Book 3: Chapter 140 (1/2)

“Actually,” Bonnie said and tugged on Prika’s tail, drawing the red dragon’s attention. “We do have an older cousin. He’s really cool too.”

“Ooh?” Prika’s eyes lit up, and she whirled around to face Bonnie. “Where is he? Is he single? Do I have to fight off a different dragon?”

Bonnie furrowed her brow. “Um….”

But before she could reply, Nova placed his paw on top of Prika’s head, his claws lightly touching her skull. “She’s talking about Vur,” Nova said. “Unless you want to embarrass yourself again, just—”

“Damnit, Vur!” Prika shouted, cutting Nova off. She huffed, exhaling two jets of flames through her nostrils. She sighed and looked down at Bonnie, a defeated expression on her face. “Any cousins beside Vur?”

Bonnie shook her head.

“Actually,” Youngest said and tugged on Prika’s tail in the same manner that Bonnie had earlier. “Maybe Uncle Vernon has an older brother or sister with kids.”

“He doesn’t,” Prika said and rolled her eyes. “I asked him a looong time ago.” Her eyes narrowed. “Wait a minute. In that long amount of time, couldn’t one have been born?” She bit her lower lip. “But then they’d be too young.” She sighed again, her head drooping towards the ground. Her tail rose and slammed into the earth. She lifted her head towards the sky and shouted, “There needs to be more dragons in the world! Why are there so few of us!?”

“Hey,” Alice said. She was standing atop Nova’s back, holding a metal rake. Sweat dripped from her forehead, and she wiped at it with the back of her arm.

Prika turned her head and blinked at Alice. Then she pointed at herself. “Are you talking to me?” She cupped her paw over her mouth and whispered to Nova, “You slept for too long. Parasites are growing on your back.”

“I’m Vur’s friend,” Alice said.

“…Friend?” Prika asked. She raised her eyebrows and smirked. “Girl…friend?”

Alice turned to Mr. Skelly. “Is it just me or are dragons really a lot like children?”

“No, I’ve been noticing that too lately,” Mr. Skelly said and nodded.

“I’m Vur’s girl friend!” Mary said, raising her hand into the air. She stood up out of her aura turtle shell before hanging her head. “Or, I’m trying to be.”

“Ooh!” Prika’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Mary bobbed her head up and down. “For Grandpa’s sake,” she said and patted Nova’s claw.

Prika blinked at Nova. “Eh? Is Tafel not good enough for you?”

Nova sighed and pushed Prika’s head down to the ground with his tail. He faced his three grandchildren and gestured towards the struggling red dragon with his claw. “And this is why you should ignore her. Her neurons have been replaced with hormones, and she can’t think or speak properly.”

Bonnie swallowed. “When we grow up … will we be like her?”

“Eh.” Nova shrugged. “It’s possible if you don’t find a mate in a suitable timeframe, but I don’t think that’ll happen to you three.”

Prika shoved Nova’s tail off of her head and gasped for breath. “Whose neurons have been replaced with hormones!?” She paused and tilted her head. “What’s a neuron?”