The village of Moss always grew quieter when Rigel walked through it. People turned their heads. Some made way with hushed awe, others with shameless stares. Dragonriders were rare, they were living legends bound to their beasts, and Rigel took immense pride in his legacy. Probably to the point where he was insufferable, but Rigel would never miss an opportunity to mention his heritage.

His long blond hair was tied loosely at the nape of his neck, icy blue eyes sharp and unbothered as he strode down the cobbled street. His height alone made him stand out, but there was something about his presence, a coiled energy that came from years astride a dragon, that set him apart even here, where everyone knew his name.

Not that he cared for the attention. He liked the respect part of it, but the other aspects... maybe not so much. He heard the whispers anyway.

"Gods, look at him," one woman muttered to her friend by the baker's stall. "How big do you think his dragon is?"

Rigel's jaw tightened.

The other woman snorted into her apron. "I wouldn't mind riding it. I heard his brother's dragon is massive as well, I'd ride them both. At the same time."

They dissolved into giggles, half-scandalized, half-daring themselves to speak louder. Rigel kept walking, eyes fixed ahead, ears burning. Were they talking about him and Caiden? At... the same time? Rigel let out a huff of disgust. Women were feral.

Behind him came the heavy thud of claws against stone, followed by the not-so-subtle scrape of scales on wood. Rigel spun just in time to see Sol, his not-yet-fully-grown dragon nose-deep in a basket of carrots, tail sweeping a line of laundry from its rope. The merchant's loud yell of terror didn't discourage Sol.

"Sol," Rigel barked, voice like thunder rolling down the mountain.

The dragon froze, muzzle dripping orange and green. His eyes, still filled with a young dragon's mischief, too bright, like molten amber, glanced sideways toward a figure across the square. Rigel could see the dragon's eyes sharpen with instant interest.

Her. Again. Oh no.

The girl carried a water jug, simple as any villager, yet Sol's attention snapped to her like iron to a magnet. His wings twitched, tail thumping once with such enthusiasm the laundry pole clattered to the ground.

Rigel pinched the bridge of his nose. "Not again," he muttered.

Sol took a bounding step forward, nearly bowling over a startled goat.

"Stay. *Stay*,” Rigel ordered, the dragon hardly noticing him. He jabbed a finger at the cobblestones. “You are not a stray dog. You are a dragon of Moss, sworn to me.”

Villagers were starting to gather, stopping to look at the commotion. God, the horror.

Sol answered with a whine that rumbled from his chest like a thundercloud made pitiful. His gaze never left the girl, tail still wagging dangerously.

And Rigel, proud rider of dragons, protector of Moss, could only groan at the sight of his legendary companion reduced to a lovesick puppy.

Sol did a bounce forward as the girl, engrossed in her own thoughts, came closer. The girl let out a startled yell, dropping her water jug. Rigel groaned as Sol arched down on the ground, looking at the girl with hopeful eyes, his body twisting towards her in surrender.

"Sol!" Rigel commanded. Rigel walked up to them with hasty steps, putting himself between his lovesick dragon and the girl. "Sorry," Rigel said, his ears burning red. "My dragon is usually more well behaved. I’m not sure why he’s acting like this." He looked down at the crushed water jug on the ground. Goddamn it. "I’ll pay for that. How much?"

Rigel’s eyes went over the girl. Pretty, sure. But nothing special. He had no idea why Sol seemed so obsessed with her.