[Continued from Atayo City (http://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=73778.msg3232926#msg3232926) ]<br/><br/>Sasha had been all kinds of helpful on ways to impress, flatter, maybe even flirt with a water dragon. Give it roast chicken, daisy chains, coo over its nice blue scales, say how impressed you are with its<em>girth</em>...<br/><br/>Mostly ignoring her, Rufio had passed a wandering merchant on his walk from the GEST Outlands station. The merchant was one of the lucrative types who peddled his wares between the small backwater towns in the Outlands, hiking up prices on spices in one town only to sell for half price in the next. His team of mutant bison had grunted and groaned, blowing snot into the desert air as they came to a stop under duress from their master.<br/><br/>The merchant knew about the dragon, yes sir. Who didn't? News was all over the Outlands, pretty much every town! Last time it'd been seen, it was...<br/><br/>Rufio remembered the merchant's directions as he stalked out into the glaring wastes of the Outlands, wind whipping his dark hair about his face, pulling at his coat, which he tightened around his neck (despite being a desert, the wind carried a chill once it picked up). Sasha helpfully repeated the directions over and over like a mantra, the desert conditions infuriatingly not effecting her in the slightest as the bobbed along next to Rufio. She was so pleased to be on a different plane to hers and having an actual "adventure", that every now and then she stopped to plant an affectionate kiss on Rufio's wind-roughened cheek.<br/><br/>Rubbing sand from his eyepatch for the umpteenth time, Rufio blinked once more as the air about him became more humid, and the sand dropped somewhat. At first he thought he was under the effects of a mirage (being alone in the Outlands away from any of the towns tended to play with one's mind) until he licked dewy droplets of water from his arms.<br/><br/>"<strong>I think we're close now, Sasha</strong>."<br/><br/>Clapping excitedly, Sasha whooshed ahead of Rufio, a few metres away and around a towering rock formation, that looked like an enormous anthill. Cursing vehemently and jogging to catch her up, Rufio skidded to a halt as he rounded the corner.<br/><br/>Over Sasha's svelte shoulder basked Rufio's prize, lounging in the glaring sun.<br/><br/>Rufio cleared his throat.<br/><br/>"<strong>Ahem. Excuse me, sir dragon. I was wondering if....we could have a <em>chat?</em></strong>"