Keekzee yawned sleepily and smacked his lips before lowering his head back onto the deer skin rug. Despite today being the start of his weekend and the wood fire crackling next to him, he was struggling to block out the loud conversation that was taking place at the other end of the reception of the ski lodge. Looking at the variety of other guests they all shared knowing glanced at one another.
“That's discrimination!” shouted the human guest to the concierge, pointing a finger at the other man. Bolstered by his fiancée holding onto his arm, he continued his tirade. “It is illegal to offer accommodation that is exclusive for dragons! I've paid for the room, and I demand that you check us in.”
“Sir, Markus is it? While you are correct, I am simply trying to advise you that the ‘primal survival cabin’ is only accessible by dragon-”
“Well?! Fetch us a dragon to take us there!” bellowed Markus, “This is for our engagement, and I paid for the best cabin,” he explained loudly.
“Sir, our employees here are not a taxi service-”
“Bullshit, I've seen them with saddles. Go round one up, or is that too hard for you?” Markus chastised and cocked his head in mock confusion, the small giggle from his fiancée making him smile. Placing a hand on hers, he felt the large engagement ring he had bought her as a token of his wealth.
“Sir, those saddles are for medical personnel only. But if I may, we have many other packages that would be better suited to the two of you-”
“And what does that mean, huh? You think I can't afford this package?” he said and pulled out a metal credit card, slapping it onto the oak countertop with a clink.
Looking down, the concierge saw the emblazoned logo of Drag'n'drop printed on the metal credit card, along with the inscription 'executive.' “I mean no disrespect, Markus. Simply that we offer other packages that I think you would enjoy more-”
“I tire of this. Go round up one of your dragons to get us to the cabin. I don't want to hear a word out of your mouth otherwise,” Markus said, turning his attention to his blonde wife-to-be.
With a deep breath and a soft exhale, the concierge gave a small nod and scanned the reception area, spotting the large black drake trying to rest.
Keekzee heard footsteps approaching him and sighed, opening one eye and rolling over to face the concierge. “It's my day off, Jezza,” he said flatly.
Kneeling down, Jeremy observed the sprawling drake. Thick raven-black fur covered his whole body, except for his inky black scaled paws and feathered wings. “I know, buddy-”
“And I sure as hell ain't letting him ride me like a mount,” the burly drake grumbled, closing his eyes again in defiance.
“You know I can't make you do that,” Jeremy said warmly. “This guy has booked the-”
“I heard, still no,” Keekzee said, stretching. “I'm planning to stay here next to my fire, watch that TV on the wall, and enjoy my weekend,” he added, giving a small nod toward the large flat-screen television mounted in the corner. Its volume was muted, but captions had been turned on as news reporters discussed a recent wage dispute.
“What if you were next to your fire, with a roast lamb?” Jeremy asked with a smile. “I’m making some for lunch, maybe with some potatoes, gravy, a few strips of bacon too?”
Keekzee’s eyes opened, and he turned his head to focus on the concierge. “Are you trying to bribe me? You think that I would forget thousands of years of dragon humiliation and servitude for a warm meal?” He asked and saw the human smile.
“Of course not, mighty dragon. You will get your roast meal anyway; I was just asking if you wanted some,” he offered warmly. “And also, if I stay here for a bit longer, it makes it look like I'm negotiating with you,” he added with a guilty grin.
“So, I’ll get lunch regardless of taking them up the mountain?” Keekzee asked hopefully.
“Of course, bud. A strapping big drake like you doesn't need to bother themselves with puny humans. Unless he wanted to show them how big and strong he was,” he added with a smirk. “We also have a dragon ball team coming up for a bonding session next week. The Cresties ‘ness team; I was thinking I might ask you to give them the ice cave tour. If you're up for it.”
“So when food doesn't work, you try to buy me with a team of nesses?” Keekzee chuckled. “You and I both know that they will keep to themselves.”
“I don’t know bud, I hear that two of their claimers are recently single. Look, I’m not trying to buy your pride. I’m just telling you what your roster is next week,” he teased and stood up. “I know better than to tell you what to do.”
The black drake closed his eyes in contemplation. In the years he had worked at the resort, he had never been forced to do anything he wasn't comfortable with—something that he greatly appreciated. He knew Jeremy well; the middle-aged man was more of a friend than a boss, and he knew that many other employers would try and bribe or trick their staff into doing their bidding.
A small flicker of guilt ran through his mind. The owners of the resort had been so kind to him. The least he could do is spare them from a bad review from an entitled guest. He sighed, feeling the warmth of the fire on one side. He knew he would have to get up and turn around soon anyway. “Egggh, fine!” Keekzee grumbled. “Only because I'm hungry, and I don't want to be smelling the food for the next few hours,” he said and slowly rose to his feet.
“Thanks, buddy. You're the best,” Jeremy said warmly. “You will get to keep the tips, of course.”
“Of course,” Keekzee yawned, keeping his hind paws rooted to the rug. He stepped forward with his forelegs to stretch his majestic black body.
Jeremy returned to Markus and his wife with a polite smile. “One of our best ski lift operators has agreed to generously take you up on his day off-”
“Pfft, day off,” Markus snorted, observing the approaching black drake. “Well, aren't you a big fucker.” He remarked.
While Keekzee’s shoulders were about level with the human's head, he was proportioned more akin to a draft horse than the lithe dragons Markus was used to. His medium-length, thick neck gave him an almost brutish look despite his intelligent amber eyes. Ignoring the human's remark, he made his way past the couple towards the exit, pausing only to retrieve his harness and equipment from the tack room.
“It should only be a short flight. Have you both flown before?” Jeremy asked politely as they watched the dragon slip two pairs of thick socks over his scaly paws. Their color matched the lavender colors of the company logo and would offer his scaled legs some protection from the cold snow.
"Of course," Markus said bluntly.
Keekzee dropped the heavy harness onto the ground with a thud and nudged the leg loops open with a paw before stepping into them. Heaving it up over his shoulders with ease, he began to tighten the straps. A single padded, tan-colored saddle ran down his back. Built into the harness, the padded area had originally been designed for carrying injured skiers or emergency personnel.
"I expect he will carry our luggage too?" His question more of a statement than a request. Keekzee's eyes met Jeremy's, both of them sharing a sense of frustration.
"Of course," grumbled Keekzee, "always happy to be of service." He added with a small sarcastic bow of his head.
"Good, glad to see we are on the same page."
Keekzee wasn't sure if Markus missed the sarcastic remark or was just playing along. Taking his time, he made sure his harness was secure and spent even more time ensuring he had all of his protective equipment. Sitting back on his haunches, he pulled out a pair of heavily tinted goggles and slipped them over his horns, letting them rest on his eye ridges until he was ready. "I'll just be a moment," he said with a polite smile. Taking one of his snow socks back off, he then pulled out an action camera from his pouch and began strapping it to his wing claw. "Company policy, for insurance," he said simply. "That way if you fall off my back, you can’t blame the stupid dragon," he added with a wink when Markus opened his mouth to protest.
"Are you quite done?" Markus snapped. "We have booked the cabin for the week, and we are wasting away here while you get your shit together."
Keekzee gave a polite nod and pulled his sock back on. “Let's get you to your cabin then, shall we?” He said more forcefully than he expected. Turning to the door, he lowered his forehead to the large crash bar and pressed it open. Stepping out into the frigid air, he took a deep breath, the smell of fresh snow, clean skies, and pine trees filling his nostrils.
Holding the door open with his tail, he contemplated letting it close on the pair at the last minute but decided against the temptation. Lowering himself down onto the snow, he was thankful for his thick black fur protecting him from the cold. Markus and his fiancée followed him out of the lodge with a shiver, carrying their matching designer luggage and placing it down next to the drake's paws.
“Here, darling, allow me,” Markus said chivalrously and helped his fiancée climb up onto the drake's back. “My fine steed here will take us to our retreat,” he added pompously with a smirk.
Rolling his eyes, the black drake ignored the woman's giggles and strange looks he was getting from other guests entering the lodge. He waited for the man to climb up into the saddle before carefully rising to his feet. The added weight wasn't comfortable, but he reminded himself that the sooner he got this done, the sooner he could be back by his fire. Mantling his wings, he saw the soft blinking red light on the camera mounted on his wing and collected the bags between his front paws. “Alright, hold on tight,” he warned and crouched slightly before launching into the sky.
A nervous gasp escaped the woman as she clutched her fiancé around the waist. Keekzee's black wings surged downwards to propel them forward with ease. "Fly gently, you dumb brute," shouted Markus as the black drake continued to beat his wings, determined to get them to their cabin as quickly as possible. "Glide more, less flapping!" Markus chastised.
Keekzee ground his teeth but held his tongue. Stretching his wings out wide, he angled himself to catch the wind that blew up the mountain and climbed higher and higher. Looking down longingly at the trees, he wished to zip past them and brush his paws against the treetops. One of the many perks of the job was being able to fly as fast and as low as he wished, unlike the dragons cooped up in the cities, forced to comply with arbitrary human rules.
"See, honey, you need to be firm with these beasts. A soft hand gets bitten is what I always say," Markus called over his shoulder, rudely talking as if the drake wasn't there. "If I were born a few hundred years ago, they would call me a dragon tamer," he explained.
"Ooh really!? Would that mean you would have one of those whip thingies?" replied the woman warmly.
"What makes you think I don't have one in my bag?" he chuckled and twisted in his saddle to kiss his fiancée on the lips.
Keekzee knew it would only take a simple fold of his wing, one quick tuck, and he would roll too quickly for them to grab onto the saddle. He could almost imagine the screams over the wind as they would fall to the rocky mountainside below. “Hell. If it weren't for the camera, I could say that I delivered them to their cabin,” he murmured under his breath. “Let the wolves find the bodies,” he added softly.
“What was that?” called Markus, hearing the large drake whispering.
Keekzee cleared his throat and spoke up, “I was just saying wolves have been seen in the area. Not near your cabin, but they come looking for scraps of food,” he said, turning his head to glance back. The human held his gaze with a look of contempt. “Just thought you should know.”
Turning back to face ahead, he took a deep breath to try and clear his head. Despite the rude passengers, he knew he wouldn't do anything to harm them. He liked his job; helping skiers navigate the slopes and operate the ski lifts was a straightforward job that paid very well for a dragon. The owners were always nice to the dragon staff and had a good attitude towards dragon and human equality.
His mind wandered back to when he first joined. He originally found the idea of working with human guests to be insufferable but took the job to impress his mate at the time. Feeling the knees of the two humans on his back dig into his back, he started to remember why he originally hated them.
As he crested the ridgeline, he began a slow, lazy bank towards a large wooden cabin perched near the top of the mountain. The dwelling was always in high demand, offering world-class views of the mountain range along with other benefits. Gliding almost silently towards the cabin, he flared his feathered wings, bleeding off his speed until flaring and flapping them once to touch down.
“And here we are,” announced Keekzee, making sure to land with more weight on his hind legs to place the luggage down before transitioning to all fours.
“Is this it?” Markus complained when he saw the simple, large cabin.
Lowering himself down to let his passengers climb down, he sighed. “The primal survival package is perfect for groups of dragons. Usually good for birthdays or team functions,” Keekzee replied.
Markus's fiancée trotted off towards the cabin to inspect it while Markus pulled out his wallet. Sorting through a collection of hundreds and fifties, he continued to flick through for a moment before finally withdrawing a collection of notes. “Carry the luggage in,” he said and slipped the notes between the black nylon harness straps.
The black drake sat on his haunches and fished the notes out, noticing that they were all singles. He shook his head and counted all three of them. Picking up the luggage, he looked across the mountain vista. After much thought of how far he could throw the bags, he took another deep breath and tucked them under each wing to carry into the cabin.
"Where are the lights?" called the woman from within the dim cabin. "Yeah, where are the lights?" parroted Markus.
The black drake gently lowered the bags down to the floor and gestured to the kerosene lamps that hung on the wall. "We keep them topped up with oil, but try not to keep them on if you're not inside to supervise them," he said and smiled when he saw the look of horror on the couple's faces.
"This place does have electricity though?" Markus asked, a hint of desperation in his voice.
Keekzee tried to contain himself as he shrugged, "It wouldn't be very primal if there was electricity," he said flatly. "There is a large stove over there that can be used to boil snow for water. Help yourself to any of the pots and pans, but I recommend making sure it completely boils before drinking it."
"Honey, what is he saying?" asked the woman, pulling out her phone from her purse and holding it up for more of the nonexistent reception. "What's the wifi password?" she asked.
Keekzee gave a polite nod to Markus to let him explain and turned to leave, a smile creeping on his snout as he stepped back out into the snow.
"And what do we do for food?" called Markus, quickly jogging to keep up with the towering drake's powerful strides, his feet sinking into the fresh snow.
Pausing, Keezee flicked a paw to clear the snow from his sock and pulled it off his paw with his teeth. "Here, this may help," he said and reached into a pocket on his harness and fished out a map. Flicking it open, he thrust it into the human's hands, using a claw to point to the centre. "This is where you are; down here is the lodge. The primal survival package includes the permits to hunt in this area here." He explained and traced his talon around a red-marked zone. "Best deer are found here; I recommend you don't hunt at night and make sure you dispose of the carcasses properly." He said simply and watched as the human's face became ghostly pale.
"This is a scam!" Markus exclaimed. "I paid top dollar for this! No electricity, no water, and no food included?"
The black drake shook his head and lifted a paw full of white snow. "No, it comes with water and food. It's just not in a packet," he said simply. "You could say it's organic, natural, and unprocessed-"
"Look here, you feathered fuck! This was not what I signed up for. I'm not some simple caveman that throws sticks at deer. This is simply unacceptable!" he shouted.
Keekzee looked down the mountain range and sighed, knowing that he really did not want to fly with the pair back to the resort and then take them to an alternative accommodation. "Fine, we do offer packages for dragons who are a bit squeamish. We can hunt a deer and bring it up intact or skinned," he offered.
"Uh, no," he spat and pulled out his wallet again. "You will go down to the resort and bring us food. Real food," he said and threw some notes at the drake. "Chop-chop! If the door is closed, it means we are busy, so don't interrupt us," he said and turned, stomping back through the snow towards the cabin.
Keekzee looked down at the money and sighed. "Is it too much to ask for it to be our money?" he muttered and plucked up the notes, slipping the foreign currency into his pouch and pulling his snow sock back on.
The front door of the ski resort slammed open as the black drake stomped inside. Ignoring the looks from guests he paused mid-stride to take his socks off, not wanting to track snow further inside.
“I take it they loved it?” Jeremy asked sarcastically.
“It was my day off…” he grumbled as he approached the counter. “They want food. They don't know how to hunt, nor do they want a kill brought up.”
“Of course…” Jeremy sighed and shook his head in disbelief, “I guess I'll make up a box. Do you want me to see if someone else can take it up?”
Keekzee rolled his eyes and looked longingly at his fireplace. He could smell the delightful scents coming from the kitchen area and sighed. He knew all the other dragons were working at their various stations around the resort, and the cabin was too remote for the human to hike. With a snowmobile, it was possible, but it would leave the reception desk unmanned. “I’ll do it,” he said simply. “Only because I like you.”
“Thanks, bud. I really appreciate it,” Jeremy said warmly. “Did they have any dietary requirements?” he asked.
“He didn't say.” Keekzee shrugged. “But do you have any cyanide?” he grumbled and padded his way over to his fire, determined to feel some of its warmth before he had to face the couple again.
He didn't trust himself to get back up if he lay down and compromised with himself. Sitting down close to the fire, he looked up at the television and read the subtitles to distract himself.
The main news story of the day focused on a wage dispute with dragons. Legal experts had been pulled into the studio to explain that retirement benefits were not needed to be paid to dragons. Each one stating that due to the laws being written back when dragons were nothing more than property, and the laws specifically saying a man or woman were entitled to the benefits. As the discussion continued, the footage cut to dragon advocate groups rallying together. Dragons of all colors, along with some humans, stood outside workplaces, wings unfurled, words painted into their membranes expressing their frustrations.
Keekzee took a deep breath and tried to calm his emotions. He knew that the owners of the resort were paying him better than many other workplaces, with many included benefits. Looking around the ski resort reception, he noticed the many cushions for dragon guests. The bar at the far end was stocked with a variety of dragon-sized beer and spirit glasses. “It could be a lot worse,” he muttered to himself.
He turned his head at the sound of a box being placed on the reception desk. “If you want to leave them waiting for a bit, I wouldn't blame you,” Jeremy chuckled and patted the top of the box.
A smirk pulled at the large black drake's snout, but he shook his head. “Sooner I get it done, sooner I can be back by my fire.” Standing up, he padded his way over to the box and clutched it to his chest with one paw. He walked on three legs towards the front door, ignoring his snow socks hanging on the wall. He pressed open the door and stepped outside.
“Just drop it off and get back,” he reminded himself. He shook his wings before crouching and leapt into the cold alpine sky. Keeping low over the treetops, he banked and turned to follow the profile of the mountain. If he was going to do this, he might as well have some fun flying the route.
The cold air chilled his scaly paws, but he pushed through the cold. His fur rippled and whipped in the wind as he continued to race up the mountain. Looking down, he could see the various humans skiing down the slopes, fresh white powder being kicked up in their wake. He chuckled when he saw a human trying to convince their dragon friend to use a large metal disk designed for them. The dragon, clearly of the scaled variety, wore layers of scarfs and snow socks around every inch of exposed scales. After much consideration they finally stepped into the disk, sitting down quickly as they began to slide down the hill with a concerned look on their snout.
Thankful for his dense black fur and feathered wings, Keekzee continued his ascent. With a twist of his tail, he adjusted his course and beat his wings hard to speed towards the cabin.
Flaring his wings wide, he landed as gracefully as he could on three legs, the box still clutched to his chest with a paw. He instantly regretted not wearing his snow socks as he sank a foot into the fresh snow and the cold stung his scaled paws. Gritting his teeth, he looked up and saw Markus waiting for him outside the cabin door with a vape in hand.
“Finally!” the human exclaimed. “What took you so long?”
A long list of retorts ran through the drake's mind, ranging from explaining that perhaps the human should fly down and get his own food or he should have lasted longer with his fiance.
“Well, I'm here now,” Keekzee muttered through gritted teeth and dropped the package at the human's feet.
The human glared at the drake as he bent down and opened the package. Looking down, he rummaged through the contents. “No champagne?” he remarked, “What the hell. We can't eat half of this trash, what do you call this?” he said and plucked out a long smoked sausage.
"Salami?" Keekzee offered, resisting a joke about the human finding the girth and length intimidating.
"Take it back, all of it. My wife is vegan, the sight of meat repulses her," he said and dropped the meat back into the box. "And bring us some champagne, you useless fuck." He snapped.
Keekzee's heart beat faster, his jaw clenching as his anger built. "Sir, you asked for food, you did not specify any dietary requirements." he said professionally but with a firm undertone.
"Look here, you overgrown, half-evolved lizard-bird. I am the guest here, you are just the help. It's your job to make my stay enjoyable! So take your furred ass back down this godforsaken mountain and get us something we can actually eat, how else are we to enjoy our stay?!" Markus shouted, shoving a pointed finger into the drake's thick chest fur, poking again and again as he emphasized his words. "Can you get that through your thick skull and into your tiny brain? Or do I need to get my whip." he threatened.
Keekzee was glad his paws were deep in the snow, his claws clenching around fistfuls of snow as he contemplated taking a swipe. He knew it would only take one to end the human's tirade, he could almost imagine the sound his limp body would make as it impacted the snow.
The human looked up and held the large drake's intense gaze, "Well? What are you waiting for? Go get me some food!" He bellowed, "You lot are just a bunch of useless, lazy creatures who need to be reminded of their place in the world."
Keekzee's tail twitched, and his wings mantled, a low growl building in his throat. With a powerful swipe of his paw, he snatched up the package and turned before he did something he would regret.
“That's what I thought,” shouted Markus as the drake took to the sky, flapping twice before rolling and diving down the mountain slope.
The wind rushed through his fur and feathers, banking and weaving between the treetops, Keekzee failed to feel the enjoyment he so often experienced being so close to danger. Flaring one wing, he turned sharply to avoid rocky outcroppings and dove lower to zip under the cables of the ski lift. His jaw was clenched tight, imagining what he should have said or done to the pathetic human. Hatred built further and further until he unleashed a fierce roar on the landscape, a loud, deep expression of his pent-up rage and frustration.
Following the contours of the mountain, he made his way back to the resort, his anger and frustration shifting to that of impotence at being able to control his emotions. He knew he should be better; humans were weak compared to dragons but they would attack him and the resort in other ways if he had laid a claw on Markus.
The black drake paused outside the main lodge building, taking a deep breath as he tried to compose himself. Pressing his head to the door, he pushed it open slowly in defeat. The warmth of the lodge washed over him, yet he felt like a guest as he approached the front desk and placed the box down. Sitting back on his haunches, he unbuckled his harness and removed his wing cam.
“What happened?” called Jeremy, the human crouched down next to the fireplace, clearly in the middle of stoking the fire to make it warmer for the returning drake.
“Fuck vegans,” Keekzee muttered. “I'm sorry, I’m done here,” he said sadly, sliding the harness across the table.
“What do you mean?” the concierge asked and quickly walked back to the black drake.
“It’s a long story,” he muttered softly. “I think I'll finish up today if that's all good.”
“Keekzee, buddy, that's silly talk,” Jeremy said and placed a reassuring hand on the big drake's shoulder. “Have a lie down and get warm.” He offered. “It's your day off, remember, you can't quit on your day off. I won't let you.”
With a sad nod, Keekzee agreed and dragged his feet towards his fireplace. Flopping down dramatically, he curled himself around in a tight ball and watched the flames.
Jeremy watched the drake with a frown but knew not to press for answers just yet. Despite the large dragon's appearance, Jeremey knew he was a gentle soul.
With a groan, he heaved the large harness back to the tack room. Picking up the camera from the counter, he removed the memory card and slipped it into his pocket, hopeful that answers to why his friend was so upset may be found in the footage.
Seeing the large black dragon huddled in a ball, Jeremy shook his head. Picking up the food package, he brought it over to Keekzee. "Hey buddy. Want some scraps before lunch?" he offered with a smile.
Keekzee opened his eyes and turned his head in despair. "Scraps!" he exclaimed but paused when he saw the human carrying the box smiling warmly at him. "Everything is still sealed; you could just unpack it," he muttered.
"I could, but we wouldn't want to upset our guests with second-hand food." Jeremy winked and placed the box down between the drake's forepaws. "And if the beers have leaked, just help yourself to another from the bar. Lunch will still be a little bit."
"Thanks, Jezza," mumbled the drake and rolled onto his front to start investigating the contents. His eyes widened when he saw a blend of smoked meats, cheeses, and dried fruits making up most of the contents along with two large bottles of their finest lager.
Placing a sign that read back in five minutes on the reception desk, Jeremy pulled over a high-backed chair and sat down next to the big drake. He sat in silence to watch as Keekzee plucked out a smoked sausage from the box and sliced through the plastic with a talon. "So what happened out there?" he finally asked once the drake was distracted.
Keekzee took a small bite of the sausage and looked away. "He was being a dick," he said simply and took another bite.
"And that made you want to quit?"
"Well, there was something else," he said softly and glanced back to see the human waiting. "He got all up in my face, and I wanted to swipe at him," he explained. "I know that will only make things worse, but he was being a real prick, calling me all sorts of names... I just... gah!"
"It's all good, big guy," Jeremy said warmly. "You did the right thing by flying away." Standing up, the human went to leave but paused when someone on the television caught his eye.
Keekzee glanced up at the human who was standing with his back to him. Following his gaze, he saw the news reporter conducting an interview with Markus. Clearly recorded days earlier, the man was wearing an expensive suit and a smug smile on his face. "Can you turn it up?" The drake asked.
Stepping forwards, Jeremy reached behind the large television and pressed a button.
"So Markus, what do you have to say to the numerous dragon staff that work for Drag'n'Drop who will now be without a retirement fund?" The news reporter asked.
"Well, you see, we believe that dragons are perfectly capable of reading the terms of their contracts as well as their rights. Furthermore, it would be a disservice to pander our scaled staff into believing that they are not capable of reading the fine print. Each of us, including dragons, are all masters of our own destiny and need to be accountable for what we agree to," he said smugly.
The news reader gave a polite nod but cocked her head. "I understand that many are calling for adjustments to the law to enable dragons to have the same level of rights when it comes to workplace benefits. What does this mean for Drag'n'Drop?"
"Our company is built by dragons, as the leader in dragon employment, we are deeply invested in the outcome. However, we do recognize that dragons and humans are vastly different. For example, one of the perks at a certain level of executive allows for an underground car park pass at our headoffices. If we were to allow dragons to receive the same perks as humans, we would be wasting valuable real-estate," Markus explained calmly.
“I don't think anyone is suggesting that a dragon must have an underground car park-”
“Look, we can argue the semantics all day long,” said Markus with a smile. “But we believe that our scaled, furred or feathered partners should be empowered to protect themselves for their future! It’s a well known fact that dragons prefer their assets in more tangible forms, rather than some quarterly report on how much money is now in their funds,” he explained.
“So, you are paying your staff their pension plans in addition to their wages?” the interviewer asked.
“As I mentioned, Drag'n'drop hires more dragons than any other and ensures that they are paid a fair and honest wage,” he lied.
“Forget that guy,” Jeremy exclaimed and changed the channel. Turning back to Keekzee, he was red in the face. “Forget taking food to that prick. I'll take care of it.”
The black drake looked at the human and cocked his head when he stormed off. He had never seen Jeremy angry and was taken aback. “And Keekzee, take the weekend off. And Monday, I'm not accepting your resignation until you have thought about it.”
Keekzee lounged by the fireplace, his black-feathered wings semi-spread out on the deer-hide rug while he looked up at the television. Colorful cartoon characters bounced around on the screen, solving simple problems and learning lessons along the way. It was childish, but something about the simplicity was endearing to the large drake.
It had been a few days since he had been shouted at by Markus, yet the words still stung his pride. Jeremy had insisted he use his accrued sick days as mental health days before he would accept a letter of resignation from the black drake.
Word had spread throughout the other dragon staff of the occupants in the cabin, each of them given clear instructions to steer clear and give the couple privacy. Whispers of Keekzee's possible resignation made many of the other staff upset, many coming to him to express their feelings and try to convince him to stay on for at least one more season.
His head turned as the large main doors opened, a cool draft swirling into the reception area as two disheveled humans stumbled in. Markus and his fiancée shakily made their way to the reception desk, their steps weak and their leggings weighed down with clumps of snow. Keekzee also saw one of the woman's gloves was missing, and her large ring conspicuously absent. Leaning on the front counter for support, Markus dropped his hand on the bell to summon the concierge.
The black drake kept his eyes on the television but couldn't stop a small smile creeping onto his snout.
“Ah, Markus was it? I hope you enjoyed our primal survival package,” remarked Jeremy with a polite smile.
“You abandoned us on the top of that mountain with no food!” exclaimed Markus, lifting a weak hand to point a finger at Jeremy. “This place is unsafe, unfit, and unprofessional. I ordered food to be delivered, and-and—”
“That is most strange,” Jeremy interrupted and began typing on his computer. “Our records here show that you ordered the primal survival package, which, as you know, allows you to hunt for food. You placed an order with our staff for a food package but rejected it.”
“Because it wasn't vegan-friendly!” shouted Markus.
“Oh, but Markus, we never said that we catered for vegans,” Jeremy replied with a professional smile. “All of our terms are clearly written on our website, the same one that you used to make your booking,” he added and could see Markus going red with rage. “Furthermore, it would be a disservice to pander our customers into believing that they are not capable of reading the fine print. Each of us is a master of our own destiny and needs to be accountable for what we agree to,” smiled Jeremy, grinning when he saw the look of realization in the man's eyes.
“I will not be talked to like this as a valued guest!” barked Markus. “Get me a manager!”
“Sir, I am the manager,” Jeremy chuckled.
Markus deflated somewhat before standing up to full height and folding his arms across his chest. “Well, I demand to speak to the owner!”
“They are busy,” Jeremy said flatly.
“Bullshit, you just know you will get fired. Go get them!” he ordered.
“I ain't getting fired, buddy. You can either leave now, or we will call the police.”
“For what? Trespassing? I paid to be here,” Markus retorted.
“Actually, you haven't paid for anything but the deposit,” clarified Jeremy, his voice firm but raised.
“Whoa, what seems to be the problem?” called a female voice from the back office. Padding into the reception area strode a fur dragon, her lavender fur matching the tie that Jeremy wore. Looking between the pair, she smiled politely at Markus, “I'm sorry, sir, is there a problem here?”
“I demand to talk to the owner about the disrespectful service I have received from the incompetent staff that work here,” Markus exclaimed firmly. “My fiancé and I have had nothing but trouble since we arrived, and I demand a refund.”
Keekzee grinned and rolled over to watch the spectacle unfold. The purple-furred dragoness frowned and looked down at the computer screen, her blue eyes scanning the lines of text. “Ah, yes. You must be Markus,” she said flatly. “I understand that you made a mistake when booking your cabin but chose not to take the advice of my staff?”
“Your staff?” Markus frowned.
“Yes, my staff. I am Riillary, the owner. I understand that my staff bent over backward to ensure that your stay was suitable, by flying you up to the cabin and even delivering you food that wasn't a service we offer,” she remarked and looked him in the eye. “And then you threatened to whip one of my employees. Who, due to your threats of violence, has been placed on administrative leave,” she added and nodded towards the black drake lounging by his fire.
“I don't know what lies your staff have been feeding you-”
“Probably the same lies that were recorded on our drake's wing cam,” Riillary interrupted. “Which could be the same recordings that were sent to your employer and the major news networks yesterday.” she said with a smirk, her gaze burning into his as if to challenge him to continue.
Markus glared at the black drake who yawned dramatically, revealing his sharp white teeth. “This—this is bullshit! I didn't give you permission to film-”
“As per our terms, you did! I thought humans were good at small print,” snapped Riillary. “So, how about you pay for your stay thus far and leave,” she offered.
Markus clenched his fist, veins bulging in his neck. “Fine,” he growled through gritted teeth.
“Very well, we will charge the card we have on file for the days you stayed and the food that was ordered,” Riillary explained and tapped a few buttons with her claw. “And of course, a 30% tip, being such a wealthy guest and all,” she added with a smirk.
"Don't push it, love," Markus spat. "Don't expect to get any deliveries from Drag'n'drop anytime soon. Things go missing all the time," he threatened.
Riillary grinned, "Honey, they don't deliver here anyway," she said and looked down when the computer beeped in error. "Oh, I'm sorry. That didn't go through."
"That's impossible! It's a company card," he snapped.
"Well, it seems that your company card has been cancelled," she remarked.
Keekzee wasn't sure which was paler—the snow or Markus' face as he ran from the resort, his ex-fiancee trying to keep up. After the front door of the reception eased close, the three of them burst out laughing. Many of the guests who had been pretending not to hear the exchange giggled silently.
"Damn it, I forgot to ask him if he wanted to sign up for our loyalty program!" exclaimed Jeremy with a deep chuckle.
"Darling, don’t make me write you up," Riillary teased and leaned forward to kiss her mate on the cheek.
Jeremy’s hands moved to her cheek, "Oh, I’m sure I can give a stellar performance where it counts," he whispered and kissed her on the nose when she gasped.
"Oh my god, we have over a hundred rooms on this mountain, find one!" Keekzee scoffed with a smile at his boss's affections. "In fact, I think one of them has just opened up!"
"Hmmm, maybe that’s an idea," Jeremy chuckled. "You know, we should probably make sure they didn't trash the room," he suggested, "And of course. Make sure the bed is in working order."
"Well, we wouldn’t be good owners if we didn’t test out the rooms every now and again," the purple-furred dragon smiled. "Keekzee, can you cover the front counter for a day or two?"
"It’s my day off!" Keekzee retorted from beside the fire. "Mental health day, remember?" shuffling his black wings closer to his side with a grin. "But maybe I’m feeling a little better, probably even better with a lager after work."
Riillary chuckled, "After work, it's all yours." She called over her shoulder to the drake and then focused on the human in front of her, his hands drifting down her neck to her shoulders. "Oh, honey. Liiria gets in on Christmas eve."
"That's great news!"
"Wait, Liiria is coming home?" asked Keekzee, his eyes widening and sat up straight.
"You haven’t told him?" whispered Riillary and sighed when Jeremy shook his head. Turning her head, she gave a warm smile, "Yeah, she will be just visiting for Christmas. With her boyfriend Mike."
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