Chapter 57 - 57 - Jump Our Bones

Xia laid on top of Longs firm stomach. His midriff raised and fell rapidly. "Why is your breathing so rapid?" he whispered.

A loud sigh was heard from the little snake.

Xia got up and gazed at him. The little snake was staring up at the sky in a daze. 'Did I break him?' he thought in worry. He rushed up and waved in front of his face.

But the little snake still did not reply. He had a silly smile on his face and a content look in his eyes.

The little crayfish hugged him to his chest and whispered, "Looks like I really did break you,"

After lying there for minutes, Long finally came around.

"Okay, it's time to leave," Xia whispered into his ears.

Long hugged him closer and whined. "I don't want too. I want to cuddle more,"

"Oh, come on Long it's almost dawn the humans will be waiting for us," Xia said in a serious voice. "Besides, the grass is wet and sticky,"

Clothes carelessly tossed on the grass had long become wet from dew. Xia got up and dressed himself in quickly. He pulled the little snake's arms, but he refused to move. "Long..... Get up,"

"Okay fine," Long reluctantly got up and dressed up. "But do we have too," He whined, pulling his lover's sleeves.

"We rescued them so we are responsible for their lives now, and I told them to wait for me," He said dragging the silly snake.

"Hump," Long pouted and glanced away. He was pouting like a child craving their parent's attention.

Xia pinched his cheeks. "Don't pout, little Long. We will sort them out fast and leave for our next location,"

"Really," the golden dragon brightened up quickly. "Let's go quickly then," He darted away, pulling him along.

His rough actions pulled Xia's sleeves down over his shoulders. "Long slow down," he said. He pulled hands away and pulled his shirt up over his shoulders, tightening his sash. He pulled the lapels close, but something felt off. Touching his neck, he could not feel the course texture of the string he had on his neck.

He stopped in the middle of the road and started searching on the ground.

Long turned back when he realised There was no footsteps following him. His lover stood in the middle of the road, searching frantically for something.

"What is it? what's wrong?" he said as he walked up to him.

"Your... Your scale. It's gone. I had it just when we did that but.. now its not here," Xia said touching his empty neck.

"My golden scale?" Long asked in confusion.

His lover's eye started tearing up. "Yes, I... I did not mean to Long. I didn't think it would fall off," he said.

Long cupped his face and made him look up at him. "Hey, look at me. It's okay, it's just a scale,"

"No... but it's yours. And I lost it," Xia cried, tightening his fists on his lapels.

"Okay. Listen, I will go find it for you and you go check on those people. I am sure it will be there," Long said pecking his little nose.

"I hope so," Xia mumbled, wiping his wet cheeks.

Standing in the dawn light he watched the little snake rush away from him into the deep forest. Sighing, Xia walked towards the designated meeting place.

He reached there to find all the humans huddled together and sleeping peacefully. Twigs snapped under his steps, informing them of their presence.

"Who goes their? We have weapons," a woman shouted, holding a small rake.

Xia Che and Long walked over to them. "It's me,"

But the woman still did not let down her guard. She kept glancing around with a vigilant look.

"Hey, it's okay. It's just me," Xia said.

The woman lowered her rake and let out a deep breath. "Lord, I thought you would not come back. I thought you were dead saving us," she sobbed, hiding her face with her hands.

"its.. because I got busy with something else," he mumbled with a slight blush on his face. "Ahem, gather all the rescued, we will take a head count and...." before he could finish a woman rushed over and hugged him.

Her weight made him lose his balance and both of them fell to the ground.

"Saviour, you are back. I thought you died. AHhhh," she started crying on his chest.

It was the woman he rescued last.

He did not know where to put his hands and feet. "Ahmmm, girl, you are crushing me," he whispered with a wince.

"Oh, I'm sorry saviour. Are you hurt somewhere?" she started pulling his clothes.

"Hey stop that," he shouted, pulling his shirt close.

Another woman rushed over to them and started dragging the crazy woman from him. "Princes, it's not proper to undress a man like that," she shouted.

"But he might be hurt," she cried.

"I assure you I am not hurt so please get off. You are cutting my circulation," Xia whispered.

"Oh, okay," she wiped her tears on his sleeves and got up with a dejected look.

She slowly glance at her maid and whispered, "Am I too fat?"

The maid shook her head vigorously. "No, no princes. I think your saviour was just caught off guard,"

"Oh I see. I should have hugged him softly," she said cheerful laugh.

Xia slowly propped himself up and glanced at his soiled sleeves. 'Long is not going to like this,' he thought with a wince. Clearing his throat, he continued, "As I was saying, gather everyone here lets sort out how to send you guys home," he said.

Soon the girls lined up. There were few men amongst them, but they looked even more beautiful compared to the woman.. They all gazed at him with rapt attention, as if waiting for his orders.