Onward!

They've made it to an actual road - broad, clearly meant for wagons - and nearly to the gates when a shadow blots out the sun, rapidly passing over.

And then a second, just as big.

"Dragons?"

Agon stills, staring up in moderate alarm. "Seems so."

"-I'm blaming you for this, Lion."

"Why me?"

Dragon number one: banks and circles a bit.

"Because you were the one who wanted to fight a dragon. And you're tall enough to hide behind which is a positive in this one situation."

Dragon number two lands on the road in front of the walking party.

Bellona huffs. And, cheerfully, to the dragon: "Hello!"

Dragon number one lands on the road behind the walking party.

"A human, an orc, and a suit of metal, all walking to Moria. A curious thing."

"Sounds like the start of a bad joke."

"Quite. Are you going to Moria?"

"Me and El are," Bellona says, gesturing to her and the human. "Agon was just showing us the path. We got... Kinda lost."

"Lost indeed, and somewhat desperate, to take direction from an orc."

Shrug. "This is the road to Moria, right?"

"Yes. For what purpose do you visit?"

"We're considering moving in. Heard the dwarves have a pretty good library and an appreciation for crafters."

"You consider yourselves crafters? The orc, as well?"

"El and I are."

"I can make a few things, but I'm really more of a traveler."

"Your kind rarely creates," she says to Agon.

"Don't know about that. There's lots of poetry, and songs, and stories, and ephemeral art. It is hard to build grand monuments with a constantly shifting array of petty warlords, though."