Deep in the mountains of Yok, there is a valley of magic and plenty. According to legend, it's always warm, free of disease, and the plants flower and fruit all year round. It's a paradise, if you can survive the journey.

It's also the home to an ancient dragon, who guards the space with possessive jealousy.

I'm not the first to seek this paradise, nor will I be the last. I, however, am not looking to claim a slice of heaven, or slay the dragon. All I want is gold from the hoard.

The air trembles as the dragon takes off into the sky, to hunt or pillage as their kind is want to do. Three hundred heartbeats pass before I dare to move. This is my chance. I double-check my pack, making sure it's secure, and then do a once over of my supplies. I'm ready. I can do this.

With a rustle of branches, I drop from the tree, landing on my bare feet with almost perfect silence. Shoes make too much noise, as my thief trainer taught me. They're useful for protection, don't get me wrong, but without dozens of expensive enchantments it's rarely worth the noise.

I pad forward, quiet as a mouse, through the forest and down the steep mountain slope. The clearing below is just as radiant as the stories say. Beautiful multicolored trees, babbling brooks that feed into a gorgeous lake, and the sweet scent of flowering fruit. Relief washes over me the moment my feet touch the teal-green grass. I pause near a creek, and wiggle my toes against the earth, luxuriating in the tingles that crawl up my skin.

My reflection looks up at me from the water, green eyes peeking out of my face wrap. I don't need this, technically speaking. Nobody here can see me, or recognize me. I tug it off, gulping in a burst of delicious air. My hood falls back, and sandy-brown hair falls down to my shoulders. Absently, I trail a hand over my leather stealth suit, a form fitting black and brown outfit with minimal padding, and small stealth runes embroidered across it. It doesn't hide my shape, instead emphasizing my modest chest, my thin hips, and my wiry limbs.

I take another breath of sweet air, chest swelling with the motion.

There'll be time for distractions later. Right now I need to move.

My head feels lighter with each step I take, and it's with great willpower that I resist the urge to stop and smell the flowers along the way. Inviting purple and blue honey suckles, practically begging me to press my lips to their petals, and lap up the sweet nectar within.

I keep walking, until I reach the dragon's cave. The walls are lined with glowing rocks and moss, illuminating the space with a faint orange glow. The rock is unnaturally smooth against the soles of my feet, and cooler than I expected. I shiver, bite my lip, and continue down the path as it curves gently down and to the right.

It curves endlessly, down, down, down, down…

A spiral, adorned with precious gems and golden art pieces. My fingers itch to take them, but with each step greater riches are revealed. I won't settle for some paltry trinkets, not when I've come so far.

My head spins as I continue my spiraling descent. I lick my lips, and the remnant of sweet surface air tickles my tongue. The moss has its own scent, smooth and soft, like a pillow for my senses. I can't stop looking at the gold, dragging my eyes from coin to goblet to statue. My stomach flutters with warmth, and just a hint of… of arousal. My hands slide across my suit, leaving trails of electric sensation behind them.

I turn another corner, and all at once, I'm at the center. Mounds of treasure line the walls, with coins and bars and trinkets spilling towards the center. As if in a dream, I walk forward, feet pressing against the carpet of gold and silver. I can see where the dragon laid, I can see where they sleep. Surrounded by a nest of gems, there rests a massive egg.

It's the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

Blue, yellow, purple, red, pink, green, and dozens more variants swirl across the surface of the egg. I stop at the edge of the nest, frozen and trembling. I can't step closer to it, I know this deep in my bones. If I do, something will happen. Something bad.

"Good instincts, little thief," a voice whispers from behind me. It's a deep, musical voice, one that seems to twirl around a tongue in a way no human could manage.

Warm breath wafts over me, and with it the scent of rich flowers and sweet wine. Slowly, cautiously, I turn my head, and spot the speaker out of the corner of my eye.

The dragon is long, and green, with deep violet eyes. It's lips are stretched into which I can only describe as a hungry smile. It's not as big as I expected, only two heads taller than me, but it makes up for that in sheer length. The tail curls and twists, easily worth two of me all on its own. I swallow thickly, and turn my lips up into a nervous smile.

"Nice place," I croak, voice heavy with fear and disuse.

The dragon chuckles. "I'm glad you agree, little one."

It slithers across the floor, encircling me with a swift and unstoppable movement. I take a single step back, more on instinct than any foolish thoughts of running. I'm already good as dead, but I might as well extend what time I have left by playing along.

The dragon plucks a small orb from a pile, one that appears to be made of some bluish metal. "This is orichalcum. The rarest metal in my collection. Entire kingdoms have fought wars over half this much of the metal."

I lean in, eyes wide with greed. The dragon holds out a talon, claw pressing against my chest. I hold still, aware of the leather tearing practically on contact. "Beautiful," I murmur.

The dragon pulls out a gem, barely the size of my fingernail. I gasp as I recognize it as a fairy tear, a gem that I've never seen outside of books.

The dragon continues to whisper details about its hoard, plucking object after object from the piles to regale me with stories and legends. All the while, it circles me, moving ever inward, twisting and spiraling. I can't focus on anything but the treasure, anything but her sweet voice. When did she become her? When did I end up constricted by her tail?

"I've been waiting for one of you to come," she whispers. "A caretaker for my young, one who could appreciate the finer things in life. Could that be you, little thief?"

I nod, barely aware of her meaning. Caretaker? "You wanted… me?"

"Someone like you, yes." Her claw trails down my back, peeling open my leather suit without so much as scratching my skin. Goosebumps race over my body as it's exposed, inch by inch. Her tail twists about me, pulling off what's left of my tattered clothing.

"Why?" I ask, squirming in heat and anticipation. The dragon grins, and flicks her forked tongue out in front of me.

"I told you, little thief. I need a caretaker. One to watch my young, one to… entertain them." I'm carried to the egg, which is even more beautiful up close. "It is tradition for young dragons to have human servants. Some of my kind pick princes or princesses, others pick knights and warriors. I personally prefer thieves."

The dragon releases me, and my feet alight on the smooth gem-metal of the nest. My mind is heavy with fog, my skin aflame with sensation, my nipples hard, and my pussy begging for attention. I don't have a choice but to obey, and maybe if I let her think I'm obedient, I can escape.

"If you stay here," the dragon whispers, "all this treasure will be yours."

I gaze across the hoard, biting my lip and clenching my fists. I know she wouldn't let me leave with it, it's not in her nature. What good is treasure if it can't be spent? Would I really be satisfied being surrounded by wealth for the sake of wealth?

"You would, little thief," the dragon whispers again. The tip of her tail brushes against my inner thigh, and a small gasp escapes me. "This is in your nature. You crave this, want this. All of you do."

"Crave… what?" I force out through ragged breaths. What's happening to me?

"Wealth, possessions, beauty. Most of all, you crave subservience." Her tail flicks against my crotch, and pleasure explodes within me, and I drop to my knees. "This is where you belong. Here, in my hoard."

I just… I need to hold on. That's all.

"Sleep, little one, and dream of your purpose."

I can't stop my eyes from drifting shut at her command.

*****

My dreams escape me. I'm trying to remember, but they seem just out of reach. Waking up was a sudden affair, brought on by the abrupt lack of warmth. I'm alone, naked, on a pile of gold and gems. A smile creases my lips. This is what I've always wanted, to wake up surrounded by riches.

The rest of the previous day comes back to me in a rush, and my smile drops like a stone. I'm alive, but for how much longer? Can I even escape anymore?

I crawl to my feet, heart hammering in my chest, and look about the cave. My eyes are drawn to the egg at the center, its hypnotic swirls capturing my attention. I sway slightly as it pulses, each shift and change of the coloration relaxing me more and more and—

I jerk my attention away, and move towards the exit with hurried steps. Distractions will be the death of me, or perhaps worse. It would be so easy to stop, and lose my mind to the luxury and pleasure from my memories. Whatever magic the dragon has, I cannot let her entrap me again.

Each step upwards weighs on me. Thirst tears at my throat, and hunger rumbles through my stomach. There is food and water above me.

Gold and silver glints along the walls, and it takes all I have to not press myself against it. The smooth metal, so tempting, so precious…

The sun hits my skin the second I leave the cave. I wiggle my toes against the soft grass, and spread my arms to capture the refreshing breeze. There's a sweet scent on the wind, and I let it entice me forward. It's hard to think right now, and I know it's because of the thirst and hunger.

I come to a stop before the honeysuckles. Reverently, I drop to my knees, and pull one of the palm sized flowers towards me. Clear, sticky liquid pools between the petals. I stick out my tongue, and flavor assaults me. A moan hums through me, and I eagerly lap up the rest of the flower.

I move to the second, even as heat curls in my core, and pink fog clouds my vision. It all feels so wonderful right now. The third flower is as good as the second, but I stop myself before going for a fourth. Dizzy, with the world spinning around me, I stumble towards a tree with low-hanging branches.

Fruit hang in small bunches, each about the size of a walnut. I clumsily pluck one from its bough, and hum with pleasure at the taste. Time passes in a blur as I eat my fill of the fruit, and stumble towards the babbling brook.

I drop to all fours, and start lapping up the water. When I pull back for air, I see myself again. My short hair is a mess, my face is stained with sap and juice, and my eyes… I look drunk. Lust and heat roll through me, spiking with each movement I make.

Something is wrong with me.

Unbidden, I run a hand across my bare skin. A sound bursts from my lips, something between a squeak and a gasp. My nerves are aflame, my skin is like lightning. I fall to the side, directly into the soft mud of the river bank, and touch myself more.

The instant my fingers touch my sex, everything explodes. I jerk and squirm in place, completely lost in a wave of pure ecstasy. I push inside myself, and the sensations double. Each tiny adjustment, every scrape of my fingers, each twist and shudder sends me deeper and deeper into the swamp of lust choking my mind.

I don't remember what I was doing before this. All I can think about is how good I feel.

"Having fun, little one?"

I don't know how long I've been here. I blink the spots from my eyes, and gaze at the gorgeous dragon above me.

"Um," I say, unable to find a real word.

The dragon simply chuckles. It's a magical sound, one that echoes through me. "I am not mad, little one. You needed to eat, and drink. Now come with me, it's time I instruct you on your role as a caretaker."

Even if I wanted to run, I lack the strength. She picks me up with her tail, and carries my limp, sex-worn body back into her cave. Right before we cross the threshold, I remember that I wanted to run, that I was going to leave.

We start spiraling down, and that thought slips from my grasp, replaced with the gleam of treasure and the enchanting him of the dragon's voice.

*****

I think it's been a week? I can't remember. It's so hard to think. Every day I wake up, eat and drink while I wait for my lessons, and then fall asleep to repeat to process.

Right now I'm in the lesson portion of the day. I think I'm almost done. My mistress seems happy with me. Her talons brush the hair from my eyes, and her lips spilt split  in a wide grin.

"Yes, I do believe you're ready for this last test."

I nod dreamily. Everything has felt so much nicer since I gave up. It's so easy to do what she says, when she says it.

Mistress plucks a shiny white egg from a box. It's about the size of a chicken egg, and coated in a mesmerizing pattern of silver runes. Old memories of flipping through books on myths and legends force themselves to the surface, and my eyes widen slightly.

"A mind egg?" I whisper.

"Very good," coos my mistress. "I've spent these last two weeks preparing you for this. All you need to do is let it work, and your mind will expand beyond what any human should be capable of."

She leans over me, breath sweet and warm.

"Once this is done, you'll be able to form a proper bond with my daughter. You want that, don't you?"

I nod quickly. The bond will let me understand her. It will let her command me without language. I know this, somehow, probably from the lessons.

Slowly, Mistress lowers the egg between my legs. I lay down, spread myself wide, and close my eyes. The cold not-quite-rock presses against my entrance, and slowly spreads me open. I arch my back upwards, gasping wordlessly as I'm flooded with the strangest feeling.

It's like ants, crawling in my brain. Little termites, carving new paths for thoughts. I jerk, and spasm, half with pleasure half with pain. All the while, I clench my pelvis, and hold the egg inside me.

"You're doing so good," Mistress whispers. "Now, here is your purpose."

Her words sear into my brain one by one. Obedience. Service. Love. Devotion. Care.

Strings connect the fragments of my mind, pulling them together around my purpose. It takes a moment to realize how empty I feel, and a moment after to notice the egg is gone. Not gone, but fused inside me. Melted, merged, gilding the cracks in what used to by my psyche.

Distantly, I can feel a second mind. I crack open my eyes, and look towards the source. The dragon egg swirls in multicolored patterns. Her thoughts reach out for mine, and encircle me. I shiver, with both warmth and joy.

"Thank you," I whisper.

"For what, little one?" My mistress asks.

"For giving me purpose."

I stare at the egg, and wait for it to hatch, for my purpose to arrive, and my life to truly begin.