“Kalinth is the worst dragon ever,” Perrath scoffed. “I heard he can’t even breathe fire.”
    
“I heard he chooses not to because it’s violent,” I laughed.
    
“I wonder why your father called a meeting,” Perrath asked. As the chieftain’s son, I was expected to know everything, but this gathering had been entirely unexpected.
    
We emerged into the huge cavern that served as the Great Cave and sat down. More dragons trickled in. I spotted my father on the platform in the middle of the cave.
    
After more dragons arrived, my father began his speech. “I am sure you are all wondering why I called you here so abruptly.” Definitely. “I have grave news. We have spotted humans near the entrances to the caves.”
    
There was a collective intake of breath at this. Humans? “As is custom, we have called a meeting so that the members of our tribes may propose solutions to this problem.”

Murmuring broke out. I turned to Perrath, but before I could get a word out, a dragon appeared on the platform.
    
It was Kalinth.
    
“I propose,” he began in a quiet voice, “that we try to befriend these humans. They have not yet caused us harm, and further conflict could be prevented if--” Kalinth was cut off as the cave burst into yelling.
    
“We must eliminate the humans!” dragons shouted. “They can’t be reasoned with! They’ll destroy our home if we don’t! Get this dragon off the stage!” But Kalinth stayed, facing the crowd with steely determination in his eyes.
    
Dragons shouted insults around me, but I stayed silent. What if Kalinth was right? What if, by befriending the humans, we could avoid bloodshed?
    
My father’s green scales were practically purple with outrage. “Befriend the humans! No one but a fool will second that idea!” Another dragon had to second an idea for it to be approved.
    
“Can you believe him, saying something like that?” Perrath said. “I’ve never heard anything more--Hey, where are you going?”

I pushed through the crowd of wings and talons and emerged next to Kalinth. “I second the idea,” I said.