<strong>Eshalu - on contemplating a (small) dragon</strong><br/><br/>The sensation of Reliyian's touch on her arm was calming. It stilled the ranger's defensive instincts, though her eyes remained focused on the winged intruder. "You are not from this place, is that not so?" Eshalu spoke carefully. It took a moment for her to release the pommel of her shortsword. She trusted Reliyian's judgement enough to allow the sorceress the initiative. Eshalu knew she was not a natural diplomat. That had never been her calling or role. She was a protector, not a talker.<br/><br/>"In this place," Eshalu continued, observing the colourful, delicate quality of the creature's wings - it certainly did not look like a fierce predator at all, "you would do well not to surprise others. There are creatures similar to you about that hunger for flesh and I would not think that they would demur from taking another Cold One."<br/><br/>Eshalu settled on her knees, so she could be eye level with the winged lizard. Leaning forward she inspected it again. It had teeth, all right - enough for a sharp bite, but nothing more serious. Fear was beginning to mingle with curiosity. She had never seen the creature's kind before and Reliyian's description of it as a winged dragon was slightly strange. The dragons she had heard of in the stories of her clan were vast, legless or two-legged serpents which dwelt deep in the bowels of the earth or the heart of the forest, often asleep since the days of the Great Starfall. When they awoke, the earth shook and whole caerns would be swallowed up. The creature before her seemed distinctly incapable of such feats.