Where'd She Go?

It was, yet again, morning. This morning was another bright and cheery one, but Skittles was not awake. He had decided that he could sleep in for once in his life. This would have been a good condition on a normal day, but as we all know there is never a normal day. 

Skittles who was sleeping soundly suddenly found that he couldn't breath. Like anyone else he woke right up... except he found that he was being suffocated by something.

He sat up with whatever was blocking his breathing and pried it off his face. With a cold growl he opened one of his eyes. At once he yelped and ended up at the opposite side of the tent. "What the hell?"

The little thing that had been trying to suffocate him to death was something similar to a little red snake. It had huge black eyes that were inspecting Skittles with a look of curiosity. A voice seemed to come from its general direction. *Good Morning!*

"Good?" Skittles blinked. "What the heck are you?"

The little snake like creature made a noise of annoyance, *I'm really starting to hope you aren't my bondmate, since you seem to be a complete idiot.*

"Oh, so you're the Bishel Dragon."

*What gave it away?*

"For a new born you're pretty sarcastic." Skittles looked at where he had left the egg the previous night. Almost nothing remained of the blue shell, except for the blue specks here and there. The little red dragon was definitely a change from the egg....

*Um... Not to interfere with internal dialogue, but could you please give me a name?* The little wyrm cocked its head to one side.

"Oh! Um... how's Thalia?"

*It sounds like a body part.*

"Okay, not that then. Klio?"

*Better, but I don't really like the sound of it myself. Anything else?*

"I could always call you Martia," Skittles snorted, "I don't think you'd like being named after--"

*That's a wonderful name, and in some places Mars is the god of war right?* The little wyrm bounced up and down.

"Yes, but here it means--"

*I don't think I care what it means. It's pretty enough to suit me!* The newly dubbed Martia puffed out her chest.

Skittles shook his head, "All right, your highness, it's time to get up and head to town." With that said Skittles headed towards the tent flap. Today they were going to a smaller town that was friendly to all travelers. Thankfully.

*Wait! I wanna help you!* Martia latched herself onto Skittle's leg.

"Geesh!" he tumbled forward. "Relax! You can help! You can help!"

*** 

"Why couldn't you have suffocated him?" Taeda asked the wyrm perched on Skittles neck.

*Well... maybe because I need my bondmate alive... um... or whatever he is really.*

Taeda resisted cursing, because every time she did she was kicked off the horse. 

Skittles stiffed a laugh, "We're here. Even if "here" isn't much." This was an observation everyone made when they came to the small town. The houses were all the classic little white houses, and there were gardens in the front of each little house. It was one of those picture perfect towns found on magazine covers.

A shiver went down Sprites back as a man walked by. He was shirtless and covered in ornate tattoos. Sprite couldn't help but wonder how much pain that man had gone through. Martia, on the other hand, watched him with great joy.

*Can I get pretty designs like that on my skin?*

"No." Skittles said curtly.

*But--*

"Maybe when you're older."

*But I want to look pretty now.*

Sprite, for Skittles sanity, interrupted. "Being pretty is sometimes painful, and I don't think you want to go though that much pain."

Martia thought on this for a moment. *But it would be worth the pain.*

Sprite sighed. "Just wait until your older."

*Fine, but who's that funny red head approaching us?*

"Noooo," Skittles whimpered. "How did he get here before me and why does it have to be right now."

"Well now Skittles! Nice little pet you have there--"

*I'm not a pet dimwit. I'm an evil dragon who's going to rule the world!* Martia gave a high pitched cackle. Well... it was the best high pitched cackle a tiny dragon could give.

Pepsi (if you hadn't figured it out) raised his eyebrows, "Um... right." 

"Sprite take care of Martia while I go and kick this sorry losers arse."

*But I want to help!*

"Not right now, just behave for Sprite." With that Skittles leapt off the horse with a swoosh of his clothing.

Martia sighed, she wasn't about to stay put while Skittles was fighting.

It didn't take long for the two to come at a stalemate. Each had managed to block the other's attack, and neither could out do each other. They agreed, after a very long time, to give up and go their separate ways. 

Skittles walked over repairing his coat, "Where's Martia?"

Sprite blinked, "She's right--WHAT?!" She looked around frantically. "I swear she was here just a second ago!"

"If she was why isn't she here now?" 

"I only took my eyes off for a second!"

"Don't make me kill you woman."

"Hey, I hate to interrupt this lovers' spat but I think our little lady went there," Taeda nodded to a window of a shop.

 "Tattoos for Cheep," Skittles said in disbelief.  "GAH!" He ran to the shop as fast as he could. Luckily he did stop what was about to be done to the little wyrm. "Why... and how?" He asked Martia.

If a armless dragon could shrug she would have. *I'm just fast. No big deal right?*

"Don't do this again, do you understand?"

*...Yes.*

"Okay," he began to walk out of the store, no harm done. 

Since the town was so small it didn't take them long to end up at the only inn. In the morning they would head to the City of Lights. The place where all the answers converge.