Chapter 14

Connor glanced at Al "you look much better then the last time I saw you" he said sitting down on the bed next to her, Allora put her foot against his hip and shoved, sending Connor flying off the bed and onto the floor "no one asked you to sit down on the bed I'm in Breeton" she snapped, Connor picked himself up off the floor "I might remind you Al it's my bed your in" Bitsy sitting next to Zara winked at her "this should be fun to watch" she said silently, Zara grinned back. Allora tossed back the covers "I can fix that right now, get out of my way Breeton" Connor growled "get back in the bed, you're not ready to go any where yet" Allora shoved Connor frowning to see him barely move "I'm more then ready to get the hell out of your bed." Connor sighed grabbing Al and tossing her back on the bed "no your not, now just stay there" he told her leaning over the bed, Bitsy grinned "a punch or a kick?" Zara grinned back "a punch her fist is all ready balled up" Connor let out a yowl as Al's fist connected with his cheek bone "get away from me Breeton, I'm getting out of here, I've got things to do" Connor snapped "fine, go, here take your whistle with you, that's the only reason I was looking for you in the first place to return the thing, it's not like I wanted you in my bed" Connor shoved the whistle into her hand then stood glowering at her his hands on his hips, Allora glaring back scooped up her clothes from the floor with an unlady like snort she curled up one lip "now why doesn't that surprise me, see yea around Breeton" turning she stormed out of the doorway and up the companionway. Connor sighed, now why had he said that, Al always seemed to bring the worst out in him, Zara and Bitsy looked at each other then at Connor who was now rushing down the companionway, "that was a mean low blow" Zara commented, Bitsy nodded "and it hit home, that bed comment really hurt her" Zara grinned "well don't just sit there, go see what's happening" Bitsy grinned back and headed down the companionway. Savas came to his feet in one fluid motion seeing Al rush up on deck, her clothes clutched against her chest, her knit cap on her head, a cold hard look on her face "I'm outta here, come on Savas, come or stay if you want Willy" Allora snapped. Alex stood up blocking her path "it would be safer if you stayed here, at least until Tuesday" DeClan casually walked over "be careful her pride has been hurt some how and she is very angry" Mercer sitting holding Tabby chuckled "lass ya really don't want to go running around the docks in a nightdress, that would be inviting trouble" Allora glared at Mercer, dropping her clothes she started to pull them on over the nightgown. Connor came rushing out on deck grabbing her by the arm "just calm down a minute and listen to me" every man on board groaned and grimaced as Al's knee connected with Connor's groin, Connor dropped like a lead stone grabbing his groin, retching and moaning. In the confusion that followed Al and Savas left the ship, Mercer grinning from ear to ear told Tommy to follow Al and report back to him later, Tommy gave Connor a pained glance then trotted off after Al and Savas, Mercer chucked Tabby under the chin seeing her wide eyed look "if yea ever want to take down a male Tabby doll, that's the way to do it, your Uncle Connor is going to be growling for a while and since the language flowing around right now isn't what a little muffin should hear we'll go find your mama and brother." As Mercer passed Bitsy he winked "you'll be havin a grand time passing this tale on to Natalie and Kat if I don't miss my guess" Bitsy just grinned widely. Zara closed her blouse and snuggled a sleeping Mal with a smile, the little peg leg firmly clutched in his small paw as he slept, with a chuckle she said quietly to Mercer as he walked in "did she punch him in the nose this time?" Mercer coughed "actually her aim was a bit lower and she used her knee instead of her fist" Zara ohhh'd trying not to grin. Tabby held out her little arms to her mama with a purr, Zara smiled seeing the way she was dressed as Mercer handed Tabby to her, Mercer smiled down at the two hatchlings "you have two fine little one's there, take good care of them, I expect to see a lot of them over the years, I suspect the tiny doll wants her luncheon so I'll be leaving now" Mercer winked at Tabby who purred at him with a smile. Bitsy came flying in with a grin "now might be the time to beat a hasty retreat, your father and DeClan are helping Connor to the cabin and he is swearing up a storm" Zara grinned back "I heard what happened, I'll just tell DeClan I'm taking the babies home for their nap" which she quickly did, then she and Bitsy left with Tabby and Mal.

Allora breathing heavily sat down on the sidewalk and put her hands in her face "why did I do something that stupid? they were going to help I know they were, I could of used someone like an old friend of my fathers to back up my claim, but I had to lose my temper, now look at us, I even left without my boots," Allora tried not to cry even as the tears slipped down her cheeks, Savas not knowing what to do patted her on the back. Allora took several deep breaths then stood up wiping the tears off her face she said with a determined voice "go wait for me over by the park, I'm going to get us some money to last until Tuesday, only one more day then it will be done" Savas frowned shaking his head. Al sighed "it will be all right, we need to eat and find a place to stay, I need to replace my boots, it won't do any good frowning at me, it's going to be cold tonight Savas, I can both feel winter in the air and we can't go back to the Bear and Bull they'll be watching Willy's now." Al walked off a tired scowl on her face, when she rejoined Savas several hours later she had picked enough pockets to feed them and house them for the next few days, an old pair of boots now on her feet. "I know, I know stealing isn't right, no use giving me that look, it won't do any good, now come on let's go find a place to eat and hide out, a place with a damn fireplace or stove where we can get warm, you may not feel the cold but I sure as hell do." Tommy followed them for several more hours as they weaved and dodged their way to an old Inn on the outskirts of town, he waited outside in the shadows for another hour just to make sure they didn't change their minds and go elsewhere then he headed back to the Sea Dragon.

Connor growled "I've had it with that brat, she can rot for all I care, every time I get near Al I get laid low" Mercer chuckled to himself listening to Connor, picking up the small black cat that had been rubbing against his leg, he winced for Connor as he moved groaning "didn't know you had a puss on board, friendly little thing" he commented as the cat licked his neck purring. Alex glanced over and grinned winking at DeClan, "it seems sparks fly each time you and Allora get near each other but I still plan on trying to find her again and being there to lend my support" Alex told Connor, DeClan chuckled seeing Mercer set the cat in his lap and start to scratch behind it's ears, the cat's front paws on his thigh padding like a kitten, "I hate to suggest this but it might help, an ice bag would at least reduce the bruising and swelling" Connor groaned again and swore "it will be all Al's fault if I can't ever father children." Mercer blinked then leaned down "did I just hear you giggle my pretty pussy?" Alex almost fell of the bed laughing "ahhhh Mercer" DeClan pulled Alex off the bed making Connor groan again "you must be getting hysterical Alex" he said with a shake of his head, Mercer raised an eyebrow "it's not like you don't all ready have two very enjoyable grandbabies waiting at home Alex, I'm sure in a few months the boy here can test things out and see how the old tool works" his hand stroking along the back of the cat and down the length of it's long tail" Mercer almost giggled as the cat's long whiskers brushed his jaw with a tickle, it's rough pink tongue licking just below his ear. When Connor saw Mercer start to rub the cats belly he snarled "damnit Mercer would you quit caressing Nedra she is probably orgasmic by now" Mercer smiled at the cat "is that the pretty puss's name, cats and I have always gotten along, I like hearing them purr, I don't know about orgasmic but the little puss here sure does like to be petted" Alex started to snicker, Connor threw his arm over his eyes muttering, DeClan started laughing. Nedra's tiny white teeth nipped Mercer's earlobe "but of course Nedra loves to be petted, caressed, stroked and touched for this is Nedra" she purred into Mercer's ear, Mercer found himself looking into the face of a very stunningly lovely woman who was sitting on his lap. Alex and DeClan started laughing at the look on Mercer's face, a look that had gone from stunned, to stupefied, to a grin saying on my gawd look what's sitting on my lap. Nedra purred with a wink at Mercer as she slipped off his lap, her long delicate fingers touching his cheek, "Nedra she has come to tisk at the ohhh sooo groaning one, no it will do no good to frown at Nedra for she is caught between amusement and annoyance, my sweet one you know you do not want Nedra annoyed" Connor sighed "all right Nedra say what you have to say" Nedra chuckled putting her hand on Connor's thigh "Nedra she should leave you to your moaning, but then you would not listen well, yes this Nedra knows, as you did not listen with your heart earlier." Connor stared at the wall, DeClan started to leave but Alex shook his head whispering "Nedra's lecture's are always interesting" Nedra purred "but of course they are" then looked at Connor "you are ohhh sooo upset with yourself for the way you acted with the little defensive one, she irritates you, annoys you, fills you with snipping comments you had no intentions of saying, she fights back in the only way she knows how, she has not the physical strength you do soooo she she fights back with snide rude words, do you wonder why my sullen one?" Nedra waited for Connor to answer her, with a tisk she reached out and put her fingers on either side of his face and turned it towards her with surprising strength. "Nedra she will tell you, what does the ohhh sooo angry one see when she looks at you, she sees a man who is like his mama sensual, tempting, a man who takes his looks for granted, a man who is used to women panting for him, a man who enjoys a fun romp of sexual pleasure with a laugh and a smile, a man who has learned the hard way with a few swipes of a dragoness's talons to control his lust, yes all this Nedra knows, then look at the scruffy Allora, what you did to her today was most cruel and unkind of you my ohhh sooo surprised one, yes unknowingly cruel and unkind but words that hurt to the very center of her being." Nedra purred knowing she now had Connor's full attention as well as that of the other's in the room. "For an ohhh sooo long time, since a little girl, afraid, hurt, alone with her fears, she has been told she was ugly, past ugly to hideous by the ohhh soooo noxious Willy, all his words she took silently into her heart, in the process she decided this is why the attempt was made to kill her, she was so ugly that she could not be allowed to live on this earth, as the years went on she learned to live the part of being ugly, hunched inside her clothes, even more she hides inside her heart and mind, lashing out at one and all keeping them away from her very ugliness. Into her life walks a man who does not see the ugliness, a man who only sees the anger and the tattered appearance, this terrifies her, so she must strike out faster and harder to protect herself from more hurt and pain to her aching confused heart, sooooo once again a battle of words take place and you my ohhh sooo annoyed one bite back with the words "it's not like I wanted you in my bed" once again lending strength to the words of Willy, sooo our angry hurt one strikes back, she wounds your manhood to pay for the pain to her heart and the little smattering of pride she still has hidden away. Do you think what she does is easy? to try and take back her name, it takes courage to stand up and try to wrest what was taken from her, from one such as the evil Charles. She looks at her body covered with scars from being slashed repeatedly as a little girl and cries in her heart for she fears so many things but she still fights because it is all she knows, in many ways she is much like our Raimi but Allora has had no dragoness to cling too and hide with, so she hides hunched within herself." Connor sighed "your right Nedra all I did was see the scruffy appearance, hear the nasty biting words and hit back" Nedra purred "but of course Nedra is right, when she is not she becomes very annoyed, this is not good, now Nedra she shall attempt to deal with the ohhhhh soooo angry fearful one, she must not walk in Tuesday looking beaten and down trodden it will only lend luster to the eyes of the wolves snapping at her heels." Nedra turned with a purr and kissed Mercer caressingly "Nedra shall look forward to being petted by the ohhhh sooo tender hearted one" she winked at DeClan and Alex then left. Mercer with a grinning bemused look on his face sauntered out saying he needed to freshen up.