Flickering candlelight played temptuous shadows on stony walls, the wax lightheaded themselves held on wrought iron hooks that had been stabbed into the stone with an ease that came from great strength. The dancing illumination that came from the shifting flames made the entire space seem mystical and inviting. Scrolls and thick, battered tomes were spread about, their writing in a neat scrawl, written in a language that few understood. A few simple but elegant wooden chests boasted a moderate amount of odds and ends, baubles that to another might seem strange- trinkets, mechanisms, books- but to their owner, they were treasures. There were many of those here as well: shining jewelry and gems, gleaming coins; but they were less, and they were kept tucked into the edges of the vast cave for their own protection. Not all the light came from the candles, for in the center of the cavern, there roared a merry fire in a neat pit, roasting large strips of sweet smelling venison. The deer's hide was currently on a tanning rack outside the mouth of the cave. While the biting chill and snow of the mountains raged outside, none of the cold reached here, for the entrance was very long and twisting, and the wind was not smart enough to wind its way through the mini-maze. It was clear that whoever lived here had done so in comfort and gladness for a while. Out in the wilderness, between the trees and the flurry of the storm, just a bit of the inviting glow of the home could be seen from the lanterns in the tunnel, tantalizing creatures and tempting them near- but they had lived in these woods long enough to know that this cave's occupant was not one they wished to meet. There was a large raised platform on one side of the huge 'room', on which rested a considerable pile of soft hides and furs, cushioning the giant bed.
But the most impressive part of the beautiful, homely cave was its mistress. With the flickering firelight glittering off of cerulean scales, smoke from her nostrils curling lovingly around thick horns, the Dragoness reclined in a scaly circle around the cooking fire, muscled body relaxed and loose, mighty wings slack against her sides. Her sharply taloned hands were folded, one over the other, the one below keeping her place in the large book she was reading. Her orange, slit pupiled eyes were looking through simple spectacles perched on her nose- she wasn't old, in fact, she was quite young for a dragon; but the lettering was very small for such a humongous creature, and while her eyesight was sharp, it was nice to have a boost for reading. The mouthwatering scent of the roasting meat drifted throughout the cave, making her smile in satisfaction. She could roast the food in seconds, but there was nothing like the taste of slow simmered venison smoked in oak. (which she had pulled off the tree with her talons) her long, earring-ed ears twitched every so often, listening to the crackle of logs, the howl of wind in the distance, the rustle of pages being turned. Sarokain Athrendis was a woman who loved the comforts of home, and she strove to weave them into the fabric of her life with every hour. Sighing in contentment, the twenty foot dragoness stood, closing her book with a gentleness that was odd for such a monstrous beast. She set the tome on her bed of furs, and pulled off her spectacles, restoring them to their place on the mahogany table near the chests. She reached a scaly hand to the fireplace, turning over some coals with her sharp, bone rending claws, not minding the heat at all. She watched the meat cook with contentment, licking her lips with a forked tongue.
"This should be a glorious feast,"
She remarked to herself, lying down so she was curled around the fire, back to the entrance of the cave. There were other dragons farther into the mountains, who formed a small colony. But she was on her own, a peaceful loner. This had been her home for three years now, and she had no intention of leaving. She had not had a vision in weeks, and she allowed herself to feel calm and relaxed in the welcoming atmosphere, confident she would not be disturbed in such a storm, so high in the mountains.
OOC: open to anyone and everyone!
