Chương 35: Chapter 34 - A Little Friend Joins The Party

Elias stirred to wakefulness wrapped in warmth, the quiet chatter of the camp in the distance prodding him awake. For once he felt at ease upon waking, although after the events of last night's dreams, Eli now knew that Astra was right. Vael huh? I wonder what he, she, they? Whatever they go by, want from me? It's strange, according to Astra and Mira the gods never talk to the people they snatch up, they just plop them in the middle of nowhere and expect them to figure it out.

She did say it has been a long time since the last one, maybe my experience is something different? Eli had a vague sense that there was still more to the subsumed memories, even if he wasn't sure where that impression came from. The system maybe? I'll hold off on asking Astra until I know the whole story, and honestly I would rather get her opinion first before Mira. She gives me the shoot first, asks questions later, vibe, especially if I was a danger to 'her Lady'.

Can't fault her though, this realm seems like a dangerous place. Eli's musings ground to a halt as he heard a tiny muffled snort, followed by a quiet purring, that brought his attention to a small but warm weight on his chest. Elias looked down with a smile to find his little friend from yesterday coiled into a ball taking a little siesta on his chest. The small emerald lizard was curled in a ball, his sinuous neck and long whiplike tail crossing just over its curled paws, gently purring.

As Eli watched it shifted one of its brightly colored membranous wings to cover its face and block out the rising sun, only for a soldier on the other side of the camp to drop a crate with a swear before picking it back up and loading it into one the trailing wagons. The sudden noise startled the little creature, which lifted its head blinking sleepily in the direction of the wagons before stretching out its front paws and letting out a tiny yawn that ruffled the scales around the top of its neck.

Eli did his best to hold in a squeal. This is it. This is how I go out. Death by cuteness. Eli smiled at the little creature and reached out to run a finger down its spine." Let me guess you got a little cold last night?" The creature shivering got up on all fours for a proper stretch and yawn followed a tiny sneeze followed by a chirp. I guess teeny dragons are just really catbirds at heart. Eli smiled down at it, " Oh I don't mind little, are you hungry? Do you want some breakfast?"

Eli mimed eating something out of his hand while making snacking noises, the little beast just cocked its head at him with a soft trill. Honestly this thing could be dumb as hell, just a fantasy pigeon for all I know, can't hurt to try though. I mean teeny dragon right? Eli tried to convey his message as best he could with his tone, " Come on little guy, trust me, you'll love Coop's cooking too."

Elias had no way to measure the little beastie's intelligence, but it at least seemed to get the gist of what he was saying. At the very least it didn't take off, but waited patiently as he got dressed in his freshly repaired leather armor, donned his pack and dropped out of the tree. Eli was feeling extra confident when the creature swooped out of the tree to drop down and cling to the top of his pack as Eli set off for the camp kitchen.

Eli ducked into a familiar crate to grab a couple inkfruits, before plopping down on a nearby crate to begin peeling the fruit. As the little creature slithered down into lap doing adorably little tippy taps in anticipation of the treat Eli heard a familiar voice paired up with a rustling in a nearby crate." Oh and who's this wee one?" Eli looked up to catch the smiling face of Corporal Cooper rising from a crate with a sack of flour in one hand and a salted ham in the other. Eli grinned, "Hey Coop!

Meet my stalker, I've been running into this little fella off and on again in the forest for days now, isn't he adorable?" Cooper chuckled at Eli's excitement before leaning down to take a closer look admiring the blue green scales, flashes brightly colored wing membrane, and the little happy noises it made as it devoured the pieces of fruit. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings." Aye he is a pretty little thing, if a mite flashy.

Looking at those little chompers I'm thinking primarily a diet of meat with a little fruit on the side. I know just the thing, I'm taking it that you have a plus one for breakfast?" Eli chuckled, shaking his head, " If you please, Coop. Only you could meet a teeny dragon and have your first thought be," Eli put his hands on his hips pitching his voice to imitate the man, "What do you think he would like for breakfast?"

Coop shrugged, speaking over his shoulder as he headed for the kitchen, " Gotta know your customers Mr Mercer, gotta know your customers. Everyone needs to eat! Breakfast in ten!"

Eli sat back to enjoy a slow morning, watching the camp slowly come to life. He thanked Sasha as she dropped off breakfast for Eli and his friend, smiling as she stopped to waggle her fingers at the little creature laughing as he chased and nipped at them. Eli's breakfast was delicious as always, a porridge with fruit and salted meat, paired with a light fluffy pastry filled with a cream cheese, well if the cheese being creamed was an aged cheddar.

Everyone in the unit must work out like mad men if they are eating like this all the time, otherwise everyone would just be able to roll back to town. True to form, Cooper's cooking seemed to please all palates, as the little creature was more than happy to scarf down the morning's offering.

Coop had sent over a bowl containing a variety of finely chopped meat covered in a warm lightly spiced gravy and a second containing a variety of finely chopped fruits and vegetables, with an order from Cooper to report back on the results. Eli chuckled as apparently the entire meal was a hit and the little creature was sprawled across his lap on its back snoring gently with a noticeably distended stomach.

Eli dutifully doled out the belly rubs, while waving at the few soldiers he knew as they passed through the breakfast line, many of which stopped to examine the little creature. Eli's gaze snapped up right at a quiet squeal, before softening as a familiar figure stomped in his direction once again wearing her imposing armor and greatsword.

"El-ias Mer-cer! Have you been holding out on me?!" Eli chuckled, holding a finger to his lips as Astra stormed over in a huff before speaking quietly trying not to wake the creature." Shh, he's sleeping! Also I would never!"" No like I was telling Coop, this is my little teeny dragon stalker. We ran into each other a couple times over the last few and I ended up feeding him a few times. He stopped by for a snack last night and decided to stick around. I woke up with him napping on my chest, isn't he adorable?"

The creature stretched with a tiny yawn before rolling onto its belly and blinking sleepily up at Astra. Eli laughed at the sight as she proceeded to let out another tiny squee of glee and do a little tippy tap dance of her own, the sight of the powerful warrior in plate armor giddily wriggling over the tiny lizard sparking a delightful warmth in his chest.

"He certainly is! Do you think he'll let me pet him?" Eli smiled and shrugged, " He let me, just be careful, he's a little guy." Astra shucking her gauntlets tucking them into her belt before crouching to stroke the creature's spine cooing at the little growly sounds it was making." Oh yes, you're a ferocious little guy, yes you are! Do you like that? Oh yeah look at the little fangs, rawr, rawr, rawr."

Eli was genuinely delighted that Astra was clearly on team teeny dragon, there were a few interested parties this morning, but not as many as he would have imagined. Well to be fair passing out like a glutton after a feast doesn't exactly scream majestic dragon." I hear we have a visitor in camp, and that you may be responsible Mr. Mercer?" Eli smiled up at Mira while Astra continued to play with the little creature in his lap.

Mira was back in armor as well, a beautiful set of plate armor similar in overall design to Astra's, made from a different metal a pale white color with a hint of steel gray, but also layered in a series of etched patterns covering the surface. The thin etching's appeared to be filled with a transparent shiny gem-like material of a dull blue, and seemed to form a deliberate pattern.

While Eli could not make heads or tails of the pattern, on presentation alone he would have swore it was a type of pictograph based language like Chinese or Japanese from the deliberate strokes and the way the designs flowed in some ineffable pattern he could not discern." Hell yeah! Check out the little teeny dragon guy! Ran into him a couple times in the forest, fed him a few times, he followed me back to camp, stayed the night, and here we are!" Mira snorted in amusement with a soft smile, " A dragon?

Hardly, no, an Emerald wyvern from the depths of the Verdant Reach and barely even a hatchling at that. Also it's a she not a he, that's a female." Elias gasped up at Mira in feigned outrage as he covered the little creature's earholes before leaning down in a stage whisper." Don't you listen to the big mean lady, I know you're a big ferocious dragon with those pretty little scales, she doesn't know what she's talking about!"

The little wyvern looked up at Eli and gave a growling chirp at him before turning back to play with Astra. Mira chuckled while leaning down to examine the creature, " Aye, she is pretty one, strong coloring, and fairly intelligent too. Given how young she is and how far from home, I would hazard to guess that the rest of her clutch has fallen to predation, possibly the sire and dam as well."" Do you like this creature?" Eli gave her a look like he suspected she was suffering from brain damage."

Of course, how couldn't I? Look at that adorable little face!" She stood before favoring Eli with possibly the most endearing smile he had seen on the woman to date, " Well. I most certainly can't fault you for excellent taste, can I? Come along. It may well be in your favor to begin with a pleasant lesson before we begin the unpleasant ones."

Mira waved for Eli to follow her the prospect of the lesson clearly putting her in a good mood, " If it would please you my Lady, I would like you to attend us once your preparations to break camp are in order. While the lesson would only be remedial, observing the procedure afterwards should be of interest to you. Is this amenable?" Astra smiled, clearly happy to see Mira in a good mood, " Of course Mira, I will come find you two in a bit."