by Logan Jacobs
I held my hand up for a high-five, but nobody seemed to bite.
“Oh, yeah,” I mumbled to myself. “You guys don’t do that here.”
That was putrid. Tirian shuddered. If you don’t mind, I wanna take a dip in the water and wash off all this nasty oil. And the smell. I really want to get rid of the smell.
“Just be careful,” Jemma warned, “you’re a fire dragon. You and the water don’t really get along.”
I won’t stay in long, the dragon promised like a bashful child. Just a quick dip. In and out.
Jemma thought it over for a moment before she nodded her head.
“Just a quick dip,” she reiterated.
Watching the tall, leggy deer-woman stretching her maternal muscles with her pet seemed to awaken something inside of me. She was already pregnant with my child, and I knew she was going to be the best damn mother anyone could ask for. Perfectly loving, sweet, and caring, but not a pushover or overbearing.
Jemma was perfect, and I couldn’t wait to give her all the babies she wanted.
Tirian let out a grateful chuff as he pulled back, spread open his wings, and then took off into the air. The silver dragon flew up nearly fifty feet before he turned himself over and dive-bombed straight into the depths with a graceful splash. He was only under the surface for a few seconds, and then his elongated snout popped up and sprayed a few sparks happily into the air. Then he forced himself out of the water, shook his body like a dog, and returned to our position.
Much better, he sighed telepathically.
Now that the alligator had been cleaned and harvested, I turned my focus back onto the logs.
Or at least, that’s what I’d planned on doing.
Instead, I saw all of my crew standing along the beach and pushing the logs out into the sea. Long pieces of rope were attached to the ends of each tree trunk on one end and the hull of the boat on the other. Upon closer inspection, I saw the rowboat was fastened near my ship’s exit, and that George was now in the water helping out.
Well, son of a bitch… It looks like they got it all figured out after all.
I was a very, very proud captain.
“It looks like we’re about ready to go,” I announced to my friends. “Tirian and Jemma, if you want to grab these bones and the baskets and fly them out to the ship, we’ll meet you out there.”
“Of course!” Jemma bounced on the balls of her feet. “Let’s go, Tirian. I’ll start piling up all the goods, and then you can fly them back and forth.”
The deer-woman snatched up the two baskets and held each one under her arms like she had just come back from the local market. Then she stuck them out in front of her body and watched as her dragon snatched them up in his silver claws and took to the sky.
As Tirian flew out toward the ship, the long-legged deer woman began to move hunks of bone into a tidy little pile.
Nadir, Mira, and I wandered back over to the rest of the crew, where we then proceeded to help float the logs out to the boat. The whole process took us another two hours, but we were finally able to get each and every last one onto the boat without the thing capsizing or sinking.
To me, that was a major win.
Once all was said and done, I sat down on the beach and let out a long sigh. It had been a long, hot day, and I was drenched in sweat from head to toe. I could feel the salty sting of perspiration on my face, though I couldn’t really do much to wipe it off.
My crew members must have felt the same way, because they were all nearly doubled over with exhaustion by the time we’d finished.
I may be able to help out, dear one! George exclaimed as he floated his way up to the shore. Have everyone gather into one large group.
“Hey, guys?” I called out as I pulled myself up to my feet. “Let’s gather around for a minute.”
Begrudgingly, the women and dragons all made their way over and formed a small circle around me.
“Is this it?” Lezan asked as she looked at me hesitantly. “Are we leaving now?”
“Not exactly.” I grinned at the crew and then let out a sharp whistle.
The second I did so, George threw back his head and sent a giant, cold spray of water into the air. The fan of liquid splashed across my crewmates and me, and it was like a briny salvation on a sweltering day.
I felt instantly rejuvenated by the sudden splash of cold water, though I knew that would wear off soon. Still, the many “aaaahs” that rang out along the beach told me it was worth it.
Finally, George cut off the hose that was his mouth and gave me the largest goofy grin I’d ever seen.
“Thanks, George.” I smiled back at my water dragon and then turned to address the crowd. “Now, it is time. Everybody pack up your things. We’re going home.”
Chapter Five
“This feels… strange,” a reluctant Lezan admitted as she boarded our ship.
“It’s the first time we’ve ever set foot on a ship,” Malak added, “and we’re about to leave the island that’s been our home as long as the Coonag people have existed. ‘Strange’ might be too light of a word.”
“Try not to overthink it,” Nadir stated firmly as she strutted over to her kin. “Things change. This may have been our home for several generations, but what good is it now? All of our men are dead, and since their deaths we’ve been struggling to defend ourselves against invaders. With Ben as our leader, though? He’s already proven he can protect us. And, once we start bearing his clever and powerful children, our species will reign supreme once again!”
“Aye!” The rest of the Coonag women on the ship let out a cry of excitement and raised their stone axes up into the air at their leader’s words.
“The only way to make sure we reign again is to go with Ben,” Nadir continued, “back to his island where we can heal and begin the impregnation process. So, my kin, don’t look at this as an ending. This is just the beginning!”
The Coonag women responded with gusto, and I whistled at the sight of them cheering and throwing their hands up into the air.
“I can see why she’s the leader,” Anora giggled into my ear.
“Seriously,” Mira added from behind me, “I’d follow her into battle, for sure. Just think, Ben. Someday, that woman is going to bear your children.”
I smiled like an idiot at the thought. Nadir was a downright savage in every sense of the word. She was ruthless, calculating, and deadly on the battlefield as well as a vixen in the sack, where she often left bruises and bite marks all over my body.
Any children we had together would surely be just as hard to corral, but I was completely up for the challenge.
All of our supplies were now loaded up on the ship, as were the Coonag women and my crew. Mira stood behind the wheel of the vessel, but the facade of her stern, adventurous expression was broken by the slight smile that curved up her lips. The rest of the dragon and deer women who acted as my crew had taken up their positions, too, and they were now preparing to set sail.
Meanwhile, the entirety of the Coonag people spread out across the deck as they walked about and marveled at the blue sea around them.
From my position on the stairs, I could see Jemma standing on the front deck. Tirian was hovering in the air slightly above the deer woman, and the soft island breeze blew her auburn hair around in thin, fire-kissed strands. She had her hand on her dragon’s snout as she spoke to him silently through her connection, but because the two of us were bonded, too, I could hear them clear as day.
Don’t worry, Jemma reassured her fire-breathing friend, the ship does not sail very fast, and our island is not that far from here.
I’ve never been on a boat before. The silver-scaled creature bowed his head somberly. My wings are still developing, or I would just offer to fly the whole way back.
“It’ll be fine, Tirian,” I reassured him through my mental connection. “Tell you what… If you start to get worried at any point on the journey, just take a rest up on the crow’s nest.
That puts me at ease, Tirian promised as his head whipped around to look at me. I’ll try to be as discreet as I can be.
The silver dragon gave Jemma a nod and then floated up higher into the air. He spread his leathery wings out like he was stretching, then beat them down in a rapid up and down motion as he steadied himself up on the crow’s nest.
“You’re not gonna get tired on me, are you, George?” I asked my water dragon telepathically. “Or get eaten by some sort of loch ness monster on the way back?”
I’ve never heard of that creature, dear one, George retorted. Should I be on the lookout for it?
“Not unless there’s an equivalent to Scotland in this world,” I chuckled to myself. “Again, I’m sorry we’re making you swim alongside the boat this time. It’s just there isn’t enough room up here on the deck for a giant water dragon, an infant fire dragon, a bunch of timber, and all of the Coonag women.”
No apology is needed, my friend answered with a happy tone. It has been a very long time since I’ve been able to stretch my fins like this.
“Just promise me you’re not going to get gobbled up by some freaky creature from the depths,” I joked. “There’s a lotta scary shit out in these waters.”
I’m a water dragon, George answered somewhat smugly. To most of the inhabitants of the sea, I am one of those scary creatures.
“That’s what I like to hear!” I clapped my hands together and looked back over my shoulder at Mira. “I think we’re ready to go home. Alright, crew, weigh the anchor and hoist the mizzen!”
Instantly, the deer and dragon women got to work climbing up the masts, cranking the capstan counterclockwise, and tying various knots. Finally, once the anchor was weighed, Mira gave the go-ahead.
“Full sails!” the gold-scaled warrior barked with glee.
There was the sound of snapping rope, followed by the sudden thumping of the sail unfurling before us. Within seconds, our main sail was open, and the miniature ones opened soon afterwards.
Soon, we were out on the open sea. George’s blue, scaly body weaved above and below the surface of the ocean on our starboard side, while Tirian sat above in the crow’s nest.
The sea was mighty and choppy, but we passed along the deep blue ocean without much fanfare. The sun was up high and bright in the sky as we coasted across the waves, and before we knew it several hours seemed to pass without incident. The Coonag women were over the moon at the different creatures we saw along the way, from seabirds to dolphin-like animals who sprang out from the depths to say hello.
Several days passed in this manner, and not once did we get attacked by a sea monster or an orc ship. I was too worried about jinxing us, so I never said anything, but I couldn’t believe our luck.
We were going home unscathed.
Eventually, I saw the white, sandy beaches of our island break through the desolation of the sea. The fortification wall towered over the shoreline, and its intimidating shadows stretched out like ghastly tendrils in the water.
“Raise the colors!” I called out to my crew from where I stood beside the helm. “We want to make sure they know it’s us and not an enemy ship.”
“Colors?” Mira questioned as she tilted her round head to the side. “We don’t have any colors.”
“Not even a white flag?” I frowned. “I thought that was standard on most ships?”
“The ships of our invaders are anything but ‘standard,’” the gold-scaled woman chuckled.
Well, shit. I knew what my next order of business was going to be.
I can go ahead, George offered.
“Thank you.” I grinned. “Let our people know Draco Rex has returned.”
The water dragon flashed me an equally toothy grin, and then he jumped from the deck, splashed into the water, and began to swim toward the shore.
The ship drew closer to the island and dropped anchor, and now we were close enough to see the guards atop the wall relax their stances as George emerged from the sea.
They know it is us, dear one, George announced a moment later, and he shook the water from his scales as he stood on the sandy shore.
So, I stuck my fingers into my mouth and whistled loudly.
“Let’s go, ladies,” I announced to the crew of women around me. “Time to go home.”
Within minutes, we’d all boarded the lifeboats and started to row toward the island, and when we landed on the beach, the two dragonkin wall guards greeted us enthusiastically.
“Welcome back, Draco Rex.” A woman with dark gray scales and sea-green cropped hair bowed and smiled at me. “We thought you might have been an orc ship, so we sent everyone back to the castle to take refuge.”
“Sorry about that,” I chuckled, “I was just talking to the rest of the crew about how we need a flag to let you know it’s us.”
“We hoped it was you,” the other woman, a shorter warrior with shiny pink scales, admitted, “but we--Hold on, what in the gods is that? And who are all these women?”
The dragonkin woman pointed at Tirian, who was now floating a few feet in the air. The silver dragon had an innocent, child-like grin plastered on his face, and it only got bigger when the woman acknowledged his presence.
“This is Tirian,” I explained. “He’s a dragon, just like George and Nixie and the pups. But, instead of swimming and breathing water, he flies and shoots fire.”
Both of the warrior women blinked in shock at this new information.
“He’s my bondmate,” Jemma added with a proud grin. “And he’s a very, very good boy.”
“These are the Coonag people,” I continued the introductions, and I gestured to Nadir and the other racoon women. “We saved them from the orcs, just like I saved you and Jemma’s people.”
“T-The q-queen will be pleased to hear all this,” the pink-scaled guard stuttered. “We must get to her at once.”
Just as we were about to head up to the palace, there was the sound of something large moving through the nearby tree line. Branches cracked under its weight as it moved, and we all froze in fear at the thought of whatever creature was large enough to cause such a ruckus.
Well, everyone except for George and Mira. The blue water dragon simply stared off at the tree line with a large, longing grin, while my golden-scaled mate placed her hands firmly on her hips.
Is that you, my love? George asked through our bond.
Suddenly, a pink, scaly, elongated snout popped out from behind the trees and sprayed a mist of briny water into the air. Then Nixie the water dragon sprang forth and dashed over to greet us.
George and Nixie wrapped their necks around each other, which was apparently a term of endearment in the water dragon world, and their pleased dragon hums vibrated across the beach. After the two mates had reconnected, Mira walked over and started to scratch Nixie behind the ears.
“There, there, girl.” The dragonkin warrior smiled. “I told you I wasn’t going to be gone for long.”
It still felt like forever, the pink dragon sighed. At least I had the little ones to keep me busy.
They are quite the handful, George chuckled back. You have no idea how much I appreciate you staying behind to take care of them, my love.
I’m just happy you all have returned in one piece, Nixie admitted, but then her eyes went wide as they darted over our shoulders. And with… another dragon?
“Tirian is Jemma’s dragon,” Mira explained with a broad grin. “He’s a fire-breather, which is why he looks a little different than you and your children.”
Pleased to meet you, fire dragon. Nixie nodded at Tirian, who returned the gesture.
Uh, hi, the silver-skinned dragon awkwardly laughed and looked down at the ground.
Jemma and I heard the nervousness in the dragon’s voice loud and clear, and we exchanged knowing glances. He was still a child, and he didn’t know how to talk to girls of his species. At least, girls who weren’t his mother.
Then and there, I made it my personal mission to find a female fire d
ragon so Tirian could have some practice.
As we were talking, one of the guards ran ahead to alert Queen Nerissa of our arrival. Meanwhile, the other guard began to act as our guide, and our large group wandered up the beach until we finally arrived at the castle. As we walked up to the fortification, we were all greeted by familiar faces, and each one filled my heart with love.
The first was Nerissa, the queen of the dragon kin people and the mother of my first son, Arrick. Her pearl scales were nearly translucent against her mahogany skin, and she had her shell-dotted hair pulled back over her ears as she watched us approach. The queen was currently a few months along with our second child, and her belly definitely proved it.
Nerissa stood there with her hands draped over her pregnant stomach, almost as if to signal she had protected our baby while she was away.
Next to the queen stood Talise, one of the village healers and the mother to my soothsaying daughter, Marella.
Beside Talise stood Ainsley, the sexy blonde deer-woman with the incredibly long legs and electric-blue eyes that I’d already bedded and impregnated. Her stomach was starting to show, as well, but she was nowhere near as far along as Nerissa.
Apparently, even though my seed allowed me to procreate with these beautiful women, it didn’t have much effect in terms of the gestation periods.
The dragonkin women only carried their babies inside of them for a few months, which allowed them to be as populous as the reptilians of my world. Of course, they still needed a mate to impregnate them and protect them from those bastard orcs and their wargs.
On the flip side, a deer-woman’s pregnancy was closer to that of a regular humans’, about six to seven months total. This meant that, although Nerissa’s tummy was as large as a watermelon, Ainsley was still hardly showing.
I opened my mouth to address my lovers, but was instantly cut off by Nerissa.
The pregnant queen ran over, threw her arms around my neck, and kissed me passionately. Her lips tasted sweeter than the ripest berry, and were just about as full.