Anyone wanting to try and steal stuff from a dragon's stockpile is welcome! I will roll for detection and if successful the dragon will very likely try to kill (icly only, oocly--harm) the filthy thief. Read post for description of den and goodies!

A bass thump of wings, and the young back dragon banked, gliding in toward the ledges. He was but a dark silhouette, from below, arrowing through Monoceros' turbulent skies. He seemed to maneuver them well enough, shivering wings constantly adjusting in small movements to give him stability.

As he came in for his landing he hung more vertically, tail lashing beneath as his wings beat heavily to slow him. The dead, half-grown cave deer grasped in his hind leg's talons was tossed forward to land on the large red-rock ledge before him, tumbling with a strange clatter and a plume of dust, out of sight. A moment later the dragon, too, had landed, a loud thump and scrabbling on rock announcing his arrival.

He crawled at once, on wings and hind legs, past the deer and to his pile. This, he inspected closely.

The ledge itself extended out into the warm light, where he could bask--but the back of it was a sort of hollow, a cave almost, dark and cool--a place where he could shade himself, when he wished. This was scattered with the charred and chewed bones of prior prey, and with dozens of rocks of varying sizes and colors. Many were shiny, colorful, glinting with mica or granite; others were baubled, giving off a soft, warm glow. There were armor pieces, too, old and battered, twisted, taken from the tunnel that led from the cave. All of this was tucked into the hollow at the back--and the ground leading up, the narrow and twisting trail, was charred black in patches where Dread had incinerated a prior invader.

It was, in fact, how and why he had given himself his name: chasing down a thief, on the wing, billowing plumes of scorching fire down over them as he went. He was the dread of the skies! A dragon, fierce and black!

He was also hungry!

Satisfied that his hoard was intact, he turned his back on it, and dragged himself quickly back to the ledge's edge, tearing into the deer and beginning to snap down chunks of bloodied meat and bone. Soon enough, he was wholly absorbed in his feeding.

Glory was here for the wind, the loud, screaming wind that made his feathers flutter and almost knocked him off his feet. But he was here to train and get stronger, brave the winds, brave the storm. Because, while he was just a child, he wasn't strong enough yet. He had to get stronger! Train! Get better! So then, when he was grown, like that vile bird he had met in Canis, he would be able to fight his own battles. And for his brother, Catalyst, who he would protect.

Already, he seemed to be growing. What was once a tiny little chick covered in white fluff was a growing bird, double the size that he had been at birth, the white fuzz beginning to fall away, revealing thin streaks of deep brown and gold. He, of course, did not care, for he would always be glorious and wonderful! But, as of now, he was actually quite strange looking.

As he opened his growing wings to jump into the air and begin his training, he saw a shadow go over him. He looked up and his heart jumped at the huge creature soaring overhead. Incredible! He had to see up close!

It took him a while, with his currently short endurance, as he had to flutter from ledge to ledge. At least he was getting a good workout. By the time he had finally reached the high ledge that the creature was on, he was thoroughly worn out.

Oblivious to any kind of manners or caution, he marched right into the dragon's cave, spotting the huge pile of treasure immediately, glistening with lots of pretty things. And then the creature itself, gnawing on a huge deer that Glory knew he would never be able to take down. He fluffed out his chest with pride, certain that this was a great opportunity to make a very good friend.

"You have quite the form, brother, and an incredible collection! Wonderful and glorious! How did you come to have it?"

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"I speak!"
I think.

tags: @Dread
notes:

The black dragon turned, gore-stained jaws slicked with blood, and narrowed ember eyes. A deep, guttural snort rumbled from his gut, closely followed by an equally bass voice--except it was heavily streaked with a hissing, screeching adolescent squeakiness here and there, seemingly at random.

"MINE," he demanded first, shifting quickly to hide the shinies behind his soot-scaled body. He then looked to the carcass, and savagely snatched it, dragging it back so he could have it and the shiny objects in reach.

For a moment he merely ripped a leg free, pulling stringy flesh loose to eat it, eyeing Glory with all the spines along his back stood on end, as a dog's hackles might raise in warning. He crouched over his meal proteectively, suspicious.

At length, however, when it at least didn't seem like the bird had scrambled up here to steal his things, he spoke warily. "Where do they come from?" he said slowly, as if trying to reform the question for his own understanding. He did not sound as if he spoke often, his words somewhat clumsy.

"Some... found. In the cave with the warm sea. Some, White made. I SAID THANK YOU," he added defensively, smoke pluming from his nostrils in a black puff. "...And some, from tunnel," he added reluctantly, stealing a quick glance--craning his neck around one tucked-up wing to do so--back at his shinies, as if to ensure they were still there... or simply to look at them.

He then looked back to Glory, huffing a little, still bristling. "What do you want?" He still sounded suspicious--not quite hostile, but clearly expecting the eagle to have some ulterior motive.

@Glory

Glory's eyes shone as the dragon talked. What a wonderful, beautiful voice. Deep and rumbling, fitting for a creature of his size and mass. Yes, this would make a powerful friend indeed and a valuable ally. He was not in the slightest intimidated by the dragon's blood-stained jaws. He himself had dealt with blood before and it was perfectly natural for the predators. The growling made him the tiniest bit nervous but he didn't let it show. No, only his confidence!

He raised his head proudly, the fire-colored crest on his head glinting in the light of the baubles. "Fantastic. And you protect your hoard. I commend you for this task. You are a respectable creature indeed! I am Glory! What do I call you?" He would imagine that the creature's name was something fearsome, something that inspired terror and respect! Of course, only the greatest of names befitted this creature of legend!

He laughed loudly at the question and raised his head, letting lose a blast of hot air in a display of strength. "Why, I have come here to meet you, mighty beast! You with great wings and greater powers, I imagine! I have come here to learn and I have come here to be your friend!" He eyed the dragon proudly and confidently, his chest fluffed out happily. Obviously, the dragon would agree that he was worthy!

_______________________________________________________

"I speak!"
I think.

tags: @Dread
notes:

He had taken his name after pursuing the first of the thieves. After sweeping down on him and bathing him in flames. After scenting his fur and flesh baking, watching the black smoke pouring up around him.

"I am Dread!" he declared, in an almost demanding tone, lifting his head to arch the crest of his neck proudly. The spines all stood on end, and he stared at Glory. It was as if he wished to be told how fearsome he was, or perhaps he simply believed it himself. He clicked his jaws together in a strange, chittering fashion for a moment--as if thinking--and then spoke further. His head tilted, his eyes narrowing, again suspiciously.

"Friend?" he demanded. "What does that mean? What is it for? What does it do? Why do you wish to be mine?"

Really, he was just all very confused about this most recent development in his life.

@Glory

Glory watched the dragon raise himself up, his head arching beautifully, spines on end. He beak opened with awe and the name rang true and clear. "Dread! Yes, deserving, so very deserving of the title. For you are a magnificent, terrifying creature!" Of course, Glory, being Glory, somehow knew that he was safe, that the beast would not attack him and, if he did, that he would easily fend him off. Because he was just that magnificent.

But he was a little saddened by Dread's questions. He did not have friends? He did not even know what those were? How terrible! It seemed he would be the one educating then. "A friend is...someone you like being with! You help each other and you come to each others' aid. You defend each other and are bonded as long as you both believe in each other! And I wish to be your friend because you are mighty and magnificent, a glorious, terrifying creature! A perfect match for me, Glory, who will be the greatest and noblest of warriors! And of course, I will be there for you, when you most need it! I will help you defend your hoard if you want and I will add to it as well! Thieves are despicable, disgusting thing and I will rid you of them, if I can!" He flapped his wings indignantly, accentuating his disdain for the lowlifes and scoundrels. To steal from someone that rightfully earned their treasure. Terrible! Yes, he would protect Dread's hoard along with him if the dragon would let him.

_______________________________________________________

"I speak!"
I think.

tags: @Dread
notes:

Dread considered this idea of... 'friends,' for a very long time, mulling it over. As a dragon, he had no real desire for companionship; when younger he had instinctively missed the company of other dragons, and delighted in the presence of Asimona and, to a lesser extent, Iris. But now?

He huffed, and shook himself, spines clattering.

"Asimona friend," he hiss-rumbled, yet even then there was a strange sense of rejection, of greedy suspicion. If the white dragon turned up now, he would be half-inclined to chase her from his hoard. His hoard. This was his hunting-place! This was his cave!

And he did not need defense! He was Dread! A dragon! He could defend his own shinies! But-... add to it, the eagle had said?

Dread narrowed his eyes, lowering his head down and crawling forward--squelching through the half-forgotten deer carcass--to peer more closely at the eagle. It had sharp eyes, and pretty feathers. Dread realized, after a moment, that the beautiful fiery flare atop its head was not in fact feathers, but a gem! He stared at this, and suddenly, intensely, he coveted it. What a beautiful, glowing thing! What a perfect thing to add to his hoard! Flame, incarnate!

He crawled closer, all his attention drawn by the gemstone--forgetting, for the moment, to reply.

He was rapt.

@Glory

Well, Glory didn't know who this Asimona was, but it seemed the dragon already had a friend. But he could have more then one! Glory, after all, had more than one friend! "Yes, well, you can have any number of friends! However many you like!" He tried to make himself look taller, but, unfortunately for the little chick, he just couldn't manage any bigger, especially next to a behemoth like Dread.

When the dragon started towards him, Glory instinctively took a step back, but kept his eyes up and glowing the whole time, still wholly convinced that the dragon was going to eventually see that he was worth his time. But then it came in a strange manor. No longer was it growling or glaring at him with hostility but with fascination, particularly at his head.

Was it his gem? When he had hatched, it had been nothing but a few little spikes. It probably would be bigger now wouldn't it? It didn't strike him at first that the dragon would actually want his gem for his hoard and instead leaned forward so that the dragon could have a closer look. "My gem! You like it, yes? Sunstone is what I call it! It looks like fire, right?"

_______________________________________________________

"I speak!"
I think.

tags: @Dread
notes:

Grab it, grab, it, snap it off, take it--no White said no! No taking gems. Want it, though... Dread did his best to draw very, very close, though if Glory pulled back he had no intention of pursuing. After a beat he slid away, serpentine, hissing softly. Jaws tore into the deer almost savagely, as if to vent his frustration, to a cacophony of cracking bones and tearing flesh. His flame-colored eyes lifted to glare balefully at the eagle.

What had he done with White, when White told him no? Why had he accepted it..? He pondered as he tilted his head back, gulping down a big hunk of meat with the help of gravity. Oh, yes--she'd stayed, for awhile, until something else had gotten their attention. She had been his shiny, stone and all, and made him more of them.

Dread lowered his head, twin streams of smoke briefly spiralling upward from his nostrils as he spoke.

"Be my treasure too, and stay, then. But do not take! Only ADD. Only give!" It was not a particularly generous offer, but to Dread, it made more than enough sense. This was his den, and these were his shinies. The Sunstone-bird could stay, and add to them, or it could leave. He liked looking at its stone, though.

As a reluctant afterthought, the dragon ripped loose a smaller hunk of flesh and hurled it toward the eagle, so that it bounced over the dusty rock to land at Glory's feet.

There. Clearly that was an even trade for the eagle's actual existence as Dread's new treasure.

@Glory

Glory was conflicted. Yes, he wanted to stay with this dragon and help protect his hoard, perhaps add to it as well. He needed a purpose besides wandering and the rare training venture. But he had no intention of being treated like a possession. But Dread was proud and bestial - Glory wondered if he would take any other answer.

What was more important to him? His pride and honor or his staying here?

A difficult decision. Did he want a dragon for a friend? Or did he want to keep his pride? Perhaps there would be a way to have both. Reason, make a compromise. "I will not take. No, on my word your hoard is safe from me! However, I do not desire to be treated as a possession. You may appreciate my gem, you may think of me as part of your hoard, but I am not to be treated as such! On my honor I will not go back on this agreement! I will protect and add to your hoard as best I can! This I promise you!"

He looked down at the hunk of flesh hurled towards his feet. His feathers bristled at the thought of accepting a meager offering such as this, but he had to remind himself that it would be rude to not accept a gift. Besides, he was hungry and he could always hunt for more later. After a pause, he replied, "Thank you." He bent down and tore off a chunk with his beak and threw back his head to swallow it down.

_______________________________________________________

"I speak!"
I think.

tags: @Dread
notes: