In The Arms Of The Beasts

Gifted wrapped

A few months ago
Yes I'd been exiled by my own kind, yes I'd been sold to the humans in trade for a faulty showman guru who claimed he could 'save us from ourselves'. And now I'm in a box? That much I could feel as well as the chains around my wrists. As far as I could tell, I wasn't where I was welcome and something was carrying the box "man! This thing's heavy" I hissed wildly thrashing my weight against the side of the box hoping the voice would drop the container setting me temporarily free. How'd I get traded as a peacemaking gift by the humans? Sure they'd abused me and beat me into submission but this feels a little personal.

"Whoa! We got a live one" the box was rested back down. Something tugged on the chains through a hole in the top of the box "what did they give us?!" I pulled back on the chain showing that I wanted to be the one in control. Murmured talking could be heard as I was once again picked up and carried for what seemed like forever before I was dropped forcing my head to whack against the top of the crate harshly "I said no more gifts, you idiot!" I held my breath trying to play dead even if I wasn't visible to them fully, I sensed I would be soon.

"The humans left it as a peace offering...whatever's inside doesn't take well to being controlled" the metal links slacked loosely as I heard footsteps leave then return "just break it open, then we can tame whatever they dumped us with" heavy steps came towards my location, whoever I saw first was going down! I hadn't been fed for god knows how long and apparently whatever was around was on the menu, there's only so long you can scrape at wood and metal before it loses whatever ounce of flavour it had.

Something ripped off the opening and being temporarily blinded, I missed my grand opportunity to attack. One of the presumed servants picked up the chain gripping it firmly and dragging me out of the box for all to see "stupid catfolk" I threw myself at the servant digging claws first onto his chest causing the metal to clatter to the floor. I immediately left the man alone picking up my own chain "and they're normally such gentle creatures" I recognised the figures in the room as dragons or at least the dragon kin...also at war with the humans.

"Nah, there's more to this than just behavioural spite. They did something...something bad" the blonde crouched motioning for the others to do the same "am I the only one seeing the marks around it's neck?" I stood proudly showing no fear "cat's got pride" the redhead turned to the blonde "for what? She just came out of a box" they shared a glance "whatever happened before the box" the redhead shuffled to come towards me but I snatched the chain back up as he stood.

"Easy, we just wanna 'talk'?" Instinctively my head cocked to the side, I understood the words just not the true meaning behind them. Why weren't they attacking? Why weren't they moving? Had I read the signs wrong? No! They were the enemy "you can talk, right?" I gestured for him to continue as I tried to memorise his scent "alright...We are dragon kin, Whatever happened in the past...well that's in the past but maybe we can move forward?"

I swallowed hard taking a tiny step closer "They said you planned to kill me" the redhead looked shocked as he started to laugh whereas the blonde seemed to only get angrier "What? We're not like that...unless we need to be of course" I kept my guard up, they could be lying! They could be toying with me...that's what the humans did in the beginning. "Course they'd fill your head with dumb lies like that. Look we're not that violent, not like that." He folded his arms "I'll spare you...for now. I'll get someone to take you back to the catfolk" I couldn't of stopped my ears from dropping if I tried, I knew I couldn't go back. As far as my kind were concerned, I was someone else's property, someone else's problem. "What's that supposed to mean?!" I looked away forcing my ears up as if nothing happened "What happened with the catfolk?!" I smirked "Ah so you do know what that means" He took a big step forward towering over me "You take me for some kind of dumbass?!"

I cowered slightly shaking my head quickly "easy man, you know catfolk have a playful nature, right?" I didn't say anything due to the shame that it was true. We did like to play and tease around, we were known to be liars. Toying was our nature "What?!" As the two beasts face off, I was sent to spend a night in the dungeons...but it was better than nothing, better than sending me to the humans, better than sending me 'home'.