William slogged through the early morning shaping the dough.

After setting, The dough he needed to cut and rolled. “I’ve been waiting for this.” Aimuzjon held a single dirtier and longer claw up. She bit on the base of the claw and snapped her head to the side. There was a soft crackling and the surface of the claw came off in a single piece like a sheath for a knife. Revealing fresh, white claw underneath. William passed her the small broken whetstone he had. She slide her claw across it several times. The sound sent chills down his back. “I’m ready.” She announced. Her claw looked sharp enough to cut air.

Aimuzjon cut each piece of dough and carefully rolled them. Will could knead dough, but he didn’t have delicate knives for fingers. Aimuzjon was more dexterous then Will’s fat fingers. He ran around finding places to put all the pastries as they needed to sit for some time before baking.

It was almost dawn and he was already tired. His body was worked to the bone but he had final step completed. All they needed was to bake. “I need more baskets.” William groaned

Commonly called croissants because of their curved shape. He had renamed them dragon pastries in his shop.

This was because Aimuzjon refused to bake them without making each one look like a tiny delicate dragon. Her claw flew over the proofed dough gently cutting in features such as scales or tiny eyes. By slightly lifting the elements they would bake quicker and darker.

William pulled the first tray out. Then went to open the door of his bakery.

He gulped. The line was the largest he had ever seen. He coughed then yelled loudly to the crowd “Ladies, Gentlemen, and, ugh, Single Male Dragons. Aimuzjon is busy today, and will be handling suitors later. She wants me to let you know that she is looking for a permanent partner. One that will move in. Raise a clutch of eggs.”

“Left. Pickup Loafs. One copper, Middle. Dragon Pastries. One Silver Right: other Pastries, Farthest right: Dragons.” William gestured.

Almost immediately the dragon line dissolved as dragons wandered off. William breathed deeply and steppedback as the crowd quickly piled in.

The first tray of pastries were sold instantly.

“Ugh- Aimuzjon?” William called trying not to be frantic.

The oven groaned and seethed at the sounds of water boiling. The hatch opened.

Her eyes were fierce. The air shimmered with heat. Every tooth was visible in a grin of determination, “Done.”

William grabbed his peel. Aimuzjon collected and placed them on the peel. William extracted them then tipped the peel into a basket. Aimuzjon coiled her tail around the inside handle and closed the door. William returned to the jars he used to organize money.

Managing customers was tricky. Most couldn’t count and Will couldn’t touch the money. Money and bread mixing was cursed. Instead Will kept his prices simple, with a quick gesture, customers would drop their coin and William would offer the sought after Dragon Pastry.

It was barely after dawn, before William announced loudly, “And we are sold out! No more pastries!”

“I see one more basket! You are lying!” A woman called.

William growled angerly “Yes. My breakfast!” The door opened revealing a couple misshapen, collapsed and failed pastries. William snatched one and ate it, “You can have ‘em for a silver but I doubt you want them.” he offered chewing.

A couple people with more money then sense bought the inferior products, but the shop quickly emptied as the number of customers returned to usual amounts.

Aimuzjon curled up at the side counter where she sat and waited for suitors.

The rest of the morning was quiet, mostly the odd thing and telling latecomers the pastries were long gone.

Shortly after lunch a sharply dressed butler walked in. “Hello Baker, I was wonder if I could get some pastries.”

William groaned, “Oh- ugh we -umm”

“Coming right up!” Aimuzjon darted and pulled a basket up, “For a pre-order of a whole basket one gold coin.”

The man, was unperturbed by a dragon serving him. The price however, “A gold piece for a dozen! What are they each?”

“Silver!” William and Aimuzjon announced in unison.

Unlike most of Will’s clients, this one could count. “I’ll take the dozen for a gold coin.”

Aimuzjon took the gold coin in her tail and rolled it down her back into her jaw, with a gentle nip she confirmed it’s softness. “It’s gold through” She swallowed the coin. William wasn’t sure the trick, but she could cough it up later. “Pleasure doing business sir.” Generally Will held the copper and silver, Aimu held the gold.

“Wonderful to meet you in the tooth and scale Aimuzjon. The moment Glen’s services aren’t required. I will organize a meeting.” The butler offered, gently shaking Aimuzjon claw “I was dreadfully worried about Glen, they seem so lonely in their furnace some days.”

“Please call me Aimu. I wanna meet her. Have a nice day!” Aimuzjon waved with her paw and her tail. The butler left munching on one of the pastries.

One dozen pastries always became ten by the time it reached home...