#same size vote

He stepped forwards carefully, the lashes protesting every movement. Pointed ears flicked, catching the sound of Chris close to his back. He held out an arm for a moment, listening. There was a clamor of noises to his left, shouts of surprise. Seemed the Hunters caught on Chris had slipped away. Smirking, he slinked forwards.

“Stay here a sec,” he murmured. Stepping forwards, Jake rolled his shoulders. For the first time in ages, he let the magical binds keeping his scales tucked away go lax. Muscles and bones stretched, and his skin gave way to his tan scales while his furry mane sprouted along his back. Though the cuts burned, and his body ached, he fell to all fours, his tail lashing behind him. The dragon grinned as his snout grew out, standing tall. Finally, he could hunt.

~~

Faster than Chris’d ever seen, Jake’s body ballooned into the hall, taking up nearly half the walkway, and towered over her. She kept herself pressed to the wall as a rush of shouts came from the other end of the passageway. Jake’s claws dug into the ground, and he launched forwards with a roar. Chris couldn’t see much but his big tan hide…what she heard was enough. Screams for mercy and pleads, followed by the sounds of unceremonious squelches and swallows she’d grown familiar with, and the sight of Jake tossing his head back. After a few moments, the hall fell silent.

Jake’s head straightened, and he turned, an eye peering at her. He kicked his lips and gestured with his chin. “C’mon,” the captain turned, lumbering further down the hall. “Gotta keeps movin’.”

Chris nodded, picking her way behind him. Scattered weapons and bags littered the floor. She almost walked past them, then paused to collect what she could. They wouldn’t be missed. A satchel or two that she tossed over her shoulders, and a few small weapons stashed inside them. She hurried behind Jake as she tucked away her new goods for the crew.

“Any idea on a way out?” Chris asked, peering around Jake’s squirming gut. The movements were slower now, more sluggish.

He paused, ears and nose twitching. After a moment, he began walking again. “This way’s gotta way out, I thinks…”

“Okay,” she nodded. The halls were quiet, Dave the grumbled of his middle. The movements stopped…Chris cringed, desperate to take her mind off the implications. “How many more do you think there are?”

“Ain’t many,” Jake shrugged. “I smelled lots yesterday-but the smell’s stale today. Hunter that whipped me saids navy folks was comin’ by. Wonder if some’ve them ran off t’handle less legal stuffs before they gots here…” he trailed off.

Nodding again, Chris glanced up to the dragon. His scales were covered in scabs, scars…some of them still bleeding. He seemed…okay enough, she guessed. Okay enough to eat, fight, so surely he wasn’t as bad off as he seemed. She rubbed her arms as they continued along.

“Gods if I never see another Hunter again…”

“This ain’t gonna be th’last you’ll see of ‘em,” Jake sighed. “Fuckers is everywhere on th’seas…surprised ya’ didn’t wanna go back t’yer fancy dock life after this…” he trailed off, and Chris caught him peering at her before focusing his attention ahead.

She snorted. “Told you, life on the docks was boring. Never did anything fun there…”

“Never gots kidnapped neither, though.”

“True,” Chris shrugged, then nudged at an unscathed part of the dragon’s flank. “What, you still wanna get rid of me?” She smirked.

“…Nah,” he shook his head, craning his neck to smirk. He straightened as he began to round a corner. For a moment, he sounded sincere. “Ya’ taste too good fer that~.”

Ah, there was the snark.

“Ugh-!” She moved to smack his leg, only to freeze as she stepped around the corner. At the end of t hall were six, maybe seven Hunters. Behind them seemed the way out, by the glorious sight of weapons tucked away through a grated door. Jake growled at her side, and Chris stepped back.

Before the hunters could move, Jake leapt into action. His claws swept over the first several, knocking them back into the others. Chris turned away as Jake finished them off, a resounding belch announcing their defeat. When she looked back, Jake stood, paws planted, looking very full… She didn’t know much about dragons, but didn’t think they could look green. Yet, somehow, Jake had a green hue to his face.

“You, uh…you okay captain?”

“Urgh…yep,” he grunted around another belch. “Doin’ fine…” his tail gestured to the door behind him. “Can ya’ open that? Thinks we might use th’gunpowder…”

She nodded, stepping forwards and around Jake. The door had a safe, a poorly designed one… Watching the crew had truly paid off. She leant into the door, placing her ear on it. Closing her eyes, she honed in on the lock’s mechanisms. Turn, turn….

MMPH!

Chris blinked, eyes shifting to the side. Jake’s stomach rolled, and Chris watched a noticeable bump trail along his scales before vanishing. She shuddered, closed her eyes again, and focused. Turn…turn….another one…

HMPH!

Straightening, she glared up at Jake. He raised a brow ridge.

“I need you to back up so I can focus.”

Jake frowned. “…Why?”

She threw her hands towards his middle as another muffled shout pierced the air. “That! It’s weird hearing-it…the…y’know!”

Jake’s head craned down, then lifted to regard her again. “Oh, ya ain’t gonna hear that fer long.” His expression and tone was genuine, maybe a tad confused. He wasn’t kidding.

Chris placed the palm of her hand to her forehead, bewildered at how such an intimidating creature could also be so clueless. “Just…please. Go stand somewhere else and let me focus.”

Jake snorted as she turned around. After a moment, she heard weight shift, and heavy footsteps receding. She rolled her eyes. >Turn, turn….turn-click! Chris grinned. Turn, turn, click! She poked her tongue out, focusing on the tiny sounds. Turn, turn, turn….turn, turn….turn-click! There was a thud, and the door loosened.

“Find th’gunpowder,” Jake called. “Bring it here.”

Nodding once, Chris scanned the room. Guns, gun oils, gun bullets…gun powder. The pile of bags wasn’t big, but from her understanding, it didn’t take much. She knelt, scooping the heavy package up like a sack of flour. Once it was secured on her shoulder, the turned, and deposited it in front of Jake. He knelt, examining the package.

“There more left?”

“Aye,” she gestured behind her. “Six if I counted right.”

“Good, here,” he lifted a claw and sliced a small hole. “Carry it there, then back here. We’ll makes a trail. An’ bring th’other bag in case we needs it.”

Chris followed orders, a bit of pride in her step. Receiving orders…she really was a pirate. Once she was back at Jake’s side, he turned, pausing a moment.

“Thinks we’re on the right track.” He stepped forwards, his stomach swaying now. His footsteps were heavier, too, jostling Chris with every step.

“Good…” Chris mumbled, trailing alongside her captain.

~~

Author’s note: