*The Offer*

(Y/n)

I sat on my dragon. He was a sky-colored singetail named Blue.
The fresh sea breeze blew against my face and tasted like salt. Blue skies stretched over my head, dotted with the occasional fluffy cloud.

Usually, I absolutely love flying over the sea with Blue, but today I couldn't help but to be on edge.

The reason for that was up ahead: The dragon hunter's island cowered between the waves just a few hundred meters away. A bunch of ships were guarding the waters around it.

I checked the saddlebag behind me, which was containing an important paper roll, one last time, before I took a deep breath and gave Blue a soft nudge with my feet.

He grumbled, sensing my nervousness. I leaned forward and gently petted his neck.

"It's okay boy. Remember, we want them to notice us. I just hope they won't shoot us down right away..."

Blue shook his head and flew carefully closer to the ships.

As soon as the first hunters noticed us, they alarmed the rest and of course, fired their arrows at us.

Blue roared and backed up out of range. He was about to fire himself. Luckily I was able to calm him down.

Forming a funnel with my hands I shouted:

"I did not come to fight!!"

The hunters stopped firing. Instead they appeared utterly confused and looked at each other cluelessly. The only sound audible, was the flapping of my dragon's wings.

One hunter emerged from the group. His uniform looked slightly different. Perhaps he was in command?

He formed a funnel as well.

"Then why are you here, dragon rider?!"

"I want to negotiate with your chief! I ask for permission to land!"

The hunter thought about it. Then he lifted his hands to his mouth again to answer.

"You may land on the boat! Our island will not be approached via dragon!"

I nodded as a sign of understanding. Nudging Blue softly again, I made him fly down and finally land on the boat.

As soon as his paws made contact with the wooden deck, a small group of men surrounded us with their weapons drawn.

Blue felt incredible uneasy. His muscles were all tense and he didn't take his eyes off the men.

I remained calm, hoping it would affect my dragon. Returning the hunters glares whilst trying to show no emotion, I stayed on Blue.

The hunter in command was scribbling something down on a piece of paper. When another man came, who held a yellow terrible terror, he attached the note to it's leg and let the small dragon fly off.

He then turned to me and started speaking: "We've sent note to Viggo. He'll probably sent an escort to guide you to his tent, once we brought you to our port."

I nodded. "Sounds fair."

He eyed me suspiciously. "You wouldn't mind getting off of your dragon, would you? My men would highly appreciate it."

"Alright." Keeping my poker face straight, I moved my leg over Blue's back and dismounted him.

I stayed by my dragon's side, one hand still on his shoulder to keep him calm. Ignoring the many weapons still pointing at us, I took notice, that the ship turned and sailed towards the island.

A little maneuvering later, we eventually reached the port. During the docking maneuver I saw that Viggo indeed sent an escort.

It consisted of Ryker and three or so more men, who were all staring at my every move. Little did I feel like the lamb entering the lions cave...

But my intentions were good, so Viggo hopefully wouldn't find a reason to imprison me.

I walked down the plank, which was connecting ship and footbridge. My dragon followed close behind, earning glares that could kill from Ryker.

Trying to get rid of the tense atmosphere, I tried a smile.

"Well, hello there!", I said with a small wave.

Ryker just growled in response and gave me a contemptuous look.

"Your dragon has to stay here. I will not let that beast come near Viggo.", he spoke with a snarl.

Ignoring him insulting my poor Blue, I returned his glare calmly.

"I will only let him behind, if your men won't lock him up. They can stay close to him to make sure he doesn't go on a rampage, but I don't want him to be teased or in a cage."

Ryker waved my argument off. "Yeah yeah, whatever. As long as the dragon stays where it is."

He ordered some men to position themselves beside Blue.

"Oh, and one more thing!", I said as I detached the saddlebag from the saddle and slung it around my shoulder, like a normal bag.

Ryker sighed heavily and gripped my shoulder. A little to harsh if I might add. He then lead me away from my dragon...

The walk across the island was awkwardly silent and didn't take as long as I thought. We took a few shortcuts through some tunnels and quickly reached the pit in the middle of the island, which's centerpiece was (of course) Viggo's tent.

I swallowed. Trying to keep my nervousness at bay, I went through the things I wanted to say once more, making sure I wouldn't forget anything.

We reached the tent. Ryker opened the flaps and let me walk in first, following soon after.

To be honest I didn't know what I should expect to see when I entered, so I expected everything and nothing at the same time. But what I was greeted with surprised me nonetheless.

Viggo sat at his desk, a friendly but also smug grin plastered on his face, as he stared at me. On his lap sat the small yellow terror from before and Viggo was stroking the little creature like an evil genius would stroke his cat.

"Ahhh, welcome my dear.", he spoke with a velvet voice, "Please, take a seat. Oh, and if you don't mind, I'd like to know your name, since I believe we haven't met each other yet."

I took a deep breath once again and obeyed, not wanting Ryker, who stood intimidatingly close behind me, to loose his patience and push me into the chair in front of Viggo's desk.

"I am (Y/n).", I said and sat my bag down beside my feet. Putting my hands into my lap (because I didn't know where else to put them) I gave Viggo my full attention. Meanwhile, he was trying to get the small yellow dragon back into a cage, which stood on the side of his desk as well.

"I hope my men treated you nicely?", Viggo asked, while closing and locking the cage door.

I shrugged. "Well, they did what they believed was right to keep any potential danger under control."

Viggo faced me fully now. He folded his hands and rested them on the desk. His brown eyes were piercing into my own (E/c) ones as he spoke.

"I've been informed that you want to negotiate with me about something. May I know about what?"

I shifted slightly in my seat.

"Well... Negotiation probably isn't the most precise term, but I came to deliver an offer. I came up with the idea and the elders and Stoic thought it is worth a shot, when I introduced it to them. It's a compromise, that might end the rivalries between our tribes. It would consist of an alternative business for you, that we'd be able to accept."

As I spoke, Viggo didn't interrupt me a single time. He listened intensively and never took his eyes off me.

"I don't know if you contemplated that idea already or not, but.... "

I reached down to my bag and pulled out the paper roll. I put it on the desk and enrolled it, revealing a basic plan for setting up a new business.

"Have you ever thought of changing your business from dragon hunting to dragon breeding?"