The howl of a strong wind echoed deep inside of the stony caverns; Danathius found himself venturing into a large cave in the side of a high mountain – one of many in a range local to the area. Just to the east was a small, quaint little town that had experienced quite the economic boom. According to rumors, it was due in no small part to the influence of a dragon who had settled there with his human slave. Danathius knew that the rumors were true, however, and Danathius also knew both the human slave and the dragon. Cain, the earth dragon, was likely one of the oldest living creatures on this planet, while Graham mostly an ordinary human who had encountered Cain and fell for him. Danathius knew this, of course, because he had visited the pair a few months back.

The mage never intended to return to Cain’s world so soon: he promised the Elder Earth that he wouldn’t interfere much here. This wasn’t his world, and he wanted to respect the wishes of one of its oldest inhabitants. Of course, the promise Danathius had made thousands of years ago was to a dragon that no longer existed. Cain was a completely different dragon now. Numerous stories painted the picture clearly: the great brown was a force of nature, intent on destroying mankind and dragonkind alike. Any and all who opposed him were defeated, humiliated, devoured, crushed. But the dragon Danathius had seen with Graham months ago…he was older, perhaps world-weary, but more importantly, wiser and more reserved. It was clear the old brown still harbored a hatred for magic, but the human mage was thankful he wasn’t killed on sight.

Wandering deeper into the cave, Danathius came into a wide opening, and there, seated on his haunches, towering ahead of the miniscule mammal, was Cain. Red eyes narrowed and fixated upon the human immediately, and the great brown let out a low growl of disapproval.

“You’re either incredibly stupid or incredibly brave to keep me waiting, boy,” Cain growled loudly, tail thrashing behind the behemoth’s body, mostly obscured by Cain’s great bulk. Despite how old Cain was, he was still in peak physical condition: his body was like a solid mountain of scale and muscle. It was no wonder there were so many stories and legends surrounding him.

“Apologies, great Cain,” Danathius said respectfully, bowing his head, “I didn’t want to, er, anger you further by using magic in your presence.” The mage remembered how angry the dragon had grown the last time he had warped to the brown’s current location. And of course, Danathius would never forget their first encounter, where Cain had ripped his body in half for simply casting a spell near him.

“Hmph,” Cain snorted, and his tail seemed to still behind him, “a surprisingly wise decision on your part, mage. Now tell me why you wanted to meet.” Danathius glanced around for a moment – it seemed the two were alone in this cave. Graham was nowhere in sight, and neither was Ollimar or Willow. That wasn’t entirely unexpected, as Cain had forced Danathius to agree to meet with him here, rather than in the town to the east.

“I’ll get to the point, then,” Danathius sighed, “I need your help.” Before the human could continue, Cain bellowed out a derisive, harsh laugh. Danathius’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of red, and his shoulders slumped forward.

“What could you possible need my help with,” Cain chuckled, crimson eyes twinkling with predatory delight, as though the dragon had snared prey in a trap.


“You have met Igmas of Vamstead, correct,” Danathius asked.

“Yes, I’ve met that orange idiot. What of him,” Cain snapped back.

“The sea dragons are trying to coax him into a dispute, to start a war with him,” Danathius frowned and shook his head, “and the last thing Vamstead, Skulport and every other city on that continent needs is a war.”


“Filthy, despicable sea serpents,” Cain hissed with vitriol. So it was true that the great brown despised the western sea dragons. That was good for Danathius, and for Igmas. “I fail to see how that involves you, whelp. Are you suddenly involving yourself in affairs you ought not to?” Cain’s deep growl rattled Danathius’s bones, and the mammal winced some before shaking his head.

“Of course not. That’s why I sought your counsel first,” Danathius replied. “I know you’d rather be left alone, but, you’re the only one everyone on this planet fears and respects. If anyone could stop conflict just by being present, it’s you.”

Cain remained quiet, gaze fixated upon the mammalian morsel while he pondered these turns of events. He hated the idea of doing something on behalf of this mage, of Danathius. He had defeated countless foes before and after the mage, and none of them, save for this human, managed to return uninjured and unharmed, as though death was just a slight inconvenience. On the other hand, however, he could use this as further leverage against Danathius. He hated mages and magic, but he had forced more than a few into his service. People like Mathew, who did his bidding and used their magic to suppress others from learning too much about it.

“The cost will be steep, mage,” Cain rumbled with a toothy smirk, “do you think you can afford it?” Danathius swallowed heavily – this was the most dangerous part of the meeting by far.


“I can. I would also need your help with another matter on a different world, concerning Igmas’s son, Astrix,” Danathius admitted with a heavy sigh, “just to give you an idea of what it could cost me.”


“My price is fair,” Cain simply snorted, “your loyalty, as I see fit. If you would call on me, then I should be able to call on you, to do whatever it is I require.”

“Considering what I’ve heard about that cult dedicated to you,” Danathius began nervously, “I’m not sure… Murder isn’t really—” A growl from Cain caused Danathius to jump.

“I would not care how you accomplished your task,” Cain grumbled and waved a paw dismissively at the human, “only that you complete it. Understand?” Danathius bit his lower lip and contemplated for a minute. This wasn’t a light decision to make. Could he sustain the cost to his soul? Did he truly believe that Cain was a changed dragon? That he wasn’t the destructive force he once was? That his part in the Great Culling was done and over? After a few moments of silence, Danathius simply nodded his head.

“I think…” Danathius spoke slowly, “those terms are acceptable.”

“Good,” Cain rumbled deeply, before bringing his boxy snout down close to Danathius, snorting a hot puff of air on his face. “But before we strike a deal, I want you to prove your loyalty to me. Show me that you’re willing to submit to me.” A toothy grin met Danathius’s gaze, and the human swallowed heavily. His heart began to beat rapidly, and he instinctively quivered in place. Despite having been in similar situations before, Danathius couldn’t quell the fear he felt as he stared head on at the dragon’s muzzle, with it only mere inches away from his own body!


“If,” Cain whispered, his hot, scentless breath blasting the human in the face, “you can’t do this, I’m not willing to agree to anything.” Danathius shivered once more, but soon stilled his hands and knees before he sighed again. He took a step back and began disrobing. Cain only smirked, head canting to one side while those crimson eyes remain locked onto the mage. Danathius swallowed, finally nude and bare, save for a simple loin cloth wrapped around his private regions.

“I’m ready,” Danathius squeaked out, fully aware of what was coming next.

“Good, good,” Cain cooed, and his jaws parted before the mage, pink tongue undulating in the lower jaw while the great brown waited for the human to climb into his mouth.

---

The first in a fantastic series of pieces from the peerless  Acidic. Please be certain to show them your love!
The series was commissioned by the amazing  Danathius Aers who was kind enough to feature my old brown and write the story for their meeting. Couldn't be more happy and grateful. Be sure to check out his page if you're a fan of dragons putting humans in their place.

I tend to shy away from anyone using, or writing for, my characters; Cain, straightforward as he is, requires a bit of nuance to understand his motivations for things, and Dan is one of the few folk I trust to do right by the old brown.

Cain has a complicated hatred for magic, and for hominids wielding it. Being one of the only tools that gives otherwise completely helpless creatures an advantage, the old brown spent a great many decades wiping any magic users he could find off of the face of his planet. One can imagine the displeasure he had to find a mage who could cross space and dimensions on a whim and shrug off the death Cain swiftly dealt him on their first meeting. Knowing he's out of his depth, the brown dreads any interaction with the mage, treading carefully despite his own strength and ego. Though he isn't the type of dragon to keep a hoard, the old brown is almost always eager to trade his time for an unspecified favor from others, especially one of unfathomable power such as the halfbreed mage. Even still, the old brown can't resist the opportunity to force the mage to submit to him first and foremost.

Absolutely adore the way Acidic draws my old brown, huge, heavy scaled, enormous teeth... ahh I could go on and on. An absolute joy to work with and never a disappointment. Look at how pleased he is to have the little morsel of a mage exactly where he wants him.