#Cait Deleon

[milk-is-here]

Secrets in the brush Pt2

This started as a self insert in my mind so I'm probably going to keep it that way, also featuring @monsbizarreadventures and @naranciabestboi (made up last names are used)

Recap:

"Hello...."

I whispered in wonder. The locals definitely had a secret, and I was lucky enough to go searching for it.

The dragon let a deep rumble fill his chest, my body shivering as I felt the vibrations. After briefly closing his eyes, they flashed open again. I moved my hand slightly, feeling the smoothness of the scales on his snout.

"Greetings, human."

I heard the deep voice, although the dragon's mouth did not move. I smiled giddily, the voice sounding like molten chocolate, rich and smooth.

"What is your name?"

I asked breathlessly. The dragon tilted his head slightly, as if he hadn't heard that question for several years. Given the area, I'd say my assumption is right.

"The villagers call me The Beast of Obsidian, but you may call me Anbraxas."

"My name is Sarah, Sarah Aldoss."

"What have you come here for?"

Pausing to once again savor the comfort the voice brought, I brought myself closer to earth.

"I'm here with my team to explore the forest and examine the species of flora in the area. I'm their photographer, but I tend to take the photos I think we should have..."

I rubbed the back of my neck with my free hand, blushing slightly as I remembered the several times my coworkers smiled at me in exasperation. The photos I took were stunning, but more often than not weren't what i was supposed to capture. I heard a deep rumble like thunder and I startled slightly before coming to the realization that Anbraxas was laughing. I giggled softly, going to remove my hand from his snout when he suddenly pushed his head closer. I squeaked softly and looked at him perplexed.

"Your hand feels.... pleasant, on my scales. Please dont remove it yet."

I wondered softly to myself how long it has been since he had contact with another living creature that didnt fear him. He seemed very kind, he hadn't snapped at me at all like how the usual dragon stories said. I smiled slightly and rubbed his nose more, smiling wider as I heard a rumbling purr come from his chest. Giggling, I raise my other hand to his forehead, gently resting my hand on the smooth surface.

He moved his head closer, nearly toppling me over as he pressed his head to my torso. I moved to sit down as his head followed me, finding its place upon my lap. I began scratching gently behind his ears and horns, hearing the rumbling get louder.

Who knew dragons could act like cats?

We sat and chatted together, although most of the conversation was questions from me and answers from him. I learned he was more than four thousand years old, and he'd lived in this cave for the past six centuries. He had never brought any harm to the villagers but they still feared him, giving him offerings that now rested within this cave. I rested my head upon his, watching as the sunlight coming in through the top of the chamber began to dim, being replaced with soft moonlight and stars.

Seeing this I gasped softly, realizing I've been away from my team for several hours. They're probably panicking looking for me! As if noticing my sudden tenseness, Anbraxas lifted his head and tilted it slightly.

"Is something wrong, Sarah?"

"I just realized I've been away from my team for probably ten, maybe even twelve hours! They're probably worried sick about me"

I covered my face in despair for a moment before standing up. I really dont want to leave, but I cant just stay here without letting my team know I'm okay. I saw Anbraxas nod, although he looked slightly hesitant. Taking a guess at what might be troubling him, I said

"I'll be back tomorrow, definitely"

He visibly brightened and I smiled. I was absolutely gonna go back, no way I'd pass up having a dragon as a friend. I rubbed his snout and pressed my forehead to his as a farewell, before walking toward the cave hallway. Stopping at the opening, I turned back and waved before making my way out of the cave and back up the hill to the city.

Navigating my way to the hotel we were staying in, I rubbed at my eyes slightly. Talking the day away sure does take a lot out of you. I leaned on the support rail as I walked up the stairs, opening the door on the third flight. Walking to room 46 I knocked on the door, hearing some shuffling from the other side. The door swung open and I was greeted with the surprised face of one of my closest friends in the group, Monica Stone. She quickly grabbed my arm and crushed me in a hug, shouting,

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, WEVE BEEN WORRIED SICK!"

hearing the commotion, Cait Deleon came out of the bathroom in her pajamas and gasped before running over and tackling us to the ground in a group hug. I laughed softly, hugging the two of them back. After they pulled away I was dragged into the room and spun around as Monica checked for any injuries, once satisfied she sat me down and looked at me expectantly. I rubbed the back of my neck before explaining that I, for what was probably the sixth time since we started working together, wandered off again.

Monica sighed and gave me that look that basically said "tell at least one person so we arent all freaking out" and I nodded. Monica was our travel medic, she kept us healthy and from killing ourselves accidentally. She could carry the boys across her shoulders if she had to. Cait, adorable little cait, was our navigator, although she sometimes forgets where we are going, she can get us back on track in a pinch.

After showering and getting into comfortable night clothes, I laid in the twin sized bed and smiled, thinking about how today went. I couldnt wait to go back to that cave, and luckily, tomorrow was my free day to go look around while the others logged their research. Giggling quietly, I turned on my side and fell asleep.

[milk-is-here]

Secrets in the brush pt 3

Waking up to my alarm, I heard Cait already shuffling around as Monica opened her eyes and grumbled. Giggling quietly I said a soft apology before almost leaping out of bed and putting my gear on. This was fairly routine, my team knew by now that if we happened to go to a new place I'd want to take personal pictures, so I'm given one day out of the trip to do so. No sense spending half of it sleeping, so early alarms.

Giving Monica and Cait a quick hug, I bolted out the room and down the three flights of stairs. Sure I was going to take the photos I wanted, but I also wanted to go stop by Anbraxas' cave. Retracing my steps to the slope we descended yesterday, I excitedly ran down, skidding as I slid past the cave path slightly.

Grinning and with a small scrap from the slide, I bolted down the path and into the cave hall, running all the way to the chamber. Once again attempting to come to a sudden stop, I felt my feet slide backwards and I shut my eyes tight and braced myself to hit the pile of gold when I felt scales instead, and a puff of hot air.

Opening my eyes in slight surprise, I smiled widely at the sight of my new friend. I pressed my forehead to his and hugged his muzzle, giggling slightly.

"Careful, little explorer. You almost fell"

I giggled loudly with happiness, blushing slightly at the nickname.

"I wanted to see you again and got really excited, heheh."

"Something about you smells.... off. Are you injured?"

I hummed inquisitively before giving myself a once over, noticing the now stinging scrape on my elbow. Must've been from my slide on the hillside, funny how it didnt start to hurt until I saw it.

"I think I scraped my elbow on the way down the hill. I'll be alright though, Monica can patch me up"

I beamed at Anbraxas before tilting my head confused, noticing him bring his head toward my arm and flicking his tongue over the wound. After about a second or two, the scrape had no dirt or anything on it.

"I dont want you losing a limb because of an infection, little explorer"

He chuckled softly, sounding like the distant rumbles of thunder, which is very soothing when you love rain. I situated myself back down in the spot we had sat before, Anbraxas setting his head in my lap immediately as I scratched and rubbed his scales. It was a wonder that he trusted so easy, you'd think after living for so many years he would've met some untrustworthy humans that wronged him in some way.

But, as I learned from his stories, Anbraxas is very good at keeping out of sight. He hunts for fish and wild deer at night, rests in his cave during the day. The locals stumbled into the cave he chose by chance and they immediately bargained for protection and to be left alone. I was the first to not react with immediate fear and begging, and the first to learn his true name. Of course, hearing this made me blush and feel a strange sense of pride.

Seeing the sun raise itself directly over the hole in the ceiling, I patted his head twice to signal that he raise up off my lap. Standing and dusting off the bottom of my shorts I smiled up at him before explaining that I had planned to hike up to one of the tallest areas near the city to take a picture of the sunset. Resting himself back upon the pile of gold, Anbraxas huffed a small bit of advice,

"Be careful, most of the peaks in this region are very steep. It is easy to fall"

"I'll be fine, dont worry!"

I was not going to be fine.

[milk-is-here]

Secrets in the brush pt 4

Walking back through the city, I exited out the furthest end from the hotel. It was gonna be a bit of a long trek, but itd be worth it. Going through massive plants on my uphill climb, I stumbled a few times but never fell.

As I got higher, the trees began to thin out and the air got lighter, making most of my breathes start to sting, but I continued on. Finally reaching the top of a peak, I gazed out to the area below and grinned. The city was small and a couple of the lights were starting to come on. Looking to the horizon, I lifted my camera and adjusted the aperture and ISO, guaranteeing a beautiful photo. Snapping the shot, I put my camera back in my bag then put the bag on the ground.

Watching the sun set and disappear I smiled contentedly, grabbed my bag, and began my decent down the slope, deciding to take a different route than I took up. I slid a few times while descending until the ground just, crumbled beneath me. With a small screech I was sliding rapidly down the hill, attempting to grab at anything to gain traction.

Hitting my torso against a tree I finally stopped, and as i attempted to catch my breath from the impact I realized something wrong. Looking to my leg, I saw a sharp stick had impaled my outer thigh, making my eyes water. Pulling myself up using the tree, I attempted to limp to the next one, almost collapsing before i reached it.

I stopped and leaned my back against the trunk, tears streaming down my face. There was no way I'd be getting back to the hotel tonight, not without help. And no one even knows I came out here except....

Except Anbraxas.

My eyes lit up with hope as I shouted his name, hoping he would hear me. I shouted until my voice cracked, the pain becoming too much for me to take. And then I heard it.

The beating of wings made me glance up, a black shape darted acrosst the sky and quickly found me within the moonlight, descending fast. Grinning with a slight grimace, I waved one of my arms so he would know for sure that it was me.

A thud and loud steps approached quickly and my vision was suddenly met with amber. Easing my face to a pained smile I greeted him softly,

"Hey Anbraxas...."

He sighed, voice tinged with worry and concern,

"I told you to be careful, little explorer..."

Turning, he put his head under my torso, carefully moving me to lay on his back. Resting my head against his scales, I carefully gripped where I could while he took off into the sky, taking me across the valley and toward a different cave than his own.

Landing and carrying me inside, I sat up as much as I could and looked around.

This cave was smaller, and lacked the hoard that Anbraxas' cave did. Instead, it had a myriad of holes along the walls, looking like small tunnels. A soft rumble came from his chest, and a chirp came back in reply. Glancing around confused, I watched as a blue and green dragon, barely the length of my arm, crawled out of one of the holes.

Bounding over to us, the small dragon chirped again, to which Anbraxas looked back at me and made a head motion to the former. Nodding, the little guy jumped up onto his back and quickly scurried over to me, examining the stick in my leg. Gently taking the other end in his mouth, he looked at me and I nodded, bracing myself for the pain. He yanked it out and I screamed softly in my throat, clenching my fists.

Tossing the stick away the little dragon moved toward my leg again, licking the wound gently. I hissed quietly but watched in amazement as the wound slowly started to close up. Pulling away, he chirped up at me and moved his leg before nodding at me.

Getting the idea, I moved my leg, my jaw dropping in surprise as I felt absolutely no pain, as if my leg was brand new. Smiling I reached out and gently pet him on the head, giggling as he purred like a housecat.

Anbraxas chuckled softly before introducing the small creature.

"This is Cerus, his saliva speeds up the healing process of injuries. He is very friendly, and travels by the various holes in the wall."

"Well, thank you Cerus, you're very kind hehe"

Cerus chittered and crawled into my lap, nudging his head under my hand again.

"He enjoys praise."

I laughed loudly at that, that makes two of us. He'd be a big help on expeditions, especially since I tend to be reckless. I bet Monica would absolutely love this little guy. After a bit of thought, I decided to bring that up,

"Hey Cerus? I think I have someone youd like to meet. Her name is Monica, shes the medic for my research team"

Perking up at the word medic as if he had heard it before, Cerus nods up and down excitedly, chirping loudly. I giggled and patted his head before turning to Anbraxas,

"Can you take us back to your cave? I'll go get Monica as soon as we get back."

He pondered it for a moment before finally nodding. Monica and I would be the only ones that know Cerus exists, the whole town already knows about Anbraxas. Walking out of the cave entrance and making sure Cerus had a tight grip on my arm and that I was secure, he took off toward his cave.