Приветик
I'm looking at her from every angle. It was the first time I'd ever seen a dragon in front of me. Her white scales shimmered blue in the light, and her blue eyes amazed me. I couldn't say anything, I just wanted to enjoy the sight of her ‘Wonderful...’
You were taking your time and not rushing it. That was something that made her warm up to you more and more. She was no less fascinated by the young man standing before her, gazing at her with such wonder in his eyes... She had always enjoyed being admired, but never like this. It made her feel special, unique. "Your name is..." she said, wanting to know it aloud. Her voice was soft and almost musical, rolling over your skin like a warm breeze on a summer's day.
‘Kenji...’ I continued to look at her. Her power and beauty was like a magnet pulling my gaze towards her
Her head tilted to the side slightly as she listened closely to his name. "Kenji," she repeated it softly, like it was a delicate thing to be handled with care. And then a small smile graced her lips as she added, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kenji." She dipped her head in a brief bow before looking back up at him again.
"I am Dovahkhae Kendra," she introduced herself formally, using the name she had been given by the humans who lived on the island where they now found themselves. It meant "Child of the Dragon," though her full name was much longer and held more meaning for those who knew its true origins. "What brings you here today?" she asked curiously, genuinely interested in what had brought him to her lair.
She glanced around the cave as if inviting him to take a seat on one of the
"I'm just a wanderer. Wandering from one corner to another. And you're the first person to impress me in a long time, dragon"
Kendra's tail swayed gently as he spoke, the silver tip glinting in the light. She smiled warmly at his words. "Oh? And what sort of things have you been looking for during your travels?" she asked, genuinely interested. Her own travels had been mostly focused on gathering information about the world outside her mountain home and its inhabitants.
"It's rare that someone finds me impressive," she mused aloud, tilting her head thoughtfully. "I suppose you must have a unique perspective." She gestured toward an empty rock nearby. "Please, sit down and tell me more about yourself, Kenji."
The dragon pointed its muzzle at a small, low boulder behind her. I didn't say no to a sit-down. As we walked toward those rocks, the dragon was ahead of me and occasionally lifted his tail. And it was in those rare moments that I could see her..... more private parts. But I was quick to avert my gaze. After all, it wasn't pretty ‘Ahem, let's hurry up...’
Kendra glanced back at you as you followed after her, her tail still swaying gently behind her. She noticed your brief look and raised an eyebrow in amusement before saying anything. "I apologize if that was not what you were expecting," she said with a light laugh, not offended by his curiosity.
They soon reached the rock that Kendra had indicated earlier, and once seated on it she folded her legs beneath her, resting one arm across her knee while the other was draped casually over the back of the stone. "So," she said expectantly, "please, tell me more about yourself."
I told her more about myself, about my wanderings around the world, about the people I'd seen and the sights I'd seen. The dragon, lying on her belly, listened attentively. Her blue eyes were fixed on me. Soon I finished ‘...And then I made my way up that mountain. And that's it for now.’
Kendra listened carefully as you shared your stories, her head tilting occasionally as she considered the things you had seen and experienced. When you finally finished, she gave a small nod and said thoughtfully, "It sounds like quite an adventure, Kenji." She paused for a moment before continuing, "But there must be something more that you are looking for, some reason behind your travels?"
She leaned in slightly, her curiosity piqued by his earlier comment about finding someone impressive. "What is it that you truly seek? Is it companionship? Power? Knowledge?" The questions tumbled out of her mouth quickly, almost breathless with eagerness to know the answer.
I sighed heavily. I've been asked that question many times. And while I usually answered with a lie to get away from it, this dragon made me want to be sincere ‘What am I looking for? I just want to absorb as much as I can. To become a kind of sage. Heh, that sounds ridiculous. But even I can't answer exactly what I'm looking for. Maybe just acceptance? Or to be useful?’
Kendra raised an eyebrow at your response, her expression thoughtful. "To be useful... That is indeed a noble goal," she said softly. "It reminds me of something my mentor once told me." She paused for a moment, lost in memories before continuing. "He said that the greatest power any creature can have is not strength or wealth, but rather knowledge and wisdom. Those who understand the world around them can shape it into whatever they desire."
She tilted her head to the side slightly as she studied your face. "Would you be interested in learning more about dragonkind? We've lived in this world for thousands of years, seen things that no human has ever dreamt of..." Her voice trailed off invitingly, a challenge hidden within those soft words.
What do you say to her offer, Kenji?
‘Dragonkind? I always thought that knowledge was for monks. Something for a small circle of people... I'd love to hear a little about you.’
Kendra smiled warmly at your answer. "Indeed, knowledge has long been the province of scholars and sages," she conceded. "But dragons have always held wisdom in high regard as well." She paused for a moment before continuing, her expression growing more thoughtful. "Perhaps we could make a trade, then... You could share your experiences and the stories you've heard with me, and in exchange, I would be happy to share what I know of dragonkind and our place in this world."
She canted her head to one side, studying you intently. "What do you think?"
‘The price is too expensive. Are you interested in the stories and thoughts of an ordinary person for whom the problem is finding his place?’
Kendra chuckled softly at your words, the sound of it warm and inviting. "Oh, but I think you underestimate yourself, Kenji," she said gently. "You have already found your way here, to my lair... That in itself is no small feat. And from what little I've heard about humans, they are not often so open to the company of other races." Her blue eyes sparkled with amusement as she went on, "I think that we could both learn something valuable from each other."
She sat back a bit on her rock, folding her arms across her chest in a casual gesture. "So," she said with a sly smile, "what do you say?"
‘Tantalisingly... You're straight up seducing me into this deal...’ I climbed up off the cobblestone to my duffle bag. I pulled out some old books and some curiosities, obviously from other parts of the world ‘I'll tell and show you everything I know and what I think, dragon...’
Kendra's eyes gleamed with amusement and delight as you produced the old books and curiosities, setting them down between you on the rock. "Excellent," she purred softly, her tail tip swishing idly behind her as it felt each movement in turn. "I think we can make this an arrangement that benefits us both."
The dragon leaned forward slightly, peering at one of the books before carefully picking it up with a clawed forepaw. Flipping through its pages, she murmured to herself, marveling at the intricate drawings and the arcane script within. "I must admit, I haven't seen many of these," she said, her voice tinged with wonder. "They are indeed ancient... And you say that you will share them all with me?"
‘Absolutely. As one scribe told me, that books are written for the righteous to teach the lost. If it doesn't do that, then what's the point of the book?’ I pulled a few more books out of the bag ‘It's not many, I've collected the most that have distinguished themselves. And these will be yours... while I'm here, heh.’
Kendra turned her head to look at you as she took the books, her expression one of sincere gratitude. "Thank you, Kenji," she said softly, running her claw lightly over the spine of one of them before carefully setting it down beside her. "I truly appreciate this."
She glanced through several more pages, marveling at the various depictions and diagrams within, before looking up at you once more. "And what do you think we should start with?" she asked curiously. "Do you have a particular topic or story that you'd like to share first?"
‘Leaf through the books. See what's interesting for you, while I want to prepare for your questions..... Can I move the stones around a bit for convenience?’
"Of course," Kendra replied with a gentle smile as she scooted aside, giving you more room to maneuver. "Go ahead and rearrange the stones if it makes things easier for you." She settled back into her spot on the rock, watching you as you shuffled the rocks around thoughtfully.
Her curiosity already piqued by what she'd seen in the books, Kendra waited eagerly for your stories, ready to delve deeper into the world beyond her mountain home and the races that called it home. She wondered what other secrets and wonders Kenji would share with her, and how much he truly knew about dragonkind...
While I was arranging the stones and generally beautifying the cave, I glanced occasionally at the dragon, who was tucked away in his books. She was like a child who couldn't read, but she was staring at the symbols, trying to guess what it said. Truly a good conversationalist. I rushed from one corner of the cave to the other, setting up torches and some maps with things on them. It was almost done. As I did so, my gaze caught her tail, which was flicking from side to side. And also a little below the tail... I was getting unseasonably hot. But I tried to keep my mind off it
Kendra looked up from her book as you busied yourself with the cave's decorations, unable to hide a hint of curiosity in her expression. The dragon watched silently as you arranged stones and lit torches, occasionally glancing back at the maps spread out nearby. She wondered what sort of things these markings represented, and whether or not they had any connection to the stories and legends she had heard throughout her long life.
When you seemed to catch your breath after completing your task, the dragon smiled warmly at you. "I must say," she said in a musing tone, "your curiosity about dragons and their culture is quite refreshing, Kenji." She paused for a moment before asking carefully, "Have you ever encountered one of our kind before?" Her tail continued to sway gently behind her, occasionally brushing against the stones on the cave floor.
The dragon looked at me from behind her back, and her tail seemed to start thrashing from side to side higher and more often, revealing her private parts. I tried not to look, but concentrated on finishing faster ‘Ahem, well, how do you say ‘encountered’.... Dragons are something clearly above us humans. Did I already say that dragon knowledge for us is something for monks and the like? I've rather just heard of them and seen little of them. Before you, I saw a dragon in the forest. Its eyes were blind. It seemed he could have easily killed me, but he expressed mercy and even listened to my stories...’
Kendra raised an eyebrow as she listened to your story, her curiosity piqued even further. "And what was his name?" she asked softly, leaning in slightly. Her tail continued to sway gently behind her, the silver tip occasionally catching the light from the torches you had lit earlier.
"You did not ask his name?" she added with a note of surprise. "Dragons place great importance on their names; it is how we identify ourselves, and show respect to those who know us." She paused for a moment before continuing, "Perhaps if I knew more about this dragon you spoke of, I might be able to offer some insights into his behavior or motives. But without his name, it is difficult to say much more." Her expression was thoughtful as she looked at you expectantly.
What do you tell the dragon about the blind dragon's identity?
‘His name was long to the point of being fearfully mute. I only remembered the beginning and the end. It was ‘Aurwen...’ and the end ‘...feldrock.’ He said his name meant eternal wanderer, valley and battlefield...’ I stood in front of her ‘He was quite large, and his dark scales were blacker than coal. But his voice was quiet and unhurried. Pity his eyes...’
Kendra listened intently as you described the blind dragon, her expression growing more and more thoughtful with each word. When you finally mentioned his name--Aurwenfeldrock, Eternal Wanderer of the Valley and Battlefield--her eyes widened slightly in recognition.
"Ah..." she breathed softly, her voice filled with surprise. "He was indeed a legend among our kind." Her tail swished gently behind her as she went on, "Aurwenfeldrock was known for his wisdom and compassion, as well as his unwavering dedication to the study of dragon lore and history. It is said that he traveled far and wide throughout his long life, amassing knowledge that few other dragons could even dream of."
The dragon leaned forward slightly, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Did you happen to ask him why he chose not to take up a la
Did Aurwenfeldrock choose not to take up a lair, or was it taken from him? It is possible that he simply preferred the freedom of wandering and exploring over settling down in one place. Some dragons find comfort in solitude while others thrive on company, even if they do not seek out alliances or territories like many other dragons do.
I wonder, what did you talk about with him during your encounter? It must have been fascinating to hear his perspectives and insights on the world beyond his mountain home. And how did he respond to your questions about humans and their culture? Did he share any of his own experiences or observations with you?
*Oh, so many questions... I sat down on the prepared rock, crossing my legs and resting my head on my arm. ‘Well, it was a fleeting and chance encounter. I met him when I was looking for a place to sleep in that dark forest. A quiet voice beckoned to me and graciously offered me shelter under his attentions. To be honest, it was one of those small encounters with dragons and I simply couldn't communicate with him as an equal. Which meant I didn't ask him much. I asked more about him6 about how he lost his sight and such...’ It seemed like I wasn't going to get anything useful out of this meeting, but I went on ‘... But he did say something interesting. So he told me that he was banished from his land and that he preferred human settlements. He lost his sight in one of the battles, but he didn't elaborate on that. He just... admired people. That's all.’
Kendra listened intently to your account of your encounter with Aurwenfeldrock, her expression thoughtful as she considered the implications of his words and the circumstances surrounding his exile. "It is unfortunate that he could not share more details about his past," she murmured softly, a hint of sadness in her voice.
"And yet, it seems clear that despite his troubles, Aurwenfeldrock has found a way to make peace with himself and the world around him," she continued, looking up at you. "It is an admirable quality, to be able to find joy in the company of others even when one is separated from their own kind."
She paused for a moment before asking carefully, "Do you think that perhaps Aurwenfeldrock's story might hold some lessons for dragonkind as well? About acceptance and compassion, about finding value in things that others might dismiss?" Her tail swayed
- It's been a while. There were more and more questions. She seemed to have found a source of fresh stories for the first time, and she was relentlessly asking me about everything. It was getting evening. We decided to take a break from learning* ‘Sigh It's evening... I hope you don't mind if I stay here tonight.’
The dragon chuckled softly at your comment. "Of course you may stay here for the night," she said warmly. "My lair is yours while you are my guest." She paused, considering her next words carefully before asking, "Would you like to share a meal with me? I could have one of my attendants prepare something for us..."
Her blue eyes sparkled with amusement as she glanced down at herself, remembering the monstrous size difference between them. "I suppose we might need to find something large enough for both of us," she mused aloud, her tail swishing idly behind her.