Killer's P.O.V.

The sky was ablaze with burning hues, and the songs of the birds had given way to the hum of insects as they took to the sky. I had situated myself at the base of one of the trees that rimmed the clearing and sat there in wait till the small stranger came back. If he came back that is. 

He wasn't like most of the people I had met as far as first impressions go. He wasn't the most intimidating soul I had seen, by far, but he carried with him a sort of light that gave him the will to stand up to challenges. After all, despite his wariness he spoke openly to me, despite the fact I had openly admitted I was a dragon, and he brought news that would obviously displeased me. Unlike the vast majority of people who laid eyes on me for the first time, he did not turn his nose up in disgust (thought to be fair he doesn't really have a nose to turn, being a skeleton and all), and he didn't openly show hostility or resentment. He talked to me like he would a normal person, and it's been so long since that's happened to me that it almost felt wrong. 

I didn't surprise me that he worked with plants. I know your not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but the profession just seemed to fit him. Right off the bat the small yellow stranger seemed like the kind of person to try and sit you down to talk instead of drawing a blade to face you. A nice change of pace for sure, but why would the village send a flower boy who looked incapable of hurting a fly to search out a still possibly alive feral and confront a dragon? My thoughts were it was just the luck, or lack thereof, of the draw. 

Strangest mystery of all, he actually commanded me to wait so he could properly deal with my injuries. For starters, even those who live under rocks know well what dragons are, and anyone would know that commanding a dragon was usually a one way ticket to a fiery death. Then, there's the fact that he wants to actually help prolong the life of a 'terrifying beast' such as myself. Who exactly was this person, and why was he so different? Normally, I would have left despite the chance of being helped, as the chance of a situation like this being a trap was always high, but mild surprise and growing curiosity kept me tied to the clearing with a sense of anticipation for where this would go.

Maybe he would be different.

A distant rustle of leaves once more kicked me from my inner thoughts and brought me to my feet in a fighting stance, ready to draw my knife if need be. However, I quickly abandoned my stance as the stranger from before called through the bushes. 

"Don't worry, it's just me, Dream! The stranger from before!" He called in a light voice.

I adopted a more relaxed position as the yellow stranger forced himself through the bushes into the clearing. I quickly noticed that he was carrying a large bag with him, the multitude of earthy fragrances catching my attention.

"Good, you stayed. I wasn't sure you would actually trust me."

"I wasn't sure if you were telling the truth, so I suppose we were both working off of faith." I responded with a small smirk.

"If you knew me well, you'd know that I'm a very dependable person." Dream declared proudly.

"Well, if your so dependable, then complete your promise and fix my wing. Quite frankly, it's killing me." 

"You're dying?!" He exclaimed, dropping his bag accidentally. 

"...Figuratively. I'm not going to keel over because of a dislocated wing." I said, raising a bone brow at his reaction.

Strange. He had looked unusually concerned for a villager.

"Oh, right, yeah. I knew that." He mumbled, looking down at his bag sheepishly.

"You sure?" I teased

"Yes! Now if you can, please sit down with you back to me." He exclaimed, hurriedly changing the subject.

I was hesitant to comply, as one of the first things you learn about holding your own is to never turn your back on an enemy, and an unknown villager certainly fit that quota. However, despite past knowledge, I had a gut feeling that this villager truly meant to help me for no reason other than kindness. I really shouldn't let my gut tell me what to do, seeing as I don't even have a gut, but this was a chance to have my wing healed, and I just felt that trusting this small skeleton was the right way to go. My lack of hesitation almost scared me, but it could not be denied. 

"Fine fine." I said, sitting down with my back to the small villager. 

"Okay, so I'm sure you know the gist of fixing a dislocated limb. The first act of business would be to shove the joint back into the socket. After that, I brought some medicine that will dull the pain and increase the healing rate." Dream explained, gently lifting my cloak and exposing the base of the injured wing.

He lightly pressed around the base, most likely feeling for the exact location of the socket. I growled lightly, feeling my defensive instincts awaken somewhat, urging me to attack the 'unseen assailant' that was causing me pain. I stopped, forcing my instincts down and quieting myself. If this Dream's intentions truly were selfless and genuine, then I didn't want to accidentally hurt him in an instinctual reaction. 

He had paused upon hearing my unhappy vocalization.

"Uh, are you okay? Did I press to hard?" He asked.

"No, you're fine. That was my instincts talking." 

"Like those of animals?" 

"Sort of. Animals have instincts because they live in environments with a more or less constant level of competition, and this hasn't changed for ages, so animals to this day keep their instincts in order to survive. It's a little different for us dragons. Long ago, like every younger species, we would have lived in a competitive environment, causing us to develop a set of instincts to aid our survival. However, over time we have reduced the competition by asserting ourselves as an apex species. Throughout history, dragons haven't changed much, as there has been few new pressures to steer change in any one direction, so our old instincts still remain with us, even though we have much less of a need for them as we would have in times long past.

The same can be said for monsters and even humans, however both types of beings have changed much more over time than dragons have, allowing for their instincts to fade to almost nothing if not completely. Dragons also predate both monsters and humans, so we are a much more ancient race. The newer races developed in a less competitive starting environment that the dragons did, owing to the fact that they had weaker instincts to begin with. 

Monsters and humans also reproduce and grow faster than dragons, so change between generations comes faster for them." I explained, hoping to avoid being lumped together with any old animal. 

"Okay, I believe I understand. That's interesting and all, but will you be okay for me to proceed treating you?" Dream asked, a hint of worry in his voice.

"Yes, I should be fine. My instincts will be a bit more temperamental in this form, but I don't wish to harm you, so they will be fighting against my will. If you could get me something to bite down on when you shove my wing back into place, that would help." 

"Yeah I can do that, hold on." He said, his footsteps drawing away.

Moments later, I heard him return, and a small supple branch was held before me. 

"Perfect." I said, grabbing the branch and placing it between my jaws. 

"Okay, so on the count of three, I'm going to quickly shove your wing bone back into position. I'm not going to lie: it's going to be painful for a moment, but the pain should fade pretty quickly. Are you ready?" 

"Yes." I said, mentally bracing myself.

"Okay. One...two...three!" 

A sharp flash of pain ignited where the wing bone was pushed back into the socket. I snarled in response, biting down on the branch so hard that it snapped in half. My claws extended and I dug them into the soft soil to keep myself from lashing out. I sat there panting for a few minutes, allowing the red to fade from my vision and the beat of my soul to return to normal. 

"Okay...I'm alright now." I spoke up after a pause, looking back at the small villager.

He looked a bit surprised and scared, causing me to feel an odd twinge of guilt. However, before long he lightly shook his head, as if to clear his thoughts, and gave me a gentle smile.

"Good. Can you move your right wing now?" He asked, keeping what fear he had from seeping into his voice as he, albeit hesitantly, approached me again.

I shrugged my shoulders then gingerly spread both my wings, slowly flexing, extending, and folding them to test their movements. Dream observed from behind, glancing between both wings. 

"Well, everything looks to be in order. The movement of each wing mirrors the other perfectly. I'm sure the right is sore though." 

I nodded, and Dream went over to retrieve the bag he had brought with him. He kneeled down beside me this time, placing the large back down and opening the main flap. He took out a few different tins, along with a wineskin, a mortar and pestle, a chunk of bread with a few pieces of dried meat, and a small assortment of flower petals.

"Here, whilst I'm prepping the medicine, you can eat these. Sorry about the lack lustre provisions. I just grabbed what I could from the pantry right before I left, since it only occurred to me then that you might be hungry." He said, handing me the bread and meat. 

I thanked him, sniffing the bread before taking a small bite out of it. The crust crackled as I bit down, and the inside was nice and fluffy. I hadn't eaten bread in a while, and I hummed to voice my opinion of the pleasant taste.

"You like it?" Dream asked, looking up as he pushed from dropping a few flower petals into the mortar. 

"Yeah, it's nice and fluffy." I replied, taking another, bigger bite.

"I bought it earlier today from Sugar, the town's baker. His husband, Melon, is a merchant, so Sugar always gets the best baking ingredients. Oh, before I forget, drink this too." He said, holding up the wineskin for me to take. (Italic)

"What, trying to make me drink dubious potions already?" I half joked, knowing that if that was actually the case, it wouldn't be the first time.

"No silly, it's just chamomile tea. It'll help you relax and get a good night's sleep."

I took the wineskin, opening it and taking a precautionary sniff of the contents. I didn't pick up anything out of the ordinary, so I took a sip of the still warm contents. True to his word, it was tea, and it honestly wasn't half bad. I sipped from it between bites of bread and meat. 

Out of the corner of my eye I watched as Dream ground up some flower petals in the mortar and pestle. Once the juiced of the petals coated the bottom of the cup, he took one of the tins he had brought with him, unscrewing the lid and adding some of the paste inside to the crushed petals. He then used his fingers to begin mixing the contents together. 

"What's that?" I asked, admittedly curious.

"It's the medicinal paste I'm going to put on your wing. It's made from a mix of burdock and comfrey, and it should help numb the pain and ease any irritation." Dream explained.

"What are the flower petals for?" 

"Just to make it smell extra nice."

"I see." I replied, not sure if I really wanted to smell like a flower bouquet.

I polished off the remaining bread just as Dream finished mixing the paste. It had turned a lighter shade of green from the petals, and the flowery scent  wafted from the cup. 

"Okay, the paste is ready. Can you open you wing up a bit so I can have better access to the base?" Dream asked.

I nodded, carefully unfurling my right wing half way so the small skeleton could easily access the base. I shivered slightly as I felt the cold paste touch my bones. I remained tense for a second, not used to the feeling of another touching my back, but then relaxed as I gave into the pleasant feeling of Dream's delicate touch massaging the paste in. 

I let the silence hang for a minute or two, then decided to take the opportunity to ask a question that had been on my mind for a while.

"So, why exactly did your village get you to send me off? What fantastic excuse did they have this time?" 

"Well, we don't want any more ferals coming here." Dream replied, sounding a bit confused. 

"Of course, but what does that have to do with me?" I asked, not seeing the connection.

"Well, you attracted it in the first place, right?" 

"What?! No! What makes you think I had anything to do with that creature?" I half yelled, whipping my head around as far as I could to look back at Dream.

"W-we heard rumors from passing merchants that dragons attract other beasts of the land wherever they go." Dream replied hurriedly.

"That's absurd. Whoever told you that couldn't be more wrong. Ferals aren't the cohorts of dragons. In fact, dragons and ferals are enemies! I thought my fight would have made that clear. No feral would dare approach a dragon, in fear of what would become of them. I can't believe your village bought that crap." I growled, insulted. 

"I'm sorry. My fellow villagers and I have all heard of dragons, but most of the stuff we 'know' about them comes from rumors and tales told by travelers. No one from Laurel Town has ever seen a real dragon before." Dream said apologetically.

'Well that's no reason to believe such foolish tales.' I thought, my tail lashing angrily through the grass.

The conversation ended there, having turned sour. 

"There, done." Dream said, pulling away and sitting down beside me. 

I moved my wings a bit, still feeling soreness but noticing how it was more bearable. It surprised me how something as seemingly insignificant as a weed would have such a noticeable effect if used correctly. I neatly folded my wing to my back, contented.

I turned my gaze skyward, watching as the first few stars twinkled into being, the sky fading from a bright mixture of warm hues to an ashy gray. Hidden insects began to send shrill calls from their perches as the air began to cool.

"Hey, I never got you name." Dream piped up, breaking the silence. 

"Oh, right. Well, I suppose you kind of deserve to know my name, after helping me and all, but uh...dragon names aren't like the names of monsters or humans, and you may not approve of mine…" I tapered off. 

"What do you mean?" 

"Well...dragons don't choose their names. I guess we could simply use a nickname of we really wanted to, but it never feels quite right to be addressed by something other than your real name. We are born with names, and a dragon's name tells you something about them, or reveals a piece of their role in the grand scheme of things. They're pretty important, and most dragons don't like sharing them." I explained upon meeting Dream's curiosity-filled eyelights.

"Oh, well if that's the case, then you don't have to tell me your name. You could just give me a nickname to call you by." 

"Nah. As I said before, you helped me, so you earned the right to know, and using a nickname would probably be annoying. My name is Killer. Why I have that name, I have no idea. I'm not some mass murderer or anything. I've never really liked my name, since it's pretty negative and foreboding in the case of a possible future event, but it's what I have. I can't change it." 

"Well, Killer, I think your name has strength to it. If you are a good person like you say, then you have no reason to be ashamed. A good friend of mine told me that actions speak louder than words." Dream said, flashing me a confident smile.

"Heh, I don't know if I'm a good person or not, but thanks for not recoiling in disgust." I said, appreciative of how well Dream took it. 

"Of course, I would never do anything of the sort. Also, speaking of actions, you aren't going to leave before your wing is healed, right?" (Italic)

"No, it's a bit too risky for someone like me. A lot of people would love to kill a dragon, and any sign of weakness would be enough for them to try that with me. This valley is pretty safe and secluded, surrounded by mountains and all, and there seems to be plenty of resources that I can use to stay temporarily. Why do you ask?" I questioned.

"Well, it's my job to make sure my patients recover fully after treatment, and any travel, even without the use of your wings, could hinder that. That's not the main reason I asked though. I saw how downcast that rumor about dragons made you, so I want to make it up to you by having you teach me about dragons! It's okay if you don't want to, and I can't deny that I'm partially motivated by curiosity, but I also want to know the truth so that there's one less ignorant person out there."

Wow. Well, I wasn't expecting that of all things. What he was asking of me was kind of serious as most dragons, me among them, prefer to keep to themselves, as it's dangerous to confide too much in others. Many have met ill fated ends by letting a few too many words slip past their guard. However, I hadn't met someone this genuine in a long time. I mean, this could definitely be a clever act, but I had a feeling that wasn't the case. I'd also already told Dream more about dragons that I had told anyone in a very long time, so honestly the damage had already been done. It was a bit risky, but what the heck. Not like I haven't thrown caution to the winds before.

"Sure, why not? It's been a while since I've had someone to talk to. I'll set up camp here, and you can meet me here whenever you're free, preferably around dusk." 

"Thank you Killer! I have to go now, otherwise the rest of the village will wonder where I've gone, but I can't wait to meet with you soon!" Dream exclaimed, his golden yellow eyelights sparkling.

The wide smile on his face never left as he packed up his things and left the clearing, and I couldn't help but dawn a small smile of my own.