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Scales and Honor: Darkened Skies

Chapter 30: Dragon Antics

With the snow came drifts, gusts, and icy daggers that would slip under even the warmest of scales. Scarfs became the norm with the peoples of Struport, along with the hefty layer of thick wools to accompany them. Fires were lit in every home, desperately trying to fight off the lingering cold. While some people had adjusted and made peace with this fact there were some who of course wouldn't go down without a fight. One of these people was Veledar, and he was having none of it. By fang and tooth, he was going to complain and make quite the fuss. Tell all the mortals that he traveled with of the sacrifice he was making by accompanying them on their little quest. That was at least what he told himself as they dragged him through the many different market places in search of potions and scrolls.

They had somehow found a way to trick him into coming along on their errands, or at least he thought they did. His snout scrunched up as he tilted his head, pondering over what exact words were whispered to make him agree to this stupid enterprise. His eyes explored the back of Arcturus' hair as the group poked their heads into yet another shop, almost as if he were studying every fine strand.

His tail swayed innocently brushing against a rack of jackets outside. He peered back with pinned frills, pulling the red snake back before it could cause any damage. The last thing he needed was that happening, He rolled his eyes as he pictured all the upset people calling him names, forming a group to yell at him, worst of all. Assigning him a nick name of being clumsy. He'd nearly thrown fire at himself after the time in the library, damn hot chocolate made him look like an absolute fool. Luckily his mate had been there to sooth his rising anger with his magic fingers along his neck. Veledar shivered as he imagined them, gliding along his frame tenderly while they rested beside a roaring fire. He'd curl a paw around Arcturus, enjoying each other's company as they drifted off together. Better than freeze to death out in this mind chittering cold. He snarled, snapping at the air as a bit of snow slid off an overhang to plop against his snout.

Damned it all. He brushed it all away as the current shop keep they had been perusing, gave the red dragon a pair of worried eyes. Like he was going to go on a rampage or something about his store. “I hate this stupid cold." He hissed, eyeing a group of bundled up kobolds scampering down the street with scrolls bound tight within their arms.They wore so much clothing he thought they were piles of furs with tails hanging out!

“Aw da poor ting need a blanket?" Merlia playfully nudged him with her elbow. “Used ta do the same to da goats that we had above!"

He glared at her as the dwarf chuckled, enjoying his annoyance like a fine wine. “How about I do the same to you then? You're more the goat than I." He rose his snout with a huff, shaking any lingering snow from him. Her next counter was to imply she would play him a song from her bagpipes.

“Then I'd go about popping it with a claw." He growled, making a poking motion with his talon. To his simmering anger she laughed, slapping her knee before sifting through a cart littered with garlick hanging from numerous strings. “Vampire repellent." A sign said above it in large, purple, glittery letters.

“Hooooowww…did you trick me?" He nosed at Arcturus' back, nearly knocking the man over. “There must have been some really great promises to been made to get me to suffer through this. The fact I've held back so long is paramount to my supreme patience."

“Patience?" Arcturus sighed, running a hand along his snout. “Is that what you called it when you complain at every store we visit?"

“Well….."Words caught in his throat as that handsome human smirked at him. Like he had a point or something. The dragon shook his tail, pulling his snout away with a snort. “If you're going to be like that, you don't get to touch my scales."

“And being a brat won't solve anything will it?"

“How would you know?" The dragon pretended to watch a pair of elves purchase a rack of red potions. “If it gets me to a warm place, and away from all this boredom I am up for anything. “

“I seriously doubt that." The man's arms crossed. “And how I learned? From all the years practicing dragon hunting. I learned to wait and see. Study your movements."

“Hmmpf." He rolled his eyes, avoiding that man's smile. He knew he would be unable to smile back or nuzzle up against him. So, he turned, giving the man a good view of his tail. “I bet you were just ogling us all over. Waiting for the day to come across one you adored such as me."

“Keep that up and I won't be adoring any dragons in the near future oh resplendent dragon of mine."

“Such false threats." He chuckled in the back of his throat. “I don't think you could abstain. You're addicted to me." He curled his neck around, giving the man a hardened look. Though when he met Arcturus' green eyes. The ones that still despite their little talk were filled with warmth. The dragon's demeanor shattered like glass. He rumbled, nuzzling at the man's side. “Damn you."

“And another dragon is bested by a hunter's charms." Merlia laughed, thumbing through some radishes. She mentioned something about them being good against fishmen. Something Veledar highly doubted was true. What would they want with radishes?

“It's what seems to work." Arcturus' fingers scratched at Veledar's chin, like pleasurable little noodles that started to coax purrs from his throat. “This dragon's weakness."

“Only you." He sighed, starting to lean against the paladin's touch. Even his ridges along the top of his snout seemed to tremble with every tender caress of his mate's fingers.

“Woah!" Arcturus laughed, pushing back his snout as their little scratching was interrupted by the sound of a rack clattering against the stone. In Veledar's distraction he'd knocked over the thing with his happily swaying tail. The knight pulled the dragon's snout to eye level, a chuckle escaping him. “We're never going to be free of that will we?"

“Nope." He pressed his snout against his lips, not minding at how foolish he'd looked with lady garments clinging to his tail. When the shop keep came over to complain the dragon grumbled about the small structure, blaming his clumsiness on keeping his tail from being stomped on. After Arcturus helped the man pick up the discarded rack, freeing the garments from the red's tail Veledar had enough of this errand. He rose his chest, placing a claw to his scales and let the others know they'd be better off if he were away from them."

“Well we don't need the resident dragon around if you don't wish to be." Arcturus' hands brushed against his cheeks.

“One of two dragons now." He rolled his eyes with a snort. “We have green sleeping with us now." Despite his words the concern he had for the green dragon lay buried in his gut. Since their rescue of him he had not awakened from his slumber. Veledar would find himself glancing upon him each day, silence laying thick as he prayed to the gods that he would be okay.

“I guess you are right, but he'll do fine. You don't have to be jealous." Arcturus rose the dragon's snout. “So, none of this woe is me garbage alright?"

“Hmmpf…Maybe." He licked the man's fingers with a rumble.

“So, go stretch the wings! Fly around!" The knight flicked dragon slobber onto the streets. “Give our ears a rest from your complaints, and my face and fingers from your licks."

He didn't need to be told twice for that invitation. “There was a reason I loved you." He pushed against the man, nearly knocking him over with is affection. “And I shall lick you whenever I please. I know you like it." He grinned as Arcturus blushed, though if it was from his statement or the shop keep now giving them fiery daggers with his eyes. Maybe because in his affections he had knocked over another rack of clothing. This time a teal colored shirt that was supposed to make the wielder breathe underwater. “And despite you paying for everything. Perhaps it is wise that I not make us both destitute."

“Now you speak words of wisdom." Arcturus wished him well, kissing his snout before the dragon spun around. Though careful to not knock anything over.

“Though be careful not to bore them all to death! Then who would be in our adventuring party?"

“I guess I'll be stuck with an annoying dragon who drives me crazy!"

“Doesn't that sound appealing?" He scampered off through the streets, sticking to the sides to avoid the incoming flux of people. Though most gave him a wide berth when they saw a dragon larger than a horse coming their way. Veledar found a large enough section, one where he could spread his wings as wide as he wanted. When he did so, his toes wiggled. They'd been itching him for quite some time. With a heart warming warble, he pounced into the air, quickly spiraling upwards into the grey cloud filled sky.

The wintery wind teased at his membranes as he crested through the thick clouds. Like a dolphin in the ocean he rose and fell scattering the greyed things like water. He went about like this until he angled his wings, slithered like a snake and dive bombed through the air. He spun in circles as his heart pounded with every whistle the air gave him. The dragon glided soon after, spun a bit more, he even rose high enough to do a loop, though that one was rather difficult for a dragon to do. With his acrobatics completed he entered a lazy glide, letting out a heart filled trill as he admired the city below his wings. One that seemed lost within the wintery white of the countryside. He was just glad the sun wasn't out to brighten up the snow. The last thing he needed was getting a case of snow blindness, like that one time when he was younger. His sister had taken full advantage of her being not able to get that. She'd pounded on his back and wrestled the poor blinded dragon to the ground. Though how he wished she was here in these times, and how he was going to break the news to her about their mother's passing. He sighed as cold permeated the air, and not just from winter's grip. Once this adventure was done, he knew where he must go, to find her. With a dip the dragon fell towards the city, heading right towards the rocky shore. More flying was needed to help beat back these saddened thoughts encroaching on his good mood.

He descended until the waves crashing against the shore splattered his scales with the frigid drink. The dragon like teeth of the stone crested upwards. Like there was a monstrous creature just below the waves and simply biding its time. Veledar trilled as he weaved and dodged through the field of these rocks, almost so close that he could scratch them with his wingtips as he passed. The salty air stung at his lungs, making his talons tingle with each breath as adrenaline coursed through him. With a triumphant roar he cleared that obstacle, spreading his wings to glide above the breathing waves below.

“Take that rocks." He grinned, peaking a glance as they grew smaller. “Veledar the mighty Crimson Sky has vanquished you this day." He wondered if any mortal had done what he had done in their time. Perhaps with a boat? Or a gryphon that had done the same thing. Less regal of course. It was easier for them to make tight turns such as that. It was not a concern as the dragon sighed, content flickering his soul. He briefly closed his eyes, though whatever peace was shattered by his growling stomach.

“Must you always ruin the quiet moments?" He sighed, breaking through his state of content to lazily watch some boats on the waters. Sailors toiled about with nets, struggling to stay upright on the sea. Or at least that's what the red dragon told himself. Why go about on one of those boats when you could fly? He began to salivate as he saw scores of silvery fish being dragged up to flop around the wooden planks of the deck. Maybe if he went over there, they would give him some?

He shook his head, gliding high over the boats. What was he? Some sort of gryphon that wanted fish all the time? He laughed it off as he pictured feathers sprouting from his scales like some sort of plant. Though as the image of a red and tan feather gryphon settled in his mind he recoiled. “Yuck." He spat. “Besides." He angled his wings, heading back towards the city. If he was going to eat something, it certainly wasn't going to be just fish. Maybe some catch from the hunters? Or his own. He was fantasizing about gobbling them up as he drifted over the numerous roof tops.

Scores of people below stopped what they were doing to point at his scales as he passed. Looks of wonderment springing to sour faces and bringing light to dreary days. How Veledar would never get tired of hearing their gasps, their cries of joy. Was far better than annoyance or complaints about him. How long until Lumara was like this? Where a dragon didn't have to fear about being hunted like wild animals? The thought was certainly appealing. He certainly had the time. He could help shape it, mold it. Something that his mother and Bahamut would be proud of. That was something far nobler than a mere hero right? His smug thoughts twisted the words into something grander. “When I could be a legend." He liked the ring of that. So as his stomach grumbled again, he scratched at the scales. “I'm working on it." He hissed, gliding over the outer walls and towards the surrounding buildings outside the walls, and back to where his stable home was. His spade head scanned the fields of white, wrapping the houses like blankets. Where were the hunters that he had spied on numerous occasion stripping and cooking their meals to open fires? It was there that he was going to procure the meal. It was a compromise he told himself. Better than letting a human wait on him, but it saved him the trouble of having to go find the meal himself!

“No it doesn't make me less of a dragon." He rolled his eyes, finding the signs of their fires near the outskirts of the town. Just beyond a frozen river and a roofed bridge. He landed with an upmost of grace, careful to not spray the gathered men and woman with snow. Some were startled at his appearance, while others just watched him with wary eyes. They'd known he had been staying near the stable, though he hadn't interacted with them a lot. He folded his wings, trying to stroll over in the most non-threatening way he could. So, he smiled. Though the reaction he got was not less unease, but even more worry as they looked at his teeth. Perhaps that wasn't the best thing. Especially with people that didn't know a dragon's facial expressions.

“What brings you here dragon? With teeth a shark be jealous of." One of the older human's asked. One whose face was dominated by wrinkles. His eyes though were ones that had seen many things, experience shining through unafraid. Even of a dragon that was twice his height. “It better not be about any mischief!"

“None at all." He rumbled, placing a claw to his chest. He flared out his frills, flicking his tail through the snow, possibly to hide it from view. Hopefully tales of his tail had not spread to them. “I was flying about your lovely city when I spied your camp." He gestured to the stacks of chopped wood, and red sections of meat that other hunters were slicing off their catches with sharpened knives. He spotted a few elk, deer, even a moose among their number. “I figured that you had a surplus of food to go around and would not mind donating one such catch to yours truly."

“Hah. Yer busting my balls." The man laughed, “And just go about giving a bloke like you one of our hard-earned catches? Why not take your wings and get your own? I heard dragons are great hunters!"

“That we are." He glanced up into the cold air, watching his breath mist. “Though someone had already done the work. I figured why bother?"

“Are you not a good hunter?" The old man smirked as his arms crossed. “Your father not show ya how when you were small?"

“No, I am an excellent hunter." The dragon swished his tail, watching as several of the men struggled to light the logs of wood with their flint and steel.

“I get it." The man chuckled, looking at the dragon's shifting paws. “You don't want to spend that long in the cold."

“It is really terrible." He hissed. “It's fine in small doses, but not when it gets the land in a death grip."

“Aha, and why should I give the great bully his food?"

Bully? Veledar gasped, pulling back in disgust. “I am no bully human. Clearly you know not of whom you speak to. I am Crimson Sky! The savior of some of your people!"

“Yes bully. Coming here to bloody demand free food. Don't care whatever tales are circulating about you." The man spit, eyes as defiant as ever. “Besides, we and the men never heard of ya."

“I heard of him!" One man behind them rose his hand, earning the death glare from the old man. Veledar liked that guy.

“You think your entitled to this food, cause you bleedin consider yourself higher than humans or wolven or even elves. All I see is a red dragon that comes over here, demanding free food all willy nilly."

“So, you've never heard of me?" He grumbled, flicking away snow as he settled onto his haunches. He rattled off his adventures in Drenedar when the man shook his head.

“That might be well off. But that doesn't help us now. A hero doesn't go about demanding free food from good honest peoples. Besides." The man chuckled. “How many armies have you beaten? How many evil cults have you banished? What have you sacrificed?"

“Well…" He looked away as the man smile dug under his scales. “None of those things." He shifted uncomfortably in the snow. Why did they always have to have a point? “I did burn scores of undead."

“Have you ever tried to help someone when your life wasn't guaranteed to make it out? Where you were terrified?"

“Once." He snapped back, a ghostly shiver traveling down his spine.“When I dove to rescue a human. Where I…" He sighed, remembering the crash. “Almost died."

“Huh." The old man chuckled, almost in disbelief. “I wouldn't take ya for someone that did!"

“You're not a nice old man are you?"

“I've been told the worst from everyone else." He thrust a gloved hand at the dragon's snout. “And don't take any bullying from dragons, gryphons, or anyone else!"

“What about Geoff's wife?" One of the grey furred wolven laughed from behind. “You cower when she gets to barken!"

“You're ruining my point!" The old man spun around, shaking a fist at the chuckling wolf.

“They really don't have your back do they?" Veledar mused as the man turned back to him, his hardened expression starting to melt. He noted the hunters tossed down their flint, cursing the wood being too damp to light. “I can offer you a trade for part of your catch." He strolled over, eyeing the wood like a terrible foe. “I can light your fires for you, that way you can cook your food. You give me one of your catches. Everyone wins." He turned back, eyeing the old man up from his leather boots to fur lined jacket. “How does that sound?"

The old man didn't reply at first, his arms across his chest only getting tighter as he eyed the dragon from snout wings. It had appeared as though he might have just been as stubborn as the dragon himself. “Don't think this changes anything."

Oh, now the conversation was on the other claw! Veledar chuckled in a growly way, padding his way to the defiant wrinkly man. “Oh but it does." He curled around the man, loving every step along the snow. Even some of the men chuckled as the old man blushed. “Now who is being the foolish dragon?" Like music to his ears, the others tried to coax the man into giving in. It was just one catch they claimed. Just let the dragon have his way. Besides, they would be able to get their meals cooked.

“Its what we get for not hiring a mage to come with us anyway!"

“Fine dragon!" The old man stomped his foot, resistance crumbling away. “You can have one of our deer. Just don't try to be too smug about it!"

“No promises." Veledar flicked his tail happily, trying to not bounce his way to the fires. Had to keep that dragon regalness about him. To the other hunter's eager eyes, he took in a deep breath, opening his fire glands and showing them a real treat from his maw. Gouts of red-orange flames to douse each campfire, not in death, but in life. He imagined for most of them they had not been this close to a dragon, cause some of them gasped and cheered or hung open their maws. He would have smirked if he could. So, with a happy snap of his jaws, flaring of his frills, and folding of his wings. Each of the piles of wooden logs were encased in the dancing and crackling forms of his dragon fire. “There we are old man." Veledar bowed to the now smiling older human. “Three fires for one deer."

“You're alright dragon." The man laughed, ordering one of the fatter deer to be stripped away for him. “You have my thanks."

“Just make sure it's cooked correctly." He sat down around the fire, watching the men work about his catch. He let them strip it away with their knives, then roast the dripping meat around the flame's wavering form. Each drip of the creature's fat was like torture, so by the time they had started serving him, Veledar was gobbling down the offering like he was starving. In a series of snarling tears, happy trills, and rumbles all the offered venison had been devoured. He thanked them, swiping his snout with his tongue. Though they tried to laugh that he had not enjoyed the meal he countered it was appetizing, leaving them with a large burp and fluffing up of his wings. “Maybe I'll back tomorrow." He grinned, getting a bunch of smiles and waves. “Cheaper for 1 deer than to pay a mage, right?"

He strolled away through the snow and towards the stable he had been resting. It was probably time to go about checking on the green dragon and his princess. He had insisted they stay with him after the incident in the fairy realm, partially out of guilt, but deep down it was so he could always watch in on them. They were his friends after all. He trotted through the deeper parts of the snow, not beaten down by horse or dire wolf paws, lost in thought of memories long gone. He eyed back at the hunters, concerned that they didn't all truly know who he was. Did that really bother him all that much? His scales shivered, telling him it did. That was what he was trying to do right? To become better known. To be the best dragon all around. One told in taverns across the land about his heroic deeds and adventures. One that would be remembered in song. One that legends would be written about. The dragon that changed Lumara.

He thought back to days of spouting with his brother over such tales, to which his sister would shoot down their ideas. Claiming that her way was going to be better. This all changed after the passing of the silver male though. Instead the days after had been more sympathetic at times, his sister leaning up against him and talking about getting far away from this land. The land that was not welcoming of dragons. When she had asked him to come along, he had refused her. At first, he'd written it off as dragon pride. That mountain had been theirs, but now when he thought about it? He shivered, It was more out of fear. Fear to be away from that place, fear to lose that book. The last bits of his brother left around. Without them….The dragon stopped his pace, staring out into the hills, imagining his silver scaled brother flying happily through the clouds. He was truly gone.

That was when a snowball suddenly collided with the dragon's snout. He snapped his snout to the sound of sudden screams in surprise, snow getting tossed about by little leather boots. Smaller humanoids ducking behind anything they could find. Bushes, wooden beams, and piles of snow.

“Who did this?" He grumbled, taking a step towards the group of hiding mortals. He could taste fear on the air, almost hear their whimpering. He cocked his head when one human girl was suddenly shoved out from a bush, all red faced and trembling. Her mitten clad hands pressed tightly together. She picked herself up, trembling as his tail swayed over the snow. “Did _yo_u hit me with the snow projectile?"

“Sorry I slaid you." The girl's foot ground into the snow, looking down. “I meant to hit my friend, honest! You jus got in da way!"

“Likely story." He snorted, licking his nose as the little girl's demeanor wavered. Soon enough she was glancing at her friends with cobalt flames from her eyes.

“Its all your fault henry! If you'd justa stayed put I'd not have slain the dragon. Now he's gonna be cross with me!"

“You should aim better girl!" A little boy peaked out from the bushes, instantly dropping down with a startled yelp as Veledar eyed him. “Don't eat her mr dragon!"

“Eat her?" Veledar rolled his eyes, strolling about the snow strewn area with a confident bounce in his paws. He saw at least eight pairs of eyes on him as he went about sniffing the area. So, they were playing a little game, and this little girl was so scared of him. When he looked back at her she nearly stumbled over, apologies running from her mouth. He couldn't place the age of this human. Eight? Seven? He looked her over from her head to her feet as she trembled before his gaze.

“I never meant ta hurt dragons! I never knew slaying them was so easy! I'd have neva done it!"

“You didn't slay me little one." He chuckled, “It takes at least a snowball one hundred times larger than that to do it."

“Oh!" Her face brightened as she lifted her head, hands clasping together. “Really? So I didn't!"

“No."

She wiped her brow, a sense of relief running about her fair features. “Hah henry! I didn't slay him. I recruited him to my side!"

Wait…what?

“That's no fair!" The boy from before shouted, shaking a gloved fist on the air. “No dragons allowed on teams!"

Unfair? No dragons? Despite his age he found himself sort of offended they didn't want him to play in this little human game with snow. Why wasn't he good enough? Dragons were good at everything!

No. He told himself with a calming breath, closing his eyes as he flared out his frills. Let it go.

“Hey I know him!" One wolven child with black as midnight fur poked out from behind a stack of wood. “He's the red dragon that came from the west! My dad said something about him fighting the bloody undead!"

“You not supposta swear!" The girl shouted back, shaking a fist at the boy's muzzle. The wolven covered his nose with his paws.

“Sorry!"

Veledar was just smiling as the children all left their hiding spots, dropping whatever snow ammunition they were holding tight in their hands. Questions started to come in from all sides, all about his adventures in Drenedar. He settled onto his haunches, curling his tail around his hinds as he began to tell them the tales of what he had done. Why waste an audience? They listened with wide eyes, spreading about him like little hatchlings. He almost could see their little wagging tails as he told them a more heroic version of the tales. Including his adventure to retrieve his book. All the embarrassing bits left out of course.

“That sounds so awful they took your book!" The girl, who he found out was called Madalina shouted. She honestly looked disturbed that they would do something so villainous. “I hope you made those bad guys pay!"

“They even tried to put me in jail!" He rumbled, much to the collective gasps from the gathered little ones. “Though I befriended the knight they sent after me." Arcturus' smiling face came to mind as his tail swished on its own, covering one child in a spray of snow. Before he could offer his apologies, the child was cheering, and others were trying to get him to assist them in their little war. It was Madalina that had the best offer. She offered him 50 percent of the winnings, and an apple. He took her up on it, swiping his tail over the earth as the other children scattered about like leaves.

“No fair!" The boy shouted, cupping a snowball to throw, though Veledar flapped his wings, drowning him in the white powdery stuff. “I didn't have to bribe him like a horse!"

“Much better than a horse!" he strut about while the snow began to fly back and forth about the children. Despite his size, they seemed unafraid to bombard him with attacks. Even Madalina joined in on his attack by her friends. It was his turn to seem taken aback, flaring up his wings to cover every little happy face with snow with either his gusts or tail swipes. When little hands popped out of the snow to wiggle about with cries of joy the dragon smirked, nosing any that were stuck too deep.

“I don't know children." Shandalar chuckled, strolling by with her hands folded across her chest. “He certainly acts very horse like if you get to know him. And be careful, he might even cover you with snow by mistake!"

“Nonsense!" He wheeled around, tail dragging through the white stuff and covering that wolven boy in layers of white powder. “Sorry." His frills pinned against his head.

“I rest my case." The elven wizard padded her way towards a bridge in the distance, one that ran over a tiny stream. The look she gave him over her shoulder, one where she thought she'd gotten the better of him. How could he let that stand?

With a hastened good bye the red dragon scampered off after the wizard, almost as if she had a lasso around his neck and was dragging him along like a farmer's cow off to market. Paws tossed up snow as he began to trot, quickly closing the distance between the two as she leaned up against the nearly frozen wood, brushing any loose snow that had clung to its railings. It was only about fifteen feet in length and not that high, Veledar couldn't help but fluff up his wings as he admired the craftmanship, smiling that he was bigger than it.

“Now what were you on about." He shook his head of such thoughts. “Why go and ruin my positively good image with those little wrymlings?"

“I didn't have to ruin anything. It was only a matter of time before your tail or wings got you into trouble."

“It didn't until you mentioned it!"

“I guess we will never know, now will we?" There was that smirk again from the emotionless elf. She was playing him even now, even giving him a bit of his own medicine?

“I know what you're doing elf. Clever if I may say the least, very dragon like." He strut over to the bridge, puffing out his chest.

“More like childish. That seems to be your one defining trait."

That was a low blow. He eyed her out of the corner of his eyes, letting a long snort be her reward. “Keep that kind of tongue up and I'll consider this enterprise we're on."

“Hah." Her voice was dry. “Like you'd ever leave that paladin for anything. There is no risk to be had."

“I could convince him to leave." He swished his tail about. “Just give me an afternoon."

“I doubt you could dragon. And don't go on about you could hump him into submission."

Drat.

She seemed to read his thoughts, another smirk coming to her lips. “Like it or not. I know you'll be stuck here to complete this endeavor."

“Funny word, implying I'm your hostage." He leaped over the small river that ran just a few feet below the bridge. Thankfully the frozen earth held his weight and didn't send him slipping into the icy water that ran over the rocks.

“For your supposed captor I seem to have little control over your actions."

“That is what makes it so devious!"

“Do I need to remind you that you might go down as one of the most influential drakes of this time? You'd help put an end to a conflict that has been on and off since before you were born."

That sounds good. “You could remind me more." He rumbled as he pictured possible droves of people talking about him, maybe flying banners with his likeness stitched into them. With a flick of his tail he rested his sight on the distant mountains, the tall greyish things now mixed in with the pristine white. Like serrated teeth they seemed to rise to devour the sky itself. “Would make it easier to stay."

“Often times though dragon. Easy is not the thing that finds us. Nor is it what we require."

“Hmmpf."

“Struggle begets change, obstacles create growth. If things are too easy, they began to stagnate. Just look at yourself. How you've changed in a small amount of time. You're now on a quest to save two nations, when you were just what? Living in a hole by yourself?"

He rolled his eyes, not meeting her knowing ones. “It was my home not a hole. He stomped his foot. “You don't hear me making fun of your desert shack."

“I didn't live in a shack!"

“You sound defensive." He smirked at her, loving how she glared at him. “I think you were homeless back where you came from."

“Still better than a hole on which to wallow myself." She turned away as silence over took them, the only sound to grace their ears was that of the laughter of the children keeping about their game. The elf's eyes would follow each of the shrieking children, a longing look about her blue eyes. She said nothing as Veledar got closer to the bridge, settling onto his haunches besides her.

“Never seen you so quiet before." He turned slowly towards her. “Did this talk of peace and living in shacks really rattle you this much?"

“No." She sighed, not even looking at him. “I've been away from home for awhile now. It will be good to return after all this time. It's been far too long."

“So, you can get homesick."

“Of course I can. You know, despite your absurdity at times, I'm glad you helped us. Without you things would not have advanced so quickly, and this quest we're on would have floundered at the castle. Though I often find myself a gasp at how fate awards your actions."

“What can I say." He grinned at her soft look. “Maybe the fates like me."

“Hopefully they don't pull the rug out from under you then."

“Won't work." He wiggled about his wings. “I have these to catch me."

“Even now you can't stop with your foolishness."

“Go back to saying the nice bits again." He pulled his head back with a chuckle as several of the children pointed at them, trying to get him to come back and assist in their little war. “They are much more pleasing for me. Let's me know what kind of elf hides behind this wall of cold and calculations you wear like a cloak."

It was her time to sigh again, a hand coming to rest on his lowering snout. “At least there is a consistency. I thought you might be a tad homesick as well. This has been the longest away from that cave for you hasn't it?"

That was true. The longest he had been away last time had been with his sister as they explored the wood elf lands to the west of their home. That had been rather interesting as they skimmed the treetops, trying to avoid the wooden beings that followed them. He'd been so worried he'd accidently set them on fire! Never in those nights had they gone uninterrupted. Always a pair of eyes to observe the two dragons wandering about their lands.

“Perhaps." He rose up, shaking his scales. “I'll just be satisfied when this adventure is done, and my name is spoken of through the lands."

“Ah. I can see ever the humblest of being you are."

“Ever trying." He grinned, stretching out his limbs with a flick of his tail. “But don't you worry. I'll try my best to help you get home to that family you miss so much." When she thanked him with a smile, warmth spread about his heart as he sniffed about the area. Could one day he become more friendly with her? Share his name? He peered back over his shoulder as she continued to stare at the children, a brief gust of wind fluttering her robes.

Possibly.

He began his way back towards the stable, stop with these distractions. He had friends to check in on. Make sure they were okay.

Even take a nap while I'm at it. He went about yawning, already yearning to fall asleep on those soft things. When Shandalar called out to where he was going, he told her with a rumble.

“Ever the lazy dragon!"

“Get mounted then you stuck up elf!" He smiled, feeling ever warm when she didn't shout or counter, nor even going red. She just rolled her eyes and went back to her scenery watching.

Yup. Definitely one day.

He nearly warbled as he trotted through the snow, the children having decided to go about spreading their wings and flying around. This was in addition to their snow throwing, though they were throwing as they roared, almost like they were pretending to be little dragons.

They have the right idea.

The stable called his name, quickening his pace until he was already opening the door and slithering inside to the makeshift home Thankfully it didn't creak too loudly, the last thing he needed was to interrupt their slumber. Though now that he thought about it, that would at least let him know they were going to be alright. He snorted, wrinkling his snout at the idea as he quietly shut the door behind him.

“Shut cold, you let cold in!" Feku called out from within the place, sitting before a fire in the fireplace tending to the flickering flames. She glared at him until he gestured with his wings to the task he'd already done.

“Beat you to it little one." He replied with a confident tone, padding his way around the gold coin sprinkled floor with the upmost care. Even his tail didn't catch on anything as he came before the slumbering form of his two friends. The green dragon was laying on his side on a bed of brown pillows, frilled tail spread out behind him. His eyes were shut, a forepaw draped over Lyndis' sleeping form. Thankfully she wasn't bleeding from her bandages, instead she looked at peace right now. Being exactly where she wanted to be. Veledar found his thoughts drifting to Arcturus as he padded over the floor.

“Good." She swished her tail, worry lingering in her eyes as she glanced to the green dragon and slumbering half-elf. “They not wake, no want catch cold."

“Of course not." His eyes lingered on Lyndis' bandages, the offwhite things hugging her torso tight. His paws trembled with as he was reminded of his taxing flight.

If I'd just been faster. He watched her take deep breaths as she rested her head on that black scaled chest. While she had been in and out of consciousness, Cordenth had been not.

“How have they been doing?" His voice was but a whisper as he tentatively circled his green friend, eyeing every inch of him. Looking for any other wounds that they had missed. Even though this was his near hundredth time doing it, part of him thought he would find something he'd missed all the other times. Maybe that would make him feel better. Then his friend would be brought back to the realm of the living. To his back frill, his black eye armored snout and his pink scared chest Veledar searched but could find no more injuries.

Oh god, my friend. Veledar shook his head, chuckling as he recalled their first meeting. It had been all claws and teeth. Practically tore at each other. Look at us now you little whelp. Veledar laid down onto his belly, pressing up against the green dragon. Me worrying about you like a mother. What will the others think of me huh? With a roll of his eyes he didn't care. He nuzzled the green dragon's snout as the dragon took a deep breath.

“And don't go giving up on us now. Otherwise I'll really think green dragons are stupid."

“Not as stupid as your bloody face." Lyndis groaned, shifting in her dragon's paws. “And he's somewhat conscious. He moved his forepaw to wrap around me."

“Lyndis!" The red's demeanor cracked as his snout practically dove for her. He was nosing her across her face, her chest, nearly warbling his happiness on the open air. “You're awake!"

“Yes, yes! Though if I knew I was going to get bombarded with licks and nuzzles I might have stayed asleep!"

“Right." He chuckled, composing himself and pulling away, letting the woman rub away her tiredness. “Its good to see you up. I thought you'd take to being as lazy as green here."

“Well…We got really good at it." She yawned, stretching out her arms. “Learned it from watching you after all. The laziest bloody dragon I know."

“That's not fair." He stuck his tongue out defiantly. “You don't know many dragons to compare me too."

“Point still stands."

“Don't get into this sort of verbal joust with me. We both know I'll win." He swished his tail happily.

“More like not hear my response and declare yourself the winner.

Damn. She's onto me.

“Watch tail!" Feku shouted angrily, ducking as Veldar's tail passed just about her head, striking a wooden beam with a thud. “You kill me!"

“See?" Lyndis smirked tiredly, resting her head onto the dragon below her. “Walking disaster waiting to happen. Even when you're trying to be lazy. Or pissing off the bard."

He rolled his eyes, slowly retracting his tail until it was resting by his hinds. “To be fair, I also pissed off a hunter, a wizard, and some children by splashing them with snow!"

“Sounds like a great start!"

“No matter." He nosed at her, “It's just good to see you up." He licked her across the face, making it scrunch up as she wiped away his affection.

“When did you get all soft on me? Should I be calling you my bleeding mother?"

“Please, I'd be your father Lyndis." He ascended with a growly chuckle. “Or are you still sleepy that your mind is cloudy?"

“Hmmph. You know I can't fight you like this." She sighed, going limp within Cordenth's grasp. “I'll smack you one when I'm feeling better."

“I smack back rogue." He grinned, chuckling to himself when she flipped him off. Yawning, he wiggled his limbs, eye lids fluttering as sleep started to whisper to him. It would not hurt to get some rest while he waited. Besides, when Arcturus returned, he could show him so of those views by the ocean.

“Got you good, didn't I?" She grumbled softly, “What are you even doing back here anyway? Shouldn't you be out there with the others? Or smacking about your human?"

“None of that." He wiggled his tail tip, briefly closing his eyes.

“Oh, I get it! You're perpetrating the lazy dragon stereotype!"

Well that wasn't polite of her! He snorted some smoke in disapproval. “You're green one there got to do it, so I figured I was allowed to as well."

“He's unconscious!"

“And yet looks ever so comfortable." He chuckled sleepily into the air. Then as silence began to creep over them, the dragon drifted off into sleep by the crackling sounds of the fire and the near silent hums of their bard. He smiled before consciousness left him, hearing Lyndis whisper her thanks for his presence, even if she probably didn't think he heard her.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Veledar found himself lost in an enchanting wind that brought him up and above the bright plains of sprawling meadows dotted with flowers as far as the dragon's eyes could see. Other Dragons flew alongside him, friends of days long past and those he knew from more recent times. The green twins were almost but a wing length away, their snouts crested open as they all carried on like one big happy flock of scales and wings. His humanoid companions were with them as well, scattered about dragon's backs here and there. Arcturus of course was on his, resting in his saddle with the biggest smile that could be found on any human's face. Veledar roared his jubilant emotions to the never-ending blue sky, getting echoed by his people. In his heart he knew this was the future that he would want, far as he could see dragons spread about the sky with mortals sharing in the experience. Not divided or fearful of the other, but united in the dance of flight.

Then there were clouds. At first, they appeared in the distance, white things of fluffy material that were good for chasing through. Some dragons even did this, cheering as they burst through. Then they greyed. The whites began to fade into a darker material, sparks of lightning flowing across their surface as some dragons scattered away from them with panicked cried. They scattered as the winds suddenly picked up, battering against them like they were merely autumn leaves caught in a storm. It was all Veledar could do to not be blown away. When the gale abated his wings were sore, and half the dragons remained. Even the sun that had been keeping everything nice and golden was almost gone, setting in the distance to burn the sky with its crimson glow.

He called out to the others as some vanished without so much of a scream, even the twin green dragons were lost within the next few moments of spine-tingling horror. He spun around in a near panic, watching dragon after dragon vanish. Until to his shock, even Arcturus had disappeared.

“It will not last." Came a low, drowning voice. Then the sky went black as the night, and Veledar found himself falling. No matter how hard he flapped his wings he couldn't catch himself. “And you will be left with nothing."

* * * * * * * * *

He awoke with a heart like a stampede of horses, the phantom cries of dragons in his ears. The cold room's fire had dimmed, the coals glimmering orange light across the scattered golden coins that seemed to wink to him. Lyndis lay curled up with her emerald lover, who hadn't stirred save for a flick of his frilled tail.

Their still fine. He wiggled, holding his chest with a claw. Just a stupid dream. He scowled at his own nerves. Some dragon I am. Startled by a random dream. He wrinkled his snout, flicking his tail tip over some furs. Licking his nose, he focused on the grey scaled kobold that was sitting around the embers, stoking them with a stick. She was humming softly to herself as the glow seemed to caress all her features. He admired her dutiful care as the grey scales themselves looked like the remains of a passing fire. How long had he wanted companions such as this? All the time he'd wasted being away or hesitant. All because of that day.

He stirred, pulling the kobolds attention as if by a wire. He shooed her away as she scurried over to him with a tender claw. “You have more pressing patients." He stretched out his limbs, gesturing to the two others in the room. “Though why is the cleric not present? I'd thought out healer would have a more watchful eye."

The kobold flashed him a pair of innocent eyes, though they gleamed with a tiny bit of resistance. “He did, said you tough. No need watch." She gave him a smile before going back to her fire tending. “But I stay watch lazy dragons!"

Typical minotaur. He snorted, rolling his eyes as he pictured the hardened warrior giving him a disapproving look over having just slept half the day away. He scratched at his belly, nearly bumping his head on the roof as he rose to his full height in his stretch. Hissing at the wood he retracted, noting to head outside before fluffing up his wings. He slunk by the kobold with the care of a rogue, making sure to not make too much noise. The others must have been done with their shopping by now. One part of the tale that he was sure to leave out of his book. The boring portion of the story where nothing of note happened.

Silly human errands. I'd keep in the more important bits. Like my cuddling up against my human. He really liked the idea of that one, only having his good thoughts dashed the moment he opened the door and the cold winter's wind rushed passed his scales. Instantly he regretted his decision to leave the stable, but he'd already past mostly through. There was no turning back now.

“If they come back, tell them I went for a walk around the tavern." He whispered back to Feku, who went about demanding that he shut the door. With a shiver and hiss of the icy attack he shut the door behind him, fluffing up his wings and snarling at the flakes of snow that had begun to drift lazily on down from the darkened sky. Lanterns that had lain dormant hours earlier were now lit, casting warm glows in the cold air and painting everything with their light. The air was crisp, stinging at his nostrils as he dragged his paws through the chilled powder that dusted everything in its path. Only steep sections of houses or gates were left peaking out of nature's cold attack.

“Dumb snow, why could the humans have built their home where it was warm all the time?" He cursed, ducking his head as he trotted his way towards the tavern, he frequented each morning. Eyes found banners in the shape of triangles with varying colors of teal and blue hanging overhead. He gave them a withering look, almost as if he could set them aflame with his eyes. He doubted anyone would approve him taking them down and burning them. He'd have to comply with their silly decorations for now. The wind whistled as it passed through the many houses, wrapping around any mortals that were still trying to drag supplies and other things through the snow. The dragon watched on in interest as mortals went about their work. Once or twice he offered to help carriages that were slowed down by the wintery snow. He'd nudge them with his snout or push with his paws. Helping dislodge the disobedient wheels beneath them. The mortals would offer his thanks, and he'd be left with a large grin on his snout. Maybe he was enjoying helping with nothing in return?

He snorted. No that was ridiculous. It was all to spread his name! He spread out his wings, flapping them against the air as he stared into the cloud filled sky. It was to help his name, right? The silence that followed was disconcerting to him, but the looks of the people he helped did spring to mind.

Foolish.

He quickly ducked underneath a string of banners as villagers passed him by. Their faces followed him for a few paces before going back to whatever conversation or tasks they were preforming. There was a good cheer that seemed to have grabbed at his heart as his tail swished, even putting a bounce in his paws as he went about the area. Meat pies and spiced lamb hung in the air, wafting through the cold air like a beacon. He laughed at the idea of getting more to eat, though Lyndis' disapproving smirk appeared in the clouds.

Lazy dragon indeed. He rolled his eyes at the phantom rogue, dashing her away with a snort. His head tilted as a song suddenly pulled at him. A group of people strolling along in fox fur cloaks and smiles on each of their faces. He had to stop and ask the group what was going on, and he was amused that none were angry or scared of his presence.

“It's ole grans birthday!" A red-faced human man laughed, his breath smelling heavily of booze. “Turns one hundred today! Never thought I'd see the day!"

“And here I thought you hated the old banner maker." A female human with red hair teased, poking the drunken man in his nose. “You're just an old softy now arnt ya?"

“What if I am?"

When she leaned up against the man, wrapping an arm around the guy's waist, Veledar found himself wishing Arcturus was there. Though he tried to hide his want with a swish of his tail, eyes traveling to the tavern close by.

“You coming to help celebrate the old gran?" The group ended up asking him as they noticed he stared a tad too long. “I'm sure she'd love to have a dragon around!"

“I'll consider it." He said softly, pushing past them with a nod of his head. “I have other matters to tend to."

“Well suit yourself lizard!" The man gestured to the tavern and told him the invitation still stood. With a chuckle the group wobbled into the tavern, leaving the dragon staring out into the snow-covered streets. Waiting for his human to come find him. He honestly did think about heading into the tavern, drinking a few bowls of mead while he waited. Though that would do them little good if Arcturus arrived. How would he go about flying while he was drunk?

Probably fly into a wall or something. He scowled at the idea, shivering as he pictured himself flopping onto the ground with a defeated moan. Very undignified. He didn't need the dwarf and gryphon friend of his making fun of him. They already have enough as it is. Hey! He snarled at the empty air, You're not helping!

His tail smacked a beam, loosening snow until it slid off and plopped against his head. He shook it free with a grumble. Of course. While he waited, other mortals had carried on past him. Tightly clad Kobolds with books and satchels all whispering back to one another as they passed. When he followed them they waved, happy smiles on all of them at having seen a dragon. A highlight in their day no doubt. Then there was a bunch of children, still playing in the streets until mother's voices called each of them home into their dimly lit houses. He spied several from the hours previous, Madalina giving him a wink and yelling she expected to see him tomorrow to help conquer the others. He smiled back at her, promising that they wouldn't stand a chance with their combined power. Lastly, he had to sit and put up with the music from the tavern intermixed with the dull scrapes of a shovel trying to free a roof from its snowy prison.

The wolven man across the street had almost cleared away his tilted roof, tossing any snow onto the cobblestone with a swish of his auburn furred tail. It was then he suddenly lost his footing, slipping and sliding down towards the ground. Enough of a fall that it would hurt the humanoid creature! Veledar sprang to life, like lightning he crossed the street, raising up to block the man's descent with his red snout. Though to his dismay the wolven panicked at his sudden nose appearing at his paws, and he got several kicks for his trouble.

“Ouch!" His snout wrinkled, snarling as the man came to a stop. “That's the thanks I get for saving you from a snowy fall?" He rubbed at the aching area. “Some gratitude."

“Good heavens!" The wolven flopped against the roof, breathing heavy in the air. “I thought you were going to eat me dragon! You have my apologies!"

“Eat you?" He thwacked his tail against the street. Surely you've seen me around to know I don't eat your kind!" He stuck out his tongue, voicing his disgust. “Besides, your too stringy."

“Just panicked is all." The man's hand found his chest, peering up into Veledar's eyes. He apologized with a nervous look, watching the tan-orange frills fan in and out. “You can forgive an old wolf can ya?"

“I suppose." He licked his nose. If anything, a hero like him could forgive getting kicked in the nose. “It's not the worst thing that's happened to me." He inched his snout closer as the wolven listed off more apologies that enchanted the dragon's ear. “Though if you're really sorry. You could offer coin or food as payment. For the damages to my poor nose after all."

“I can't have done that much damage to it."

“Who is the one who got kicked. Do you know how tender a dragon's nose is?"

“No." The wolven's ears pinned back against his head. “Is it a lot?"

“Nothing a promise of food or coin won't fix." The dragon grinned.

“Then you will have to come by my house for supper sometime dragon. So that I can rightfully repay your good deed."

“See?" He warbled, pulling back his head with a smile. “I will accept your apologies wolf. Do try to be more careful in the future though. You won't always have a resplendent dragon to come wandering over and save your furred behind!"

“I'll try to remember that." The wolven's ears twitched as he eyed the rest of his roof. “Though I think I'm done for today. Don't want to risk another brush with death right?"

“Right." He left the man with a swish of his tail, a warm humm running up his throat as he strolled away. Maybe it wouldn't be that hard to spread his name after all. Helping some carts, saving some people. It was all a hard day's work to be one of the best dragons from the stories. Though he had a sneaking suspicion that Arcturus was some sort of influence on his behavior.

The human would love that wouldn't he. Veledar chuckled to himself as he pictured emerald eyes looking at him with such amusement that he would be forced to nose and lick at them till they stopped. It was then that he ran into Merlia, who was standing outside the tavern bundled up nice in thick furs, watching in amusement as she lit a long pipe dangling from her lips. Where Krotos was he didn't know, though he found it off the bird who had been like her shadow was nowhere to be seen.

“So dis is what ya scaly bum gets up ta. Savin wolves from wee falls." She took a drag of the brown pipe, letting out a ring of grey smoke. “Back home that be ta toughin him up." She chuckled as if looking at a child. “Leave it ta dragons to baby da lot of them."

“Such an unkind outlook." He rumbled, sliding past the dwarf with a grin. “Am I speaking to our cleric of Kord? Or is it our wee ranger? I could not recognize her without her blue shadow. I'd almost thought you two were stitched or knotted together."

“Oh, he's about. And ye be one ta talk. Thought I'd gone crazy when ya left da paladin back in town. Course we had an easier time.Without yer tail messin tings up for us. We actually walked away without havin to pay fer nothin!" Her coming grin was made to provoke him, he could see it in the mischievous glint in her green eyes.

Veledar resisted her annoying attack, even if the tremor running through his scales whispered to do otherwise. He strolled around her, a confident stride in his limbs. “I knew my human was in good hands. I didn't need to have him around all the time. Besides." He snorted, turning to the smoking dwarf with a wicked smirk. “I'd have him in my claws eventually." The thought of the pleasing fire came to mind, he pressed up close and enjoying the knight's company. How his heart ached for it now. Such a hard decision it would be to do that or go see the sights near the shore. “What are you even doing here anyway?" He tilted his head, plopping down next to her in the snow-covered streets. Gesturing to the lantern lit city with a wing. “I thought you would have been back there. Probably getting lost in a pint or whole pile of night workers."

“You'd think that wouldn't ya!" She thrust the pipe at him, a smile forming on her face after a moment of sternness in her eyes. “Though ya not be wrong." She smacked her stomach with a dull thud. “Had a wiggle in meh belly. Like little worms.

“So, you wanted to drown them in some mead."

“Not exactly." She shook some ashes from the pipe.

“Oh?" He his snout got closer. “Ale perhaps?"

“No."

“Stout?"

“Too weak."

“How bout whiskey?" He tapped his nose with a claw. When that didn't get a response from her, he knew he had her. “That's it!" His tail thumped like a drum.

“Ya caught me." She sighed heavily before returning the pipe to her lips. “Besides, someone aught ta keep an eye on ya bum. It as the lass says. Best not let ya go runnin amok."

“Hmmph." His eyes narrowed. “Like my bum now do you?" He glanced back to his haunches, wiggling his tail about the snow like a snake.

“Hah! Now dat be da day. I don't there be enough whiskey in all of bolder to make me like your tail."

“So, there is a drunken-ness that you would." He rose his brows, nudging at the red-faced dwarf as she tried to push away his snout with a hearty laugh.

“Ya an insistent lizard ya know dat right?"

“Dragon."

“Impossible!" She tossed up her hands.

His chuckles eventually morphed into pleased rumbles as they stood there in a moment of warmth, enjoying the sounds of the happy patrons flowing from the tavern's doors. He almost let his eye lids drift close as the dwarf curled a hand at the bottom of his jaw, rubbing along the fine scales and telling him much of a softie he was at times. He almost snapped at her, but she had just massaged his chin and he was but putty in her hands. There was no need for him to ruin this closeness after all.

“You're all taunts and teasing but you actually care about me." He smirked as her eyes met his own.

“Oh, shush that mushy stuff with me." She playfully swatted his nose. “Save it fer ole prince charmin when he gets here."

“Or save it for me!" Krotos flew in like lightning, his wings flapping a whole wave of snow against the dragon's scales. Like icy daggers the powder clung to him, making him hiss as the gryphon composed himself.

“Did you have to cover me." He snapped, figuring the heart to heart had distracted him. That was the last time he had one with Merlia. Though in the bottom of his heart he knew that was probably a lie.

“Well you are a big target are you not?' Krotos' feathers ruffled as he shook himself free of any stray flakes. “How is the dragon treating you my fair dwarf. Is he being a large ruffian?" He strut over to Merlia, rubbing up against her as his crown feathers rose one by one, a warble flowing from his beak. If Veledar didn't have enough reason to tease him of being a bird as it was.

“Come a little closer and we can see how big of a target you are." He rose, swishing his tail in a threatening manner behind him.

“Oh shush yer complainin!" Merlia laughed, stroking below Krotos' yellow beak. The gryphon nuzzled her until her fingers were rubbing below his twitching ears. “No one makes fun of ya when yer prancin around yer knight like ya got a fire in ya nethers!" She made some smooching noises followed by what sounded like imitations of himself and Arcturus calling out for one another in their intimate moments of pleasure!

“Oh yea?" His paws shifted from side to side. “How about this then?" He spun around, using the frill of his tail to collect even more snow than usual. With a growly chuckle he thrashed his tail, covering his two friends in a layer of snow. When they stood there blank faced in an inch of powder he burst out laughing. “Now we're even."

“Baby!" The dwarf shook away her covering, eyes brimmed with fire as she shook her fist. She ran at him, but the dragon was faster, always keeping out of her reach as he bounded across the street.

“You almost got me there!" He taunted, keeping his tail just out of reach. “Move those stubby legs of yours!" This continued for a few minutes before she suddenly slowed, eyeing him with a cold stare. He thought maybe the air between them was going to freeze. “What's the matter." He dipped his snout, giving her a big flash of innocent eyes. “Giving up on me now? I almost felt your fingers last time you grabbed; you've almost taught me a lesson!"

“Yer impossible!" She stomped her foot, striding over to Krotos in an angry huff. He heard some dwarven curses get rolled off in the tongue so fast his ears got whip lash.

“But where is that dwarven endurance? That determination? Surely I have not tired the great explorer out?" He tip pawed behind her, staying just out of hand's reach in case she spun around. He warbled his victory when she didn't turn around to face him, just angrily shaking her pony tail.

“Ta tink I was going ta offer ta share a drink with ya!" She spun around, thrusting a finger to his pulled back snout. “But ya had to be a daft lizard!"

“Dragon." He licked his nose, grinning as the word only made her eyes tighten further.

“How can you keep forgetting?" Krotos flung the snow in every direction, clacking his beak indignity. “He's the one with the ever so thick head."

“Thicker than certain parts of you." He growled playfully, resting his snout inches from the gryphon's beak.

“Laugh it up red boy. We can get out a measuring implement, and you can see just how thick I am!" Krotos' wings flared out, the teal tips catching all the glow of the lanterns.

“Is that so?" He rumbled, matching the gryphon's movement as they began to circle one another. He knew where this was leading, they had done such things before. Already he could feel the excitement spreading through his limbs.

“Hold it hold it!" Merlia thrust herself between the two before they could leap at one another and start the wrestling war between gryphon and dragon. Her hands extended between them as the pair happily snapped jaws and beaks at one another. “Can ya at least do it away from da tavern? Tink of da booze!":

“Way to be a walking cliché of a dwarf." He rumbled, sliding past her to shove the cobalt gryphon into the snow.

“Oh so that's how we're playing?" The gryphon leaped up with a flare of his wings, dusting the dragon's snout with icy powder. With a flick of his tail and gryphon agility, the bird was right back in Veledar's face, and with the full force of his weight, returning his shove in kind.

“Come on you two!"

“But he looks like he wants some fun!" Veledar roared with a smile as flashes of his brother and sister came to mind. How many times they had done this during their youth? Too many to count, and something his silver scaled sibling kept up even until she was at least one hundred. Like performing a play from years past the two went at each other in the snow. Beak met scales, paws met paws as they tumbled across the ground in a flurry of white, red, and blue. Once or twice he playfully nipped, only to get swatted on the nose. When he thought he had pinned the slippery gryphon he'd always find that bag of feathers sliding through his claws and right back at him. It wasn't until Merlia gave a resounding burp that seemed to shake the earth did they stop to both look at her.

“What?" She laughed, holding a silver tankard in her hands. Her cheeks were ever redder as she went about looking them up in down. There was an almost innocence in her eyes that betrayed what lurked within that usually red-haired head. “I had bourbon."

“What happened to the bourbon?" Krotos squawked, fluffing up his feathers. It seemed as though wrestling was far from his mind as the dwarf took a swig from her cup.

“I finished it all! Not me fault both of ya were all over each other!"

The red's snout wrinkled as the gryphon chastised the giggling dwarf over her apparent rude ness. Apparently, the dwarf had left, gotten her drink and come back. All without him the wiser! Was he that caught up in playing with this gryphon? He admired Krotos' feathers as the bird squawked away, looking more upset than he usually did when the red made a mess of his feathers. Here was another being in his party that he truthfully felt as though he should tell him his name. They had been through so much together, the castle, the estate, the journey and the gryphon had not turned back once. He was always there to lend a helping wing, even comforting Arcturus during their brief separation.

And yet why haven't you. His tail swished behind him as the question whispered around him. He'd do it before the temple. Make it a more formal thing. Just as he'd done with Lyndis, Merlia, and Arcturus. Once again, the little joys of seeing the bird's face light up of being that trusted brought a glimmer of warmth to the dragon's heart. He nearly told him right there with a swelling of his chest of course.

“If it makes ya feel better, I'll get us another round." Merlia banged her chest, then peering down into her empty cup. “Besides, this stuff be weak anyway. Wait till ya try the dwarven stuff. Ya two would be on yer bums faster than dis red one here gets Arcturus' face red!"

“Wow. That must be really good drink." He grumbled, licking his lips as he pictured such a brew. He would certainly have to try it. “If you ever convince me to go into a mine of yours." He rolled his eyes, flopping onto his back. “Dragons really don't belong under ground do they? Things are much too small."

“But ya can change yer size!"

“Not like I enjoy doing it all the time." He flopped his head back, letting a out a misting sigh. “Now you said something about drinks?"

“Mind on the important things I see! Maybe we can make a dwarf out of you yet!"

“Or a dragon out of you eh?" He peeked up with a grin."

“Oh, don't ya start! I like me bits where they are! Ya can keep dem scales to yerself!" She strung off a series of flavorful curses before barging through the doors. “Alright ya humans. I be needen a couple kegs ta get a dragon and gryphon drunker then dat man's mum!"

Next came the drinks, wheeled out in three kegs wrapped in dull silver bandings. Merlia had carried out two over sized bowls that the tavern had given her for their more feral guests. Though Veledar's looked as though to be a large cooking pot for stew. When he sniffed it, he even got a faint smell of the lamb that must have been stirred in. Before she could swat his snout away, he made sure to lick inside the metal thing.

“Shoo! I gotta pour it ya animal!" Her hands found his nose, beating away as he chuckled at the remaining hints of lamb, peppers, all mixed with a bit of onions. She poured out the brown concoction into each of their containers. Veledar plunged his head into the pot, eagerly slurping down the drink until nothing remained. There went his promise to fly Arcturus to the sights.

Damned the dwarf. He hiccupped, then burping to the much growing laughter of his friends. “More please if you would servant." He thumped his tail, giving Merlia the biggest eyes he could muster as she poured Krotos his own.

“You had yers, wait yer damned turn!"

“Yea!" Krotos squawked, poking at his nose with a claw. “Let others get a little drink in them before you go about nosing where if doesn't belong!"

There was an exchange about nosing at the gryphon to which he spread his legs and gestured for the drake to get a good look. How very cheeky of him. So Veledar did the same, making sure both of his companions got to trace every inch of him with their eyes. Then they settled down to watch the cloud filled sky, drinks in hand or close at hand to have snout, beak, or lips pressed against. In the distance they watched the trees spring up from the white countryside. He hadn't sat like this for quite some time, enjoying the snow since he was quite small. When the world was much smaller, and cares were not rested at his talons. When he looked to his gryphon and dwarf friend, he saw not what they were, but the souls within. Two people that he could open and share a bit of himself.

“My name is Veledar." He burped in an undignified fashion as Krotos was filling his bowl again with enchanting drink.

“Oh, I know." The gryphon replied without looking, “Arcturus told me."

“He did what?" He playfully snarled, narrowing his eyes and thrashing his tail through the snow. “Why would he do that and rob me of the moment!"

“He did it by accident!" Krotos' ears pinned back as he met Veledar's eyes.

“Oh." He grumbled, that was certainly easier to swallow. “And you called me Crimson all this time."

“It was out of respect for you!"

The dragon's heart grew at least two sizes as he leapt at the gryphon, tackling over and embracing him with his wings in a hug. “Then I thank you my friend."

“Help! The dragon's enamored with me!"

“I know!" Merlia chuckled, sipping at her drink and plopping her butt onto the tavern's steps. “Now kiss."

“You lewd thing!" Veledar hissed in laughter, “And you tease me about humping Arcturus!"

“I know!" Merlia slapped her knee. “NOW KISS!"

With that awkwardness out of the way they went about trading stories once more. To the dragon's surprise his friends hung off every word, not interrupting once. As he told them about his brother, sister, and his mother during his youth they didn't make fun of him. None of that dwarven antagonism was present.

“Ah…just like home." Merlia sighed, a drunken smile on her face as she scooched over to lean up against Krotos' side.

“And what would that be like? You don't mention it much." Veledar's snout lowered to her, asking again when she didn't reply at first.

“Ya would ask dat." She slumped, “See me clan always told stories round da table of our house. Tradition as it were to share the stories of our ancestors and build da good of me broders and sister's' Her eyes misted a she poured herself another cup out of her own keg. She lingered, glancing into the drink as if it sought the answers of some hidden temple or tomb. “Ya shoulda been dere o course you two. To da home of me clan…Da dwarves and what tales they told." Her voice grew cold, the air around her even more so. “Guess that's all behind me tho." She sniffed as Krotos extended a caring wing.

She smacked it away.

“Keep yer wing, I'm not some new pup. I got over it long ago!"

“Doesn't sound like it." The gryphon cooed, moving in with a caring beak. This time she didn't recoil, and he slid around her. “Mind spinning us a tale about it?"

“I said ta leave it ya stupid ting." Her resistance seemed to crack as Krotos nuzzled her. “I said ta.." Her voice broke as her hands caressed about his face. “Oh curse ya nosin beak."

“I am good at it."

“I might be better at it." Veledar grinned, not wanting to be left out.

“Oh, and ya just had to butt in!"

“Yup."

“There isn't much else ta tell. Ya heard as much as the estate. I was exiled from me home over getting some higher up's wee one killed in a cave exploration. Thanks ta dat I won't be able to die with me clan, nor be buried with me ancestors. Probably one of the worst things ya can tell to a dwarf." Tears welled up in her red eyes, the gryphon wiping them away as she trembled. There wasn't even a word passed between them before Krotos snatched her up in the tightest hug he had seen him give.

“Yer horrible…" She sniffed. “Did ya know that?"

“I've been told." Krotos chirped, cooing as she stroked the back of his head.

Veledar pushed himself up, swaying his tail back and forth as he strolled away from the two of them. Let them have this moment to themselves. The way they were nosing at each other now, really made him want Arcturus around. He was going to nuzzle the man into oblivion when he got the chance, and speak of the devil.

“What is going on here now?" Arcturus came padding up the street, a heavy sack in tow and a leather backpack close to bursting. “Is that my dearest beloved drunk in the street?"

He bound over to the human, having to watch his footing so that he didn't stumble over there like some sort of uncouth drunk. “Not drunk." He purred, curling around the human and nuzzling at his side. “Though I think a bit buzzed. I have a tiny fuzziness in the back of my horns. Did you miss me during the shopping?"

“I can honestly say yes." He smiled.

“Even if I break things with my tail." Veledar peaked back at the mischievous thing, the frills giving him an evil look. “Oh cut it out. He likes you too!"

“Okay, I didn't miss that part."

“How you wound me." He faked injury, pinning his frills on either side of his head and shying away from the amused looking human. He made a series of jabs about the paladin not being as sympathetic as his diety would have wanted. “What would she say to see you treating dragons in this manner?"

“I think she would approve of making you wise up." The man's hands caressed the top of his snout even when he tried to pull away with a hiss. He couldn't keep this act up for long before he was nuzzling the man happily, his tail swishing over the snow He didn't even mind if it hit anything, he let his eyelids began to drift downward as a warm sense washed about his scales with every tender caress of his scaly head.

“Now I need you to stop so I can go check on our friends, put this stuff away. Can't really do it while being assaulted by your cute nose!" Arcturus laughed, gesturing to the packs of goods.

“You certainly could, you'd just have a much more difficult time!" He reared up, flaring out his wings. “Think of it as a challenge!"

“Some challenges I'd rather not have."

“Suit yourself." The dragon grinned, curling his tail around his hinds. “Then hurry up with this errand of yours. We could use another to share in the company." Veledar turned his head to Merlia and Krotos, both whom were rubbing nose and beak as they spoke pleasing things to one another. Some that made the dwarf's voice take on a sweeter voice, and made the gryphon's ears twitch as he gave a throaty trill. “And something to compete with those two love birds." His snout wrinkled before he was right back, nosing at Arcturus. “And we could be love dragons."

“Yup, clearly had some ale. Could use some myself. Now stay out of trouble while I get this done ya?"

“And if you hurry up, we can fly off to go see some sights I found." The dragon's voice took on a more lust filled growl as his tail thumped in the snow. “Alone."

“Oh my."

“Yes." He licked his lips as images came to mind. “Now scamper along." He nosed at the knight's bottom with a growly chuckle, nearly toppling him over.

“Watch it!"

“Oh I certainly will! You have a nice bottom."

“Fine fine. Keep it in your slit. I will return and then you can do what you will to me."

“Wonderful." The dragon smiled, watching as his knight went about to the stables in the distance. When Arcturus opened the doors he turned, sliding his way to interrupt the gryphon and dwarf's contest on who could say the most pleasing thing. “Ok, break it up you two. No more drinks for me. I need to fly and I need your help keeping them away."

“Sure thing lad!" Merlia laughed, banging her belly and rubbing Krotos' chest. “We can drink em for ya!"

* * * * * * * * * *

Tremors and unease bubbled across Arcturus' skin as he carried himself and the packs of potions and scrolls into the stables. Not from the pleasing images of his dragon outside, excitedly waiting his return. No, this concern came from the two whom were still sleeping, the pair that had had an adventure on their own without him. The ones who now lay injured and resting, with little for him to do. The knight shut the stables doors, dragging himself past Feku, who greeted him with a smile and a wave as she went about peeking about Cordenth's scales. Probably making sure the poor dragon was still breathing and that no new injury had cropped up.

“How have they been?" He let the satchel drop, a weight he was glad to be rid of. He rotated his shoulder, carrying himself over to his unconscious friends. How he hated seeing them this way, wishing he'd been there when everything had gone down. Now he was reduced to the mere role of waiting to see if they would recover.

They will. He kneeled along the green dragon's side, tracing every scale with a caring eye. He had to fight back the worry in his heart.

Just like the one with dreadflame. He remembered standing during the funeral arrangements for his soldiers, the ones he'd been unable to help during that horrible night. Once more he found himself just like the time Veledar had been injured grievously. From the dragon's sleeping snout he hung around his scarred chest, admiring the pink cracks that marred his blackened scales. The wound he had gotten from the harpoon set to claim Lyndis' life. How he'd lept in front with little regard for his own safety, that moment solidifying what type of dragon lay before him. He deserved to get better, just like any hero of the realms.

“So, don't go giving up." He whispered, more for himself than anyone else. “Can't have gone through all that effort for Lyndis to find you, not to end up seeing her again."

“Sweet words o brave knight." Lyndis groaned, shifting within the dragon's paws. She gave him a tired smirk as he took his head back in surprise. “Though you'd find I did most of the work."

She waved off his concern for her with the tone of a confident teenager. One that had no need. “Yea yea. You can stop yer coddlin. Got enough of that from the bloody bard and dragon."

“You stay put! Not hurt more!" Feku's claws clamped firmly on her waist as the purple eyed lizard glared at the princess with the fury a mother might have for her own children.

“See what I'm dealing with?" Lyndis rolled her eyes. “Considers it her sworn duty or something daft like that."

“It is!"

“Sounds quite furious." He smiled. “Is there anything I can get you? Even if you don't require healing."

“Water." She rubbed her stomach. “Damned near parched. You know how warm a dragon is?"

“Aye I do." He rose, sifting through the pots and other assorted things that resided in the stable. He found a tankard, steel and without much use. He made sure to wipe it out with a cloth before asking Feku to summon up some water for them. Something she had announced while she dug through his packs, sifting through the many potions that they had gotten. They were all spread around her, numerous colors all resting for her curious claws to wrap around.

“He's a tough one though." Lyndis leaned back, resting a hand against Cordenth's chest as she gazed sweetly up towards the bottom oh his neck. The green's frills fluttered softly as he took in a deep breath.

“That he is. Lucky us we have two dragons to now call upon. I think anything that stands in our way would be quaking in their boots."

“Or begging for one of them to stop his boasting and flaunting."

“That might be both of them now." Arcturus thanked the kobold as she quickly tapped at the tankard's rim, humming a long note as water began to suddenly form at the bottom. In four seconds flat the entire container was nearly running over with cool liquid. “Here we are." Lyndis' hands snatched it from him like she was dying of thirst, eagerly pressing it to her lips and gulping loudly down mouthfuls of water.

“Maybe we got something for you to eat as well. There was some of these nice biscuits down by the market." He rattled off a few more goods as he rose, smiling with good cheer. When the stable door cracked open he swiftly turned his head, telling Veledar to close the door. “I know you're impatient, but I was just helping Lyndis here with-“

Veledar didn't step through the door, but instead came a dark armored warrior. Within his gauntlet clad hands was an energy cross bow, humming malevolently in the air. The warrior's eyes were like a fiery demon's as the firelight caught them. It was Garroth, and before Arcturus could even comprehend what he was doing here the warrior snapped to him. The crossbow sung its deadly song, bathing the stable in a calming light of bright cerulean.

They hit their mark. One striking in the torso and the other his stomach. Arcturus stumbled backwards, wide eyed as breaths suddenly were forced from his lungs like he'd been punched. Stars flashed across his vision as he gasped for any breath to grace him.

“So this is where you'd run off to.".The warrior growled, a satisfied sneer coming to his lips as he slid shut the door. “Your adventure ends here traitor."