Fought a dragon, and it ran away

[PandaPo]

I was near Mt Anthor and an Elder dragon appeared and attack. After a few minutes of fighting, I got it down to about half health and it flew away. Change of music signaled the end of the encounter, so I'm curious how the game would treat the injured dragon. Does it despawn, or does it remain in the game world, still injured? If the latter, how do I go about tracking it down to finish it (I need dragon souls to unlock a few shouts)? Would it be near Mt Anthor, I'm assuming this is the dragon occupying that lair?

[Aarah]

I don't know the proper answer, but when I've had that happen before, I've found the dragon disappears and I don't see it again. If I go back to the location after a certain amount of time, a new dragon will have respawned (or perhaps the original one, but it will have its full health).

I don't think I have ever encountered a wounded dragon.

[Imbalance]

My experience has been similar to Aarah's.

Recently, I was visiting Falkreath when a dragon appeared and circled menacingly. I ran out of the western gates to attempt to lure it into what I thought was an ample clearing. It noticed me, evidenced by force feedback, and changed course to follow. I shouted Dragonrend to bring the fight to the ground, but it was a long shot - the force of the shout traveled a long way before hitting the dragon as it banked. I wasn't even sure I had hit it, but it was close enough to be certain that the visual effect of the shout could be seen. I expected it to land where I was standing, but instead it beelined to the mountains east and south, then turned south and flew up the steep slope toward it's lair, I suppose. I didn't chase it. I concluded my business in town and headed up the eastern trail a piece before fast travelling, and it did not reappear.

[Mauin]

I've had something like that happen many times over the years. At Mount Anthor, I've brought a dragon down to half health only to have it fly off and crash land out near Forsaken Cave. After I stood around for a while at Mount Anthor, the dragon eventually recovered enough of its health that it flew back and I had to fight it a second time.

A dragon I fought at Northwind Summit once crash landed out at Bonestrewn Crest for some odd reason. If I hadn't used the console to pull it back to my position, it probably would have done what the Anthor dragon did.

[PandaPo]

Thanks guys.

[Raptor_X2000]

Dragons have run away from me quite a few times. It's been a while since I last played, so I can't remember specifics, but at least one instance I did find a "wounded" runaway dragon. It was just lying on the ground somewhere, I attacked it and killed it. So I don't think they "despawn", at least not immediately.

Anyway this only happened once, so don't get your hopes up on finding the dragon. But a new one will respawn.

[PandaPo]

Update: On a a whim I fast traveled back to Mt Anthor from Winterhold. The dragon, still wounded, was there. So I got my dragon soul after all.
Thanks for the replies.

[Dark Spark]

While running around Falkreath one day, I suddenly absorbed a soul while crossing an empy grass field. I imagine that if you kill a dragon and leave the area for a few days before ever getting close enough to absorb its soul, you'll still be able to get it later even if the physical body vanishes.

[AKB]

I fought a dragon today,
It ran away.
Across the pale sky,
It fled,
As my head turned red,
So it wouldn't die.

I fought a dragon a week ago,
And after it I must go.
With blade in hand,
And a steely sword,
I will travel across the world,
If only the damned thing would land.

I fought a dragon a month in the past,
The bugger flies way too fast.
Still I hunt the beast,
Ever on its tail,
Which I plan to impale,
As it flies further east.

I fought a dragon today,
It ran away.
I hunt my prey,
as it flies past a gate,
into another state.
"You cannot go that way"
Great...

[Dark Spark]

It's like Shakespeare with swords.

[AKB]

There were plenty of swords in Shakespeare, especially after he did all those drugs and had to be put down by the royal guard. It would have been easier to just say "It's like Shakespeare".

[Dark Spark]

You don't say...

[Lord Timster]

pft. Shakespeare was a loser. He could never get 'sword' to rhyme with 'world' like that.

[Jabberdave]

I fought a dragon yesterday and I ran away!

Coincidence?

Just outside of Brood Cavern. I wasn't doing any damage to it. The dragon wasn't having that problem with me.

[Raptor_X2000]

I fought a dragon yesterday and I ran away!

Coincidence?

Just outside of Brood Cavern. I wasn't doing any damage to it. The dragon wasn't having that problem with me.

I used to run away from dragons too.
Then I took an arrow to the knee.

please don't ban me...