Another day, another territory patrol… another boredom… A routine was so casual to certain red dragon, that he didn’t expect it to change, and, of course, in the least expected moments fates may decide to throw another surprise in the face. That was exactly one of these days. This time Kallemort was passing by the mountain range, wanting nothing more but some solitude time by the lake there to relieve tensions from long strolling along his turf and the moment they got out of the wooden canopy right beside it, the moment they had their sight on oh-so-awaited resting spot, the moment they took that one deep breath they caught something else. Something out of place. It wasn’t a scent of a deer, nor presence of hundreds other animals he knew around here. No, it was something unfamiliar or more like someone unfamiliar. He couldn’t let this matter go unsorted.

Giving all sorts of curses for ruined rest along the way, Kallem followed the barely trackable trail, running like hell just to make sure he won’t lose it. It led him higher and higher up the mountains, until after what seemed like thirty minutes of ascending in marathon they saw Him. A dragon of shiny golden scales gleaming with all sort of warm colors from settling sun, grey-ish underbelly with slight tingle of blue and deep blue hair along the whole body just sitting on the cliff, gazing straight to the horizon. But most noticeable was his curvy crown-like horns and his length. He was so damn long…

Still catching his breath, Kallem slowly walked towards them, still having his sight locked on strangers form and then he was just a few steps away the golden one finally noticed a presence of someone else as they turned to the red and two gazes finally meet. They broke the silence, tried to talk in calm tones, sounding somewhat of how far-east dragons speak, but the language was still unknown to red dragon, so of course they meet nothing in respond, but a confused expression on their muzzle. Clearly understanding that their interlocutor don’t get the speech, they decided to keep on talking, each time seemed like they trying to figure on which language known to him red dragon would find familiar with, but there was only one word Kallem managed to catch from every their attempt. ‘Does they trying to introduce themselves?’ red dragon thought for himself, but was quick to shrug it off his mind as there was other matter, that bothered him more.

“Wonders if you understand, that I’m not happy to see a trespasser here, noodle.” – Kallem interrupted their speech, clearly annoyed of the of this whole situation, but the moment these words slipped from Kalle tongue goldens own expression instantly brighten up, this even looked like they’re smiling, as they spoke again – “Oh, I could see that, Kallemort.”

These words got red dragon off-guard a little, made him rather alerted because it was all too suspicious for some stranger to know him by name. “Don’t remember calling out my own name…” - Quietly growled he back at golden one with even more annoyed, threatening tone behind, changing his posture to slightly lower one, combat-ready position just in case if noodle intentions were not of a good will.

They didn’t care much about Kalle reaction though, as they just keept staring in his own eyes, piercing them with thoughtfull sapphire gaze in this another moment of silence between two dragons, then he just turned back to see the horizon for one more time. They knew all to well, that they should pick their next words wisely.

“She said I would find you here.”- They said before lazily rising from their comfy spot before slowly heading towards Kalle and it wasn’t long until he was barely further than a striking reach.

“She?”- Kalle asked incredulously.

Slowly he started to circle around Kalle, eyeing him from head-to-tail as they examined every single detail - “Some dragoness we both know. She told me about you, about this… ‘flame within’ as She described it… so I came all this way looking for you, with no avail sadly, so I thought it would be best if I’ll just wait here until you will find me instead.” - He replied, giving Kalle a slow nod in a hinting manner that he may know only one person who might have led Him to their domain.

Trying to put his mind at ease, Kallem moved past golden dragon before taking a place on the cliff they sat earlier, admiring view from it as well as noting that a good part of the lake could be seen from there, especially that one from where he came. “Of-heckin-course…” – He quietly whispered to himself, slowly shaking his head as well as giving out long sigh, clearly understanding the hint gold noodle gave. “So, what exactly She told you?” - Kalle asked, slight interest nagged at him for a reasoning behind this unexpected visit.

“Nothing much actually, mostly some stories and some detailed rumors about you controlling fire, but it was more than enough to pick up my curiosity.” - they replied.

“I see… If you planning on questioning me for more I’m afraid describing it on words would not be an option to satisfy this curiosity of yours…” - Kalle said, noticing Golden one sights following that little flame he ran between fingers of one of his forepaws before quickly extinguishing it - “… So how about we make it more fun for both of us?”

“I’m listening” - He replied with spark of interest behind.

“A little friendly battle between us until one can’t stand on his fours. If you win – I’ll tell you as much as I know about these flames… I’ll tell you my story…”

“And if I don’t?” – Golden dragon dared to ask.

“If you don’t, well, atleast you will have a firsthand experience of these ‘rumors’ before heading back to where you came from.” - Kalle replied, clearly giving a hint, that he still counting golden one as an intruder as he turned back to them, waiting for answer.

They gave a short thinking to red dragon words. “Deal” - was one and only thing he said before slowly changing their posture to a combat ready position with a smirk on their muzzle, knowing that it was exactly what Kallem wanted to hear.

Kalle dropped in a crouch himself, barely noticing the moment they both started to walk around in a circle… sizing each other… waiting for one of them to make the first move. Both or their minds were debating about how to start the fray until patience of golden one got the best of him and they shot a short volley of fireballs in Kalle way. Reacting to the incoming attack, red dragon quickly tried to move to the side, but one of fiery projectiles still managed to hit him, it haven’t done any harm though, but it was enough to cause a slightly stagger from the impact, giving their adversary just enough opening to continue their assault, which they gladly tried to use, going in rush for a tackle. Trying to hold them off Kalle took a deep breath before unleashing an inferno of crackling flames the way golden one coming, it worked exactly as intended, as stream of fire hit its target and they quickly backed up until they suffer any serious injury. As fires died away and understanding, that going head-first is out of options golden dragon tried to hold their distance this time. He attempted the same tactic of shooting one fireball after another in quick succession, trying to suppress his red opponent, but little they knew their own decision would work against them. Kalle wasn’t moving from an attack this time, taking all this relentless assault as one after another blazing orbs licked on his own scales until they glowed fiery red from the heat, it took a good exhausting while for the gold scaled until the moment of realization hit them, that fire simple not working against red dragon and they stopped firing away.

“Nice fire show.” - Kalle taunted golden noodle, as they still were recovering from a state of light exhaustion from their own attacks, expecting red not to waste any time for a retaliation, and of course Kalle didn’t waste any, as he shot some blasts of fire of his own towards his adversary. It hasn’t reached the target at first, as Golden dragon graciously avoided both projectiles, just in time to catch Kalle speak again - “You know, I’ll never get tired of reminding my opponents why they shouldn’t play with fire…”. A confusion spreaded on golden dragon muzzle as they noticed something has changed in Kalle very eyes, like he was tracking something, as they got their eyes on his slight, slowly widening wicked grin, and it

wasn’t long until they spun around just to see those two flame waves avoided earlier to be homing back at them, this time not giving any chance for swift evasion. They hit Him hard, hard enough to send golden noodle flying with a groan from the impact in Kalle direction, until they were just close enough for him to spring on his dazed foe, pinning them to the ground, as they helplessly tried to shake off red bulk. Expecting, that the fight was over Kallemort spoke to golden dragon again – “… But ill surely get tired of reminding that you WILL get bur-…” - he was quickly interrupted as whole length of golden scaled form started crackling with electricity. A long, piercing roar echoed through whole mountain range as Kalle felt sharp pain across his whole body, as he was mercilessly blasted back in the nearest boulder in a flash of lightning that hit him directly in a chest… Rising his still steaming form back on his feet and shrugging off the buzzling feelings Kalle cursed thousand times, that once again he let confidence get an upper hand on him. Still trying to gather with his senses red dragon quickly scanned the landscape for his opponent, but Kalle found none, atleast not until he heard another crackling sound coming from behind, which made him hastely get out of way, just in time for another lightning strike to hit his last position. Kalle turned to where attack came from only see Him standing on the very edge of the cliffside once again, their sapphire orbs gleaming with determination as if making a promise. Determination to end this battle and end it now. Kalle heart dropped for a moment as he witnessed gold one jumping off the cliff. He broke in a sprint, but before he was in mere few feet from the edge the golden form emerged straight from the fall, levitating in the skies. Kalle, never taking his eyes of theirs, followed as golden dragon graciously flew to the clearing where they were fighting on, preparing for another attack as they willed to turn the tide of this little battle. Once again they found themselves reading each other intentions in this endless dance of flame and lightning as their elements collided with one another. But as heat of the battle reached its peak and exhaustion was all too present for both dragons, golded dragon form starter to crack with electricity once more, giving all his remain strength he shot a beam of concentrated lightning in last attempt to end this little game, Kallemort followed the same as they gave out a ferocious roar of their own, as he let out one last blast of fiery breath contesting with oncoming storm.

As one force meet another it left only a loud, powerful explosion on the point of contact, sending sparks of light and embers to the skies as both combatants was thrown several feet away from each other. Few moments later Kalle was the first to stand back on his fours, still panting heavely while eyeing the rising golden form close by. “Heh… Good fight…I’ll call it a draw…” – Red said, giving a nod of respect, knowing, that not he, nor his golden scaled opponent has any strength to carry on. “…Didn’t catch your name, by the way. I suppose I rudely interrupted you on it earlier, aren’t I?”- A small smile creept on Kalle own muzzle as he asked golden dragon before him. And they smiled back in return, replying with one word. – “Denglong”

Denglong belogns to me
Kallemort belongs to:  bldarksoul and  kallemort
Story written  kallemort
Art made