Beautiful.

That’s what Melahn though as he perched beneath one of the many Evertrees that filled Damnations End.

The Evertrees were enormous wonders of nature.

Trees that touched the sky. They were said to be capable of stretching the space within their trunks, allowing them to grow as tall as they wanted without collapsing.

It was also said no one had ever fallen an Evertree since their trunks were so strong.

Melahn gazed at the grassy planes beneath the trees and watched as the rays of sunlight that managed to seep past the branches of the Evertrees bathed the lands below.

The morning sunlight illuminated thick forests and vast grassy planes within which lived all manor of life.

Birds flew past and across the Evertrees all while many herds could be seen grazing at the feet of the mighty trees.

Melahn sighed as he stumbled onto his short, rounded legs.

His pale grey like scales were bright in the morning light.

He turned his snout to a herd of sheep to the east and after a cute yawn, he made his way towards them.

His steps shook the ground a little but the sheep had heard far worse before and so they didn’t move all that much.

One of them, however, noticed the approach of a ten meter tall reptilian being and began running away.

This made the others run away as well meaning Melahn would have to chase them.

He took several deep breaths and pushed his rather large self forward.

He quickly caught up to the fleeing sheep and promptly spread the four wings that sat on his back.

His eyes then glowed green and he forcefully pulled out the life from twenty of the sheep before him. Their lives came in the form of wisps of green light then seeped into his wings.

He watched as their bodies shrunk and rapidly turned to dead husks.

[Hoho! Good job, fatty! Do that one thousand more times and maybe you will finally have contributed to the feeding.]

Someone said from above.

Melahn looked up and shuddered as three True Dragons flew towards him.

Unlike him, they stood at about forty meters tall, had thick, dark, stone like scales, had two large wings and four horns that pointed forward.

One other thing to note was that the dragons were all covered in scars.

The three dragons landed, crushing a few sheep as they did.

[Good morning, runt. How goes your… hunt?] The foremost dragon asked without moving his mouth.

Melahn simply lowered his head and folded his wings.

[It’s g-going well.] He stuttered.

[Good. Fortunately for you, we were on our way to the mountain, so come on. We wouldn’t want our precious little feeder to get hurt now, would we?] The foremost dragon asked before suddenly gasping.

[Wait- can you even fly in that condition? Look at ya… all blubber and sag.] The foremost dragon laughed only for the one behind him, a slightly taller and far more scarred one, to walk up.

[Enough. Melahn, you can come if you like.] The second dragon said prompting Melahn to weakly nod.

He then followed the three True Dragons north towards Mount Diáspartos. A mountain that sat in the centre of Damnations End.

It was hidden beneath the forest of Evertrees but almost every dragon knew were it was.

[Ah… you heard it to, huh? The Call of the King? Tsk, the Lords somehow think you runts will be the key to our victory but I guarantee that it is we who will level that place.] The first dragon said with a raised snout but the third dragon suddenly disappeared before reappearing above the first, forcing his head onto the ground in a loud crash.

[Ha! With reflexes like that the only thing you’ll level is everyone’s already low expectations for ya.]

The third said before hopping forward, her every step shaking the ground.

[Obsidia!] The first yelled, his face covered in dirt.

He then opened his mouth but just as flames gathered behind his many sword like teeth, some of which were missing, the second shot him a glare.

[Ugh! At least let me bite off one of her wings!] The first cried but the second scoffed before resuming his walk northward with Melahn in tow.

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[Tsk! They should change your name from Leoton the Scarred to Leo the Asshole.]

[And what should we call you, mmm? Granitis the Pitiful?]

[You think you’re so funny, huh?]

[I am.] Obsidia said with a raised snout.

Silence followed as the group walked.

[They should call you the Obsidia the insufferable.] Granitis muttered but everyone ignored him as they walked.

.

..

The group eventually arrived at the foot of Mount Diáspartos.

It, just like everywhere else in La-Alha, was green and full of life.

They entered the mountain via one of the many openings that littered its surface and just as they entered it, the ambience suddenly shifted from the rustling leaves and chirping birds of the forest to a wall of screams born from deep within the mountain.

Their steps quickly became inaudible as they got lost in a sea of countless other footsteps.

Melahn frowned as they walked past a hole within which sat a pregnant draconic being.

She was just one of many who lined the path that led into the mountain deep.

They each slept in countless holes that smelled like piss and shit.

The group eventually reached the heart of the mountain and although Melahn had been there countless times, he still lightly gasped every time.

Sitting in the centre of a chamber that had been carved into the heart of the mountain was gargantuan, bloated dragon.

She had grown so large that her stone skin parted, revealing openings that exposed her soft inner flesh.

Her wings were practically useless and her head rested on some rocks in the distance.

Flowing into her, were streams of light that came from countless beings who looked like Melahn.

These were the Dzvinyu, descendants of the True Dragons.

Well, most of them were commonly far skinnier than Melahn.

They all stood from platforms that were connected to the mountain’s many outer openings and they ceaselessly fed the dragon below life.

[Well? Go on.] Leoton said prompting Melahn to nod.

He then spread his wings and poured the life he had gathered into the dragon below.

It didn’t take long since he hadn’t gathered much.

[Wait- is that it? Hahahahaha!] Granitis laughed.

[Yeah, I’m with the idiot on this one. You really have to try harder, Melahn.] Obsidia said with a deep purr.

[B-but why?] Melahn asked.

[For the war, of course.] Obsidia said but Melahn still didn’t understand.

[Why do we have to fight? They haven’t attacked us in centuries, right?] Melahn asked but he shuddered as Leoton let out a deep drone.

[Oh, you poor fool. You know far too little of mankind’s affinity for destruction. Also, they actually killed a few of our kin not too long ago. That’s why we’re going to see Lord Çarethon.] Granitis said.

[Oh…] Melahn whimpered.

[Do you want to see her?] Leoton asked.

[I realize that you have never actually seen any of the dragon lords up close.] Leoton said making Melahn weakly nod.

[Heh? Why would you invite a Dzvinyu into the Upper Sanctum?] Granitis asked as he turned to leave.

[I don’t see why not? It is his kind that will lead the charge, no?] Leoton asked with narrowed eyes.

[Tsk! Fine. But I’m only saying that because I’m looking forward to watching as Lord Çarethon eats him.]

[She’ll eat me?] Melahn whimpered as he followed Leoton out of the mountain.

[No.] Leoton said with a low chuckle.

[Speaking of food. How do you think humans taste like?] Obsidia asked.

[Mmm… can’t say. Probably like shit.] Granitis scoffed.

[No, seriously. The elders describe them as being… small and bony… so eating one must not be very filling.]

[Why do you sound disappointed?] Granitis asked as the group exited the mountain.

[I’m not! I was just curious.] Obsidia muttered as the group made their way up a path that led to the top of the mountain.

They eventually arrived at a tall marble wall which was covered in vines and moss.

They entered the Upper Sanctum via one of its four gates and Melahn could not help but gasp as he entered the dwelling of the Dragon Lords, although it seemed as though only one of them was present.

She sat on a patch of grass and falling onto her dark scales from a gap in the trees high above, was the bright light of the morning sun.

Sitting on her head were eight horns that all rose before pointing sharply forward as though to meet at a point. Strangely enough, her horns were all adorned with strange writing that glowed a feint white.

Her arms were crossed and perched all over her sixty meter long body were all manner of birds.

Her eyes, which were a mixture of every imaginable colour landed on Leoton and company as they approached.

[Mmm…] She droned causing all the birds to fly out of the Sanctum.

[Good morning, ma’am.] Leoton greeted with a deep bow, prompting Melahn and the others to do the same.

[Hello, Leoton- what’s this? You’ve brought me a snack?] The Dragon Lord asked with a chuckle.

Melahn let out a terrified squeal as the ground rumbled.

The Dragon Lord then walked towards the group and grabbed a terrified Melahn.

He let out several more squeals as the Dragon Lord looked him over.

She then chuckled again before gently poking his large belly with her sharp claw.

[Hehe, unfortunately, he is not lunch. I actually brought him here with the intention to raise his spirits.] Leoton said warmly.

[Hoh? And what, pray tell, is troubling this most adorable of dragons?] The Dragon Lord asked but, although faint, it seemed as though someone had clicked their tongue.

[Ahem! He refuses to absorb life energy and does not believe in the great cause.] Granitis hissed but he lowered his head and folded his wings as the Dragon Lord’s eyes crawled towards him.

[Is that so, little one?]

[No, ma’am! Well… not really. I… just don’t see why we need to fight in the first place… ma’am.] Melahn said with a lowered head.

[Please, call me Çarethon. Within this place, this sacred temple, all life is equal and as for the coming war… I suppose you wouldn’t understand.] Çarethon said as she placed Melahn on the ground.

[Understand what?] He asked softly.

[The pain that haunts we who participated in the Great War.] Çarethon said while looking deep into Melahn’s eyes.

[But, our pain is not for you to carry. You are a cute little dragon, are you not? Absorb life and feed it to the one below. All that comes after will be for us to bare, alright?] Çarethon asked and Melahn nodded.

Çarethon nodded as well before turning her gaze to Leoton who stood proudly before her.

[Is there anything else you wanted?] Çarethon asked while playfully scratching Melahn’s back.

The scales between his wings weren’t particularly soft but Çarethon used life magic to tickle the soft flesh beneath and so Melahn awkwardly convulsed while trying not to laugh aloud.

[Ah- when will we move out?] Leoton asked. His voice deeper than usual.

[As soon as the King returns.]

[But-]

[I know. However, now that we know he is alive, it is only a matter of time before he returns. He is, after all, the host of heat and nothing, apart from a certain conceited golden scion, can withstand his flames.] Çarethon said with a raised snout.

Leoton nodded before turning to leave but just as he did, Çarethon let out a low drone that shook the mountain.

[Do not worry, child. The day will come when your flames bathe their lands. But I ask again that you be patient.]

Leoton stood silent for a bit before continuing towards the exit.

[Do take care of him for me, little one, ok?] Çarethon asked and Melahn nodded before joining Granitis and Obsidia in following Leoton down the mountain.

Granitis opened his mouth as if to speak but Obsidia hissed.

[Shut it.]

Granitis droned before following a silent Leoton down the mountain.