Untitled Dragon Story

By EntreriRose

Marshmallow clouds drifted lazily across the azure sky, sporadically inhibiting the light of the sun. A gentle, warming breeze aided the white cotton-balls along in their journey; the lush green field was cloaked in pacific silence.

Flames then replaced the lovely drops of whipping cream and the fresh air turns stagnant with the sudden burst of acrid heat. Iridescent was the creature's hide, divided into millions of tiny scales. The ground shook with huge tremors; the force of something terrible was evident, as if an explosion had taken place.

The day, which had been joyful with its breath-taking beauty, was now heavy with fear. There was no escape, no caves, no labyrinth in which to hide, only open space between me and the monster.

I backed away from the creature's massive body, but he simply took a step closer to me, like a dance I had learned as a child. I wished it were indeed a dance, with a partner other than this horrid creature which loomed before me. My pulse quickened as he drew in a deep breath. It seemed like he was trying to suck the entire world into his lungs.

Then suddenly the dragon let out a huge burst of flame; he screamed and roared, showing his strength. He hurled his body toward me, knocking me to the ground with a violent flick of his tail. There was no need to cry out; no one would hear me this far into the wilderness. What was going to happen to me? I felt panic permeate the very core of my being as surely as I did the wetness travelling down my legs. Again, I felt a sharp pain run through my body as I was clipped by a passing wing.

The roaring ceased, but the pain lived on. My sight was blurred by agony when I opened my eyes. All I saw was the first eight square inches of an enormous, scaled head. The nostrils that were outside my field of view puffed hot air onto my face and neck. I could feel the single, massive talon that rested lightly on my torso, threatening to tear out my entrails.

"What are you doing here, human?" The noise was enough to cave in my skull.

It speaks? My mind screeched. The final word in the creature's inquiry was tinged with the poison of hate.

"We do not want your kind here. Explain to me why I should not pull you apart and feast on your corpse." It spoke almost patiently, condescendingly.

"Well . . . ugh . . . umm, if you don't harm me, I'll owe you a favor. It can be anything." I used that disarming smile that so often melted the hearts of the ladies at court.

The beast's huge, amber colored eyes blinked while he paused to ponder over the contract.

"What could you, puny mortal, possibly do for me? After all you are only a human."

"I can do a lot of things for you," I casually replied. "Wondrous things you've never experienced."

"Such as . . .?" the horrifying dragon was now intrigued.

"Well, I just can't tell you. I've got to show you." He nodded his gigantic head in consent.

"Now close your eyes," I instructed. I then picked up the halberd on which I was leaning. With a swift move, I thrust it up into the dragon's belly.

"Hey! What are you doing to me?" He bellowed in anger.

I had to think quickly; I couldn't just say, "trying to kill you."

"It's called acupuncture," I said as promptly as I could.

"Very well then." He seemed to be pleased with my answer. I stabbed a few more times, the blade having little effect on the creature's tough, scaly hide.

He seemed almost to enjoy it, this enormous dragon. I could swear by the light of the sun in the sky that he wore a fanged smile.

"How does that feel?" I tentatively asked.

"Quite nice, thank you." His voice, once booming and threatening to leave me a deaf man, took on a serene tone.

The dragon arched his neck slightly, revealing a tiny gap between the shimmering, ironclad scales. Needing no further prompting, I thrust upward into the soft flesh, the serrated razor tips biting in to pierce his spinal cord.

The mighty beast toppled over with an audible thud, sending shockwaves and jolts through the ground. I somehow managed to maintain my balance and began to systematically dislodge one of his smaller teeth {which just so happened to be the size of my head}.

"Another day, another dragon," I muttered to myself as I tied the prized tooth, proof of the kill, to my saddlebags and prepared for the long journey home. Then, I paused, a nagging in my mind told me something was out of place. I gazed all around the shattered field to find that something.

"Now wasn't there a young girl here a minute ago?"