Damsels and Dragons

Chapter 13 - Silver Lining

"Did you bring someone else with you?" I asked. I definitely smelled a faint people scent along with Liv and Daniel, and it definitely wasn't Mille. I was a bit nervous, but if Liv and Daniel brought them that made them a good person, right?

I sat down on my butt waiting for them to come out. I was so excited to tell them I figured out how to fly! If I get good enough I could even carry them. I bet they'd love it cause flying is the best.

Unfortunately I had caused a bunch of damage landing. The whole clearing was up turned dirt, and they'd probably have trouble walking on it with their tiny normal people legs.

I saw Liv and Daniel come out of the forest a moment later. I waved. I didn't see the new person.

"We did bring someone with us, his name is Tristan and he taught me to hunt."

I didn't hear him step out but a guy with black and grey hair who looked as old as Linda stepped out of the forest. He was the one with the weak scent I smelled.

I waved to him, "H-Hi. I'm uh Nissa. S-Sorry about the mess I made." He did a little wave back but otherwise didn't do or say anything. I eyed him for a bit but eventually turned my attention back to Liv and Daniel.

With an excited smile I said. "Guess what! I figured out how to fly!" I flapped my wings gently.

Liv used a face expression I hadn't seen from her before. "We know. You also roared and let everyone in the valley know you're here." She sighed and grabbed the bridge of her nose. "What were you thinking?"

She sounded mad like when Linda w-would hit me. I cowered and mumbled, "S-Sorry, I didn't-I didn't mean too. I-I was just h-happy, and it slipped out. I'm sorry."

"Gods, Nissa." She walked closer but I backed up, I didn't want her to hit me. She stopped approaching as I backed up. "I'm not mad at you I'm just frustrated in general. Doing that is going to make it harder to keep you safe, but we'll figure something out."

Daniel carefully approached over the uneven ground. "Liv's right. We just care about you. Also I'm very proud of you for learning to fly, you must have put in a lot of effort judging by how messed up this place is."

I lowered my wing which was shielding me from them. I sniffled a little, "Really?"

"Yup." He confirmed.

"I-It did take a while. I uh still haven't f-figured out landing." I confessed.

The stranger strolled into the torn up clearing. He stepped through the uneven terrain without any effort. Stopping near Liv he said. "You were right."

Liv went wide eyed as he said that. Though after a moment she went back to normal eyed mode. "Well of course I was right, look at her. She's adorable."

Daniel gave her a look as he grinned. After a moment her turned to me. "I almost forgot. Nissa, here's a gift from Millie and I." He pulled out a small pouch. It made a satisfying jingly noise.

I went to pick it up but realized my hands are too big, and I might graze him with a claw. "Uh, I don’t think I can hold that. My hands are too big now." I limply moved it to show him. "But thank you for the jingly pouch. I like the noise it makes."

He almost started laughing. "The gift is what's in the pouch." He took out a shiny disk, but this wasn't like the one from yesterday. No. This was a grey shiny disk, and it too was very pretty. "This is called silver, the bag as a few of them."

My eyes were locked on the coin. I moved closer to get a better look despite being able to see it fine from a distance. "It's so pretty! I love it! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you."

I set my hand down in front of him. "Can you set one on my hand? I want to hold one." He put one on my palm and I raised it to my face. I just sat there staring at it. It wasn't just pretty it was mine! If only I could take it up and put it in my stash. I was very careful about were each thing in my stash was placed. Whenever Linda would visit my room she usually kicked the pile and then I'd spend the next hour fixing it.

I don't know how long I spent staring at my shiny silver disk, but I eventually remembered I was with other people. The three of them seemed to be talking about where I could stay.

"With the townsfolk startled and fearful, it might be best if she leaves Springvalley for another region." Said the stranger who I still did not know the name of.

"That would be a death sentence for her! Besides she grew up here she has every right to live in the valley same as everyone else." Liv shot back.

"Why don't we try to convince everyone she's friendly?" Daniel suggested.

The stranger shook his head. "I doubt most could see past her appearance. She exudes a presence of fear that she cannot control."

Daniel thought about it a moment, "Yea some of them can be awful, and she definitely has some sort of terror presence."

"What are you two even talking about? she doesn't have a terror presence she's just a dorky girl in a large body." Liv corrected.

They both looked at her. Daniel explained, "I know you have feelings, but you honestly can't feel that pressure telling you to run away?"

"You really aren't making sense." Liv shook her head dismissively.

Wait I had a weird presence that made people scared? I didn't want to scare anyone. Daniel and Millicent didn't seem too scared after we met and stuff. Were they pretending to be okay to make me feel better? "S-Sorry. I-I didn't mean to make anyone scared."

They all turned noticing I wasn't focused on the beautiful metal disk in my hand.

"They're just making stuff up. You're not scary at all." Liv confidently stated.

The stranger tilted his head. "We aren't, it is a known phenomenon of powerful creatures and especially dragons. Dragons are known to be able to control it, suppressing it or amplifying it at will."

"Wait, what?" Liv and I said at the same time.

"Are you some kind of dragon expert?" Daniel asked with an eyebrow raised.

"I'm a veteran monster hunter. While I don't have personal experience with dragons I know more than most." The stranger explained.

"Oh, now you decide to stop being cryptic and answer questions. To think I'd have to introduce you to a dragon to get you to stop." Liv made very weird tone noises saying that.

"As I was saying, she can learn to control the effect. Beyond that some dragons have been known to take on the forms of humans as a disguise. If she wishes to remain in Springvalley I'd recommend helping her learn at least one of those skills." The old guy said.

"I-I can turn back into a person?" I asked. That would make everything so much easier. I could go add the silver to my stash. I could read my books again. Unfortunately, I'd be stuck looking like a boy again. I really didn't want to have my thingy back.

"We'll definitely help you figure out both of those." Liv told me before turning to the others. "But until then she needs a place to stay."

"B-but can't I stay here? What if someone touches my stash? Or worse what if someone took something from my stash?" My heart was pounding just thinking about it.

"Stash?" The quiet scent guy asks.

"She has a collection of shiny objects in her room in the tower." Liv explained to him. She looked up at me, "What if you take it with you?"

"I-I might break some of it, and it would be unorganized. I wouldn't be able to fix it because my hands are too big." They were all looking at me funny. "Did I say something weird?"

"That pile was organized?" Liv asked. I nod strongly. "If you say so. Let's seal off the tower and then find a spot she can stay in that isn't sleeping outdoors."

Liv and Daniel bar the door from the inside and then I help them down from the second story window. They remove the sheet rope ladder so no one can get it.

"Alright now, where can we hide her?" Liv asked. "Tristan any ideas?"

The stranger now known as Tristan scratches his beard. "The only place that could fit her is much closer to town. A long abandoned barn, but if anyone explored near it they might find her."

Daniel chimed in, "But with her presence it should keep anyone from exploring. We won't have to worry about some kids stumbling across her if they can't even approach the barn."

Liv looked skeptical, "I'm still not sure I believe that's a thing but if you two think it'll work."

Dan shrugged, "It also means we don't have to travel as far to hang out with her."

Liv looked up to me, "What do you think? Want to live in a barn?"

"Uh, what's a barn?" I don't think that came up in my stories.

"It's a building meant to hold animals and hay. They tend to be pretty big wooden buildings." She explained.

"O-Okay. I uh would like to live closer to you guys, I like it when you visit." I scratched my cheek.

The old guy chimed in. "You'll have to fly to it at night."

"Any reason for that?" Daniel asked.

"Can't leave a trail through the forest, people will notice. Her scales are dark enough no one would see her flying at night." Tristan explained.

"B-But I don't know where it is."

"How good is your eyesight?" He asked.

"R-Really good. I can see in the dark now and when flying I could see lots of really far away stuff."

Liv thought about it. "If we stood outside the barn could you spot us?" I nodded. "Then that’s the plan." She turned to the old guy. "You'll have to show us the spot." He just grunted.

I handed Daniel the silver back to put in the pouch as it was hard to do stuff while holding the shiny disk. I miss being able to walk upright then I could hold stuff while walking. I preferred being a dragon in general it just made all the little things really hard. Because everything is so little now.

They stayed for a bit longer then left to go find the barn. I really hope I don't get lost flying around.