Weakened Fealty

Pushing off with his claws, from treetop to treetop, pouncing from trunk to trunk like a bat breaking out of hell, Malevolence went about hunting for pleasure. Though his wings were physically restrained with the armor attached to his neck and shoulders, he was at least granted with the capability of stretching them wide enough to glide as he so pleased. Though, being restrained in his ability to fly had left him more than disgruntled for several days. He hated that he was only allowed to fly when Master pleased. Especially since flying was one of Malevolence’s favorite things to do, and each day without it he could feel himself growing weaker. Carrying an excess of weight on his back was no easy task either, so long as he was kept weakened.

Briefly stopping, he scratched at his muzzle. It felt itchy at times, and he could feel his scales getting pieces of leather and rope beneath them. Oh, how he hated it. It wasn’t enough just to have his wings restrained, but his jaw was clenched shut as well. Luckily for him, he’s stretched the muzzle's leather enough just to open his jaw a bit. Any freedom was better than none. At least this way he could eat whatever small game he’d caught within the forest and roast it too. Sure, he liked raw meat, but there was something about the texture when it was charred by fire. People like Master ate cooked meat all the time. So, why shouldn’t Malevolence do the same?

Coming across a whitetail doe, he stopped, staring at her for a moment. The deer had stopped too, panicking that she had the misfortune for coming across one of nature's most vicious predators. Even if she were to escape alive, she believed she couldn’t do so without injury. Wanting to flee with haste, her muscles tensed, but the only thing she could do was keep still as her eyesight allowed her to search for an escape route, that is if escape were possible.

Normally Malevolence would relish the chance to not just feast, but to give chase to such prey. If there’s anything he’d like doing more than eating, it was chasing prey and toying with it. He remembered doing the same with mice when he was but a mere hatchling. Driving prey into corners, making them potentially have to double back, even if that meant running right towards him. However, the result was always the same, tortured, scorched, meat. There was something about fleeing prey that always made the meat seem alive even after death. Like, he could taste the fear. The burn of lactic acid from sore muscles in desperation to escape had always seemed to even tenderize the meat itself, whether the game was young or old. Yet, everybody knew that younger meat was always fresher, being more succulent.

Sadly, for him the sight of this deer only soured the pit of his stomach. Trying to eat her would be a pain. Since his jaw barely opened, killing another one of Master’s deer in the forest without his explicit permission would only end in a week of starvation. That and the fact that he’d be whipped again with the cattails. Last time he was whipped a new tear formed in one of his wing's membrane. It rippled now against the air every time he moved; paining and irritating him all at once.

Deciding against his baser instincts, for better judgement, Malevolence turned and left. He may have even wanted to chase her without feasting, but he saw no point in wasting valuable daylight over a creature he’d struggle to eat, let alone tear to shreds. Clinging onto a stripped pine like some giant bat, he waited, listening to the sounds that surround him.

Rustling branches, songbirds, and even tree groaned with swaying. Yet, that wasn’t what he was after. Shutting his eyes, he waited for what seemed like an eternity until he heard the sound of leaves being crunched.

Shooting wide open, peeling his eyelids back, he carefully scanned the area before craning his neck. Like a stroke of luck, there wasn’t just one, but three squirrels on the forest floor, jumping amongst the dead foliage, digging for fallen acorns. Shimmying his hips ever so slightly, he readied himself. One jumped closer and upon that he pounced into action like a puma.

Clamping one squirrel in his jaws, effectively cutting its head off, he used one of his wing talons to pin the other to the ground, and as the third was running away Malevolence spun around, smacking it with his tail, sending it flying into a tree. The second one squealed for a moment until he pressed down on it, hearing a sickening crunch. The third’s breathing was labored, as it could barely move, having broken several bones when hitting the tree and collapsing to the forest floor.

Crunching the one in his mouth, he rolled it around his jaws with his tongue, pushing it against his teeth. Ripping it into smaller pieces, he swallowed the remains bit by bit. Tending to the one beneath his wing talon, Malevolence tore into it, crunching what little bones he could, consuming the fluffy tailed critter with ease. Lumbering his way over towards the one lying on the leaves, he pressed his nose against the heavily breathing creature. Still in shock from pain, the squirrel couldn’t force itself to move. Feeling the tenderness beneath its skin, he figured its bones were more than shattered already.

Not one to play with prey so terribly injured, Malevolence doused the small creature in a quick breath of fire, putting it out of its misery. Picking up the toasted small game, he threw the charred squirrel into the back of his mouth with a jolt of his head. Liking his last meal the most, he licked his lips, wanting to savor his snack a bit more. Sniffing the ground, he raised his head into the air, wanting to follow the scent of prey.

Though Master didn’t like them hunting his deer, he cared not for small game. Which meant for him and the others that squirrels, frogs, mice, crows, and all other small things that could easily fit into their mouths were fair game. Jumping into the trees again, Malevolence was off in search for more food.

Upon breaching the canopy, he saw a small flock of birds hovering over a nearby area. Knowing that he couldn’t catch them out in the open, he’d figure that they’d have nest waiting over in the area. Leaping three times before gliding over, he startled the conspiracy of ravens before landing on the main tree with which they were at. Getting out of his way, a few were bold enough to dive at him again in the hopes of driving off their unwanted guest. Knowing their instinctive behavior to fight back in order to protect their nest, Malevolence baited them in until he shook violently. Slapping one with his wing, and striking another with his body, he almost had gotten two birds with one twist. The first was knocked below the foliage, while the other bounced off, taking flight after the rest of the group.

Crawling below the treetops, he eyed the first raven that he’d struck. It was fluttering like a chicken with clipped wings. Believing it to no longer fly, he turned his attention to the several nests in his area. Finding most of them being empty, he grew disgruntled until he found one that abundant with chicks sticking their necks up eagerly waiting to be fed. They would be fed alright, but to Malevolence’s stomach; their own bellies would have to go empty for the time being.

Making his way over towards the nest, shifting his hips as a puma does whilst casually stalking its prey, Malevolence knew he wanted to savor this meal. Though they were too young to understand fear, the hatchlings’ muscles weren’t as strongly developed as their parents. Meaning that they would be soft and tender.

Just as the tip of his jaws were open around the head of the first chick, the breaking of a stick broke his concentration. Hurling at him like a catapulted boulder, his instincts returned in an instant. Though he was up in the trees Malevolence searched for the origin of the sound, wanting to ensure of his safety first and his meals second. Had it been a predator larger than himself, he might’ve been less worried. Yet, what he saw sickened his stomach, as he knew it would cut his hunting expedition short.

Turning back to the hatchlings, he quickly gobbled them up with haste. Angry at the newcomer for disturbing his peace and tranquility, he clambered down from the arboreal heights quickly. His sheer bulk drawing the attention of the interrupter, Malevolence stopped to find this ruiner of meals staring at him. Gripping tightly onto the bark with his hind legs, he spread his wings a bit and tried his best to roar, making a threat display.

Dropping to the leaf carpet, he snarled his lips, showing his capacity for violence. Frozen in place, not wishing to be harmed, the interrupter was trembling. Satisfied with the interaction, Malevolence turned around and focused his attention to the raven that was still struggling. Making quick work of it, he proceeded to approach the suspect with the raven dangling from his mouth. Not sensing any danger or that the nuisance hadn’t been tagged along by a senior companion, Malevolence went away eating as his raven, blasting small spits of fire here and there. He didn’t need to demonstrate his prowess but showing this being that he had no lack of resources at his disposal only made the snooper ever more afraid of running away from Malevolence.

Once he was done, he approached the small child, sniffing it for clarity. It was obvious that it was a female, due to its softer features and scent. More pressing at hand, was that its scent wasn’t anything familiar like any of the other people that resided beside Master. This new person was a complete outsider.

Malevolence has only met outsiders before when on a few expeditions with Master. He remembered one time smelling a bunch of them as they walked in a line, one behind the other, wrist bound in metal links. Some went this way, and some went that way. Master gave coins to a funny dressed man who spoke weirdly. Then almost seven suns later did a new woman arrive at Master’s doorstep. She had the same scent as that place with the funny man and smelt a bit like him too.

Knowing that outsiders were rare, and sometimes even a danger, Malevolence knew that he’d have to bring this small one to Master quickly. If not, Master would be angry, and Malevolence would be made to prostrate himself again whilst being punished. Being made to prostrate was embarrassing enough, especially around the others of his kind. It wounded more than just his pride, and every time he’d been made to do so Infidelity seemed to have lost more respect for him. He brought her meals from his hunts as of late, and she'd begun to allow him to mount her. Yet, he needed to make sure that Treachery never surpassed him in respect, or else Infidelity’s next clutch of eggs wouldn’t be his own but Treachery’s instead.

Walking behind the child, he pushed it onto his back swiftly with ease. Rolling over his head, down his neck and onto his back, he could feel the small person grab at the ropes between his armor. Making haste, he bounded away. Leaping like a vampire bat taking off, malevolence bounced through the woodlands, gliding at some points from dirt mounds to logs, and even vaulting off of tall trees alike, he only stopped momentarily when the child would scream while crying. Looking over his shoulder, he saw her crying. A sniveling, sobbing, mess.

As soon as he saw her tiny little hands get a good hold back onto the rope, only then did he take off again. Before he could get out of the woods, he’d have to build up enough speed to fly over the gate that guarded their entrance. Springing from one tree to the next, he clambered high enough just before he took off. Having flown Master before, his calculations for a heavier subject gave him more than enough margin of error. Gliding over the fence with more ease than a deer could leap over one with a smile on its face, Malevolence took joy in his vigor.

Upon landing he spied Master’s manse just a few gallops away. When he got to the stone wall, the child had pushed off his back and tried to run away. Spinning around, he cornered her against the wall baring his teeth, growling deeply. Her knees were trembling, and her fear was skyrocketing. She didn’t want to be near him anymore. Like playing a game of tag with other children, she tried to outwit him with false movements, but his eyes were all too watchful. There was no escape for her.

Not wanting to make things ever more difficult, he expressed his will not to harm her by lowered his head down and splaying out his wings. Vocalizing his dissatisfaction, she knew that her only way away from this beast would be to mount it. It may have not seemed like the safest option, but she was left with no other choice. She was in a new place entirely, and he hadn’t eaten her yet. So, this creature was the only thing she had to trust so far.

Climbing back atop him, she held on tightly to the ropes. Once she shifted her weight a little, settling down, only then did he continue. Scaling the wall to one of the windows, Malevolence made his way upwards. Peering into the hall before making his descent, what he saw made his blood boil.

There in the poorly lit hall of their pens, Malevolence saw Treachery laying atop of Infidelity. He was trying to mount her, but she wasn’t having any of it. She kept low to the ground with her tail pressed firmly to the floor. Biting at her neck, shifting in different positions, trying everything he could to get her hips to rise up, Treachery was ever persistent in his goal to breed with her. She squealed very little, but would often hiss at him. Yet, she couldn’t overpower him at all. Infuriated Malevolence screeched at him, before jumping to the opposite wall, completely forgetting about the little girl.

Crawling down quickly, he approached them. Infidelity noticed that he had brought an unexpected guest with them and had expressed her curiosity. Meanwhile, Treachery had ceased trying to bite her neck and had started to hiss at Malevolence. Looking over his shoulder, he realized that should he try to fight that she’d be harmed, and that might earn him, but more importantly Infidelity pain from Master’s whip. Rearing up to protect the child, spreading his wings to what his armor would allow, Malevolence signaled to Treachery to back off. Meeting his challenge, Treachery reared up in response, opening his mouth.

Knowing what would happen next, Malevolence knew that he wouldn’t be as hurt from Treachery’s fire as any other animal would, but that he’d still be at a disadvantage. Especially if he had to protect the child whilst fighting. Twirling around, striking Treachery with the end of his tail forcefully, Malevolence knocked most of his opponent's weight off Infidelity. Sensing this, she scurried as quickly as possible back to her stable, to where she was chained at.

The human child, fearing for her life, hopped off Malevolence’s back and rushed over towards an empty cell, hiding behind a barrel. Turning back to face his rival, Treachery reared back up to bite at Malevolence. However, Malevolence greeted him with a headbutt, and speedily grabbed the chain to Treachery’s collar. Holding him in place with the metal links, Malevolence beat at Treachery’s face with curved end of his wing talon, before leaving three distinct scratches on his foes body (one on his muzzle, and two on his neck). After letting the chain go, Malevolence swiftly hip checked Treachery, screeching at him to return to his stall, warning him to never mount Infidelity again. As a dog tucks its tail between its legs, Treachery slinked away back towards his stall.

Looking over to where the child had run off to, Malevolence had noticed that she was hiding behind one of the barrels in the cleaning stall. Feeling content with letting her stay there, he directed his attention towards Infidelity. Approaching her with caution, he chirped, and she cooed in response. Making several gruff sounds of coughing, he regurgitated a bit of his last meals for her. Happy with the present, she gave it a taste with the flick of her tongue, afterwards she turned to lick his muzzle. Rubbing her head underneath his, she slithered to allow her backside to face him. Lifting her tail, she beckoned him to mount her, wafting her pheromones in his direction.

He could smell it. This time she was in heat. This time their mounting sessions would yield in a clutch of eggs. After having her first two be infertile from a lack of breeding, she was receptive and ready for the role of motherhood. Now was her chance to provide some get for herself, Malevolence, and even her Master. If Master had more of them, he’d praise her for doing a good job of providing a clutch of hatchlings. At least, that's what she hoped.

Doing as what came naturally for them, Malevolence took position and began mounting her. Knowing that this would be the first of many, he paced himself, for he knew that he’d have to mount her over the several coming days to strengthen their bond as well as to ensure the fertilization of the eggs.

“MALEVOLENCE!” A voice boomed as the door’s were flung open. “Where’ve you been?” Climbing off Infidelity, he groaned while slowly approaching Master. “I send you off for a free day of hunting and you don’t even return with one small game bird for me! How disrespectful of my private hunting grounds are you going to be? GET OVER HERE RIGHT NOW!”

Angrily tapping his foot, Master waited for his servant to lay down before him, whimpering for mercy. “Now what do you have to say for yourself?” Master glared upon him, as the dragon splayed out. Groaning a bit, Malevolence gestured with the shake of his head over towards his stable. “What is it? Did you bring something back for me or are you telling me that your stall’s a mess?” Bemoaning while slowly crawling over towards his stall, Malevolence led his Master back towards his stable.

“There’s nothing here you worthless beast. Why'd you drag me this way?” Walking over towards the barrel, Malevolence sniffed out the child, and found her tucked away in the corner sitting in the fetal position. Grabbing her by the back of her shirt, grabbing her only garment, he dragged her out from behind the barrel. Screaming at being drugged out in the open, she fell over towards her side. Master was surprised to say the least.

“My, my, my… what do we have here?” Hoisting the girl up to her feet, he looked her over. “Long hair, all ten fingers and toes, still got some baby teeth,” he said whilst looking inside her mouth as if she were a gifted horse, “and finally,” he looked her sternly in the eyes, “you’re a girl, aren’t you?” Blushing red with embarrassment, she looked away hoping to conceal her emotions. However, now that he knew, she started to fear a little bit about what he had planned. “Whether she’s from a highborn lord or some lowly vassal, she’ll fetch me a fine price. Good job, Malevolence. You did well today.”

Looking back at the girl, he said to her, “You’ll sleep here tonight. Don’t worry, they won’t bite you or eat you alive so long as I forbid it. Just remember to mind your manners. Here,” he pulled something out from one of his pockets, “this is yours.” It was a small black box that felt like wax. “When you’re ready, go over there to that faucet and wash yourself up with this. Make sure you clean your shirt too. I like my servants clean no matter how dirty the job is.” She nodded her head weakly. “I’ll bring you some bread and soup shortly. You’ll be safe here.”

Once he left, it was understood by the three of them that she was to stay. If she was just like Master, then they couldn’t play with her as they played with each other. Yet, even Infidelity knew that she’d have to sleep next to them when the cold would creep in, as Master had done before whenever they flew to various places.

Over the course of time, she slowly became adjusted to them, though she kept her distance quite often except when they slept. The only one she slept with however was Malevolence, as he was the one who found her first. Even at times when Master was angry with them, she would always be fed, and she would share her small chunks of meat from her soup with them if Master had made them starve. Keeping herself and the stables clean Infidelity had come to trust her, especially with her nest. After the first moon had past only the did Infidelity lay her eggs. Once the second moon passed did six of her nine eggs hatch (the rest she consumed for she barely ate, even when the child placed food in her bowl far away from her stable to not make her aggressive).

With her persistence to continuously bring nourishment and display no signs of malice towards her brood, Infidelity would slowly bring her hatchlings to the young one. First, she presented her with the runt of the litter, not wanting to lose her healthier hatchlings. Then, after having returned the hatchling several times to an area where Infidelity could pick it up, only then did she allow her to sleep and play amongst them. Malevolence, the girl, Infidelity, and the hatchlings were all happy for the time being. It was the happiest they’ve been in a while. Sadly, all good things must come to an end.

It was almost a fortnight since the hatchlings had emerged into the world, and Master had needed use for his mounts. “Malevolence! Infidelity! Come hither!” Bowing down in his presence as usual, they sat still as he saddled them up. Keeping Treachery chained up inside with a ox bone to chew on, Master guided the two dragons outside. Putting on their muzzles, he kept their mouths shut tight, “I’ll feed you once we land at the auction.”

Not knowing where they were going but understanding the word “feed” the two dragons salivated at the promise of food. Any word was better than the word “no” followed by the crack of the whip. However, just as Master exited, Infidelity nearly broke out into a rage. Squealing and chirping away like madness, her brood was penned up in a small metal cage. Carrying the basket at his side, she growled at him furiously.

“Ah-ah-ah,” he waved the cage in front of her, “you’re going to behave yourself or else. I’ll make you wish starvation would be the worst punishment you’ll ever get. Understand?” Knowing of his threat, she pacified herself quickly, though she wasn’t overjoyed to say the least. Malevolence was just as angry as well. They had his color patterns and their horns had ridges that were just like his too. Yet, he knew better than to raise up any form of disobedience towards master.

Showing a sign of fealty, he bowed down. Infidelity followed suit. “Good, that’s more like it.” Standing behind him was the little girl. “Get moving you.” Placing her in Infidelity’s saddle, he strapped her in. “Don’t you get any funny ideas either. You may be acquainted, but I hold the reins. Got it?” She gulped, nodding her head.

Mounting Malevolence, he loosened his armor, allowing the dragon to stretch his wings fully as he should. “Malevolence, Climb!” Doing as he bid, Malevolence climbed the brick wall to the top of their manse, followed by Infidelity. With a rope tying the dragons together, they’d have to fly close together, at the bare minimum if not in perfect harmony. Diving off from the roof, they gained momentum underneath their wings, taking flight. Guided by the reins of their Master, Malevolence and Infidelity flew side-by-side. Infidelity carrying the child, him carrying the Master and their hatchlings.

“Malevolence! Heed!” Descending in ever shrinking circles, they came across an area that Malevolence remembered. It’s unusual smells, the colors, even the funny dresses. Then it struck him as sudden as a lightning bolt. They were at the place where Master gave coins to that funny man and the lady appeared at their door days later. Were they going to sell the girl? He shook his head. She’s been so helpful and kind to them. More kind than Master was as of late. Yet, what could they do about it.

Dismounting Malevolence, he led the dragons over towards a stone pillar with metal hooks coming from it. Taking the girl off Infidelity’s back once the dragons were tied up, he walked his way over towards a wooden stage. Infidelity started to panic, as he was leaving with her hatchlings. Her brood, her clutch, they were so painstakingly close and yet so far away. No matter how strong she was, the wall kept her in place. Malevolence saw the pain in her eyes, for he had recognized it as his own.

Watching Master step up on stage with the girl and their hatchlings he proclaimed, “HEAR YE, HEAR YE! COME ONE COME ALL! FOR I PRESENT TO YOU SEVERAL FINE SPECIMENS. THE CHICKS HAVE GROWN ATTACHED TO THE CHILD, SO SHE CAN RAISE THEM FOR THEE! PLUS, SHE’S A MAIDEN!” She looked at him, eyes wide with fear. She didn’t know much, but she knew that one word meant something more important than anything else to these prospective buyers. “ONCE HER MOONBLOOD COMES SHE’LL MAKE A FINE CONCUBINE FOR WHATEVER LORD WISHES TO HAVE HER, OR EVEN AS A VIRGIN SACRIFICE TO THE GODS!”

Malevolence was angered. Angrier than he had been before. His babes and the person that helped to raise them were surely never to be seen again if Master were to take gold coins from some other person. Yet, what could he do? Seeing coin purses and hands fly up, Malevolence knew that he barely had any time left to think, let alone act.

Struggling with the chains, he turned back towards the stage, he saw a man walking up with a heavy sack of coins in hand. Scratching at his muzzle’s leather, he peeled if off, letting out a deafening roar. Turning towards his mate, he clawed off her muzzle as well before letting the chains afire with flames hotter than the sun. The whole crowd was shocked with what they saw. A voice went up into the air yelling, “KILL THEM!”

Leaping over the crowd to the stage, putting his body between the child holding their hatchlings and his Master, Malevolence faced him with an inferno raging in his eyes.

“MALEVOLENCE! BACK! BACK I SAY!” Master had started to whip him, and the whip had even wrapped around his jaws, clenching them shut. Then feeling the stage shake, Master turned around to face Infidelity. Wrenching the whip’s cattails from Malevolence’s face, Master had thrown down the male dragon. Opening her jaw, preparing to unleash the fury of hell upon him, Infidelity was too late, as a cattail struck her in the eye, busting it open. Crying out in pain on the stage, rolling around, Malevolence heard the cries of his mate.

Roaring out, the crowd cowering before him, Malevolence finally put an end to this line of cruelty. He scorched his Master alive in a blaze of flames, afterwards proceeding to eat him. Tearing him apart as he’d done to deer.

“KILL THEM! KILL THEM NOW!”

Turning around, he picked the girl up, throwing her on his back. Nuzzling and screeching at Infidelity to get up, she followed his lead. Taking off the stage into the skies the crowd hurled insults at them. “WITCH! DRAGON WITCH! YOU’LL BURN IN HELL FOR THIS! WE’LL MAKE SURE OF THAT!”