Dragon Thieves

Part 8: G&R's Most Excellent Adventure

by Neishai

Gangstath was, despite himself, 'hanging out' with the Dragon Thieves Guild members at Cy. Without seeming to, he especially remained in close proximity to Vash, the guy he'd 'borrowed' the pants from. Lilian had mentioned it and no doubt the glares from Quxia were for the same reason, but he simply snorted and shrugged it off. Tch. Whatever, he'd said. They're mine now, and besides, he never came back for 'em. Nevermind that the cloth was now useless for its original purpose, since he had torn them into strips for a pair of bandanas.

So why was it that even to him, his voice always had defensive undertones? He had made it clear from the beginning that he didn't need any of them for anything, but each day that dawned they found he remained.

And when they had returned to Arx Atra Mons to join the Dragas father-and-son team, he had come along. He had argued that it was inhabited entirely by his own ilk: hydras and other dark dragons. It was part of the reason most of the Guild was at the fortress, for they were the anti-dragons they had been looking for all along.

Why d'you always hang around with us, Gangstath? Rixth asked one morning while doing a hand-stand. As always, he had lost no time in getting to the point, without so much as a "hello, how are you doing?" You hate everyone, and no one really-- he stopped abruptly and lowered down to the ground as Gangstath looked up and glared at him.

Yes, Rixth had come too. His excuse was that he had nothing better to do and was game for just about anything, as long as no one was overly serious about it. Too bad Daemion had welcomed them both in as members of the Guild. And why d'you always gotta bug me when I'm eating? Gangstath countered. I go where I wanna go, and right now I wanna be right here eatin' my dam' breakfast.

Rixth eyed the creature Gangstath was munching on. It was one of those sub-hydra thingies that often hatched from a normal hydra clutch. They were... inferior, and considered food to everyone else. He noted that this particular beast was still twitching. He shrugged, sitting down next to him, much to the purple hydra's annoyance. Well I was just wondering, but I don't particularly care. He looked about lazily, picking up a stray rib bone from the ground. The Black-Orange found that it made a perfect tooth pick.

Gangstath glared at him and began tapping his claws on the ground. He dragged his talons into the stony surface, grating across it with ear-piercing sharpness. Rixth seemed not to notice.

Yatenth lay nearby, also partaking in what the locals called "the buffet." She had been there earlier when Gangstath had first come to pounce neatly on a lesser Slime beast. He had looked pointedly at both of her glaring heads in turn before stomping off. Even then, in the middle of her meal, both of the green-and-blue heads had been nearly immaculate, only a splatter of gore at the corner of a vicious maw that was swiftly wiped clean.

Under Rixth's well-meaning interrogation, Gangstath finally rolled his eyes -- all four of them -- and looked away. He saw Yatenth cleaning herself as she lounged in the smoggy sunlight. Both sets of eyes glared at him balefully.

What you want, biatch? he exclaimed defensively under her half-lidded, distainful stare.

Watch yourself, Rixth muttered in private tones. She's close to her time, if you know what I mean. Yatenth's blue-blotched green hide was a shade or two brighter than usual, indicating that she was perhaps a week away from her first mating flight.

The hell makes you think I care, Rixth? I ain't stoppin' her from whorin' around, he spat.

Yatenth snarled, an odd silibance coming from the two heads at once. Yath and Tenth, the dominant and submissive heads, respectively, each had a distinctly different pitch to her voice. Watch yourself indeed, Tenth growled savagely in her high, hissing voice, and was complimented a heartbeat later by her huskier counterpart Yath, lest I rip you apart!

He rose to his feet. Feel free to kiss my--HEY! Gangstath glared fiercely at Rixth, who had just jabbed him sharply in the ribs.

Heh, heh, don't mind him, Yatenth. He's just in a crabby mood.

Hmph. He is always in this kind of mood.

Rixth settled back down. So uh, don't you think you should worry about Vash and Aqu being gone? he asked, referring to their trip to Ryslen for the Flurry frenzy. She had not gone with her rider because hydras weren't allowed at Ryslen. Kyulith and Rukareyth won't be back for a while yet.

We can wait, but it doesn't matter.

Sullenly, Gangstath listened to them jabber. Only -- though he wouldn't admit it to anyone including himself -- it was not just idle chit-chat, spoken in tones of concern and comraderie. It made him feel uncomfortable and his self-esteem began to trickle away. How could Yatenth be so confident? She had never mated before. How could Rixth sound so casual about it without actually flirting at her?

And why the hell did he care about any them anyway?! He was glad Vash had left. Sure, he'd felt a little left out when they'd gone, as if the bipedras weren't good enough to go. But he didn't want Vash around. He just happened to be where Gangstath wanted to be. He didn't want his stupid boyfriend around either. Too bad Aqu couldn't have taken proddy old Yatenth with him. He didn't need any of them, didn't need Rixth either...

Yatenth saw his inner turmoil, one head rolling her eyes, the other curling a lip as they watched him. Yath snorted. You are so pathetic. Tenth appraised him speculatively. You don't know what you want, do you? Or rather, you don't know how to express it. Yath glared at her sister-head, then narrowed her eyes at him. Say what you mean or nothing at all. Or better yet, why don't you save us all the trouble and go away.

Hey! No one asked you. I wasn't talking to you til you just had to point them ugly-ass purple eyes at me! I swear you got a staring problem or somethin'... Trailing off impotently, he finally glared.

Purple...Like you?

Hey, I don't have to deal with this shiznat. I ain't hungry anymore anyways. Lost my appetite when I saw you! He got to his feet abruptly and stomped off, adjusting his bandanas and straps where nothing needed adjusting and muttering to himself. ...stupid-ass....biatch...

Yatenth rolled her eyes. And why did they bring him with us? Oh yes, that's right. No one else would take him.

Rixth snorted and laughed.

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