Writing Adventures

Flash Friday: Dragon Girl

9th April, 2010 - No Comments

The dragon swooped out of the sky, an inky blob plummeting from the clouds. The horses screamed in terror. Men froze in fear and awe. Black fire erupted through the camp as dragonsbreath seared the ground. Even the quartermaster could not keep the horses from snapping their leads and bolting in all directions. The dragon followed, grabbing a horse in each claw. She landed in a field and feasted, ripping them in half and gulping them down.

The captain gathered his men as she leapt into the air and came back for another pass. They stood ready, swords and arrows bristling. Their armor was weak and their weapons no match for her ancient hide, but they were ready to try. She flew straight for them, eyes gleaming purple and teeth dripping blood. A few, stout of heart, aimed their bows for her eyes. The arrows loosed at the same time as she did, a wave of black fire erupted, engulfing missiles and men alike. They roasted in their armor, screaming as one as they died.

Chaos descended at the sight of their leaders being burned alive. The entire camp was aflame, smoke and charred flesh filled the air. The dragon hunted down every living thing, roasting, ripping and crushing the life out of the army. She feasted on those that had survived the longest. Finished, she curled up amidst the fires to nap, lulled to sleep by the crackling flames.

A young girl watched from the tree line, stock-still for hours as the fires raged and died. One hand resting on a tree trunk, the other lose at her side. Her eyes wide and her lips parted, as though waiting to speak. Her nostrils were filled with smoke and death, and she inhaled deeply.

When the flames died, she stepped out, picking her way across the field to avoid the patches of embers. Testing each step, she found a path to the sleeping dragon. Climbing onto her tail, she walked the spine all the way up to her head, and curled up between her ears.

“Did you enjoy the show, little one?” The dragon’s voice whispered in her mind.
“Except the horses, they were too beautiful to deserve that.”

“They taste better than men, dear one.”

“I know, at least you didn’t eat them all.”

“Sleep now, we will have to leave soon.”