Fall, 1330

The Battle of Grinders Stand had ended with yet another Auxian defeat, though the fighting had been sharp and uncertain at times. Several dragon squadrons including Mera’s had subsequently been sent on pursuit to harry the retreating forces. The mission had mixed success: though the dragons had pursued the retreating coalition for a hundred miles and left dozens of burning wagons and a few hundred charred corpses on the Royal Road, the bulk of the New Army escaped unscathed. Dodge’s forces had again survived annihilation, slipping out of Anhake’s grasp like a crafty fox, evidently having learned to retreat under the cover of foliage and side roads.

Mera’s Squadron returned to camp tired and battered, having dodged parting shots of bolts and arrows before running into a squadron of gryphons acting as a rearguard. The short, sharp aerial skirmish that resulted had left both Raphrsah and Falknir bloodied. The squadron settled into camp to lick their wounds and await their supper, scattering into the wooded hill that loomed above the grassy plain like a ship upon the sea.

It was sunset by the time Mera had finished grooming himself off the grime and blood of the brutal day. The bronze dragon watched in awe as the sky gradually turn blood red with the sun descended from the sky. The brilliant crimson shrouded the world from the trees to the sea of grasses in its warm hue, and it was as if Mera was seeing a sunset for the first time. Despite everything that had happened, Mera wondered if all the frustrations and humiliations had all been worth it to see such beauty.

“You know it’s the blood that stains the sky red.” Raphrsah interrupted the bronze dragon’s thoughts as she sat down besides him, licking her wounds clean.

Mera frowned. “Oh shut up.”

The brass dragon dismissively shrugged as Mera got up and moved on, looking for Thergamorth, a better companion for him at the end of a long day like these.

Tracking by scent the bronze dragon found his friend some distance away alone on a different grassy hillock. Thergamorth had been watching the sunset as well, and continued staring at the sky even as the bright hues gradually faded blue then black with the dusk. Stars began to gradually appear.

Mera was slightly concerned as he approached his friend. Thergamorth seemed to be behaving differently recently compared how he had been in the past. More subdued. Sadder.

*Do you ever think about the end of this war, Mera?* The copper asked without breaking his upward gaze.

The bronze dragon shook his head. *I don’t know if I can afford to think about that.*

*It has to end at some point right? All this death and slaughter can’t just go on forever.*

*I don’t know.*

*I didn’t realize that there could be so much hatred and anger in the world.* Thergamorth turned to his friend gloomily. *Everyone is terrible. We slaughter each other. Not because we necessarily need to, but because we like it. I think that’s just how the heavens created us all. To be destroyers.*

*That’s just human propaganda.*

*I don’t mean that. I mean them as well. Humans, Sabines, Duregaren, pixies, cynos, satyrs, minotaurs, manticores, gryphons, dragons-all of us. Our very existence in this realm is to cause suffering. And to suffer. We are all made to commit crimes and then be punished for it.* The copper dragon frowned. *It’s a shit deal.*

*You’re just tired or scared, Thergamorth. It was pretty bad out there today. I was frightened out of my wits when the gryphons tried to ambush us.*

The copper dragon sighed.

*I dunno. It’s not even fear anymore. It’s just...tiredness. I feel exhausted down to my bones. I feel like a fire in me is just...gone. I don’t really care if I live or die anymore, so long as it ends.*

Mera gently nuzzled his friend on the shoulder.

*Come on Thergamoth, don’t be like that. You’re tired. We’re all tired. We just need some rest. This will finish. Then we can go to that big trip in the Northlands. See the hairy elephants in the snow, watch the colors dance upon the sky.*

*Perhaps you’re right.* Thergamorth shrugged as the bronze dragon turned back towards the Imperial encampment, beckoning his friend to follow. After a minute’s hesitation, the copper dragon heeded his friend and headed back as well. *This was a beautiful sundown after all that.*

*If those dancing colors are better than a sunset like this I’m sure we would both be blown away.*

*Well I hope I live to see it Mera.*

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Peter, Paul and Mary - Cruel War

From  thedinosaurmann!

Original: https://www.furaffinity.net/view/46180730/