Arkoumene

Late that night Ethan was awakened by Cara. She was standing over him, nudging him with her muzzle, one ear laid back and the other facing the door. She stood ridged and straight, her head held slightly to one side, as if listening to something.

“What is it?” Ethan asked.

“Not sure—it is not good, whatever it is—be on your guard.” With that she walked over to the door and stood against the wall, facing the door.

Ethan stood up, none too calmly, and stumbled to the wall behind Cara. Suddenly he forgot how wonderful this world was and wished he was home in bed.

For several moments he heard nothing save the breathing of the animals and the songs of the crickets. But then he jumped at a loud clang-clanging from a bell somewhere in the village. Seconds later, men were heard shouting and running out of their homes, through the streets.

Ethan was scared, but still wanted badly to see what was going on; but he felt Cara would have him stay where he was.

The next moment he heard a growl, and then a tremendous roar as a building crashed to the ground somewhere near them. Ethan’s blood ran cold, and Cara stomped uneasily by her wall. “Dragon.”

A dragon! Was it possible? Most likely—everything else in this world seemed to be. But what could one look like?

Ethan was certain the animal was dangerous, but curiosity won over his fear and he dashed by Cara, out the door and into the night.

He hadn’t gone ten yards before he saw the monster and the fight. Aric was not present, but Simion, Skyler and Dedric were there, trying to get at the constantly-moving beast with their swords and spears. The dragon seemed to be focusing all his attention on Skyler, trying to shred him with its claws. The others were doing their best to help Skyler, but the dragon was moving so quickly that it was difficult for anyone to get close to it, though it was always facing its chief opponent.

The creature, though very large, was smaller than what Ethan was expecting. It was hard to tell by the light from the men’s torches exactly what color it was, but it seemed to be a dark green. It had a long, spiked neck and tail, a frilled head, and, judging by its shape, it generally stood on all fours. At this time it was standing on its rear legs, using its huge wings and tail to trip and even throw the other men about. Ethan stood where he’d stopped, not three yards from the battle, petrified.

Suddenly something grabbed his shirt from behind. Ethan gave a yell at the unexpected jerk and, turning around, found Cara behind him.

“What are you doing here?” she demanded, speaking for the first time in public.

Ethan was dumb with fear, and could say nothing. Cara got behind him and shoved him toward the stable. This time he cooperated. He had seen enough.

At that moment Skyler noticed the boy, and ordered him home. The dragon, seeing its enemy distracted, grabbed Skyler in its jaws and shoved itself off the ground. Spreading its wings it flew over and past Ethan.

As the other men ran toward the dragon, Cara immediately reared up and caught hold of the dragon’s back foot. The dragon, enraged, dropped his prey and turned on Cara, but before anything else happened, the horse lifted Ethan by his shirt and swung him onto her back, at the same time dashing back and into the stable.

She threw him off into the straw. “Stay there!” she ordered, and then resumed her post by the door, but this time expecting something.

Seconds passed. The noise outside abated, but then the dragon lurched into the building with a roar, and without even seeing Cara practically ran into Ethan, fire pouring from its mouth and nostrils.

Ethan screamed, and hid his face in his hands. Doubtless, his last moment had come. Then for the second time on his adventure he passed out.