A Draconic Study [MadEmperor]

[DragonSong]

River "hmmm"ed quietly as she considered. "We could always at least get your measurements for something else--even if we don't get it now, if this job pays off it could be something we come back for," she suggested after a moment.

The smith's apprentice was clearly trying not to eavesdrop, but there was only so much the boy could do. He did nod eagerly at her suggestion, then seemed to catch himself and stopped, going a little red.

[MadEmperor]

Kahroan nodded in agreement. "That sounds sensible enough." He turned to the boy. "The chest plate it is. Along with getting my measurements. I'm no older than I look, if that helps."

The apprentice nodded quickly. "Then follow me. We have a space out back big enough for any dragon your age."

"Oh. You need my dragon measurements." He sighed and gave River a disappointed look. "I guess that would make sense, wouldn't it?"

[DragonSong]

She smiled a little sadly at him and reached up to lay her hand lightly against his cheek. "It'll be alright," she told him quietly. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to--but I know you'll be alright." She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before stepping back with another encouraging smile. "You've done it before. I know you can do it again."

[MadEmperor]

Kahroan exhaled slowly to calm himself and nodded to the apprentice. "After you."

The boy introduced himself as Vosh as he escorted them to a large courtyard. There were several large contraptions around the periphery, which he explained were used to measure dragons. He then gave the two a private moment.

Kahroan made a thoughtful noise. "Do you think the enchantments on these clothes will hold up any better with an intentional shift?"

[DragonSong]

"Maybe," River mused. "Magic can be finicky like that, with half the time your intention mattering just as much as what you put into practice—and I do think your shifts are magical. Dragon magic, but magic all the same."

She straightened out the shoulders of her shirt and looked up at him, eyes soft. "I promise you can do this," she told him quietly, worried he may still be anxious about the shift itself. "Just remember what Alleaya said, about anchoring yourself." She smiled and reached up to card her fingers through his hair gently. "And I'll be right here, okay? The whole time—or as long as you want me."

[MadEmperor]

Kahroan smiled as confidently as he could. "Keep your fingers crossed for me then."

He kissed her before making some room. Closing his eyes, he visualized his dragon form, clearing his mind of everything but intent. This time, the frost covered his clothes before the glow covered him. He grew rapidly, falling onto all fours as his neck lengthened.

The magical shell shattered and faded away, leaving the dragon that was Kahroan. The clothes seemed to have taken the form of a colorful band around the base of his neck. "That was much easier the second time."

[DragonSong]

River nodded at him, beaming with pride clear in her eyes. "It looked smoother," she noted from her place at the edge of the courtyard. Then, with a small smirk, she added, "Though to be entirely fair, I wasn't fully lucid the first time I saw it."

[MadEmperor]

Kahroan felt at the twisted rope of fabric around his neck with one large dragon forepaw. He grinned down at her with a happy rumble. "I even kept the clothes. I think."

The apprentice returned and stared in wonder for a moment. He shook it off and chuckled awkwardly. "Sorry. I've just... never seen a drakarys cryo anywhere but in a book. You're... well, stunning."

[DragonSong]

River's smile widened and she agreed with not a hint of embarrassment, "Isn't he just?"

Vosh glanced at her, then flushed a bit as he seemed to remember the way they'd acted around each other; neither wolf nor dragon could exactly be accused of hiding their affection particularly well.

[MadEmperor]

Kahroan looked away self-consciously, embarrassed by the praise. "I--err--well, thanks." He coughed. "Ready for the measuring."

Voah hopped to it, guiding Kah over to a pillar covered in evenly spaced lines to measure the dragon's height at the shoulder. He then measured his total length by marking the dirt and measuring that. Then, his neck, legs, and tail. Lastly, the apprentice wheeled a device under Kahroan to measure his chest and belly.

"It's a good thing dragons aren't ticklish." Kah commented, feeling like an artifact in some university or royal museum.

[DragonSong]

Once most of the finicky measuring devices where out of the way, River moved away from the edge of the courtyard to stand in front of Kahroan, reaching up to him to cup the bottom of his muzzle. "You're doing great," she told him softly. Keeping her voice low enough for the conversation to be relatively private, she asked, "How are you doing? That shift looked smoother, but how did it feel?"

[MadEmperor]

"I'm alright; this is just a little embarrassing." Kah paused, rumbling thoughtfully. "And, yeah, it was smoother and easier. It felt... natural, I suppose? Like stretching a muscle. Is that what it's like for you?"

[DragonSong]

She grinned and nodded. "Exactly like that. So...it doesn't hurt anymore?"

She had been trying not to focus on it, because it was his body and she didn't want to sound overly protective, but she had been worried about how much pain his initial shift had caused him when he first received the amulet.

It was definitely a relief for him to confirm that shifting no longer caused him that sort of pain. She scratched at the scales under his jaw lightly with one hand and gave the tip of his nose a quick peck.

[MadEmperor]

Kahroan made a low coo. Then, suddenly remembering they weren't alone, he cleared his throat. "N-no. It doesn't hurt anymore."

The apprentice wheeled away the last measuring tool. He smiled apologetically. "Sorry about all the poking and prodding, but we're done with the awkward part. If you'll wait here, I'll go transcribe a copy of those measurements and see if Master Frex is ready to see you."

Vosh left and, once again, the couple was alone.

[DragonSong]

River smiled and thanked the apprentice before he hurried off, then finally stepped back to give Kahroan a little more room.

"So. About finding a team." She began pacing as she thought aloud. "I don't spend a lot of time in Adela, but there's this place I've heard other hunters talk about, the Randy Peach. Might be as good a place as any to start?"

[MadEmperor]

"With a name like that, this sounds suspiciously like a brothel," he teased, smirking. Yoreiqi were very open, sexually speaking, but something about selling it as a commodity had always felt strange to him. Where was the challenge in that?

[DragonSong]

River snorted and rolled her eyes at him. "To my understanding, it's a tavern. Though you have a point," she chuckled lightly. "Still--we can't exactly search the barracks, it's not like the military is up for taking on freelance bounty hunter jobs. Or I suppose we could always wait until we're closer to this guy's regular hunting grounds."

[MadEmperor]

Kah chuckled, amused. "No, no, the tavern's a good idea. And I suppose crude names are popular for taverns. Besides, I only have eyes for you anyway."

On that sappy note, a man dressed as a blacksmith, with bright red hair and a dragon's tail, emerged. He was tall and muscular, with a pattern of red scales along his cheekbones and on his forehead. He studied Kahroan with red, slitted eyes and an evaluating gaze.

Satisfied, Frex nodded. "Alright. Let's figure out what exactly you need, aye?"

[DragonSong]

River rolled her eyes again, despite the hint of color to her cheeks. When the smith appeared, she stepped back a little more to give him room.

"Do you know how long this will take?" she asked the blacksmith quietly. Looking to Kahroan, she added for him, "If you don't mind, I can maybe sneak off and get a few of the more basic supplies we'll need. Rations and such."

[MadEmperor]

"Oh, long enough for an errand or two." Frex chuckled. "For the design process, anyway. The actual smithing normally takes a week, but you caught me with an empty queue, so I could be done in a couple of days."

Kahroan nodded with a quick, affectionate rumble. "Go. I'll be fine."

As soon as she left, the two males started designing the piece and discussing the down payment.


When Kah and Riv exited the smithy, the sun was already low in the sky. In his almost human form, he chuckled as his stomach complained. "We should hunt down that tavern before my stomach decides to eat me from the inside out."