Autumn, 1330

Mera was at the Dragonstone, the entire shrine meticulously organized and clean save for a figure lying prone atop the monolith itself. Concerned, uncertain, the bronze dragon cautiously walked up to the sacred spot. As he approached it became apparent that ground was far less pristine than it had initially appeared, littered with broken weapons and armor and dark shapes.

The figure atop the Dragonstone resolved into a dead female wyrm lying upon her side, almost appearing to be peacefully sleeping were it not for the blood and broken scales.

In horror Mera peered into the darkness surrounding her. Gradually it became apparent that there were dozens of other peoples hidden in the shadows around the body, satyrs with javelins, minotaurs with axes, Duergaren with their picks, fey summoning their magicks, goblins operating an infernal machine topped by a maceball, Trasgu with their naginatas, Sabines with their macuahuitl and humans armed with swords and spears. The humanoids appeared to have all banded together to kill the dragoness, and as Mera took in the scene of slaughter, all of the figures turned toward him at once, targeting him next.

The bronze dragon hesitated, then slowly began backing away, fire gathering in his throat.

Suddenly, chains erupted from the earth, shackling the wyrms’ limbs and restraining him in place. Mera struggled, desperately trying to free himself, but his bonds held. The enemy creatures approached, but as the wyrm readied to throw out a fireball the flames magically dissipated in his throat. Mera stood in shock. He was trapped and entirely defenseless.

A Trasgu came up to the dragon, and even more surprisingly didn't kill him. Instead the humanoid placed a heavy yoke around his neck, laughing.

Mera stood in panic and revulsion at his collar, tearing at it as the Other Man pulled out a rod and began beating him on the flank. The other humanoids appeared even more hostile now, raising their weapons-now dripping with blood-to strike him down.

Finally, humiliated and in pain, the bronze wyrm gave up and bowed his head, surrendering to the inevitable. Everything he had tried had failed. Mera was a prisoner and entirely at the mob's mercy.

He was doomed.

At that moment, a knight mounted atop a great destrier charged through the crowd of humanoids to strike a blow, lancing the dragon in the shoulder and sending him hurtling to the cavern wall. Stunned by the blow, the bronze dragon clutched at his painful wound, only belated realizing that the attack had snapped his chains.

The mounted armored figure confidently trotted up beside the injured wyrm.

“Meratezatgh the Bronze! Much suffering will come to you and your people in the coming years.” The mounted figure declared loudly, twisting the lance impaling Mera’s shoulder and causing the dragon to writhe. “However, know that your fate and that of your people will become intertwined. You must remember your friends, for a wrong choice will send you and your people hurtling towards their doom.” The figure lifted the visor of his hornskull, revealing a thin bearded man with sharp blazing eyes. “After all-” Logan finished, “-it is better to suffer with pain than to submit to extermination.”

Mera woke up with a start.

For a second the dragon looked around the darkness of his cave, even using his infrared to desperately sense for some hostile force. Where were the enemies? Who was after him?

It remained his cave. The familiar spaces were unchanged.

Charged with adrenaline, the bronze dragon sat quietly in the darkness, breathing deeply. He gradually calmed down. He was safe.

What the heck was that about?

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Johnny Greenwood- Prospector's Quartet

From  TheDinosaurMann