The dragon stared at her with a deathly glare for what seemed like hours. Her claws were ready to scrape the skin off the human's face if she needed to and she bore her teeth to show that she could tear it off with her mouth as well.<br/><br/>...But it looked like she didn't need to.<br/><br/>Was this human...afraid of her?<br/><br/>The dragon moved closer to Bari, who was slowly backing away and appeared to be looking for a stick on the ground to jab her with-or some route to run away.<br/><br/>"... Please don't hurt me!" she squealed in a voice loud enough to just pierce the dragon's ears, "I'm only nineteen, I don't have children, a husband and I still live with my parents, but I don't<span style="font-weight: bold">want</span>to die-AAAAH!"<br/><br/>The human accidentally tripped over a large rock and fell onto her bottom. She hissed, rubbing her sore end and then looked up. The squealing noise from her mouth came out even louder than before when she realized that the dragon was moving closer to her. The gigantic creature was unamused.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"You do not wish to die," </span>the dragon finally spoke in an oddly feminine and somber voice,<span style="color: #800040">"Yet you have trespassed into my territory, did you not?"</span><br/>Bari shamefully shifted her knees closer to her chest.<br/><br/>"I-I-yes..."<br/><br/>The dragon's eyes flashed.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"And you have come here to my humble home where nobody of your kind has ever bothered to explore inside for at least a decade up until now-and they have sent YOU of all the humans?"</span><br/><br/>"I-I-wait, what? No! They didn't send me! They don't even know you're here!"<br/><br/>The dragon refused to relax. Her tail pounded onto the ground in anger. If Bari had gotten up again, she would have fallen even harder onto the ground.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Then why are you here, hm? 'Think you can tame me?"</span>She drew her head closer to Bari's.<span style="color: #800040"> "I doubt a small and fragile woman as you are could even handle such a challenge of a dragon as I!"</span><br/>"Well..." Bari poked her head back further. "No..."<br/><br/>The dragon sighed and lifted her head.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Are you trying to say you're NOT picking a fight with me?"</span><br/><br/>Bari arched her eyebrows.<br/><br/>"D-Did you not hear me when I told you that I<span style="font-weight: bold">don't</span>want to die?"<br/><br/>[color=#8000040]'"...I suppose you're right,"[/color] the dragon murmered, then groaned,<span style="color: #800040">"Curses! The first time I  finally meet a human and she has to be afraid of me! Hmph!"</span>The dragon frowned.<span style="color: #800040">"No offense, but you've really let me down. I was really hoping something entertaining would happen-like after I'd devour my potential hunter, his mate would find out as well as his offspring and then the generic village mob would grab their dangerous, sharp sticks and go on some kind of a dragon hunt to track me down and attempt to cut off my head to put as a trophy prize in the middle of their village-only to have me devour them all as well."</span><br/><br/>"Actually, it would be a more of a witch hunt."<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Excuse me?"</span><br/><br/>"They think witches live in the valley, so they don't even go near here." The dragon rolled her eyes.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Really? Are you seroius? Of all assumptions they could have concluded with in their tiny, squishy minds, they decided to agree upon THAT above all other possible answers?" </span>She grinned a toothy smile.<span style="color: #800040">"Oh well. I suppose not everything can go my way!"</span><br/><br/>The dragon slid the end of her tail towards Bari.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"The name is Latu. What might be yours, human?" </span><br/><br/>Bari hesitantly grasped the very end of the dragon's tail-which was bare of spikes- and shook it lightly.<br/><br/>"M-My name is Bari! I-It's nice to m-meet you..."<br/><br/>Latu laughed heartily.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"What's with the stuttering? I've become your acquaintance. We know each other now-so I know that you're not a hunter and I don't have to have you as my meal-which would have been far more filling to have than that squirrel. I prefer creatures that DON'T have bushy tails."</span><br/><br/>Bari couldn't help but smile at this-despite the oddness of her circumstances.<br/><br/>"This is just...so unrealistic! I've heard some of the most amazing stories about dragons, but I thought they were a bunch of fairy tales! Now, I have actually met one!" She looked up at Latu. "...Will you ever allow me to ride you? I've always wanted to-"<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Wait a moment, Bari," </span>Latu cut her off sharply,<span style="color: #800040">"Stories? About dragons? Humans know we exist?" </span><br/><br/>"In legends, yes," said Bari, "But they don't know you're truly real! There's never been such a case as an actual encounter with a dragon in Ezzberr!"<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Oh, well that's a relief-because I was going to re-think that option about eating you for a moment." </span>Bari laughed nervously. Latu moved closer towards her.<span style="color: #800040">"But in all seriousness, it's either you keep this meeting a secret or you WILL have to suffer the consequences of some sort-I'm not sure what it will be yet, but I will make sure whatever it is, it will be big, disastrous and in STYLE! Do you understand me?" </span><br/><br/>Bari nodded slowly.<br/><br/>"...Does this mean I get to ride you?" Latu thought about this for a moment.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"... As long as you keep your promise, yes. I will let you ride me as I shall be keeping you alive."</span>Latu stretched her wings in an intimidating matter.<span style="color: #800040">"After all, it's about time I get some exercise. I feel so lazy."</span><br/><br/>"Well, not right now! I have to get home!"<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"What, are you yet again afraid of me?"</span><br/><br/>"No, but I must get home before Mother says something-and I don't want to hear her complaining about me not being punctual or have her send me to do a job for her." The dragon looked at her curiously.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"A job?" </span><br/><br/>"I assist in child birth. It's not pretty." Latu blinked her amethyst eyes.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"I can imagine it isn't. Well, I guess it can't be helped."</span>Latu thrust Bari into the air and caught her with her snout.<span style="color: #800040">"I might as well help you get back."</span>Latu crawled over to the top of the valley and placed Bari onto the edge carefully. Bari waved to Latu before leaving.<br/><br/>"I shall come back for you! I promise I'll keep this a secret!"<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Good,"</span>said Latu,<span style="color: #800040">"Because I won't keep mine if I find out you lied to me. I don't like the idea of being decieved by a creature I'm ten times the size of." </span><br/><br/>Bari began to head back to Ezzberr.<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"Wait, Bari!"</span>Bari turned around.<br/><br/>"What is it?"<br/><br/><span style="color: #800040">"... Do you think you can bring me an offering next time you come-like I don't know... fish? I'm really tired of squirrels and birds..."</span><br/><br/>Bari smiled and walked away.<br/><br/>"We'll see.