Dragon's Taming

by Miranda Martin

  Maybe his captors kept him alone a lot while he was with them? Or maybe having me there serves as a distraction, something to keep his mind occupied? I'm not certain.

  "Calm?" he repeats, disbelief warring with excitement. "Not simply unresponsive, but calm?"

  My smile widens. "Yes, calm. He eats when I feed him, without a fuss. He watches me when I talk to him, though I'm not sure how much he actually understands. Maybe he just listens to the tone? But I can see that there's something there, a person in those eyes, not an animal."

  I'm convinced there is.

  Ragnar rubs his face, shaking his head. What he says next really resonates with me. "I want to believe there is hope. So badly do I want to believe that there is." He drops his hand and looks at me. "Can you show me? Show me this calm Ryuth who I have yet to see? Who remains calm even when you interact with him?"

  I nod, feeling my heart break for him. "Yes. Yes, of course. I think it is about time to bring him food again anyway."

  Ragnar and I procure some bivo meat from the fresh kill the hunters brought in and some of the vegetables we've grown. Ryuth always prefers the meat, but I figure he should have some kind of produce.

  Ragnar walks by my side as we make our way over to the cave that Ryuth is locked away in.

  The Tribe says he has to be separated from everyone else and I can’t really fault them for it. I don't know what the Zzlo did to him, but the effects are long lasting. Even being in our care for this long hasn't brought him back to any level of normal. Though I am seeing improvements.

  My own hope is a stubborn thing.

  I don't know why I'm so invested in his well-being when all the others apart from Ragnar still see him as a raving lunatic. Ragnar is his brother, it makes some kind of sense. I don't have a logical explanation for my own emotional attachment to Ryuth, why I've been trying so hard to reach him, to bring him back to himself.

  But it's there, the connection I feel.

  Unexplained.

  But there.

  As we near the entrance to the smaller cave there’s snarling, grunts, and the sound of the gate rattling. He’s in a full rage, trying to get out of his cell.

  "Ryuth," I say softly, stepping forward.

  His beautiful green eyes lock on me, the anger and frustration in them fading. He quiets almost instantly.

  He's dressed in the same breathable mesh clothing that the other Zmaj wear, which is more than the loincloth type garment he was wearing when we first saw him. I'm pretty sure the clothes are Ragnar's. And they do nothing to hide how impressively muscled his body is, how wide his shoulders are. He's obviously strong, which should scare me. Even though there's a hint of fear sometimes when I realize exactly how much bigger and stronger he is than me, I have to admit I admire his body more than I fear it.

  The tan, blue and yellow edged scales apparent on the sides of his face highlight the clean, handsome lines, strong jaw and high cheekbones. When he calms, the resemblance between him and Ragnar is clearer. His dark hair is disheveled, pushed back from his face to hang down his back, small horns peeking out from underneath the silky mass.

  His tail switches back and forth as his eyes remain on me. Slowly, his hands uncurl from where they were tightly wrapped on the bars and he steps back, his leathery wings flaring briefly as he crouches down, watching. Anticipating that I'm going to enter and moving back because he knows now that I won't if he crowds the gate.

  It shows that he's learning. This is definitely an improvement from. Initially, he was exactly what the Zzlo made him.

  An attack dog.

  It still makes me angry when I think about it.

  Ryuth was taken by the Zzlo long ago, so long ago that Ragnar thought he was long dead.

  Delilah told me the story of how it all happened. When the Zzlo attacked the Tribe's old home with a crazed Ryuth in tow...surprise was a mild word for Ragnar's reaction. Despite the chaos of the attack, he was able to knock Ryuth out and contain him so that he could be brought along.

  But Ryuth is still kept locked away in this cave. Not only for everyone else's protection, but for his own as well. I know Ragnar hoped for a much swifter recovery than we're faced with.

  I reach out to open the gate.

  "Perhaps I should go in first," Ragnar murmurs, obviously worried about my safety.

  I shake my head no, opening the lock. "Does he look like he’s going to attack?" I ask calmly.

  Ragnar stills, watching his brother. "No," he says wonderingly. "He does not."

  I nod and open the gate, stepping inside. I've done it what feels like a thousand times now. And as expected, Ryuth doesn't rush us, but instead stays crouched, waiting. His eyes glance down briefly at the plate in my hands, but then they move back up to my face, where they stay.

  "Hello, Ryuth," I say softly, speaking to him in his own language, hoping he understands. The technology in the city, the breakthrough that allowed all of us there to basically download the language into our brains, was a lifesaver. He still hasn't given any indication that he understands it, but I know he won't understand Common.

  He starts humming, a soft tune that caught me by surprise the first time I heard it. But now it's something I've become accustomed to and know it means he's calm.

  "Are you hungry?" I ask, showing him the food.

  He frowns slightly as he watches my mouth move, glancing down at the plate when I bring it closer. When I move over to the table at the back, he follows me, still down in a crouching position, moving smoothly.

  I set down the plate and sit down in one of the two chairs. He never sits in the other one, but it's a symbol of hope that I like.

  When I pick up some meat, he opens his mouth. Another sign he understands. I bring it up to his mouth. He takes it almost delicately, careful not to nip my fingers.

  "Is it good? I also brought some of the root that we're growing on the farm," I explain, picking up the vegetable.

  He looks at it skeptically. I could swear he almost sighs. But he obediently opens his mouth again and eats it.

  I smile. "It's not so bad, right?"

  He wrinkles his nose a little but chews and swallows. I hide my smile.

  "He's doing so much better!" Ragnar exclaims softly, stepping closer. "You're right—he does seem calm!" He shakes his head. "He's bitten me more times than I can count, but he's so gentle now!"

  He takes another step forward, his hand coming down on my shoulder and squeezing it, his joy at seeing some progress clear.

  I see Ryuth's eyes narrow on where Ragnar is touching me.

  The humming stops.

  I see his body tense.

  Oh no.

  "Ragnar—" I warn, moving to stand.

  But it's too late.

  Ryuth snarls and springs up, his attention fully on his brother now, his face twisted in rage. Ragnar lets out a curse as Ryuth stalks towards him, a low, growling sound trickling out of his throat.

  "Ryuth, stop!" I put a hand out, but hesitate to actually touch him. "No!"

  His eyes stay on Ragnar, but his forward motion stops, his body almost vibrating with his need to attack.

  "Ragnar—go," I order, backing away to the gate as well, making sure to keep my body between the brothers, hoping it will make Ryuth hesitate.

  This went downhill real fast.

  Ryuth's eyes stay on Ragnar as we both make our way back to the gate, the predator clear in his eyes. I step outside after Ragnar, disappointed. He was doing so well. And then this.

  "What happened?" Ragnar asks raggedly, the hurt on his face clear. "He was doing so much better," he adds, an echo of my own thoughts. His shoulders slump, and then he walks away, not waiting for an answer.

  Ryuth's attention turns back to me when his brother is out of sight, his body still tense.

  I watch him through the gate, frustration coursing through me.

  "You're not an animal, Ryuth," I finally say. He watches me with that laser-focused attention again. "You can come back from
whatever happened to you." I swallow. "You have to," I say in a softer voice.

  He takes a step towards me, frowning slightly, though I don't think he understands what's going on. Not really. Shaking my head, I sigh. Stepping back, I turn to follow Ragnar out.

  Leaving Ryuth in the cage that he forces us to keep him in.

  3

  Mei

  I take a deep breath as I walk towards the cave housing Ryuth once again. It's a familiar path. I've been coming back every day to spend time with him, to work with him. To try to get through to him somehow. Leaving him alone only makes him worse. I know that much. So I'm trying to spend as much time with him as I can.

  If I'm honest with myself, I realize that I miss Ryuth when I don't see him. Spending more time in his oddly enjoyable company isn't a chore.

  I keep thinking maybe I'll find something I haven't noticed before. Maybe there will be some sign, or something I can use to get through to him better than I have been.

  I have noticed one thing, though I don't yet know if it will help. I've been picking up on a pattern that's been emerging. Every time I see Ryuth alone, he hums. Not a tuneless, random hum either. No, he hums the same song every time. It's clear and undeniable.

  It's something I'm thinking of exploring more. It's the only real outward sign of higher-level functioning. Everything else Ryuth does is primal or instinctive.

  As I walk towards the gate, I hear him snarling and growling, the sound of flesh hitting something hard. He doesn't like being alone but I can't be with him all day every day. I have other duties to fulfill. Ryuth isn’t a chore to me—this is almost like a calling, though that sounds lame. I have to reach him somehow, find a way to bring the person he was back to the forefront so he can have a real life rather than this halfway existence he's been forced into.

  "Ryuth," I call out softly.

  He quiets.

  At this point, he knows the routine enough that he automatically steps back, gives me room to open the gate, to enter his cell. I assume it means he's happy to see me, that he wants me to come in, but I don't know if I'm attributing too much to his behavior. Second-guessing myself constantly is exhausting.

  He watches me, crouched low, his tail swaying. I enter, careful to close the gate behind myself and lock it. I care about him and want him to get better, but there’s no doubt that he’s a danger. He's not ready to be let out among the others. The incident with Ragnar made that clear.

  I walk over slowly, not wanting to startle him or aggravate him in any way.

  He starts to hum as I near, that same familiar tune.

  I try something new this time. I sing the song right back to him, my higher pitch blending in with his deeper, raspier tone.

  Feminine to his masculine.

  His humming abruptly stops and his eyes sharpen.

  Something is happening.

  I get a firm grip on my surge of excitement.

  I keep singing. I can literally see the fog dissipating, see some level of clarity coming back to him as he looks at me, his gaze different in an observable way.

  He tilts his head to the side, obviously listening. He stays silent for a while, then, softly at first, he starts humming again, deliberately joining in at the same part of the song that I've gotten to.

  Keeping time with me.

  I smile as I keep going, a flutter of excitement building in my chest at that clear sign of a higher thought process. I step closer, lowering myself into a cross-legged position only a few feet from him, not wanting to disrupt what’s happening.

  He looks at me, watching my legs with a curious eye as I cross them. After a moment, not breaking the humming, he galumphs to the floor and crosses his legs to sit like me.

  He's mimicking me!

  My smile turns to a grin at that realization. His eyes are on my grin as his mouth takes on the shape of a slight smile.

  My heart is pounding, filled with hope as I hold my hand out to him. He's never touched me, and I'm immediately uncertain about the move.

  Is it too much?

  Am I pushing him too hard?

  I almost pull it back.

  Then his eyes move to my extended hand and he stops humming, his eyes glancing up at my face. And then back down at my hand.

  I can almost see him processing the move, considering what he should do about it. His eyes meet mine again. And he lifts his own, much larger hand, slowly stretching it out towards me.

  I hold my breath, waiting for him to touch me.

  "Ragnar?" A male voice. Footsteps thud and the gate opening clanks.

  Ryuth pulls his hand back with a snarl, his eyes darting over to the gate.

  I swing my head around to see Bashir just inside, his eyes wide as he takes in Ryuth's snarling face.

  What the hell is he doing barging in here like this! Is he insane?

  "Bashir—" I start, wanting to warn him without angering Ryuth.

  But Ryuth moves with liquid grace, using his body to crowd me back behind him, away from the gate.

  Then he's leaping across the distance, rushing straight toward Bashir's surprised face.

  I hold my breath as Ryuth closes in. He could do real damage. "Bashir, run!" I shout.

  It snaps Bashir out of his frozen state.

  He dives out of the cell and slams the gate shut just as Ryuth crashes into it so hard that I'm worried for a moment it won't hold, that he'll be able to escape.

  It rattles, but then holds as Bashir steps back, his eyes wide.

  Ryuth throws himself at it again.

  And again.

  And again.

  The gate booms each time. Not a sound that's great for peace of mind.

  "Stop it, Ryuth!" Bashir yells. "Stop it right now."

  What makes him think that hollering at Ryuth is going to help?

  As I expected, it only seems to enrage him more. In one lightning step, Ryuth is deeper in the small cave. He picks up the table and throws it at the gate, his muscles flexing with effort as it hits with a thud. His breathing is heavy, his eyes narrowed in his fit of anger.

  I retreat until my back is up against the wall, trying not to draw attention to myself. My heart is beating fast as sweat slides down my back.

  This went from dream to nightmare fast.

  Okay, Ryuth's between me and the only way out.

  What do I do?

  "If you do not stop this instant, we will be forced to chain you to the wall, not just lock you in here!" Bashir yells. "Or get rid of you completely!"

  Get rid of him?

  Whirling back over to him with a growl, Ryuth rushes the gate once again, slamming his shoulder into it, shaking the whole thing. Gripping the bars, he starts rattling them again, his back tensing with the amount of strength he's using, his eyes locked on Bashir.

  Bashir is the problem.

  The sight of him isn't letting Ryuth calm back down. And getting Ryuth calm is the only way to get myself safely out of here.

  I swallow, stepping away from the cool rock. "Bashir, you need to leave," I say, keeping my voice level with an effort. "You're riling him up."

  Ryuth doesn't turn at my voice, though his wings twitch a little.

  "I cannot leave you here alone with him," Bashir argues, his eyes on Ryuth. "Who knows what he will do? He could harm you!"

  "He was fine until you got here," I explain in a low voice, my eyes still on Ryuth. "If you're out of sight, he might calm down again."

  I glance at Bashir who looks conflicted, still hesitating.

  "Just out of sight," I insist. "If I need you, I'll shout. Please."

  He finally nods reluctantly, stepping back and away.

  "I will be just around the bend," he reassures me. "I will hear you if you need me."

  I nod, watching him walk away. Just as Ryuth does. When he's out of sight, Ryuth's shoulders finally relax a little, his breathing slowing. I stay quiet, not wanting to rile him up again.

  After another minute passes with no sign of Bashir, he lets
go of the gate and retreats, though he doesn't take his eyes off it. His whole demeanor still indicates he's on high alert. Ready to take on any perceived attack.

  The gate is clear now. I just got here, but this might be my only chance to leave. Taking a deep breath, I slowly walk towards the opening, keeping an eye on Ryuth. His head turns to watch me as I draw even with him.

  I swallow.

  I'm almost there.

  I resist the urge to run the rest of the way, worried the quick movement might provoke him again. But I really want to run. When I touch the cool gate, I tense, wondering if he'll rush me.

  I have to see. There's no help for it.

  I wince as the lock makes a grating sound. Maybe it's time to oil this thing. I step through and close the gate as fast as I can while staying in control, and then I lock it again.

  When I look back, Ryuth is still in the same position, his eyes on me.

  My heartbeat calms even as the weight of disappointment at this setback settles in. He didn't hurt Bashir, but it was a close thing. And it was the second time in a short period where I had to leave because of his behavior. Isn’t that what they used to call two strikes?

  "I'll see you tomorrow," I murmur, breaking the eye contact. I walk away, leaving Ryuth in his cell, alone.

  The place he just showed me he needs to be, once again.

  4

  Mei

  An argument has already started by the time I get back to the others.

  "I know he is your brother, Ragnar. I understand that. I understand how difficult this must be for you."

  "I do not think you can understand."

  A small silence.

  "Perhaps not," Bashir concedes. "But the fact remains. Ryuth is dangerous. He’s a danger to us and to himself when he throws his fits. And he doesn't seem to be improving at all!"

  I walk faster.

  "There has been some progress—" Ragnar starts, his voice measured.

  "Not enough!" Bashir says. "He attacked as soon as he saw me just now! I waited until I heard Mei leave his cell because I was afraid he might attack her next! You cannot deny it—this situation cannot be tolerated.”