Ken sat on his towel and stared out at the sea. He sensed and felt the approach of the dragon. Wind from the wings swept over him, and the ground trembled slightly with its landing.
Ken looked around. There had been no sound.
Ke’Enarsha stood within a pace from him, towering over him.
“I could eat you.” Rumbled the dragon’s deep voice.
Ken rose smoothly, and faced toward the dragon. Naked after his swim, he stood with his arms stretched out wide, and with his eyes closed. Something told him this was an appropriate way to present himself as a sacrifice.
“Eat me, then, and end my troubles. Begin your own.”
There was only silence in answer. Then he heard the dragon’s indrawn breath, and braced himself for what would happen.
Warm air wafted gently over his drying skin, as the slitted nostrils of Ke’Enarsha opened wide upon him. He opened his eyes. Ke’Enarsha lowered his head.
Ken stepped forward and wrapped his arms around the huge scaly head. “I love you, too, Ke’Enarsha.”
The rumbling voice spoke again. “Let us ride.”
Ken grabbed his towel and draped it over the rough scales behind Ke’Enarsha’s short frill, and climbed up to sit behind his head. He held onto the wicked looking horns that came up to form the upper apexes of an inverted triangle.
Ke’Enarsha spread his wings into the stroke position, and Ken could hear the wheezy sound of the organic bellows drawing in air between the dragon’s shoulder blades. With a sound like a small door slamming shut the lungflap closed and there was an immediate thunderclap of noise.
Ken was thrust violently downward as the dragon sprang upward. Then he power-stroked again and again, gaining altitude with each beat of the wings. In a moment, they were gliding South along the coastline, riding the onshore breeze as it rose onto the land.
Ken screamed in exultation. Ke’Enarsha turned his head slightly, looking back at him. The corners of his huge mouth gave a slight twist in the dragon equivalent of a big smile.
Ken twisted the head and squeezed with his legs as if he were trying to control the huge beast.
Ke’Enarsha swayed slightly, dipping left and right. Ken shouted in triumph again. Who could feel gloomy while riding on a dragon?
Excellent!