Gotcha party

After a full day of hiding from Olive and Amaya, outfit measurements, and training with Sheldon and Kem. I'm exhausted. Curling up in my cave never sounded so good but I have to stay up. Elbereth and Dre ran by me during training asking if I will be at tonight's celebration for Sheldon, Dre, Olive, Leaf and Pearl. I still can't wrap my head around the fact it's been two years.

Sonja's cabin comes into view. The warm glow out the windows puts me at ease. Everyone is hustling around bringing things out from the cabin to the bon fire outside. The little dragons are no longer little enough to be inside so they are helping tend to the fire. Maddie made stone tables for the food to sit on. Dre and Pearl are drooling over their "meat cakes" as Elbereth calls them. Really they are just over sized hamburger steaks with extra gravy. Last year we tried putting candles in them but Dre and Pearl ate theirs so we decided never to do that again.

"Ragon is here!" Amaya calls out to the others.

"Finally! We had to pull every trick in the book to keep these two from eating their cakes." Mitus claims.

"Oh you guys didn't have to wait for me." I reply.

With that, Pearl and Dre start scarfing down their cakes. Their quick eating causes the plates to clack against the stone tables. Dre finishes first, he picks up his plate with his teeth.

"More?" He begs.

Elbereth sighs then giggles. "Later we can go hunting for more meat for now though. You can have this." She pulls out a large bowl of greens she picked. 

"My favorites!" Dre exclaims while munching the grasses.

"That's why I picked them." Elbereth smiles at the large dragon.

Sheldon, Leaf and Olive had started eating their "cakes" during the commotion. Olive ate with poise and elegance. Sheldon on the other hand was doing her very best to show restraint while eating hers. Leaf was also eating quickly but very quietly. By now Pearl is trying to clean the gravy off of her white mane and face. It's just smearing everywhere though so Mitus is trying to help her. Everyone else is helping themselves to food Elbereth and Arata worked on today.

"Amaya filled us in that you forgot what day it was." Sonja says from the orb in Kem's hand.

Oh how I wish I never forgot.

"Yea. It's not like my phone works so I'm without a calendar." I state.

"I can't wait to research this "phone" you talk of. The things it does sounds as if it's beyond magic." Sonja makes her pondering face.

"You will get plenty of time to research it after we get you." I say taking the orb.

"Why thank you." She smiles.

Today her rags Gilton calls clothes look a little more ragged then normal. She is sitting on her bed surrounded by books, plants, a pelt and glass bottles either empty or various colors. The floor has a few extra candles on it so I'm able to see her better.

"You did something today." I whisper to her. 

I start walking away from the others to sit at the edge of the forest. I sit down beside Maddie.

"What? H-how could you tell?" Sonja asks looking herself over. "I covered up all the scratches."

"Scratches?!" I hiss.

Maddie looks closer into the orb. "Their faint but she is covered in cuts and scrapes. She used a powder to cover them. I'm surprised Kem didn't see them."

"Sonja, what did I tell you? No risks!" I'm doing everything in my power not to yell at this girl.

"I made it into one of the fields Gilton is forcing dragons to farm. They are growing herbs with healing abilities but if cooked they can cause harm. There are hundreds of different herbs he could grow but this one specifically can not be heated or (she makes a cut thoat motion). I only got cut up from running through the field. I did take one of the plants to help heal me but Kem called before I could use it." The girl pleads.

I sigh and look to Maddie. The large dragon nods her head.

"She is telling the truth." 

I look back at Sonja. She has an apologetic face.

"I won't tell Kem about the cuts but will inform him that you found some dragons." I tell her.

"Thank you!" She places her hands together and lightly bows her head.

"You're welcome." I say tapping my head to the orb.

"So the gotcha party. How is that going? What you get the dragons?" Sonja asks.

"Looks like its going well. Kem just gave Sheldon a large jug of ocean water he asked me to get yesterday." Maddie explains.

"So everyone planned this party and didn't tell me?" I ask.

"You didn't know?" Maddie is shocked.

"No." I grumble.

"Does this mean you didn't get them anything?" Sonja side eyes me through the orb.

"No but my gift will top everyone's. Just watch." I say setting the orb on the ground and taking a few steps away from her.

The five dragons are all enjoying their gifts from everyone. Sheldon is clinging to her jug of ocean water. Dre is almost done with his grass and leaf salad. Pearl is getting a beaded charm placed into her mane from Mitus. Olive is trying to work with Amaya to get something on that Amaya sewed. Leaf is very shy about putting on the necklace Arata made him.

"Today only. Free scratches." I say holding out my arms.

All the dragons leave everything behind and run for me. I do my best for the rest of the evening to scratch everyone. Including Maddie because she was right I never specifically said only gotcha day dragons.