HOME | DD

Description
Chapter One
High up in the mountains, mist shrouding its mysterious vallies. Fog so thick, it  seemed like a ghostly berrier concealing the desolate, lonely mountaintops.  Deep, dark, decreped caves, tombs of long dead ancient animals,cavern walls sleek with the moisture from the air, stale from eons of deaths presence. A flickering light shown through the tangible mist, warm, inviting, and comfortable. Rocky cave formations glistened from the light from the fire. And a great dragon lie there, curled around a stalagmite, well within the fires safety from the creeping moisture in the cave.
Damos just layed there, satisfied from a full belly from the previous nights hunt. His thoughts dwell on distant past. A past thaat continuelly haunted him.
As ever, and a common occurance, Zyanya was not pleased. Not at what she would consider as one of her many normal irritations, monsters, spirits, demonss, and certain 4th dimensional beings."Damned fog" Zyanya grumbled to herself, hardly able to see her snout in front of her.   The Strong beat of her own wings only momentarly clearing the fog hiding her gold wings . It was no longer safe for her to keep flying through the thick fog and equally not safe for her to land where  she could not see.
Landscapes zoomed past her as she descended,  only  barely missing  foliage and pertrudeings rocks from the mountain.   Drawing her wings closer to her form, she landed in what she hoped was a safe place to land.With her paws now firmly upon the ground,  she fanned her large wings out beating just enough to clear  the mist around her,  And not achieve any sort of lift.  With her vision cleared and her surroundings less shrouded, she happened upon a cave in the mountain face. She could not help but be attracted to the light coming from the cave, no one could in this fog. She stalked closer to the cave to get a better idea of wht was inside.
Over the last century, Damos had become all to familier with the sounds of the mountain range. From the dripping water from the stalagtites, to the russle of rats in the shrubbery. He knew the sounds of the water falls and the sounds of the wind lightly skipping through the grass.He new the sounds the the humans made when they traveled through the mountains on occation, and he knew the sound that the humans made when they came to hunt him, that is when ever they caught wind of him. But most of all he knew the sound of silence, an accuaintence that he had become intimate with, divulging his deepest darkest secrets to.
But of all the sounds he knew, he did not know these sounds. He could tell something was near the cave but what he couldn't tell. He carefully uncoiled himself from around his stalagmite and crawled along the wall using the grooves carved into it from canstant use. He crawled down and slithered over armor,the last remains of ancient warriors he had fought with long ago. He continued to the mouth of the cave, toward the sound. He could hear some new creature outside. He then heard a  sound that he hadn't heard in a long time.
Other than him, there were no winged creatures of considerable size in this world. In fact, with the exception of a few, the creatures were pathetic in a grand way.He heard the sound of massive, feathered wings beating the mist away. This new creature was noticably big, even through the mist Damos could tell that by sheer size alone this creature was for more dangerouse than anything he'd faced before in the world.
"Damn fate, I'm much too old and out of practice to deal with this new foe."So he made to decision to stay in the shadows, initiating no contact with this new presence. It was beter, and far more productive for him if he went unnoticed by the new creature. Then he could go about laying in his cave all day and hunnting when he needed to. Nothing would change and he'd cause no harm to this world in doing so.
The mist began to slowly slither back over the slope,  over and through rocks, trees, and brush to rejoin its greater mass. It was as if the mist itself was conscious. The dreariness  and the muted and grayed color, scents, and sound overwhelmed  the god-beast.  It seemed as if nothing could penetrate and shine through this fog. One would have to focus hard to find anything here.  And focus she did.   Craning her  finely feathered and fur'd neck , wings helt tight against her body,  Zyanya breathed deep smelling and tasting the air.
The passing air was crisp, earthy, fresh smelling as a mountan should. Yet as she faced the mouth of the cave  she came across mingled and meshed  smells and tastes  that were far out of the ordinary.  At first, she had mistaken the ordor for blood for it was slightly metallic—but it was just that. Metal.  The more she analized, the more she could smell fire.  There were not many things that came with these smells.   The Lioness could only assume it was human.  She Hoped.
Zyanya  stepped tentatively forward, trying  to get a better  concept of what may or may not be in that cave.  She was no fool to walk in willy nilly, but just the same she didn't want to sit in the open.
Damos watched as the creature just stood there. He began to realize that the creature wasn't just going to pass by. In fact the creature began to inch forward a little torward the cave. "Damn it all damn it all damn IT ALL!!! Why me?" Damos had to think of what to do. Although he didnt belong in this world and the cave wasn't his, he still made it his home for the better part of two thousand years. He couldn't let some new presence steal this place away. The place that had kept him hidden from prying eyes for so long. He had to defend it.
As the creature came closer, and closer, he became more desperate. Without thinking about it he took action. He lept out of the shadows and let out a roar so powerfull it cracked stones and shook the ground. He then let out a jet of fire so hot and feirce that it evaporated the mist in the immediate area, lighting up the entire vally.
It was then he saw this new presence for what it was. It was a great winged lioness with strange markings around her face and her body. He'd seen nothing like her in all his years. He then cut off the stream of fire. It had set most of the trees around them on fire, leaving the area lit and keeping the fog at bay. He hissed and snorted and spat a bit more fire out and layed down in the mouth of the cave and eyed the lioness.
Zyanya blinked once, twice, then thrice in a very, very  unamused and irked fashion.   'Of all the caves in the world, I would find one with a damned dragon. ' The lioness Growled to herself, pulling back her lips to show her large, white fangs,  She had no interest in tangling with the creature, but she was not about to let it attempt to kill her ether. And she stressed the word  attempt.
Damos was somewhat dumbstruck, although he didnt let it show. Not even at his home would a passerby bear their fangs at you if you showed dominence over a territorry. He stared at her intently, forcing an uninterested look on his face. In an attempt to show he couldn't really care less, he started to groom his talons.
Within seconds Zyanya's snarl began to wane, and resurface in the form of complete confusion.  She really did not know what to do.  "Was this creature bipolar?" she ponderd to herself.  First this things jumps out at her, breathing fire, then it acts like it does not care. No. Hell No.
Zyanya puffed up in annoyance and slight offence.  She turned her head, and ever so slightly stamped her back foot causing a decent sized rock  from the mouth of the cave to fall on its massive, annoying head.
A suddun sharp pain erupted from the top of Damos' skull. He immediately covers the top of his head while laying his head on the ground. He squeazed his eyes shut as they began to water. He then let out out a dull chesty roar, not one of retaliation but of suprise and pain, that led directly into "Roarowww. What whas that for?!"
Zyanya frowned wings tucking into her sides tightly and she sat down and huffed, just not in her mind, she does not huff. " That," She motioned to the fallen rock witch a flick of her feathered tail "was for shooting fire in my general vicinity."  The lioness shifted slightly "You deserved nothing less.  That was hardly appropriate for you to do. I would expect a dragon to have much better etiquette."
What does she know of dragons. What right has she to come here and scald me on etiquette. "You speak as if you know my kind and yet your the first I've ever seen of your kind."
"I know more that you would expect, dragon. I may not be as old, but I have seen much of this world, as well as others"  Zyanya chimed with distaste.
" I am the first of my kind you have seen because there is not a "kind" this body is of.  This for was created and altered from what I had been born with. "  Her wings unfolded to their full height, stretching wide shining despite the small amount of light. The display was only momentary, before she calmly refolded her wings again. " My origins are far from humble. I am of the children of the gods, and great spirits." Zyanya paused locking her crimson eyes  into the eyes of the great dragon  "And for a time, their protectors."
Damos gazed in awe. He'd never seen anything like her. She was magnificent. Snapping out of it, he regained control of himself. I cant think like this. That is why I am here in the first place.  "Gods and protectors, its the same story with any morbidly unique creature. If it were up to me I'd just do away with their sillyness." 'and maybe i could go home.' His gaze slowly drifted to the ground. His eyes growing distant, seeing what nobody else could see. They stood there in silence for what seemed like an eternity.
Zyanya Siged "I have no interest in dealing with the gods anymore.  They are a race worse than demons,  Filthy and greedy.  Yet no different than all other beings.".  Slowly and tentively, she padded close to the dragon.
Damos tensed up and started clawing at the ground. What is this. Am i nervous? It has been so long since I've talked to anyone. He stared at her more intentaly, showing a little bit more interest. Perhaps a little bit of his fear and anxiety showed through his expression too.
Sitting quietly beside the dragon, her tail swishing lightly. Quite some time had passed since the last time she'd seen a dragon.  But by the looks of it, this dragon had not seen anyone in some time ether. Closeing her eyes, Zyanya inhaled and exhaled slowly. " Tell me dragon, what is your name?"
"My... my name?" what is my name? What is my name? "I think they used to call me Damos...."
"You think" Zyanya parroted with a soft chuckle  while looking to the dragon.  "So," Zyanya stood "Damos" She tested his name.  "You seem To be nervous."
Damos tried to relax but couldn't. "It has been quite a while since the last time someone has come along to my cave without the intent to kill me." A bit of an under statement. "What are you doing here. What are you doing in the most secluded part of the cosmos?
Zyanya noded in understanding. He was a dragon after all. For the upteenth time, Zyanya siged pauseing a moment to look back out to the mountans.
The mist had been creeping its way back in, as well as the development of storm clouds overhead. Hardly good, or safe flying conditions.
Shifting her attention back to Damos she replyed, somewhat cooly " I am here becase it is unsafe to keep my course in these conditions. So I landed, it just happend to be here.  As for what I am doing here, just checking on things. Noting more, noting less."
Damos looked up at the sky then listend. Just by sound he new where everything was in the mountain range and could fly this at any time. Then he thought about it. "That seems logical. Someone who hasnt lived here as long as me wouldn't know how to fly through this."
"Mm" Zyanya agreed. She could always change the weather, but that was always unwise to affect planets in such a way. So she was stuck, and fairly sure That this dragon, Damos, did not wish for her presence. Walking to the cliff and spreading her wings "Regardless, I sould be on my way," She paused, looking back " sorry for the intruesion."
"I'm not so sure you should try flying out here. At least not right now." Damos pause in thought. "Why uh... Why don't you stay here until the storm clears?"
Zyanya stood still, pauseing to consider his offer.  Not that there was much to consider,  but she just had to choose between hurting herself pretty badly. Or Hurting her pride by takeing help. And from what hse rememberd, Pide did not taste to well, and was hard to swallow. Phyisical pain, or pride..she weighed again.
"...." Glaceing back to Damos, who was waiting patiently for her answer and the building thunderstorm. "I accetpt. It would not be wise for me to go now."
Damos smirked a little "Okay then follow me." Damos led her into the cave. He continued to the back, going further into the cave than he had been in a while. When they arrived at their destination, Damos let loose a stream of fire anto a pile of rocks till the became cherry red and stayed on fire. It was a fairly large chamber. There was a huge pile of furs in the center of the chamber. The walls were covered in dried blood and claw marks from torments past. "You can stay in here tonight. Are you hungry, I could go out and hunt. It really wouldn't be to much trouble."
Looking about the room, then to the face of her host, Zyanya smiled politely, the best a lion could, but shifted  uncomfortably. " Please, dont trouble yourself.  I-er, I am hungry. Thank you." She walked foreward, just a step from the pile of furs "If you dont mind my asking, where will you rest at?"
"I sleep in the mouth of the cave. I havent slept in here for a couple hundred years or so. To many memories. Well I'll be back then." And with that Damos turned around and walked out of the chamber.
"Memories..?" Zyanya mumbled to the walls, not quite  sure what to do with herself. After a few moments she settled on personal upkeep. Particuarly her wings, which would be quite a pain. So she did to pass the tme. Which passed...slowly.
Hunting was always a joy no matter what. Even the miniscule little animals here were slightly challenging to get at. In this weather, your eyes were useless. Well in this particuler mountain range they were completely useless. In the two thousand years he'd been here, he hasn't seen the sun once and the fog had never ever cleared. It was his own personal prison, specifically designed for him by his tormentors. Damos listened, listened past the air rushing past him, past the wind in the trees and the grass, listened for the slightest sound that would give his prey away.... And there it was.
Later, Damos landed at the mouth of the cave with a giant wildabeast in his talons. He picked it up in his mouth and carried it the the back chamber. He threw it on the bed of coals and looked to the lioness. "I've freely givin you my name and have offered you shelter from the weather and food for your belly. Might I have one token of appreciation from you?"
Peering from beneath her feathers the lioness responded cautiously "It is only fair" She added hesatently " Can I ask what you may want?
Damos paused and smirked, he couldn't help himself,"Might this lonely dragon ask for your name?"
Zyanya was slighty taken back by his simple request. One would often ask for one of her golden feathers or things of the like. None the less, she obliged him " I am Zyanya. And I thank you for your kindness".
"And I thank you for keeping me company on this stormy night. I will leave you to it then. Goodnight, Zyanya."
Watching him silently retreat to the front of his cave Zyanya chuffed a little.  He was quite an odd thing he was, and she was not sure of him entirely.  He seemed a little odd, but she did not dwell on it to much. After all, she was very grateful for his hospitality.  Walking to the spot where the dead body was thrown  to examine the gift thoughtfully.  Though  her current shape was that of a beast, she was not a fan of eating like one. She was a god after all.
For a moment she considered what she could  do with the meat, though she needed much to sustain her body, but not the entire animal.  Easing her muscles, her form began to change to a more humanoid form. Though it was often called her "divine form" she knew better. It was immortal, but it was human.  Once completed she set to work. Cleaning and skinning the animal, seconding pieces from their original primal form with ease, and little mess.  Yet she left half aside for the dragon, Damos.
Pleased with her work, she returned  to her beast form, as her next task required  much less finesse.
For the meat set aside, she decided to keep cool and preserve for the dragon. Though she was not sure through drying, or freezeing.  After a moment she decided  it would be best to cool the meat, he could have room to do what he wished with it.
Thus she turned to a spare area of the chamber,  and froze the meat through slowing the  molecules of water particles through the air, the flash freezing the meat with a blast of liquid nitrogen from her mouth and air itself.  Once content with the temperature, she left it be for Damos.
Retrieving a left piece of armor, from one of the many fallen knights she did just as Damos did to the rocks. Blasted it with a flame until it was bright, and red, to disinfect it as well, it WAS on a dead thing, you know. Then maintaining a relatively good, but high, cooking temperature, she placed the meat onto the hot armor, cooking it with a sputter, and sizzle searing the meat of the outside, then  firing it with her breath on to finish it. It took a little time, but she eventually finished and ate her meal in relative comfort.
Content and full she layed down to rest, she had quite a ways to traverse  yet.  Within moments she drifted into a dreamless sleep
Damos walked slowly to the entrance of the cave and collapsed. Having someone around was pleasant but it was taking its toll on him. He knew that the lioness would have to leave and he would again be left here alone. He crawled back to his stalagmite next to his fire and began to claw at the ground. Why did he have to be stuck in this place.
Damos lay at the mouth of his cave next to his fire, stairing into the mist, unable to calm his thoughts long enough to fall asleep. All through out the night he heard the lioness working. He could smell her preparing her meal. He could hear the sizzling of the meat as she cooked it. These were quite interesting sounds. Sounds that awoke distant memories inside him. Memories that stabbed at him, and were a constant reminder of why he was here. He did his best to push these thoughts away, and waited till morning.
As quickly as sleep came, so did the morning and early dawns light.  Raising, with a quiet yawn and easing the sleep from  her muscles with a great feline bow Zyanya awoke. Bright and early, but never thrilled.  The lioness growled, clearing her thought and padded lightly through the cave, stepping around and over remains as she went.
Just as the lioness reached the mouth of the cave, she observed the steady rise and fall of the dragons breathing.  His green scales twinkling gold in the dim morning light. Unsure if he was merely laying there, or still in slumber,  she walked  with more care, and near silence. If he was asleep she would not want to wake him. Just the same, she was not going to just leave with out saying thank you.
Walking past him, she settled on watching the sun rise as best she could through the mist. The mist. That was still there.  Joy. But to her benefit, it was not as heavy, and the storm had cleared.
Laying there, Damos drifted through his thoughts.  He knew he fell alseep at some point during the night, but he couldn't tell if meeting the winged lioness was real or just his imagination. As he lay there, he heard the lioness walking through the cave. Zyanya.That was her name. She walked up and took a seat next to him at the entrence to the cave, bringing with her a new warmth. It warmed his entire body. It kind of felt like...... He opened his eyes with a snap. Sunlight!
He stood so fast and leapt into the sky that the air trembled in his wake. He flew higher and higher, basking in the suns radience. The mist had cleared just enough to let some of its light and warth through. He hadn't seen sunlight in the better partof two thousand years.
Zyanya observed the dragon as he flew. She was not quite sure how to react to what just happend. Maybe he did this everyday, or maybe she startled him?  What ever it was, Zyanya could not quite fathom it, allowing the dragon to enjoy himself without disruption. He had to come down at some point. She waited and observed, wondering idley if she should join him, it did look quite fun.
In his merryment, Damos almost forgot about the lioness. Allmost. As his thoughts drifted to her he bagan to wonder. Is this happening because of her?
He allowed himself one more look before he drifted back down to the cave. He landed lightly next to Zyanya in the cave entrance. He was slightly out of breath. He hadn't gone out to fly just for fun in so long, he couldn't remember the last time. He stare curiously at the lioness, unable to contain the crooked grin on hist face. "Morning," he said with a bit of enthusiasm, "did you enjoy your dinner?"
"I did, and thank you." She humed holding back her amusement. "I Could not have possably ate it all myself. So I set some aside for you." She gestured to the back of the cave with a nod of her head.
After a moment of silence she stated the obvious trying to make light talk with the dra-Damos. "You seem to be rather cheerfull this morning. Is this a morning ritual of yours?"
Damos staired at Zyanya for a moment before answering "What this? No. This mountain range has not seen the sun in all the time I've been here. This truly is a beautiful day." He staired back out into the vally. The light was getting progrssively more intense. The mist was..... it was clearing.  He didn't know what to think. He staired back at Zyanya. He couldn't make heads or tails with her. Had he been out of  company for so long he could no longer read the personalities of other beings? This was most troublesome as he could not speak freely without fear of offending her. He looked down and started clawing at the ground. "So I guess you'll be on you way then?"
Hint taken. "I guess I will be on my way, yes." Zyanya parroted politly bowing slightly. "Thank you for your kindness and hospitality, Damos, I will not forget it. Perhaps i can return the favor some day." Zyanya stalked foreward slowly readying herself for flight. "You are sure it was only my name you ask? It is hardly fair to you, and not respectable of myself."
Damos paused to think for a second. This lioness, Zyanya, was a most curious creature."For the crimes I am being punshed for, it hardly seems I have the right to ask anything more of you. But perhaps, if ever you find youself traveling through this mountain range again, you could drop by. If it is not trouble to you of course." He knew this was far to much to ask for so he hadn't even bothered to get his hopes up. No matter what she said, he knew not to believe in something until it happend.
For a moment Zyanya's face was impassive, void of any trace of emoton. "Such a sad reply." She thought to herself. Yet after the thought, Zyanya beamed at the dragon, for she would hold true to his request. It was the least she could do. She had begun to learn to never turn down a friend, even new ones. It would hadly be trouble.
"Then you will see me again." Just as the lioness was going to take flight she hesatated, for a thought came to her mind.
"Perhaps, I can return the favor of hospitality. Should you choose to ever leave your..home."
Turning her head inward, to the inside of her wings she plucked a single feather. then walking over to the dragon one last time she said, "Should you ever find yourself nearing my home, or perhaps one of my portals,  you will find the feather will react to it. Know that you are welcome."  With a great flap of her wings, Zyanya flew off.
The feather itself, though hallow was slighty heavy. Though not surpriseing for its golden sheen.  The Gold in her wings had served a pratical purpose, aside from being awe inspireing to mortals, as it aided her in her own home, as haveing an intense gravitatonal feild, it allowed her easy flight, and evan some levitation, and travle between portals, as well as a slight pull to them.
Damos held the golden feather in his talon as he watch Zyanya fly away. As welcoming a thought it was that he was invited to someones house, he knew the feather was useless to him in this place. But he would treasure it non the less. He was doomed to fly this lonely mountain range for eternity. He would not be aloud to leave. No matter how many times he tried before, he could not leave. It wasn't always supposed to be that way. He was just forgotten.

As Zyanya disapeared from view, Damos noted the sunlight one last time. No amount of sunlight could chase away this renewed sence of lonelyness. He walked back into his cave and went to the back chamber. Sure enough, just as she had said there was some of the wildabeast left over from her meal last night. He spat some more fire at the pile of rocks and tossed the meat onto them. He then wandered over to the pile of furs and nosed them around. They smelled like her. He then looked up at the walls of the chamber. Memories of long years of  nearly being driven to insanity were spent in this chamber. He decided he didn't like the walls so he let out a torrential wave of fire that licked the chamber walls melting away all the claw marks and dried blood. As molten rock dripped from the ceiling, he took a deep breath and blew as hard as he could, freezing all the rock into new formations. That'll do he though to himself. He walked over and licked the meat out of the coals and swallowed them whole. He then walked over and settled into the furs finding new comfort in them that had been absent for a long time.

Description
Chapter One
High up in the mountains, mist shrouding its mysterious vallies. Fog so thick, it  seemed like a ghostly berrier concealing the desolate, lonely mountaintops.  Deep, dark, decreped caves, tombs of long dead ancient animals,cavern walls sleek with the moisture from the air, stale from eons of deaths presence. A flickering light shown through the tangible mist, warm, inviting, and comfortable. Rocky cave formations glistened from the light from the fire. And a great dragon lie there, curled around a stalagmite, well within the fires safety from the creeping moisture in the cave.
Damos just layed there, satisfied from a full belly from the previous nights hunt. His thoughts dwell on distant past. A past thaat continuelly haunted him.
As ever, and a common occurance, Zyanya was not pleased. Not at what she would consider as one of her many normal irritations, monsters, spirits, demonss, and certain 4th dimensional beings."Damned fog" Zyanya grumbled to herself, hardly able to see her snout in front of her.   The Strong beat of her own wings only momentarly clearing the fog hiding her gold wings . It was no longer safe for her to keep flying through the thick fog and equally not safe for her to land where  she could not see.
Landscapes zoomed past her as she descended,  only  barely missing  foliage and pertrudeings rocks from the mountain.   Drawing her wings closer to her form, she landed in what she hoped was a safe place to land.With her paws now firmly upon the ground,  she fanned her large wings out beating just enough to clear  the mist around her,  And not achieve any sort of lift.  With her vision cleared and her surroundings less shrouded, she happened upon a cave in the mountain face. She could not help but be attracted to the light coming from the cave, no one could in this fog. She stalked closer to the cave to get a better idea of wht was inside.
Over the last century, Damos had become all to familier with the sounds of the mountain range. From the dripping water from the stalagtites, to the russle of rats in the shrubbery. He knew the sounds of the water falls and the sounds of the wind lightly skipping through the grass.He new the sounds the the humans made when they traveled through the mountains on occation, and he knew the sound that the humans made when they came to hunt him, that is when ever they caught wind of him. But most of all he knew the sound of silence, an accuaintence that he had become intimate with, divulging his deepest darkest secrets to.
But of all the sounds he knew, he did not know these sounds. He could tell something was near the cave but what he couldn't tell. He carefully uncoiled himself from around his stalagmite and crawled along the wall using the grooves carved into it from canstant use. He crawled down and slithered over armor,the last remains of ancient warriors he had fought with long ago. He continued to the mouth of the cave, toward the sound. He could hear some new creature outside. He then heard a  sound that he hadn't heard in a long time.
Other than him, there were no winged creatures of considerable size in this world. In fact, with the exception of a few, the creatures were pathetic in a grand way.He heard the sound of massive, feathered wings beating the mist away. This new creature was noticably big, even through the mist Damos could tell that by sheer size alone this creature was for more dangerouse than anything he'd faced before in the world.
"Damn fate, I'm much too old and out of practice to deal with this new foe."So he made to decision to stay in the shadows, initiating no contact with this new presence. It was beter, and far more productive for him if he went unnoticed by the new creature. Then he could go about laying in his cave all day and hunnting when he needed to. Nothing would change and he'd cause no harm to this world in doing so.
The mist began to slowly slither back over the slope,  over and through rocks, trees, and brush to rejoin its greater mass. It was as if the mist itself was conscious. The dreariness  and the muted and grayed color, scents, and sound overwhelmed  the god-beast.  It seemed as if nothing could penetrate and shine through this fog. One would have to focus hard to find anything here.  And focus she did.   Craning her  finely feathered and fur'd neck , wings helt tight against her body,  Zyanya breathed deep smelling and tasting the air.
The passing air was crisp, earthy, fresh smelling as a mountan should. Yet as she faced the mouth of the cave  she came across mingled and meshed  smells and tastes  that were far out of the ordinary.  At first, she had mistaken the ordor for blood for it was slightly metallic—but it was just that. Metal.  The more she analized, the more she could smell fire.  There were not many things that came with these smells.   The Lioness could only assume it was human.  She Hoped.
Zyanya  stepped tentatively forward, trying  to get a better  concept of what may or may not be in that cave.  She was no fool to walk in willy nilly, but just the same she didn't want to sit in the open.
Damos watched as the creature just stood there. He began to realize that the creature wasn't just going to pass by. In fact the creature began to inch forward a little torward the cave. "Damn it all damn it all damn IT ALL!!! Why me?" Damos had to think of what to do. Although he didnt belong in this world and the cave wasn't his, he still made it his home for the better part of two thousand years. He couldn't let some new presence steal this place away. The place that had kept him hidden from prying eyes for so long. He had to defend it.
As the creature came closer, and closer, he became more desperate. Without thinking about it he took action. He lept out of the shadows and let out a roar so powerfull it cracked stones and shook the ground. He then let out a jet of fire so hot and feirce that it evaporated the mist in the immediate area, lighting up the entire vally.
It was then he saw this new presence for what it was. It was a great winged lioness with strange markings around her face and her body. He'd seen nothing like her in all his years. He then cut off the stream of fire. It had set most of the trees around them on fire, leaving the area lit and keeping the fog at bay. He hissed and snorted and spat a bit more fire out and layed down in the mouth of the cave and eyed the lioness.
Zyanya blinked once, twice, then thrice in a very, very  unamused and irked fashion.   'Of all the caves in the world, I would find one with a damned dragon. ' The lioness Growled to herself, pulling back her lips to show her large, white fangs,  She had no interest in tangling with the creature, but she was not about to let it attempt to kill her ether. And she stressed the word  attempt.
Damos was somewhat dumbstruck, although he didnt let it show. Not even at his home would a passerby bear their fangs at you if you showed dominence over a territorry. He stared at her intently, forcing an uninterested look on his face. In an attempt to show he couldn't really care less, he started to groom his talons.
Within seconds Zyanya's snarl began to wane, and resurface in the form of complete confusion.  She really did not know what to do.  "Was this creature bipolar?" she ponderd to herself.  First this things jumps out at her, breathing fire, then it acts like it does not care. No. Hell No.
Zyanya puffed up in annoyance and slight offence.  She turned her head, and ever so slightly stamped her back foot causing a decent sized rock  from the mouth of the cave to fall on its massive, annoying head.
A suddun sharp pain erupted from the top of Damos' skull. He immediately covers the top of his head while laying his head on the ground. He squeazed his eyes shut as they began to water. He then let out out a dull chesty roar, not one of retaliation but of suprise and pain, that led directly into "Roarowww. What whas that for?!"
Zyanya frowned wings tucking into her sides tightly and she sat down and huffed, just not in her mind, she does not huff. " That," She motioned to the fallen rock witch a flick of her feathered tail "was for shooting fire in my general vicinity."  The lioness shifted slightly "You deserved nothing less.  That was hardly appropriate for you to do. I would expect a dragon to have much better etiquette."
What does she know of dragons. What right has she to come here and scald me on etiquette. "You speak as if you know my kind and yet your the first I've ever seen of your kind."
"I know more that you would expect, dragon. I may not be as old, but I have seen much of this world, as well as others"  Zyanya chimed with distaste.
" I am the first of my kind you have seen because there is not a "kind" this body is of.  This for was created and altered from what I had been born with. "  Her wings unfolded to their full height, stretching wide shining despite the small amount of light. The display was only momentary, before she calmly refolded her wings again. " My origins are far from humble. I am of the children of the gods, and great spirits." Zyanya paused locking her crimson eyes  into the eyes of the great dragon  "And for a time, their protectors."
Damos gazed in awe. He'd never seen anything like her. She was magnificent. Snapping out of it, he regained control of himself. I cant think like this. That is why I am here in the first place.  "Gods and protectors, its the same story with any morbidly unique creature. If it were up to me I'd just do away with their sillyness." 'and maybe i could go home.' His gaze slowly drifted to the ground. His eyes growing distant, seeing what nobody else could see. They stood there in silence for what seemed like an eternity.
Zyanya Siged "I have no interest in dealing with the gods anymore.  They are a race worse than demons,  Filthy and greedy.  Yet no different than all other beings.".  Slowly and tentively, she padded close to the dragon.
Damos tensed up and started clawing at the ground. What is this. Am i nervous? It has been so long since I've talked to anyone. He stared at her more intentaly, showing a little bit more interest. Perhaps a little bit of his fear and anxiety showed through his expression too.
Sitting quietly beside the dragon, her tail swishing lightly. Quite some time had passed since the last time she'd seen a dragon.  But by the looks of it, this dragon had not seen anyone in some time ether. Closeing her eyes, Zyanya inhaled and exhaled slowly. " Tell me dragon, what is your name?"
"My... my name?" what is my name? What is my name? "I think they used to call me Damos...."
"You think" Zyanya parroted with a soft chuckle  while looking to the dragon.  "So," Zyanya stood "Damos" She tested his name.  "You seem To be nervous."
Damos tried to relax but couldn't. "It has been quite a while since the last time someone has come along to my cave without the intent to kill me." A bit of an under statement. "What are you doing here. What are you doing in the most secluded part of the cosmos?
Zyanya noded in understanding. He was a dragon after all. For the upteenth time, Zyanya siged pauseing a moment to look back out to the mountans.
The mist had been creeping its way back in, as well as the development of storm clouds overhead. Hardly good, or safe flying conditions.
Shifting her attention back to Damos she replyed, somewhat cooly " I am here becase it is unsafe to keep my course in these conditions. So I landed, it just happend to be here.  As for what I am doing here, just checking on things. Noting more, noting less."
Damos looked up at the sky then listend. Just by sound he new where everything was in the mountain range and could fly this at any time. Then he thought about it. "That seems logical. Someone who hasnt lived here as long as me wouldn't know how to fly through this."
"Mm" Zyanya agreed. She could always change the weather, but that was always unwise to affect planets in such a way. So she was stuck, and fairly sure That this dragon, Damos, did not wish for her presence. Walking to the cliff and spreading her wings "Regardless, I sould be on my way," She paused, looking back " sorry for the intruesion."
"I'm not so sure you should try flying out here. At least not right now." Damos pause in thought. "Why uh... Why don't you stay here until the storm clears?"
Zyanya stood still, pauseing to consider his offer.  Not that there was much to consider,  but she just had to choose between hurting herself pretty badly. Or Hurting her pride by takeing help. And from what hse rememberd, Pide did not taste to well, and was hard to swallow. Phyisical pain, or pride..she weighed again.
"...." Glaceing back to Damos, who was waiting patiently for her answer and the building thunderstorm. "I accetpt. It would not be wise for me to go now."
Damos smirked a little "Okay then follow me." Damos led her into the cave. He continued to the back, going further into the cave than he had been in a while. When they arrived at their destination, Damos let loose a stream of fire anto a pile of rocks till the became cherry red and stayed on fire. It was a fairly large chamber. There was a huge pile of furs in the center of the chamber. The walls were covered in dried blood and claw marks from torments past. "You can stay in here tonight. Are you hungry, I could go out and hunt. It really wouldn't be to much trouble."
Looking about the room, then to the face of her host, Zyanya smiled politely, the best a lion could, but shifted  uncomfortably. " Please, dont trouble yourself.  I-er, I am hungry. Thank you." She walked foreward, just a step from the pile of furs "If you dont mind my asking, where will you rest at?"
"I sleep in the mouth of the cave. I havent slept in here for a couple hundred years or so. To many memories. Well I'll be back then." And with that Damos turned around and walked out of the chamber.
"Memories..?" Zyanya mumbled to the walls, not quite  sure what to do with herself. After a few moments she settled on personal upkeep. Particuarly her wings, which would be quite a pain. So she did to pass the tme. Which passed...slowly.
Hunting was always a joy no matter what. Even the miniscule little animals here were slightly challenging to get at. In this weather, your eyes were useless. Well in this particuler mountain range they were completely useless. In the two thousand years he'd been here, he hasn't seen the sun once and the fog had never ever cleared. It was his own personal prison, specifically designed for him by his tormentors. Damos listened, listened past the air rushing past him, past the wind in the trees and the grass, listened for the slightest sound that would give his prey away.... And there it was.
Later, Damos landed at the mouth of the cave with a giant wildabeast in his talons. He picked it up in his mouth and carried it the the back chamber. He threw it on the bed of coals and looked to the lioness. "I've freely givin you my name and have offered you shelter from the weather and food for your belly. Might I have one token of appreciation from you?"
Peering from beneath her feathers the lioness responded cautiously "It is only fair" She added hesatently " Can I ask what you may want?
Damos paused and smirked, he couldn't help himself,"Might this lonely dragon ask for your name?"
Zyanya was slighty taken back by his simple request. One would often ask for one of her golden feathers or things of the like. None the less, she obliged him " I am Zyanya. And I thank you for your kindness".
"And I thank you for keeping me company on this stormy night. I will leave you to it then. Goodnight, Zyanya."
Watching him silently retreat to the front of his cave Zyanya chuffed a little.  He was quite an odd thing he was, and she was not sure of him entirely.  He seemed a little odd, but she did not dwell on it to much. After all, she was very grateful for his hospitality.  Walking to the spot where the dead body was thrown  to examine the gift thoughtfully.  Though  her current shape was that of a beast, she was not a fan of eating like one. She was a god after all.
For a moment she considered what she could  do with the meat, though she needed much to sustain her body, but not the entire animal.  Easing her muscles, her form began to change to a more humanoid form. Though it was often called her "divine form" she knew better. It was immortal, but it was human.  Once completed she set to work. Cleaning and skinning the animal, seconding pieces from their original primal form with ease, and little mess.  Yet she left half aside for the dragon, Damos.
Pleased with her work, she returned  to her beast form, as her next task required  much less finesse.
For the meat set aside, she decided to keep cool and preserve for the dragon. Though she was not sure through drying, or freezeing.  After a moment she decided  it would be best to cool the meat, he could have room to do what he wished with it.
Thus she turned to a spare area of the chamber,  and froze the meat through slowing the  molecules of water particles through the air, the flash freezing the meat with a blast of liquid nitrogen from her mouth and air itself.  Once content with the temperature, she left it be for Damos.
Retrieving a left piece of armor, from one of the many fallen knights she did just as Damos did to the rocks. Blasted it with a flame until it was bright, and red, to disinfect it as well, it WAS on a dead thing, you know. Then maintaining a relatively good, but high, cooking temperature, she placed the meat onto the hot armor, cooking it with a sputter, and sizzle searing the meat of the outside, then  firing it with her breath on to finish it. It took a little time, but she eventually finished and ate her meal in relative comfort.
Content and full she layed down to rest, she had quite a ways to traverse  yet.  Within moments she drifted into a dreamless sleep
Damos walked slowly to the entrance of the cave and collapsed. Having someone around was pleasant but it was taking its toll on him. He knew that the lioness would have to leave and he would again be left here alone. He crawled back to his stalagmite next to his fire and began to claw at the ground. Why did he have to be stuck in this place.
Damos lay at the mouth of his cave next to his fire, stairing into the mist, unable to calm his thoughts long enough to fall asleep. All through out the night he heard the lioness working. He could smell her preparing her meal. He could hear the sizzling of the meat as she cooked it. These were quite interesting sounds. Sounds that awoke distant memories inside him. Memories that stabbed at him, and were a constant reminder of why he was here. He did his best to push these thoughts away, and waited till morning.
As quickly as sleep came, so did the morning and early dawns light.  Raising, with a quiet yawn and easing the sleep from  her muscles with a great feline bow Zyanya awoke. Bright and early, but never thrilled.  The lioness growled, clearing her thought and padded lightly through the cave, stepping around and over remains as she went.
Just as the lioness reached the mouth of the cave, she observed the steady rise and fall of the dragons breathing.  His green scales twinkling gold in the dim morning light. Unsure if he was merely laying there, or still in slumber,  she walked  with more care, and near silence. If he was asleep she would not want to wake him. Just the same, she was not going to just leave with out saying thank you.
Walking past him, she settled on watching the sun rise as best she could through the mist. The mist. That was still there.  Joy. But to her benefit, it was not as heavy, and the storm had cleared.
Laying there, Damos drifted through his thoughts.  He knew he fell alseep at some point during the night, but he couldn't tell if meeting the winged lioness was real or just his imagination. As he lay there, he heard the lioness walking through the cave. Zyanya.That was her name. She walked up and took a seat next to him at the entrence to the cave, bringing with her a new warmth. It warmed his entire body. It kind of felt like...... He opened his eyes with a snap. Sunlight!
He stood so fast and leapt into the sky that the air trembled in his wake. He flew higher and higher, basking in the suns radience. The mist had cleared just enough to let some of its light and warth through. He hadn't seen sunlight in the better partof two thousand years.
Zyanya observed the dragon as he flew. She was not quite sure how to react to what just happend. Maybe he did this everyday, or maybe she startled him?  What ever it was, Zyanya could not quite fathom it, allowing the dragon to enjoy himself without disruption. He had to come down at some point. She waited and observed, wondering idley if she should join him, it did look quite fun.
In his merryment, Damos almost forgot about the lioness. Allmost. As his thoughts drifted to her he bagan to wonder. Is this happening because of her?
He allowed himself one more look before he drifted back down to the cave. He landed lightly next to Zyanya in the cave entrance. He was slightly out of breath. He hadn't gone out to fly just for fun in so long, he couldn't remember the last time. He stare curiously at the lioness, unable to contain the crooked grin on hist face. "Morning," he said with a bit of enthusiasm, "did you enjoy your dinner?"
"I did, and thank you." She humed holding back her amusement. "I Could not have possably ate it all myself. So I set some aside for you." She gestured to the back of the cave with a nod of her head.
After a moment of silence she stated the obvious trying to make light talk with the dra-Damos. "You seem to be rather cheerfull this morning. Is this a morning ritual of yours?"
Damos staired at Zyanya for a moment before answering "What this? No. This mountain range has not seen the sun in all the time I've been here. This truly is a beautiful day." He staired back out into the vally. The light was getting progrssively more intense. The mist was..... it was clearing.  He didn't know what to think. He staired back at Zyanya. He couldn't make heads or tails with her. Had he been out of  company for so long he could no longer read the personalities of other beings? This was most troublesome as he could not speak freely without fear of offending her. He looked down and started clawing at the ground. "So I guess you'll be on you way then?"
Hint taken. "I guess I will be on my way, yes." Zyanya parroted politly bowing slightly. "Thank you for your kindness and hospitality, Damos, I will not forget it. Perhaps i can return the favor some day." Zyanya stalked foreward slowly readying herself for flight. "You are sure it was only my name you ask? It is hardly fair to you, and not respectable of myself."
Damos paused to think for a second. This lioness, Zyanya, was a most curious creature."For the crimes I am being punshed for, it hardly seems I have the right to ask anything more of you. But perhaps, if ever you find youself traveling through this mountain range again, you could drop by. If it is not trouble to you of course." He knew this was far to much to ask for so he hadn't even bothered to get his hopes up. No matter what she said, he knew not to believe in something until it happend.
For a moment Zyanya's face was impassive, void of any trace of emoton. "Such a sad reply." She thought to herself. Yet after the thought, Zyanya beamed at the dragon, for she would hold true to his request. It was the least she could do. She had begun to learn to never turn down a friend, even new ones. It would hadly be trouble.
"Then you will see me again." Just as the lioness was going to take flight she hesatated, for a thought came to her mind.
"Perhaps, I can return the favor of hospitality. Should you choose to ever leave your..home."
Turning her head inward, to the inside of her wings she plucked a single feather. then walking over to the dragon one last time she said, "Should you ever find yourself nearing my home, or perhaps one of my portals,  you will find the feather will react to it. Know that you are welcome."  With a great flap of her wings, Zyanya flew off.
The feather itself, though hallow was slighty heavy. Though not surpriseing for its golden sheen.  The Gold in her wings had served a pratical purpose, aside from being awe inspireing to mortals, as it aided her in her own home, as haveing an intense gravitatonal feild, it allowed her easy flight, and evan some levitation, and travle between portals, as well as a slight pull to them.
Damos held the golden feather in his talon as he watch Zyanya fly away. As welcoming a thought it was that he was invited to someones house, he knew the feather was useless to him in this place. But he would treasure it non the less. He was doomed to fly this lonely mountain range for eternity. He would not be aloud to leave. No matter how many times he tried before, he could not leave. It wasn't always supposed to be that way. He was just forgotten.

As Zyanya disapeared from view, Damos noted the sunlight one last time. No amount of sunlight could chase away this renewed sence of lonelyness. He walked back into his cave and went to the back chamber. Sure enough, just as she had said there was some of the wildabeast left over from her meal last night. He spat some more fire at the pile of rocks and tossed the meat onto them. He then wandered over to the pile of furs and nosed them around. They smelled like her. He then looked up at the walls of the chamber. Memories of long years of  nearly being driven to insanity were spent in this chamber. He decided he didn't like the walls so he let out a torrential wave of fire that licked the chamber walls melting away all the claw marks and dried blood. As molten rock dripped from the ceiling, he took a deep breath and blew as hard as he could, freezing all the rock into new formations. That'll do he though to himself. He walked over and licked the meat out of the coals and swallowed them whole. He then walked over and settled into the furs finding new comfort in them that had been absent for a long time.