The boy and the Reverend (dragon story)

This story is a continuation to a quickie story from a few years back: https://www.patreon.com/posts/25786900

A rumbling came from all around me as the stomach walls roared to life. They shifted and groaned as they closed in on my body. I’d lost track of time while I was held captive in the dragoness’s stomach; I might have even passed out. I wished I had my dagger still, just so I could lash out in anger.

The stomach walls squeezed around my body and forced me upwards. Quick as a flash, I was sent up through the squishy esophagus and into the maw. From there the beast’s jaws parted, and I free-fell out of her maw into a pool of light…

SPLASH.

I sank into a much more literal pool. It wasn’t too deep; I spread out my limbs and stood up on my feet to put my head up through the water. I spat out a bit of water and rubbed my eyes as I struggled to make sense of where I was… but a gruff yet feminine voice drew my attention.

“Hmph.” A dragoness rumbled. “I should have figured you were out in the forest. Again.”

A shiver crept up my spine. I almost finished wiping off my eyes, before cold water splashed upon my body from above. I wrapped my arms about my chest and shivered, while the dragoness clicked her tongue and scooped water out of the pool. She poured the water on me again; it was a bit warmer this time, and mixed with soap. The dragoness was cleaning me… just as she’d done several times before.

The pool I was in was attached to a large pedestal; barely big enough for a dragoness to wash her hands in. The pedestal was but one of several, built around an altar… and that altar sat at the back of a truly MASSIVE cathedral. The dragoness who was cleaning me had blue scales, and was dressed in dark ceremonial robes. She was considerably older than the other dragoness; the yellow-eyed, red-scaled beast who brought me here. Said dragoness stood with arms crossed over her burlap-like top and smirked down at me.

“You’re in big trouble, little boy.” She chided.

“Hush, you.” The blue dragoness snapped, making the younger dragoness yelp. “Don’t you have other rounds to be making?”

“I know, I know…” She groaned as she turned to walk off. “It’s not like I’ll find any more humans out there anyway…”

Once the younger dragoness was gone, the older dragoness continued washing me. Eventually I got tired of standing still, so I turned to look away from her to search for the human-sized ladder to get out of the pool.

“Oh no you don’t…” The dragoness put a finger on my head to make me stand in place. “You’re not budging until the cleansing ritual is complete.”

I groaned and kicked part of the water in protest. “It’s not going to change anything… Mom.”

The dragoness was Reverend Aquaria, the high priestess of the Dragon Sanctuary… and also my mother. And not by adoption either; I came from her. For whatever reason that I’ll may never know, my mother chose to have me be born a human. And I’ve been kept in this stupid, suffocating sanctuary all my life.

The dragoness moved her finger from my head and poured a bit more water over me once again. All I could do was shiver and wait for her to stop.

“You did it again…” She said in frustration. “You tried sneaking out of the sanctuary to go wandering around unattended. Oh, I thank Tiamat that the Sisters always manage to catch you before you do something stupid.”

I grumbled; I wondered if I should admit that I almost got away this time, or just keep it to myself so I could work on my next plan.

“Why do you do this to me, Draco?” My mother scolded. “Why are you so driven to drive your poor mother mad with worry?”

“Why are YOU always insisting I stay trapped here?” I demanded.

“Trapped…” She repeated with derision. “Draco, this is your home. You have human friends. You have a dragon family. You never want for food, warmth, or safety…” She scooped her hand into the water and lifted me out of it. I was turned around so that she could look into my eyes with that disappointed look. “I’ve taught you everything I could about the way of the world, and the natural order of things. So why… WHY do you insist on calling the sanctuary a prison?”

“It’s because you never let me see the outside world!” I threw my arms out and glared at her. “All I’ve ever wanted was to see it for myself! But you’ve refused to let me go, time and time again!”

My mother rubbed her temple and groaned. “Draco, how many times do I have to explain it? You…. Are… just… a… boy.” She moved a finger to poke me in the stomach.

“It’s not like I’m helpless.” I pushed her finger away. “I studied all those books you showed me! I can make tools! I can follow the stars to get around the forest. I’ve even figured out hunter-gatherer skills!”

“And all of those are impressive, yes…” The dragoness snorted. “But it doesn’t change the fact that the, OUTSIDE the forest, things are even more dangerous than stories and songs can show. There are creatures out there you’ve never imagined… and dragons whose hearts are as hard as stone.” Her eyes twitched as she briefly thought of something. She shook her head, and looked down at me with a sadder expression. “Even if you were an adult… you’d still be in great danger. You’d be made into a permanent, squishy meal, my son.”

My anger weakened as I looked at the way my mother’s eyes teared up a bit. It wasn’t like I hated her… how could I? Still, I wasn’t entirely convinced; I took a deep breath and crossed my arms.

“I know things are dangerous out there, Mom.” I said as I stepped a bit closer. “But, you know something? I might not be a dragon, but I still feel like my wings are bound. I want to spread them free! I want to fly as high as I can into the sky!”

“A wise dragon knows not to fly too close to the sun, Draco.” My mother scolded. “The heat burns, the light blinds.”

“I know, I know…” I grumbled again. “But Mom... What do I have to do to convince you to let me finally explore the outside world without sending the Sisters to drag me right back?”

Her ear frills wriggled in annoyance. “Well, trying to break the rules over and over again isn’t going to get me to budge, Draco. If anything, I’ve half a mind to bring in MORE restrictions as punishment.”

I flinched; I nearly yelled in outrage, but I held my tongue; that would have only further pushed her toward denying me freedom.

My mother carried me away from the pedestal and to a small side altar in an alcove of the cathedral. There was a small changing section for humans atop it, with various sizes of tunics and robes. She plopped me onto my feet behind it and backed up.

“Get dried off, and change out of those torn rags already.” She insisted. “Honestly, Draco, how can you stand to wear something so itchy?”

“They serve their purpose… out in the wild.” I said indignantly as I grabbed a white-cloth tunic to change into.

“I’m not even going to get into THAT topic…” The dragoness huffed. “Just… Just hurry up and get changed, Draco.”

“What’s the rush?” I demanded as I adjusted my collar.

“I just want you to be back in proper clothes.” She said. “I can’t turn you over to your retainer in rags.”

I rolled my eyes and continued changing in relative silence. I looked over my adventuring gear. It had certainly seen quite a bit of wear and tear; that chase with the red dragoness hadn’t done it any favors. I made a mental note to find some sheep to shave so I could acquire wool to make proper adjustments…

By the time I’d finished changing into robes, I heard talons clattering on the stone floor of the cathedral. I heard my mother sigh, while another dragoness came to a stop.

“You wanted to see me, Lady Reverend?” She asked; she was close in age to the red dragoness from before.

“See to it that you keep my son under heavy surveillance for the rest of the day.” My mother ordered as she plucked me up. I was placed into her palm, and she turned me around to face the newcomer.

It was a yellow dragoness, with a messy black mane. She wore the same burlap-like outfit that the red dragoness wore, though hers was a bit messier. The new dragoness looked at me in surprise, but then smiled widely.

“Hiya, Draco!” She chirped. “I guess you got caught again, huh?”

“Hi, Tiana…” I crossed my arms and grumbled.

Tiana held her hands out, and my mother carefully placed me in her grasp. The blue dragoness then used a finger to rub my head again.

“If you want more freedom… first you must respect my rules, little one.” She said softly. “For the next month, you’ll have at least one Sister keeping watch on you at all times. If you try sneaking out of the forest again, then your punishment will be made longer. Do you understand me?”

I sighed as I looked her in the eyes. “Yes, Mom.”

“Good…” My mother sighed as well. “I don’t do this to keep you trapped, Draco. But I have to put my foot down, for your own good.” She looked next at Tiana. “Don’t let him out of your sight. Catch him if he tries to scamper off, but please, don’t swallow him down; I’d hate to have to perform the cleansing twice in one day.”

“Understood, Lady Reverend.” Tiana put a free hand over her head and crossed it off. “I won’t let him out of my sight!” She turned me around and gave an exaggerated glare. “You won’t be sneaking past THIS Sister, little mister!”

“I get the point.” I snorted. “Let’s just go already.”

Tiana bowed to my mother, and then she cupped me between her hands before marching to the back of the cathedral. I looked back at the blue dragoness one last time, as she made her own motion over her chest.

“I love you, son.” She said with a smile… and worried eyes.

“I… love you too.” I said with a flush of embarrassment.

Tiana passed through the stained-glass doors that connected to an antechamber. From there she turned a corner and made to walk down a hallway. She carefully lifted me up to her snout before plopping me atop it. One of her eyes focused on me, while the other focused on the hallway.

“So…” Tiana brought her voice to a whisper. “Did you make it to the ravine this time?”

I sighed and whispered back just as quietly. “No… I got caught before I could reach it.”

“That’s a shame.” Tiana said with a giggle. “I was really rooting for you this time.”

“Well, do you think you could give me some help next time?” I put my hands at my hips.

“Now why would I want to ruin everything by giving you a lift?” Tiana smirked. “Wouldn’t you rather find your own way out, Mr. I-want-my-freedom?”

I grumbled a bit. “Well, having a friend give me a ride would be immensely helpful in gaining that freedom.”

“Oh, it’s not like I could fly you out, or carry you in my pocket.” Tiana replied. “I’d get found out in the flap of a wing, and then we’d BOTH be punished.”

I didn’t want to admit it, but she was probably right. Mother always kept a close watch on the Sisters whenever they had to step out into the forest; it was all thanks to her connection to the cathedral. It had something to do with sensing a dragon’s magic (that was one of the few benefits I had to being born a human). Still, I couldn’t help but wonder what the world looked like from way up high in the sky…

“Let’s hurry up and get you to my bedroom.” Tiana said. “Once we’re there, we can get started on your punishment.”

“Fine…” I sighed. “So, what are you going to make me do first?”

“Well…” She giggled again. “I could always use a footrub.”