Darkness covered everything, shadows swimming beyond full sight but their wispy movement giving them away like smoke of a fire; smoke of an inferno. Khellendros felt so warm, as if the sun was shedding light upon his blue scales and heating his body in a gentle bath of comforting rays. Yet, here there was no light. There was nothing but the dark, and not even a sound was heard. The small blue couldn't even hear his own breath nor the beat of his heart. Then came the sound of a deep highly accented voice shattering the silence. "Awaken.. Cin yeh nae hear meh? Ah said awaken laddy..."

Khellendros opened his golden eyes and the sight of a large green broad snout slowly came into focus, bright blue eyes staring into his own. The blue dragon gave out a loud squeal of fright, skittering backwards and blinking up at what stood before him. Garnet was massive, dark green scaled form built for the art of war. Horns similar to that of a ram were upon the sides of his head, two longer more bovine ones sprouting off to the sides then curving forth in a wicked manner while two smaller ones curved back and slightly up for defense. At his jaws were tusk-like horns built into his cheeks, curving out and matching the curve of those that sprouted back from his neck, daring any dragon to bite and get skewered through the brain. Brown plates traced up his snout and head crest, then down his back to the tail, where more horns sprouted forth and the end came together in a wicked club built for devastation and the shattering of bones. This was the sight that stood before young Khellendros, ivory chest broad and standing out in a proud stance.
"So yeh cin 'least make sum sound eh? Yeh ain't 'posta be har... Woy be yeh lid'al blue drag'n?"
"I-I-I..." stammered Khellendros, eyes wide upon the sight of the war dragon before him.
"Aye? Whut yeh mean aye? Speak up laddy. Ah ain't got all day t'be standin' har yeh know..."
It took him a moment but Khellendros slowly realized he was not where he fell asleep. Inferno was nowhere in sight and there was grass beneath his feet, prickly moist greenery kissed with life and having not had the harsh death of autumn sweep over it. The sky was a brilliant blue and white puffy clouds just sat there looking down over the lush land unscathed by seasonal time.
"Laddy... Yeh a'ight in da head dar? Yeh ain't seemin' like one o' da drag'ns from 'bout har..." Garnet's voice broke the little blue from his train of thought.
"Khellendros... Uh.. My name that is," spoken in a bit of a sidetracked tone as he once more turned his gaze to the massive form before him. "Where am I?..."
"Bah!" Garnet gave a sudden shout that had Khellendros skitter back some more as his green form set to pacing about the little dragon. "Ah ask 'bout why yeh be har an yeh dun nae 'ven know where har be! Whut Ah'm posta do wit yeh? Yeh 'ven know 'ow yeh got har?" Then he's blinking, gaze suddenly narrowing some as his snout goes pushed right down in front of Khellendros, nostrils flaring with each breath. There was a long moment of silence, Garnet in thought and Khellendros terrified. "Khellendros eh?... Yeh best be comin' wit meh... Khellendros..."
The blue dragon just sat there on his chubby rump, hands braced tot eh ground behind him for support and belly exposed as he just starred up at Garnet. The mention of his name seemed to have sparked something in the elder green, but Khellendros knew not what. As Garnet started to head off, Khellendros flipped himself over to all fours and took to following in his waddling manner, rump and tail swaying behind him in an exaggerated manner for balance.
"Khellendros... So eh... Yeh gunna tell meh 'ow yeh got har? Name's Garnet by da way..."
"I.. I fell asleep.. But I remember a big dragon.. White he was, with black marking and strange purple eyes. He saved me... There was this red, trying to eat me... The white told me he'd take me someplace safe.. Something about.. challenge," Khellendros trails off, golden gaze lifting to Garnet. "I'm sorry.. I fell asleep after climbing onto his back.. I don't remember much.." Which was strange, for Khellendros knew normally his memory was a good one.
"Ah see," Garnet's gaze remained on Khellendros as they walked, the massive green dragon taking slower steps than normal to allow the limping blue to keep up with him. "He got a name laddy?"
"Yeah.. But I don't remember... Strange... I usually remember things like that, especially if they're important..."
"Well don't yeh fret laddy. Ah'm sure we'll get da matta settled eh? Ah'm takin' yeh t'meet da Council.. Dey be da ones who eh... welcome new comers Ah guess yeh cin say.."
Just the way Garnet said that didn't sit well with Khellendros. He couldn't help but wonder about the sort of welcoming he'd receive. As it was, Garnet was huge. Would these other dragons be huge too? Khellendros was nervous, not knowing what to expect. "Is here... special?"
"Speh'shil?" Garnet gave a blink at the question, a bit taken back by such as his snout crinkles up. "Whut yeh mean speh'shil laddy?"
"Well... You've got a council of sorts.. meaning they gotta govern something... You seem awfully suspicious in me.. and they welcome newcomers.. So newcomers must be rare.. So.. This place has to be special. Like secret or something..."
A look was given to Khellendros. Not a condescending look, but one of surprise and ponderment. "Yeh got a good mind laddy. Aye, har be speh'shil. Newcomers ain't things we get all da time. Yeh'll learn whut Ah mean..."
The two continued their wanderings, grass crunching beneath their feet. Khellendros kept up best he could, occasionally flopping into one of Garnet's massive footprints that was easily twice the size of him. The trees were massive things, easily ranging in sizes from the normal oaks Khellendros was used to seeing in human inhabited areas to colossal life easily larger than Garnet himself. The blue was sure he'd never set sights on the top of one of those, wondering just how high the branches reach. Silently he questioned if the branches touched the stars, being sure they went beyond the clouds themselves. The air was cold but refreshing to his nostrils compared to the bitter bite of the autumn winds where he was from. The sun's rays glistened from between the massive branches above, peeking their way through and shedding light upon the moistened earth.
As Garnet wandered on, Khellendros stopped a moment to inspect a rather strange plant. It looked to be made of a wad of noodles, peach in color with magenta flowers blooming forth from its appendages. Never seeing anything like it, the small dragon took a gentle sniff. The plant reacted and its noodley appendages started waving about in gentle shakes as they were pulled into its form in a rather solid burgundy bulb. With a shriek, he was soon turning and running awkwardly with his limp for Garnet.
The green dragon glanced back upon hearing the shriek and gave out a but of a chuckle. "Curious one," mumbled softly as he continued on with Khellendros catching up. As the grass grew thinner and the trees became spaced out further, Khellendros grew suspicious that they were nearing their destination. As the two continued, rocky cliffs began to be noted on the horizon. Gigantic they were, seeming to tower the colossal trees themselves. To Khellendros, the land itself seemed to be made for large beasts, made for the very dragons he suspected to inhabit the area.
"Where are we going exactly?.." He wasn't trying to be impatient, but what was a short walk for Garnet, was a bit of a journey for Khellendros. The little guy wouldn't say it, but his damaged leg was starting to ache something horrid.
"Har," that thickly accented voice spoke up. Raising a large clawed hand, Garnet gestured off over the land towards a build up of stone. There was their destination. Khellendros's eyes went wide as they came to rest upon the sight. The rock of the ridge was shaped naturally into the head of a dragon. Two eyes were hollowed, brows made of jutting ledges and mouth open while horns of stone spread from the head backwards along the ridge. The snout was slightly raised and pointed, teeth made of the pointed rock formations from above. Teeth also jutted up from the earth at the bottom, giving the impression that the jaw was set under the earth itself.
"Woah..." It was the only word to escape Khellendros as he starred at the sight. The entire scene looked so natural, as if the Earthen Goddess Gaia had sculpted it of the earth itself in the making of the world.
Garnet couldn't help but give a broad grin at the reaction from the small dragon. "Nice ain't it? Hall o' da Council is whut it be. Ah'm takin' yeh inside t'da Batholith. Da be where da Council meets." He gestured for Khellendros to follow and continued on, feet no longer leaving prints as the dirt wore out, stones of all sorts smoothed from water erosion, time, and pressure paving a cobblestone walkway to the Hall of the Council.
The two entered, Khellendros keeping close to Garnet in this new area. The jutting bottom 'teeth' of the rock formation were easily half the size of Garnet, causing Khellendros to look up and up. The small blue limped along, the ground cold beneath his feet as warmth leaked from the walls due to heat gathered by the torches that lit their way. The walk seemed long, the stone walls worn semi-smooth over the years of inhabitance. If they were in a true dragon, Khellendros was sure they were in the throat of the beast and nearing the chest. Sure enough the two dragons came to a large hall chamber,. Columns of stone with detailed carvings of arcane runes seeded with magic held up the roof. The area seemed vacant, torches only upon the columns, which seemed to glisten with a light blue shimmer.
"Stay har.. Dun yeh go wanderin' t'far..." Those words trailed off as Garnet took to wandering towards two massive stone doors with torches upon either side. Those torches were held by carved statues, two different dragons holding tight to the wood aflame and both of their heads bowed. Noted upon them were necklaces, each containing a type of stone that Khellendros couldn't identify. That and the wood was all that was not of stone.
Khellendros watched on as the doors slowly pushed the earth aside as they opened, allowing Garnet entrance into the darkness and closing with a rustic thud behind him. It left the little blue in the dimly lit Hall of the Batholith. Being alone, Khellendros took to exploring. Careful to not go too far, his first exploration was the shimmer of blue into columns. He drew near and took up inspecting the runes, clawed fingers gently gliding over the smoothed over stone. Filling in the carvings was a blue crystal of sorts, glistening in the light as if molten despite it was quite solid. The hues of blue moved through the formation, as if liquid and alive. The sight glistened, reflected in the golden eyes of the blue dragon. His fingers trailed along, soft scales coming upon actually touching the substance. It was quite solid but upon contact, a large flash of blue erupted and a magical charge was sent forth like a static bite.
"Neee!" Khellendros drew his hand back quickly, a gasp being given as for that moment, the blue lit the entire chamber and his cry echoed about him. The flash of a form caught his attention. It was stationary and huge. In the darkness he crept forth, golden eyes set upon the statue that stood before him. Like the other two, it was detailed down to every scale, looking as if at any moment it could come to life. Khellendros almost expected it to be breathing. The dragon statue was indeed large, a serpentine beast with a long body that wound about itself as it seemed to encircle the blue dragon standing before it. The arrow-shaped head had a bottom jaw whose teeth came up over the pointed snout looking to be a bit menacing. This dragon swayed towards the Oriental kind from regions Khellendros had only heard of in dragon tales. Horns sprouted from the head in a mane almost, leaning about every which way while the crest of the head sprouted up, resembling horns of a devil while actual horns mimicked this design. Both scaled brows were covered in spikes and small horns, branching out into the horns of the skull. The eyes were empty, hollow, yet somehow Khellendros got the feeling he was being watched. Hanging about the neck of this dragon was another necklace, a stone also set into it. The necklaces seemed to be the only things not made of stone upon the dragons.
A rather warm breeze whispering inaudible words flew by Khellendros, embracing his form and causing his gaze to turn. He expected the Batholith doors to have opened, but they were still shut upon looking to them. The breeze continued and it seemed to be from nowhere. The torchlight flickered and Khellendros could swear he heard multiple voices. Whispering... Calling... Giving in to the summoning, he let the warmth of the breeze guide his steps, entranced. The small blue dragon walked right past another colossal statue, not even catching any detail. His steps were soft, guiding him.
He had come to stand before another statue by the time the breeze died away, the whispers along with it. Khellendros found himself staring at clawed feet of stone, golden eyes rising to catch the other details the dim light would allow seen. The stone was textured where thunderbolt stripes lined the form, detailed even down to the disfigured tissue of scars. Lean was the frame of the beast, chest broad and spiked tail curled about the form. Two massive wings with spikes at the joints spread out and encircled the stone beast, seeming to embrace any whom would stand before it. Khellendros's gaze continued on upward, growing wide with amazement with every inch inspected. Puzzlement and shock hit him then, his eyes coming to rest upon that masked-gaze of a familiar face. Though the eyes were hollow, there was no mistaking the dragon for any other. The horns were exact, as were the scars and stripes.

Inferno...

"Inferno," Khellendros's voice mimicked his thoughts and the voice he swear he heard whisper to his ears. The very dragon that saved him seemed to be made into stone now. A small blue hand reached forth, resting upon the broad side of the statue as his brows knit together. What had happened to his hero? His fingers went trailing over the smooth belly of the stone form, pausing as something rigid hit his palm. "Huh?" Khellendros lifted his hand and spotted an abnormality according to what he had seen this far. A necklace swayed from his touch but in its metal clasp there was no stone where he assumed a stone should very well be in place.
The rustic creaking of those massive stone doors opening had Khellendros jump, startled. He turned about in place, stumbling over his leg brace. The dragon tripped and by the time he opened his eyes, he was sprawled out before what he assumed to be the Council. There were several dragons of different type and different color standing before him, Garnet standing off to the side of them all. Embarrassed, a sheepish look came to his face as his cheeks grew red. Quickly Khellendros forced himself to sit up, then finally stand.
A single awkwardly placed cough came from the group, until Garnet's accented voice broke the silence. "Thar he be... Lid'al laddy ain't gone off an wandered far t'all."
One of the dragons, a silver, spoke up. "That will be all Harric... Please stand aside." Her voice had a haunting melody to it.
Oddly, Garnet responded to the name Harric, giving a nod and wandering aside in silence. The silver female had two horns atop her head that curved backwards, lean frame being rather thin with sky-blue fins meant for aerodynamic enhancement spreading down her back and upon her elbows. A blue mane of fur spread forth from the cheeks of her arrow-shaped head and came down to rest upon her chest ivory, a tuff of fur matching upon her tail. With those silver wings folded tight to her back, all Khellendros could think of was how beautiful she was. Then a glimmer caught his attention, a crystal dangling from a necklace about her neck had caught the torch light. "Greetings young one... Harric here has told us quite a tale. So you say a dragon brought you here hmmm?"
It took a moment, but Khellendros managed to nod. "Yes ma'am," a trembling hand would lift and point off to the statue that had him so captivated not minutes before. "That one actually... Inferno was his name..."
Puzzled looks overtook the Council and a few looks were shot at Garnet who looked just as stunned. The information was definitely not expected.
"At least I think he did.. You see.. he saved me from this red dragon and he as--"
"Harric.. please take Khellendros here outside, will you? We must discuss this matter," interrupted the silver dragon.
"Aye Crystal... Ah'll take da laddy.. We'll be out'n waitin'.." Garnet gave a gesture to Khellendros and as the young blue wandered over, trying his best not to limp and draw attention to his leg, the Council returned to the Batholith. As the massive stone doors shut, Khellendros and Garnet continued along in silence for the entrance. Neither caught that glimmer of violet from the hollow sockets of the statue of Inferno...


"Garnet... Why did she call you Harric?" Khellendros had to break the silence and he was curious, wondering if perhaps he had been lied to.
"'Cause Harric be meh name laddy," Those ice blue eyes softened, gaze turning to Khellendros. "Don't be thinkin' Ah lied t'yeh laddy. Harric an Garnet be meh names. See har, when yeh live har yeh get a new name t'go wit yer new home. Ah was Harric but now Ah'm Garnet. Like Crystal in dar? She be Audradonna as well. Fer dem t'be callin' meh moy real name 'front o' yeh means yeh gunna be har a bit methinks. Means Ah cin tell yeh a bit 'bout har some. But first laddy... Yeh tellin' da truth 'bout Igne-uh Inferno in dar?" Outside of the rock structure Garnet laid himself down upon the smooth cobblestone, soaking in some of the heat it had absorbed from the sun's rays.
Eager to get off his leg, Khellendros just plopped his chubby self down before Garnet, laying upon his belly and arms crossing before his chest. That braced leg of his was limp and sprawled, and Khellendros seemed just fine to let it be so. "Yeah... I couldn't remember his name before but I know Inferno was it now. That statue in there.. It reminded me... Why is there a statue of Inferno in there?"
Garnet gave a crooked grin, chuckling. "T'answer such a question laddy, Ah'll be tellin' yeh 'bout Asthenos." As Khellendros gave a questioning look, Garnet continued. "Asthenos is where yeh be laddy. It be da world har. Kinda a safe spot fer all drag'ns that make it har an get 'cepted by da Council. Har drag'ns live as one. We work t'gether an get 'long. It's said da world o' Asthenos was founded by three drag'ns lookin' fer balance in da world o' man as humans an elves took o'er. Da three drag'ns be: Sedi, the red Eastern serpentine who had an attitude as nasty as his look o'so Ah been told. Meta, now he was a big lad Ah been told. Kindest heart t'evar been met really. It's said he be da one t'make da trees an plant 'round har."
Khellendros was in awe, listening and hanging on every word spoken. The little blue loved dragon tales and the history of a world he somehow found himself in was even more interesting. As Garnet spoke, the little blue took note. He pinned it that Sedi must have been the first large statue he saw in the Batholith Hall. He must have missed Meta, which then brought him to Inferno. "You said there were three... I think I saw Sedi's statue in there.. Does that mean that Inferno is one of those three?... He's got a statue in there too. I'm sure that's him..."
"Aye laddy, hence da funny looks yeh got. Only he dun be called Inferno.. Igneous be da name he took up har. See, each o' da names be speh'shil.. Igneous, Sedi from Sedimentary, an Meta from Metamorphic. All be rock types. An Garnet an Crystal be rock types t'laddy an fall under one o' da three types. We get named an get stones 'bout our necks t'match," softly said as Garnet adjusted to lay upon his side slightly, belly catching some of the warmth from the sun's rays. "Igneous was a magic user o' sorts so he findin' some way t'bring yeh har be just da sort o' thing he'd d. Yup.. He's da sort a'right..."
The names then started to make some sense. They were all earth-based in some way or another. To Khellendros, it seemed as if it just strengthened the community. Yet, as the talk of Inferno progressed, more questions were raised. "But.. Why me?..."
"Ah dunno laddy... But da Council might.." Garnet gestured off with a clawed hand as rolled to his stomach then stood.
The Council stood at the literal mouth of the Hall entrance, Crystal standing at the head of the group. Her expression was soft, head held high as gentle strides took her towards Garnet and Khellendros, who was still trying to get himself up. "Young Khellendros... Will you do us the honor of telling us about yourself?"
It was an odd question and with everyone looking at him, Khellendros sort of froze. A nudge from Garnet however shocked him back to reality. "Uh.. Okay... My name's Khellendros... I was born of Gritana and Havoc, both blues. I'm from the northern pack of the New Lands where the mountains touch the sky. Uh... Um.. What else?.."
Crystal gave a soft laugh at the question but her expression changed more serious and yet sympathetic as she gestured to Khellendros's braced leg. Words were not needed to beckon the answer.
"I... Got hurt," softly he spoke, tail and body moving out of habit to try and hide the leg in question. "My first hunt... A red came and... Yeah... Some people took care of me then..."
Garnet's gaze grew soft and he couldn't help but frown. The question was one he himself would not have asked but now that he knew the answer, there was a bit more of a liking to the small blue.
"And your pack?..." Crystal inquired, head lifting and neck craning back some so as to not invade Khellendros's sense of space since the little dragon seemed to not like others taking note of his leg.
"They... didn't want me...." The blue dragon's gaze grew distant as he bowed his head. In his mind, if his own family didn't want him, why would some stranger want a non-dragon present in their dragon-paradise as it seemed to be...
Crystal looked over the Council members as they heard the little dragon's story. A look was given to Garnet as well and then she spoke up, quite matter-o-factly at that. "Well since you have little to return to, the logical choice would be for you to stay with us. Here there is much potential for a young one such as yourself, and the youngest to enter our lands by far. Since you have not faced the trials of coming here, you will have trials to face in staying here. Are you interested, young Khellendros?"
Those golden eyes brightened and his gaze lifted in full to Crystal. "Yes! Uh.. I mean yes ma'am... I'll do anything. What do I have to do?" His tail was swaying as his back legs waddled in place, rump dancing with anticipation that made Garnet chuckle.
"The trials are simple enough. They are called Morphism, meaning change for in these trials you will change. They are designed for personal growth. Now due to your manner of arrival, instead of a month, you will have only one week to completes these three trials and join our Conglomerate, or group as you may call it. The tree trials are the basic needs: Shelter, treasure, and you must give a show of knowledge gained in your trial. No dragon will help you. You have one week to find yourself a suitable lair that will be yours for as long as you live in Asthenos. You will also need to start a treasure collection of what's of value to you. Last but not least, a member of the Council will arrive for inspection and you are to provide a feast as you explain what knowledge you have gained and give a tour of the lair you have picked. Within this week you must also feed yourself, defend yourself, and most of all.. survive. If you fail, we have means to transport you back to the general area you are from and you will have no memory of having ever been here. What say you young Khellendros?" Her eyes seemed to sparkle as the question was asked.
Khellendros could only give a grin at the sound of the challenge. "I say yes. I accept." He had nothing to lose after all.
Crystal gave a soft smile as Garnet and the Council members gave words of encouragement. After a moment, she spoke up once more. "Harric... Please take him to a place you deem suitable for him to start his journey." She turned then with a bow of her head and led the Council back within the Hall.


"Well laddy, let's be gettin' yeh started eh?" Garnet gave a crooked grin, head canting to the right before his neck pulled it along with his body, form turning to head for the trees. "Gunna be a long walk lady. Ah know where Ah'm takin' yeh."
Khellendros was soon enough waddling along, taking large steps to try and keep up with Garnet, despite the massive green was walking rather slow just to be sure Khellendros could in fact keep up. "Is there anything you can suggest or tell me about these trials and the area?"
"Nae, cin nae say Ah cin laddy. Yeh gotta find stuff on yeh own. But uh... Meh bein' who be takin' yeh t'thar means Ah cin give yeh a gift. Ah gets t'pick out where yeh start as well." Garnet had the perfect spot in mind too. It would just be a walk that's a good ways away, but that was one of the good things about it. The more sheltered it was, the safer for Khellendros.
"Oh?" Khellendros perked up as they walked along. "What kind of gift? And what sort of spot are we going?"
"Gift.. hrm.. Ah was nae 'spectin' t'ave t'give one," He spoke as his clawed fingers went searching his underwing, reaching in to the lose flaps of leathery flesh located just under the start of his wings at his ribs. After a moment of digging, he was soon grinning. "Ah got it laddy, but yeh'll 'ave t'wait 'til we get t'where we're goin'. As fer where we're goin'... Yeh'll see. Ah won't take yeh nae where t'bad laddy."
Khellendros was very trusting of Garnet since so far he had no reason to fear him, other then that massive size. His fear of larger dragons was decreasing as he started to gain that feeling of acceptance. Not once had anyone comment on his leg, save for the question of sheer curiosity from Crystal. The small blue dragon could only smile, following along with Garnet with his chubby waddling. Along the walk, eyes of all colors peered forth from the forest and treetops, watching the duo. Khellendros wasn't frightened, because after all there wasn't much that would attack a massive dragon like Garnet, and he was with Garnet. So, Khellendros just kept along following without fear.
By the time they came to the area Garnet planned for Khellendros to start his trails at, Khellendros's feet were sore and his leg was throbbing. His spirits were high but his body ached and was in high demand of rest and nourishment. The sky was starting to darken a bit, signaling that darkness would be upon them in mere hours.
"Aye laddy, ha we go," Garnet beamed, chest puffed out and head raised high. "Har be where yeh cin start yer trails."
"Here?" Khellendros asked in surprise. The meadow was rather open, trees surrounding it and bushes lining the boundary of the forest ground. The grass was so tall and thick that the little blue dragon had to sit up like a dog, snout just barely reaching over the edges of the blades of grass, tickling his nostrils.
"Aye, an har be da gift Ah'm posta' give yeh," spoke Garnet as he reached back into his underwing, tugging out a book of all things. It looked old, bound in a strange sort of brown leather, tied closed with a strap with a loop at the end. This book was what he set down before Khellendros. "Jus' be herbology, somethin' Ah ain't got use fer. Yeh might though.. Yeh might.. Was gunna trade it fer a pound o' iron ore but yeh cin 'ave it laddy. Ah should be gettin' now though. Best yeh find a home 'fore nightfall."
The book was hugged close to the blue's chest, as if it were some precious relic or object that offered security. Although when it hits him that Garnet plans to just leave him out here, Khellendros lets his golden eyes grow wide, jaw dropping a bit. "You're going to just leave me out here? What am I supposed to do? Where am I supposed to go?"
Garnet gave forth a large chuckle. "Yeh know laddy.. Ah find dem thorny bushes a might bit hard t'get through. Most large creatures sooner jus 'void dem 'stead o' gettin' stuck in thar." The words seemed random at the time, yet with Garnet's tone there was something up, meant to perk curiosity in the young blue. His massive green form started to lumber off, but paused for a moment. "Khellendros lad, might Ah be askin' yeh where yeh got yer name from?"
Khellendros was eyeing the thorn bushes around, curious indeed as to how such small things warded off big predators. As Garnet was wandering away, Khellendros started to make his way towards a bush while answering. "My grandfather... Why?"
"Nae reason laddy... Nae reason..." Garnet's voice was low as he wandered along on his own path. There was reason for the question, for the name of Khellendros was a well known one, and a wicked one at that. Garnet could only question in his mind of the grandfather dragon was indeed the one he thought of upon hearing that wicked name.
As Garnet lumbered out of sight, Khellendros as exploring those thorn bushes. The thorns curved in all manner of directions, easy to stab between scales and under armored plates. They were terrible things really, but Khellendros was just the right size to where their thorns wouldn't do him much harm because he could maneuver around them. His chubby self came across a bit of an opening in the bushes, for there was a gap and the ground beneath the bushes had been eroded away a bit by the rain. It was just enough for him to slip in and under the thorns and twisting branches. Like so, he made his way through the bushes, curious about what was on the other side. It was something the larger creatures overlooked after all, due to the massive thorn wall that threatened pain.
What his sights came to rest on was wonderful, an area warded off by the thorn bushes, with a small water pool and a running flow that steadily trickled down the rock face of massive stones that closed in the area. Khellendros had found his own little pool, a water supply that ran freely and independent of rainfall. As he waddled along with the mind for a drink and maybe trying to catch a fish, his attention was taken elsewhere. In the rock face just a bit away from the pool of running water was a crevice, a hole made just his size, if he sucked hit gut in. Captivated by the thought of there being a place to explore, Khellendros changed direction from the pool with that book hugged close to him in an arm. The scents and lack of prints told the area was uninhabited. So for the coming night and perhaps on a permanent basis, Khellendros completed the Morphism Trial of Acquiring Shelter.