900+ Years

Bravery and Gusto

I awoke in the morning to a loud bang outside. Cassian was already awake and alert in his dragon form. His eyes burned a crimson red and a low rumble could be heard coming from him for miles. It frightened me. I worried he was going crazy and he'd kill me. I was scared.

He looked over at my fear stricken expression and calmed down a bit. He came over to me and wrapped his long protective tail around me, as if shielding me from something. Then he stared ahead to the entrance of the cave as if waiting for something to come inside. Something did.

A young boy who was about 8 or 9 strolled in carrying a basket full of milk in glass bottles.

"Cassie, got your calcium!" He exclaimed gleefully.

He was blonde just like Cassian with those same blue eyes.

Cassian let me go and walked over to him.

"You owe me six bottles of syrup. Oh and a bag of sugar, please." He said kindly.

He was a sweet little boy. I couldn't understand why he was associated with the Golden Beast. It didn't make any sense. He was a monster. He shouldn't be hanging around humans, much less human children.

Cassian complied and fetched six bottles of syrup and a bag of white powder which I assumed was the sugar. I stared in awe at the syrup. It was something I had never seen before, never tasted.

"Have a good day, Cassie!" The boy said, heading out the entrance.

Suddenly, it struck me. The dogs! Won't the boy get hurt by them?

"Cassian the dogs! The boy might get injured! You said it yourself, they're crazy!" I said frightfully.

I ran out only to see the boy was gone and the dogs were sleeping peacefully with nothing to disturb their slumber. I was confused, wondering if I'd imagined the whole thing in my head but that couldn't be because Cassian was here. He was turned into a human making breakfast when I got back inside. So it couldn't have been a dream or a figment of my imagination. Still, I need to confirm I wasn't going crazy here.

"Cassian?"

"Celestinia." He replied curtly.

"Who was that boy?" I questioned.

"That was Everard." He answered nonchalantly.

"How does he know you? I thought humans and you didn't...talk much." I said, trying to find a way to word it nicely.

"True, we don't. Everard is an orphan I met on one of my journeys to burn down a village. He tried to steal from me. I caught him and I guess he sort of grew on me. He wouldn't stop following me around like a duck following a tiger after it kills its mother. So I taught him what I know and sent him on his merry way. He still comes by to bring me things and in return I give him whatever he needs. I never need the things he brings but I still give him stuff anyway. It's his way of showing he cares I guess." He explained.

I nodded.

"So he's like your son? You sort of raised him and now he's old enough, in your opinion, to go out and do what he wants, but he visits. Like a son would."

He shrugged.

"I guess that's another way to see it."

"Aw that's quite adorable, and he looks just like you. If I didn't know who you were I would totally think you were his father."

"I'm not sure if I should take that as a compliment or not but I will even though that kid is absolutely mad." He joked.

At least I hoped he was joking. I knew nothing about the kid.