couldn't make out much under the thick fur cloak draped over him.