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“You all work to preserve many of the animals from the rains, and you call yourselves unkind?” I blurted.
Phillip chuckled and shrugged. “You shame us in that department, young Kinsley. We do our work out of a sense of duty. You do it for the little ones you rescue, even the toads.”
“Is Mouthy Asshole still doing well?”
“My wife instructed me to offer you an invitation to visit him, for it seems he enjoys fighting with humans and becomes sad should he not be given a chance to bite. You aren’t afraid of him. Many are.”
“Well, I’m not afraid of him when there are dragons willing to heal me around and I have gloves,” I corrected. As Garnet had not protested my attention, I picked her up and got back to my feet, cradling her against me.
Her gemstone paws cooled my skin in contrast with the rest of her, which radiated warmth.
“Carbunclo are affectionate creatures, so you will either have the company of a feline or she will make use of her other form. If you need a light in the darkness, she can be that for you. She can also fit in places cats otherwise could not. While I don’t think she’ll ever learn to speak, some carbunclo do. Unless you decide to petition, she will live many lifespans beyond yours. She will outlive even dragon-kin.”
“Well, if she’s going to be living lifespans beyond me as a human, then she’ll live almost as many lifespans beyond that of a dragon-kin. They aren’t that far ahead of us.”
For some, the extra forty years meant something. I would need a lot more reasons than I had to want to tack on forty extra years. Or, if I were to do as my parents pleased, hundreds upon hundreds of extra years.
“This is true. So, her care is simple enough. Feed her whatever you are eating, and she will be pleased. She has a rather strong interest in shiny things, especially when they are made of stone. You need not buy her diamonds, but she will appreciate any stone you search for yourself and gift to her. You will want to make her a little bed, although do not be surprised if she joins you in yours.”
“If she can become light at her will, what kept her in that carrier?” I asked.
“She wanted to be there,” the dragon replied.
Well, that changed things, and no matter what little bad habits she picked up or how much work she ended up being, if she wanted to come home with me, I wouldn’t deny her. “Please tell me she uses a litter pan.”
“She is trained to use a litter pan, but she can also make use of a toilet if there is one available. She even has enough strength to flush, although she uses a bit of magic for that. Her light form can be converted to bursts of pressure or mass, allowing her to manipulate things like toilet handles.”
“I’ll make sure both are available to her,” I promised.
Two mouths to feed might become a problem later, but it was a problem I would deal with while smiling.
I enjoyed the idea of no longer being alone all the time.
“Excellent. Grooming her will be a simple enough chore. Use a regular brush meant for cats. I recommend keeping the fur you gather. It can be spun into thread for embroidery and the like. Perhaps a hobby to keep you at home, amused, and in good company with Garnet.”
“I know nothing about spinning fur,” I admitted.
“There is no better time to learn than the present. I can introduce you to someone who can teach you and provide more mundane fur for you to practice on.”
“I’d like that.” Perhaps a hobby might make me a little happier even though it wouldn’t put food on my table or pay my rent. “Thank you.”
“And thank you for bringing in the lemur. I’ve found that most would have left it to face its fate alone. You have saved its life, and while it cannot show appropriate gratitude, I can.”
“Well, I see where Cedrick gets his base personality from. It must be learned from you.”
“In some things, yes. In others, not so much. Your kindness is appreciated. Do be careful out there. It’s a dangerous world. You can take her carrier with you. She views it as a safe place, but she will stay with you. She knows she belongs with you as much as you belong with her now.”
The dragon had given me much to think about, and I thanked him again, picked up Garnet’s carrier in one hand and held her with the other.
At home, I would worry about the envelope’s contents and ponder why a titanium dragon had been waiting for me in the shop with gifts.
FIVE
Pride also played a part.
Sunday, April 19, 2167
The Gray Ward