Of Both Worlds

Chapter 10

Ace dashed off, Aureliana getting up and trotting after him. Where are you going, Ace? Aureliana asked as Ace gasped for air, making his trek up the hill. 

 "It's lunchtime. You should probably stick close to me, all these Talonhunters might not have gotten the word that you're chill." 

Aureliana kept her lion like strides closer to Ace after that. Ace passed a couple of awestruck Talonhunters who clearly weren't told about Aureliana. Ace had to stop them from outright murdering her, or rather Aureliana from murdering them. Ace was paranoid that someone would jump out with a knife at any second by the time they got to the mess hall.

 Ace walked in and conversations died as he and Aureliana walked into the mess hall. Everyone was looking at the dragon as Ace tried to keep around the edges and walk to his normal table. Sam's eyes were wide as Ace sat down next to him and Aureliana sat down on the ground at the edge of the table, next to Ace. Lauren and Kaylin were staring aghast at Aureliana. 

Aureliana turned her four red eyes to Ace. You might want to tell them that I'm not going to eat them.

 "Depends, are you?" Ace muttered and realized everyone probably thought him insane for talking to what seemed like a mute creature. Ace cleared his throat and stood up on the bench he was sitting on. "Okay everyone, here's the deal, this is Aureliana, she's going to be living with us around camp from now on."

 "But, it's a dragon." Someone called out. Ace could only locate the general area where the voice came from. 

 "Thank you, Captain Obvious, yes, Aureliana is a dragon, but she's chill, she only might hurt Dylan who killed her children." 

 "Hey!" Someone called out. Aureliana's head whipped at the sound of the dark haired boy. Dylan then paled, as he realized he gave away his location. 

Aureliana got up silently. "Aureliana, don't stoop to his level." Ace warned the forest dragon. Aureliana growled out of the corner of her mouth and paced back and forth before sitting back down. "Anyways, please don't kill her, and she won't kill you. Also, the other Talons inhumanely kept here might be walking around too, don't kill them please." Ace sat back down and rubbed his hands. "So, what's for lunch?" 

 Lauren looked at Kaylin as if to say, he was your friend first. "Ace, you know we kill Talons right? That's kind of what we do, not to mention that thing chomped my hand in half."

 Ace blinked, he'd forgot that Kaylin had also been there. Kaylin put her hand on the table, it was now swollen under its bandage. "Aureliana, why'd you bite Kaylin?" 

Aureliana flicked her tongue. Why'd I bite... Aureliana stopped as her eyes landed on Kaylin. Aureliana growled and Kaylin squeaked, jumping a little. Her. I see what you mean now. Tell this Kaylin that I bit her hand so that she could hurt no one else. Tell her I did not bite a leg because I do not care if she walks or not, but I temporarily put her hand out of commission so she couldn't take a knife to anymore innocent Talons. 

"Aureliana says that she bit your hand so you couldn't hurt any other Talons with a knife or bow or anything." Beside him Aureliana snorted. Ace chose to ignore her. Ace turned to his covered platter and thought of the food he wanted. He opened it to reveal a grilled cheese sandwich with a bowl of tomato soup. 

 Forgetting about someone? Aureliana asked. 

 "I've got a surprise for you after lunch." Ace muttered as he dipped his sandwich in his tomato soup. Aureliana sighed and examined her deadly spiked tail.