Zy'raxas hummed a draconic tune as she sorted through her pile of treasures. Among this gargantuan pile there were gold coins, silver coins, expensive jewelry both enchanted and mundane, a magical scepter or two, paintings, wood carvings, porcelain and marble toys of expert craftsmanship, and many more things of beauty and grandeur. The crystal dragon after all loved her shinies. And indeed they were shiny and sparkly. True beauty everything was, both in aesthetics and value.
Of course, many had come to her cave having heard rumors of a large treasure horde, some without knowing it was guarded by none other than Zy'raxas herself. She recalled that one bard man who stumbled into her cave that one time and chuckled. After an uneasy introduction, the crystal dragon merely having some fun at his expense, he had played for her a tune on his instrument before going on his way again. Others had been more hostile in their dealings and those were not such fond memories. Zy'raxas certainly had kicked their arses that was for sure. Being a dragon and all, much less an ancient one, there were few who could stand up to her might and live to tell the tale, save for other dragons.
Of course the mighty wyrm did not actively seek out violence, but if they brought it to her cave, well then beware her wrath. Only the foolish dare fight a dragon. Though there have been tales of those who made a living out of such. Dragon slayers they were called. And Zy'raxas had met plenty of them during her time on this earth. Yet none had bested her, though some had come rather close. She had had to heal for quite awhile after all was said and done. But oh, such dire thoughts were not what she needed right now if ever. Right now, the great dragon needed some fresh air. And fresh air she would have.
Leaving her cave and putting up the necessary wards, she lifted her wings in a magnificent stretch of crystalline beauty and took off into the air. She soared, white against blue, enjoying the freedom that provided as well as keeping a look out for anyone or anything of interest. The shape of a sphinx soon came into view from another direction as it too flew through the blue beyond.
Circling over the tundra some, Zy'raxas made to land, her crystalline claws touching equally white snow and permafrost. The sphinx should have also seen her, as it would be pretty difficult to miss spotting a creature of the crystal dragon's size. Icy wind blew through the area as she simply waited for the hybrid of lion, eagle and human to also reach ground level. Zy'raxas greatly looked forward to their meeting as everyone who was anyone knew that sphinxes had a love for riddles and intellectual puzzles. This one shouldn't be any different.
