Once I wheeled him out in a wheelchair that was probably intented for me, cursing under my breath words I barely even knew, I opened the door to my cherry red Honda Sudan, I laughed when I saw the little cat carrier nestled in the newspapers on the floor. Laughed and laughed. Laughed until I was basically crying.

Ari tilted his head as if he could sense my raging emotions. He whined and his blue-tinted elf ears lowered, slouching down on his little chair like a puppy who had made a mess on the floor and got caught.

“See this?” I pulled out the cat carrier and pointed at it with a slightly maniacal look on my face. “This is for you! Get in, little hatchling!” I just about shoved it in his face. “Oh wait- you’re too small!” I laughed and threw the crate over my shoulder, not even caring at the moment.

CRACK!

I whirled around just as car alarms whirred to life.

“Get in the car get in the car get in the car!” I yelped and just about grabbed him and pushed him in. He looked bewildered and shuffled around like he wasn’t sure what to do with his limbs. “Get in!” I hissed, giving one last push and his butt plopped onto the seat and I quickly buckled him in, trying desperately to avoid those mismatched puppy eyes. The blanket draped around him like a toga, barely covering up some of his long pale legs.

When I had finally managed to find the seatbelt buckle and buckle him in, I slammed the door shut and raced to the driver’s seat, starting it up as the horrible screeching of the car next door made Ari whimper.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be long gone.” I said, suddenly pressing the gas before my heart lurched when I realized I was going the wrong way!

I unleashed a pterodactyl screech as the Honda bumped over the concrete before starting to roll downhill at an insane speed. Ari unleashed an inhuman growl, his feet on the dashboard and his hands clenching the car seat. I quickly put the car on reverse and put the pedal on the metal, trying to pull back up, but the frequent rain we’ve been having for the last three weeks created a muddy pit for my tires to treadmill on, going nowhere. I could feel them going deeper and deeper into the soil as the engine thrummed. Ari looked at me with huge eyes.

I stayed here much longer and then I would be stuck, then the guy with the broken windshield would be after me, then they would take away my Ari. It all depended on this! “Come on HELEN!” I yelled like an Aztec warrior (who was Helen? Yes I named my car Helen) and put the car in drive before lurching out of my self-made pit. Through a maze of trees, I could dimly see the highway. I had to make it down this wicked slope first though.

As soon as I started driving down the slope, the slippery leaves and mud caused my hind wheels to start to sway to the side and I screamed as I saw my rear end almost crash onto a tree. I slammed the brakes and my butt swerved to the other side, mowing over a baby tree with a horrible scratching sound as I continued to slide.

Ari started bouncing in his seat, breathing heavy.

“Ari stop moving I can’t see!” I snapped a bit more than I wanted to as I carefully slid between two trees.

“MISS DEMORY!” I heard a voice scream.

That was a familiar voice, tinged with a British accent. MY TEACHER MISS PHELPS! I HAD CRACKED HER WINDSHIELD! I was just so screwed I laughed and gave a burst of speed, my Honda jumping off a small incline and staying in the air for a full thirty seconds it seemed, mud spraying, wheels spinning, Ari screaming, me laughing. Welcome to the crazy bus.

We touched down on the hard gravel and the car’s spinning wheels pushed me onwards and I went quiet as I drove next to a Jeep who’s driver was looking at me like I was crazy. I inhaled and exhaled slowly. I had never cracked like I just had. Never broke the law or killed anyone’s wind shield. And I just got my license last week. This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was supposed to have a little hatchling peeping softly in my fire-proof cat crate. I was supposed to become a Rothai. I was supposed to be met with applause, and placed in special Rothai housing. But now… I was headed back home. A failure. And instead of a dragon, a mute man. It was like I didn’t even care anymore. Everything I had worked for, sweat and tears I had spilled, it was all gone.

I started to cry, my shoulders shaking as I fought to keep from bursting into my ugly bawling cry. Ari whined and reached out to touch my face but I slapped his hand away. “Don’t touch me!” I sniffled.

Ari looked hurt and put his hand back to his chest, his lower lip wobbling.

“Don’t-don’t give me that look,” I sniffed and blew my nose on a tissue, looking back to the road.

He looked down and his ears lowered more, biting his lip with tiny fangs.

I straightened my spine and inhaled shakily. Ari may have been .. well he may have ruined my life. But he was all I got now. I reached over and took his hand in my own, squeezing it lightly. “Hey I’m sorry Ari,” I said earnestly. “I’m sorry that you have to be so scared on your first day.. of life.” I sighed, realizing how miserable I must have made him. It’s not his fault. “You’re mine, Ari. And I will take care of you.” I promised him.

“Rider.” Ari purred and rubbed his cheek on my hand, his lips twisting into a fanged smile, a smile that made my heart jump.

“R-Rider,” I echoed in a shaky voice. I struggled to keep my attention on the road as I felt his warm, smooth fingers explore my hand, and run up each one of my fingers. He poked a freckle curiously. “That’s a freckle,” I said insightfully.

He looked up at me and smiled and nodded, before pointing out every freckle running up my arms.

“Thanks for pointing that out,” I said with a sigh. I hated my freckles. Then my nose scrunched as he poked my freckled nose. “Hey I’m trying to drive, Ari.”

Ari made the cutest pouty face before pulling his hands away reluctantly. Then he started looking at his own fingers and hands with interest, frowning when he didn’t find any freckles.

“Well.. since we’re going to be partners you know.. I should tell you a bit about myself,” I said awkwardly, tapping the leopard patterned- wheel cover. “My name is Kara.”

“Rider.” He said as he felt his own lips with his finger.

I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. “Yes. I was s’posed to be a Rider anyway. You know how hard I worked for that? I-“ As I started on my long rant of long nights and hard tests, and bragged a bit about being the top in my class, Ari listened with a rapt expression, still tracing his own face with his fingers. He pulled on his hair. He pinched his nose. It was all new to him.

But after I was starting to lose steam in my lecture, Ari pulled up his blanket to take a better look at his lower body and I quickly slapped the blanket back to his chest. “I prefer not to be flashed today, thank you,” I said, my nose and cheeks turning slightly red under my freckles.

He looked confused but didn’t pull back on the blanket again.

I clenched the steering wheel, realizing I had a naked guy in my car. I turned into my driveway and parked. In front of me an old farm house stood. And when I said old, I meant it. This house had been here long before the neighborhood surrounding it had been built. Standing defiant of the modern world, this ancient carcass was painted an unearthly white with baby blue shutters by the Civil-war-era windows. A chipped wood door had two painted hands. One was mine, and the other my brother’s. Mine was pink with neat little stripes of baby blue. And my brother’s was a plain black. Random and ugly to others, it made me feel welcome in this airy old house that creaked when a toad breathed on it.

I stared at the black handprint for a long time as Ari wiggled in his seat, obviously ready to get out. “How am I going to explain this to Remy?” I whispered to myself. I stayed there, trying to gather my mind enough to explain just how I left to become a dragon Rider and move out of this pitiful old house, but had only returned with a naked man.

“Rider,” Ari said quietly and put a hand on his stomach. He was hungry.

“Okay I will get you some.. food.” I sighed and slowly slid out of the driver’s seat.

“Kara.”

My brother’s voice made me almost jump out of my skin. “Remington!” I wheezed.

Remington raised a brow. “What did you do to my car? Looks like it rolled in a mud pit. You alright?” He looked at me with worry etched on his features. My brother could be labeled a nerd. He had fire red hair like mine and deep green eyes. His thin face, freckles, and glasses automatically labeled him as a major nerd in school, but he did everything in his power to break the mold of nerdiness… except in classes. We both worked our butts off in school because good grades was our only chance. He wanted to be a computer programmer. And I wanted to be a Rider.

I laughed nervously. “It’s a long story…”

“How did it go? Where’s the little-“ suddenly he peered into the car to find Ari had taken off his blanket and was now chewing on the seatbelt. “WHO Is THAT?” He yelled.

“Long story short, he’s what hatched for me. Can you get some clothes for him?” I laughed nervously.

“Why is he.. naked in your car,” Remington inhaled slowly like he was trying not to unleash a yell.

“They didn’t provide any clothes! I had a blanket on him!” I squeaked, blushing red. “Remy, you got to understand. I touched the egg.. there was fire.. and boom! He was there!” I suddenly felt like crying again.

Ari looked up as if he sensed that I was upset. His eyes narrowed on my brother and he raised his upper lip in a snarl, thinking that he was making me upset.

“No Ari, this is my brother,” I said in a choked voice.

“You named him Ari? But that was to be your hatchling’s name…” Remington knew how much this mattered to me. “This is why you’re back here?”

“You don’t get it. He is my hatchling,” I said, grabbing his shirt. “Remy, this is it. He’s different so they almost put him to sleep. I only got out because Uncle-“

Remington inhaled sharply and bit his lower lip. “I’ll get him dressed, you go on inside,” he said as he walked over to Ari and opened the door. Ari hissed at him and shrunk back, glaring. “He’s going to bite me!” Remy said, stepping back.

“I guess he only wants me,” I said softly as I walked towards him and held out a hand. “Come on Ari. Let’s go.”

Ari took my hand and slowly stepped out on shaky legs. I looked into his mismatched eyes, determined not to let my eyes wander. “Come on buddy. Let’s go inside and get you some food.”

He smiled at me, slowly toddling after me, his large hand encompassing mine as he held it securely, and I had a feeling it would be hard for me to get him to let go. As much as I wanted to be angry at him, that beautiful smile made me think otherwise.

“Stop giving each other the eyes and hurry up inside!” Remington said in a disgruntled voice, scurrying inside to get him some clothes.

“We’re not giving each other the eyes!” I yelled as I slowly walked up the steps with Ari, grabbing his arm when he almost fell. I escorted him inside and Remington rushed over with his biggest ‘Made in Texas’ shirt with a jalapeno on it. I quickly pulled it on him, trying to ignore his muscled pecs and defined stomach muscles. I couldn’t help but brush my hand against his hard muscle as I pulled on the shirt.

Suddenly his skin buzzed under my touch and I heard a strange thrumming sound emanating from him. His mouth opened and his strong jaw shivered. What? Was he.. he was purring!

I smiled stupidly at him before my brother smacked my shoulder. “Stop doing that.” He obviously felt uncomfortable about this new male in the house as he grabbed his boxers and picked up one of Ari’s feet, then the other, shoving it on. Ari wobbled and grabbed my shoulders for support, then looked absolutely mortified when my brother pulled up the boxers to hide his man parts.

I couldn’t help but giggle at his scandalized expression. “Silly, it’s just clothes. See, I’m wearing them too.” I said, showing off my shirt and realizing I was still wearing the white lab coat. I frowned and quickly shrugged it off before dumping it on the floor. And stomping on it, leaving a muddy boot mark. He watched me before hissing as Remy pulled up jeans and buttoned them.

“Well one things for sure. He ain’t human.” Remington mumbled, flinching at the hiss.

“He’s hungry. Let’s get him some food.” I said, helping Ari walk to the kitchen. “What do you want?” I asked him.

Ari looked at me and smiled dumbly.

Okay no response from him. I felt the adrenaline starting to go away from my wild ride and I felt jittery and awkward. And tired. I pulled out some salad and offered it to him after making him sit down in a chair. He sniffed it and licked a leaf before making a face.

Remington sighed and slapped some raw hamburger meat in front of him.

“Remy!” I complained, but before I could say anymore my Ari had grown his fangs and starting digging into it like he had never eaten…. Ever. I blinked. “He eats meat.”

“Course he does.” Remington said, watching him with a grim expression. “I have a bad feeling about this, Kara.”

“What do you mean? He wouldn’t eat anyone…” I said nervously, looking away from the blood fest.

“That’s not what I meant. Why did they just let you go home with… it,” he pointed to Ari. “Wouldn’t they at least force you into quarantine? Why would they let you go home?”

“Because Uncle-“ I started off.

“He got fired. Ten minutes ago,” he sighed heavily and sat down across from Ari, staring at him. I stood in shocked silence as he continued to speak. “Kara I have a feeling you want have him for long. They are probably coming for him right now.”

I shook my head. “No. No I will not let him go. I worked so hard to get him. He is all I’ve worked for all these years. He’s all I have aside from you and this rotten place!” I yelled, putting a hand on Ari’s shoulder possessively.

Remington chuckled. “You have a temper as hot as your hair, Kara. Save that for when they get here.” He said with a low groan.

Ari sensed my anger and suddenly growled at Remy again. I booped his nose, which I was supposed to do when a hatchling was being naughty. “No growling at my brother.” I said sharply.

He blinked and wrinkled his nose before slowly eating the rest of his food.

“Well at least he listens,” I sighed and sat down beside him, taking his hand and running my thumb down the back of his hand. “This has been the worst and best day of my life.” I said with a low sigh, slumping over and running my fingers through my frizzy hair.

“I think it’s about to get a lot worse,” Remington said quietly, staring out the window as blue and red lights lit up, basking the kitchen in the colors of freedom.

“Oh say can you see…” Remington said under his breath. They were here.

I stood up. I wouldn’t let them take him without a fight. I don’t care if I’ve never thrown a punch in my life. These punks weren’t going to take my dragon.