Draconic Adoption
by Silverdrake20

Chapter 1: An Unassuming Day

The morning light slowly crept through the blinds of Josh Rayner’s cabin. He opened his eyes groggily, and stared at the digital clock by his bed. 7:00 AM. Groaning, he rose from his bed and headed for his shower.
The little cabin was a graduation present from his parents. It was located in the northern part of North Carolina. Not too far from Banner Elk, and Lees McCray College.

He had moved up from central Florida. He loved it up in the mountains, in the woods, and the cold; each something that Florida lacked. When he finished High School, he had turned down many offers from colleges in Florida just to go up North.

Josh was what most people considered normal. He was 19 years old, about 5’ 11, 180 lbs, muscular, and was a patriotic American. He worked a decent job selling computers and components at the local Circuit City, and made decent money, enough to live comfortably in the rough countryside of North Carolina. However, Josh was very different from everyone else.

He had been a Goth for as long as he could remember. The darker aspects of humanity had always fascinated him. He had always loved to read books about fantasy and science fiction, but the dark, apocalyptic, and even morbid books were those that gave him the most entertainment. There was one thing however, that separated Josh from the majority of Goths. He was a Christian.

He had grown up in a deeply religious home, and had always believed in Christian philosophy. He had scared his parents with dark interests, but they eventually accepted them, at least to a degree. They allowed him to dress how he liked, provided he did nothing too outrageous, or permanent; and they let him collect many swords, daggers and other replica melee weapons. For the most part, they left him in peace. He did have some problems at school though.

On more than one occasion at his former High School, Josh had been called ‘Satanist’, ‘warlock’, and several other names. Each time, Josh had used a witty retort or had quoted scripture, humiliating his tormenters. Once or twice, this had pushed someone particularly thick headed too far, and Josh had been forced to defend himself, with is fists and feet as well as his tongue.

Josh knew how to fight. He had taken martial arts classes for about a year and a half. Although he was no master, he could hold his own in a fight. He sparred every Saturday with his best friend Frankie Enters. Frankie had gotten him into the Tae Kwon Do class he went to, and that was where Josh was going.

Stepping out of the shower, Josh toweled off, and threw on his sparring clothes. He headed for his kitchen, and poured himself a small bowl of cereal, and grabbed a bottle of naturally brewed green tea from his fridge. Josh hated the synthetic and artificial fillers that were seemingly everywhere in the American diet. He tried very hard to eat healthy foods, and he had hunted once or twice for meat and sport. Although he had never actually shot anything, he had a loaded 30/30 sitting in his room, under his mattress. As he ate, Josh let his mind wander.

Josh was endlessly fascinated with fantasy creatures, dragons in particular. Throughout history, dragons had been seen as monstrous beasts, or as sages, warriors, and even as avatars of the Gods, but rarely did anyone believe that dragons had ever truly existed. Josh was one who did believe that they exist; or at least had at one point in time. He doubted their infamous ability to breathe fire or ice, and cast magic; but he was a firm believer in their existence.

Putting his thoughts on hold, Josh drained the last of his tea and set his dishes aside. Grabbing his gym bag that held his sparring gear and his helmet, he walked out of his cabin, into the cold morning air.
‘It’s going to snow soon.’ He thought as he checked his dirt bike for any potential problems.

His cabin up in the unpopulated woods, far enough not to be disturbed by society, yet close enough to receive electricity and running water. He loved the solitude and the untainted beauty of the forests. Another feature about his home that he liked was that the only ways to get there was by either hiking, or biking.

The road that led up to his cabin was too small for any normal car or truck, but dirt bikes were useful on the trails. He used the bike to travel into town for work, school and his exercise regimens. Seeing that his bike was good to go, he secured his helmet and started it up.

~*~

Josh breathed heavily as he lined up for another strike. He had been at the morning Tae Kwon Do session for a little over an hour, and now it was all ending with a sparring match with Frankie. Frankie was a few years younger than Josh, and nearly a head shorter, but he made up for his small size with uncanny agility and nearly unpredictable moves.

Frankie launched a swift roundhouse at Josh’s flank, but he managed to block and counter with a roundhouse of his own, landing the kick into Frankie’s kidney. It was enough for Frankie to feel, but not hard enough to actually hurt him.

“Very good, Josh.” Called out Master Sosa, the owner of the school. Josh smiled as he and Frankie distanced themselves. Frankie moved in again, this time trying a different tactic. He feigned another roundhouse causing Josh to move off to the side, and right into his trap.

Frankie turned quickly and launched a tornado kick combination that closed the distance between the two fighters and was able to get in a solid shot to Josh’s right shoulder. The rest of the class murmured in approval.

“Good Frankie, excellent tactic.” Master said. By this time, both of them were nearly out of energy and Master had told them to stop. They obeyed and bowed respectfully to each other.

“Good match, Frankie.” Josh panted, “I didn’t expect that last one. Frankie managed a weak laugh.

“Yeah, but your counter actually hurt.” The class then lined up and ended their session by bowing out and collecting their gear. Josh and Frankie both wiped the sweat off their faces and stepped back out into the cold air.

“So Josh, do you have any plans for the day?”

“I have to work until late.” Frankie sighed.

“How long have you been working at this place?”

“Not that long, I only started about a month ago.” Josh had managed to transfer from his position in Florida to the local Circuit City in Banner Elk. “I really need to get going, my shift starts in about an hour.” Josh said as he started his bike. Both of them flashed peace signs, and Josh took off for home.

While riding through town Josh could not help but marvel at how far humanity had come within only the span of a few centuries. And he also far humans had fallen. He remembered a time when mortality and family values governed the household and how people has shown common respect for each other, even if they had never met before. Josh sighed as he pulled back into the clearing by his house. He could think of these things later, right now he had to get his uniform and get to work.

~*~

Eight hours later, Josh walked out of Circuit City, exhausted. It had been another seemingly endless day of talking to customers and trying to sell them computers. Josh loved his job, he had a salesman’s tongue and a natural charisma, but even so, he got warn out just like everyone. He looked out into the evening sky and saw the sun setting. It looked like a fiery orb against the blue sky, the clouds, like a miasma surrounding it.

Out of the corner of his eye, Josh saw another friend of his, Greg. Greg or ‘G money’ as his friends called him was the owner and lead guild of Edge of the World, a company dedicated to extreme outdoor sports and activities. Josh and him had been friends ever since he had first come up to Banner Elk, during a church camp nearly four years ago.

“Hey Josh, how’s it goin’?” he called.

“Nothin’ much G, yourself?” He sighed.

“Same. Business is slow now, but with the first snows comin’ soon, things should pick up quick.”

“That’s good to hear.” Josh said as he continued to stare out at the setting sun. Greg tilted his head.

“Somthin’ wrong?” He asked. Josh shook his head.

“Naw, just a long day.” He said as he mounted his bike and started it up. “Peace, G.” He said as he started his drive for home.

His cabin was a good twenty-minute drive away. But Josh enjoyed the chill wind nipping at him as he rode. Soon he had gotten out of the suburban part of Banner elk and was on a small road. It didn’t take much time for him to spot the familiar start of the dirt path the led right to his cabin. Without slowing down, Josh started his uphill ride.

He knew the path to his cabin by heart, and the warn path from his innumerable bike trips were there to guild anyone unfamiliar. Soon he was pulling into the small clearing. As he shut his bike off, Josh noticed a few white patches of snow had begun to build up in the trees. He knew that by the next morning, there would be a blanked of pure white snow covering the cabin and the clearing.

Josh rolled his bike indoors, not wanting it to freeze in the night. He then started a fire in his old, wood-burning fireplace, and let the flames warm the cabin up. He then pulled out a bottle of green tea and some leftover pizza. He heated up the pizza in a small microwave, and turned on the little TV he had.

He turned on the DVD player he had next o it and put in a copy of “Ghost Rider”. He sat on the small sofa he gotten when the cabin had been given to him, and relaxed. As he ate drank and watched the movie, Josh once again wondered why he was here?

Josh knew that he had a purpose in life, but he had no idea what it was. He had purpose in is life. Within a month, he would be attending his freshman year at college, but he knew that was not his overall destiny. It drove him crazy not knowing what his real mission in life was. He sighed and turned off the now completed movie. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed saw a glow from the outside.

He checked his clock, 10:00 PM. ‘Odd, the sun should’ve set long ago, what could that be?’ Josh thought as he grabbed a flashlight and stepped out into the cold. He thought he saw another flash of orange and red against the night sky, but by the time he turned, it was gone. He then heard a roar in the distance.

It was unlike anything he had ever heard before. Thinking it wise, he rushed back into the cabin and grabbed his 30/30 and a handful of bullets, just in case. Slowly the seconds ticked by, without anything happening and Josh began to wonder if he should head back inside and lock up for the night. Those thoughts were shattered as he heard another roaring scream come from above him.

Spinning around, Josh could make out the outlines of a massive body falling through the air, heading directly towards him. In shock, Josh dropped to the ground, and not a moment too soon. The body hit the ground hard and skidded across the open clearing into some trees no more than 100 feet away from him. Josh shined his light on it and his jaw dropped. The creature was a dragon.

Chapter 2: A Dying Wish

Josh stared in mixed wonder, horror and curiosity. He could hardly believe that he had just seen a dragon. But then reality set it. As he looked at the body, he could see horrendous wounds on it.

It was laying in the fresh snow with it’s back towards him, but he could see a huge slash that ran across the entire length of its back. Blood seeped from the wound, and Josh could see some of the inner muscles spasm uncontrollably. He had to force himself not to wretch all over the ground. His first instinct was to rush to the creature’s aid, but he suppressed it. Something had done this damage, and Josh bet it wasn’t too far away.

He didn’t have to wait long to find out. Another roar spilt the air, and Josh could feel thumps of air buffet him. Looking up he saw another coming in for a landing. From the feeble light his flashlight cast, he could tell it was a red. The dragon landed only feet from the other dragon and gave several grunts that sounded like a laugh. It then drove it’s jaws down into the other’s neck, causing it to scream.

Josh was horrorstruck. He had no idea what to do. If he hid, he was sure that the red would simply sniff him out and eat him. Although Josh had no idea how accurate any of the many fantasy books he had read were, each had described dragons as having the most keen of senses. If he tried to fight it, he would be swatted away like a fly, or trampled beneath the massive feet or tail.

Indecision was driving the teen mad, he wanted to help the poor creature, but he could do nothing! Or at least that’s what he thought, until he saw the other dragon claw at its attackers neck and rip open a wide tear in the red’s neck. The red roared and once more bit deep into the other dragon’s flesh. Suddenly an idea came to him.

He raised his rifle and took aim at the red’s bleeding neck. He knew that a dragon’s scales were supposedly hard enough to shrug off almost any sort of attack, but now that they were gone, Josh thought he might have a chance to turn the tables on this dragon. He aimed for the center of the neck and pulled the trigger.

The crack of the rifle was drowned out by the sound of the red’s roaring. It was clearly hurt by the bullet, but it failed to drop the creature. Josh fired again, and this time the dragon finally did collapse. Its entire body began to twitch and spasm in different areas. Josh had guessed right, and from the looks of things, his bullets had damaged the red’s spinal cord.

The other dragon capitalized on the now dying creature. With a single bite, it severed the head from the red’s body. Something unexpected then happened. The red’s body burst into flames, and started to consume itself. Josh also saw the flames start to burn the other dragon, it roared in agony as the body of the red burned. Quickly the flames burnt themselves out, ash being the only sign that the red had even existed.

Josh started to run over to the other dragon, dropping his rifle now recognizing the color of the scales, silver. He gave it a wide berth just to on the safe side though. His foot came down and broke a branch, and the silver turned its head to face him. The dragons’ noble face was covered in cuts and burns. Josh winced at the sight.

“Don’t kill me, I’m a friend!” He shouted, hoping that it could understand him. The silver coughed several times before it was able to say anything.

“Come closer.” It managed to rasp out weakly. From the sound of its voice, it was a female. Josh obeyed her and walked up to her. When he came around to her side, he could see that the red had partially disemboweled her. Josh had to cover his face to avoid retching all over himself. The silver’s eyes were dim, and he knew that there was nothing that he could do to help the dragoness.

“I’m dying, human.” She said, “My hatchling, Arix, is close by, take care of him until my family can find you.” To say Josh was surprised would be a gross understatement. This was the absolute last thing he had ever expected to hear.

“Why me?” he asked.

“You killed Rashinu, human, and for that, you have earned my trust.” She said and started into another violent coughing fit. Josh laid a hand on a patch of scales that were still unaffected, trying to comfort her in her final moments.

“Where is he?” Josh asked. Instantly he saw a mental image of a field covered in a light blanket of snow. He could see a small grove of trees and bushes and the unmistakable outline of wings inside of it.

“You have my word that I will take care of him as if he were my own.” Josh said solemnly. The silver dragoness gave a weak smile, and Josh saw her eyes roll into the back of her head and heard her give out her expiring breath. Despite himself, Josh dropped to his knees, weeping openly. Moments later, he felt an intense rush of cold.

Looking up, he saw that her body was starting to dematerialize, leaving only a cloud of snow. Josh had no idea what had just happened, but he knew what he had to do. He raced back to his cabin, picking up his rifle on the way back. Josh grabbed his helmet and rolled his bike out into the nights’ frigid air.

Starting it up, Josh realized he had no idea where to start looking. He had no idea where that grove was, nor how to get there, but he started his ride anyway, heading west. Josh didn’t know why he went that way, but something inside told him that it was the right direction.

Tree branches smacked against is helmet as he rode. Much of the terrain was foreign to him. Rarely had Josh ever gone off into the woods, he preferred the already carved paths, but he managed. He rode for what seemed like hours, crashing through the dense woods, guided by this weird instinct. He started to wonder if he was even on the right path, when he burst out into a clearing, the same clearing that he had seen.

He shut his bike off, and took off his helmet. He saw the small grove and slowly made his way towards it; shining his flashlight trying to see the little hatchling. The plants and trees in the small grove were thick and he couldn’t see much. But finally he saw a shiny glint against the dull colors of the bushes.

Josh cautiously made his way over to the little dragon. When he was close, it jumped out of the bushes and hissed threateningly at him. Josh immediately noticed that it stood on two legs and wore a miniaturized cloak. ‘It’s a half dragon!’ he realized

“It’s alright little guy, I’m not here to hurt you.” The hatchling didn’t seem to think so. He hissed again and held his ground. Josh tried another tactic.

“Your name’s Arix right?” He asked. That seemed to work. The little hatchling tiled its head in confusion and Josh came a bit closer.
‘How do you know my name?’ The thought entered his head. Josh blinked, had the hatchling just sent a telepathic message?

“Your mother told me.” He said softly, trying to coax him over. He took a step towards Josh. ‘Where is she?’ came another unspoken question. Josh paused unsure how to continue. He didn’t want to upset Arix anymore than he already was, but in the end he decided that he had a right to know.

The little half dragon seemed to pick up on what was about to be said. His eyes started to water and let out a wail. Josh could not take any more; he rushed forward and scooped Arix up into his arms giving him a hug. He sank his claws into Josh’s shoulder. It hurt but he didn’t mind.

“Let it all out, Arix.” Josh said softly as he cried. Josh could only imagine the anguish that he must be going through, and Josh was determined to honor his promise. He waited a minute or two for Arix’s cries to die down. “Arix, before your mother died, she asked me to look after you until some of your family come to get you.” He stared at Josh teary eyed. Arix just nodded. Josh carried the hatchling back to his bike and started it up. The noise of the motor scared Arix at first but after a moment, he calmed down.

“Hold on tight now.” He told Arix and he headed back towards his cabin. Josh made sure to take it easy, not wanting to frighten his new charge anymore than he had to. Because of this, it took him nearly ten minutes to get home. Shutting down his bike, he noticed that by now the little half dragon was sleeping, curled up against his chest.

Josh felt a new sense of pride, and then realized something; he now had a purpose. His mission in life now was to take care of Arix. He moved the bike inside and was relieved to see the fire he had made earlier was still burning. The warmth radiated throughout the cabin and slowly drove the nights’ chill from his body. Walking into his bedroom, Josh carefully took Arix and laid him on his bed. He curled up, but still slept on.

Josh went back and added some wood to the fire; enough to make sure it would last at least until morning. He then realized something else, he had no supplies to take care of a baby! He knew he’d have to travel into town and buy some, and the sooner the better, but what about Arix? He couldn’t leave him here.

Josh sat down and thought. Maybe one of his friends could watch Arix until he got back? No, if the he woke up and someone else was here, and not him, he didn’t want to think of what would happen. Or what if he had one of his friends pick up the supplies and have him bring them here? That seemed more reasonable, but it’d force Josh to reveal Arix’s presence. Thankfully, Josh knew that his best friend, Frankie could keep a secret, and that he had a bike of his own.

Josh quickly made a list of things that he would more than likely need. Bottles, formula, a pacifier, a blanket, baby food, wipes and diapers…Wait, did he need those? Josh went back into the bedroom and gently moved Arix’s cloak out of the way. To his complete surprise, the little hatchling indeed was diapered. ‘Well that answers that question.’ Josh thought as he finished his list.

Josh quickly dialed Frankie’s number, knowing that he’d be up still.

“Hey Josh, what’s up.” Josh was a bit hesitant but quickly got over it.

“Uh Frankie, I need you to run over to Wal-Mart and pick me up some things.”

“Why don’t you go yourself?” Frankie asked, somewhat annoyed.

“Because, I sort of have a baby that I’m taking care of right now.” Frankie laughed in disbelief.

“Be serious Josh.” Now it was his turn to be annoyed.

“I am serious Frankie, This just came up out of nowhere, and now I’m stuck here without any supplies. I can’t leave him alone, so I need your help Frankie.” There was a pause on the phone.

“You really are serious about this…Alright, what do you need?” Josh was relieved.

“Some formula, bottles, a pacifier, blanket, baby food, towels, wipes, and the biggest size of diapers that you can find.”

“Alright, but you owe me for this one.” Josh laughed.

“I know Frankie, I’ll pay ya back.” He said and hung up. Josh knew that Frankie would be quick about this, and he had no idea when little Arix would wake up, but when he did , he wanted to be prepared. Josh quietly made his way back to his room and watched Arix sleep. A smile formed on Josh’s face when he realized he’d just become an adoptive father.

Chapter 3: Realizations and contemplation


Josh waited for the next half hour, contemplating exactly what he had just witnessed and what the situation was for him now. He could not deny reality; he was now this hatchling’s guardian. He remembered the look on his dying mother’s face, the memory making him shiver, the fight replaying itself over and over, each time seeing the silver dragoness scream out in agony and then hearing him beg for his aid. He’d be damned before he backed out of that promise.

The teen slowly walked back into his bedroom, peering down at the sleeping dragon, a small smile forming. The little silver as still sleeping, curled up on his bed, blanket covering him from tail to neck. He was still wondering why the hatchling was in the form of a half dragon, his mind logically assuming that he was the product of a human/dragon relationship, but he still had to wonder. He was interrupted though when he heard the familiar rev of a gas powered engine and silently made his way to the window, seeing Frankie on his bike.

Josh head the bike roll through the loosely packed snow and come close towards his cabin before it went quiet. He opened the door and stepped out, closing it behind him. “Thanks again for the short notice trip bro.” He said as he walked over to his friend and saw several plastic bags hanging off of his arms.

“Don’t worry about it bro.” He said as he parked his bike and got off. “But what the hell happened here?” He started, giving Josh a questioning look. “Trees mangled, burn marks on some of them and a huge mound of snow? Dude what the hell happened here?” Josh didn’t answer him at first, wondering what exactly he should say.

“Bro…I…can’t tell you just yet.” He said, and when he saw the angered look on his face, he quickly added, “Understand, I wish I could, but I really don’t know how to tell you.” He looked over at the markings and sighed, “Come on in and I’ll show you why.” He said quietly, “But I need you to swear to me that you won’t say a word to anyone.”

“Why are you so up tight bro?” Frankie asked, clearly upset and partially taken aback. Josh sighed once and then motioned him inside. “You wouldn’t believe me unless you saw this for yourself” He replied. Opening the door, he stepped inside, Frankie following him in and setting the bags down on his kitchen table.

“Uh, what’s going on here bro? You’re really starting to scare me.” Josh sighed once more and then looked his best friend in the eyes. “Alright bro, I’ll show you…but keep quiet, he’s asleep.” With that, he started for his room, praying that he wasn’t making a mistake. Frankie followed him, his boots making a soft impact on the wood floors and when the pair got to Josh’s room, he opened the door, letting him see in. Frankie paused for a few moments, staring in dull shock at the sleeping hatchling. Josh figured this was enough, and closed the door, leading him back to the kitchen.

“Did I just see what I think I saw?” Frankie asked, his face showing the clear signs of shock and awe.

“Believe me bro you did.” Josh replied, sitting down over on the couch, trying his best to relax, preparing to face the inevitable barrage of questions he was sure Frankie was about to throw his way.

“Well what the heck happened man? How on earth did you wind up with a….geez what do you call something like that?” Frankie started.

“A hatchling.”

“Ok, well how the heck did a hatchling wind up here?”

Over the next hour, Josh retold the story of him hearing the thumps outside, to the two dragons brawling out in the snow, to him finding Arix hiding in the brush. “I’m serious man, this just came out of nowhere.” He said, sighing, “I mean….what the heck was I supposed to do? She was dying.” Frankie put a hand on his shoulder.

“You did the right thing man.” He said in a comforting tone. “I would’ve done the same in your place…” He let it go there, allowing the words to sink in. Josh nodded and stood up, walking over to his fridge getting out a couple drinks for the two of them.

“Thanks man.” Josh began to ponder his next move now. “Hmm, well the supplies are taken care of.” He mumbled to himself, sipping on a coke. “I guess I just have to make sure that he’s happy until his family comes and gets him.” He said.

“Wait bro, what about school and work?” The question made Josh groan.

“Dang it…didn’t think of that.” He said and then began to think hard. “Well there’s no way I can leave Arix here by himself.” Frankie raised an eyebrow, “Oh…Arix is his name.” He explained. “Like I said though, there’s no way I’m going to leave him home alone here.”

“How are you going to deal with college and work?” Frankie asked again, “I mean, you can’t just stop going.” Josh nodded and then snapped his fingers.

“Well the semester just started.” He started, “I can go to my professors and just tell them straight up that there’s been a family emergency and let them know I have to drop out for the semester.” He said, “In all reality it’s not that far from the truth.” He paused for a moment. “Hmm, I suppose that it’ll work the same way with work, they can’t fire me for a family emergency.”

“That’s true.” Frankie said, “How long do you think you think it’ll be until his family comes and gets him?” Once again Josh stopped and thought for a moment.

“Hmm, you know, that’s a good question.” He started. “I really have no idea…I mean, it could take only a few days to weeks.” He said. Frankie just sighed once more. “Like I said though, I have no real idea.”

Frankie looked down at his watch, “Dang dude it’s getting late, I’d better get home…you gonna be alright here?” He asked, looking back at his friend’s room and then to the baby supplies.

“Yeah dude I’ll be alright.” Josh replied, grasping his hand and pulling Frankie into a quick hug like he always did before they parted ways.

“Alright bro, give me a call tomorrow…keep me in the loop alright?”

“Of course dude.” He said and then chuckled, “There’s also a good chance I’ll be needing your help like this some more. I have a feeling like I’m not going to be going into town for some time now.” Frankie rolled his eyes.

“Heh, if I’m gonna become your errand boy, I might just have to start charging you.”

“How’s about 20 bucks a month for gas?” Frankie chuckled and then nodded,

“Sure bro, that sounds good to me.”

“Alright it’s a deal.” He then clapped him on the back, “Go ahead and take off man, I’ll give you a call in the morning.”

“Alright bro, see ya later.” Frankie said after putting his helmet back on and going outside. Josh heard him start and rev the engine once before the his friend took off into the night, leaving the teen and his sleeping drake alone.

He went back over to the bag of supplies that Frankie had delivered, quickly putting the bottles and formula away before taking the other things with him and moving back into his room, the sleeping hatchling still curled up on his bed.

Setting the bags down as quietly as he could, he went over to the bed, getting in and snuggling up close to Arix without waking him up. The teen mouthed a silent prayer of thanks, smiling and closing his eyes, quickly falling asleep next to his charge, knowing these next few days were going to be interesting.