The streets were filled with the usual bustle of chaos and confusion as countless people scurried about their business. Angela did her best not to be swept away by the crowd but there was always the monotonous thud of an elbow or a force pushing her forward by some unknown person. What really got her nerve was the fact she was going through all of this for a few spices so her mother could make a special meal for a possible father in-law. The man despised her and she despised him. If at all possible she'd leave as soon as she got home.
Finally Angela found a street vendor who had the spices she needed. A few points of a finger and some squabbling of the usual excessive prices she handed over a couple silver pieces and took the small jars of spice into her hand-bag. It seemed coming back from the streets of the market was quicker than entering at this hour. Time had slipped her mind and it was nearing sunset and the markets began to get rowdy at dark when the bars open. Luckily traffic was heading back out towards the residential districts. It was an easy walk with the flow.
The walk seemed to take much less time than before as Angela rounded the final corner to home, or what was considered her home. She never felt it was home and definitely didn't feel like she belonged any more now that 'he' was there. It was good she had someone else that actually listened and respected her just another short walk away. Finally as the sun was setting over the horizon she came upon the front door of 'home'. Stepping inside she removed her shoes and brought the spices to the counter where her mom was already working her special meal for her boyfriend. Angela quickly made to grab her cloak before her mom halted her.
"You know you can stay. He's not so bad once you get to know him."
Angela's heart sunk. She wanted to stay with her mom but it was clear he didn't want her presence in the house at all while with her mom.
"No, he's done enough."
She turned and ran out into the tree-line behind the house. Quickly changing her pace from a sprint to a walk once she crossed into the woods. It was already nearing full dark but she knew the woods enough not to trip or walk into any trees. It was just past this small wood to the mountain bottom where the one who took on all her heart-aches only to return a comforting warm shoulder resided.
Coming up on the clearing Angela could smell the familiar musky odor of him. The long shadowy figure sprawled out in the grassy clearing was him. Another shadowed figure showed that he had brought fire-wood this time instead of having her find it.
"You're still adamant that dragons don't breath fire?"
A deep but soothing voice replied.
"We don't breath fire at all and what good would it do? There would be lots of burnt and destroyed forests if we could breath fire and then no food."
Angela shrugged and produced a flint-rock and her knife, scratching it and igniting the pile of fire-wood. Illuminating the large shadowy figure. Laying down before her was a dragon. Long as a horse minus his tail which doubled his length and as dark and blue as the night sky. His wings were folded but extended no doubt could cover her mother's house. It really was a grand display when they were spread. His face reminded her of the books of western dragons she saw but more soft in feature and in heart. This dragon meant no harm to any being that wasn't necessary for feeding. The fire made his scales sparkle like thousands of tiny sapphires. A jagged ridge ran down from his neck following his spine to mid-tail. Hind legs were much more built than his fore-legs which were noticeably more nimble and dexterous. 3 clawed toes on both sets of legs though the fore-paws had longer toes near resembling fingers and a fourth digit which at some evolutionary point could have been the start of a thumb.
Angela stood back from the fire and her features lit up as the flames danced light across her pale flesh. She was tall by a woman's standards but proportionate to her height. Her face showed past pains that have somewhat begun to heal into a hardened heart, which wasn't quite broken yet. Her heart still had a person it belonged to. Her hair was shoulder length and a dark brown. Eyes green as the forest itself.
"Your mother is having that man over again isn't she?"
Angela startled at the remark and moved to sit beside the dragon.
