I sheathed my sword which made the dragon freeze. I didn't give up the fight but better to appease this beast for now. He lowered his paw and looked once more at Natalie “I see, she knows what she did, and yet she is not willing to atone. I guess humans will punish her instead." He looked in the distance, setting sun reflected off his dark scales. Then after a minute of silence, he turned to me saying proudly "I accept human, you will be quite the addition to my collection."

I wasn't sure if I should be happy that he gave up for now or beating myself over my stupidity, but when I turned around and saw my precious woman who was crying I think would choose that option every time.

“Please, don't cry, it's gonna be fine. That's the least I can do. There is no way of killing that thing on the spot.”

She nodded and said, “Don't let it take me.”

I hugged her, feeling her tremble “Of course”. I moved away trying to smile where I felt like crying instead. I turned to the dragon and said: “Shall we?”

The dragon tilted his head at me saying “You are stupid, human. You don't see the truth.” His voice sounded almost disappointed.

He then spread his wings and started to walk towards a field. I appreciated that he didn't take off in the village. Just one blast from those wings would destroy half of it.

Once in the open, he looked at me at last. I followed quietly behind it and it seemed to trust that I will follow. Probably understood how important Natalie was to me and that I would do anything for her. He then started to take off. The wind produced by those wings almost threw me away but he grabbed me in those giant claws of his just in time. It didn't hurt but wasn't comfortable either.

Once I found my bearings I saw villagers that followed me looking terrified and among them Natalie who had swollen eyes from the crying but just like every time I left for a hunt she looked calm. Maybe that was her way of saying to come back? I cursed myself, my stupidity and my genes for getting myself into this mess.

The dragon slowly raised in the air and I prayed that he would drop me so the death would be quick and easy, but that was a wish of a fool.

As the flight was dragging on I became tired. I didn't sleep for days due to the hunt and despite the huge danger I was in the sleep took over and I fell into a slumber.

Who knows how long I was gone for. Once I woke up it was dark, I might have slept an hour or five. Either way, it felt like a minute.

I glanced up at the huge head above me. For some reason, he didn't look as menacing as other dragons, especially the one who fought with my brother. I frowned at the memory, dragons are merciless no matter how majestic they are I told myself. I sighed looking down, my view was obstructed by clouds, just how high were we?

Expecting no answers I asked, “What do you plan?”

The dragon's eyes shifted to me as he said “With a sinner, I would rewrite them but you? I am not sure yet.”

The dragon focused on the land ahead once again not giving me a straight answer. I didn't expect a dragon to be talkative, hell, I didn't even know they could talk!

If I were honest the flight was pretty pleasant. A slow rocking back and forth gentle breeze, and that fresh air. However, that didn't change the fact I was on alert all the time. Soon enough I noticed a mountain in distance, the only thing above the clouds. As we started to approach it I felt the difference in the dragon's movement. I squinted at the dark rock and noticed an entrance. It looked like it was lit on the inside. A nest of some sort but why would he light it when he was away? As I pondered this the dragon got closer to the cave and once I was near the ground he dropped me. It still had me tumbling on the hard surface due to the force but nothing I couldn't handle. While rubbing my head I realised that this cave will most likely become my prison.

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