Elizabeth grumbled to herself as she walked down the sidewalk. She grumbled to herself as she ruffled her winter coat about her body. Everywhere she looked, the houses and streets were covered in snow. She just didn't understand why the ground floors of Ultimus Tower bothered with artificial weather in the suburban biomes. The dragoness wriggled her nostrils irritably as specks of snow landed on her snout.

The dragoness checked her mailbox, and then approached her front door with envelopes tucked under her arm. She came to a stop and fished through her coat pockets for her house keys. But what she didn't notice was the little human who emerged quietly from behind a nearby bush.

The human, named Alex, quietly crept toward the dragoness's feet, which were wearing a pair of silver sandals (dragons didn't bother with close-toed footwear, even in the snow). He wrapped his arms about himself as he gazed up at the black-scaled giantess. Normally he wouldn't dare approach a dragon, but the artificial winter had caught him off-guard today; if he didn't get warm, he might surely perish that night.

Elizabeth pushed her front door open and strode inside. Alex hurriedly ran inside the home for warmth as the dragoness shut the door with her tail. As the dragoness took off her sandals and coat, Alex made his way deeper into the home. He kept low and crouched beside the walls as he made his way into the living room. The floor shook as the dragoness moved past him, still unaware of her tiny guest. Alex gulped uneasily as he watched her flop onto the couch.

"Ugh, I'm beat..." Elizabeth grumbled. She ran her fingers through her dark red mane and rolled over onto her side. "I need a nap..."

Soon enough, the dragoness was asleep, and Alex had a bit of time to look for supplies before she noticed him.

Alex wasn't like most humans; he wasn't fully content with living under the thumb of the dragons who now ruled earth. And unlike most humans these days, Alex could trace his roots back very far; his distant relatives were alive during the nuclear war, and his family tree survived all the way to him. Alex had spent all of his formative years living on the run; scrounging from dragons to survive in this world.

Though the warmth of the dragon's home was pleasant, Alex was still a bit cold. He shivered a bit as he slowly made a trek toward the general area of the dragoness's kitchen. He strode along the tiled floor and made his way toward a cabinet. Alex removed his miniature grappling-hook gun and fired it up toward the top of one of the cabinets. After securing the rope, Alex grabbed it and began the steady trek up.

As the human was scaling a cabinet, Elizabeth quietly woke up. She heard strange noises in the kitchen and held her breath. She shifted to sit up as quietly as she could and got on her tip-toes to make her way to the kitchen…

Alex reached the top and looked around on the counter. There was a wide bowl nearby. Alex hoped there would be some kind of fruit or popcorn inside. But when he got there, he found that there was only an unopened popcorn bag; what a bummer. He’d have to look around elsewhere for a meal; he grabbed his belt of tools and prepared to have another look around…

"AHEM." Came a loud voice from behind.

Alex froze in surprise, dropping his supplies from his hands. He slowly turned around and found the dragoness from before, glaring irritably at him. Alex's heart beat like a drum, and he immediately searched for a way to escape. But even though Alex had learned to run fast, he could never outpace a dragoness; she slammed her hands down on either side of him and cupped them around him quick as a flash.

Elizabeth snorted in derision as she lifted the human up with one hand and held him close to her face. She'd seen many humans around Ultimus Tower: that was natural. But what wasn't natural was having a human appearing in her home uninvited. He didn't seem too old: barely seventeen at the most, she figured. His clothes were torn and covered in dirt. And he was quite terrified, too; then again, most humans were like that.

"Where are you from?" The dragoness demanded. "Who do you belong to?"

"I don't belong to anyone!" Alex shouted. "I'm a free human!"

"Well see about that." Elizabeth snorted. "What are you doing in my house?"

"I, uh..." The human twiddled his thumbs. "I was cold?"

"And stealing some of my food would warm you up?" The dragoness raised an eye ridge.

"It wasn't going to be a lot!" He pleaded. "Just a small amount so I could survive!"

"Oh, and I suppose that makes it okay to..." A yawn escaped Elizabeth's muzzle, and her eyes got heavy. She used a free hand to wipe her eyes. "You know what? I'm too tired for this.."

The dragoness parted her jaws and tossed the human onto her tongue, much to his horror. "In you go."

"No, WAIT!" He screamed. He tried to get out of her maw, but Elizabeth shut her jaws tight and tilted her head back. The dragoness could feel the human kicking and screaming as she sent him down to her belly.

And that was that; Elizabeth had swallowed the home invader. Not much of a snack, but at least it would tide her over until dinner came around. She looked down at the counter; what a mess that human made. She grumbled to herself as she cleaned everything up. With that done, she returned to the living room and got back onto the couch.

Elizabeth licked her lips and grimaced; she could taste the dirt on that human's clothes. Not very tasty. She put a hand on her stomach and felt as he punched and kicked against a belly wall. Elizabeth rolled her eyes; this one wasn't very well educated. With that done, Elizabeth closed her eyes, and steadily drifted off to sleep...

But as the dragoness tried to sleep, she couldn't get the human out of her thoughts. He hadn't broken into her home out of malicious intent, and he did seem rather young. Then again, he should have known better than to break into a dragon's home to steal food. If he wanted help, he could have just asked for it when he first saw her. He should have known better... but what if he didn't? Was he a wild human, fending for himself in a world he thinks hates him? Perhaps he just needed a chance...

"Say, human..." Elizabeth lightly nudged her belly. "Can you hear me in there? You still alive?"

"LET ME OUT!" Screamed the muffled voice of her litte captive.

"I'll take that as a yes..." The dragoness chuckled.

"Why are you doing this to me?!" The youth continued, the frustration quite audible in his voice. "I'm not some piece of food! I'm a living, thinking creature!"

"Just calm down for a second..." Elizabeth nudged her belly again. "If you promise to behave yourself, I'll let you out of there. Deal?"

"Fine, fine, deal! Just get me out of here!" He continued to plead.

The dragoness snorted as she concentrated on closing her primary stomach around the human. She pushed him up into her throat, and from there he slid along her tongue. His not-so-great taste returned, and she quickly stood up and carried him back to the kitchen, where she reached inside and pulled him out to dump him in the sink.

“Ick…” The dragoness kept her tongue sticking out as she ran the warm water to wash her tongue down. “Those clothes are filthy.”

“Well you shouldn’t have eaten me…” The human crossed his arms and sneered. Rather than argue with him, Elizabeth poked the human and knocked him into the water. He gasped as the warmth collided with him. He panted as he pulled his old clothes off and tossed them away.

“I don’t keep human clothes in my home…” Elizabeth said as she reached for a wash cloth. “So you’ll have to keep yourself covered with one of these.”

The human only grumbled as he wrapped the washcloth about himself. Elizabeth shut the water and scooped the soaking human up in her hand.

“Just because I spared you from being a meal, doesn’t mean you’re off the hook just yet, runt.” Elizabeth said sternly.

“Wh-What are you doing to do to me?” He asked worriedly.

“Well, first of all, let’s get on a first-name basis.” The dragoness said. “I’m Elizabeth. What’s your name?”

“It’s… Alex.” He said cautiously.

“Well, Alex, is it safe of me to assume that you’re still quiet hungry?”

The human’s stomach ached just from the question. He rubbed his belly and looked up at the dragoness worriedly. “Y-yes.”

“Well, if you want food, you’re going to have to earn it.” Elizabeth said. She brought him over to the kitchen table and left him there as she went to the fridge. “Don’t try to run away, or I’ll get mad.”

Alex sneered; as if he could get off this table without any tools. And even if he got down and got away from here, going outside without clothes was a death sentence. So with a sigh of defeat, Alex looked toward the dragoness and watched as she opened her fridge and reached inside. Curiously, the dragoness stuck a leg into the air and swayed her tail from side to side.

Elizabeth pulled an apple out from the fruit cabinet and shut the door. After washing it off, the dragoness brought the fruit to the table and sat down. She placed the apple before Alex and picked up a knife to carefully the apple into slices around the core.

Elizabeth brought her muzzle down to the table and parted her jaws so that her chin rested on the surface. She ran her tongue along her fangs and breathed hot air against the human’s body.

“Alex, climb inside and help me clean my teeth.” She said with a smirk. “Do a good job, and you’ll get a piece of apple.”

Alex stood still for a moment, keeping the wash cloth tugged about his body. Not wanting to stay exposed, he proceeded to make an elaborate series of tears to the fabric. Elizabeth didn’t mind; in fact, she was impressed when Alex managed to fashion himself a makeshift tunic and loincloth. She smiled in approval, but parted her jaws yet again.

“Come on…” She goaded.

With a sigh, Alex approached the dragoness’s bottom lip and used it as a step to hoist himself up into her maw. The feeling of the human crawling around on her tongue caused the dragoness to salivate; at least he tasted better now. To help him along, Elizabeth reached into her pocket and pulled out his grappling hook from before. She reached inside and handed it to Alex, who took it in his hands and got to work.

Elizabeth could hear every scrape the human made to dislodge bits of food she’d eaten during the day; a little unpleasant, but it was a sign that he was truly doing his job. She could feel Alex as he tossed the chunks of meat down her throat.

As time went on, Elizabeth peered down at the apple slices; they were starting to turn an unappealing shade of brown. Perhaps the task she’d given the human was doomed to take too long. On a whim, she reached inside her muzzle and lightly pulled Alex out. As he shook in surprise, Elizabeth closed her jaws and ran her tongue over her fangs.

“Hmm, good job.” She said happily. The dragoness picked up a piece of apple and put it in Alex’s hands. “Enjoy your wages; you’ve earned them.”

With a slight sneer, Alex turned away, sat down, and munched upon the slice like a chunk of watermelon. As he ate, Elizabeth picked up a few more apple slices and gulped them down one by one. She then propped up her head and watched as the human finished off his meal ravenously.

“You don’t get a lot of good food, do you?” She asked curiously.

“What’s it to you?” Alex demanded.

“I’m just curious about your past.” Elizabeth gave a little smile.

“My past is my own.”

“Very well, keep your secrets…” Elizabeth stood up from the table and plucked Alex up between her fingers.

“No, wait!” He cried out. “Don’t eat me again!”

“I wasn’t planning on it, but I wouldn’t mind doing it again.” Elizabeth smacked her lips and carried Alex into the living room. He struggled and fought helplessly in her grip, much to her amusement. “Do you really want to break free NOW, and risk shattering your bones on the floor?”

Alex’s eyes widened, and he went limp. Elizabeth sighed in relief and sat down on the couch. She put her feet on one end and rested her head on the other. The dragoness plopped Alex down on her belly and put her hands at her sides.

“I’m going to get some rest.” Elizabeth said as she gave a little yawn. “I’m sure you might want to make your way down from the couch and escape into a mouse hole, if not the front door. But just let me remind you that I have no idea when the artificial snow’s going to melt, and I seriously doubt that your washcloth tunic can keep you warm.”

“So I’m your prisoner, then?” Alex demanded.

“My, you sure are defensive.” Elizabeth sighed. “You’re the one who snuck into my home uninvited, after all.”

Alex glared at her, but said nothing else. The dragoness frowned at this.

“Did you not expect an invitation if you asked for one?” She asked. “We’re you afraid that I’d just stomp on your or something?”

“The last dragon almost did.” Alex said coldly.

Elizabeth blinked and examined him more closely. “They did?”

“I asked… I begged to be let inside; to have some food and shelter from the rain.” Alex rubbed his upper arm. “And the dragon tried to crush me beneath his heel. They wouldn’t even talk to me.”

Alex sucked in a breath and his fists shook. Feeling uneasy, Elizabeth reached up with a finger to rub Alex’s back. He flinched away from the touch at first, but slowly relaxed a bit.

“I suppose there are some dragons who see humans as pests, despite everything my race has done to help them survive…” Elizabeth said aloud. “But that’s no reason to distrust all of us.”

“And I’m supposed to trust you?” Alex asked. “You almost digested me.”

“But I let you out, didn’t I?” Elizabeth gave a soft smile.

“You admitted to wanting to swallow me again.” Alex stated.

“Well, that’s what the secondary stomach is for.”

The human looked at her funny. “Secondary Stomach?”

“Yes, for storage.” Elizabeth put a hand on her belly. “Did you not know that about dragon biology? Did you ever stay at the human facility?”

“No…” Alex shook his head. “I don’t know much of anything about dragons.”

“Well then, perhaps if you stick around for a while, I can help you out.” Elizabeth said. “I wouldn’t object to having a human pet.”

“How can I be sure I can trust you?” Alex asked.

“Well…” Elizabeth plucked Alex up yet again, making him yelp. She parted her jaws and placed him down on her tongue. The human cried out and gripped the tongue for dear life. But even though Elizabeth kept her jaws shut tight, her kept her tongue stiff and steady. She said nothing as Alex slid around on the saliva-coated appendage.

“Elizabeth?” He asked worriedly. “What are you doing?”

The dragoness shut her eyes and rested her head down on the armrest. Alex tried to escape, but her jaws were closed good and tight. Soon, the human could hear Elizabeth snoring; she’d fallen asleep.

“You’re got to be kidding me…” Alex grumbled.

With no escape option open, the human sighed and tried to get comfortable. He lifted up the tongue and hid himself beneath it; at least then she couldn’t swallow him by accident in her sleep.

Perhaps this was Elizabeth’s way of earning Alex’s trust; by giving him a safe and warm (if albeit sticky) place to lie down. He had to admit; it was better to trying to keep himself warm in a makeshift shack outside somewhere. Still, he wished he wasn’t subjected to this dragoness’s playful antics. Steadily, Alex closed his eyes, and went to sleep.

Once the human was snoring inside her maw, Elizabeth opened her eyes and smiled. She shifted Alex around with her tongue and very carefully tilted her head back. After a gulp, she traced the bulge Alex made in her neck as he descended into her storage stomach.

“He’s going to hate me in the morning…” She said aloud. “But at least then he’ll understand I was telling the truth.”

~~...~~

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