Sylvazard

Blood Rose Dragon

The Blood Dragon had looked rather tense, going by the glimpse Rosalie had gotten of him as she hurried around the corner. As she did, she narrowly avoided running straight into Spike in her desperation to get inside the house. The young dragon had a smirk set firm on his features, a subtle -yet cruel- tug of the lips that was accompanied by a hint of amusement in his eyes and, fortunately for him, it was one of which the girl was oblivious to as she stepped around him quickly. Neither bothered to say a word, and perhaps that was for the best. She had to wonder, though, if Spike had picked up on the fact that she didn’t like being given sweet names by Danial as they weren’t as close as he had portrayed them to be. Rosalie had a fair idea of what was going on in the house -and this was all thanks to her wild imagination- but hoped dearly that the images of the event unfolding in her head weren’t true and that Gore had not been spotted. A booming gunshot coming from inside the house, however, reinforced the girl’s fears and caused her to flinch for a few seconds, mind trying to keep itself together and push past the building wall of reluctance to head inside after the concerning noise. Time was a luxury that she yet again did not have as the voices coming from inside were frantic and loud. They belonged mostly to the brothers as they tried to explain themselves in a rush of words that looped and tripped over one another in their panic. Listening carefully, Rosalie believed that she caught Eric stuttering a bit before his father’s voice cut through the explanation, tone almost as sharp as a knife. It wasn’t the type of atmosphere that she wanted to walk into, but what choice did she have? The girl allowed herself a few quick seconds to breathe, and, gathering herself, Rosalie peered through the doorway, gaze first landing on the two brothers who had ducked out of the way, then to Gore and then to the parents she had just noticed standing near the top of the stairs to her left. Her eyes widened in shock and the dawning realisation that someone could have been hurt. Someone might have been hurt. She hadn’t expected Mr. Clearwater to bring a gun with him next the time he had planned for breakfast. Had he somehow been warned of the crimson legend beforehand to come as prepared as he was? Rosalie inched further into the room with the tentativeness of a mouse through a room with a waiting cat and though her eyes were locked on the parents as she moved, she caught a spot of red dripping to the kitchen floor out of the corner of her eye. Her heart skipped a beat, worrying that it had belonged to one of the brothers, but upon closer inspection, it was coming from the person she was standing closest to. Gore. ‘What is he doing?!’ thought Rosalie with great disdain. Why hadn’t he moved? It had all made sense now given the rush Spike was in, too. Whereas Spike had left, Gore had stayed and for what? To be caught by the Clearwater parents and to be made a target for shooting practice? ‘Well... there’s one other use for him,’ she thought sarcastically to herself, suppressing the urge to huff and fold her arms. Why couldn’t he have at least considered staying out of sight until she and the brothers had worked out a time to speak to John and Lauren? If Rosalie had imagined that task difficult already, perhaps she and the brothers should consider what way was best to weave in the extra tale of the little girl that had supposedly seen the dragon last night. Just the thought tempted a tired groan from her. “You idiot..,” she hissed under her breath, planning to continue when a voice laced with anger and terror interrupted her. __ “Sigmund, Eric, Rosalie! Get away from that dragon right now! Do you know how dangerous it is?” Mrs. Clearwater’s voice was trembling just as much as her form as she clung to her husband like a lifeline keeping her a head above insanity. Considering the battle and the number of deaths that had occurred in the town recently, she and her husband as well as many of those who still lived here had a right to be cautious and afraid. In fact, Kalandor had been a lot quieter since then, and had only just been slowly getting back to its feet. Aside from that, another reason of why it was a smart move to keep a distance was that her husband was shaking so much that he risked hitting their own sons with how unsteady he was with the dragon in front of him. The first shot, she almost smacked his arm for as a result of firing inside the house, but was afraid of causing a misfire that could lead to something much worse. Instead, she willed herself to focus on the young ones that had much explaining to do. “Why was my name called, first?” “N-not now, brother..” Eric grumbled, elbowing Sigmund in the side as they did as they were told by their mother, moving a bit so that they were standing with Rosalie who was trying to get their father to lower his weapon. Her pleas didn’t seem to reach him, however. “Uhh.. Dad, we can put the weapon away..” Sigmund stood behind Rosalie as support, carefully positioning himself so that he somewhat stood in front of Gore as well. “She’s not lying when she said she got him at auction. There’s no need to call the order..” As if he would have done so either way. “I have the papers from Druthers&Druthers’..” Rosalie almost squeaked, staring straight down the barrel of the gun John was carrying, as almost all of them were. She sent a quick glance over her shoulder at Gore before continuing, “We.. brought him in last night and we-“ “LAST NIGHT?!” Lauren yelled, causing all three of the young ones to step back, “you’re saying that.. we had been housing a..” she paused, stopping herself from saying ‘monster,’ while taking in a deep breath as her fearful gaze swept once over the living, breathing legend standing in their house, “dragon.. since the night before.. and not this morning?” “Yes..” Eric replied when all was silent and none dared to speak. All three young adults watched as Lauren panicked for a fair bit before her eyes rolled and she started to fall back. “Oh.. Wow..” Sigmund murmured. “That’s the thing I usually do... but I think you actually broke her.” He did not dare to move, no matter how concerned he was over his parents and even Gore. He hoped the bullet hadn’t hit anyone and had hit a wall in the house instead. That was much better than tending to an injury any day. “It was nothing but the truth.” Eric snapped back quietly, concern more noticeable than annoyance as he made a move to rush to his mother’s side. ___ “Master..” Spike said lightly as he bowed his head, giving news of what had happened inside while his owner was away. “That gunshot.. I believe Gore was still inside while it sounded.. Perhaps the parents have been alerted to his presence..” The young dragon was somewhat reluctant to speak, not knowing if he was allowed to so freely and if he wasn’t, he would just give out the details and make it as short as he was able. “The Blood Dragon still boasts confidence over his strength, master. I was unable to provoke him..” He then trailed off, standing, waiting patiently for his master’s instructions as he listened to the going’s on inside. By the sound of things, it wasn’t exactly going too well, and he actually hoped that Gore had received a fatal wound that would at least affect his strength. It was wishful thinking, Spike was aware, but should they battle, it would provide him with a huge advantage along with his young age, he believed.

Blood Rose Dragon

Lauren was shaking, terrified as she tried to hold herself as the strong woman she once was. John's arms enveloping her did little to ease the fear that gripped at her heart, her frame trembling against his. He was afraid, too, it was obvious, and that added to her discomfort, but as long as he was with her, it was the safest place in the world. "The Order will sort things out.. won't they?" She asked him in a meek tone of voice, biting her lip as she rested her head against his for a bit. "Our sons! I hope they're out of harm's way." Her tone had wavered toward the end of the sentence, but, taking in a deep breath and clenching her hands over the fabric of her nightgown, she told herself as she looked into John's eyes that their family would be safe. The Order were, after all, a reliable bunch of people who took down and captured dragons like they were nothing more than pests. Nothing to worry about, she thought with a shaky sigh as she followed him downstairs, and if things worked out well, they may be able to claim the reward John had made mention of. -- It certainly took all within the young dragon to refrain himself from throwing his fist into the older dragon's face. What did it matter that the Blood Dragon was out of chains that so rightfully belonged around his neck like hands that held firm in a stranglehold? It made no difference as they were classified as the same creature in books written by humans. Perhaps envy burned strong and high in the 'fledgling' dragon, but there was also another emotion that burned just as bright: the conviction to prove that he was not just another dragon to be tossed aside in favour of the ancients. Spike's eyes glowed with anger, that much was clear as the Clearwater brothers tried to piece together what had just happened. They seemed anxious now. Were they actually afraid of the conflict that almost broke out between him and Gore? Spike huffed and snarled, glaring daggers at Gore's retreating form. The young one would surely beat the crimson dragon and soon the beast, known to invoke fear just at the mention of his name or title, would be no more. "Precious green hue? Your scales will look much better on a wall as a trophy on display, ancient." Spike spat, lips curling back in a nasty sneer that exposed sharp teeth. Oh, he just could not wait to tear through Gore's throat. "Mum, dad!" one of the humans suddenly exclaimed before realising their mistake and covering their mouth. It was rather abrupt and it caused Spike's head to snap toward the taller one in confusion before he turned and was welcomed with the sight of a couple tentatively making their way down the stairs. Registering what was about to unfold in that second, Spike slipped out the door in search for his master. He was unsure as to whether he had been spotted, but would keep an ear out in case he had been. -- Averting her gaze, Rosalie shifted her weight to one side and rubbed her arm when complimented. She was unsure if she liked hearing comments like that considering that they were not yet in that sort of relationship. And those contacts he mentioned; did he not mean his friends? She was aware that a few of them lived close to her, but she rarely ever dropped in for visits. Danial’s words about Gore held some weight behind them and to what he said, she nodded curtly, lips pressing into a thin, grim line. However, what Rosalie was starting to see, what actually caused her to stand in the dragon's defence, was that most of what he had done was out of circumstance. He had told her the hunters were invading his home with weapons that did not exist merely for gentle prodding and nudging. That aside, and to put it simply, he was one who was proud, honourable and also honest. There were, without a doubt, things that bothered her greatly about him, but so far, Rosalie was willing to leave him alone so long as he didn’t cause trouble for her. Being his owner meant added responsibilities, responsibilities that she did not want. "The stories.. to an extent, were true." Rosalie said after a while of silence. "And you're right, Danial; that day, we saw a legend from our stories come to life.. I didn’t forget. I know I should be careful. Still.. I wouldn’t have known a girl had seen him if you hadn’t mentioned it..” She said with a frown, shaking her head. The news had come as a surprise to her, and it wasn’t a pleasant one at that. She would deal with that later as another bit of information peaked her interest. Just like that, Danial had effortlessly drawn her attention. “Someone would know my father?..” She asked, believing her tone and posture to be normal when her eyes had betrayed her completely. Rosalie was hopeful as her own searches had come up with little. Perhaps this could be the chance she had been waiting for? Rosalie composed herself upon realising her eagerness and took a moment to think about it. Danial had said Gore would be able to join her should he be on his best behaviour. As assuring of a thought it was, it also brought on a few new concerns. A lot of people were interested in the Blood Dragon, and she was sure that a few of the nobles who would attend were interested as well. She wondered if she’d be asked to sell Gore there. She wasn’t a travelling merchant and despite not having future plans to keep the crimson legend for very long, Rosalie would much rather be given the choice than to be pressured into it.“He’s not the most ideal of pets to keep.. but I’d rather keep him than consider raising a dog, Danial.. Sigmund’s allergic to them. I’d be interested in going if you’ll really still allow it despite Gore’s attendance, but when will it be and is there a specific code of dress that needs to be followed?” She had been to parties that had certain requirements or themes before and would have been denied entry if not done so. Personally, she never found those types to be too enjoyable, but she did put up with it. Shouting came from inside the house, then, frantic and demanding. Rosalie decided to peer through the window worriedly, catching sight of Gore staring back. The girl was surprised, but forced herself to look past him to the brothers. What was going on? To Danial, she added in a lower tone of voice, one that lacked confidence despite her words. “hmm.. and don’t you worry about Gore’s appearance. I’ll make sure that he is suitably dressed to your standards to avoid trouble.” The girl would wait until she had received her answer before she would head off. What was going on inside the house was concerning. Had Spike and Gore really drew the attention of the brother’s parents? She hoped not. She wasn’t even sure how she was going to explain this to them without being yelled at.

Blood Rose Dragon

Rosalie was slightly taken aback as she stared at the person in the doorway, mouth hanging slightly open but no words were able to make it out. She didn’t recognise him at first with his hair, but that voice and speech pattern was one she could easily remember anywhere. Tt brought a bit of disdain to her considering her situation, but she managed a smile. Even if it was an uneasy one, it was still for the sake of being polite. “Hi.. Danial! I didn’t recognise you with your new hairstyle..” She resisted the urge to turn to Gore, taking the flowers with a somewhat shy laugh. White lilies were her favourite type of flower, and Danial remembered that well. It was charming of him and she believed he was a good person even if she did not choose him herself, but there were some things she had trouble getting around - his timing, mostly. He had a habit of appearing when she least expected him. “Thank you.. It’s really sweet of you, though.. I don’t think now’s a good time..?” Her statement had dipped into an unsure one as soon as she noticed another figure with Danial. A dragon? There were some features easily distinguishable and what gave her confirmation was the collar and chain around his neck.

One might question why she didn’t do the same with Gore and others may argue that it a) might give him a reason to poison her food, or b) was disgraceful to put someone who had saved her life and kept her safe throughout a battle on a chain when it wasn’t at all necessary. Speaking of necessary, were dragons supposed to always be kept on chain? With what she had been through in the company of Gore, she had made it back safely without much trouble and was given a meal along the way as well. Besides that, she wasn’t very keen on hearing Gore grumble about how dishonourable humans were. As true or untrue that it may be, it didn’t mean she was eager to hear it.

Taking a better look at Spike, Rosalie felt her gaze linger for longer than it should have over the dragon. The humanoid had even averted his gaze when she looked to him. In that brief moment that she was able to look into those eyes, she saw that there was complete acceptance of his fate. It was an emotion that was devoid in Gore’s teal orbs. Did it bother her? She didn’t know, but there was something that nagged at her that she couldn’t quite explain. She would have commented on his dragon had she not been forced to lean back a bit at the feel of Danial’s hand over the side of her face. She wanted to warn him that she wasn’t particularly fond of this gesture -especially in the sight of others- but of course that subtle message went by unnoticed. Being tempted to whisper for help from Gore wasn’t the best idea considering what the dragon had just told her. If he was able to hear from quite a long distance as he had reminded her he was, there was a chance that it would be the same with Spike. Better to be safe than sorry, she supposed, making eye contact with Danial. “Where.. did you hear about me leaving, Daniel?” She hadn’t taken anyone with her. It had been a lone trip with only the Clearwater family being aware of it.

The mention of a young girl yelling out the legend’s location caused Rosalie’s attention to snap to Gore. Steely gaze like that of a hawk, it was also one with an underlying demand for an answer out of dawning fear. How would a little girl know of his whereabouts? Were they not quiet enough as they stealthily navigated the streets last night? She almost groaned and hid her face in the bouquet of flowers. ‘Why’ and ‘How’ were the first and foremost questions on her mind. Perhaps it was her reaction that gave Danial enough proof of Gore to push his way inside the house, causing her to stumble back a few steps. “D-Danial, wait!”
__

Lauren Clearwater immediately shot up out bed, watching her husband through blurry eyes. “What is it?! Did something happen?” She was about to suggest Sigmund setting fire to the breakfast he was making again but her man continued and the only words she paid close attention to were ‘Blood Dragon. Gore. Outside.’ She asked him to repeat the situation but more slowly and he did. This time, it was her turn to panic, grabbing his hand and shaking it frantically. “What do we do, what do we do?! We’re not ready for an attack! We just can’t handle it!” Most of the townspeople were in shock hearing and seeing the aftermath of a run-in with the Blood Dragon. Surely this would spark that fear again.
__

It wasn’t fair at all. Gore was her dragon. She quickly moved up between the two like she would whenever the brothers got into a disagreement, “Stop that! No one’s beating anyone, alright? Dragon or not, I wouldn’t be here if not for him.” Rosalie had grumbled the last part but perhaps it was loud enough for Danial and even his dragon to hear. She then took then took the man by the arm and started leading him outside when she saw that Eric and Sigmund had been drawn in by the noise, dropping the flowers in Eric’s hands and calling out, “keep an eye on Gore for me, please, thank you.”

Rosalie led Danial to the garden, peering around the corner to see if they were clear before she decided to speak. “I could have died along with those hunters.. You heard about it.. didn’t you? The number of dead, the wait to see who’s alive and who’s not? I could have been among them or missing. Don’t tell me you enjoyed watching the injured be treated out in view like that. Listen, Daniel. You just got here and you’re more than welcome to rest here as long as there aren’t any fists thrown under the roof.” She shook her head. “Rules of Mr and Mrs Clearwater.”
__

Spike would have followed his master. He would have, but he couldn’t. His master would have wanted him to stay and it was just in his favour, too, as he wanted to fight Gore and put that dragon in his place. What made the other think that he was so high and mighty? Quite frankly, the crimson dragon before him was no different to any other of their kind. They all had humans as their owners. They were all told to do what their masters and mistresses wanted of them.

The young dragon stepped closer to Gore wearing a sneer that exposed his sharp fangs, sending a warning look at the two humans who were told to ‘keep an eye on Gore’. “What’s this?” The young dragon asked, smirking a little. “You not only have one owner, but two more? How amusing that the Blood Dragon needs to be babysat! Your name is just an embellished title given to you by killing humans over the course of time. Anyone can do that. What makes you so different that hunters go after you only to be blazed in a fiery storm that any dragon can conjure up?” Spike huffed, a low snarl emitting from his throat as he looked Gore up and down with reptilian eyes full of distaste. “You’re only a legend because you feed off of the tales that humans spin about you.” Spike looked down his nose at Gore, scoffing. “Blood Dragon this. Blood Dragon that. I’m sick and tired of it! I can’t wait to put you in your place. Maybe then, we’ll see who’s greater.”

Blood Rose Dragon

Not once had Rosalie noticed the noises emanating from the kitchen and at times outside the house as her mind was not yet there in its entirety. Even as she had trudged upstairs to dress herself, the spray of water coming from the kitchen sink had fallen completely on deaf ears. It was as if she were in a daze as she progressed through her morning routine, the world not quite a blur to her, but for the moment, it certainly seemed like it.

Rosalie was thinking - thinking of Setton, the man who had taken her in to raise her like she was a child of his own. She remembers mornings like this very clearly as a child growing up - back when she would sneak into his room and jump onto his bed to wake him. What she remembers especially well, though, is the fact that the choices she made when he told her to guess which hand held a treat determined the kind of breakfast she’d be having the next day. She could have sworn that no matter which hand she chose, she ended up with eggs and toast when she wanted something like waffles and pancakes, though. Still, she was content with that life. She was content having someone she could rely on. It was not as if Rosalie was taking the brothers or their family for granted at all. It was more the fact that she wished Setton was here to help guide her.

She had subconsciously brought her hands to her face, realising, just a few seconds later, that she had started to tear up at the memory. She wasn’t a child anymore and tears at this age would do nothing to solve her problems. It would do nothing to help her, just like - Rosalie shook her head quickly, chiding herself as she immediately pushed those thoughts to the back of her mind and decided to get herself dressed and ready for the day. She decided to slip on a pair of grey jeans, a black singlet and a light pink zip-up sweater which she zipped half way and rolled up the sleeves to her elbows.
Composing herself, she headed downstairs into the kitchen where she met Sigmund who had obviously just woken up, and Eric who seemed absolutely shocked that Gore had made them all breakfast. It was almost priceless as he kept looking around like he was expecting something to jump out at him. All of them chimed their good mornings at various paces and Rosalie couldn’t help but smirk knowing that ‘Siggy’ had caught on with Gore.

__

“Siggy?” He grumbled, somewhat incredulous as he looked up at Gore, frowning. “Are you really going to keep calling me that? Is this because I wanted to get your account of the battle or is it because Rosie, here, calls me that?” The young man’s brows furrowed a bit, ‘Rosie’s’ interjected, ‘hey!’ ignored. Of course Sigmund wasn’t very happy with it, but the prospect of food made him very forgiving. Even if the points Gore had brought up the night before were ones that Sigmund didn’t really agree with, there was some truth to his words - some of which the young man knew already. There was no hiding it, but it was shameful to hear that coming from a dragon, to have the Blood Dragon point that out so blatantly. Could this be a glimpse into what Rosie has to deal with? He was sure that she’d just bite back. “Well.. whatever you do, try not to follow Rosie too closely.”

Eric had been looking around wildly because he was worried about Gore making enough noise to alert his parents. They hadn’t told anyone of the extra count to their household and wondered that if they told them about Gore a day late, would they be mad? Parents really were strict when it came to some things. Dragons had never been a common topic in the household unless it was Eric and Sigmund sharing their findings and theories. For now, it was most likely that they would have to tell of Gore’s presence tonight and until that time arrived, the younger brother told himself that he should try to be reasonably calm. Or at least as calm as he was able to, he thought to himself, shuffling past Gore while nodding his head to the dragon in quiet thanks.

__

“You know.. you could turn out to be our appointed chef if you keep this up,” started Rosalie with a smirk. “Though I wonder if we can teach you have to use a stove and other appliances. Whether you like it or not.. you’re going to have to. Using a fire is all and well, but sometimes.. appliances make things a bit easier or faster.” By no means was the young woman saying the old ways were inferior. Some people, of course, liked doing things the old way. It was sometimes more reliable than the new, and she could understand that. However, she wanted Gore to be able to interact well with this new age. Why would she want that despite disliking the dragon? Could it have been that she did not want to be embarrassed by his antics? Watching his reactions, though, provided good entertainment, though.

“One other thing..” Rosalie said after a moment of thought. It had been prompted by him saying that he could still hear her and Eric. “Just how far can you hear, anyway?” The girl folded her arms, watching him with interest as she waited patiently for an answer, discreetly paranoid that he might have heard her snoring at some point during the night. Was it better to be spared the embarrassment?
A knock coming from the door caught her attention then and seeing as she was the closest to the door, she would have to open it. She wondered who it could have been, though. Were they looking for a blacksmith’s services? It was usually that. Before opening it, Rosalie looked to Gore in what could have been confirmation. She wasn’t sure if it was alright for him to be seen, but whether he would move off or stay somewhere near was entirely his decision.

Opening the door when she was ready, Rosalie peered out from behind it before taking a small step into view. “Hello, umm...” she trailed off, not knowing how to address the person without seeming rude.

Blood Rose Dragon

'Soft and too confining,' he says. Thought Rosalie with a slight narrowing of her eyes. It was almost as if he were also describing his discomfort with his humanoid form. At the idea of that, the girl found herself staring for longer than she should have, almost like she was only taking the time to consider that now that they had arrived home. If Eric hadn't tapped her on the shoulder and asked her if something was on her mind, the girl was certainly sure that she would have stared for longer without realising. She dismissed it as her simply zoning out, but really, what would happen if Gore were to stay in that form for longer than he should? Would he lose his mind or would the outcome be much worse than what was currently running through her mind?
Rosalie could happily list or even jot down her thoughts on the matter, but given the situation, it might not be appropriate. Perhaps, the girl thought, turning to look at the younger brother, she'd ask him later in hopes that he might know the answer. Gore didn't seem to want to tell her judging from his answer from earlier. She wouldn't force it out of him, either. It might have been that she did not care enough to ask, or rather that she did not want to become too involved in the affairs of a dragon. Curiosity was a dangerous and powerful thing.

“Well, Rosalie?” Eric prompted with a light voice once more when he saw that she hadn’t been listening to him as he urged her on. He was tempted to scold her. He really was. “We shouldn’t stay out too long lest father finds us here. Then our efforts would be for nothing. How are you going to explain a dragon in the backyard, hmm?” The girl’s attention was for a moment drawn to Sigmund who was locked in conversation with Gore. The older male seemed unfazed by how different the perspective of dragons and humans were when it came to the other and the events that had come to pass.

On the other hand, Eric was rather tense over the situation and it showed in the small distance he kept away from Gore. One of the reasons behind this was because he was always wary of strangers and it often showed unlike his brother who would always -and quite happily- jump into conversation. Saving them or not, the young male wanted to be sure of the dragon’s trustworthiness. He already seemed honourable enough in keeping his new mistress safe, but being observant of someone’s nature tended to always pay off.

“Umm...Come here for a moment, Eric.” Rosalie pulled Eric to the side then and started whispering to him in low tones, looking into his eyes to be sure that she had his attention. They had their heads close enough so they could hear each other over Sigmund’s slightly louder voice. At times, Eric could be caught frowning and even drawing back in disbelief.
“Even I’m not exactly sure what father thinks about dragons..,” He said after a few seconds of silence, scratching his chin, “you are right about..” He suddenly trailed off and shook his head, waving the idea away as if he were making a half-hearted effort at waving off an insect after a sleepless night. “For now, we’ll see how it goes..” As the young man mumbled those words, he looked back to the house, shivering slightly, but not from the cold. He knew how his parents would respond to the news. If they had gone off about not being able to keep pets in the house, then he could only imagine how they would react to a dragon which was much, much larger than any domestic animal they’ve suggested keeping.

“Heh, I know that much, Gore.” Sigmund added quietly, frustration lurking beneath the surface of his light tone as he ruffled the back of his head, “I dare you to count the number of things my brother and I have read that say one thing while another says something else. I wonder if Rosie’s complained about that to you yet, haha. Ah well..” He heaved a sigh, gaze fixing on the faint outline of Gore in the dark. He was somewhat curious to where the dragon had gone off to, and had even thought about asking, but perhaps it wasn’t something to worry about. It had already been an interesting day as it was and there was no doubt that in having Rosalie and Gore get here, that they weren’t tired. “Wait a minute! Gore! You! Buddy!” Sigmund’s face suddenly lit up as he took Gore by the shoulders. “Since you have the real story, you should consider telling us, sometime! Eric can be your scribe-“
“Why are you nominating me?” His brother demanded, “you suggested it, so you should write it.”
“You know I’m not good at these things, Eric. Who knows, things could change and people could be interested in the real story.”
“I doubt it. It’s late, brother. Think about this in the morning.”

“He’s right, you know, Siggy.” Rosalie had to chime in, following Eric off with a yawn. “And Gore? Thanks, but there’s nothing that I can think of at the moment. Just do whatever you usually do and try to keep a low profile.” There could have been something that she was forgetting, but she could figure it all out tomorrow when she wasn’t half-asleep and tempted to lean on Eric for support.

__

Morning couldn’t have come early enough, but already, Rosalie was out watering the garden with its variety of fragrant flowers. Though she had her hair tied back and was still in her dark pyjamas, she didn’t much care for who would see. Why she hadn’t changed beforehand was simply due to laziness and not getting as much sleep the night before. Simply put, she was still tired from her trip. Seeing as it was her turn to water the plants, she thought she might as well get it over and done with before she changed and went out to get the groceries.

She planned to stay in town for a bit until she could earn a bit of income to travel again. Eric had agreed to lend her some of his savings, but warned her not to go about spending it without so much as a thought to what she was trying to achieve. She believed she was responsible and since it was not her money to spend freely, his warning would be firmly embedded in her mind like etching in stone. Sigmund was a bit more relaxed about it, at least. “All of this is going to pay off soon..”

Blood Rose Dragon

Rosalie had pursed her lips into a thin line upon being given that little bit of information by Gore. Women wielding swords? That would have no doubt been frowned upon - laughed at, even! Whether Gore was just keeping that to himself or it had slipped his mind, it was unclear to her, but perhaps she could give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he was keeping it to himself out of respect. She acknowledged him with a nod of her head even though she was still unconvinced. Would men, brave soldiers, really have listened to what would have been considered a 'mere' or 'weak' woman? Personally, she would have liked to prove them wrong, but of course the past could not be changed. The girl noticed that Gore was smiling, though, and began to wonder if it was a genuine smile. "That's.. interesting, though I doubt men would listen to us back.. whenever it was you fought." Not only had the dragon kept himself from laughing, by how it had appeared to her, but he had also seemed to be enlightening her to what would have happened if she had charged for him with the weapon she had picked up on the field. It certainly was a ’Bad idea she told herself, but that wouldn’t have been the only bad idea she had. There were many. Sneaking Gore into town, for instance could be counted as one of them.

The camera was starting to settle with Gore - faster than Rosalie had expected, actually, but it only meant that she would be able to move on with showing him different things that the world had come to accept and use while it was it lacked his presence. It was beginning to seem that the more she spoke to him, the more he was beginning to seem almost.. Human. She wasn’t, by all means, accepting enough to not see him as the beast that fueled peoples’ nightmares, but by speaking to him like this, listening to him talk about him starting out young and innocent, she was starting to be convinced that she was talking to a person..a real person and not just a humanoid.

“Hmm.. Let me put it this way: If I were going to fall off the edge of some place dangerously high, then of course I would expect a little help. Pelting you just because you fail to catch me if I trip, as I had said, is.. silly.” She shook her head at him, regarding him carefully for a bit whilst looking about ready to say more, but immediately dropped it and answered his other question instead. “ And no.” Rosalie was wearing a smirk that matched Gore’s as she folded her arms, trying to size him up like a child who believed they knew it all. “It doesn’t bother me.. I hope the legendary dragon isn’t self-conscious of his speech.” The last bit, she added teasingly before becoming serious again, though it didn’t help when she saw the dragon’s reaction to her shades. Even the two brothers couldn’t help but share a smile.

“That’s great! I wouldn’t have guessed it.” Sigmund spoke up after a little while of checking that Gore did not look too out of place. He seemed to be more excited than concerned that they were going to sneak a dragon into their house. With Eric, though, it was much less obvious. It seemed he was always thinking, always balancing out his older brother whose enthusiasm could sometimes cloud his sense of judgement. It was safe to say that the older was much more easy-going.
“That would.. suffice.” Eric mumbled in a tone that would almost have gone unheard by Rosalie if she hadn’t been standing right beside him. “We still have to consider how many people would be out during the night, but.. it’s not something we should worry about too much.”
Rosalie nodded upon hearing the comments. If anyone asked, they could pass him off as no more than a traveller looking for a place to stay.
With a little more discussion on what route to avoid and which to take that went on for a few minutes, they were off with Eric taking the lead this time. It was clear he was still worried about the bear, but the assurance that Gore was with them helped him move boldly and quickly through the dark. Rosalie had taken to walking alongside Eric, but would sometimes fall back to speak to Sigmund and Gore.

The night, much like it was in the forest outside of town, was fairly quiet with only just a handful of people outside. The fact of it being a bit cooler than usual also could have contributed to how still it was. Light shining from behind windows of tall buildings subtly lit the streets and made everything seem so welcoming and safe at the same time even though there were no voices to greet any of the four figures moving through the veil of night - not that any of them particularly needed it. Having the town settle after the battle three weeks ago was all the welcome the three young adults walking through Kalandor actually needed. They all had to admit, though, that it was a much better sight than seeing injured hunters limp about and be tended to out on the streets.

The effort of restoring the confidence people had in this town had not been an easy one and already the brothers had heard of five families that have moved away -with more expected to leave- because of it. At least that was what Sigmund was telling Rosalie in a low tone as they walked on. For one of the families that had moved out, she seemed to smile widely at. “I never liked her anyway.” Rosalie laughed dryly at the thought. “And didn’t you like her at one point, Siggy?”
“Yes. Well.. that’s all in the past now, Rosie. Don’t go opening up old wounds. You can really hurt me!” Sigmund feigned a whimper before reaching over to ruffle Rosalie’s hair much to her displeasure.
Eric turned to look over his shoulder before bringing a finger to his lips, the gesture accompanied with a sharp glare and even though they could not see too well in the dark, they knew very well how dangerous and serious the youngest looked when irritated.
“Sorry.” Sigmund and Rosalie mumbled in unison. The girl, when Eric had turned back around, childishly stuck her tongue out at Sigmund before ducking away from his hands to ‘walk’ alongside Gore. He knew she was hiding, but slowed down with a plan to tug her over to him when she wasn’t aware. “Gore?” Sigmund said in a low tone of voice, “Can I ask you some things? Why did you just suddenly disappear for all those years? Eric and I have studied whatever texts we could, but they were always different in conclusion. Some say you ran away and others say you were defeated. Which was it?” Rosalie patiently waited until Sigmund was occupied before slowly sneaking away to stay with Eric. It was solely Gore’s choice to whether he answered Sigmund’s question or not. She wasn’t going to make it an order for him to answer, either.

The group eventually slowed when their destination was in sight. Reaching their home, the trio finally relaxed upon knowing that they would not have to feel on edge each time they passed someone on the street who looked at them briefly then at the ‘traveller’ with them. It brought a smile to Rosalie’s face as they moved to the backyard where a shed could barely be seen in the dark, but by then, all she wanted to do was go up to her room and collapse on her bed. Why she hadn’t just done so already was because they needed to find a place to keep Gore hidden in for a bit. If Gore had an opinion on where he wanted to sleep, he was more than welcome to speak up. Spare room or not, she would be helping Eric and Sigmund arrange something, anyway. “The best place for you to stay.. I think you should have a say in this..”

Blood Rose Dragon

Rosalie blinked a couple of times, the side of her mouth curving up slowly in a slight cringe. She had no idea what Gore was going on about. Three weeks ago, he had been the one to laugh at her attempt at holding a sword and having it shakily poised at him. The young woman folded her arms, looking to the side with a distant stare, unseeing of what was before her. “I’m surprised you’d even say that, you know. Some people would call that being stupid.” She smirked lightly, laughing bitterly. “I’m an idiot...for not thinking about the consequences...but what can you do?” Rosalie gave a defeated sigh, gaze falling now on the Blood Dragon, “And weren’t you laughing at me before?” She didn’t sound mad, just curious. She looked like she wanted to laugh at that - at how ironic it was that she would end up as the owner of a legend and have him compliment her having courage comparable to a warrior. If he hadn’t noticed already, that was not the path that she planned on taking, and yet, he seemed so sure as if he had all the evidence he needed and was waiting for time to tell. Rosalie stared back into Gore’s eyes, “Hmm.. forget it. Sometimes.. Desperation leads you to do some stupid things. Me? Staying and wandering about a place as dangerous as that.. was one of them.” As Gore had said, she could have been taken by the hunters. She had been very close to being taken in by them and if she had, she would no doubt would her life have taken a very different turn.

Mouth slightly dropping open for a few seconds, Rosalie closed it again as she thought of a retort to the Blood Dragon’s claims. She could relate to him with her initial disliking of the device, but she did not go as far as to condemn if as witchcraft. Gore says it as if it were a bad thing, but for her, she thought it was a rather ‘magical’ invention and quite handy on her part. “It isn’t a cruel fate.. It’s not hurting anyone. You’re still here, aren’t you? You aren’t exactly motionless after having it flash at you.” She smirked lightly. “It’s not.. angry at you as you say. That’s normal for it to flash like that unless you want to turn the flash off.. Besides..” Rosalie continued, pacing about, looking once over at the humanoid before back in the direction of town, “it might not be much use to you, but to me..or other people it is. Reason being is that sometimes..you want to preserve specific events, memories that mean something to you. For example, you can look back and revisit a certain event. I can look back at pictures of myself where I was much younger for example. Hmm.. Maybe you won’t even need something like this thanks to your memory, but for us... I guess you could say that it’s.. fleeting.” The girl wasn’t going to force him to use it, but it was an entertaining thought to have Gore figure out what did what.

Rosalie listened to what had happened in the past should as a consequence of Gore not being able to catch his owner in time. She thought it was silly to punish a dragon based on that fact alone, but it could have just been her. Throughout his account, Gore would have noticed Rosalie trying to hide her look of disbelief. Were people really that unreasonable? She gave a humourless laugh to fill the silence, more a habit when she believed things had grown too quiet. “The fault is yours.. is what I’m guessing the people clearly believed. In my opinion... and I’m sure Eric and Sigmund would agree, is that it wasn’t yours. It was his fault for not watching where he was going in the first place. Hehe.. Your old owner sounds like such a pompous klutz.” She laughed at the thought, at how stupid it was, but immediately stopped herself once she realised Gore was obviously not so amused. “Hmm.. Oops...” She looked away, taking a few steps back as she mumbled a quick apology. “Anyways... yes. I’ll watch out for you. I kinda figured that maybe, in a way, I owe you. Also, Gore. That’s what your previous owner would have done. Just try letting me trip and then we’ll see what happens.”

She noticed Gore was struggling with how she wanted him to address her, but she really couldn’t care enough to set him straight. Some might even argue that she was not as ‘creative’ as his previous owner, but she obviously had a different sense of humour and her father had raised her better than that. Besides, she thought, running her fingers through her hair, making sure that there were no knots, it wouldn’t have been how her parents would have wanted her to act. Of course, she had never been taught how to handle a dragon, but she seemed to be okay with how things were for the moment.. At least until she could figure out what to do from here.
What could Gore possibly have meant by that? The girl regarded him a little more differently than she had done so earlier. She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. The dragon was complimenting her appearance? Really? “Well.. Uhh.. Thanks.. I guess.” Rosalie did not know what to make of that, but she guessed she was a bit flattered. Having him compliment how ‘brave’ she had been and along with her appearance? She’ll take it as him being nice.

“And ‘give word’, hmm? Heh, alright, then. I’ll hold you to it.” She nodded firmly, smirking when she noticed Gore had corrected himself again. “Seeee? It’s not that difficult, is it? And.. Your reasoning.. is interesting. I’ll give you that.” Rosalie would have to keep an eye on him just to make sure she understood what he was trying to get at. Perhaps it could be that she did not fully trust him and was trying to exploit him, but on the other hand, she could be genuinely curious.
“I trust the two brothers.” Rosalie piped up with a tone filled with confidence. “They’ve been there for me longer than I can say with most people. I can understand your reluctance, Gore, but if I could rely on anyone to come back with a plan, it’s them.”

As if on cue, the brothers made their arrival, making Rosalie’s eyes light up with amusement. She really was looking forward to finding out what they had brought back to wrap Gore up in. It could have been seen as even a bit mean, but the girl dearly hoped it was something amusing but at the same time, inconspicuous. “Eric, Sigmund! Welcome back!”
“Thank you, Rosalie.” Eric replied as he stepped closer to her, showing off one of the items he had brought back with him. It was a cloak that seemed like it would fit him more than it would Gore. “This was all I could find that would cover his head and form a bit. Sigmund brought back a long coat.. “
“Hey, hey, hey! Don’t forget the prize, Eric.” The oldest of the three chirped, bringing into view what appeared to be a pair of sunglasses, holding it out for Gore to inspect if he wanted. “Kinda snazzy if you ask me.”
“What person would wear shades during the night?” Eric asked in a tone that suggested he had been arguing about it earlier with his brother.
“Oh, it could have been worse. I was thinking to bring in large mittens, or the gloves father uses for work..but of course it would be a hassle trying to return them before he noticed.” He then held out to Gore what Rosalie had assumed to be the long coat earlier, one that was a pale grey in colour. It might even be a little short for Gore, but it was better than nothing. As long as it would hide his claws, then she couldn’t care any less what colour it was. The sunglasses, on the other hand, were a bright yellow Rosalie couldn’t help but cringe at. At least it was dark. “Rosalie, you do realise these were once yours, right?”
“Mhm, I know. Just, of all the things you could have brought with you, why that? I have other pairs.”
“And.. I don’t wanna go rummaging through your drawers..”
Rosalie began to blush at that point, but glad it was hidden by the darkness. “Yeah. Good point. Shhh! Moving on!” She spun to Gore and gestured that he try a few things on. “Gore, you can have the final say.”
“With what we’ve brought with us, you don’t have to put them all on, though that would be something to see.” Sigmund added as a second thought.

Blood Rose Dragon

Sigmund had made a point earlier that Rosalie found rather interesting that coincided. There was never a source that mentioned why Gore was named as he is. Through ‘stories’ and history passed down, the name, “Gore”, had been embedded as it was so much so as printed. Not many questioned it; not many even cared. It was convenience and as long as a blood dragon was associated with that name, then it had done its purpose to instill that fear into the hearts of individuals.

A strange thing Gore had said caused Rosalie to stop for a moment, cringing slightly. A name fit for a warrior? Now that certainly was the first time Rosalie had heard something like that. How was she supposed to respond? Always, always, always, had she been taught to prepare herself and expect the unexpected, but never did she think she’d be getting some sort of comment from the Blood Dragon. Not after he had called her Rosa, anyway. It could not have been some sort of praise, could it? Why that would even cross her mind was beyond her. Legend or not, it was from a dragon nonetheless. “Hmm.. Really?” The girl asked, unconvinced as she sent a sidelong glance at him. She wasn’t a fighter as her first encounter with him would suggest. The number of times he had huffed at her gave Rosalie the clear impression that he had been playing with her. What would suggest that it was any different here? “You already know who the clear victor of that battle would be if it had turned out differently.”

She then shook her head, regarding him warily. The words he had spoken and pointed out to be nothing more than stories wasn’t doing well to convince them as being otherwise. There had been a puzzled look and a wary comment from Sigmund that was along the lines of asking the origin behind Gore’s name, but other than that, there was not much to indicate that the brothers were sure to believe they were stories. It was almost as if Gore had forgotten that Rosalie had been there to witness the deaths of the hunters. To say they were mere stories was almost going as far to say that she had dreamt up the whole thing about the hunters, of Glenn’s arrival at Kalandor and of his death. She sighed, folding her arms. That, she could say without a doubt, was no dream. He was, however, accepting of the horrid things he had done - which was intriguing to say the least. Since obtaining him, Rosalie was more times shocked of Gore’s way of thinking than she was angry over it. What dragon accepted that they had killed people who had not deserved to die, had found pride in facing people who had the honour to challenge him with wit and skill? An odd case, no doubt, but whatever he did, she did not care as long as he was loyal and behaved.

It seemed Gore wasn’t going to get used to that camera any soon - not that it particularly mattered to her. Rosalie wanted to know how quickly Gore could learn even if at times it provided some amusement at the expense of others. Rosalie had laughed a little but it did not compare to hearing the Blood Dragon actually call Sigmund, ‘Siggy’. The eldest of the three’s face had been priceless and actually sent the girl into a fit of silent laughter. She calmed down after a while and gave herself a minute to breathe, still smirking lightly. “Mmm.. Homework. Gore, while we’re waiting, tell me what you’ve learned about that camera.” Rosalie smiled lightly, “Surely, it’s not as bad as you say it is.” She wouldn’t go so far as to call it an over-reaction, but it was close enough.

She actually titled her head at the dragon when he mentioned being something more than servant and mistress. Rosalie had an idea, but only because she was well aware of the dangers the world had to offer. She was quickly beginning to realise that by having the Blood Dragon with her, it may make things a tad safer as evidenced by the avoidance of the bear attack. “I don’t know, hehe. You’d think I’m crazy, but.. It wouldn’t hurt to have someone who’ll watch my back and I theirs.” Would Gore have understood that? She wondered, but she was proposing a mutual alliance. Being friends meant that they would have to care for each other and being close to a dragon? Wasn’t on the very top of her list. “And.. I would prefer Rosalie over Mistress.. So use that from time to time. I just hate hearing the word ‘Mistress’ all the time, you know?” She huffed, folding her arms. “It makes me sound older than I really am...and it can get tedious..”

Rosalie noticed the change in Gore’s tone and the stance he had taken when he explained why he spoke of death in such a way. Was the Blood Dragon showing some vulnerability? No.. The girl corrected herself, noting how his expression seemed to tell her something else. He seems more.. Approachable.. Not at all like the monster who has never felt regret. She was unsure of her readings of the dragon, but he did seem more ‘human’ to her.
Keeping near the dragon, Rosalie fell quiet. It was not because she had grown bored of speaking to Gore, but more so that she was taking in his words. They were such sincere and thoughtful words. Every moment of everyday? Would she really be stuck with her investment? She looked around herself before looking at the sky briefly. Unless she died or sold him, Gore would be in her service? The former wasn’t a very nice thought, but there wasn’t much she could do to prevent it. All she could do was make the most of what she had. Gore saying that human lives were fragile wasn’t too far off. It was fleeting like a dream, but valuable, nonetheless. Rosalie watched him and for a brief moment, her eyes were devoid of judgement and were more of gratitude. “Thank you. That’s.. erm.. really nice of you.” She cleared her throat, “what I mean is: it’s nice to know that I’ll have someone to rely on.” Yet, if Gore did fail her, she already knew how she would punish him as seen earlier with the camera. “Hmm.. I noticed you were mumbling about something earlier. Is it something I should hear or am I better off not knowing?”

Blood Rose Dragon

Even if at first it might not have seemed like it, Rosalie was listening. At times, her eyes would find themselves wandering over to the campfire, but other than that, she was taking in what Gore had to say pretty well. She never saw the point in interjecting him. Whenever she left him to speak, she would find something he spouted somewhat confusing and contradicting. It was always between the history she had been taught of him and the history that had been told by him. They were both different and though one might think this would lead her to frustration, it did not. The young woman, however, did send Gore an odd look when she realised that he had referred to her as ‘Rosa’, a shortening of her name that she would have expected from the brothers. “Did you just..,” Rosalie shook her head at Gore, eyes widening incredulously for a few seconds before narrowing on him, the young woman unhappy with the nicknames thrown about by them all. ‘Rosie,’ was bad enough, but being called ‘Rosa’ by a dragon, no less? She indignantly folded her arms and turned her head away, lips pursing into a thin line. Just because he had saved, her, Eric and Sigmund, it gave him the right to call her as such? “You could at least call me by name and not a shortened version of it.” It was comment directed at Gore, but whether or not he would abide by that wish was another matter.

She eventually settled for watching the expressions on the brother’s faces change slowly as they comprehended the fact that Gore actually admired those who would risk their lives in battle no matter what the odds clearly were. After all, there were those who believed there was always a small chance in any given situation. It might have even been slightly easier for them to believe that than it might have been for her considering that she had been the one to watch the hunters fall to their deaths or burn almost as brightly as the environment itself. Despite these thoughts, though, Rosalie still considered herself lucky to be alive, to be spared by something or someone who was known to claim lives. Were these the real reasons as to why he had kept her safe? The girl found herself wanting to believe him as what he had done for her had only served to make travel safer and easier. Gore had not killed her and from what she had eaten earlier, she still felt fine. Perhaps Rosalie was too quick to judge? She began to study him. Maybe, she thought to herself, but was not yet willing to accept that realisation.

“Innocents?” Sigmund hummed in thought, gaze drifting to Rosalie and then his brother, wearing a rather quizzical expression. He clearly did not understand why Gore had mentioned the observers being as such considering what he had read up on, but unlike Rosalie, he and his brother were enthusiastic about meeting the Blood Dragon, and even sitting there listening to what he had to say was an unbelievable experience for them. Don’t get them wrong, the fear was still as evident in their eyes as the moment they had first seen the dragon. One might think they were being accepting because they were afraid of angering the beast, but it could also be because they were more open-minded when compared to her. From this perspective, it was difficult to say.

There was also no need for Gore to go into details when it came to possible capture by the hunters, but he was right: it was safer for the young men than it was for Rosalie. However, despite being aware of this, the brothers still couldn’t help but shift a little awkwardly at the same time Rosalie blushed and shuddered at the thought. Gore wasn’t doing them any favours in the dark where little was visible. “Well, you’re...more honourable than what the texts say. ” The eldest of the trio said after a moment of unsettling silence.

It had been tense with nothing but the song of crickets and the crackling of flames to fill the void hanging empty over them, but that silence was easily remedied with ongoing questions. Rosalie was not surprised that Gore did not fully answer her question, but she was only testing him. They weren’t going to let this slip out any time soon. The brothers both voiced their agreement but whatever seriousness was soon lost with Gore’s reaction to the camera. The young men seemed more confused than amused, looking between Gore and the camera numerous times before looking to his mistress for an explanation. Rosalie allowed herself a small chuckle and a shake of her head. “And here I was hoping you’d be fine with it.” She was tempted to reach out and pat his back like one would do to a child, but seeing as he was much taller, and she still did not know how he would react, it did not seem like the wise thing to do.
“These are some very interesting close-ups..” Eric mumbled, referring to what he assumed were snapshots of Gore up too close for comfort. “I certainly hoped the first few close-ups weren’t taken by you, Rosalie.”
“Hmm? No! Of course not! I covered the auction.”
“No.. I meant shots of teeth... not much can be made out from this.”
“..don’t blame me! They were taken by Gore.” What more the young woman had to say was interrupted by a sigh coming from Sigmund who told them both to focus on what they were going to do next.

“Rosie? Eric and I will head back to town to see what we could find.” Standing up, Sigmund brushed his clothes off and looked into Rosalie’s eyes, “to make things safer, we need to you wait somewhere closer outside town. Eric, let’s get going.”
“Yes, brother.” Eric muttered, pocketing the camera. He started to walk off, but turned to regard Gore briefly. “I suspect sneaking you in would not be too difficult. As it is now, not many people would be out of their houses. The factor still remains that you are quite tall.. Hmm..” They’d find something, albeit, with some difficulty, but there should be something to conceal Gore’s form nonetheless. Perhaps a cloak will do away with the horns and perhaps conceal his arms?

Rosalie would follow behind the brothers, urging Gore to walk either alongside or behind her. It didn’t matter what he chose as long as he was near enough. She was wary that the bear might return or they might run into a different one, but it did not stop her from moving away from the fire without hesitance. The girl was in a bit of a daze after hearing Gore’s pledge. It was one that put her at ease as it no longer put his loyalty to question. Despite this, Rosalie still had to ask if, “that’s an oath between a dragon and master or mistress, right? It sounds like it, anyway, but thanks. It kinda puts me at ease knowing that.” She made sure the brothers were still in sight before she turned to Gore with her full attention, tilting her head in almost a questioning manner. “You seem to speak about death a lot. Is it something important among Dragon kin?” It really was beginning to look like she was stuck with him for a while. She might as well ask a few things in hopes that it might allow her to better gauge his personality and maybe have a guess to how he could react to certain things that did not just include bright, flashing lights like the likes of a camera. “Ah.. and how often would you be taking commands from me?”

Blood Rose Dragon

Could Rosalie really trust Gore as much as she trusted Sigmund and Eric? At the moment, the young woman was pondering whether or not she could survive being his owner. She never did have the goal of owning a dragon and the decision made last night was more or less ‘forced’ on her. This investment could serve to get her a new friend, or serve her a death sentence on a silver platter. She deserved that much if she was going to pay for such a fancy death, Rosalie thought sarcastically, rolling her eyes. Gore didn’t seem all that bad - especially if he had saved the very two people who helped and gave her a place to call home. Their family had done a lot for her, and were one of the few she loved enough to openly call ‘family’.

The noises that Gore would sometimes make did not sound befitting of a mighty dragon and instead reminded one of a yelp a young pup would make. It certainly was odd, odd enough that Rosalie had to check over her shoulder. She wasn’t offended or anything; it was far from that. Wouldn’t anyone turn to the source of the noise if they had found it strange and somewhat funny? Rosalie could not help but wonder what he was thinking but she bit back a smile and focused instead on what Sigmund was saying lest he start asking her questions and get her to repeat what he had just said. He had caught her out so many times that it wasn’t funny. Still, it had not been her fault that he would catch her in the middle of something.

Sigmund and Eric lowered their weapons only when Gore had turned around and started to head back to the fire. However, it still looked as if they did not completely trust where the situation was going - even when Rosalie had smiled assuredly at them. They simply looked at each other then at her. Gore was protective of her, that much was clear when he had leaned closer earlier but now that he had started to back up, it gave an ample window of opportunity to talk amongst themselves.
“Rosie? You did tell him we’re on the same side, right?” Eric asked in a low tone of voice, not too keen on having his voice project beyond Sigmund and Rosalie’s ears. He adjusted his glasses, looking ahead at Gore with quiet interest that made the young woman roll her eyes. If he was excited, he never did show it all too openly like other people did. It was why that whenever he did, Rosalie would be more than happy to point it out.
“Mhm.. I did..” Rosalie replied in a tone as equally quiet, slowly making her way back to the fire, “but.. you have to help me. I don’t know anything about dragons!” she hissed in a low tone. “Sigmund? You asked for pictures... but here’s the real thing. I told you I wasn’t lying when I said Gore helped me.”
“It makes sense why you have him here...” Eric muttered, looking her up and down, “I imagine this would cost you a fo-“
“Don’t mention it, please?” Rosalie pleaded, laughing nervously. “All that matters is that you guys get to see the real deal..and know I wasn’t lying when I showed you that scale.”

Rosalie sat down with the brothers on either side of her, both young men cringing at the sound of Gore shifting. They were clearly interested in the dragon, showing greater interest now that they knew Gore spoke their language. They knitted their brows together in confusion at the dragon’s old accent, but understood what the crimson legend was telling them. Like young children listening to a story, they sat there quietly. Sigmund had his elbow rested over his knee, head propped snugly in the palm of his hand. Though the gesture may have portrayed him to be calm and easy-going, he was far from it, proven when time to time his eyes would dart warily from side to side and then to the dragon. The only positive thing he had done so far was place the weapon not too far from his feet.
He was still shaken from the bear attack, and his brother would no doubt be feeling the same as he was. Anyone, having escaped a life-threatening situation, would be in shock but grateful nonetheless at their survival. It was so unlikely that they would have been saved by the very legend they had been studying with great fervour.

“I think I can see why you told us to meet you here, Rosie.” Said Sigmund. He then directed his next statement to Gore, “You say being close to Rosie, here, is safest for you, but I don’t think I see it if you’re going to head into town..” He shook his head, finding it difficult to believe he was actually talking to the Blood Dragon in a normal conversation! Again, he glanced at Eric, the younger brother doing nothing but staring at the ground with his arms folded, nodding whenever it was deemed appropriate. How was he taking this in so easily, like it happened everyday? “Did you really save her or is she making things up? It’s not that I’m ungrateful for you looking out for her, but, frankly, I’m surprised you did all those things for someone you didn’t know. Heh, sorry, Rosie”. Sigmund quickly added once he saw her glaring at him.
“Oh.. It’s fine. Don’t mind me.”

~~~

“How long can you stay in this form, if I can ask that?” Rosalie then paused for a moment, allowing it to sink in and give him some time to decide how he would answer that. Like the brothers, she had noticed how Gore had trailed off earlier. He did not have to answer her in front of the brothers, but she wondered if he would. Would he think that she was planning some sort of punishment for him should he anger her? Rosalie would let him think what he wanted, saying sternly that, “there also won’t be any executions. Don’t let me buying you be a waste, Gore.”

Rosalie tapped her fingers over her knees as she looked to the sky, thinking. The stars were coming out pretty quickly, one by one, peeking out behind the curtain of darkness almost at the behest of the moon. They couldn’t stay out here for long - the brothers’ parents would be concerned. The girl pushed herself out of her seating position and started to pace about the campfire. “Sigmund, Eric, don’t we have a shed that could hide Gore for the time being?”
“We do.” Eric, who had been quiet the entire time, confirmed, nodding slightly, “though.. do you think that’d be enough?”
“Well..” Rosalie shrugged, turning to Gore this time. “I’m going to take a leap of faith and trust you here..” she sat down beside the Blood Dragon, though took care not to sit too close as she kept her gaze locked to his. “I want you to stay in the shed we have.. or even somewhere outside the house, but considering your form, it might be safer if you decide. Besides.. these two,” she gestured to the brothers with a light smirk at how she had addressed them, “They’re strange.. I’ll give them that, but they’re interested in your history and they really are nothing like the hunters, I assure you. They mean a lot to me, so I hope you treat them more fairly than those you met three weeks ago. I’m not saying that you have to listen to them, but it’d be nice if you did. They were the ones who had heard the news of the hunters planning your capture and had suggested that if I followed the news, I might be able to find something.. Hehe, that would explain why they’re listening to you so intently. Oh, that’s right!” Rosalie clapped her hands together and fished the camera out of her bag, tossing it across to Sigmund who fumbled slightly when he caught it. “Take a look.” She simply said when he looked up questioningly.
“This will make up for you calling us strange will it, Rosie?” Sigmund mumbled, raising an eyebrow at her. It was a teasing gesture on his part, but Rosalie was more than happy to retaliate, sticking her tongue out at him.
“Stop calling me that, or I’ll have to start calling you ‘Siggy’.”
“Don’t. You. Dare.” He then sighed, “fine. Whatever you choose, though, better make it quick."