(Gimme two seconds, making a post ^.^)

Kai'hel dozed in the cold, mouldy alleyway, his tail trailing out slightly into the street nearby. He knew he was being discourteous, but no-one was up at this time besides patrolling guards and he was in a foul mood. Picking fights with watchdragons was a bad idea but he'd had an even worse day than normal today - and anyway, you could get away with bloodying the Empire guards up a little bit in this town.

And then he would get locked up if he was lucky. A bit of respite from all of the scorn he faced from the people of Khurazir and now the Empire as well.

A little part of him tried to cheer him up with a few memories from the past but he ignored it. It was unusual for him to be so down in the dumps, but when you're a million miles away from all you know in a run-down village in the middle of nowhere, negative thoughts got to you.

So all he could do was stay in the mildly less populated outskirts of this dump, hoping arrogant guards would poke around and give him a reason to use his strength and size for something other than making him stand out like a sore claw in a crowd.

Cesura was almost there. She continued walking at a brisk pace. Her large tent was in sight at last. She took an eager bound forward... only to promptly trip an fall on her face. Cesura groans, wiping mud, bits of gravel, and a few drops of blood off her face. She swings around to see what she tripped on.

Kai'hel was awake immediately, slowly hauling himself to his feet with a growl. But he was disappointed when he found himself peering down at a small, pink dragon sprawled in the dirt, swiping grime and who knew what else off her face. She turned to him and he swept his gaze away.

Guilt cut through his melancholy and he cut off his growl with a choked gargle. He cleared his throat and offered a large paw to the little dragon. "I'm so sorry, I should have known better. I'm not usually like this, it's just that reckless administrator, you know?" he sensed himself babbling and shut up, making sure to keep his eyes trained on the ground.

Cesura's scowl disappeared when she saw the large dragon before her. And I thought I was big! She giggled at the sound he made and shook his hand. "I understand how you feel. I'm Cesura." She folded in her large wings that had been splayed when she fell.

At her giggle he gave a big grin, clearing his throat again. "My name is Kai'hel. Oh, they really get on you nerves, don't they? I have to admit, I was looking for a fight with some of the guards who patrol at night. I do apologise again, I had no excuse."

He thanked whatever tiny luck he had that his brand was on his back leg so Cesura couldn't see it. It tended to be all the first impressions dragons around here needed to give him an even wider berth.

"Yeah, they really do. Fighting isn't my style though. I'm no good in a brawl." She smiled up at him, placing her talons back on the ground. "It's nice to meet you Kai'hel. I'm fine. No need for excuses."

The last bits of sun-provided warmth left her and she shivered. Desert nights were the worst.

He chuckled. "It isn't for everyone, and I don't blame you! Often there's no reason for doing it besides too many bad tempered dragons in the one place, and you just end up being locked up for it. But that's good that you're okay."

Had he been out of his mind? Why had he wanted to end up in a jail cell of all places? He was glad this little dragon had knocked his senses back into him.

He noticed her shiver. He hadn't noticed it get colder, but that must have just been him. "I could escort you, if you liked. I have nowhere to be and you know what guards on the night shift are like." They were bound to do their rounds soon, and he didn't want them bothering innocent dragons if he could help it. Especially ones that didn't spit at him just for being there.

"That's very sweet of you but I..." She really wanted this friendly dragon to come with her. He made her feel oddly happy. She hadn't felt that since... the raid, "I will get arrested if anyone knows. You can't tell the guards ok? My tent is over there. You seem strong. I could use someone like you." Cesura starts walking toward her tent. It was quite grand in size... to be a tent.

He frowned slightly but followed. The guards would arrest anyone these days, but Cesura seemed to know something that would make her even more of a target. Whatever it was, if the Empire was giving her cause for concern he wanted to try and help. "Don't worry, I'm not that kind of dragon. I wouldn't tell the guards if their tails were on fire."

The tent she was aiming for was actually quite big - if he ducked, it wouldn't be too much of a problem depending on what she had inside. It certainly looked many times better than the military grade tents he couldn't use when he travelled around with other soldiers. He didn't miss those days at all. It occurred to him that maybe that was the reason why he no longer felt the cold or the heat.