Audacia

She didn't know why she was taken from her family on that fateful night, all Audacia knew was that she and her siblings were scooped away in the prime of their lives and stuck on the auction block. Audacia remembered that night so clearly; the eyes of the bidders piercing through each of them like they were a slab of meat. One by one, her siblings were sold off, hauled away as they kicked and screamed and cried for their parents. Audacia could only tightly shut her eyes and wait... But nothing. The auction was over and her and some of her siblings were flung into a cage to await the following night. And the next night. And the night after that. Before she knew it, Audacia was already a grown dragon, still thrown around in the auction block. They often traveled from place to place, throwing her on the block to see who would bid. Perhaps it was due to her lack of genes, or maybe her colors were undesirable; but no one seemed to want her. It was to the point where the dragons who stole her away talked about just force exalting her so that they would at least turn a small profit. It hurt her so bad, not knowing why she was even taken in the first place and knowing that no one even wanted her. Maybe her parents knew about this the whole time, she wondered, maybe they sold her away to begin with and these ex-clan dragons were just trying to turn a profit with no advil.
Finally, it was time. It was late at night and the auction block was just about wrapped up.
"Last call on the mist-colored female guardian," the auctioneer announced, "After tonight, she's to be exalted. 5,000 treasure, do I have any bidder?"
There were soft mummers and whispers, but no bids. Audacia gritted her teeth and looked away. So that was it. Born to only be thrown around and then exalted. Throughout her time there, she came to realize that life was just cruel to dragons sometimes. That, in the end, exalting is their only use... Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, there was a flash of white. A bidding card? No, that's impossible...
"5,010? Do I hear 5,010?" called the auctioneer, "Sold, to the ridgeback in the back!"
Audacia glanced up to see a tall, spiny, black, fancily-dressed ridgeback with a tophat come forward. She just stared up at him, unsure of what to do. She never thought anyone would ever bid on her. "Uh-"
"Well, follow me," he said, a wide smile upon his face. It gave her the shivers, but what was she to do? Carefully, she followed behind him as he lead her off into the forest of the Everbloom Gardens. They walked for what seemed like hours until he suddenly stopped, making her bump into the back of his tail with an 'oof'. A bit annoyed, she glanced up at him only for him to turn and place down a rather large sack. "Inside this is some treasure and enough food to survive for a few days until you're strong enough to hunt yourself," he explained.
Audacia looked down at it in disbelief. "B...b...but... why...?" was all she managed to choke out. Her whole body shook; whether it was from the shock or fear, she didn't know. She had never even been alone before. How would she survive all alone.
"Or," he continued, "You can continue to follow me and be a waitress at my tavern." She looked up at him, tears welding in her eyes. "You can stay in the loft and keep the tips you earn. Of course, you'll have to work a full 8 hours a day, weekends off of course."
She didn't know what to say. Just earlier that day she had thought her life was meaningless, and now suddenly a dragon she never met offers here a job..? "I don't.... I don't under...stand..," she muttered, the tears finally escaping her eyes. It was all too much to take it.
"Not much of a talker, hmm? Well, I'm sure after a few days of work, you'll get the hang of it- Er, if you so choose to, that is.." The Ridgeback scratched his face in embarrassment, "It's unbecoming of me to force a lady to choose."
Audacia paused for a moment, glancing around her surroundings. Maybe... maybe the gods have finally decided to give her a break. Maybe... was this her fate? "....Okay... I'll... I'll...go..."
He smiled. "Brilliant! Well, my dear, I must introduce myself then. You can call me Tophat."
The curves of her mouth turned upwards a tiny bit. "I'm... Audacia."

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