//------------------------------//
// Chapter 2 
// Story: A Life of Work 
// by 15MadyCat 
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	The dragon-blood awoke the next day bright and early knowing if he woke up any later then that he would be punished. Stepping outside he winced. It was hot and humid. Sure, he was used to the heat by now he was already 16 years old and spent his whole life in the Dragon Kingdom, which wasn't known for being the coolest place on earth. The thing that was getting to him was the humidity, it was unbearable!

He took a deep breath of the hot, sticky, gross air. Today is going to be a long day. He thought breathing out. Trudging over to the porch he took his now empty potato sack and headed over to the cotton field. He had about one more day left to pick the rest of the cotton off of the plants if he doesn't get it done on time then the cotton will whither and severe punishment would take place.

The dragon teen started picking the fluff off of the bush-like plants. His mouth felt dry already and from the heat he was breathing hard. Every once in awhile he would look over at the porch and see his master leaning against one of the wooden poles that held up the over hang on the roof. The teen felt a bit self-conscious having someone watch every move he made.

He looked back at the cotton seeing more than before. He had been out for about five hours now, and the heat was starting to take affect. His vision was blurred and his mind felt as if his brain had melted in his head. His throat was dry and his tongue felt like sand paper. How could the heat have taken affect so quickly? If he had water then maybe he would be able to last longer, but he was only given one meal a day and that included one glass of water. 

The heat was taking its toll as the teen felt his stomach muscles jerk causing him to fall to the dirt covered ground holding his stomach. He groaned and whimpered holding onto himself tighter as he gagged up nothing. If he had eaten anything he would have thrown it up. The teen continued to writhe on the farm ground gagging and holding his stomach as he whimpered loudly. 

He was leaned over his legs with his forehead on the ground until a crack sounded. He sat up immediately with his eyes wide feeling them burn as tears stroked down his face. His back burned and felt wet and sticky. The dragon-blooded 16 year old screamed out in pain as another crack sounded. He was being whipped with a thorn covered whip; the thorns were sharp enough to be able to slide through his tough skin making gashes on his back. The teen squeezed his eyes shut as he was whipped several more times covering his back with blood. 

"Get back to work!" His master barked then splashed salt water on his back. Another scream came from the slave as the fiery burn of salt dissolved in his gashes and the force of water opened them a tiny bit more. His back was arched as his whole body was shaking from the pain. The dragon boy let out a shaky breath as he slowly opened his eyes. "Get up!" He heard his masters voice boom through the fields. The teen slowly got back up and winced at the pain on his back as his shirt stuck to the blood gushing from the wounds on his back, and if he were to remove his shirt it would pull and tug on the cuts causing more pain. 



The day dragged on hot and painful for the slave as he did his work on the fields. He was just glad that the sun was setting so he could go back to his new home in the shed. He had managed to finish picking the rest of the cotton when the evening stroke, so now he was almost finished with picking out all of the seeds. The sun was just setting as he leaned the bag up against the cabin wall then headed back to his shed.

That night was one of the most uncomfortable the teen had ever experienced. It was bad enough that he had to lay on a wood board that hung off of the wall, but now he had to lay on his stomach to avoid the gashes on his back. He could still feel the dried blood on his back. The boy grumbled and sat up. This was to uncomfortable he had to do something about it. The drake slowly started taking off his shirt trying to avoid tugging at the cuts, but still pulled at some. The dragon winced but finally got his torn and bloodied shirt removed. Folding it he laid it down where his head lay and repositioned himself to the most comfortable he could get.

His arm was laying off of the shelf. He closed his eyes and took in a breath before facing a night that felt like it would never end. He groaned and wiggled a bit trying to get more comfortable. He never liked sleeping on his stomach he would much prefer being curled up in a ball. . .with his family. 

The teen frowned at the memory. He missed them so much. He didn't want to be there at the farm anymore. He wanted to be home with his parents and siblings by the fire place telling stories and laughing. Just like it was before the war and before being taken away from his home. The dragon squeezed his eyes shut one more time for the night as he let out a shaky sigh as the tears came. They streaked down his face leaving trails through the dirt that coated his skin. He tried swallowing the lump in his throat and tried his best to rest for the night.