Chapter 2 Prison

Earth, 2104

Dad didn’t like us flying, and I never knew why. Come to think of it, I also never saw him or Mom fly. They both had wings, but they just stayed there, static on their backs. One time, my brother Jake and I flew onto the barn and started goofing off up there. Dad was so pissed, and told us we’d fall. How could we? I’d argue, we can fly!

When they landed, Mom and Dad chose to raise crops for the colony, so we had a farm. I don’t know why, Dad was terrible at it. Mom took care of some earth animals, chickens and some cattle. Our kind doesn’t drink milk, we mostly breed them for meat, but we could trade that milk and any extra eggs for cash or barter with the locals. Most were only interested in money, though sometimes some local farmers and residents would trade us some seed or farm supplies.

The big year was when we finally got some big equipment. A few years after they had us. But it was a big headache. I remember Dad working on it for weeks. He said it needed a subscription to work, I was young and had no clue what that meant, but I know I liked it because it was green like us. One of Dad’s friends made a new controller system for the whole thing so it would work for us. I remember sitting on it’s front tire kicking my feet and being bored while he tried to fix the thing.

The inner colony kids could fly too, but not as well as us. Jake and I had the entire farm to spread our wings, they only had limited space, and for some reason, the adults there didn’t like them flying either.

Both parents I would later learn were very selective about what they told of about our heritage. He never really gave a straight reason about why they left dragon territory, nor would ever really give a hard description of it. In fact, Dad would go exceptionally cold when we asked him about his past. Eventually I just gave up. He was an active member of the colony though, he know most of the population, and would frequently walk into the center to trade or share the crops.

I was 20 though, starting to get ready to lead my own life, Jake was 22, still living with us too. Our kind live with family until we would become mated and start our own family. Maybe at that time he would start a homestead of his own. I wanted to learn, I wanted to build things, if that made any sense. But a major hiccup was going to cancel our dreams.

Dad come home one evening looking very worried. He told us there was a rumor that humans were planning something nefarious, but no one knew for sure what. They had shut the gates into the colony that afternoon and weren’t letting anyone in or out.

We found the next morning.

Mom would cook us all breakfast, often not even dressed yet, as with our kind nudity is no issue. Often we’d come to breakfast before putting on our clothes as well. We normally wear decorative loincloths, often with poncho like tops when out in public. Tho no laws about it, it’s a loose rule. The times I’ve been to the colony center it was normal to see the less fortunate without anything. We did have some slick hoods for bad weather, and being in this part of the world, we also had heavier things to wear in the winter months. But in the heat of summer it was nice to let the air help cool our bodies. Besides, even when one of our kind is nude, you can’t tell who’s a guy or a gal. I think this annoyed humans for some reason. To be fair, our “stuff” is on the inside, unlike humans with stuff just waving about. That must be painful.

When I awoke that morning I looked out the window, it was a beautiful clear summer morning. My stomach growled, breakfast was most important to me. I decided to forgo my usual outfit and to go to breakfast with nothing. I knew it would be hot later in the day, and I’d be going without anyways. As I made my way to the kitchen the familiar smell of chicken eggs filled my nostrils. My stomach growled again. My mother was at the table, Eggs already made. I walked over to her and pressed the side of my muzzle to the side of hers, our version of a sign of affection. (direct kissing is reserved only for mates)

“Good morning Mom!” I said as I slid into my chair.

“Good morning sweetie” she said, like any normal morning, almost.

I started helping myself to pile of scrambled eggs and some toast already made. It seemed to be cooked earlier. That’s when I also noticed she was fully dressed.

“Going somewhere right away?” I asked

“Yeah, your father and I are going into the colony center this morning to find out more about what has the humans worked up” She replied, then smiling, trying to hide her worry.

“Do you think it’s trouble?”

“I’m not sure, they haven’t closed the gates on us like this in years” she replied “Not since before your brother was even hatched.”

As if summoned by his mention, Jake walked into the room, and threw one of my nicer loincloths at my face, my favorite blue one, and noticing he was also dressed up.

“Get dressed, you heathen, you don’t want humans to see you like that after all” he joked “We’re going too”

“You just want to try to find a mate!” I shot back “You wanna see them girly inner colony ones who like to party huh?”

“So what? I can’t do that with my comical little brother to take the attention away when I get awkward right?” He smiled “Besides, you also really want to know what’s going on. Don’t you?”

“Yeah, I do” and I went back to my eggs.

But that was when Dad hurried into the room “I’m going to skip breakfast, I’m really want to get go-” he paused and his ears raised slightly, he looked out the window and I heard him cuss, not abnormal for him but it got me concerned. That’s when I heard it too, the sound of tires crushing dirt, and moving fast.

I got up and as I did I clipped the cloth around my waist and looked out the window of the kitchen door as a military truck raced up to within a meter or two of the house and human soldiers with automatic riffles climbed out.

“Dad! What in the hell is this?” I yelled, starting to panic.

“I don’t know, but do what they say, we don’t need to make it worst” he sounded very worried.

They ran to the door and kicked it in. They started yelling “GET DOWN GET DOWN” as several of them entered and pointed their guns at us. We all complied and we laid face down on the floor of our own home. Two of them started putting cuffs on our wrist and ankles while another two started strapping up our wings. 4 or 5 others started searching the rest of the house. The entire time a couple of them yelled over “DON’T RESIST!” and after the other soldiers swept the house they bluntly asked my mother “Is there anything else left in the house?” she shook her head. Any”THING?” I thought. We were grabbed off the floor and stood up, one by one, then taken outside to the waiting truck, and thrown in the back.

“We got 4, going to the next target” one said to the radio mic on his shoulder as another slammed the tailgate of the truck up. It immediately started moving and we were trucked to the next place over. A family we knew. Also a mother and father and two young kids, a decade younger than us. They were woken up by the same treatment, but no truck was waiting for them, just a few soldiers in a black SUV. Evidently we were the first. We made more stops at a few of the local farms until the truck was full. About 20 of us in total.

Then the truck then headed out of the colony. On the road Dad was sitting beside me, Our mother on his other side, and Jake on my other side. “Dad what is going on? Is this- is this it?” I asked, so afraid for my family.

I could tell he was lying, he didn’t know, but he shook his head. “No, no son, this is just a political move or show of strength. They wouldn’t kill us all” His dark face spikes told the story, but I tried to comfort us the best he could “Just do what they say and we’ll be okay, alright?”

I nodded but couldn’t calm down much at all. It took the truck an hour of driving to get us where we were going. As we pulled up there were 3 large ships. We were pulled off the truck not so gently and the cuffs were removed from our ankles and wrists and straps taken off our wings. As each of our restraints were released we all got the same speech. “Do no try to fly or try to escape, or you will be shot.”

But that was I first laid eyes on them. The sun was shining down on us brightly, a strong breeze blowing around the nearby foliage. Even in their current situation, they were one of the most beautiful things I eve laid my eyes on. I had no idea our species was capable of producing such a vibrant design. I had seen a few with red scales, and a few with blue scales. Dad had told us about white, black, and gold scales, but I had never seen any. But this strong purple, brought alive in the sunshine, a wonder a nature that I was drawn to as if staring into. I was so mesmerized by amazing color that I didn’t immediately realize the danger they were in. I bolted away from my family, my father attempted to pull back on my wing but his grip didn’t hold. He started to follow but a human placed his riffle in front of him.

I was filled with anger, I had the last hour for it to boil up and a fight breaking out a few feet away. This short purple dragon was being attacked by our own. While we were being rounded up and herded like cattle and placed on these three giant ships our own kind was attacking one of our own. A couple of human solders looked on laughing. It looked nearly they were trying to rob them, but they obviously had nothing to be robbed for. They were wearing nothing but a tattered cloth and a small pair of tail bags. There was 4 of them, and one of me. I don’t know why I did this, whether I was full of adrenaline, or just really pissed off about the entire situation, but seeing our own kind fighting at a time like this was not okay. They all looked about my age as well, nearly fully grown but maybe a couple years left to go.

I pushed one down as I bound to the rescue. The second, still surprised by the sudden interruption took my foot to his gut and he fell to his knees. As was was turning to rush the other two the purple one had taken advantage of the situation and tried to punch the third one, but their weak punch landed with very little effect, as the assailant returned the punch with one to the purple dragon’s face. The first two were already regaining their composure and were getting back up. Just as I started to direct a punch into the fourth one’s face when a shot rang out.

We all turned to the human solders who had now taken a much more serious stance “Okay! That’s enough now!” His gun now pointed at as. “Now get your gross alien asses on that fucking boat” as he waved the end of his riffle towards the middle ship.

I turned back to go back get into the line with my family but that line had already progressed. Looking towards the ship I could see my brother, Jake’s wings far up ahead, Dad was trying to push back to me, but with no luck, as he was pressed along with others, and then a riffle met his gaze. I started walking towards them but was met with another human, pushing me into the second line with his gun, “this way smart ass” he snorted.

The purple dragon had followed me the few steps away. They grabbed my arm and I turned and looked down to meet their gaze. “Thank you” they whispered.

“Where is your family, or whoever you are with?” I asked, their gaze instantly going to the ground

“I’m alone, I always have been” they replied

“what is your name?” I asked as we started walking to the ship

“I don’t have one” they said “No one has ever bothered to give me one, I’ve only been called by purple thing or demon”

I was confused. Our parents never taught us some things, apparently some things about our own culture, perhaps our race had more hatred than they were trying to teach us. Maybe they were trying to bring an end to thinking poorly. But now was not the time to contemplate my own upbringing. I was separated from my family and apparently had just made a new friend during this emergency

“Can I… can I follow you, at least until those assholes are far away?” they asked.

I was becoming more concerned for my own situation, knowing I can’t get back to my family, their question seemed trivial. Mom and Dad raised us to help one another, my answer was nearly automatic “Yes of course” I replied “You’re purple, why are are you purple?” I don’t know why in that moment I asked, my brain was being pulled in so many directions. As I looked back I saw the question might have been a bit much too soon, their face was downward again

“Look I’m sorry I shouldn’t have asked that right now, there’s a lot going on” I put my hand on their shoulder “That’s not important. What is important is keeping us both safe, I may have screwed up and now I’m getting on the wrong ship. My family is getting on that one, we’re heading for this one”

As we were pushed along the line. I tried to yell to Dad and Jake, but I heard nothing in reply. “I’LL FIND YOU!” I shouted, and never heard a reply. The ships were large and the fenced in pathways diverged greatly very quickly. Armed guards were placed every few meters outside the fence. The top the fences, about 8 feet tall, were made of coiled razor wire, more of which was also stretched overheard between the two fences every meter or so, preventing a flying escape. I looked forward to the massive ship we were heading for, and that’s when it dawned on me. This was not some impulse decision, this was planned, over months, probably years ago. Yet somehow mankind managed to keep it secret. There were humans who were friendly to us, they never told us. They likely never knew, meaning this was kept secret even from the human population.

It was all irrelevant though, it was happening. As we reached the front of the line and I stared up this ship, likely 10 stories tall, very boxy, the exterior looked like a shipping container, but on a massive scale. There were no windows or portholes. A few humans were at the entrance doing something to the dragons before being shoved into the single wide door. A large 2 printed over the door. To my horror we were also now being tagged, like cattle. The dragon in front of us got a red tag with a QR code in his ear, and I overheard some of the speech given to him, something about ration dispensing. But then came our turn. Without consent or every saying anything the one of the humans grabbed my ear. I instinctively pulled away

“If you want food the next 5 years you’re going to need this” He said “This bar code will dispense your daily rations, without it, no food” I hesitantly leaned in, and let him pierce my ear. I winced as he attached the red tag “As I said this will allow your daily rations, it will be active 1 day after launch, and we launch in 2 days”

“Wait, why the ear? And no food for 3 days? How do I-”

“You’ll figure it out, now get on before you get shot” I looked to the other side as my new purple friend got the same treatment and speech. They walked through the door first and I followed. Inside one guard pointed a gun up a steel staircase

“We’re filling the upper levels first, up that way, top level for you” and motioned the with the gun.

We walked up, I counted, 20 sets of stairs. Each level was 2 pairs switching back. Every level was exactly the same. Rows upon rows of bare beds, bunked 3 high, and every level was only dimly lit. WAIT, did that guy said FIVE YEARS in here?!? Initially I was glad I had got to eat what eggs I did get this morning, but the sickening feeling of my future made those eggs spin in my stomach.

We reached the top level, and just kept walking, straight ahead, past so many of these 3 level bunks, I tried to count as we walked. The entire interior painted white but still hard to see with the low lighting. But as we kept walking, we reach and open area. 3 large red arrows pointed to to 3 individual pockets with some sort of screen and small alcove. These must been the food dispensers they spoke of. We weren’t the first ones on the ship, but maybe pretty close. There only seemed to be about 50 others in this open space, and over the next couple hours it would close up. I looked behind myself and did some quick estimates. The rows of beds, 3 high, looked about 20 rows wide, and I walked past about 45 on the way to the this area, looks like about 3000 of us per level. No that’s no 3,000, that’s not enough. I tried not to do a bunch of math at moment, but I was sure there was going to be of us than there were of these bunks.

As I was thinking someone took advantage of my distraction, and pulled the purple dragon away from me. I heard them yelp and turned to see the same crew of 4 who attacked us outside.

“Let’s finished what we started huh? You still going defend this piece of sh-” as he mouth edoff a taller male came up and grabbed his horn like a whelping, obviously his father (or mother?) and pulled him away.

“No right now you little shit. Are you stupid? Look at what’s going on, and we’re not getting food for 3 days. Save your energy” he scolded, and dragged him away. The other 3 looking a little surprised, as the one in middle shrugged and the remaining 3 parted ways. The small threat made me realize, I may have really gotten myself in trouble for this stranger. I looked at them again. Even in this low light, their purple scales still impressed me. They appeared darker now, but still. My mind started racing again when the suddenly spoke to me, oddly, in english this time

“Don’t worry okay? I’m sure these ships will go to the same place, you’ll be reunited with when we land” They looked down again “Again I’m sorry”

I had decided I picked my side, and something drew me to this purple dragon, I suddenly felt less concerned for myself, they were right, I’d see Mom and Dad and my joker of a brother Jake again, even if it is in 5 years. I grabbed this younger dragon by the shoulder, this time realizing how thin they were and lead them to the corner. I sat on the floor and leaned against the wall, I pat the floor beside me, opposite of the way my tail lay, and gestured for them to sit with me.

“Come on, let’s get to know each other a little, we’re going to spend the next five years together” I said. They hesitated but then sat down. As they moved and sat, wearing nothing but the tattered loincloth with a couple satchels around the belt, and two small bags at the base of their tail, I noticed the tiny muscles they had, and a sudden concern hit me “When did you get to eat last?”

“Two days ago, how about you?” They replied in english again

“I had about half my breakfast this morning. Do you got anything in those bags for yourself to eat?” I asked in draconis.

“No, I ran out two days ago, that’s when I ate last” again, they responded in english

“Why are you talking in human?”

“Sorry” this time they replied in draconis this time “I talk to humans more than I did our own kind”

“Is it because of the way these dragons treated you?” I asked

They nodded

“It’s okay, I think maybe I was raised a little different than they were, my Dad was kind of an idealist, you know? Honestly, I think a little smarter than average too” I sighed and looked at this purple dragon, their chin buried in the chest now, staring down again. “So how old are you”

“16, in human years anyways” they replied

“Oh” I was shocked, they seemed so small I thought they would be younger. I was kind of thinking I was defending a little kid. “You’re kind of small”

“I know that!” they looked up into my gaze “I’m also purple too! In case you’re not observant”

I chuckled lightly to myself “sorry, I don’t mean anything by it” I took a deep breath, as my curiosity was growing more as I found out more “Hey I don’t mean to be rude, but I also can’t really tell, and before I ask, sometimes I can’t tell with adults, but” I paused, trying to be gentle with this one “Are you a boy or a girl?” But their answer really surprised me

“I don’t know” they replied

“What?” This purple dragon just kept surprising me “How do you not know?” this baffled my mind

“I don’t know the difference, I’ve been alone my whole life remember?” they seemed very embarrassed.

“Oh, I guess that’s a talk for another day, maybe, when we’ve gotten to know each other a little better. Well, a lot better” I bet my face spikes were red with embarrassment, I tried to think of a change of topic “So where did you live? I’ve never seen you around before”

“I lived outside,” our embarrassment was fading now “even in the winter.” They looked up and around at the ceiling, plain white paint, same as everywhere else “In fact, I think this may be first time indoors other than at the one shop that would let me in, and that was only a few minutes at a time” their face spikes darkened slightly, suddenly they seemed anxious “this is the longest I ever remember being inside”

I could tell they were getting uncomfortable, well more uncomfortable than our situation already made us “Hey it’s okay, I’m indoors lots, my Dad told me I spend too much time indoors” I laughed “sometimes he’d call me lazy”

“You don’t seem lazy! In fact you look very strong!” They looked me up and down for a second “so how old are you?”

“I’m 20, and I’m a boy” I offered “I grew up on a crop farm, right now I’m kind of thankful I got to eat well and work hard, it might have made me prepared for this”

They looked up at me, worry in their eyes “I’m not so sure I’m prepared” They paused “I never asked you your name”

“I’m Deakon” I reached my hand out to shake theirs, they paused, no idea what I was doing, then reached up and lightly batted my hand. Making me chuckle again “no like this” I reached down and grabbed their hand, and gave it a handshake “I know it’s a human thing, but nice to meet you”

Meanwhile on “ship 1”

Jake scratched at the tag, nervously more than the pain

“Don’t pick at that Jake” his mother scolded “If that gets infected here there will be nothing we can do.”

“Sorry Mom” Jake replied, turning his attention to his father “Are you okay, Dad?”

His father looked stern and deep in though, his face spikes a very dark gray. A moment later he finally spoke “Deakon, I’m worried about your brother, Deakon already. I think we raised him a little too well, jumping in to help a stranger like that” his gazed turn to his mate, then his son, then back off to no where “I just hope we’re all going to the same place” his tail swished in annoyance “Two days, then five years to find out”

He let out a long sigh

“I never thought this, I thought this was going to be a mass grave, but this, isn’t where I thought they would take us”

As the ship filled up the family of now 3 put a claim on a stack of 3 of the beds together. Jake’s father insisted his mother sleep between them, for her protection. The crowd in that part of their ship was mostly from the same area. They knew many, there wasn’t much to worry about. But again their father warned, if food or water ran low, dragons can turn on each other pretty quick. He spend that next two days pacing in the small space they could manage. Angry.

The next two days felt like an eternity, until suddenly the dim lighting just turned red. Jake’s father instructed him and his mother to sit on the bottom bed, while he stood and held onto the post the beds were welded to.

The floor began to shake, the floating feeling of being airborne took the ship and everyone could feel it rise. The next hour everything was shaking as the massive steal beast left the atmosphere, but it would be the jump into warp that shook everyone up the most. This was definitely not made for comfort or was it even tested prior it seems. When the jump happened several around them were injured from being slammed towards the back of the ship. Their father took the edge of a bed to his ribs, possibly breaking a couple. Jake and is mother were thankful he made them sit. After the ship evened out, the lights returned to their dim normal state.

As told, 24 hours after take off, the ration dispensers light up. The dragons rushed them on every floor, it took the first few a couple minutes to figure out, but pressing the tag to the screen did make a ration pack appear. It wasn’t reading the code on the tag, but there was a NFC chip inside that activated the release. Like rats hitting a feed bar, all throughout the day they would be there. The rate of 10,000 dragons getting a single serving a day was alarming, where all this food would be stored in the ship, was there enough for five years? Thousands on every ship pressed their ear awkwardly to the screen for food.

It was only a week into the flight about the prison ship when Jake’s father sat him down and came clean. Jake was shocked the whole time, it was like he was lied to for 22 years.

Their father was horrible at farming, because he was never a farmer, he was a fighter. He knew so many in the colony because it was his idea to lay low among them. But he had no idea the ship would not be returning. He described the planet where he left, a world called “Titan’s world” a hyper capitalist dystopia where everything was owned by one, and only one dragon, a white scaled tyrant named Titan. He was deeply saddened by how dragons lived, he felt deep inside that they were meant for a better purpose, and that it was being suppressed by the sociopathic few. He had actually started a small revolution, which caught on rather quickly, and it didn’t take long before word reached Titan himself, and a price went out for his head. Money was hard to come by, so many lowlifes were looking for him. The plan had always been to return. He took his mate with him, their mother, and while they were on Earth and thought they were stuck there forever, they decided to have a family. This journey’s most dangerous part would not be from the humans for them, but it would be from whoever is waiting on the other side.

Jake took it all in. At first he felt betrayed by his father, and didn’t talk for several days, only eating, and sitting on the bed he claimed. As his mind digested the lies in his life, he began to understand it now. His father never lied, he just never told the complete story, and he did it to protect him. He contemplated it more for another week. Never talking to his parents only a meter away. On the third week, he finally spoke again.

Sitting beside his father, who was a little surprised

“Well I thought you’d never talk to me again” he muttered

“Dad, it was a lot, listen, I forgive you okay, you kept us safe, you did what you had to”

His father looked into his son’s eyes

“I think you’re right, if it’s really anything you described, it’s the most horrible conditions any species should ever have to live through, and you thought you were free from that, and when we get there, if you’re still going to fight, then so am I, I was born free on Earth thanks to you, and I’m going to life free the rest of my life”

Jake leaned in and hugged his father, tears were running down both their faces. Jake pressed the side of his muzzle against his dad’s, then turned to his mother and hugged her, doing the same sign of affection with her.

His father spoke up, a little choked “Okay Jake, I’m going to keep us all safe when we get there, one way or another, and you can help” he nodded quickly “We are going to stay free”

A moment later he chuckled “Jake there’s one more thing I need to tell you”

“What is it, Dad? It can’t possible get worst”

“No, it gets better. You’re mother is one of our best fighters too. You’re on the top because WE are protecting you. She could shoot a bug off a cow from a kilometer away” he started laughing “honestly, between us, she’s the real bad-ass”

Jake looked his mother, who placed her hand on his cheek “Just remember that next time you feel mouthy” She pulled her hand away, making a finger gun gesture and smiled at her son.

They of course had no idea for sure where they would be dumped, but they had about 5 years to come up with plans and ideas, and ways to find their missing family member.

Ship “2”

**It was 6 weeks into the trip when I made that mistake for the first and only time. We were all already losing our sense of time, the light just stayed the same all the time, no light cycle at all. Everyone began sleeping at random times. I left them just to go use the facilities, which by the way, where already very gross. They were fast asleep, and I didn’t want to wake them. As I returned I heard the scuffling and knew how I had fucked up. Those same 4 kids we all on top of them, throwing punches, I hope it just started and it wasn’t too bad. I ran to them and jumped on the pile and started throwing punches.

Luckily I did surprise them. I got the upper hand and the first two went down and yelled, staying down. The other two managed to land blows to my right eye and my snout. I relentlessly threw punches back, as fast as I could. The strong farm kid had the upper hand against two alone. After a few minutes they gave up. As they backed off I had to resist the urge to go after them.

“Watch your back, we’re going to kill that purple freak” one of them said, spit blood on the floor and then calmly walked off.

I turned to the purple dragon, still balled up and crying. I felt horrible, I thought for a few minute they would be safe. I sat down beside them, my eye swelling and a couple drops of blood from my nostril hit the floor. I put my hand on their arm, and they cowered.

“It’s okay, it’s me, I’m back, I’m so sorry, I just had to piss, I didn’t know they’d be so quick to jump you like that” They turned to me, and rolled into my chest and started sobbing. Blood and tears rand down their face and ran down my body. I wrapped my arms around them, then slowly, I hid them in my wings. It was strange, maybe it was because I took a few punches to my own face, but I felt I feel like in this moment I shared their pain. I could feel it, down to my heart. I don’t know how anyone could hate this gentle creature. I had gotten to know them well over the last 6 weeks, heard their stories. How an ice cream cone made their day after getting beat up. Their excitement when Samuel arrived every week to the colony. I didn’t just heard the bad, somehow every story ended on a positive noted. Despite knowing nothing but hatred from our own kind, this dragon only thought of the good moments in their life.

But this was a dark moment. Something to leave behind. Like it was time to let go and leave. An exodus of the hate.

Exodus…..

“Exodus” I whispered, in english

The sobbing stopped and they looked up from under my wings to meet my eyes, my right one swelling shut now.

“What?” they whispered

“Exodus” I repeated, in english, but then change back to draconic “it means to leave, a mass exit” for some reason this random word seemed to fit “The exodus of our people form Earth, and the Exodus of your life from living in the shadows and living like this” I pulled my arms tight around them “You’re too wonderful for this. This is your exodus. This is you”

Their tears kept flowing, but I could feel they were coming from a different place. Tears began to flow from me as well.

“Thank you” they whispered in english. They leaned up and pressed the side of their muzzle to mine.**

**“Exodus, I won’t let this happen again” I pulled them in tight and I began to lose consciousness.

I woke up a few minutes later. Exodus was standing in front of me, yelling with someone. As I came to I lifted their purple wing to see what was going on. That kid’s father, I’m assuming, the same one who grabbed his horn the first day, now holding him again my the same horn. Was auguring with Exodus about something.

His father was about to start yelling at me until he saw my face, I couldn’t open my right eye, things were a little blurry, but he spoke, oddly calmly.

“I came here to tear you a new one for beating up my kid, you’re older and should know better, but I see someone already taught you something today”

“Yeah, your kid and three of his friends”

He turned his attention back to the kid and pulled hard on his horn “Larx, you little shit! Look at this purple thing! It’s half your size! Stop picking on it! You’re getting too old for this childish bullshit! If there weren’t a thousand witnesses I’d kick your ass right now! You got what you deserved on this!” and with that he pulled the kid off by his horn and stomped into the darkness around the beds.

“I hope that’s the end of that for a while” I muttered, I pointed my head straight up to lay against the wall fully. Exodus looked around then took their place sitting beside my and leaned on my shoulder. We drifted off to sleep.

That was no the end of the violence of the next 4 and half years.**

**About a year in, a large dragon cornered us with a shiv, he believed that Exodus’ bad luck was the reason for all this. I kept backing up, but were in the corner, I kept my wings spread, trying to hide Exodus behind me. My arms extended in front of me to try to keep him away. Two more dragons came up behind him, I thought we were done, that they decided it was our time.

To my surprised one of them wrapped his arm around the attackers neck and pulled him down, the other grabbed his wrist of the hand holding the shiv and started prying it out of his hand. 3 more noticed the problem and came to help, pinning the large dragon to the ground. “No! We have to kill it!” he yelled as the other subdued him. The shiv was taken, I don’t’ know who took it, nor where it went, but I never saw it again, thankfully. The group decided to bar him from this level, I also never saw that dragon again.

One of those who helped introduced himself after, he was the shopkeeper, one of the few who would be let Exodus just exist. He told me he was helping me more than Exodus, and advised me my life wasn’t worth it. Next maybe just let it go. I told them I couldn’t.

I helped Exodus grow as much as they could in the last of their growing stage. They were 16 when we boarded, they were 20 now, and wouldn’t grow anymore from now. I gave them every second ration for 4 years. They often protested. It did work a little, I know they ended up a few centimeters taller now. This came a small price for me, I did lose a lot of muscle mass. I was still stronger than most, which was saying much. 4 and half years on low quality rations made everyone much weaker.

We had picked a corner as our space, out of the, but no beds. Not that the bare beds would have been any more comfortable. Our presence eventually wore the paint of the wall and floor, a bare metal spot where we sat marked out spot.

Exodus did have something in his tail bags, a pair of novels. One about “the great west” a human cowboy novel. Another one about a murder mystery in a mansion. Very cliche, but it was our only entertainment. We must have read both about a dozen times over the trip.

But the worst was at the 4 and a half year mark.

We were next in line to get our daily rations, the dragon in front of us put his ear up the screen, the screen beeped confirmed the tag, but then suddenly the screen just turned red and nothing came out. It didn’t take me long to know what happened, they had run out of food for us.

Our last few months would be when all hell broke loose.**