Patrolling the streets of the capitol is, without a doubt, the most boring thing Riven has ever been tasked with doing. Especially here in the slums outside the city walls, where there exists essentially nothing worth sending the city's most powerful fighter to patrol. Of course, that is exactly why Riven is sent here - those in charge wish to keep this area under control, and what better way is there to do so than to send a dragon to keep the "scum" of the city in check? It's certainly not because the ones in charge only see a monster when they look at Riven, and do everything they can to keep her far away from the "better" parts of the city.

Assholes.

To be fair, things could be worse. Since Riven began patrolling, and since the curfew she implemented began, the inhabitants of the slums have, in fact, become much better-behaved than they were only a few weeks ago. Not too long ago, Riven was constantly having to chase down thieves, break up fights, interrupt drug deals - more than once, all three at the same time. Today, however, has been relatively peaceful. Tonight's report will be a short one - only a minor drunken spat between a dwarf and her lizardfolk lover who, apparently, was "actually only in it for the food and the sex, you scaly bastard." Riven would've felt bad for the dwarf, were it not for the well-known fact that lizardfolk do, in fact, only care about food and sex.

The sun set nearly an hour ago, and the slums' curfew is approaching. With the winter night's chill rapidly setting in, most inhabitants have already made their way indoors and lit small fires for warmth; only a few heavily-cloaked individuals still scurry around to finish up the last of their seedy business. As Riven steps out onto the main dirt thoroughfare that runs through the slums, she finds herself near the slums' clinic - a surprisingly respectable establishment, and one of the few stone buildings one could find in the slums. The clinic is the one place that has an exception to the curfew; if an emergency occurs, you are allowed to leave your residence and make your way to the clinic. At the moment, the clinic is quiet - save for one individual that sits in the dirt a short distance away from the door.

A small kobold - with pink skin, a pink-white underbelly, and orange extremeties, and a surprising beautiful but simple purple collar and dress with flower patterns - sits alone in the dirt, head down on her knees and tail wrapped around her feet. Her eyes are closed, and in fact the kobold is completely still as if asleep, save for the obvious shivering that wracks her body.

Riven paces over to the kobold. The kobold, eyes still closed, perks up, seemmingly at the sound of Riven's armor klinking together and paws softly padding against the cold ground.

"M-momma?" The kobold whispers hesitantly, as if she doesn't really believe the approaching individual is her mother. How could it be; there are no kobolds that wear armor, at least not that Riven has seen in the slums.

Riven frowns and stops a few paces away from the kobold. This kobold certainly does not appear to be a child - though, being a dragon, it can be hard to tell the age of other races. "No, I am not your mother."

The girl jumps - Riven realizes she spoke a bit more forcefully than she intended to. "I-I'm sorry, I knew that! Your arm-mor, and your footsteps-s..." That's odd... suddenly, the kobold has begun to cry.

Riven sighs. It's clear this kobold is going to be trouble. And she was so close to her patrol being finished. "Why are you outside the clinic? It should be open, if you need to be seen."

The kobold shakes her head and wipes her tears away." No, I - I just left. I was... made to leave today. My mother... I've been waiting for m-my mother. She said s-she'd take me h-home..." The sobs begin again.

Riven ignores the crying; she doesn't have time for this. "Why not just walk home?"

The girl forces the sobs down. "I can't. I... can't see... anymore..."

A snarl slowly forms on Riven's lips as the situation becomes clear. This kobold, who lives with her mother, has recently been blinded. The mother... is almost certainly not coming back for her. It is unfortunately common in the slums, to abandon those that are sickly or disabled. For the clinic to have forced her out... she must have been under their care for some time now, at least since Riven began to patrol the slums.

Riven breathes deeply to calm herself - this kobold has done nothing to earn her ire. "I see." She immediately winces at her poor choice of words and quickly continues. "What do you plan to do, little one? You need to be inside soon - curfew approaches, and it is far too cold for you to spend any more time out in such little clothing."

The girl is wracked with a violent shiver, as if suddenly reminded of quickly increasing chill. She sharply inhales, also seemingly trying to keep in control of her emotions. "... I don't know. I don't know where I am, or where home is... momma never let me leave. S-she said the world would hurt me if I left."

Despicable. Riven's tail violently lashes behind her. It probably wouldn't be too difficult to find the kobold's home. Yell out her mother's voice, loud enough for the entire slum to hear, and surely someone would point her in the right direction, if only to sooner placate the irate dragon. But... why should this girl be returned to a mother that so obviously wants nothing more than to forget about her?

Riven is not a monster. Another deep, slow sigh, and she steps up to the kobold, then slowly lowers herself down to the ground. "Then you give me no choice. Come, climb onto my back. I will give you somewhere to stay for the night, so that you do not freeze to death."

The kobold does not immediately move from her spot. In fact, it seems as if she has already frozen. The only tell that she still lives is the worsening shivers. "You - I - what? You would... help me?"

Riven's tail thumps the ground. "Either climb up on your own, or I will carry you in my mouth."

The girl squeeks, and quickly crawls forward - causing her to roughly bump her head into Riven's side, a loud clang sounding as the kobold's horns smack into Riven's armor. Riven snorts, amused - and then deflates, realizing that, of course, the girl cannot see. A couple minutes of guiding with her words and her snout later, and the kobold is sat just above Riven's armored shoulders. Riven begins to briskly walk the thoroughfare; she intends to make it back inside the city before the gates close, so that she does not have to force them open again. Apparently, forcing the gates open makes the gate guards think the city is under siege from some monstrous beast.

As she walks, Riven cycles her magic to heat up her spine. Not enough to cause flames, no - she actually rather likes this armor, and does not intend to see it destroyed, especially by her own flames. Instead, she summons just enough magic to heat her spine. The warmth seaps through her armor, heating up the plates that cover her shoulders and neck. The kobold audibly sighs, and Riven feels her relax a bit. "Do not fall, or I will carry you like a hatchling. What is your name?"

The kobold wraps her arms as far as they will go around Riven's neck. Her words come out mumbled. "Cricket. What's yours?"

"Riven."

Nothing else is said as Riven exits the slums and makes her way around the wall, the main gate only being a few minutes' walk away.

As they approach, the gate is closed. Riven sighs and flexes her claws. "Hold on, Cricket."

Looks like she gets to be just a little monstrous tonight.

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:3

A simply wonderful piece of art done by  DragoDi <3

Higher res here! https://mega.nz/file/5XEGHAbL#BXSga.....M8v9WDB75EfAWQ