The Dragon Paladin

Chapter 10

When we return to the cave, the sun is low on the horizon. I jump out of the pod and settle on top of the ledge to finish braiding the ropes I was working on.

Today was so much fun I got to learn a little about dragons, Doniira, and Erin. Apparently, Erin has the strongest concentration of dragons on this planet. Sure, there are packs on the continent we live on. But they're few and far between.
Krolia says this is because the humans are mostly hunters. This I can believe.

Dragons can be born from non-dragon parents as I probably was, but just because your parents were dragons is no guarantee that you will be. It all depends on the level of magic you're born with.

Also, not every dragon has magic. Those that do, are all in 'pack houses.' These are large houses, sometimes mini mansions, where the whole pack lives. Packs are made up of the Head Alpha, Head Omega, and then everyone else just falls into place. Normal dragons live in pack houses too, but not as large as the coven packs.

Only the covens have life-path markings. They have large farms that they all work together. Each area of the household is managed by one or two people, and depending on the size of the pack, can be worked by between one and 10 people.

You learn a lot from a library.
Doniira gets visitors from all sorts of planets. Some Alteans who aren't dragons, are descended from those who managed to escape when Zarkon avenged the destruction of Daibazaal with that of Altea. Really, that was a bit much. It was his own fault that his planet was destroyed, he didn't listen when Alfor told him to shut down Honerva's experiments and close the rift to the other reality. Some people, honestly.

I look up from my work, needing a break from my own thoughts. My blood starts flowing again, as I stretch to get up. The sun is setting. Well, I guess I need to head inside. Hunters are cowards and prefer going out at night, thinking we won't notice them.

I spot three more pods in front of the cave. One of them looks like Krolia's, so it's probably Kolivan. The other two are fighter pods from the empire. Who in hell could it be? Proceeding with caution.

I walk inside and hear voices coming from one of the many tunnels. From the scents I'm picking up, Krolia is in one of them with Kolivan. There are two other betas, and one other alpha.

As I approach the tunnel I believe them to be in, I spot something and freeze. It looks like a snake, but with a bit of fur. A tail. It held my gaze captive with it's hypnotic movements.

It was twitching side to side, driving me crazy. I slowly crouch down, and sneak along. My target never leaves my sight.
Once I'm close enough, I pounce.

In midair, I realize I don't actually know what to do once I catch the tail. Person with with the tail, please move before I embarrass us both.

They didn't. I landed, and the owner gave a piercing yell before roundhouse kicking me into the wall. The wind is knocked out of me, and I fall to the floor gasping for air. I can barely hear Krolia yelling at the person. Her hands are on my back, rubbing circles to calm me. My mind starts to clear, and I can make out the voice of the person who kicked me.

"I acted on instinct! I didn't mean it, Krolia, I swear!"

I put my hand up to get their attention.
"It's fine," I cough. "It was my fault for not controlling my own curiosity." I make eye contact with the new alpha.

"I'm sorry."
He seems taken aback, and turns away. Just as quickly, he turns back to Krolia and speaks in a frustrated tone, with what I can only assume is Galran. He's gesturing to me the whole time, trying not to be obvious but failing. What gave it away that he was talking about me was the fact that he was speaking a different language.