Get Along Please

A strange woman stared toward the house in the early morning; with arms crossed before her bright red and yellow dress, and harsh looking orange eyes under darkened red hair - there wasn't much doubt as to who this 'person' was.

Great... but I can't just have her stare down the house all day... what will the neighbours think...

Mai went to the door and opened it, feeling the crisp morning air hit her.

"Hello, uh... Nullawhy? Please do come inside."

"Do you plan to lure me into an ambush human?"

She spoke in a deeper voice than expected, but stayed put on the stone path.

"No, I just can't have you loitering about out there any longer..."

Her orange eyes narrowed.

"And Lygawa is still sleeping, so you can wait for her inside, where it's nice and warm."

She flicked her eyes about in thought, and then lowered her arms.

"Please."

Mai offered, stepping aside some more to let her in.

The other dragon in disguise strode right inside, and then looked about the modest dwelling, still apparently displeased.

"So Lygawa resides in this tiny... hovel?"

Mai gave her plenty of room, circling around back to her kitchen, but noticed a lack of visible 'dragon traits' from this particular lippy one.

"So uh, not being nosey, but how do you get about... uh, being undiscovered..."

Mai could clearly see no tail behind this sturdy figure.

"That is... is your tail...?"

"My tail...? It remains safely hidden under my clothing, if you must know."

As proof; she lifted the black edged base of her ankle length dress up, to her knee, showing Mai the end of her shorter, but thicker, red tail underneath, before turning about to sit at the nearest chair by the table, spreading the colourful dress over the sides.

"I have been through human settlements before, and know of their petty hatred of differences."

She looked Mai's way again with continued mistrust, while the host attempted to lighten the mood.

"May I offer you something to eat?"

Nullawhy turned her nose up at the plate of treats Mai brought over.

So this one isn't so easily tempted...

"So how long must I wait?"

She tapped her black fingernails against the table impatiently.

"I'm not sure..."

Who knows...? It could be five minutes or hours...

Mai went back to her morning routine, while the newest guest watched on.

"So you give both shelter and food to Lygawa then?"

"I guess I do."

"So what does Lygawa contribute... for you?"

Mai got out the next pan she needed before replying honestly.

"Nothing I suppose."

"There must be something!"

"Then... just friendly company - and we often chat too."

The reddened dragon was struck with disbelief.

"Chat?"

"Yeah, about all sorts."

Left to quietly go on preparing the morning meal, Mai was almost finished by the time the other one finally turned up.

The sleepy dragon entered the room from the stairs, while the other bolted upright from her seat, but was apparently unseen by the other, as Lygawa scratched her head, wandered up to Mai and mumbled.

"Mo...orning..."

"So uncouth!"

Nullawhy got her attention now, as Lygawa slowly swivelled her head her direction.

"You truly are a docile pet here, aren't you?"

Lygawa suddenly leapt clear over the table in an instant, putting her foot into the others midsection and driving her back to the lounge's floor. Next her long tail snapped tightly around the red dragon's neck, who hadn't yet recovered from the previous lightning quick attack.

"Hey!"

"I'll take care of... this!"

Lygawa didn't take her green eyes of her rival reptile, which she still held down with her one foot, while the other finally managed to firmly grip the tail around her, but was not able to dislodge it.

Mai rushed to intervene between the two, who bore fangs at each other as they struggled in place.

"Stop it! I'll have no fighting in my house!"

She thrust her used frying pan between the two to break their ferocious stares.

"I'll only be removing this unwanted pest -"

"I invited her in, unlike somebody else we know. So knock it off."

Lygawa looked hurt by Mai's apparent betrayal, but released the other without further delay, before stomping off to the big comfy seat and parking her butt dramatically on it, pouting all the while.

The other got back to her feet slowly, remaining silent and rubbing her neck, watchful of both of the peeved off couple.

"Now behave yourselves."

Mai turned about and went back to finishing off their breakfast.

The two reptiles remained in silence for a while, just continuing to stare at the other across the small room, till the more recent one made a comment.

"She has gall, stepping between two dragons in feud..."

"You should praise her more; for she is the only reason your head is still on straight."

There doesn't seem to be much love between these two...

"Alright girls, breakfast is served."

Mai set down three amply covered plates, one for each chair, but needed more words to get everyone to the table.

"Now, you wouldn't want to be rude and disrespect your host's efforts?"

Nullawhy eventually and cautiously sat opposite Lygawa.

"So, what Dragon business brings you here Nullawhy?"

Mai began the conversation from her own side as she started to eat.

Asked a fair question, she shifted about on her taken seat, before eventually speaking.

"Explain to me your reason for being here Lygawa?"

"Why should I?"

The other of her kind just stared.

"What does it matter if I'm here or not? Why do you even care?"

"I don't care..."

"Then why even come here to ask? Actually, why are you here?"

Lygawa returned a couple of good questions back, but didn't get any answers, so asked another.

"Are you stalking me?"

"No!"

Nullawhy spat back, overly defensive about the accusation, but looking away she caught Mai watching the squabble unfold before her with interest.

"I... I just was passing by."

Hmm, that's very suspicious...

The two continued on.

"I'm not the one taking shelter with a petty human..."

"Mai is not petty!"

Lygawa got to her feet with a growl, but slid back to her seat when given a little time to simmer down somewhat.

"So why did you choose this place to dwell?"

The red reptile waited firmly till she was answered this time.

"I like it here; it is quiet, the food is... amazing, and I can... do what I want."

"There are many similar places, so..."

Nullawhy put forth, as she gave a glance toward Mai again.

"Yes, Mai is fair and... is a kind and accepting human -"

The red dragon thumped the table, startling Mai a little, while Lygawa guarded her plate, though she needn't have bothered, since the red one still wasn't interested in the food at all.

"Impossible, no mere human is true and helpful to our kind!"

"Well Mai is - so she is my prize to hold!"

They began raising their tones again, but stayed seated at least.

Oh, she thinks of me as a valuable treasure, that's so nice...

"I say you merely exploit her abilities through her fear of you!"

Lygawa glared at her opposite for a moment.

"I've never intimidated - uh maybe once. But I would never do so again..."

Lygawa looked to Mai with honesty and assurance.

"...and she certainly does not fear me."

"Then this... human has fooled you - tricked you into doing her will..."

The accusing reptile gave a sharp glance Mai's way, as she innocently twiddled with her cutlery.

I will neither confirm nor deny that...

"I chose this place to stay in, and Mai has generously let me do so - and she is not deceptive!"

Nullawhy huffed and sat back with her arms crossed again.

"It will not last."

The silver one smugly rebuked her.

"It will too! Feel free to stay here and watch, yes - if you can stomach the truth..."

"Whoa whoa, we're not squeezing anyone else in this house!"

Mai needed to step in now, as there was barely enough room for two to live here.

"See, she has no affection for our kind -"

"Perhaps Nullawhy would be more comfortable in one of the other houses nearby?"

Mai asked, offering an alternative.

"Then she can watch on and see that not all humans are no good."

The other two gave sunned silent looks as their initial reactions.

"I don't want her to live here in the village!"

The smaller dragon objected.

"...but you just suggested she could stay..."

"She's far too arrogant, stubborn and stupid to fit in around here!"

Meanwhile Nullawhy ignored the insults and looked to seriously ponder this option, while Lygawa fell back to giving more ridicule.

"I think this numb-skulled red dragon could never keep a nice place standing over her either..."

Lygawa smirked, but the other stumbled up to this fresh challenge.

"As long as she lives here - then I shall too!"

Lygawa didn't like that committed statement from the other dragon, turning quite sour, while Nullawhy took note and stayed defiant in her new decision.

"I will prove you wrong Lygawa!"

She finally grabbed at the cooked bacon and egg on toast before her, stuffing half in her mouth before gnawing on it, giving a flicker of surprise, and then turning away to conceal her other expressions - while continuing to eat.

Well that settle that, and I guess we'll be getting a new neighbour too...