well as it did me, so he simply stepped off the path and concealed himself behind a tree.
Fairly satisfied with our sudden stealth, I approached my front door. A dim light flickered through the paned window – something I knew was suspicious. Someone was inside my house and I was just going to have to show them that I did not appreciate the intrusion, especially when there were thirty-some-odd angry villagers with various weapons less than a mile away. I may have been immortal, but I had not yet lived long enough to be flippant with my personal security.
I reached into my pocket and decided that my small pair of scissors at least resembled something threatening and slipped my fingers around them. In a motion somewhat swifter than I was aware I could perform, I pulled open my front door, jumped inside and brandished the scissors like they were a touch more deadly than they really were. The single occupant of my living room jumped so violently that they almost slipped off the bench they had been sitting on. I nearly laughed out loud.
“Morrense!” I gasped in a voice that was way too relieved for its own good.
The old man righted himself in his seat with some difficulty. “Goodness!” He murmured. He made another surprised noise as I embraced him. Perfect! If he hid here he would be a little safer from the angry villagers. Sensing his discomfort with my sudden display of affection, I released him and put my scissor back in my pocket. Morrense opened his mouth, about to speak, before he stared over my shoulder, dumbfounded.
“So, it’s true then,” was all he ended up saying. I heard the door shut behind me as Levent let himself in. He was entirely too large for my living room, and his monochromatic outfit looked odd in the yellow light of my lamps. He paused and acknowledged the old man for a moment before he began to slowly explore the room.
“I guess so,” I rubbed my face against my palm. It would take a long time to explain, and I was in no mood to do so. “When did you get here?”
“An hour ago, I suppose.” The old man’s eyes continued to follow the dragon-kin as he trudged about the room, hunched over slightly so that his long horns did not scratch the low ceiling. “I thought you were just asleep, but it turns out you were havin’ a little adventure.” He raised his bushy eyebrows a little, looking at me now. “Did you fall in the ocean?”
I grimaced. My clothes were still damp, and I’m sure my hair had not dried in