Dragons by Roger Keyserling (ebook smartphone TXT) 📕

with them. We could save them when they need us. We could be their hero, Izzy. You know we could. Please Izzy help me to show them we're different from the others." "Yes, I do. I also know Dragons and humans will never be friends. They will hunt us down until they kill the last one of us. You know that as well as I do." Gizzard stared at Izzy and nodded. He knew she was right. She always was. Humans would never trust them no matter how much he and Izzy wanted them to. They were, and would always be, the enemy. They had each other, yet sometimes their companionship wasn't enough. No matter how hard he tried, Gizzard couldn't help longing for that magical day when humans would sit on his back and fly away from the dangers below. He would fly above the clouds until they reached the heavens above.

They would fly to lands that were still unknown to them and discover their secrets until it was safe to return. They will need us one day. When they do, I will vow and declare I will be there to help them. Gizzard knew he was mumbling to himself again. He couldn't help it. Mumbling helped him to think. Dragons weren't known for their ability to think in detail, yet some did. Unlike other Dragons, Gizzard was known for his complex mind, at least he was known for it in the dragon world. He was known for his ability to plan everything as well as his gift of predicting unforeseen events. It was strange how he hadn't predicted anything in months. He hadn't seemed the floods or the famine which ravaged the land and its people. No that wasn't quite true. Gizzard had foreseen the numerous deaths in his mind. Unfortunately, he only saw humans on the ground.

There were dragons too; however, he hadn't seen his species as well as humans. "What's that?" "What are you talking about Gizzard?" "Please be quiet and listen." "What is it? I can't hear anything. Z" "Can't you hear someone screaming? The sound is faint; however, it is still there." They listened. It wasn't long before they both heard the same scream coming from one of the many mountains in the land. Gizzard took Izzy's right-wing and clung to it as they listened to the long, loud screams until he realized where they came from. Gizzard let go of his patient friend's wing and told her what they were going to do to save the butcher's daughter. The needed strong chains and a few secret ingredients from their garden to ensure their plan worked. Gizzard couldn't help the excitement which ran through his body.

His dream of saving a human had come. "Why do we need these things?" "Come on Izzy think. Who lives on top of the highest mountain in the land?" "No, it couldn't possibly be... I thought he was dead." "So did I, until I heard that beautiful girl scream. Nobody screams unless they hurt themselves or he harms them. I never believed what we were taught. Dragons can save humans and that is just what I plan to do." It almost didn't work. The beautiful maiden almost didn't leave her dark prison. Izzy was keen to leave; however, Gizzard was determined to rescue the girl and she knew it was the right thing to do so she stayed. Just as they were about to leave, Gizzard picked the young maiden up and put her on his back. He dropped the chain onto the hard floor and flew away into the night sky. The two friends smiled. They knew why he'd dropped them. All they had to do was wait. It was late by the time Gizzard put their new human friend to bed. The Dragons couldn't help gazing at the tiny figure before flying back to their world.

It was a long night. The cold floor was colder and harder than ever, yet the two Dragons waited. It was almost morning when they heard a chilling, screeching sound. The noise was deafening as it rang out across the mountains. Even the trees and caves shook in sympathy as the sound interrupted their sleep. They knew humans wouldn't thank them for saving their kind. They probably wouldn't believe the maiden if she tried to tell them about her adventure. It was a dream. It must have been one of the many dreams she'd had. Dragons didn't save humans, or did they?

The Fire Breathing Dragon - Story

 

Malaria was always known for her adventures. She would often tell the village's children about her experiences and tell them how exactly to avoid the negative

ones. She had a knack for over-exaggerating in order to grasp the children's attention and with one story the children simply couldn’t take their eyes off of her.

She told them she had gotten into a sword fight with a dragon.

"It was red and it's scales glowed like lava in the sun. But that's not even the craziest part. It breathed fire." She told the children. They all gasped and beckoned for her to continue on with her story. She smiled. "I drew my sword and lifted it above my head, provoking it if I’m honest. There is an adventure in danger and there is danger in an adventure. I knew this." She folded her hands around her back and looked around for the parents of the children, all of which were standing by a tall tree talking away. She looked back at the children and leaned forward.

"Now you guys know too. Maybe one day you will go on your own adventures and take your own risks. But anyway, back the story. The dragon has flown into the air. M sword was lowered now and I was perched in a position in which I would strike the dragon right on. that is when I found unfortunately found out that it breathed fire." She lifted up her pant leg up to reveal a bandage wrapped around her calf.

“It got you with its fire?” A little girl asked, her mouth dropped open in shock. Malaria looked at the girl for a moment before walking over and kneeling down next to her.

“Yes, my dear, it did. But you best believe I gave it some of my own fire as well.” She patted the girl’s head and looked to the other children. “I jumped out of the dragon’s aim of fire, or so I thought. The fire hit me because I did not jump out far enough not to get hit. Always remember to jump farther. I drew my sword after that, and again I raised it. I told the dragon that I was there and that I was ready to take it on. It heard me loud and clear because it charged at me with a force, not even gravity could defy. Once again I moved out of the way, and I let it hit the ground on its own, pushing dust up into the air in which I reflexively covered my mouth and nose. You cannot get distracted in a duel like this, it won’t end well for you. With one arm I covered my mouth and with the other, I took my sword and sliced its wing. There was a painful screech from the dragon and it rose again, much angrier than before. He blew fire again because he was afraid to get too close. I jumped away every single time, I wouldn’t let him hit me again. After taking in the reality of the fight, he took his chances once more, even though he was afraid to and I once again, hit him with my sword. Another painful screech rung through my ears but I did not give in because once again, distractions are your enemy. Fir blazed every tree around us and they burned to the ground into black ash. I decided that hitting his wings were not enough, I needed to go for his stomach or his throat. When you know you need to do something, you do it.” The children were still listening to her. Every word seemed to drag them in further and when she stopped, their eyes begged her to keep going. So she did.

“There was a thought that crossed my mind in which I didn’t immediately push out even though I should have. That thought was whether or not I should go through with fighting this dragon until I won, or just let it go. I, of course, chose to keep fighting because a battle started is a battle that needs to be finished. When I broke out of this intrusive thought, the dragon was stooping once again clearly because he saw a break in my concentration, but I pointed my sword out straight and I let him dive right into it. He let out the biggest screech he had the entire duel. He fell. He had given up. My sword was the victor and his fire had failed him. But there is no doubt in my mind that my fire burned strong and fierce. If there’s something this experience taught me that I will pass on to you is that you should always fight your battles, even if it means getting hurt. You’re stronger than you think you are and smarter than anyone will ever tell you. On the dragon’s side, he took a leap even when he was afraid. That’s what adventure is all about. Venturing out of your comfort zone, getting dirty, and coming home safe. You need to do that. Come home.” Malaria told the children who now looked more confused than interested. She bent down to the bandage around her calf again but this time she unwrapped it. There was no burn, no injury at all.

“You all went on an adventure with me that not even I really went on. Your imagination is your best friend and your fire is your savior. Your battles will not be battles anymore if you fight them. You avoid getting hurt by jumping farther and thinking smarter. It isn’t about who won, it’s about why you won in the first place. The dragon took a leap, I just got there first. Fight your dragons, and find your fire. That’s where the real fun begins.” Malaria told them. The children clapped as their parents came to retrieve them. She wanted to believe that every single child walking away now had a sense of imagination and the willingness to look for their fire. She knew that one day those things would set them free from a world trying so desperately to lock them in. She had hope that she, and the dragon that breathed fire, had changed their lives.