Aaron soared above the human neighborhoods of Mazda, flying as quickly as his wings could carry him. He couldn't be late for his post again, or it was working the street corner by the police station for a week. Aaron hated that corner. He was a dragon who lived for action, who felt alive only when the wind sheered coolly across his black, scaly skin. His police hat blew off, his ears no longer supporting it after being pulled back at the very thought of not working his dream job as an aerial mage in SAM-D (Special Aerial Magic Division). Quickly, Aaron pulled back on his air speed and dropped a dozen meters to catch it, the hand at the end of his wing just barely getting hold of the cap. Aware of the time, Aaron checked the blood in his cordless wand, hoping to create a gust to carry him further and faster. If he had enough good blood left, he would make it to Lent with no problem. The blood had already coagulated. It was useless. He already missed the Reptile shuttle, and he shuddered to think of being crammed into a human ship. His wings grew wary, still tired from the flight he took the night before. He hadn't exercised as much lately, given a recent decrease in crime, and he was having trouble training his wings to the condition they were in his youth. He ran, swam, and flew, but he especially loved to fly when he was young, and that is why it was the focus of his exercise program. Starting lose his breath, Aaron came to a glide and landed somewhat less than gracefully on the sidewalk. He bumped into the back of a Cyclops, who yelled, "Watch it!" before giving Aaron a dirty look and continuing on his way. This was a Cyclops neighborhood, though Aaron could also see humans and Lilliputians making their way to work. The train station was nearby, Aaron knew, so he began to jog as fast as his legs and lungs would allow him to the ticket counter. Lent, though part of the same kingdom, was on the southern coast of Tavy, directly across the waterway from Mazda, which was a tiny territorial holding of Tavy on the island of Gormesh. Aaron knew that he was too exhausted to make it on his own wingpower without taking a swim, and he didn't want to get his uniform cap wet.
A neon green Reptile manned the counter who Aaron had not had any previous dealings with. He looked bored.
Turning a purple eye to Aaron, he said, "If your looking for a comfy ride, you're outa luck. All the good airships are in flight."
"Sir," Aaron began, somewhat conscious of the human accent he inherited from his adoptive human parents. He never knew his real parents, and his adoptive parents took him in as an egg knowing fully how the racist society which defined most kingdoms would see their family.
The ticket dispenser interrupted him, "You're talkin' like a warmy! Talk like real reptile, 'fore I get sick!"
Aaron bared his sharp teeth and gave a reptilian hiss. He loved people of all races. He knew that humans were warm blooded, but that didn't bother him. As a matter of fact, when they hugged him as a hatchling, he loved the warmth their embrace provided. They couldn't fly, but they were good people.
"Take't eeeeeeasy, toughy! I was just messn'!'"
"You're being very unprofessional, Sir. Do you call human's who come through here 'Warmies'? Didn't think so. If you EVER talk like that again, I am telling your superior. Got it? Now, just get me an airship to Lent, please!"
"Alrighty, but you take the Wa--I mean HUMAN shuttle."
Aaron's ears went back, but he boarded the shuttle and sat down. He had to crouch not to hit his head, and he had to sit on his tail, as the seat were made for people without tails. Behind him, a human child started kicking his seat and didn't stop for the whole trip even as the brat shouted, "Black Dragon, White Knight!"
When he arrived at Lent after about 30 minutes in the ship, he was late and his tail had fallen asleep. He stood up, hitting his head. Dazed from the bump and unable to use his tail for balance, he staggered to the police station. He was late.
The police chief, a freed cyclops of considerable size, gave a fierce growl. Pounding his fist on his desk, he barked, "Aaron, You're 15 minutes late! 5th time this month!"
"Yes, chief. Sorry, chief."
"Crime doesn't wait, but funding from the crown does. It waits on results. Do you know how far a theif can run in 15 minutes? How many people can be mugged? Do you?"
"No, chief, but I would imagine quite a few."
"Well, in the meanwhile, I am going to dock your pay for the next week and assign you street duty. I'll let the substitute SAM-D reptilians have the action. They're punctual, at least. You're going to be the last Mage I call on for help this week, 'cause your going to be dealing with the public drunks and the jaywalkers. If you don't learn your lesson this week, I may just have to demote you. Understand?"
"Yes, chief."
Aaron sulked to his station. Maybe his partner could lighten up his day.
It was then, however, that he overheard the chief saying something about shadows. Probably somebody who had a drink or two too many.
