#dragonau

With Remus readily jumping down into the cave, any reply given was too muffled and distorted by echoes for Roman to understand. He wasn't bothered or about to cross the river just to jump down a hole. It would mess up his feathers to enter a cave like that. Perhaps if he saw an area further along that could be a cave entrance he'd explore and see if it joined the one Remus was now doubtless deep within.

/\/\

If avali are skilled at anything, it's falling. Well, it's not, but Remus had worked hard to turn the slow flights they could achieve into an ability to end up every jump and fall stood firm upon whichever surface he reached.

That's why he so cheerfully exploring the cave by jumping feet first into it.

He could see the ledge, perhaps a boulder, not to far down and aimed for that, even while looking around curiously. It was already obviously more than just a cave and the ledge definitely wasn't just that.

This was a series of caves, deliberately extended and arranged into rooms and Remus was thrilled.

There had to be someone new to meet, who might just have the impressive anger at an unexpected intrusion he could argue with.

/\/\

“Why are you staring at the other riverbank?”

Roman startled at the words, looking around in confusion before spotting the white and black face peering up at him from the water. “Who are you?”

“Procyon guard of the river. Why are you staring at the other bank? What are you doing in my forest?” The procyon identified easily, but glared as he repeated the question.

“Another avali decided to explore a hole he declared is a cave. I'm trying to see where he'll come out again since he never leaves by the same entrance he goes in through.” Roman didn't hesitate to explain, stepping back when the procyon moved as if to reach for a weapon.

Instead he pushed himself out of the water, revealing a mer tail, and dagger tied to it that was being gripped but not drawn now as the tail was fully pulled from the water. “An avali tribe is moving into the forest?”

“Nope. We're on our own. Just exploring.” Roman quickly explained, noticing but not understanding when the procyon glanced back over the river.

After a few more suspicious looks over Roman, the procyon nodded. “The branch hanging low to the water just along there; that's where the other avali will come out opposite. Wait for him then leave our forest.” There was a threat in the words, but mostly it was concern of the dangers avali might bring to the area.

“He's not going to be rushing through there.” Roman stated, ruffling his feathers up in preparation for flight. “If you want us to leave, I better go find him.”

“If he has any brain, he'll be out here before -” The procyon's speech was cut off by a loud yell reverberating through the caves that Roman could hear was a lot larger than anything he'd been imagining. “Well, before that.”

Roman had taken off, almost in instinct. He might not hold any true care for his brother, no avali generally did for their family, but he did pride himself on rescuing people under attack “Who is that?” He demanded, yelling back to the procyon, before realising he was keeping pace with his flight, swimming below him.

“Local dragon. Is this other avali loud? I'd have thought he'd have had longer before getting discovered in there.” The procyon asked, seemingly unconcerned there was an annoyed dragon, in contrast to his preparation to fight at the thought of an avali tribe entering the forest.

/\/\

Now when talking about the many people of the world, Remus had been told not to disturb a large number of them. Avali are relatively small in comparison to most of them, and similar enough to some prey animals that they'd had conflicts with, and stolen technology from almost all the others.

Dragons particularly came with the warning, not to disturb them, to avoid entering their homes where possible and definitely never ever enter the room a dragon stores their hoard.

In jumping into this cave, he seemed to have managed to do all of those things. Granted he disturbed the dragon deliberately, recognising what was curled on a pile of blankets opposite and deciding to introduce himself.

What was odd however was that the dragon didn't immediately turn to face him.

“Sooo, should I just wait for you to wake up properly, or can you really not see?” He decided to ask a few moments after the roar that came from waking them up.

“What are you? Who let you into my caves?” The hiss came back, now directed just to the right of Remus. He wanted to reach out and make them face in the right direction, but was sure that would end up in his death and didn't feel like that right now.

Instead he folded his legs under himself to sit down. “I'm Remus, an avali. Roman's probably looking for your normal way in now, but we were just exploring and I saw a hole that looked like it could be a cave. Didn't realise it was what, a ventilation hole? For your home.”

“I suppose I can introduce myself too. I'm Janus, a river dragon.” They introduced, scenting the air again. “At least you're the only one in here currently. Don't avali have feathers?”

“Yes, I'm very good at controlling any time I fall or jump.” Remus happily replied. It wasn't the provoked yelling he'd been hoping for but befriending a dragon sounded marvellous too.

Janus shook their head. “I mean that you coming through a ventilation gap Thomas decided was needed is all well and good but if Roman tries to find the main entrance he'll get soaked on the way in.”

“Got any flour or other powders I can throw at him then? He'll look a mess for weeks if I manage it right.” The idea was simple but that made it all the more sweet to try.

“Then you'll leave?” Janus was clearly aiming to demand that but Remus decided it was an unwilling request.

He jumped up, patting the dragon's side as he wandered in the direction of a room that seemed similarly sparsely decorated, hoping if he could avoid finding their hoard, then he could remain longer. “Doesn't sound like you want that and I don't want to sooo, only far enough to get like a shelter in the woods made. Then I can come visit again tomorrow.”

“Sorry for intruding Janus.” The call came from a room a few away from the one Remus was walking through now, and had the dragon soon catching him up.

“If you've brought the other avali this one is speaking about, then it's a welcome intrusion. Perhaps both of them will be on their way now.” Janus called back, herding Remus to move faster with his tail.

Remus crossed his arms, pouting when he couldn't get over the tail to reach any of the flour he spotted in the kitchen. “No fair. I want to make friends with you, not get pushed out.”

“Do so outside of my cave then.” Janus nodded.

/\/\

Roman was only listening to the conversation echoing through the caves absently, more focused on the space he'd had to swim a short way to enter and on ensuring his feathers would dry smoothly as quickly as possible.

It was more comfortable than he'd expected a dragon's cave to be, and had furniture that he wouldn't have expected. Dragons never usually took on bipedal forms, so why were there tables and chairs clearly intended for bipedal people?

“Excuse me, please can my brother be forgiven for the intrusion. I know I was the one to dare him to explore the cave but we had no idea that this was your marvellous home.” He called out when he could see the dragon's snout.

Remus cackled in response. “I don't think Janus is too upset about it. They're just herding me out of here not yelling or even grumbling currently.”

“Then you should be counting yourself lucky that that's the case.” Roman scolded. He didn't waste time in grabbing Remus's arm with the intent to pull him out of there, but he couldn't prevent the yell Remus let out.

“I'll be seeing you tomorrow Jan-jan and Racoon-fish.”