The Dragon's Last Nest

Perfectly Packed

"I'll show them that I am good enough. " Leigh huffs with determination and marches towards the kitchen.

"All I need is a few things, and I will be on my way to be with Joffrey."

He scampers across the hardwood floors with his heavy boots and flings each oak wood cabinet open. Leigh gathers one dish, a fork, a spoon, and a lighter. He quickly glances over his shoulders before reaching into the far back of the cabinet and gathers the stainless steel flask. One last time, Leigh peeks to make sure the coast is clear and shoves in down his buttoned white, long sleeve shirt.

Taking a breath of relief, Leigh walks over to his black bag and shakes it to make more room for food. Leigh scoops up some bread, and cheese from the cupboard, and a few canned goods too.

 "That should do it." He says, investigating each drawer and shelves to make sure he didn't forget something.

"Bloody hell! I almost forgot my knife." He stomps into the living room and gathers it from the top of the brick fireplace mantle. 

An older woman with a marron knit scarf wrapped around her humped over shoulders wobbles down the hallway. The woman's glassy blue eyes remain steady on Leigh with each unsteady step she takes. "Grandmama, the sun is rising. I have to leave in a minute." Leigh calls out.

"Coming, Dear." The grandmother's feeble voice answers back.

"Oh, I didn't see you coming, Grandmama." Leigh's face flush with embarrassment.

"No worries, Dear. You are busy preparing for your leave. I didn't expect you to see this old thing." She teases and holds the wall for support.

Leigh stops gathering supplies and runs to her side. "Here, Grandmama. Let me help you."

"I am okay, Dear." She reassures," And holds onto the armrest of the oversized chair before plopping onto the cushion. "See. Perfect." She grins.

"If you say so." Leigh wasn't very convinced the way her head bounced several times against the headrest when she sat down.

"Hmm," Leigh scratches his head and looks around the room. 

"What is it, Dear?"

"I just want to make sure I have forgotten nothing this time. The last time I forgot my bloody socks. That didn't go so well."

"I bet it didn't. it is always good to have dry feet when you are on your journey."

"Or not have to steal socks from a dead person..." he mumbles.

"What was that, Dear? I couldn't hear you."

Leigh coughs and speaks louder, "Nothing, Grandmama. You are right. Socks are important. I did not forget them this time." 

The front doorknob turns and clicks.  A man in a red flannel shirt, dark denim jeans, and a reddish-brown mustache walks inside. He lets out a full-hearted laugh."You would forget your head if it weren't attached."

"Great," Leigh rolls his eyes. "Jackson. "What are you doing here?"

Leigh stares at his muddy brown boots and shakes his head while his grandmother picks up a spool purple yarn and needle and begins to crochet. His grandmother blissfully hums to herself a tune Leigh had heard a million times when he was a child. He watches her for a moment. She seems more and more distant lately.

"A little birdie told me that some i***t is going to try to chase after dragon eggs again. I had to come to see for myself." Jackson helped himself to the couch and threw his feet onto the top of the dusty oak table.   

"You are a pain in the ass, Jackson." Leigh fussed.

His Grandmother slowly lifted her head. "Now, now, Dear. Watch your language." 

Jackson covered his mouth and giggles while Leigh gathers his bag and huffs, "Yes, Grandmama."

"Grandmama, I will try to be back as soon as I can. Hopefully, within a couple of days."

"Okay, Dear." She smiles. "Have fun."

"Hey, Leigh." A wicked smile spread across Jackson's face.

Bloody Asshole!

Every part of Leigh boils within, wanting to knock the fake grin off his face. He tries his best to keep his composure. Knowing Jackson, he would start some s**t just to make him late and miss Joffrey all together. Every day Leigh's itches to punch the man across the face or turn him in for taking gold from his family's legacy, but it never happens, and Jackson knows it too. Jackson is his uncle from his father's side, at least that is what Grandmama says. To take the only family away from Grandmama is something he doesn't have the heart to do.

"Yea, Jackson. What do you want now?" Leigh's shoulders tenses along with his fist.   

"Did you remember your socks this time?" 

Leigh's lips pucker tight. "Of course, I did. "

"Are you sure about that?" Jackson dares. "Maybe, you should check one last time... just to make sure."

Leigh snarls his lip and slowly shakes his head back and forth. He wasn't going to check, but his grandmother innocently speaks up. "It is better safe than sorry, Dear." 

Leigh glares at Jackson. The smile on Jackson's face spreads further. Leigh picks up his pack and tosses it onto the living room table. "I know they are in here." He mumbles and scrounges through his unorganized bag. "I just know it."  

Leigh digs and digs, pulling out one by one, everything he already packed. With each item, Leigh's ears turn crimson red, and Jackson grabs his stomach and flips back on the couch and laughs."Oh, this is priceless!" he laughs harder. "You forgot them again! Just give the hell up, man! Do us all a favor and stay home! You are a joke!"

"They are here!" Leigh fusses as he shakes the last of the bag.

"NO, they aren't, Leigh. You are nothing but a mistake. If you can't remember to pack a pair of socks, how in the hell are you going to find the golden eggs, you i***t?" 

"I will find the damn eggs, and I have my socks!" Leigh warns without looking away from his over towering uncle.

"Dear, would you like some warm tea to calm your nerves before you go?" His grandmother sits up and offers.

"No, Grandmama. I am fine."

Leigh looks down into the depths of his empty bag and realizes his worst fear. He forgot his damn socks again.

"Bloody f*****g hell!"

********

Joffrey paces the fountain back and forth. "I told him I would not wait, yet I have given him an extra ten minutes. If he doesn't show up in the next five, I am leaving."

Down the cobblestone street, Joffrey could see the slinky guard with long legs and a bag twice the size of his body running as fast as he can."I'm coming, Joffrey!" he yells, waking up the neigh dogs. "I'm coming!"

"Dear Lord. What is wrong with this kid?" Joffrey shakes his head back and forth.

The closer he comes, he watches as Joffrey wobbles from the weight of the bag and smiles desperately with sweat beads down his temples. "Well, at least I will have dragon bate if I need it." 

Leigh approaches the fountain out of breath. "Good...morning... Joffrey."

"Your late." Joffrey huffs and stares hard at the massive bag.

"Well, I am here now." Leigh grins and adjusts his bag. 

"Lucky me." Joffrey mumbles.