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I watched from afar as the man I'd come to know as viggo tricked the dragon riders and the one with a razorwhip into a trap, I could tell their dragons but they could not tell their riders. All turned out mostly well for the riders, I almost gave myself away by shooting a blast but it was assumed to be the one-legged man's nightfury. I suppose this all could have been avoided if I re-took my human form to inform them but it had been a very long time since I had been human and I would have to get used to it again before I could do anything of consequence, and that would bring forward the question of how I knew it was a trap. It didn't matter anymore, Heather, the girl with the razorwhip, was safe with the riders now. I sat on the edge of a dragon hunter camp, quite a stupid thing to do as a nightfury but I had to keep an eye on viggo. He was a menace to all dragons, a hunter to his core, and a brilliant mind. It didn't help me that behind eyes always in deep thought, eyes that catch the light just right, there was a mind that was always a few steps ahead and infuriatingly out of reach. He paced outside his tent now, he did this often from what I could gather. The fresh air seemed to help him think and his tent could never confine his restlessness. He paced back and forth in rhythmic swaths, like a hypnotist's medallion. His pacing made me feel ill and I accidentally let out a growl of frustration. I quickly hid when he glanced my direction, breath quick but quiet. He went and grabbed his sword from his tent and I decided to flee. it wouldn't be good for me if he found me, and flying was absolutely off limits with archers posted everywhere. I figured I could hide if he attempted to use the moonlight to guide him. it wasn't very bright in the forest at half full and he knew that, grabbing a lantern he continued towards my hiding spot. I fled towards the river the closer he got, tracking me somehow. Swallowing my pride and fear I dived into the river and changed back into my human form. I would probably be much safer if he found me like this, even with the soft, now exposed flesh of my body. He came to the bank of the river, following my tracks probably, and held the lantern up. The light illuminated my human form, long, sliky, and wet black hair clung to my freckled shoulders and back. I pretended to bathe as a reasonable explanation for my missing clothes, facing away from him i hummed a tune quietly. My hands shook slightly as I ran them through my hair and I decided to test my voice, "it's rude to watch others bathe, you know." He made a small choked out sound and I could hear his hand slap over his eyes. "Sorry, just didn't expect someone to be here." The lack of human interaction made me rather bold and his reactions were very nice. "Coming to bathe yourself? I won't stop you, this is a nice spot for it, the water isn't too deep and it's warm." He stammers something and I can practically hear him blushing, "No. Thank you but no, I was just out for a walk." "Out to clear your head?" I asked innocently. turning to look at him. My eyes caught the fire light of the latern and look like burning forests, the light dancing across dark green. He sees my face now, slim but soft with freckles and long eyelashes. I was all together a very inviting and pleasant looking man. Soft in all the right places but muscles clear with each calculated movement. I see his blush rise a deeper red color and almost laugh, for such a smart man I was playing him like a fiddle. "I've never seen you around here before," he stammers out, desperately trying to seem like he's trying to hold pleasant conversation and not studying my body. I give him a wry smile and decided to humor his conversation, "I'm just passing through. I'm a traveling salesman. Sorry if i startled you, figured i wouldn't have to worry about dragons if i settled close to a larger camp." He buys my lies hook line and sinker, I almost felt bad how easy it was. It was clear the way to his head was through his dick. "Well you better be careful, I lost the trail of some dragon tracks around here." My eyes flash with fake fear. "My goodness, I'm glad you came along then, I left my knife at camp. Would you keep watch so it can't sneak up on me?" He nods dutifully and it's almost cute. I continued to scrub the dirt off of my skin. I had to admit it'd been a while since I'd thoroughly bathed, I never had to worry about it in my dragon form. I hummed a pleasant tune as I washed and I could hear viggo shifting, I swam to more shallow water so I could wash my legs and gave viggo a view of my long, soft legs and large thighs. I could hear his breathing pick up and he began to shift more often now, stealing glances at him from the corner of my eye made it clear he was getting hot under the collar. To be honest I was having fun with this and he was rather attractive, so I decided to try to invite him in one more time. "Are you sure you don't want to join me for a swim stranger? The water is nice, it might help you relax." He looks like he might refuse but he also looks curious, "help me relax? What's that supposed to mean?" I shrug a little, "you just look tense." He shifts uncomfortably at how well i could read him, I suppose things had been rather stressful lately with the loss of dagur and even to some extent Heather had her uses to him. He bit his lip and fidgeted with the bottom of his armor, "I suppose a small swim couldn't hurt." I could see he seemed uncomfortable with the thought of undressing in front of a stranger, even a hot one, so I turned my back to him. I hear him stop for a moment in surprise before I hear the clink of his armor being taken off and put on the ground along with his tunic. I can hear him step into the water behind me and only turn back to him once I was sure he would be about waist deep, which was a lot farther from where I was than I expected it to be. He appeared to be rather short compared to me, I smiled at the thought and almost giggled. I swam closer to him, showcasing my height and broad shoulders. It seemed to fluster him to see me this close, his face bright red and dashing. I smile gently at him, "what's your name stranger?" I knew his name of course but he couldn't know that. "My name is viggo," he supplied nervously. I hum as though in thought of the name, "It suits you. I don't usually give my name to strangers but i'll make an exception for you, i'm thorne." My old name rolled oddly off my tongue, I had not used this name in a very long time as dragons could not pronounce it and it was easier to be known by scent to them. Viggo’s eyes lingered on me for a moment, as though he was piecing together something in his mind, but I gave him nothing else. I floated easily on the water's surface, my form relaxed and seemingly unaware of the tension between us. The truth was, my senses were only a little duller now that I had re-embraced my human shape—though I hadn’t used it in years. The sound of his shallow breathing, the shift of water around his legs, even the slight tremor in his voice—all betrayed his uncertainty. He wasn’t often uncertain. That was something I remembered well about him, even from a distance. Viggo was the kind of man who made a move only when he’d calculated all the outcomes. But here he was, in the water, vulnerable in a way he probably hadn’t anticipated. I had created this moment, nudged him toward it with careful manipulation, and I felt a wicked satisfaction in holding that power over him. “So, Thorne,” he finally said, breaking the silence that had settled over us like a heavy blanket. “A traveling salesman, you said?” I smiled slightly, running a hand through my damp hair, the black strands clinging to my face as I regarded him. “That’s right. Though not quite what you’re probably imagining. I deal in rare items—things you won’t find in ordinary markets.” “Rare?” He arched an eyebrow, finally letting himself sink into the water until it reached his chest. “That sounds... interesting. What kind of items?” I tilted my head, keeping my eyes on his, knowing full well how to draw him in without revealing too much. “Whatever a man might need... for the right price, of course.” Viggo’s lips twitched upward, just the faintest hint of a smile. He liked to think he could read people, that he could see through their intentions. “And what would I need that you could provide?” “Protection, perhaps.” I let the word hang in the air, watching as his expression faltered ever so slightly. “Or information. I find that’s usually the most valuable commodity.” His eyes sharpened, his casual demeanor slipping for a moment. “Information, you say?” I chuckled softly, allowing myself to drift closer to him again. “That’s right. I have a knack for...knowing things. It helps to know your way around the world when you’re always moving.” There it was. That spark of curiosity I’d been waiting for. Viggo leaned forward slightly, the lantern light flickering in his eyes, making them gleam with interest. “And what sort of information could a traveling salesman have for someone like me?” I could feel the shift in the air, the game taking on a different tone now. He thought he was drawing me in, gaining the upper hand. But I had led him here, step by step, just as he had unwittingly led the dragon riders into his trap earlier. I met his gaze evenly, my voice calm but laced with just enough intrigue to keep him guessing. “You’d be surprised at the things people let slip when they think no one is listening. You’d be even more surprised by what someone like me can gather when I’m not...noticed.” Viggo’s eyes narrowed, suspicion flickering in them now. He wasn’t a fool—he knew better than to trust a stranger. But I wasn’t just any stranger. I was something far older and far more dangerous than he could imagine. The silence stretched between us once more, the water rippling softly around us as we stood in a fragile balance of tension and curiosity. I smiled again, this time sharper, more deliberate. “But I’m sure you’re not interested in any of that. After all, a man like you has everything under control, doesn’t he?” He hesitated, just for a split second, and that was all I needed. Viggo’s pause was brief, but enough to confirm what I already knew—he didn’t have everything under control, not completely. He was too used to being the puppet master, tugging on strings while keeping his own cards hidden. But here, waist-deep in water with a stranger who had seemingly wandered into his path, he couldn’t help but be drawn in. I took a step closer, the water swirling softly between us, and I saw the way his eyes flicked over me, assessing. His calculating mind was working overtime, trying to piece together how much of what I’d said was true, and how much was a lie. “What makes you think I don’t have control?” he asked, voice low, the earlier awkwardness gone. This was the Viggo I’d known from a distance—sharp, dangerous, always hunting for weakness in others. I shrugged, running my hands through my hair again, casually dismissive. “Call it a hunch. You seem... preoccupied. Maybe it’s the dragon tracks you mentioned earlier, or maybe it’s something else. Either way, I’d wager things aren’t as neatly tied up as you’d like them to be.” He frowned, his posture stiffening slightly. “You seem awfully interested in my affairs for someone who claims to be just passing through.” I grinned, unable to resist pushing him further. “I’m interested in many things, Viggo. But that doesn’t mean I’m a threat to you.” His gaze sharpened again, his suspicion growing, but I could tell he was still trying to figure out how I fit into all of this. He had no reason to suspect I wasn’t fully human. Not yet. I was playing my part too well, and it was amusing to see him so off-balance. I turned away from him, gliding through the water toward the shallows, allowing the conversation to stall. The cold night air met my skin as I emerged from the water, droplets sliding down my shoulders and back. I felt his eyes on me the whole time, and I could hear him moving closer as well, cautiously. “Tell me something, Thorne,” he said after a moment, his voice more controlled now. “What would you do if you found out someone was lying to you?” I paused, turning my head just enough to meet his gaze again. There was a challenge in his words now, but also a test. He was probing, trying to figure out what I might be hiding. I smiled softly, tilting my head. “Depends on the lie. Some lies are harmless. Others... well, they can get people killed, can’t they?” Viggo’s jaw tightened. He knew I wasn’t just talking in hypotheticals anymore. The game had shifted once again, the tension rising as I walked the line between truth and deception. “And which kind of lie are you telling me now?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. I met his eyes, unblinking. “What makes you think I’m lying?” For a moment, the only sound was the gentle lapping of water against the riverbank. He didn’t answer immediately, but I could see the wheels turning in his mind. He was weighing his options, considering the risk of pushing me too far versus the possibility that I was more than I appeared to be. But before he could respond, a distant shout echoed through the trees, breaking the silence. Viggo tensed immediately, his hand instinctively going to the sword still lying on the riverbank. He turned his head toward the direction of the noise, his body coiled like a predator ready to strike. I could sense the shift in the air, the sudden urgency. Something was happening at the camp—something that demanded his attention. He glanced back at me, and for a brief moment, there was a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. “Duty calls,” I said softly, stepping out of the water completely. “I suppose this is where we part ways, Viggo.” He hesitated again, his eyes lingering on me for just a moment longer than necessary. Then, with a sharp nod, he turned and began striding back toward the camp, leaving me standing by the riverbank, the night air cool against my skin. I watched him go, my eyes narrowing slightly. For all his cunning, he was still just a man—one who thought he could control everything around him. But there were forces in this world he couldn’t predict, things lurking in the shadows that even his sharp mind couldn’t comprehend. And I was one of those things. As his figure disappeared into the darkness, I allowed myself a small smile. I had sown the seeds of doubt in his mind, and that was enough for now. The game was far from over, and I had every intention of seeing how far I could push him before he realized just how deep he was in. With one last glance toward the camp, I shifted back into my dragon form, the familiar sensation of power coursing through me as my limbs lengthened and my wings unfurled. The river rippled as I shook off the feeling of my human form, my scales gleaming in the moonlight. Viggo thought he was the hunter, but he had no idea that he was the one being hunted. Not yet.