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Wonderful, free time. She thought sarcastically. Infinity curled her head towards the sound of clanking gears from the far side of her small enclosure. With a dull thud, and a loud clank she felt the ground beneath her paws shake. She watched as one of the flat walls soon cracked right down the middle, but not like something had smashed it with great force, but in a perfectly straight line. Once the line reached the bottom of her enclosure the entire thing began to shake, but she held her ground unfazed. This had happened before, after all. The line parted, and the two segmented rocks slid into themselves to reveal another enclosure. However while hers was hardly big enough for her to stretch her wings, this one was at least three times the size. How generous he has been. She rolled her eyes with a snort, padding her way carefully over towards the opening.

Inside the other enclosure was a square section all covered in bright viridian grass that felt good beneath her paws. Much better than whatever prickly one the wizard had gotten for her miserable excuse for a “bed." From the grass however was the most defining feature of this little pen, was the body of water that took up the other half of its area. She glanced up, to see that the steel cage of this enclosure was still there, unlike the one in her cell. She remembered it had been placed the day she had decided to fly out of this enclosure. How could I not? She snorted to herself, It was his own fault, he gave me the room after all. She sprawled herself out on the soft grass, rolling twice and wiggling her tail. She rested herself onto her paws, and then crawled her way to the water's edge. She dunked her head in slightly and blew some bubbles for the heck of it.

The bubbles foamed around her snout, wrapping her in their embrace. For a moment she had memories of happier times, away from this place. I used to love to swim...hadn't I? She withdrew her head and shook away the thought. Not now. The bubbles flew from her snout and splattered onto the grass around her paws. She crawled forward and slipped into the water, her body shivering as the cold water swirled around her limbs. She padded the water until she was floating on the surface. I wonder when the next experiment will be. She thought with frightening disinterest, as her eyes narrowed.

“Look it dere." came a small slimy voice from the top of the enclosure. It reminded her of the slugs from her old fuzzy home. How she had hated the things. “Da dragon's havin' a bit of fun."

Infinity glanced up towards them, the spines on her back bristling instinctively in the water. Her eyes focused on the form of two goblins leaning on the metal bars of the enclosure. Their dark grey skin, as well as their dirty brown clothes were covered in dark red stains. She watched one of the little bastards give her a sneer with his little yellow fangs, as he pointed to her with his little stumpy finger. She tilted her head to the side, and flicked an ear.

“I tink she knows it's feedin time." One goblin says to the other one, patting the rather large misshapen brown sack he was carrying over his crooked shoulder.

“I don't like the way she be lookin at me." says the other one, taking a step back from the enclosure.

Infinity raised her head out of the water as she swam her way back to the shore, as her stomach rumbled loudly for all to hear.

“Dats a good dragon." the old holding the stained sack says, starting to walk his way around the top of the enclosure to her “bed" area.

Infinity licked her lips with her broad forked pink tongue, wiping the dripping water from her snout. She glanced up at the goblins who had yet taken their eyes off of her. She saw the one who had stepped back before shiver in fear. I guess he took that as a threatening gesture. She rolled her eyes. Why the wizard got so cowardly minions I will never understand. She strolled back over towards her first enclosure as the goblins neared the edge. She could smell their rising fear in the air, making her wrinkle her nose. Goblins smelled horrible in the first place after all, for of like burning grease mixed. They tasted worse then they smell too. I learned that the hard way. She mused, remembering that one time she had decided to rip one of the little bastards from the wall. She nearly gagged at the mere memory of the taste of its flesh. For that entire week she could not get the horrid taste out of her maw.

“Why are we afraid of her anyway?" The goblin without the sack asked, his body trembling as he stared at Infinity. “She's all the way down dere."

Infinity stretched her wings out as far she could, as she still felt some water collected on her membranes. Water was nice, but she hated how it seemed to cling to you for minutes after you left the pool, and made everything colder. It felt like little daggers had dug underneath her scales every time. Once they were unfurled all the way she gave a might shake, sending the remaining water scattering in all directions in the enclosure. She tried to hide the smirk on her snout as some of the water splattered onto the goblins. She sat down on her haunches as she looked up to them, and curled her tail around her.

“See look at her waiting like a good little puppy." The one holding the bag grins. “Boss has her trained good, he does." He opened the sack, and dropped it over the side of the railing. The stained brown thing collided with the ground with a wet smack, its top splitting open to have miscellaneous chunks of animal meat spill forth onto the ground.

“There just like feeding the wolves at home." The goblin sneered, “CAUSE DATS ALL YA ARE NOW ISN'T IT?" He cupped his grubby hands around his mouth as he shouted. “JUST AN ANIMAL TO BE FED!"

She ignored him as she walked over. She knew he was just trying to get a snap from her, and she knew better than to mess with the handlers of her food. She had done that once before, and the wizard had starved her for nearly two months. She remembered the pain and groans in her belly from that time, she thought she was going to die from the lack of food. But of course he kept me alive. She angrily gobbled up her sour tasting meat. Can't let his precious Infinity die.

“Dats right." the goblin turned to the other one. “See ain't even got any talk left in er. She's just a stupid beast now."

She glared up at him, fighting the urge to bare her teeth as she thumped her tail angrily. She could feel her fire glands already heating up as she found herself ready to try and roast him where he stood. She knew the magic would prevent it, but oh, it would feel so good to lash out at him. She took a deep breath and shook the thoughts from her mind. No….Don't let him win...Don't let a simple insult be the reason you almost starve to death…..again… She took some more of the mystery meat and swallowed it down, hardly taking any time to taste it on her tongue. She did not see the point, it was not there to be tasty, it was there to keep her alive.

With a final chuckle the two goblins left her to with a dismissive wave. She waited until they were out of earshot before she strolled back to the water's edge. Despite how in the back of her mind she liked the intimidating image of her covered in dried blood, she hated to remain that way. She scooped up some of the water in her paws and cleaned her snout. She gave a final sigh as she looked into the water and saw her reflection. What's even the point? The thought struck to her core, like it did at times.I survive another day to be subjected to more torture...More tests…..I escape to get more tests….Even more torture… She felt her eyes start to water, as she continued to stare at her reflection. “Baaaah!" She snarled, slashing at the water with her claws, before whipping around towards the other enclosure. She wiped the tears from her eyes and stomped towards her “bed." C-curse that Wizard, c-curse this place, c-curse my memories, and c-curse these thoughts. She stopped walking to hold her head up high, and took a deep breath. She let out a long drawn roar with all of her might, letting out all her anguish. She held the roar for a minute or two before she was left standing, breathing heavily.

The rest of the day passed in a blur as she paced the confines of her now two enclosures for hours, dragging her claws against the ground. No matter how much she wished he would just get whatever torture he had in store out of the way it never came. There was no shock, no blade to her scales, not even his voice to taunt her. To her irritation when the lights started to dim, she realized she had had a normal, peaceful day. She shivered as that for some reason seemed to trouble her most of all. She hung her head as she strolled over to the bed. I hope he one day doesn't have me hoping for the pain. She shivered again, before curling on herself, and placing her snout softly on her paws. She shifted her tail to cover her snout, before closing her eyes and preparing for sleep.

The minutes pass with her eyes closed, as she listened to the faint noise of the rustling water from the next enclosure. Why can't I sleep? The thought raced through her mind, as she wrinkled her snout in irritation. Why it almost feels like… Her eyes bolted open. Like I'm being watched. She moved her tail, so her eyes could scan the top of her dark enclosure. This being no problem for her whatsoever, as she could see perfectly in the dark, even in color. Near the edge of the enclosure she spots a small faint glow, and her next breath brings the smell of burning wax. Now how did I miss that?

From the top of the enclosure she could make out the form of a candle, flame flickering in the air. Near the flame she spies the black hair from the apprentice earlier in the day. She rose her head slightly and her eyes briefly locked onto his. She heard him give a small gasp,before he ducked his head and lowered his body so he was hugging the floor. She heard him breath in deeply and blow the candle blew out. Small wisps of smoke rising from its wick.

She cocked her head to the side, as she rose her head higher, sniffing the air curiously. She smelled human, and the fear that was coming from his body. She moved into a sitting position on her haunches, resting her tail on the ground and curling it around her. She rose her head slightly, as she resettled her wings against her back. She held up one of her claws, and a simple twist had the small candle light once more. She grinned to herself. For the wizard knew it blocked her powerful spells and breath, but not her minor ones like that.

Her ears twitch as she hears a startled gasp from above. Followed by the sound of his body scurrying away from the candle.

“How did that happen." She hears him whisper aloud.

She heard the sound of him moving slowly towards her, his eyes appearing once again. He gulps loudly, his body slightly trembling. Well let's set him at ease, he is already scared half to death. She gave an almost quiet rumble in the back of her throat, not an unfriendly sound. Or at least not one to another dragon.

“D-did you light the candle?" he stutters, as he finally finds his voice after a few moments of silence.

She gave him a tiny nod.

“You can understand me?" he gasps loudly, as his eyes widen in realization. “You can understand me?" He repeats again, but at a whisper.

“Shhhh." She says to him.

“You can-" he starts to say loudly, before catching himself, “You can talk."

She nodded to him slowly, “I don't like to though." she says with a voice rough and strained from years of not being used. She watches him slide on his stomach until his face is at the edge of the enclosure.

“So why are you here?" he asks, his eyes lighting up once again with that little sense of wonder that had filled her with joy previously in the day. “You're the first dragon I have ever seen." He says with bated breath.

“I suppose as a sick experiment." She says trying to not growl and startle the boy, “I did not come here willingly."

“But it's a home right?" he asks.

She gives him a snort at his apparent naivety. “No." She quickly adds, flatly.

“Oh." he replies, his face wrinkling. “Where did you live before?" He props his chin up with his hands. “I lived in a small mud village."

Of course he would ask something like that. She tried searching her mind for that memory of the forest. The one with the slugs, the one with the two foggy beings looking down at her. It was like dipping her claw into a vast cloud of ink, searching for the right memory within it's depths. However no matter how much she tried desperately to force the memory. It did not come to her. “I-I can't remember." she admitted, her spines drooping slightly.

“Oh…..Can you open your wings for me?" He asked, gesturing to her. “They are…..beautiful." He pulls out a small white feather quill.

She opened them as wide as she could, giving him a happy croon. Perhaps he could stay around all day and provide compliments. It would certainly be a nice change of pace…..from the torture.. She fought the urge to snarl again. However she feels her anger subside the moment she looks into his eyes once again. To see that they have widened in amazement. She felt her chest glow warmly from within as he pressed his quill to something on the floor. It only takes a moment of his scratching with the quill until he suddenly stops, and looks up at her again.

“There." he says with a smile. “Thank you...er….Dragon." he says, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just realized I don't know what to call you."

“What were you doing just now?" She asks ignoring his question, and pointing up at him with one of her wing talons.

He grabs whatever he was using the quill on and holds it near the candle so she can see it. It is a drawing of her with her wings spread open wide, on a manilla piece of parchment. “I was drawing you." he says.

She chuckled in her throat in amusement. No one has drawn me before. She smiled, folding her wings behind her back. “My name Axton, is Night Rising." She said proudly, swelling her chest out. Probably the only person I can say that to proudly.

“Night Rising?" Axton raised an eyebrow, “That is much longer than what my master said."

“What your master said was not my name." She lied, teeth forming into a snarl.

“Oh!" he says, putting down the drawing. “So what do you think of my master? He brought me here after discovering my talent." She saw his face darken.

“I couldn't have gotten these any other way." she replied, her own face darkening. She raised her wings so that the little human could see all the numerous scars lining her scales. She watches him peer down at her stretching himself so he could see in the faint light. It almost looked like he was going to..

Suddenly Axton falls forward into the enclosure with a surprised yelp. He manages to slide down the curved sides, and with a pained gasp, and thud he hits the ground. “Oww." He muttered, rubbing his head in slow motions.

Infinity bolted up from her spot, her reflexes getting the better of her. She watches him for a moment as she backs away. She can feel the nervousness in her limbs as he glances around, and she sees his eyes widen in fear at where he is. She stares as he frantically scrambles for the edge of the enclosure, she could practically hear his heart beating from here. She took a few steps away from him as she could hear his quick frightened breaths.

She snuffled nervously, her anxiety rising. Will he call for help? I don't want to get into any trouble. She closed her eyes, trying to not focus on what torture she might be inflicted with if any harm came to the apprentice on his first day here. She cocks her head to the side, as he slumps to the ground and lowers his arms.

“Just get it over with." He says sheepishly. His eyes closed tight as he slowly turns towards her. His brown clothes swaying lightly. “Just make it quick.. please."

She did not say a word and continued to back away from him, until she bumped against the other side of the enclosure. She trembled, her scales shivering in the air. She stands there as a pregnant pause fills the air. With her trembling scales, and his shaky breaths.

He slowly opens his eyes, as he looks to her. “Wait… are you scared?" He asks, slowly getting to his feet.

She did not reply, and just glared at him. She trembled, although she did not know exactly why. In truth, it was merely an instinctual fear of things that looked like mortals, as that was what the wizard had conditioned her to feel.

“But I can't hurt you… y-you're a dragon!" He holds out his arms and gestures to her. “You're all powerful and stuff!"

She shook her head softly, gesturing to a particularly large scar that ran the length from her tail all the way up the base of her chest. She remembered the long wicked blade that had done the deed. It had not even been sharp so that it was over with quickly. She closed her eyes remembered how long it took for the blade to cut through her hide. The rough long strokes that had seemed to take forever as she had squirmed in her bindings.

“I don't even have any weapon of any kind!" He holds up his hands, “Or blades, or claws. I don't even know powerful spells to hurt you!"

“That's never stopped anyone before." She whispered hoarsely. She watched as he seemed to calm down.

“So my master gave you those scars?" he says, sitting down cross legged. “I don't even know him that well." He sniffs, his eyes starting to tear up.

“Yes." she replies, her voice but a whisper. Why was he making those noises? It almost sounded like the cries of a wrymling.

“Did they hurt?"

“What do you think?" she said flatly.

“Did you deserve them?" He says, then instantly winces.

“I hope not."

“So he is cruel then." Axton hangs his head towards his lap. “I thought his whole thing was an act… No one is that nice." He sniffs again, wiping his eyes with his sleeve.

“More than you could possibly imagine." she replies, her whole body tensing up at the mere thought of what he could be capable of.

“G-great." he sobs, placing his face into his hands.

She felt the urge to stride over and silence his cries. To comfort him, so that he did not have to feel the way that she had. Oh so long ago now. How would he react? She stayed the distance away from him, sitting once again on her haunches, and simply watched him cry. He did this for several minutes, until he was doing it almost silently. With a final wipe of his sleeves he seemed to had stopped.

“Did he take you from your home too?" He asked softly, his eyes not leaving his lap.

“I think so." She grumbled, once again trying to remember. She gave an irritated snort and thrashed her tail as she failed yet again.

“I practically was. My mother said the wizard offered her a great deal of coin. Enough for her to live comfortably, and of course set me on the path for greatness."

The wizard inspiring people to greatness? He would probably use you as another experiment. Or have you join him in his dark purposes.

“Now I am here...and he says it is my home now." He sighs defeated. “And you say the man who I am now sworn to be an apprentice to, is cruel beyond measure."

“That is my view. It could be possibly different since you are his apprentice." She said, not knowing this to be true. Maybe, just maybe it could ease his troubled mind.

“You should not be hurt… maybe if I mentioned for him to stop?"

“DONT!" She exclaimed loudly, almost in a snarl. She watched him scatter away in fear. “Sorry.." She said, sitting back down and resettling her wings. "Don't say anything."

Axton settled back down, clutching at his chest. “I assume you do not want him to know we spoke at all?"

“Yes." Axton was after all an unknown, and she was not sure how the wizard would react.

“Can you help me out?" Axton asked, looking to the top of the enclosure. “Otherwise they will find me here in the morning." He looks around, with a frown on his face.

“Come here. Get on my shoulders." She said, strolling over to the side of the enclosure closest to him. She could already feel her body relaxing.

“Night Rising?....I am sorry for drawing you earlier without your permission..I did not know you were intelligent." He rubbed one of his arms nervously.

“I don't care about that." She chuckled, “Now get on my shoulders." She turned her head to him, as he just stood there not moving. Well come on, then.

“Uh...I think you're too tall for me to climb up."

She rolled her eyes, as she crouched. How could I have forgotten...he is so small. She fought a grin as he hesitated before grabbing hold of her. His touch was soft and warm, much nicer than what she was used to.

“Your scales are so smooth...and warm.." He says softly.

I will certainly have to keep him around for the compliments. She smiled as she let out a laugh. She flapped her wings slightly and rose high onto her hinds, before leaning against the enclosure wall. She felt him climb over her scales, until he reached out with his hands and pulled himself up to the ledge.

“Thanks for that." Axton replies, turning back to her after gathering his scattered things.

“It was nothing Axton, besides I may have owed you for the compliments." She chuckled, giving him a smile.

“Would it be ok if I came to talk to you at nights?" He asked, softly, throwing a brown leather pack onto his shoulders.

That would be nice...Someone to talk to...someone to actually speak to her like she was a dragon….and not some beast….or an experiment…..Her mind drifted to the wizard, and how he would probably disapprove. “It would be dangerous to do so."

“You mean from my master." he said dully, lowering his head. “But you're the only one that talked to me today….besides him of course….it's like this whole place is a big empty expanse of nothing."

“If you wish to take the risk you may come see me." She replied, her heart warming as a smile came to his face.

“Good night, Night Rising…"

“Good night, Axton." she replied, slinking back to her bed and curling up on herself, placing her tail over her snout once again. She closed her eyes, I wonder if he actually will come back…….She gave a sigh, as her tail fluttered with her breath. That…..would...be...nice...