Dawn of the Last Dragon Rider - Chapter 039 - Reunited (Patreon)

The moment the cart stopped at the clearing near the side of the road that Fiola had picked out, Kaen grabbed a full quiver and his bow and took off through the woods, laughing.

“For wanting to practice being stealthy, he does not appear very good at it,” Luca remarked as he pointed at the barrel he wanted Aubri to unload.

Laughing, Aubri nodded as she leaned over the edge of the cart and undid the rope holding the barrel to the side of the cart.

“From what I hear, he isn’t even eighteen yet.  So I cannot imagine he is acting any different than I would expect.”

“And you appear more than willing to climb into his blanket tonight with him,” Luca declared as he stood in the cart, looking down at Aubri.

Blushing, Aubri gave a small shrug and finished undoing the rope.

“I’m not saying he isn’t easy on the eyes.  That brown hair, eyes, and body do not look like a kid his age.  And to think he is that powerful at seventeen!”

Aubri shook as a shiver of excitement passed through her and then laughed when she saw the look that Luca was giving her.

“I’m just saying from a woman’s perspective, he sounds like a fun friend!”

“Pfftt... You seem to forget you are almost old enough to be his mother,” declared Luca.  “You going to tell him how old you are?”

Aubri grabbed the barrel and lifted it easily off the cart, setting it down on the ground near her feet.  Even though it weighed at least one hundred pounds, she lifted it like it was nothing.

“I don’t think any of us needs to comment on my age again,” Aubri said with an edge to her voice.  “Doing so might not bode well for those individuals.”

Rolling his eyes, Luca turned around and retrieved a small wooden box near his feet.

“I’m not that dumb to do such a thing.  Besides, I need to start getting stuff ready for dinner in an hour.  Apparently, no one asked me if I was hungry and wanted to wait that long.”

Aubri had returned to her task, bent over, picked up the barrel again, and started walking with it toward the part of the clearing they would cook in.

“That's why I like you, Luca,” Aubri declared sarcastically.  “All those brains.  Most men aren’t smart enough to know they shouldn’t talk about a woman’s age unless they want to end up smacked across their head.”

I’m almost to you! Kaen shouted through his connection with Pammon.  I can feel you are close!

Pammon was sending just as much joy and excitement through the bond as Kaen felt.

I can smell you and that woman you were sitting next to on your cart!

Kaen laughed as he ran toward where he knew Pammon was waiting on him.  He dodged trees, rocks, and bushes, totally not caring that he was scaring off all animals that might be nearby.  He only had one thing on his mind: seeing Pammon again.

As the last hundred yards loomed between the two of them, Kaen could see a small clearing opening up before him and took off with a burst of speed and energy.  It was as if his body knew he was returning to Pammon and filled him with something he had been lacking for all these days.

The last three trees that blocked his view flew past him as he sprinted through the woods, and Kaen started to slow up and shook his head in awe.

Oh my gosh, you have grown!

Pammon started to trill, and it echoed through the fifty-yard-wide clearing, and the bronze dragon started to jump and frolic like a lamb for a moment as he rushed toward where Kaen was exiting the trees from.

“Your so much bigger!” Kaen declared as Pammon rushed at him and slowed down just before bowling him over.  “You are at least two feet taller and have gotten thicker too!”

Stop talking and scratch my head. It itches!

Kaen laughed and nodded and reached up as Pammon bent down and lowered his head to where Kaen could get his hands around it. Kaen first embraced his dragon, slowly stroked each side of Pammon’s neck, and received a gentle trill and thrum from his massive body.

I have missed you.  It feels weird to say this, but it is like a piece of my soul was gone when you were away all those days.

“I know,” Kaen whispered.  “Now lay down so I can give you that scratch you are wanting!”

Pammon trumped loudly and dropped to the dirt carefully so as not to crush Kaen.  Kaen moved over, sat against Pammons body, and let him bend his neck so that his muzzle was facing Kaen.

Laughing, Kaen took his fingers and started to scratch all the different scales, grooves, and ridges from the tip of Pammon’s muzzle up to his ears and horns, which were starting to get larger.

A soft trill remained steady as Kaen worked his fingers along Pammon’s head.  It was evident from the way Pammon had curled his lips back and was smiling at Kaen that he was enjoying this just as much as Kaen was.

You know, just all the spots that I needed to be scratched!

Kaen laughed, kept working the ridges along the top of Pammon’s skull, and started working his neck Pammon lifted his head up and provided a better scratching opportunity for Kaen.  Five minutes later, Kaen stopped scratching and shook out his hands as Pammon let out a long breath of air that sounded like a sigh.

“I need to let these rest a moment, but I can give it another go before I have to leave.”

Stop talking about leaving already!

Kaen laughed and nodded.

“Fine, I’ll stop talking about it.  Now stand up and let me see how much you have really grown!”

Kaen untangled him from Pammon and backed up as Pammon rose to his full height on his back haunches.  Pammon raised his head high and pretended to be staring off at the sky so he could look majestic as Kaen walked around him.

“How much have you been eating?” Kaen asked in amazement.  “There is no way you should be this big already!”

I think it had something to do with that massive green deer I ate.  I felt different after I ate all of him.

“You ate all of him?!”

Pammon chortled and laughed as he nodded his massive head.

In two days!  He was so massive!  After that, I started to get bigger, it felt like.  Perhaps eating different animals or special ones helps me grow.

Kaen gazed at Pammon and started to smile when he finished his circle around him.

“You think I could try climbing on your back, and you just walk around this area for a little bit?”

I was going to say we should try! I feel strong enough now!

Laughing, Kaen moved over to stand by Pammon as he lowered his head and neck and went down on his front claw.

Be gentle with my wings and watch the ridges.  There should be a spot that might work for you to sit at.

Putting his hand on Pammon’s neck, Kaen tried figuring out how to get up onto Pammon.  There were a few spots he could grab and pull, but he did not want to risk injuring Pammon, especially with tomorrow being so important.

After a few attempts, Kaen got both hands on two ridges located on Pammon’s neck and jumped as he leaned against them.  Things went great until his weight shifted, and he fell over the top of Pammon’s neck, holding on for dear life upside down.

“Lay down!” Kaen gasped as he stared at the dirt four feet from his face.

Pammon lowered himself, and Kaen let go with one hand and managed a soft landing in the dirt.

Pammon started to laugh, and Kaen chuckled as he stood up.

“I guess it was asking too much for that to work perfectly the first time.”

I thought you had it until you didn’t!

Kaen grinned and shook his head.

“Let’s go again.  I won’t jump as high this time!”

Four minutes later and about seven failed attempts led to their first successful attempt of Kaen getting onto Pammon’s back.  Kaen had to readjust a few times as some ridges poked in spots he did not want them, and with a little help from Pammon, leaning forward and letting gravity do its job, he was finally seated and ready for Pammon to stand.

All those times Kaen had ridden a horse had not really prepared him for the power he felt between his legs.  The moment Pammon stood up, lifted his head, and started walking around the clearing, every step Pammon took reverberated through his thighs, and he could tell that there was a mountain of power in Pammon’s body.  Kaen had to hold onto the ridge of Pammon’s neck as they moved.  He wished he had a rope or harness of some kind to make this easier and safer, as Hess had mentioned.

Want to try holding on while I move faster?

Kaen laughed loudly and patted Pammon’s neck.

“Go for it!” he shouted.

Pammon started to pick up speed as he ran circles around the clearing.  Kaen had to lean close to Pammon’s neck as the strides he was taking started to buck him slightly.  There were some moments he felt he would launch right off Pammon’s back.

Slow down some!  I think I’m going to need a break!

Pammon grunted as he started to slow down, obviously not impressed with how easily Kaen had quit.

I was going to ask you if you wanted me to try flying with you, but I guess you aren’t ready.

Kaen laughed and thumped Pammon on the neck as they came to a stop.

“There is no way we can try flying today!  I could barely stay on you now!  Besides, I can tell you are joking about flying.”

Pammon thrummed as he laughed, causing his whole body to convulse and shake, sending Kaen almost over to the side as he tried to hold on with both hands around his neck.

That is cheating if you can sense that I was joking!  I had not realized you could feel that coming through our bond.

Kaen laughed and slowly let go of his death grip around Pammon’s neck as Pammon lowered himself down.  Sliding off was much easier than getting on.

“I’ll need to ask Hess how we can find a harness of some kind for me.  Neither one of us wants me falling off while we are airborne with no way to hold on.”

I would catch you before you hit the ground.

“I have no doubt you would try,” Kaen stated as he patted Pammon’s neck. “I just would not want to put you in a situation where both of our lives depended on that.  There is no rush, and tomorrow is what is important.”

A big blast of air rushed out of Pammon’s snout as he gave a big huff.

I am a dragon.  You are my rider.  Everything inside me longs for that to happen.  Perhaps I can find another animal to eat which will help speed up my growth so that it can happen soon.

Kaen nodded, moved to the front of Pammon, and started rubbing under his chin.  He smiled when the trilling sound he had missed for the past days echoed through the grove, and he felt the skin under Pammon’s mouth vibrate.

“You know what I am about to say,” Kaen whispered as he leaned his head forward and let it rest against the top of Pammon’s snout.

I know.  Just scratch that spot one more time before you go.  Tomorrow I will hunt early and start scouting so that I can make sure you return in one piece!

Frantically working his fingers along all the scales and in between them, Kaen laughed as he saw Pammon let a small amount of drool drip from his mouth and onto the ground.

“That is nasty!” Kaen exclaimed as he moved back from the saliva.

Pammon laughed and shook his head, spraying the slobber in a few different directions.

Sorry, just that spot you hit relaxed my jaw, and I couldn’t stop it!

Kaen laughed as he wiped off the small amount that had landed against his leg and patted Pammon’s snout gently.

“Tomorrow, we finish this quest, and soon we will have more time for moments like this!”

Rest well!  You best not fail, or I will not be happy!

Laughing, Kaen walked backward to the trees, keeping his eyes on his friend, who sat there watching him just as intently.

When the treeline started to block his view, he started jogging back to camp.  A few tears were in his eyes.  That feeling that he was leaving something important behind him returned.  Pammon had been right.

It felt like he was leaving a part of his soul behind as he started jogging back to Aubri and Luca.