FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

The

next morning, there was a bit of a scene at Huntchy's place, though no one

could really tell. Jon-Ton and his lady had a wonderful night, after a fitful

start. It seems she was reluctant to transform him, and only did so after

stepping outside to collect her bearings. While she was outside, he wondered

what was wrong with her. First she was interested, and then she was hesitant.

He knew females were fickle, but this was growing to be ridiculous. But he had

suddenly found himself a human once again, and when she came back inside, she

was more than ready to ruffle up the bed sheets.

There

is no need to go into details. Let's just say that it was enjoyable for both.

But come sunrise, she got a little nervous. Jon-Tom couldn't figure it out, and

she dismissed her behavior as hardly out of the ordinary. He had finally given

up and rolled back over when he heard her voice; her human voice that is. As he

flipped back, his nose wrinkled at the acridity in the air. It meant that magic

had just happened. Sure enough there was Sybeele, looking over at him with that

enigmatic smile. He was beginning to think the girl was crazy. She was

certainly driving him nuts. It wasn't bad exactly, just a wavering between

moods like she needed a good dose of medication.

"Good

morning dear! What's the look for?" He propped himself up on one elbow. "It's

for you. I swear sometimes I don't know who I'm talking to. One minute you're

mood is up, and another you're waffling on about this or that. If the sex

wasn't so good, and if I didn't really have love in my heart for you, I call

you nuts and have you committed!"

She

only giggled. "What with all this power I have at my disposal, where do you

think they could put me that would hold me?" He grimaced. "I tend to forget

that little detail. Then again, that power alone might be enough to unbalance a

person. I may need to keep an extra close eye on you!" She giggled some more.

"Oh, you do that! And when your eyes aren't on me, maybe you'd better stick

close with your manliness inside me!" He choked back a laugh. "That sounds like

a good offer. Is it open?" She got a wry grin. "The offer or my legs?" He pinched

her on the butt. "One goes with the other, I think!"

This

time she was ready to keep him human and find some excuse for his return to his

normal self and his civic duties. He put a halt to it. "I'm just getting to

know Huntchy, and I think he has some good insight into things. So do me a

favor. Turn me back into a dragon and afterwards, drop off a few of these teeth

to Pollwac." She groused a bit.

"The

teeth are no problem, but I think it's time you got back to your duties. Don't

you?" He shrugged, feeling as he did so his shifting into dragon form. "I can

do a lot as a dragon. Heck, if there are any miscreants that need dealing with,

bring them here. I'm sure I can get them to reform!" She only wrinkled her nose

at him. "You still have everyone who bet on Huntchy's side to deal with. I'd suggest

you figure out something for them to do, otherwise they'll think you're a

softie!"

He spit

out a few smoke rings. "Softie am I? I'll figure out something for them to do.

In the meantime, just postpone anything that requires me as a human until such time

as I am feeling more like myself. I'm

sure most everyone will understand." She giggled, kissed his sooty nose,

carefully picked up a few of the dagger like teeth, and departed.

It

dawned on him belatedly that he should have eaten first. In human form, his

food would have magically expanded to fill the need of the larger form. It was

a curious thing. Now he had to go hunting again, or fishing, or something. He

was still a fool at times. On occasion it was damn inconvenient. He was

preparing to leave when he heard a knock from the inner door. That meant only

one possibility. "Come on in. The place is yours after all!'

The

horse pushed open the doors and sniffed the room delicately, hoping not to be

noticed. It was noticed. "Yes, my wife was here again, as you well know. And I

was human yet again, as you must have figured. Why are you surprised?"

"I'm

only surprised in that you're still here. Apparently your wife needs you around

more than her anger will allow her to

keep you away. Or in this case, keep her from you. Don't you find that

strange?"

The

dragon yawned, showing teeth nearly as formidable as those on the floor. He

picked one up and idly played with it. The horse eyed him warily. "Look my fine

equine friend; women as a whole are mysterious in their ways. I thought we

talked about that. Sure she acts a bit weird, but that's never stopped two

people from loving each other. Sure she's hiding something, but with Eve

involved, it could be anything. As I told you, I'm old. If death doesn't scare

me, what else can? If all they wanted was my power, which my wife now carries,

they could have done away with me in the next second. Therefore, they need me.

Thus, I will worry about the most pressing needs, such as my present hunger."

To punctuate his words, a deep rumbling from his belly could be heard.

In the

next instant a furious pounding erupted on the outside door. He pushed it open

to see several frightened faces, including Graven's. "My Lord Mayor, we are in

dire trouble. Lookouts have spotted a pirate ship on the horizon, making their

way here. The last time we suffered an attack, we lost many good creatures in

their raid. Will you please do something?!"

Jon-Tom

sat down on the cobbles. "Pirates? I've had run-ins with them in the past. Are

you certain they're headed here?" He was looking towards the bay, but unable to

see because of the buildings. In his mind, he was picturing that old parrot

captain from so long ago. His end had befitted him; roasted and eaten by the

homeless in Las Vegas. But that was a world and centuries away. This was here

and now.

"My

Lord, I fear the worse. We have not had pirates on this coast in years. But if

they gain any of the technology we develop here, and turn it to evil purpose,

then we do a disfavor to all who live along the ocean shores. Surely you can

remedy this?"

The

dragon stood up to his tallest, trying to peek over the rooftops. Even in this

form he wasn't that tall. "OK. Let's go down to the shore and see what we've

got to deal with. Perhaps I can persuade them to leave." He puffed out a bit of

smoke as emphasis.

To save

time, he had everyone, with the exception of his host, climb aboard his back.

They then trotted off at a good pace, attracting a small parade of the curious.

When they reached the beach, no ships could be seen. Graven explained. "Our

lookout is way over there," he said, pointing to an arm of land curving out

into the bay. Jon-Tom could discern a small lighthouse-type feature at the end.

Graven continued. "From that vantage point much can be seen well before anyone

here on shore would catch glimpse of it. That lookout has saved the day many

times over the decades."

Everyone

clambered off, landing softly in the wet sand. The dragon was considering what

to do. If he opened with a pre-emptive strike, and found the ship was not

piratical in nature, he would feel bad for the damage he would have caused.

"Let them do what they will do, and we will answer in kind. Perhaps they are

not as they seem. If they are indeed pirates, then I believe I have a plan for

dealing with them."

There

were murmurs of unrest. "My Lord, if they are indeed pirates, should we not

assemble our guards? As it stands, none of us are armed in any way!" Huntchy

coughed. The speaker eyed him angrily. "Don't get smart with me horse! Your

hooves will only do so much against armed invaders!"

Jon-Tom

coughed a little smoke, then let loose a lungful of flame that evaporated the

water on the sand and proceeded to melt it into a glasslike finish. Silence

reigned, allowing the sound of the waves to gently fall on their ears. Then

there was a gulp. "My apologies. I forget we have a dragon on our side."

There

were only two ways the occupants of the ship could come on land. They would

either have to enter the harbor and tie up the ship. That was off to the east.

The other was by lowering longboats and rowing to the beach. That was here. If

they were pirates, their ship would be a dead giveaway if seen up close. So the

logical choice was here.

It was

nearly two hours before the expected longboats came into view. The townspeople

were all sitting on a long ridge on sand, essentially a dune, where the

elevation gave them a better view. There

was no visible dragon in the area. Therefore, those doing the sitting were a

bit on the anxious side. However, they remained in place as the boats pulled

into shore, filled with a motley crew of hyenas, badgers, weasels, a wolverine

and a few shrews. They pretty much ran the gamut in size, but they were all equally

ferocious looking.

Graven

stood and carefully slid down the slope. The wolverine caught sight of him, but

made no immediate move. The little marmoset spoke. "Welcome visitors. We are

here to see what assistance you might need. If your ship needs repairs, you are

welcome to enter the harbor. We have fine craftsmen who can fix nearly any

damage you might have suffered."

A few

guffaws rose from the sailors. "Naw, our ship be fine mate. The only thing she

lacks is a full belly, if you get my meaning. If you don't, have no fear. We be

teaching you soon enough!" Cutlasses and various blades were withdrawn from

their scabbards. The remaining townsfolk slid off the ridge to flat ground, edging

slowly away from the pirates and their weapons. But Graven tried again.

"We

offer our hospitality to you. There is no need for bloodshed."

The

wolverine snarled. "No need? There may not be a need mate, but there is a

desire. You didn't go thinking we joined up on this adventure just because we

was cute little tourists wishing to see the world? Nay. We want gold, and blood

and females. When we gets what we wants, then we'll leave, and no sooner. As

for your hospitality, I'll show you some of mine!" His sword arm rose as he

strode forward, evil glittering in his eyes.

All at

once the ridge exploded. A head hovered in the air above him; a fierce, scaly

head with a mouth filled with teeth. And it spoke. "You were shown kindness.

You intend to repay it with death. Where I'm from there's a saying; an eye for

an eye, and a tooth for a tooth. I would still like to spare you, but two

things are against it. One, if I did, you either would return, or at the very least

harass others along the coast."

A few

pirates were scrambling to get back into the boats. Most had dropped their

weapons. A few had loosed their bowels. The wolverine was frozen where he was.

"What be the second thing?" His voice quavered. "Jon-Tom picked his teeth with

his enormous toenails. "Oh that." He glared down without mercy. "The second

thing is...I'm famished!" A jet of flame shot out and over their heads. Frozen no

longer, the wolverine raced to the boat and began rowing with all his might.

Cheers

erupted from the townsfolk. But Jon-Tom was watching them as they rowed back

out to their ship. He knew that this was not the end of their raid. They had

made the opening gambit, so now he was free to make his own move. He hated

bullies. He hated mindless killers. And particularly, he hated pirates. His

present size and body made dealing with them all too easy. That necessitated

discretion on his part. The easiest thing to do would be to allow them to

return to their ship, and then set it on fire. Out away from shore, the

likelihood that they would make it to shore alive was slim.

His

decision was made for him. It turns out one longboat had made shore somewhere else

and made off with a few females who happened to be in the wrong place at the

wrong time. Worse yet, they were girls from the school. He was about to be chivalrous

when Sybeele stormed up to him.

"Are

you handling this, or am I?" He was uncertain which of them would be the best

solution to the problem. Before he had a chance to answer, the missing girls

were standing in front of them, looking both alarmed and relieved. His wife

said in a stern voice, "They are safe now. It's up to you to handle this the

best way you see fit. But know this dear; if I don't like your solution, I will

invent one of my own that will show those bastards just what the wrath of a

woman really is!"

That

left him in a lurch. He did have a solution, actually a solution to two problems.

However, never in his days had he killed an intelligent being for food. The

idea appalled him. But then, so did killing. But if he did not, it would be

like letting loose the ravages of the Plated Folk. Worse actually, the more he

thought about it. Plated Folk simply killed warmlanders. Death was a more

gracious thing than rape and torture. Death was usually quick; the latter

prolonged, painful and humiliating. Something in him snapped. With a downbeat,

he launched into the air.