A random encounter

Snow was falling softly, covering the ground. Roan and the hunting party he was accompanying would have to make quick time now - the weather would soon cover the tracks of the aurochs they had been tracking the past few hours. These beasts had caught wind of them, perhaps, and split from the herd. Intelligent creatures, but the scouts would keep track of the main herd. The half-elf boy, scarcely twenty-one winters now, let a gout of warm breath escape his throat, forming mist in the freezing climate. It was almost spring, but it would be icy temperatures for moons yet. He was bundled in his hide and fur armor, much more paddled andcovered than the stripped-down version he'd carry with hima year later in the Magaambya. His hooked guisarme gleamed in the dying light, a strange creation not of Kellid make. It had belonged to his late mother, a traveling elf of the Ilverani, and was the means she had defended herself before her untimely death. She was too gentle for this life, and even now, Roan could scarcely remember her face...

"Pick up the pace, knife-ears!" one of his companions yelled over his shoulder. Kestus, a large, burly man of thirty winters with a barrel chest and a greataxe. "At this pace, if we don't lose'em in the snow we'll run out of light!" He likely hadn't meant anything by the jab, but Roan still felt sour at being called that. He had always been a little different from the others, and everyone would be quick to blame it on his half-breed parentage. He himself liked to think it was more the lessons he was taught as a child, more than the blood that ran through his veins, but still others made a show of pointing out their differences at every opportunity. He hurries through the snow, keeping a bead on the auroch tracks. After another half hour, they finally tracked the beasts to a clearing in the forest, where... they already lay dead. And they didn't have to look far to find the culprit - a massive golden-scaled wyrm was already beginning to tuck into one of the massive, cow-like creatures.

It noticed them as they stepped into the clearing, and raised its bloody snout from the meal for a moment before scooping snow up in one massive clawed limb and smearing it over its face, 'washing' itself. "Haha, ho there, hunters. I take it I've stolen your prey. My apologies." It spoke Hallit well in a melodious and warm voice that sounded almost like a kindly grandfather. "I'll be glad to split the prizes with you." he offered. Roan was in awe of the massive creature. He was twice as large as the biggest mammoth Roan had ever seen, and that aside he possessed a canny wit and the gift of speech... and clearly these aurochs had been simple for him to dispatch. They may not have gotten all of their game, but the offer sounded more than generou-

"Hah, look at that monster." It was Kestus's voice that spoke. "And how quick it is to ply us with gifts. Nay, that old lizard is scared, and I see choicer prize for our following tonight, and a new set of armor besides..." The lust of the dragon's rich resources - its meat, its scales and hide, and other parts, as well as the promise of glory - all of this was clear and wild in the other hunters' eyes. As the group stepped forward to attack the dragon, Roan was... somewhat shocked. He knew Kestus was a vainglorious man, but this... "Have the spirits taken leave of your senses??" Roan called after them. His outburst was greeted with laughter as Kestus shruged. "Stay behind if you want, knife-ears. I'd be scared too with that scawny build, haha. Just don't expect a dragon steak when we get back!" Roan's eyes widened as they charged in. This... this wasn't happening. His mother had told him stories about dragons. This was stupid, suicidal. They were going to die... and when the dragon's anger was riled... he would die too.

Roan bit his lip. It was not proper for a hunter to run before the battle was joined. But assisting in this... did not sit right with him. He planted his feet and refused to move, neither running in fear nor helping with this ill-advised attack. He forced himself to watch. The dragon sighed, as if disappointed in the band of nine men approaching him, and simply hopped over the aurock corpses, before turning and swinging his tail in a wide arc. With a single, sweeping blow, the hunters flew through the air, landing in the snow where they did not move. As the dragon stepped forward, Roan's breath caught in his throat. He tossed his spear to the ground and approached, raising his hands. "Wait, great dragon. Please, spare my foolish companions. They do not know better..." it was a flimsy excuse, but it was all he had.

The dragon folded its front legs under its chest, laying in front of Roan with an amused grin. "Spare them? Well, tell me child, why should I? They clearly made an attempt on my life when I tried to show good will. And for that matter, why should I spare yours? You could be trying to get me to let my guard down and strike in a moment of weakness." Roan bit his lip. "I... have no proof that is not my intent. Take my life then, and spare them. Even if this was foolish, my clan needs these men to bring back food. If we lost everyone to something like this... many in the Frozen-Oaks would die." The dragon contemplated that for a moment. "Hrm... you're serious, aren't you, child? I was simply teasing you. Your hunter allies are in no danger of death, save perhaps by exposure. I have dealt with enough hunting parties like them to know that killing them over their sleight to me would only harm the many." With another tail flick, the dragon felled a nearby tree and tossed its mass bulk over. With its front limbs, it began shredding the trunk and limbs, and before long had a pile that resembled a great... bonfire. Roan realized it, and then when he expected dragonfire, the dragon snapped its claws instead, lighting the pile of wood easily. With enough wave, the snow b egan to form solid ice structures around th e bonfire.

The dragon chuckled. "This will be enough shelter to see you all safely through the night. Tell me, what is your name, child?" Roan stared at the icy huts for a moment, entranced before turning back. "Er... Roan Frozen-Oak, sir." he bowed his head. "...Thank you very much for your mercy." The dragon looked at him for a moment. "TMm, I see. Keep that spirit, boy. It will serve you well. Perhaps you one day may be able to teach them better. But do not be so quick to sacrifice yourself. Unneeded death serves no purpose."  It began to gather a couple of the fallen aurocks in its claws, and made as if to take flight. Roan raised his hand. "W-wait! Um..." he realized he didn't know the dragon's name, but at this point he wasn't sure if he should ask. "...The sorceries you wield... they could do my people so much good. Our clan has only a single druid and distrusts much magic... Is there anything I could do for you to um... tutor under you...? If that's possible, sir..."

The dragon let out a hearty laugh. "My traveling habits are fickle, child. You would not wish to tutor under me, and to teach you all that I know to my satisfaction would take years you do not have. If you are truly interested in learning things that will be useful for your people, magic included... Hrm. Far, far, far to the south, there is a place they call the Magaambya, a school nestled in the heart of the warmest forest you will ever see. It will be a difficult and perilous journey to reach it, and will challenge you to learn the ways of men that completely defy your meager experiences in this land. Few will speak your tongue, and even fewer will want anything to do with you. But if you are determined... go. Seek knowledge in that distant place. If one day you return... I will look forward to seeing what you do." With that, the great dragon lifted off with its prize, leaving three aurochs behind and the unconscious hunters. Roan collapsed into the snow for a moment, staring at the sky and scarcely believed what just happened. ...The Magaambya... it was rare for a Kellid to break off from their tribe without being exiled. Would he even be able to return? But if he could truly learn as much as the dragon had said...

Soon, he would make a decision. But for now... while his ability to treat wounds was poor, he at least would get his fellow hunters warm.