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Spring, 1347
*So this is your cave?*
*Um yes.*
*Very well.*
The two dragons entered the dripping marble caverns from the hidden entrance behind the talus pile.
No longer needed for scaring off or fighting interlopers, the front chamber was now tidy and quaintly beautiful. Debris of innumerable battles had been removed. Blood and soot from the walls had been wiped clean. Dry stalactites and stalagmites glistened from renewed connection to water. Even the floor had been meticulously swept clean by a dragon’s tail.
Squeezing through the narrow central passage, the couple reached the inner passages of the cavern complex. Here the underground chambers were still living, and the multiple rooms were, if anything, twice as beautiful as those closer to the entrance. Delicate crystalline dangled like beadwork sparkling in the low light, or interlaced upon each other in intricate boxes, fans, and flowers. Massive flowstone formations ran like rivers and waterfalls, creating balconies and pavilions. Grinning, Mera occasionally went over to a stalagmite or cave drapery and lit a small flame, causing the formations to glow pale yellow, blue or even green. Though Kharriana remained silent throughout, her eyes twinkled at the sights.
Touring continued past the large and ice cold larder, the steaming hot spring, the wood and herbal room. Mera purposefully hid the entrance to the Treasure Room with his back: while there was no specific tradition dictating that a hoard was revealed to a female only upon official presentation during the mating ritual, that was generally accepted to be the case. Besides, the bronze dragon still felt self conscious about its relative paucity.
The green dragon pretended not to notice her companion’s obfuscation.
Finally Mera showed a particularly large room with smoothed reclining marble surrounding a large central pit filled with gravel and a narrow arching ceiling dome that appeared to disappear into a small skylight.
*Our sleeping chamber.*
*Your sleeping chamber.* Kharriana teased. *We're not quite there yet.*
Mera nodded as his heart sank a little.
A few minutes later the tour ended with the two dragons loafing back upon the landing platform, watching the sun begin its slow descent from the sky. Hundreds of miles of scenic landscape stretched out below: the jagged, snow-capped peaks of the Southern Ranges, the retreating but still massive Kern Forest following its namesake river as it flowed down rocky canyons into the Great River, the rolling plains filled with a patchwork of farms, the windswept hills of the Doldrums, the pinnacles of the Hinterlands, and finally the human towns blotching the view, with the final one dominating the panorama: Stanton. That town bustled with activity, going off to the fields and trades, rebuilding from the ruins of strife and plague.
Mera nuzzled Kharriana’s neck.
*What do you think?*
The green dragon smiled. *It's a beautiful cave you have, Meratezatgh. It is also well hidden and has nice perks. You did well.*
The bronze dragon closed his eyes and beamed.
*But…*
Mera's eyes flew open again and his face fell.
*Your home is…awfully close to the human town.* Kharriana broke physical contact to turn and give her companion a look of concern. *Are you sure it's safe?*
*It's been safe for decades. The humans don't trouble me.*
*How?*
*Well, they and I have reached an understanding.*
Mera could see the green dragon’s mind whirling.
*What sort of understanding? It involves that human you like to hang around with, doesn’t it?*
The male dragon gave an awkward laugh.
*Logan helped me sort out a deal with the town. The humans and I mostly leave each other alone, but if the town is in danger I will help protect them, and they'll offer some tribute every season.*
The female wyrm gave her companion an incredulous look. *A Dragon Lord? At the beck and call of humans?*
*We made a deal, when I was younger and more naïve. But my word is gold. I have my honor.*
Kharriana shook her head. *Do humans even have honor?*
*Some of them do.* Mera insisted with a hint of desperation, paws spread into the air. *Please trust me.*
Kharriana stared back with mouth agape. *I…I’ll try to.* She finally said.
The two dragons fell silent.
Finally Mera sighed.
*Sorry. I know this is an uncomfortable spot for you. I want to be your mate, and I want to make this work. Let me find a new cave, and we'll try-*
Kharriana abruptly leaned over and nuzzled Mera's neck, before giving a gentle lap on the tip of his snout.
*I'm glad that you tried. I think you would make a good mate, so I will try to make this work as well. I will trust in your judgment.*
Meratezatgh finally relaxed, smiled and leaned his head over hers.
*Thank you. I will do my best to justify your trust.*
Head resting together, the green and bronze dragons watched the sun begin its evening blaze.
*I guess things are looking up.* Mera beamed.
Kharriana turned to face her companion again with a laugh.
*Well then, all that is left is the ritual.* The green dragon's smile revealed all of her sharp teeth. *Do well. It'd better impress me, Lord Feral.*
Madness - Our House
From
Shamerli!
*So this is your cave?*
*Um yes.*
*Very well.*
The two dragons entered the dripping marble caverns from the hidden entrance behind the talus pile.
No longer needed for scaring off or fighting interlopers, the front chamber was now tidy and quaintly beautiful. Debris of innumerable battles had been removed. Blood and soot from the walls had been wiped clean. Dry stalactites and stalagmites glistened from renewed connection to water. Even the floor had been meticulously swept clean by a dragon’s tail.
Squeezing through the narrow central passage, the couple reached the inner passages of the cavern complex. Here the underground chambers were still living, and the multiple rooms were, if anything, twice as beautiful as those closer to the entrance. Delicate crystalline dangled like beadwork sparkling in the low light, or interlaced upon each other in intricate boxes, fans, and flowers. Massive flowstone formations ran like rivers and waterfalls, creating balconies and pavilions. Grinning, Mera occasionally went over to a stalagmite or cave drapery and lit a small flame, causing the formations to glow pale yellow, blue or even green. Though Kharriana remained silent throughout, her eyes twinkled at the sights.
Touring continued past the large and ice cold larder, the steaming hot spring, the wood and herbal room. Mera purposefully hid the entrance to the Treasure Room with his back: while there was no specific tradition dictating that a hoard was revealed to a female only upon official presentation during the mating ritual, that was generally accepted to be the case. Besides, the bronze dragon still felt self conscious about its relative paucity.
The green dragon pretended not to notice her companion’s obfuscation.
Finally Mera showed a particularly large room with smoothed reclining marble surrounding a large central pit filled with gravel and a narrow arching ceiling dome that appeared to disappear into a small skylight.
*Our sleeping chamber.*
*Your sleeping chamber.* Kharriana teased. *We're not quite there yet.*
Mera nodded as his heart sank a little.
A few minutes later the tour ended with the two dragons loafing back upon the landing platform, watching the sun begin its slow descent from the sky. Hundreds of miles of scenic landscape stretched out below: the jagged, snow-capped peaks of the Southern Ranges, the retreating but still massive Kern Forest following its namesake river as it flowed down rocky canyons into the Great River, the rolling plains filled with a patchwork of farms, the windswept hills of the Doldrums, the pinnacles of the Hinterlands, and finally the human towns blotching the view, with the final one dominating the panorama: Stanton. That town bustled with activity, going off to the fields and trades, rebuilding from the ruins of strife and plague.
Mera nuzzled Kharriana’s neck.
*What do you think?*
The green dragon smiled. *It's a beautiful cave you have, Meratezatgh. It is also well hidden and has nice perks. You did well.*
The bronze dragon closed his eyes and beamed.
*But…*
Mera's eyes flew open again and his face fell.
*Your home is…awfully close to the human town.* Kharriana broke physical contact to turn and give her companion a look of concern. *Are you sure it's safe?*
*It's been safe for decades. The humans don't trouble me.*
*How?*
*Well, they and I have reached an understanding.*
Mera could see the green dragon’s mind whirling.
*What sort of understanding? It involves that human you like to hang around with, doesn’t it?*
The male dragon gave an awkward laugh.
*Logan helped me sort out a deal with the town. The humans and I mostly leave each other alone, but if the town is in danger I will help protect them, and they'll offer some tribute every season.*
The female wyrm gave her companion an incredulous look. *A Dragon Lord? At the beck and call of humans?*
*We made a deal, when I was younger and more naïve. But my word is gold. I have my honor.*
Kharriana shook her head. *Do humans even have honor?*
*Some of them do.* Mera insisted with a hint of desperation, paws spread into the air. *Please trust me.*
Kharriana stared back with mouth agape. *I…I’ll try to.* She finally said.
The two dragons fell silent.
Finally Mera sighed.
*Sorry. I know this is an uncomfortable spot for you. I want to be your mate, and I want to make this work. Let me find a new cave, and we'll try-*
Kharriana abruptly leaned over and nuzzled Mera's neck, before giving a gentle lap on the tip of his snout.
*I'm glad that you tried. I think you would make a good mate, so I will try to make this work as well. I will trust in your judgment.*
Meratezatgh finally relaxed, smiled and leaned his head over hers.
*Thank you. I will do my best to justify your trust.*
Head resting together, the green and bronze dragons watched the sun begin its evening blaze.
*I guess things are looking up.* Mera beamed.
Kharriana turned to face her companion again with a laugh.
*Well then, all that is left is the ritual.* The green dragon's smile revealed all of her sharp teeth. *Do well. It'd better impress me, Lord Feral.*
Madness - Our House
From
Shamerli!
Category Artwork (Digital) / Fantasy
Species Western Dragon
Size 2421 x 1200px
File Size 2.27 MB
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