Balthazar - 3. Chapter 3

The next time sweet consciousness graced him once more, the dragon couldn't help but wonder if he had actually died that time. Bright sunlight leaked in blurrily through the fluttering entrance flap of a tent. At least the pouring rain had taken it’s leave along with the dark of night, leaving the air smelling fresh and clean around him.

A cool wet cloth gently wiped at Balthazar’s brow, a very pleasant sensation in comparison to the gritty sandpaper feel of his poor eyes.

“M’thos asima t’nath. SAFE. STAY.”

Doing his damndest to blink away the bleary crud from his amber gold eyes, Balthazar focused his attention on the presence administering such tender ministrations. After his few experiences thus far since popping into existence wherever it was...he actually was, he sincerely hoped that this was no mere whim on the part of Daniel. Somewhere deep in the core of his soul Balthazar knew that he was exactly where and when he was supposed to be, and that was what mattered. Gods be damned though if that blackguard black beast had certainly taken the most roundabout route possible.

“Safe? Stay?”

He repeated back her last two words, uncaring at that exact moment of just how she’d learned them in the first place, and hoping to the gods that raising his intonation in the form of a question had the same grammatical rules...here.

As his vision cleared, he beheld a more mature version of the young feline who’d...accosted him in the rain, she must have been the child’s mother or some form of relative. Speaking of the little scamp, he could feel the piercing familiarity of her scowl somewhere near the vicinity of his feet, watching him ever so closely as the older feline tended to him.

The golden dragon’s curiosity was piqued when she paused in her wiping of his brow, setting aside the neatly folded damp towelette atop a low table set with an array of ablutions. In spite of their obviously humble surroundings, she straightened her spine and with all the regality of a queen she raised her hands to her chest, green cat eyes meeting his own directly.

“K’tine.”

A graceful hand lightly furred and marked with tawny clouded spots gestured at the young one staring daggers at his blunted humanoid fingertips.

“M’nou.”

Bowing her head, her stilted english poured forth once more.

“Thank. You.”

Emotion shining bright in her forthright gaze, she clasped one of Balthazar’s hands tight within the warmth of her smaller palms.

“K’tine mikalo a’sin M’thos. N’anka M’nou mis…”

Her voice cracked and tears began to well up in her emerald cat’s eyes as they broke away to glance at the young one still crouched at his booted feet. Definitely her daughter then.

“Thank. You.”

“Da chi…” You’re Welcome.

A small giggle lifted her lips in a smile even as tears continued to spill down her dusky cheeks at his thick Welsh accent. He had no doubt that she couldn’t comprehend a bit of what he said but at least intonation indeed won out in the end.

For now at least he’d found some sort of safe haven, and direly needed too. It would be days before his strength was fully restored, especially after saving the whelp from the demon horned canid.

Daniel, you bugger.

Even Balthazar couldn’t help laughing at the irony of the situation, an ancient golden dragon brought low and weak as a babe in some unknown world. A new player has entered the game...