A Sweet Treasure For You

A wet crunch pierces the calm spring atmosphere, something Dexter usually tries to avoid while he’s out in the natural realms. But this time he couldn’t help it. Or really it didn’t even register for that matter. The same for the nearby forest critters that didn’t seem to mind the slight disturbance. Dexter was too busy enjoying the sweet, juicy flavoring of a bright red apple he’d just bitten into. Filling his maw with a splash that was just as refreshing as it was delicious. Like a spark of coolness that tamed the day's warmth with a particular cooling touch. And before he knew it, the apple was gone. Save for the thin core. A slight purr rattling his chest from the irresistible taste that stole him away for a brief moment, to swim in that sweet natural flavoring. His ears flattened a bit, craving more, but seconds later those fluffy ears perked up after glancing upwards at the tree towering over him. A smile quickly growing across his muzzle as a spark of delight struck him, spotting several more of those ripe juicy apples. It seemed like they were teasing him, hanging from the branches oh so invitingly, yet out of reach. Each one gleaming in his eyes as they reflect thin streams of shimmering gold reaching through small breaks in the treetops. “So many!" Dexter's tail flicking energetically at the exciting prospect of having more apples.

Wasting no time, he digs his claws into the tree's barky trunk. Letting out a slight grunt as he began the ascent with extra care. Figuring a bird's nest might be close, hidden somewhere in the branches and tucked away under the tree's protective blanket of leaves. A short moment later, after numerous eager heaves, he reached the first shining delicious orb. Plucking, then letting the apple fall to the soft grass below with a faintly audible thud. Dexter's tail flicked with a split second of a purr, almost like a sense of accomplishment. But cut off with the thought of "MORE!" The same process followed as he made his way around the tree’s branches. With about as much precision and elegance as an expert gymnas… a wet napkin. Too busy focusing on that incredible flavor to really move with much grace at this point. In fact, in his mind, he had intentions to keep from shaking the tree too much. But the tree’s vibrations and random rocking he caused eluded him, along with the few resting birds that had scattered long ago. Not knowing why their relaxing spot had come to life with a flurry of jerky motions. All masked by Dexter’s excitement for more of this delicious treasure.

After a short while, Dexter dug his claws firmly into the trunk once again then made the step-by-step descent. Towards the sea of soft grass that flowed ever so gently in a slight breeze, that various butterflies seemed keen on twirling and fluttering through. Closer and closer to the base of the tree where his pile of apples sat waiting. A pile that certainly could have been bigger, looking back up for a few seconds to see numerous remaining. Slightly swaying among the rustling leaves that cradled the sweet fruits. Dexter deciding to leave some, not wanting to be greedy despite that being a typical trait of lions. He giggled to himself at the thought, imagining a lion with an enlarged belly filled with apples. Just resting at the top of an apple pile the size of a literal mountain. The giggle soon fading to a labored sigh. The harvesting was fun he felt, yet tiring. But not even his body’s call for rest would keep him from sinking his teeth into the seemingly glowing reddish orbs. Reflecting even more of the sun’s comforting light into his eyes now that they were practically naked from the tree's leafy embrace.

“Just a few for now,” he says to himself in a soft voice. Walking up to the pile, reaching down to grasp two. He was about to crunch down on one when his eyes widened just a hair, noticing something. Gaze shifting towards a spot a few hundred paces off. Where an opening in the forest canopy made it seem to him as if the sun's rays reached through like a gentle hand. Idly caressing the impressive frame of a large blue dragon as the warm comforting rays poured through. The same dragon that carried him here not too long ago, choosing this spot to rest. At least that’s what Dexter thought. He didn’t really know. Or even minded in the sense that he was more than happy to go wherever the dragon wanted to go. Exploring new places like he always loved to do and resting, before discovering the apple tree on this outing that is.

Dexter admired this view for a while, not even realizing he was staring until he noticed the dragon’s expression. Frame beginning to carry twinges of tension. Starting to prop up a bit with a sharp focused gaze. Dexter asks curiously “Uhhhhhh… is something wrong?” The dragon, still resting on its stomach jolted slightly. A motion like preparing to stand and come over but remaining planted in the same spot. Dexter looked around, not seeing anything out of the ordinary. Driving his confusion higher as the dragon continued to stare intently at him. “Is there something behind me?” Asking as he spun around but nothing was there. Other than a passing pair of rabbits nibbling on a few blades of grass closer to the tree. Something Dexter would've usually given some curious thought to. Wondering if the two adorable fluffballs were mates. But at the moment he was focused on the dragon. “You were so relaxed a few moments ago…” Dexter said in a lower voice, trailing off as he walked around searching for what? He didn’t really know. But as he moved around, he noticed the dragon’s head, eyes following his movements. Dexter stopped, and of course, the dragon’s gaze remained locked on him. Or so he thought.

After a few seconds Dexter looked down at himself until it hit him. A thought smacking him right in the head. He slowly held an apple out wide, then high above his head. To which the dragon’s gaze followed. “Ohhh you want the apple!” Dexter shouted, amused yet a bit puzzled at himself for taking so long to realize this. But not wasting any more time, he walked back towards the pile, gathering a bunch before carrying them over to where the dragon lays. “Ya know, you could’ve just walked over there yourself. There are quite a few apples in those trees back there.” Dexter said, motioning his head towards the trees while dropping the bunch he had in his arms. He then held up a few that disappeared inside of the dragon’s maw faster than he expected. The dragon’s tongue grasping hold with a flavor of eagerness that caused Dexter to smile. He looked down to the small bunch, then back up to the dragon who gave him a slight head tilt. “I suppose this won’t be enough," Dexter said before nudging what was nearby closer to the dragon.

Dexter then walked the short trek back to gather the rest he’d collected, bringing them all with quite a bit more haste. Making a pile of them all between the dragon's arms resting in the grass. One by one the sweet orbs disappeared. Dexter certainly craving and missing the taste, but he found himself quite happy with the dergon's enjoyment. Evident by the reactions and playful manner the dragon ate some of them. At one point, the dragon picks up an apple gently by the teeth, tossing it up and then chomping as gravity began to yank the apple towards the ground. “They really are amazing apples, aren’t they?” Dexter smiles, taking a moment to reach forward and give a few soft rubs to one of the dragon's shoulders. Then just watching in amusement for a bit. He wanted to at least get one more, but he didn’t want to interrupt the dragon’s enjoyment. After a quick glance towards the apple tree he climbed earlier, where several still dotted the tree's upper half, he thought about collecting some again for himself. But… His chest expanded a fair bit as he inhaled before exhaling a deep sigh.

"It’s fine," Dexter says to himself in a low voice. “Gotta leave some for the forest dwellers.” Not at all a reluctant statement having given up the delicious treasure to the dragon. More so content and happy he could share the treats he found. Dexter gathered a few of the apples that had rolled away during the dragon's playful antics, placing them back in the considerably smaller pile. The dragon snorted, bumping one of the apples away then giving Dexter a playful smile before capturing a few others to slowly munch and savor the flavor. Dexter returning a playful smirk, "Heh, you keep being so messy I'll start to think you dragons are just as clumsy as us lions are." He smiles again, holding one more up for the dergon to snack on with more of those familiar wet crunches as he says in a humorous tone, "Oh but don't worry, you have a loooong way to go to match the level of clumsiness and oafishness us lions excel at haha." Just then, the dragon's head lowered to grab another apple. Dexter taking the opportunity to place a kiss on the side of the dragon's muzzle.

With that, he stepped over the pile, moving to the side of where the dragon rested. Letting out a deep sigh as he leans against the large blue scaly frame that dwarfed him. Taking rhythmic, steady breaths to allow the hypnotic grasp of sleep to take hold. His fading gaze tracing the path of a large bird drifting overhead, along a wind current high in the sky. Through a low puffy cloud, then on to some place unknown. He never really got a chance to see where, as a deep slumber took him. Soon joined by the dragon, whose head would rest against the soft grass once the pile of treasures were gone. Drifting off to the realms of sleep too. Dreaming of… Whatever it might be that dragons tend to dream of…

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Beautiful illustration done by the ever lovely and talented Charming Charlie  Multyashka-Sweet💛 Original artist post here: [Juicy Apples for You]
ALSO [Dragon flight] A follow-up pic with the same derg and Charlie in some thrilling adventure. May write a little thing for this in the future
Lion dreaming of opening his own Applebee's that serves nothing but apples belongs to me  DexterLion! Accompanying writing too! Also on Twitter [@DexChillViber] and 🟦☁️ [DexChillViber@Bsky]