Dragon’s Appetite

Paw leaned on the closed door and sighed.

Sami fought back tears as she watched her father. “Why won’t he help us?”

“I need to raise more money.” He shook his head. “The town’s people have already given from what little they have. Too much to ask for more…”

“But they are losing more and more livestock. Someone has to do something.” Sami placed a plate of food in front of her little brother and gazed at him. Small, innocent, helpless. “What if the…you know…gets Henry?”

“What’s a u-no?” Henry pushed his carrots off his plate.

“Henry Alan! You are going to eat every carrot or you will go to bed early. You need to eat your vegetables.” Sami crossed her arms and pursed her lips.

Henry moaned as he put a carrot into his mouth.

“Paw,” – Sami placed two more plates on the table – “how many Dragon Slayers do you know? Maybe one of them won’t be as greedy as Drake.”

Paw counted his fingers, holding out six before all except two returned to his fist. “That many. The others either moved on or died. The two still around here are Drake and myself.”

Sami sank into her chair.

Paw approached an aged armor hanging near the fireplace. He ran his thick fingers over the dusty breastplate. On the floor near a helmet was a set of tattered vambraces, which covers the forearms of a warrior. “I should do it myself.”

“No!” Sami stood and dropped her fork. “Your sword arm doesn’t work anymore…” She peered at Henry and pressed her lips together to stop any more words from spewing out of her mouth.

“I know, but more important is that I don’t leave you two without a parent.” Paw rubbed his crippled arm. “Sami, you two finish dinner. I need to go see what I can dig up before Drake returns. Maybe our neighbors have other things that he would be interested in.”

Sami nodded. “I’ll save your dinner.”

* * *

“No, you don’t!” Sami hurled a big rock as the dragon’s claws bore down on her. She swung her fists and flipped, hitting the floor. “Ow.” She moaned and climbed back into bed. Sami growled and punched her pillow, trying to get comfortable.

“Not enough,” Sami heard come from the other room. She tiptoed to her door and listened.

“This is important to the village,” Paw said. “Livestock is being snatched. What if it starts to take our children?”

“You get what I ask, and I will be happy to slay your dragon,” Drake said.

Sami closed her eyes and clenched her teeth.

“Just so you know,” Drake said, “that dragon has made its home in the cavern of Twin Hills.”

“That close to the village? Drake, you must help us.”

“I will for the right price. I’ll be in the village for a few more days.”

The front door shut. Sami scurried back to bed.

After a few hours of tossing and turning, Sami slammed her arms down beside her. “I will do it.”

She dressed and snuck down the hallway to her father’s armor near the fireplace. She reached behind and retrieved his sword. It took both hands for her to wield the dull-looking weapon. Paw had trained her on the sword, though not on one so heavy. It will take a strong sword like this to slay the dragon, she thought.

Sami trekked to the barn and saddled her horse. “Bay, you get me to that evil dragon, and I will kill it,” she said as she mounted the horse. She made a clicking sound with her tongue, and Bay carried her away.

The clear sky enabled the stars to shine on the path across the ridge. As they neared the Twin Hills, Bay let out a whinny. Shadows swept across the terrain.

The eerie and unsettling surroundings made her shudder. “Bay… let's rest under those trees.” She dismounted and led the horse to the sparse tree line. It was impossible to spot the cavern in the hills as dark clouds drifted in.

She sat on the ground and leaned against a tree. The sword rested between her legs as she held tight to its halt. “I will have to sneak in and get the dragon off guard. Maybe if I go in before sun up it will be sleeping.” Her eyes became heavy as she struggled to stay awake.

Neighhh…

Sami woke to Bay nudging her shoulder. “Oh, no.” Her heart beat fast. The sun had risen. It was well past morning.

Suddenly, a sound from above like a beating drum drew Sami’s attention. “The dragon…” 

The creature’s wings thrashed through the sky while it extended its long neck. A bellowing roar accompanied by a fiery stream erupted from its jaws full of sharp teeth. The dragon landed on the hill with a limp cow in its talons before squeezing into the cavern.

Sami gasped. At least I know where the cavern is. She clasped the halt of the sword. “For my village. For my family,” she encouraged herself.

Mounted on Bay, she galloped to the foot of the hills. She jumped off the horse and pulled her sword. “You stay here. I’m going up there.” Sami narrowed her eyes. “I’m coming for you dragon.”

She climbed and climbed. As she ascended, her leg muscles began to feel the strain. Over halfway up, she rested. If I am exhausted when I arrive, I will not stand a chance. She wished she had left a note for her father. He would at least know what happened to her if she did not survive. She sighed and took a drink from her canteen.

The cavern was in sight. Sami crawled to the entrance. A strong smell of rotten eggs made her hold her nose. How could she go in if she cannot stand the smell? She released her nostrils and breathed in short bursts until she no longer noticed the sickening odor. She sneaked inside, making her way deeper into the chilly, damp cave. Then she saw it. A huge spiky tail swayed back and forth.

The dragon faced the cavern wall. Maybe it’s snacking on the cow. She saw her opportunity, so she tiptoed along the dragon’s tail and made her way to its hind leg. She wondered if it would feel her climb upon its back. Her heart raced as she picked up a rock and tossed it. It bounced off its back. The dragon did not budge.

Sami pressed her lips together and then took a deep breath. Up I go. She adjusted the sword across her back and started to climb.

She gingerly placed each step.       

The dragon took a deep, heavy breath. Sami’s foot slipped. She grabbed a rough spike among those that staggered up the dragon’s spine. Holding tight, she regained her footing and froze. No fire... She steadied her breaths and continued. The beast’s scales crackled beneath her feet.

She reached the base of the dragon’s brawny neck, took a firm stance, pulled the sword, lifted it high, and whispered, “Die dragon.”

Just before she plunged in the sword, the dragon reared up and knocked her backward.

Sami tried to grab hold of something but slid off the dragon. With a thud, she landed on the cavern floor. Gasping for air, she gripped her sword.

The angry dragon reared its head high and opened its large mouth.

Sami tried to scoot away, but the wall stopped her. She lifted the sword as the dragon roared, and sharp teeth raced toward her. She screamed!

Plop. The head of the dragon landed next to her.

After a moment of heavy breaths, she heard, “You are your father’s daughter.”

Sami looked up. Drake stood over her with his hand out.

“It’s you! Oh, thank the all mighty.” She took his hand and he pulled her up.

“You mean. Thank me.”

She peered at him sidelong. “Why are you here?”

“This morning your father paid what I asked. Though not all in coin. He told me you, your horse, and his sword were missing. So, I made haste, figuring you would need help.” Drake smiled.

All that mattered to Sami was that the dragon was dead. Her family was safe. “Yes, I certainly did.”

As she stepped around the dragon’s head, she heard a bleat like the cry of a baby goat. She turned and spotted a small dragon.

“Step back,” Drake said as he raised his sword.

Sami darted in front of him. “No! It’s a baby.” She turned to the little dragon and held out her hand. Suddenly, the dragon let out a loud baa and padded to her, putting its snout under her arm. “Oh, it’s all right. No one will harm you,” she said, then glared at Drake.

Drake rolled his eyes and lowered his sword. “It’s a dragon.”

“It's just a baby.”

“It will grow into a big, bad dragon,” Drake said, crossing his arms. “Have it your way. But… I will return this time next year. Tell your father to start saving.” He gave a wink and strolled away, humming as he went.

Sami stroked the little dragon as she thought about what the dragon slayer said. She picked up her sword and raised it.

The dragon poked her with its snout.

She kneeled down and tightly gripped her sword. She raised the dragon's head and sighed. “You will learn to eat vegetables.”