Fall, 1341
This time Kharriana sought him out, Meratezatgh was sure of it.
She found him fishing along the Kern River, perched down upon some rock, and simply watched him dive at the giant catfish that was swimming near the surface of the water. Mera leaped out from the torrential currents in a spray of water, fish gasping in his jaws, when he suddenly noticed the other dragon watching him with amusement.
*Nice catch, Mera. You going to be sharing?*
Mera’s jaws went slack, the fish nearly dropping back into the currents before he managed to catch it in his claws.
The female dragon’s laughter echoed through the canyon walls. It was light and cheerful and so full of life that Mera had to smile.
*Hello again Kharriana, what are you doing back here?*
*Ah Mera. You are so easy to tease. I was just planning on hunting myself, when I thought, ‘This is the season for the fish runs. Let’s check up on my favorite Lord Feral and if he would be willing to let one of his subjects use his territory-for a proper payment of course’.*
*Oh! Well you’re free to use my hunting grounds anytime! I consider you a friend, Kharriana.*
Strangely, for a brief second Kharriana seemed insulted by the offer, but she quickly recovered her smile.
*Thank you. Since you seem to be fishing as well, let’s share some of the effort.*
That was an odd request. Still Mera flew over and plopped the fish down at her feet.
*Sure! In fact, as a guest you can have this one! I’ll go looking for more.*
Kharriana immediately bit off the fish’s head then seared the body with her flames.
*Sup with me, Lord Feral. As a guest, I insist we share the food and the hunt.*
Atypical guest rite, Mera thought, but he shrugged and they dined. Afterwards Kharriana insisted on fishing as well, grabbing a large bass that the two dragons shared. By the time the sun was descending Mera and Kharriana had caught and devoured a score of large fish, and were basking on the rock with a small fire crackling.
*Have you thought of settling down, having a mate?* Kharriana suddenly asked.
Meratezatgh stopped and blushed.
*I’ve been busy.*
*Ah yes, the Hero of Miers, the Mountains of Pain and the Field of Blackened Bones. Got yourself a lordship, the favor of the Jutrstra. Protecting your humans and that human town of yours.*
Kharriana looked deeply into his eyes.
*You know, maybe-and this is just me talking-it’s time for you to start doing things for yourself? There’s a life to enjoy.*
She nuzzled her snout under his chin. *There are people to enjoy.*
Meratezatgh awkwardly chuckled. *It would be nice to settle down I guess.*
Kharriana rolled her eyes.
*Think about it some more, Lord Feral. Perhaps there are some who would enjoy you settling down with. Hint. Hint.*
She purred, gave him a teasing lick on the snout, spread her wings and took off into the sky.
*See you around.* Mera replied awkwardly
About a minute later things clicked the male dragon’s head.
She likes me! Like romantically!
Heavens why was he so dense?
Well he liked her as well. She was forward, affectionate, intelligent, had a certain fire to-she was a good looking girl dragon. And Kharriana came looking for him. Well if he wasn’t so shy, he’d like to go looking at her in all her glory…
He spread his wings, and took to the sky, wanting to go after her, beginning the courting rituals. He was too slow however, and with the sun setting and the clouds coming in, Kharriana was nowhere to be found.
***
As he flew back home, Merazetagh, Lord of the Southern Ranges, felt a few emotions that he had not felt for quite some long time. Like when he was a lanky, aroused adolescent. It kinda confused him. But it also made him happy.
Mera’s good humor lasted right until he returned home. The cavern suddenly seemed so small.
Maybe too small for a mate.
And what about his hoard?
The thought struck Meratezatgh like a thunderbolt.
Girl dragons expected a large hoard. Lots of shiny treasure. A dowry that reflected a boy dragon’s strength and power. Mera however had been cleaned out during the Stanton Incident, when he had been captured by the Royals and the townsfolk decided that it was the perfect time to get some wealth. By the end of the whole thing, Meratezatgh had managed to keep his head, which of course was more important than his wealth, but that was not helpful right now.
Mera rushed over to his treasure chamber. His wealth was there where he had left it.
*My measly little hoard.*
Mera frowned at the small pile of treasure accumulated in his last ten years of adventure. As part of his agreement- as part of Logan's Truce- he had not raided any human settlements or travelers in a long time. Some spoils from the Great War, a golden medal and a thousand coins from the King of Auxia, the golden sphere personally decked by the Jutrstra, a trunk or two from Tassure. Not much more after that, maybe another chest-worth from Eroland, some scattering loot taken from bandits and rebels.
A perfectly respectable amount for a young juvenile.
Not for a lord.
Kharriana would probably laugh at him and question his worthiness as a male and a potential mate.
Mera picked up a few coins and let them drop to the ground with a clink. There was barely enough for him to lie on, much less for that of a larger female. The dragon self pityingly wrapped himself around his hoard, balancing himself on the chests and studied a particularly large specie glinting the chamber.
*I offer you my cave, my meat, my gold and myself to you.*
He uttered the ritual phrase of courtship. The words felt weak echoing through his cave.
Mera sighed.
No reasonable female would be impressed by this.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Mountain Goats-Autoclave
Courtesy of theroguez
This time Kharriana sought him out, Meratezatgh was sure of it.
She found him fishing along the Kern River, perched down upon some rock, and simply watched him dive at the giant catfish that was swimming near the surface of the water. Mera leaped out from the torrential currents in a spray of water, fish gasping in his jaws, when he suddenly noticed the other dragon watching him with amusement.
*Nice catch, Mera. You going to be sharing?*
Mera’s jaws went slack, the fish nearly dropping back into the currents before he managed to catch it in his claws.
The female dragon’s laughter echoed through the canyon walls. It was light and cheerful and so full of life that Mera had to smile.
*Hello again Kharriana, what are you doing back here?*
*Ah Mera. You are so easy to tease. I was just planning on hunting myself, when I thought, ‘This is the season for the fish runs. Let’s check up on my favorite Lord Feral and if he would be willing to let one of his subjects use his territory-for a proper payment of course’.*
*Oh! Well you’re free to use my hunting grounds anytime! I consider you a friend, Kharriana.*
Strangely, for a brief second Kharriana seemed insulted by the offer, but she quickly recovered her smile.
*Thank you. Since you seem to be fishing as well, let’s share some of the effort.*
That was an odd request. Still Mera flew over and plopped the fish down at her feet.
*Sure! In fact, as a guest you can have this one! I’ll go looking for more.*
Kharriana immediately bit off the fish’s head then seared the body with her flames.
*Sup with me, Lord Feral. As a guest, I insist we share the food and the hunt.*
Atypical guest rite, Mera thought, but he shrugged and they dined. Afterwards Kharriana insisted on fishing as well, grabbing a large bass that the two dragons shared. By the time the sun was descending Mera and Kharriana had caught and devoured a score of large fish, and were basking on the rock with a small fire crackling.
*Have you thought of settling down, having a mate?* Kharriana suddenly asked.
Meratezatgh stopped and blushed.
*I’ve been busy.*
*Ah yes, the Hero of Miers, the Mountains of Pain and the Field of Blackened Bones. Got yourself a lordship, the favor of the Jutrstra. Protecting your humans and that human town of yours.*
Kharriana looked deeply into his eyes.
*You know, maybe-and this is just me talking-it’s time for you to start doing things for yourself? There’s a life to enjoy.*
She nuzzled her snout under his chin. *There are people to enjoy.*
Meratezatgh awkwardly chuckled. *It would be nice to settle down I guess.*
Kharriana rolled her eyes.
*Think about it some more, Lord Feral. Perhaps there are some who would enjoy you settling down with. Hint. Hint.*
She purred, gave him a teasing lick on the snout, spread her wings and took off into the sky.
*See you around.* Mera replied awkwardly
About a minute later things clicked the male dragon’s head.
She likes me! Like romantically!
Heavens why was he so dense?
Well he liked her as well. She was forward, affectionate, intelligent, had a certain fire to-she was a good looking girl dragon. And Kharriana came looking for him. Well if he wasn’t so shy, he’d like to go looking at her in all her glory…
He spread his wings, and took to the sky, wanting to go after her, beginning the courting rituals. He was too slow however, and with the sun setting and the clouds coming in, Kharriana was nowhere to be found.
***
As he flew back home, Merazetagh, Lord of the Southern Ranges, felt a few emotions that he had not felt for quite some long time. Like when he was a lanky, aroused adolescent. It kinda confused him. But it also made him happy.
Mera’s good humor lasted right until he returned home. The cavern suddenly seemed so small.
Maybe too small for a mate.
And what about his hoard?
The thought struck Meratezatgh like a thunderbolt.
Girl dragons expected a large hoard. Lots of shiny treasure. A dowry that reflected a boy dragon’s strength and power. Mera however had been cleaned out during the Stanton Incident, when he had been captured by the Royals and the townsfolk decided that it was the perfect time to get some wealth. By the end of the whole thing, Meratezatgh had managed to keep his head, which of course was more important than his wealth, but that was not helpful right now.
Mera rushed over to his treasure chamber. His wealth was there where he had left it.
*My measly little hoard.*
Mera frowned at the small pile of treasure accumulated in his last ten years of adventure. As part of his agreement- as part of Logan's Truce- he had not raided any human settlements or travelers in a long time. Some spoils from the Great War, a golden medal and a thousand coins from the King of Auxia, the golden sphere personally decked by the Jutrstra, a trunk or two from Tassure. Not much more after that, maybe another chest-worth from Eroland, some scattering loot taken from bandits and rebels.
A perfectly respectable amount for a young juvenile.
Not for a lord.
Kharriana would probably laugh at him and question his worthiness as a male and a potential mate.
Mera picked up a few coins and let them drop to the ground with a clink. There was barely enough for him to lie on, much less for that of a larger female. The dragon self pityingly wrapped himself around his hoard, balancing himself on the chests and studied a particularly large specie glinting the chamber.
*I offer you my cave, my meat, my gold and myself to you.*
He uttered the ritual phrase of courtship. The words felt weak echoing through his cave.
Mera sighed.
No reasonable female would be impressed by this.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Mountain Goats-Autoclave
Courtesy of theroguez
Category Artwork (Digital) / Fantasy
Species Western Dragon
Gender Any
Size 1198 x 892px
Listed in Folders
It's okay, Mera; I'm right there with you. My "hoard" consists of approximately $5 in assorted coins, an aluminum medallion with the Ten Commandments (that a religious person gave to me at work and I kept because it was shiny), and a mummified stink bug that was here when I moved in.
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