Glory stepped through the tunnel with his stick-thin legs, his wings limp at his side, sore and hurting from all the flying he had gone through the windy cave. He had certainly done his share of training for the day and now it was time to do what he had promised Dread - find new shiny things worthy of his magnificent hoard. There were all sorts of awesome things in this cave, but most he had already seen in the dragon's pile of treasure. Broken armor and weapons, rocks and dull gems and shards of things he didn't know.

His eyes scoured the ground, sharp eagle eyesight able to pick through the disaster on the floor of the tunnel. There wasn't a lot to see from the top, so he picked a spot where he could sift through and find something.

It took him a little while, but he finally found a nice looking rock with some kind of ore embedded inside. When he looked at it under the light, the metal shone a little bit. Pleased with his discovery, he picked it up in his beak and continued on his hunt for shiny gems and metals and treasures for his new dragon friend. They would be the greatest of friends once he found him enough amazing possessions, he was sure of it! Besides, he had promised to find him some cool treasures and he couldn't go back on that now. Glory would never go back on his word.

_______________________________________________________

"I speak!"
I think.

tags: if anyone wants to hang out with Glory and/or help him find some shinies, feel free to jump in at any time!
notes:

As Glory continued to search, he suddenly had an idea. Magic had always been something that he had excelled at. Perhaps...just maybe...he could create his own shiny things! It would be different then his flames, but still, it would be something!

He stood still for a moment and focused on the glorious gem atop his head where much magic swirled furiously. If he took his fire magic and shifted it to attune to the earth, if he changed flame into solid gem, then perhaps...

At his talons, a tiny red gem, similar to his own, started to form out of the rocks around the ground. He forced them together rapidly, using the earth and his own heat to weld it into one, shining crystal. Once he was done, he looked down and his heart soared. A new magic to create his own glistening creations! He leaned down and observed the little stone. It wasn't perfect and wasn't round, but he suddenly realized...what if he took it further and made dread a crown of his own? What if he had a ton of shinies for the dragon's hoard? He would be his greatest friend! His most trusted! Yes, it would be glorious!

It was while Glory was searching some more through the gems and the metal and the other shiny and not so shiny things that he heard it. A singing, a ringing. Curious, he released the sheet of steel he had gripped in his claws and looked up and around. Where was that sound coming from?

He saw it a moment later - a huge gem, glistening against the darkness. How had he not noticed that before?! He immediately leaned over and set down the two gems he already had in his mouth and hopped over to the singing gem. It was almost as big as him, a half-grown eagle, and he wondered how he was even going to get it out of the ground. But Dread! Dread would love this thing! He needed to figure out a way to get it to him!

He hopped happily around the gem, chirping happily and proudly, ecstatic about this new discovery. Certainly, a wonderful gem for the dragon's hoard!

Excited by his previous success, Glory hopped around, his head swiveling as he searched with sharp eyes for another gem. He was sure Dread would like another one of those! Or maybe he would as well! He certainly appreciated the beauty of gems and shiny things and the potential of the metals around the tunnel, but he didn't covet them the way that the dragon did. But he wanted to make powerful friends, he wanted to look impressive! This was one of the ways to get there.

Excited and probably a little bit too into his success, Glory ran around some more, searching almost desperately for another beautiful, shining gem. In his haste to look for something else, his claw got caught between a couple of chestplates and, with a cry of surprise, he went flying forward spectacularly, smashing his head right into the rocky wall, right on his gem. It hurt like hell, but at least didn't damage it. With a now throbbing head and gem, his pride seriously injured, Glory got right back up, more intent then ever to find another singing gem.

After a little while, he eventually began to hear some more singing. Another singing crystal for the dragon's hoard! He sped up his pace until he came across another one, sticking out of the ground, much smaller and much more manageable. He reached forward with his talon and grasped it, pulling it as hard as he could. He brought in his wings, thrusting powerfully until, with a last wrench, the crystal came free.

He stumbled a bit from the exhange of energy, before righting himself and observing the crystal. He had a few good things, now! Perhaps if he got Dread, he could get them all and bring them to his cave! He would gather them all to one place and fetch the dragon. Hopefully he would trust him enough.

He spread his wings to get back to the big crystal faster and fluttered over to the huge gem, setting down his recent find. He then hopped back towards where he had set down the other two and gathered them into the same area as well. He had four gems, now, three pretty small, but lovely and one massive crystal. Hopefully, Dread would be pleased with these!

With an excited chirp, Glory took off towards Monoceros to fetch Dread and bring him back to the tunnel.

*exit

Glory came soaring back into the tunnel, headed straight for the place that he had left his gems at. The three little ones around the massive singing crystal. He breathed a sigh of relief, seeing that none of them had been disturbed. As he got closer, he pulled himself back and fluttered his wings faster before coming to a clean landing, hopping around, hoping that Dread had followed him into the cave.

"Here they are, Dread! I made this one," he pointed to the red gem, "and I found the rest! All for you! I'm not sure how to get that big one out of the ground though, it looked pretty stuck!"

He turned back to the gem that was almost the same size as him. No way he would be able to help Dread pull it out - all he had were some measly talons. Those wouldn't help at all!

@Dread

Dread followed, nearly careening into the tunnel walls as he followed Glory. His wings were far too wide, and he found himself tumbling, folding his wings with surprise as he skidded into the dirt. The last time he'd been here, he'd been maybe two-thirds of his current size; he was just... too big now. His startled roar echoed through the tunnel and he paused, blinking, then looked down at the eagle and its offerings.

He leaned down, nostrils flaring out hot breath as he closely inspected the red gem. His pupils in their flame-colored irises contracted, and he nudged it lightly.

An instant later he was trying to snap it up in his jaws, then inspect the big one--the one that was, he now realized, giving off a soft chiming sound.

Again, his eyes lit up in joy; his taloned wings at once reached for the thing, scraping at it weakly as he tried to pull it free. But his wings were not arms, despite his instinct, and when he craned his muscled neck around and tugged with his jaws, he just hurt his teeth.

With a frustrated squeal, of sorts--very undignified, for a dragon--he hauled up one foot and tried to kick with that, instead.

At last he paced back, and with an even more frustrated roar, he lashed out with his magicka. There was a shudder, the entire cave tunnel briefly trembling--then a crack as the ground split open beneath the crystal... albeit barely. Satisfied--and not having a single clue how he'd just done that--Dread seized the crystal in a taloned foot and dragged it back. He then turned, hauling it back off down the tunnel.

After a moment he paused, half looking back over his shoulder, peering at Glory with one eye. He was VERY pleased with his new singing prize--it was beautiful, and it sounded beautiful--but he remembered, now, his manners.

"THANK YOU," he roared at full volume, past the red stone in his jaws--and then turned to carry on, half-limping with the massive singing crystal in one foot's grasp.

@Glory

Glory fluttered back as Dread began to try and tear the gem from the ground. He wondered exactly how much force the dragon was putting into his attacks and admired the tenacity of the crystal and its refusal to be pulled out of the ground. Eyes shining, he contined to watch the dragon battle for his prize.

He jumped at the sudden rumbling and then squawked loudly as the ground split. "Wow! Amazing! And excellent spell!" He couldn't help but cry out his excitement as the dragon pulled the crystal from the ground.

As Dread turned, limping down the cave and roaring back a thank you, Glory hopped and waved his wings. "You're welcome, Dread! I'm going to stay here for a while and see if I can find some more cool stuff! I'll come back to you if I find anything good!"

@Dread

The dragon let out another cheerful roar, and as he exited the tunnel, began to stumble-run (the stone still clutched in his talons) forward. His wings spread, and beat, and after a few awkward near-falls he managed to take flight. Blood vessels shone through his wing-leather, glowing flesh-toned, as he ascended; his tail was visible lashing as he passed beneath the giant dragon's-head sculpture and soared off toward the Twister.

He circled that, his final farewell shrieking roar echoing behind him as he flew back toward his hoard with his new prizes.

No--his new gifts.

exit Dread ;; @Glory

Glory listened to Dread's final roar of farewell and turned back to his work. There was a lot of stuff to look through, but searching through metal and gems didn't appeal to him much anymore. He wanted to make things with this new magic he realized he had. He wanted to create!

He poked at the dirt and forced magic into the earth until it twisted and formed a small blue gem. That was really cool! He observed the small thing and held it up to his face. It would make a good addition to Dread's hoard, sure, but there were other applications, weren't there? It looked like it could go to something else. Not as a singular piece but accompanied by another. He suddenly had an idea and it was an idea so amazing and grand that he had to try it right away!