Cowboys n' Dragons

Spring's Break - Chapter 3

Roughly three months or more had passed. Spring had finally came and it was time for the gang to move the camp out of the mountains. Jewel, Josiah's adopted dragon had grown quite a bit. She was roughly the size of a young horse. Not big enough to ride yet but definitely bigger than before. 

Josiah was helping Carter and Arthur carry crates of supplies into the wagons. There were stuck in the mountains because they needed to hide from the feds after Carter accidentally set a motel ablaze. No one was harmed but the feds were outraged. 

"I can't wait to get away from this frigid hell hole." 

Arthur muttered under his breath. He nearly lost a finger to frostbite during the winter. Carter was busy loading as much moonshine as he could without sacrificing potential space for crates of actual supplies. Josiah had finished loading up the last big crate when he decided to check on Jewel. He grabbed one of the bridles that were used for horses to lead them and he intended to see if it could work for Jewel. If it worked for a horse it could probably work for a dragon. 

Josiah beckoned Jewel by whistling and Jewel bounded on over happily. Josiah knelt down and opened Jewels mouth placing the horse bridle (The thing horses bite on, also where the reins connect to.) in her mouth, she tried chewing on it of course but he put it where it wouldn't fall out of her mouth. He grabbed the reins and led her out by pulling the cord when he walked, with Jewel following close behind him.

Jewel seemed to not react badly to the reins. She didn't like them but eventually Jewel would get used to them. Eventually.

"Okay, Arthur. Where can Jewel go?"

Arthur turned around from what he was doing and looked at Josiah and sighed.

"In the wagon with the other animals Josiah. You better ride with her too, Can't have her helping herself to our livestock."

Josiah nodded and led Jewel to a wagon near the back of the camp. It was full of chickens and such but there was a big enough area for Josiah and Jewel to squeeze into. Josiah sat down and Jewel laid on his lap. 

"Goodness you're getting big-"

Josiah was nearly smothered by Jewel but eventually got Jewel to lower her head to he could breath and see.

Soon the wagons began to move, Josiah petted Jewel to keep her calm as the wagons began to move. The creaking of the wheels on the wagon made Jewel a bit uncomfortable but Josiah being there soothed her nerves a bit.

Josiah looked out at the trees. The ice that had formed on the branches was beginning to melt for once, the icicles dripping on the thawing grass below. The sun shined through the trees providing a beautiful shimmer across the snow covered land. Jewel listened to the sounds of the wilderness. Listening to the sounds of birds chirping and such. There was so many sights and sounds for Jewel to look at. It was amazing that once the snow went away the whole world seemed to spring to life. 

"We're going someplace nice and warm Jewel, it won't be cold anymore."

Josiah petted Jewel and scratched her neck. She purred and rubbed her head against Josiah's face. Josiah brushed his messy blond hair out of his eyes as he scratched Jewel behind her ears. 

"Who's a good girl? You are!" 

Jewel purred as Josiah scratched behind her ears. She began to thump her hind leg like a dog. Barking softly. Josiah chuckled.

"You're honestly more dog than dragon Jewel."

Josiah stopped petting and Jewel lowered her head onto Josiah's lap. Still listening to the sounds of nature around her. She kept her eyes open as she gazed out at the wilderness. The further down the wagon went down the mountain, the more lush green flora overtook the bleak whiteness of the snowy mountain.

Josiah could already feel the temperature getting warmer as they left the mountain and entered the grassy plains. Flowers full of vibrant colors were seen as far as the horizon. Waterfalls rushed in the distance and streams rushed below them as the wagon went over a stream. Jewel looked out, she could smell the lovely scents of the flowers and she pawed at them. Josiah made she to not let her fall out of the wagon of course.

Jewel pawed at the ponds with her scaly paws bringing them back up to her mouth so she could lick the water from her paw. Josiah took in the warmth. It was very much welcomed compared to the stinging freezing breezes of the mountains. Jewel watched as fauna pranced around. Jumping and bounding around through the lush and plentiful flora. Soon the wagons stopped at a ridge that overlooked a valley below. Carter and Arthur got out and began unloading the crates from the wagons. Josiah got up and Jewel hopped out of the wagon onto the grass below. She stopped, the grass felt unfamiliar to her paws since she had only spent the first few months of her life in a barn. She clawed at it curiously. Josiah watched, he found it funny how Jewel thought the concept of grass was foreign to her. Josiah got out and began to set up a pen for the animals that were on the wagon with them. 

Meanwhile Carter was fussing over how all of his moonshine bottles were smashed during transit. Arthur shook his head.

"Carter it's your damn fault the bottles broke! You didn't secure them properly!"

Carter tried to see which bottles survived but to his dismay none had.

"God damn it Arthur! You owe me a bottle!"

Arthur threw his hat down in anger and frustration.

"I don't owe you nuthin'!"

Josiah decided to break up the fight.

"Fellas! No use cryin' over split milk! You can always get more moonshine!"

Carter was still mad, huffing but he decided to let it go. He rubbed his neck.

"Yeah. Sorry Arthur.."

Arthur picked his hat back up and placed it on firmly.

"Yeah. It's alright. Let's just let it go."

Arthur extended a hand towards Carter and Carter nodded shaking his hand.

Josiah sighed. There's one crisis adverted at least.

Josiah looked back at Jewel who was laying in the grass and basking in the warmth of the sun. Josiah got a idea and opened his satchel taking out a small 'brownie' camera. He aimed it at Jewel and took a photo. It came out of the camera in brown and white and Josiah put both the camera and the photo away in his satchel. Josiah decided to help Arthur pin up the tents since Josiah had finished setting up the animal pens.

Later that night Arthur and Carter and Josiah were sitting by a campfire. Jewel was curled up around Josiah.

"It seems that dragon has taken quite the liking to you Josiah."

Arthur grinned. Despite the dragon being a annoyance to him. He had to admit Jewel was starting to grow on him.

"Eyup' She really likes me. She's such a darling."

Josiah petted Jewel who was fast asleep. Carter was asleep too with a empty bottle of recently purchased Moonshine in one hand. Arthur got up.

"I'm going to hit the hay. Night' Josiah."

"Night Arthur!"