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        "So... Ash told the three of you about the human," Tynder mused, tapping an unsheathed claw against the cold cavern floor. He shuffled his wings and looked over at his underling laying across from him, a scowl settling across his muzzle.

          "Y-yes," Cobalt stammered, shifting uncomfortably beneath the glare. "And how protective you were of it. He claimed your fondness for a human made you unfit as our leader, and therefore we needed to..." The blue dragon paused, swallowing the lump in his throat. "...He said we needed to dispose of you and have another take your place."

        "And Ash plans to use you, Clay and Brine to accomplish that," Tynder inquired rigidly.

          "Well, he hopes the other dragons will join his cause, too."

        Tynder snorted and licked his nose, turning to glance over his wings at the crudely carved shelves in the wall behind him. Prized trophies spanned their lengths from end to end, furs, feathers and chain mail alike; each a testament to the dragon's prowess. Neither beast, bird nor human had posed Tynder a threat over the decades since he'd first led the horde. Even the dragons knew how easily he dispatched his adversaries, that he was not one to be trifled with. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, Ash thought it prudent to challenge his authority.

          It wasn't the first time Tynder had thwarted the red's plans for a coup; there were a number of scars shared between them to prove it. But recently he'd noticed each failure rendered the red dragon more distant and unruly than the last. Now that Tynder considered it, Ash never spoke of his past before Tynder found him in the northern forests, abandoned and alone. The black dragon never pressed the issue either; most of his underlings shared similar fates before he'd brought them under his wing. But maybe decades without a horde changed the red's views on leadership, made him wholly desire the control and power Tynder had for himself.

        ...Or, then again, maybe the decade-old deal with the kingdom still plagued the dragon's mind.

          Tynder's expression darkened, recalling Ash's unexpected visit to his chamber the day before. He was well aware of the red's views on humans; in fact, he shared them to a large degree. Yet, by no means was he going to give the unruly beast another opportunity to lead an uprising. This was his horde. His territory.

        His human.

          Tynder snorted and shook his head, quelling the anger rising in his chest. He surveyed the trophy shelves a moment longer before fixing his gaze on the broken dragon fang nestled between two tattered furs. Faded, red splotches dotted its rounded base and a crack extended halfway down from the tip, as if the fang's owner attempted to chew through stone rather than bone or flesh. Old memories resurfaced from the depths of Tynder's mind and the scar running across his left eye twitched involuntarily.

        "I didn't think Clay or Brine would join Ash's revolt willingly," he finally spoke, idly tracing an unsheathed claw over the old wound. "Clay especially."

           "They were both reluctant at first," Cobalt admitted, head drooping in shame. His gaze drifted toward the skulls lining the edge of Tynder's bedding. "Brine even suggested only the human should be killed and that you be exiled instead. To that end, Clay agreed. But Ash... He was adamant about making an example of you to send a message to the others."

          "At least they had a more sensible proposal than he did," Tynder scoffed, waving a paw in the air. He felt a sudden jab within his stomach and barely managed to suppress a grin. Briefly, he wondered if Darren had heard him before his thoughts returned to his horde.

        In an odd way, the dragons were like Tynder's overgrown hatchlings. For nearly a century he'd ensured they were sheltered and well-fed, healthy and strong. Dragon's Keep aided in that endeavor as the prison was a reliable food source—one his underlings enjoyed visiting. Tynder couldn't blame them. Of all the animals he preyed upon, humans were the delicacy of choice. They were flavorful, meaty and lacked the natural armor most animals sported to protect their soft innards; namely, fur and scales. If Tynder wanted, he and his clan could render the Kingdom of Daruga a barren wasteland in but a day's time and walk away with bellies too full and too heavy to fly. Yet, for the sake of prolonging his horde's favorite food supply, Tynder had chosen to settle on an agreement with the kingdom's nobles.


           Sacrificing criminals in return for another month's peace.

          Tynder licked his nose and slipped a paw beneath his underbelly, the rough pads pressing up against his dark-grey belly scutes. It still amused him that the young man he now carried within had turned up among the Keep's most recent sacrifices. A young man who lacked the stench of malice and hate, who neither begged nor screamed for his life but wished for a merciful death—an act that, at the time, left Tynder confused albeit somewhat intrigued.

        He pressed a little harder against the belly plates, his prodding soon rewarded with a firm jab from within. Tynder grinned and returned the gesture with a light claw-poke of his own. Perhaps a human's flavor was influenced by their moral compass. The Keep's criminals, while admittedly delicious, often left a bitter aftertaste lingering on his tongue. Darren's, on the other paw, was sweet and tangy—pleasant to a dragon's palate. Tynder licked his lips, a tasteful prospect in mind. Perhaps he'd consider testing it once Ash's revolt had been nipped in the scales.

          Removing his paw from beneath him, Tynder shifted his attention to his underling and found the young dragon seemingly lost in thought. "What about you, runt?" he asked, breaking the silence between them. "Do you plan to assist Ash in his revolt against me?"

        "No." Cobalt sighed and raised his head. "I don't think the horde would be the same without you leading us."

          Tynder's eyes narrowed. "Is that a fact?"

        "I would never lie to you, Tynder," Cobalt insisted. He rose and settled onto his haunches, pressing a paw flat against his chest plates as if about to make a pledge. "Were it not for you, I'd still be scavenging for food scraps in the valley."

        "And I see living with my horde has served you well. It's unfortunate your height didn't grow along with your stomach," Tynder remarked, pointing an unsheathed claw at the blue dragon's sagging underbelly. Cobalt shot him an indignant look and opened his mouth to speak, but Tynder dismissed the retort with a wave of his paw before it passed the dragon's lips. "In any event, I appreciate you bringing me word of this coup, Cobalt. You've shown me where your loyalties lie."

          "Surely, there are others who feel the same."

          "Perhaps, but they'd be more subtle in revealing such feelings—unlike you." Tynder rose and stretched, gazing down at the smaller dragon sitting before him. "You may be the runt of the horde, but you have a good head on your shoulders. Naive, but good. No doubt one of your better qualities."

          Cobalt's face flushed a deep purple and he quickly averted his gaze. Tynder grinned. Evidently, the runt still thought it odd to hear a compliment from the dragon who ruled with an iron claw. Maybe even more than Tynder knew considering it was only his underling's second month in the horde. Yet, the blue dragon's naiveté had grown on Tynder—just like the honor-toting human he carried within—and to that end, he saw little harm in acting more empathetic toward the runt.

          "I'm...still a little confused about something," Cobalt pondered aloud, raising his head to meet the seasoned leader's gaze. "Why are you protecting a human in the first place? Aren't they food?"

          Tynder chuckled and shook his head in amusement. "More like a delicacy."

        The black dragon stepped passed his smaller companion and padded over to his trophy horde, stopping short of the mangled swords piled beneath the crude shelves. Picking one up, he settled on his haunches to inspect the battered blade, twirling it between his talons like a tiny steel baton.

          "Do you remember when you asked me why we don't simply invade the Kingdom of Daruga? Why we don't feast on the humans as we please, only devour the sacrifices they offer?"

        "I do," Cobalt replied. "That was shortly after my first visit to Dragon's Keep. You mentioned having made an agreement with their nobility in the past—a tithe, as you put it. Why?"

        "Well..." Tynder caught the sword between unsheathed claws and glanced over his wings, his grin resurfacing. "I made one with the human."

          "...Y-You what?" Cobalt stammered.

          "I made a deal with the human," Tynder reiterated. "A tithe of sorts." He casually tossed the sword back into the pile and turned to face the blue dragon. "So long as I remain acquainted with his taste, he will remain under my protection."

          "Wouldn't that imply you favor the human over us?"

          "Not at all," Tynder returned, waving a dismissive paw. "The horde is my highest priority. Yet, I do not wish to lose such flavorful prey."

          "So, you protected the human from Ash because of this 'agreement'?"

        Tynder's expression brightened. "Indeed. I plan to protect him from the others, too."

          "I see..." Cobalt scratched a horn with a wingtip and looked down at the cavern floor, as if considering his next words carefully. "Perhaps...I could be of some assistance then."

        "Assistance?" Tynder cocked his head, giving his underling a suspicious look. "In what capacity?"

          "I-I'll help you protect the human. Help you keep it away from Ash and the others."

          "And your reasoning behind this is...what, exactly?"

          "To repay you for taking me in," Cobalt explained. He bowed his head in deference before the horde leader and unfurled his wings, letting them drape across the cavern floor. "I...don't know what the human means to you, but I will do my best to keep him clear of the others' jaws." He looked up and solemnly nodded. "You have my word, Tynder. A dragon's promise."

        The cave fell uncomfortably silent as Tynder mulled over the proposal. He glanced at the trophy shelves behind him, eyeing the cracked tooth momentarily. "Very well, then. I will accept your assistance." He looked down at his stomach and gave it a firm pat, eliciting a sudden shift of movement from within. "It looks as if I will be letting you out earlier than I planned, Darren. How fortunate for you."

          "Or rather how unfortunate," came a muffled groan. "I hope you don't plan on doing this every time I eat, Tynder. I'd prefer to keep my food inside, not out."

          "Wouldn't we all?"

          Smirking inwardly, Tynder lowered his head and started to retch, sending the young man on a speedy ascent up his throat and into his cavernous maw. After spending a few brief moments cleaning the human with his tongue, Tynder plucked Darren from his jaws and presented the young man to his underling.

        "This is the human you took from the Keep during our last feeding, is it not?" Cobalt inquired, bending low over his leader's upturned paw. "He's about as skinny as I remember. But he smells delicious," he added, taking a deep whiff of Darren's scent.

          "And he tastes delicious, too," Tynder said proudly, shooting Darren a toothy grin. "Tastier than any human I've eaten thus far."

        Cobalt swallowed hard and exhaled slowly, as if he'd barely managed to suppress some hidden temptation. Licking the corners of his muzzle, the blue dragon leaned toward his leader's paw until his snout was practically touching the human's head. To his mild surprise, Darren didn't even bat an eye. Growing a little bolder, he puffed a series of slow, rhythmic breaths over his tiny counterpart, but again received no reaction.

          "He appears unfazed by my presence," Cobalt noted as he raised his head. "I thought he would be shuddering at the mere sight of me after his run-in with Ash."

          "I figured Tynder would have done something had you posed a threat," Darren admitted, eliciting a rumbling chuckle from above. "But you don't seem to be a bloodthirsty beast like Ash, Cobalt."

        Cobalt's face scrunched in confusion. "How do you know my name?"

          "I was eavesdropping on your conversation," Darren revealed, glancing up at the black dragon.

        Tynder smirked. "And here I thought you were an honorable young man."

        "I am," Darren stated, flashing the dragon a grin of his own. "Just not an ignorant one."

          "Or so you claim," Tynder replied mysteriously.

        Darren rolled his eyes. "As if you're one to judge."

        The black dragon chuckled, yet decided against pursuing the topic. "I presume you overheard Ash's plans, then?"

        "And Cobalt's offer to protect me," Darren confirmed. "Yes, I heard everything."

          "Good. That saves me the trouble of explaining the situation."

          "So, what do you plan to do exactly?" Darren inquired, ignoring the dragon's implication. "If Ash is keen on disposing of me first, keeping me inside would prove hazardous to you - he'd probably go as far as to force me out," Darren reasoned, a frown curling across his lips.

        "That is true," Tynder agreed. "Protecting you would be difficult if I'm pitted against multiple dragons—my stomach would be my weakness." He looked over at Cobalt to find the smaller dragon's gaze still fixated on his paw since he revealed the human's presence. A mischievous grin settled across Tynder's muzzle. He needn't guess what temptation was brewing within his underling's mind. "Perhaps another location will do, human."

          "Another...?" Darren followed Tynder's gaze, glancing up at the blue dragon beside him, and his stomach knotted in three different ways.

        "Cobalt," the black dragon grunted, breaking his draconic counterpart from his trance.

          "Y-Yes, Tynder?"

          "You've been staring at the human since you first laid eyes on him. Is he that interesting to look at?"

          "Sorry, Tynder," Cobalt apologized, quickly averting his gaze from the black dragon's paw. "After you mentioned his taste, I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like if...well..."

          "...if you ate him?" Tynder posed.

        Cobalt nodded hesitantly.

          "Perhaps you'd like to find out?"

          "...Find out?" Cobalt raised his head and gave Tynder a puzzled look. "You mean...?"

        Tynder grinned. "You wanted to help protect him, did you not?

        "I did," Cobalt agreed.

        Tynder gestured toward Darren with his snout. "Then, he'll need a place to hide until this revolt is dealt with. And what's better than right under Ash's snout?"

        "I presume I have no say in this," Darren chimed in, shooting the horde leader a disgruntled look.

        Tynder lowered his gaze, a smirk settling across his muzzle. "Not unless you know of a place within this cavern that's capable of masking your scent."

        Darren grunted in disapproval. "I don't. But that doesn't mean I'm willing to reside within the bowels of another dragon."

          "Better his than Ash's," Tynder advised, jerking his snout toward Cobalt. "We've already established that you can't stay in mine."

          "You did say I didn't seem to be a bloodthirsty beast," the blue dragon added.

        "Keyword being 'seem', Cobalt," Darren answered curtly. He turned to glare up at his draconic guardian. "What about our agreement, Tynder?"

        "What about it?"

        "Doesn't this go against what you promised a 'lesser creature?' "

        "Not if that 'lesser creature' wishes to live to see another day." Tynder lowered his snout close to his paw, a grin creeping across his lips. "You can complain about my methods all you'd like, Darren, but only after you've survived this ordeal. Until then, I suggest you consider Cobalt a temporary extension of our agreement and place your faith in the runt. Unless you'd rather the alternative in which neither of us comes out alive."

           Darren huffed and turned his nose up at Tynder, settling his gaze on Cobalt's pudgy underbelly instead. The dragon seemed to note his point of interest, as Darren's view of the black belly scutes was soon replaced with that of Cobalt's snout.

           "I know you do not trust me like you do Tynder," Cobalt sympathized, looking slightly offended. "But I assure you, you'll be just as safe in my care as you've been in his."

        Darren opened his mouth, but then closed it without saying a word. He stared at Tynder a moment, then sighed and stood up. "Fine. But I'd better not contribute to the cause."

        Cobalt cocked his head and curled his neck back. "What cause?"

        Darren pointed to the now visible wall of distended black belly scutes. "That cause."

        Cobalt looked down. Realization settled across his muzzle, and he pressed a paw to his underbelly, claws half-unsheathed. "You won't."

        "Then, that settles it," Tynder remarked, settling back on his haunches. He held Darren out to his underling. "I entrust the human to you, Cobalt."

        "I won't let you down, Tynder," Cobalt promised. "Nor you, Darren," he added, smiling down at his newest charge. He then lowered his muzzle and parted his jaws.

        ******************

        Cobalt gingerly licked his muzzle as he padded through the cavernous tunnels toward his sleeping quarters. His palate still tingled with the reminder of the deed, though its pleasantness paled in comparison to the subtle movements he felt deep within. The blue dragon curled his tail and pressed the tip to his belly, feeling its hidden contents shift beneath his scales. A quiet purr rumbled in his throat, like stones tumbling in a barrel. Now, he understood why Tynder felt so strongly about the young man - and, at the same time, he saw the full importance behind the task he'd taken on.

        Confidence swelled within Cobalt. With an eager step in his gait, the blue dragon turned down the final tunnel and traversed the remaining distance to his chamber. The lingering scent of another dragon permeated his nostrils as he approached the threshold, giving him momentary pause. He wondered if that member of the horde had passed by recently, yet the smell seemed to strengthen each time he focused his gaze ahead. Swallowing the lump settled in his throat, Cobalt entered his quarters. Clay was sitting inside.

        "Welcome back, Cobalt," the brown dragon greeted. "I overheard your conversation with Tynder. That's quite a plan you've got going.

        Cobalt's eyes widened with fear and he subconsciously raised a paw to protect his underbelly.

          "Relax," Clay continued, waving a dismissive paw. "I'm not interested in the human—for the moment, anyway. Right now, I just wish to talk."

          "...T-talk?" Cobalt stammered, keeping his distance from the brown dragon. "T-talk about what?"

          "About a change in plans," Clay answered. "I've spoken to several dragons at Ash's behest to see if they would join his cause. Contrary to what I expected, each of them declined to partake in the revolt. Their reasons differed, but what I found most interesting was the underlying factor they all had in common. It appears our fellow dragons share the same desire."

          "A-and that is?"

          Clay grinned, his green eyes flashing deviously. "To rid themselves of Ash."