Where the Wild Things Are

Chapter 3

Jess and Tatiana had braided feathers into Hermione's hair after lunch and talked to her about wild stories. Hermione was laughing as they sat out on some of the grass and the baby dragons flitted around them in curiosity.

"We had an issue a while back. The wizards were fighting over who was going to be 'alpha' man. It was really entertaining. The ladies never really have that issue. Jess and Destiny are together and I don't mind taking a backseat." Tatiana declared and Hermione giggled and covered her face.

"Was it funny?" Hermione murmured and Jess nodded.

"Char and Torg worked two days straight trying to prove who was better at working with the dragons. In all honesty, there is no one like Char. Torg had more opportunity of being secondary than anyone, but Charlie is more dragon than man." Jess explained and Hermione smiled.

Tatiana raised an eyebrow, "you know, you are a lot less timid than I was expecting. Char told us stories that his brothers told him about you and your friends, but I always suspected you to be a bit... uptight."

Hermione blushed and shrugged her shoulders, "I can be, but courage is just as important as knowledge."

"You are not a princess, you are a warrior," Jess declared with a squeeze on Hermione's shoulder and ran a hand over her scar. "This is a badge of that, Hermione."

The younger witch nodded and smiled at the Dragon Keepers, "we all have had our battles."

A few of the small dragons jumped over and one of them landed on Hermione's lap. "Alright, don't move or jerk. Let them sniff you out. They see we are companions, you just need to let them make the decision." Tatiana murmured and Hermione took a deep breath.

The small spiny dragon stood up and sniffed her face. It tilted its head and stuck its tongue out, tasting the air. Hermione cocked her head gently and the dragon leaned and licked her nose before hopping off. The young witch smiled and glanced at the Dragon keepers who nodded at her.

"That's good, he will tell the others," Jess spoke with a smile.

"How is it that all the little ones come down here? Don't the brooding mothers miss their hatchlings?" She asked them who raised their eyebrows.

"Dragons are fickle. If their brood is safe, they tend to follow in the social mannerisms of their clan. We are as close to clan mates as possible for humans. We let the little ones come down here and pick off the rodents, small game and such, the bigger dragons enjoy the lakes and mountains. They separate to their different species as they mature, but you will see all the babies down in the valley." Tatiana explained and Hermione smiled.

"I like that, it's a beautiful thing. Most of these dragons are considered aggressive, but you all work hard to understand them." Hermione murmured and someone cleared their throat.

Hermione's view snapped toward the intrusion to see Charlie standing there, his shirt was a bit bloodied and scratched. Hermione jumped up and gasped as she ran to him with her wand out. "Oh, Charlie! Are you alright?" She exclaimed and started peeling his shirt off.

Dashing her wand around his scratches and bruises he frowned at her as she moved her hands about him to check under the grime and healed him. "It was just a bit of rowdiness, Mione." He said softly and she huffed.

"Charlie, you are a silly man," she grumbled and walked around to his back.

When she was satisfied with her work she stepped to the front of him and he was smiling, "did I scare you?" He asked and she huffed and folded her arms.

"Does that surprise you?" She retorted and he shook his head.

"Bok jente, I have been doing this for seventeen years," he murmured and she ran a hand over his face.