Continued from Part 1 and Part 2

No, Hrulash doesn’t get a break for now. But he doesn’t mind this way so much ifyouknowwhatimean. I think this would need toning down if it were part of the main story… It’s too developed. But it’s not part of the main story, so nyah.

Also this was scanned after I installed the proper software to scan things on my new computer, and… eh, it’s not very good quality. I will have to tweak a few things next time.

Hrulash did not let further grumbles escape his mouth as he stalked towards the dragons’ den. As he drew closer he heard human laughter and knew that the dragons had company.
All he wanted to see was Garekhen; the dragon wouldn’t bother him and would probably dissipate his embarrassment.
Seriously. Where did Xanda get these ideas? He couldn’t overemphasize how much power she had over him, not just physically, now emotionally as well. Which was ridiculous. He was a soldier; the only power that ought to be able to claim him now was that of superior officers. Or family.
But… she was just trying to be friendly, in her own unintelligible way.
He just hoped her friendliness extended to not pressing his new-found weakness. Or maybe he could get rid of his weakness. A weakness like that would only lead to trouble in battle. He had to truly be as cold as his facade suggested.
Or he could just trust her. Trust all of them.
That would be hard. Easier to just excise it.
He turned the corner and saw his weakness visiting with Centriel and Garekhen.
“Hey, buddy!” Garekhen said, bobbing his head at him. “Come sit with us! Whazzamatta? You look ruffled.”
“Yeah, you’re right!” Kali chirped, turning away from Centriel. “What’s wrong?” Centriel tilted his head to one side, mirroring his partner.
“I’m sure Xanda would love to tell you all about it.” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the courtyard.
She gave him a pout, then jumped up to face him head-on, despite his having at least a foot on her. “But you’re here now. Is it anything I can help with?”
Hrulash snorted mirthlessly. “No.”
“Aw, come on.” She grabbed his arm, tugging him over to the dragons, then began to circle him. “Tell meeeee.”
“No.”
“Can you tell me?” Garekhen asked.
“No.”
“Is that all you’re going to say?” Kali asked, eyes flashing – such eyes! – at his monosyllabic responses.
He hesitated. “…No…”
She got very close to him, then, standing on her tip-toes to get as close to his ear as possible. “Just tell me,” she crooned in a teasing whisper.
He couldn’t have gotten a word past his suddenly constricted throat.
Kali twirled away as if nothing had happened. “Well, be that way! I’m just trying to help.”
Hrulash recovered by faking a coughing fit.
“Ah, whatever,” Garekhen said, sweeping a wing around Hrulash. “Come hang out. Kali was telling us about the Centurion’s past exploits! They’re very exciting.”
“Well, maybe we should find Xanda, huh?” Kali said, patting Centriel’s nose. “She’d like to hear, too, I’m sure.”
“Sure,” Centriel nodded.
“Yeah! We should do that. Come on, guys!” Kali seized Hrulash’s arm again and dragged him after her, and the dragons followed a bit more slowly, chuckling in their deep voices.