The winter sun disappeared behind the dark ominous clouds as thunder rippled across the plains. Obeka Mountains in the distance disappeared behind a wall of rain and the tall green grasses began to bow to the strong winds forewarning the coming weather.

Palon lay amongst the grasses his eyes closed, his breath heavy, and his body weary as he listened with care the return of his companion. As he neared the end of his days, he reflected how fortunate his life had been and that he would not be alone in death.

The sound of wings lasted momentarily before a thud on the ground in front of Palon followed by another alerted his presence to the other. Through slit eyes he gazed at the bright teal dragon before him. Tennan returned with venison now sprawled several feet from Palon.

“This will be the last time I hunt for you. My fertile is upon me and my offspring will soon begin development.”

“So you must return to your original form for this to happen?”

Palon did not fully understand the shape-shifter, yet what he had been told over the time Tennan remained in his company he found fascinating.

“Yes. The fertility will take only a few days and the gestation several months.”

“It takes dragons two years to bear an offspring. I cannot fathom how you can do so in such a short time. Would this not mean there are more of your kind than every other species?”

“The time between our fertility is much longer than other species. We might only a handful of offspring in our lifetime before we find our true form.”

“Ah yes. Your true form. Even now I still do not understand this.”

Tennan crouched down in front of Palon, using their snout to push the food towards him.

“You should eat before the weather reaches us.”

“It will be fine.”

“Can I not persuade you to seek shelter?” Tennan asked in a tone that knew the answer.

“When I can no longer feel the rain upon my scales nor hear the sound of thunder above nor see the cracks of sunlight through heavy clouds, only then will I know I’ve reach my time of slumber.”

The first drops of rains reached them as the thunder grew closer.

“This is also where my mate died and so too will I. Do not concern yourself over my fate Tennan. I have farewelled my family and friends and begin my death slumber. I am at peace and ready to pass on.”

“I envy you.”

“Indeed you do. Yours is a life I would not wish upon anyone.”

Lightning flashed across the sky, followed more closely by thunder.

“Retire to your dwelling young shape-shifter. The storm approaching is not for the likes of you.”

Tennan rose as the rain grew heavy and water ran over their scales. Even in the dull sunless day, the majestic hue of Tennan’s scales glistened.

“Beautiful.” Palon murmured under his breath as the young dragon shifted back into his natural form and ran with haste toward the small stone dwelling.

Tennan sat on the cushioned ledge against the wide window looking out over the grey miserable day. A fire against the back wall crackled bringing warmth to the small cottage. The heavy rain made it difficult to see anything beyond several feet, yet Tennan could make out Palon’s enormous blue silver silhouette. It gave them comfort knowing the dragon had yet reached his death slumber.

A wave of nauseousness overcame Tennan, and they clenched their lower abdomen. Their fertility had begun. The months of warning leading up to their first fertility meant Tennan had time to leave their life in the Elvan community and find a place of isolation and solitude to give birth. They had not intentionally planned to reside beside the dying dragon. The empty plains gave Tennan a place to live alone, yet the arrival of Palon might have otherwise ruined thier plan if not for the dragon’s willingness for company.

The opportunity to communicate with the dragon and ultimately learn to shape-shift into that form delighted Tennan. Palon had not been keen, yet once committed to his death slumber the desire to kill Tennan became lost. When the shape-shifter transformed to the beautiful hue of blue-green Palon grew tolerable off them and accepted their company.

Theirs was an unusual relationship.

Another nauseous wave overcame Tennan, and they moved away from the window to lie on the pelts of several wild beasts gathered in the corner near the fire. The soft fir against their skin momentarily gave pleasure as Tennan attempted to lay in comfort to ride out the next few days.

When Tennan emerged from the cottage, the bright blue sky dotted with white patchy clouds greeted them. Palon lay motionless among the tall grasses and the carcasses left days before remained untouched. Tennan parted the grass and made towards the dragon as the fresh smell of dirt rose up under bare feet. A gentle breeze blew and Tennan closed their eyes to enjoy the new morning.

As Tennan reached Palon, they saw the deep blue scales were now more silver. Signs many had blown off in the wild weather revealed dry grey flaky skin, some weeping from infection.

No longer able to shape-shift into dragon form, Tennan rang fingers over Palon’s fore quarter as they walked to the front of the dragon. Powdered residue build up under Tennan’s fingers and removing their hand, brushed their fingers against their robe. Bright teal hair blew around their face as they came to stand in front of Palon, the dragon’s breath steady but slow.

A sense of relief flowed though Tennan as they reached out and caressed the dragon’s snout.

“I feel your presence has changed once more shape-shifter?” Palon’s low growling voice barely met Tennan’s ears.

“I am now with child and shall remain in this form until their birth.”

Without opening his eyes, Palon gave a huff, his breath bringing warmth to Tennan.

“You haven’t eaten?” Tennan enquired.

“Now is not the time to worry about such things.”

Once more Palon let out a deep breath.

“I shall leave you to your slumber.”

There came no response from Palon and Tennan returned to the cottage.

The days passed much the same. Rain continued to grace the plains and Palon remained unmoved, his eyes closed and his scales molting around him. Tennan remained bound to the cottage finding it difficult to keep the dragon company as their body readied for birth.

Spring gave way to the return of the birds as they laid feast on the seeds and flowers abundant among the plains. Palon’s grey form remained stoic and still, a large grey mass silent among the grass. Birds nested in the crevices left on his body from missing scales and he appeared more stone like than dragon. Yet the grass in front of Palon remained low and stunted from the slow warmth of his breath.

Tennan knew not when Palon’s death slumber would arrive but as the days grew warmer Tennan gave brith. The genderless newborn rapidly grew, barely paying any mind to Tennan as they became less needed by their offspring. More fascinated by the dragon, the offspring’s first form was that of a dragon and within the months of their growth, kept this form before leaving towards the mountains never to be seen again.

“Does it not wound your heart to have no connection to your offspring.” Palon’s low voice reverberated beneath Tennan’s feet. His eyes now fixed shut, his skin sagged and dull, his time almost upon him.

“It is our way of life. We are born with a burning desire to find our true form.”

Tennan gazed towards the mountains. To make such a connection between shape-shifters would bring about both their doom.

“And have you found yours yet?”

“No. When I do, I will no longer be able to shift.”

“Yours is but the cruelest existence to live on our world.”

Tennan had no words to argue.

“Perhaps you are right.”

The sun overhead beat down upon them as the discoloured grasses baked in the heat and then silence.

The warm breath no longer touch Tennan and from the corner of their eye they saw the form of the dragon crumble and collapse where it lay. Small particles of dust floated around Tennan before they settled across the large space now empty.

The time came for Tennan to continue their search for their true form and without a backward glance at the small stone cottage, they shape-shifted their form to that of a werewolf and bound away from the mountains towards the Bho-chu forest.