Spring, 1329

After lunch on a warm spring day, Meratezagth burped, picked his teeth his teeth with a stag bone, stretched, picked up a large barrel of wine taken from a merchant wagon, and took flight towards the West. Near the Doldrums was a small creek that ran along the empty moors and glens before emptying into a swamp at the foot of Bald Hill. The dragon flew low among the hills, following the empty winding river before it suddenly plunged into a small narrow canyon. A large opening, hidden by tall grass, revealed a small glade, barely the size of five dragons, where an oasis of ferns and moss grew, hidden by large thistles all around. There, a copper dragon was taking a last bite of the remains of an auroch and idly twirling a femur for amusement.

*Hey Therga.* Mera greeted in Draconic.

The other dragon stopped his personal entertainment and looked up from behind his large horn that dominated his snout.

*Glad to see you around, Mera.*

Thergamorth was a hill dragon about the same size and age as Mera. Two years ago, soon after the hubbub Mera had with Stanton finally ended, the copper arrived and took roost on Mount Sunol near the Doldrums. He had been driven out of his former home in the Back Valley by repeated Duergaren incursions, and had moved across the mountains, where he ended up in Mera’s lands. After a brief, vicious little territorial fight, Mera took pity on his homeless opponent’s desperation and reached a truce with the copper, eventually leading Thergamorth to Sunol and helping him reestablish a den. The newcomer was quite grateful for the help, and as the two dragons had much in common-youth, eagerness, the need for a mate, the interest in the wider world, and a question of place- they quickly became good friends. When things were quiet Mera would meet up with Thergamorth on a small branch of Tanyaka Creek that lay on the boundary between their lands and the two would hunt together or just lay by the cool fern-covered canyon and chat.

*So any new developments on that great adventure of yours?* Mera asked while cracking open the barrel and taking a sip, as Thergamorth moved to a cleared area of the glade, filled with detailed claw scribbles.

*OUR great adventure-Meratezatgh.* Thergamorth corrected with a grin. *You said you always wanted to see the Great Northern Wastes. Well here’s your chance. Soon, when we’re all settled down and the Spring Rains die down, we’ll seal our caves and catch the Fleeing Winds to the Northland. We’ll explore the lands of the water forests and the granite outcroppings of the Other Men, then slowly travel to the Frozen North. Think about it! Giant hairy elephants! Peoples half human, half wolf! Rivers of ice! Dancing colors in the sky! This is gonna be awesome!*

*That does sound pretty great.* Mera admitted, looking at the arrows and figures drawn in the dirt. *Still, it’ll take a while, and I’m a little worried about leaving my town alone. Heavens knows what would happen if-*

*Again with your responsibility to your humans,* Thergamorth sighed, running his forearm over his head ridges *Honestly don’t know why you keep up with it.*

*Well they stopped harassing me, and I swore an oath.*

*Well why do you keep it?*

*It’s an oath.*

Mera often found himself talking to Thergamorth about the ways of the humans of Stanton, though the younger dragon was never too thrilled with Mera’s interest, having encountered their long hunter raids early in his youth. As a result, the hill dragon usually quickly ended the conversation or disappeared whenever Meratezagth began talking about “his” humans.

Today was the usual. Thergamorth rolled his eyes and abruptly changed the subject.

*Whatever you say…anyways how’s the hunting season going for ya?*

Still Mera didn’t take the hint today; news of the war had gotten him into a conversational mood.

*Those humans; they are like little bags of flesh. You push on them and they die. Yet they keep fighting this war against the Other Men.

*-so they’re stupid-*

*Well despite getting kicked in the face every time they fight, the humans still go out. It’s amazing.*

*Hmph.*

*You gotta admire their perseverance, as if this next time-*

*Meratezatgh,* Thergamorth stated flatly, *Remember, these humans are not your people. They killed your mother and brother, as well as my sister.*

Mera stood stunned for a second. Finally he nodded. *Yah, you’re right. I shouldn’t meddle myself too much into this whole affair.*

*Any luck with girls?*

*Well, there was that one that came to the Giant's Pass, but...*

Emptying the wine cask, the two chatted until the sun went down. There wasn't anything important in the conversation, but that was the point-hanging out and chatting among friends was a relaxation that was appreciated by both dragons.

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The Kinks-Do You Remember Walter?

Nice reference from the seriously underrated https://www.deviantart.com/morglen ( MorglenPraefectum)! Go give her a watch!