A new world, A new chance

''She believes you know not how to best live your life.'' he stated tilting his head, ''I personally believe. If it is not you directing your own life, then you are not the one living it. A argument of philosophy,'' he explained.

-

She smiled at him.
''You told her to shove it didn't you?''

-

''In a rather more spiteful and condescending tone,'' he admitted shamelessly. ''She may visit you, if you so wish. But you were left in my charge, and until I am not needed, I will be the one to watch over you,'' he stated.

-

She leaped up and ran to him. She threw her arms around his neck.
''Thank you.''

-

He sputtered, ''H-hey now! I was just doing my job!'' he commented, before putting an arm around her to stabilize her. ''I'm supposed to be your protector right?''

-

She nodded her head against his chest.
''But you don't have to defend me just protect me. No one has ever stuck up for me before.''

-

''If anyone separates the two, they're not doing the job right,'' he snorted stubbornly. ''I said I would defend you, and I will. In what form I do so doesn't make a difference.''

-

She smiled.
''To me it does. Why did you say you would protect me?''

-

He blinked, ''Well you were charged to me... that's just what dragons do... and you were a kind host to me earlier. Tis' only fair I repay kindness in kind.''

-

She patted his cheek.
''It's okay I won't tell anyone.''
He hadn't seem this playful, mischevious side of her.

-

''It's a proud tradition!'' he defended, all but huffing.

Turning away he moved back to his original project of setting up his wards to interweave with the natural leyline, ''...What do you want for dinner tonight?''

-

''I will have to see what we have to cook with.''
She smiled. The dragon was growing on her. She felt safe with him.

-

"I have some ingredients in my bag, give me a minute to sort through them all," he replied absentmindedly pulling loose articles from his apparently infinitely holding side pouch.

She smiled.
"Dragon....."

He shot her a look, "Yes?"

"I like you Dragon."
Her smile widened.

He blinked, "I like you as well. Is there something you need?"

She shook her head no. She just watched him, curiously.
"Why aren't you with your family?"

"Don't have any," he replied, "Why do you ask?"

"You've met my family. Seen what they are like. I wondered about yours. I don't mean to pry."
She watched him out of unblinking eyes.
"I want to shift back now please."

Ooc: I have a story idea for a book. Want to hear it?

"Just pop out your wings, change your size or something like that. The spell will collapse harmlessly," he explained, before hesitating, "I'm an orphan, had three siblings I knew about, probably some older ones I didn't."

OOC: Shoot.

She did as he suggested, growing out her wings. She sighed in relief.
"Why don't you know for sure?"

ooc: Sorry about my absence. Life got complicated.

"Dragons are self reliant at truly ridiculously young ages," he stated seemingly unrelated, "Inherent memory; we hatch knowing the basics, speech, flying, fighting. Skill and wisdom still take time, but we come into the world, prepared to deal with it for the most part... in theory anyway," his frown showed he didn't really agree with this.

"As a side effect of this is that we don't really keep strong family bonds as a tendency. What is there to raising a child who knows all the lessons you must teach them? What protection needs a child who is already able how to fly from a threat, hunt their own food, and fight their own enemies? A lot of younger parents feel their job is done once the eggs hatch, some do not even bother to watch over them for that long..." he listed them off as a simple rational conclusion.

Then his expression went distant, "Mother... was not one of them. Our home was dangerous. She felt the need to watch over us," he explained, again rational, logical. "Life was lessons, or hurried moments of flight. We had no time or use for stories. She taught us practical things in the time we had, when she was not busy protecting us in some form or another. We were treasure, to protect, and sculpt into something of worth, not people to share memories with."