Breathless

Fear.

Fear was what propelled Juma through the dead underbrush of the forest. The enormous dragon snaked his way through the towering trees as he made his escape. Juma’s every attempt to combat the blight killing his home had failed. His verdant scales have dulled, his wings have torn, and the fire on his breath extinguished. He could sense whatever evil had come to his forest pursuing him now. Feeling as if there was no other choice left, Juma did the unthinkable for a dragon; he fled.

He discovered these woods when he was just a young dragon and has called it home ever since. It has been known as the Lanibury Grove. He’d come to be its protector and in return it provided him many gifts including nourishment, refuge, and peace. Now the forest was dying, and those gifts have dwindled.

He first noticed the signs three days ago. He’d woken up under the base of a thick pine to the sunlight peeking through the branches. The grove consisted of numerous types of trees but deep into the woods grew pines large enough for an adult dragon to shelter under. He laid under the giant tree for most of the morning in a half-asleep state. He always slept longer the day after hunting. Plus he enjoyed basking in the small rays of sunlight that glimmered off his scales.

A small breeze stirred, and Juma lifted his head to listen. Lanibury had its own voice. It didn't speak directly of course, but after staying here long enough he’d learned how to listen. Sometimes he’d hear whispers in the wind guiding him through the grove, other times he’d get vague feelings that he learned not to ignore.

What started as a gentle breeze turned cold and piercing. It grew steadily more violent, assaulting the surrounding pines. Juma recoiled in surprise and the two spikes on his head collided with a nearby branch. Needles from the tree fell all around the dragon. He unfurled himself and stretched his wings causing the needles to slide off his muscular form.

Uneasiness swept through Juma. Perhaps it was nothing, but he thought it best to do a quick scout of the grove. He quickly wound his way up the tall pine, making sure to avoid its thick branches, like he’d done countless times before. As he neared the top, he pushed off the great tree and shot out of the canopy like a fish leaping out of the water. His vast wings took over on instinct, carrying him through the wind and over the treetops.

The sunlight radiated off the top of the canopy as he flew over an emerald ocean. He never got tired of flying over the forest. The grove had a beauty and splendor that very few creatures had the ability to see from this angle. It was almost enough to make him forget his uneasiness, until he heard a distressed cry coming from the forest floor. Without hesitating he descended to the ground in search of the disturbance. Immediately, his senses were thrown askew. The smell, the air, the color, it all felt so.. tainted.

It didn't take long to locate the source of the cry. A stag lay sideways on the ground. Its fur was patchy and pale; but, what startled him the most was its glossy black eyes and ragged breathing. He approached the stag to inspect it further, but it kept lifting its head and trying to spear Juma with its antlers. He had no choice but to douse the sickly creature with his fire, hoping to cleanse whatever plagued it from his forest.

Juma’s uneasiness did not abate. He knew he needed to find the source of the corruption, so he continued scouring the forest. The Lanibury Grove was home to a wide variety of creatures, and everything that Juma encountered was diseased in the same way. They all shared the same putrid smell, black eyes, and aggressive behavior. The entire balance of the grove felt askew.

Eventually he’d found it, the thing terrorizing his home. It was the dead of night and Juma found himself on the outskirts of the grove. He’d been following the tracks of a large bear, hoping to finally find an animal that wasn’t afflicted like the others. He followed the tracks to the mouth of a large cave; he assumed the bear's den.

It was too dark to fully distinguish the unsettling scene before him, but he was able to discern the bear pinned under an immense shadowed figure. There were thin black tendrils of smoke that connected the two creatures.

Anger boiled within Juma at the unseemly sight. This was his forest, and it was to be a sanctuary. Not a place of corruption and fear. He squared his legs, bared his scaly chest, and roared with all his fury. The might of his voice rebounded throughout the cave as the shadowy creature looked up unfazed. It released the bear underneath it which stared directly at the dragon. Juma confidently met the animal’s gaze and saw those glossy black eyes he’d seen before; he was too late.

The black wisps of smoke began to reach out of the cave towards Juma. He watched in horror as they molded to his scales. He felt his strength leave him and his mind grew foggy. Without hesitation he unleashed the fire in his belly towards the cave, but it quickly extinguished in his maw.

The bear emerged from its den and charged at Juma. It was small compared to the size of the fully grown dragon, but Juma didn't have the strength to fend it off. It clawed and ripped at his body and wings. He saw only one choice before him. He had to run.

He managed the effort to push the beast off him and turned to flee. He tried to fly but his wings were too torn, so he snaked his way through the trees as fast as his body would allow. The black wisps of smoke no longer connected him to that monster, but the dread he felt still haunted him as he fled throughout the night.

Dawn approached and in his hasty retreat Juma nearly missed the faint sound of a nearby sniffle. Startled, he paused under the cover of foliage to smell the air. Something was different. Since the blight appeared, the woods had become ruled by the scent of death, like a rotten autumn that held no end. This new scent stood out. Soft and reminiscent of summer flowers. He hurried to investigate, fearing that he was still pursued.

Juma cautiously approached the origin of the noise. As he pushed aside a particularly thorny clump of brambles he rebounded in shock; a small female child lay underneath. The newly uncovered toddler looked up with wide hazel eyes that reflected the same fear the dragon felt.

“Drago-” The child started, but was promptly cut off by a sharp “HSST” from Juma. They could not afford noise at this time.

It was then that he saw it. Sharp pointed ears poked through the little one’s brown matted hair. A distinguished, angular face displayed such defining features for one so little. And though her hair was dirty and matted, her skin was fair. He had never seen a creature that looked so fragile and exposed to the elements; yet, an air of natural belonging surrounded the small child.

Disbelief struck Juma, this was an elf. The elves had been curators of nature and proprietors of magic. They helped grow this forest before Juma’s time. But, the elves had long ago left Lanibury Grove without warning. Now one laid before him, and a child nonetheless. This was impossible.

Before the dragon had time to react a new scent caught his attention; rot and decay. The vile smell quickly became overwhelming. His pursuer was near, and he was out of time. His mind told him to continue running, but seeing an elf return to his home filled him with an usual sense of hope. This being felt like an extension of the forest, and he was the forest's protector. He made his decision and wrapped his torn wings around the child in an attempt to camouflage them both. His large green form blended with the surrounding fauna and became nearly indistinguishable.

A small whimper escaped the elf child as Juma exhaled slowly becoming still and silent. That silence was quickly cut with a nearby guttural wail. It echoed through the forest and seemed to vibrate within the dead foliage.

Both the dragon and child remained motionless as the ground trembled with the monster's approach. The air grew stiff and Juma could sense the surrounding plant life begin to alter, as if the seasons were changing rapidly. The monster's ragged breathing could be heard as it paused nearby, searching for the dragon's trail. Juma could not risk looking at his pursuer or he would surely give away their position. Holding on to his newfound hope, he waited patiently for whatever lay in store.

Minutes passed but felt like hours as Juma lay breathless. Unexpectedly, he heard a growl of frustration and listened intently as the creature trudged off along the forest floor. He knew it would not relent, but perhaps now he had time to assess the mystery of the child he was currently cradling. But first, they needed distance and respite.

He took a long deep breath before uncurling his body from around the toddler. In one swift motion he wrapped his tail around the child and lifted her onto his back, careful to avoid the spikes that ran along his spine. Resting at the nape of his neck, the child did not speak but seemed to understand. Juma paused momentarily to stare, still questioning how an elf had returned. It would have to wait, he thought and flared his nostrils prompting the child to hold tightly as he took off in the opposite direction of their enemy.

Twilight crept through the trees as the sun descended below the canopy. It was getting darker earlier, Juma noted. They had stopped for rest after running for what felt like hours. If only he had the strength to fly, they would be safe then.

“I’m scared.” The young girl's voice shook. Juma paused and turned his head so that one eye was fixated on the child. He knew very little of elves, or even their common tongue, but did not expect such speech from a toddler. “It followed me. That scary monster did. It came to my home and made everything mad and mean. Mommy and daddy got hurt, made me run..I miss mommy and daddy.”

The child's words cut off as tears streamed down her face. Juma lowered his head unsure how to continue. A small river ran nearby, perhaps they could rest there. They broke out of the treeline in a slow walk and stopped near the water. Juma lowered himself down and allowed the child to safely jump off his back.

The elf child sat on the edge of the river bank, her eyes transfixed on the running water. she had not said a word since they reached the water. He had never seen an elf before, and had no idea how to communicate with her. Dragons were solitary creatures and preferred to keep to themselves, but he was good at listening. He had plenty of experience listening to the forest. He walked up next to the child, careful not to disturb her and stared into the water with her.

“I'm Kaylin.” She said in her high pitched voice, finally taking her eyes off the water. Juma met her gaze. He wasn't used to being talked to so directly, yet listening to her felt as easy as listening to the forest.

“I met a dragon once.” Kaylin continued. “He was big and red, kinda mean too. Your eyes are much nicer. He made lots of scary noises. I think I like you better.” Kaylin ended with a small grin. Juma flicked his tail at the water, causing a splash and eliciting a slight giggle from the elf.

They sat quiet for some time, and the sun set further. Juma's mind went to food. He'd hunted not long before this started and could easily go without for a few more days; the child, however, would need something soon. A quick scan of the treeline showed no signs of wildlife or vegetation. Hunting wouldn’t be an option, and foraging wasn't exactly part of his skillset. He needed another option.

He returned his gaze towards the riverbank but the child was gone. Fear spiked within Juma once more and he immediately began scanning the water. Where had she gone? He heard nothing, and he could discern no new scents. Standing on his rear legs with his head held high, he searched the landscape for any signs of life.

Movement caught his attention in the corner of his eye, and he spun around and dropped down onto his front legs. The child stood there with her eyes wide in surprise, and her arms full of wild berries. She popped one into her mouth and chewed excitedly. Juma stared bewildered as the child pointed towards the ground. It was noticeably more lush and green where they stood, and at Juma’s feet was an apple.

“For you!” exclaimed the little one as it gestured towards the fruit. Juma hesitantly sniffed the apple, dragons did not eat fruit. “Go on, eat it.” the child continued.

Reluctantly, the large dragon snatched up the apple in his mouth and swallowed it whole. Such a tiny morsel would be insignificant anyway. A small laugh escaped the child, it was soft and musical. She stood there watching as if she anticipated some kind of reaction.

After a few seconds, Juma’s exhaustion alleviated. He felt lighter, could breathe easier, and the pain from his torn wings relieved. He inhaled deeply and stretched his wings out. As he exhaled, a small plume of smoke escaped his nostrils. He felt whole again.

The trees rustled along the river as a gentle breeze surrounded them, replacing the smell of Juma’s smoke with the child’s summer flower scent. Feeling the breeze was comforting for Juma, and guilt washed over him for ever thinking to abandon his grove.

His thoughts were interrupted by a terrible shriek from further into the treeline, downwind. A horrible realization dawned on him; if he could smell the child’s scent, then perhaps the monster could too. The wind just gave away their location.

“No no no, please no.” Cried Kaylin, dropping her berries and clinging to the dragon's leg.

He looked down at the child who returned his gaze with fearful eyes. He lowered his head toward the childs’ and nudged it softly. He knew they could not run this time. Not when it would keep following, and not when the forest showed signs of life again.

There was little time to prepare. In a swift motion, Juma scooped the child off the ground with his tail and rushed to place her up in the branches of a nearby oak. His long tail lifted the child up and brought her half way up the tree. There Juma hoped she would remain safe.

The large dragon stood silent and alone on the riverbank. The air grew cold as the wind began to howl. That scent had returned; rot and decay. It was shortly followed by a large hulking figure emerging from the trees.

This creature was nearly as big as Juma and it walked on four hooved legs. Patchy black fur attempted to cover its leathery body, and protruding from its torso were two more appendages with claw-like hands at the end. The head had a grizzled snout with a ram's horns growing out of its brow. This was not a natural beast, concluded Juma. It was an abomination.

The air surrounding this monstrosity darkened with every step it took towards the stalwart dragon. Its hooves beat against the ground as its pace quickened until it reached a full sprint, pointed straight at Juma. He braced himself, ready to meet his foe.

The abomination collided with the dragon, horns first and impacting his left shoulder. Juma tumbled to his side but managed to whip his tail around to grapple the beast’s legs. The attacker fell onto the dragon, its hooves scrambling to regain purchase. Juma bit, clawed, and battered his foe with his wings. It was a large whirl of chaos and carnage. Juma felt the monster's claws tearing at his wings. He released his tail from its back legs in an effort to prevent further damage to his wings, but the monster used its newly gained footing to pin Juma into the ground.

He thrashed violently, but noticed inky black wisps begin to form, tying him to this creature. He could feel his strength draining, making it increasingly harder to resist. Filled with fear once more, he opened his maw in an attempt to release his fire but only smoke came. His breath escaped him and his thrashing slowed as his vision blurred.

He didn't want to become another diseased creature, feral and mindless. He needed to protect. He was Juma, defender of the grove, and he could not lose himself or Kaylin. Juma turned his head from the abomination to look for Kaylin now, but the tree he’d placed her in was empty.

The monster's focus turned away from him and towards the river bank. He followed its gaze and saw the elf child standing at the edge of the water. Her eyes shone brightly and a warm light surrounded the abominations' horrible visage. Was this some trick of his dying mind?

Then he felt it, the same feeling he’d had after eating the apple; he felt whole. His vision focused and his strength returned. The black tendrils connecting him to this abomination were gone. Smoke escaped his nostrils again as Juma opened his jaw and loosed a green inferno at his attacker.

A pillar of flames erupted outward in a bright cone that illuminated the surrounding forest like a flash of lightning. A terrible screech escaped the fire as the monster's haunting form began to flail rapidly. It struck out through the raging flames in a last effort to subdue the dragon. But Juma did not relent, and his fire continued until the attacker melted away into nothing more than a black tar.

Exhausted, Juma righted himself as the child dashed to his side. They had won. This horrible creature that was plaguing his home was vanquished. The forest felt quiet and tranquil. He breathed deeply and extended a wing over the child.

“Are you ok?!” Kaylin exclaimed. She poked at his wings and inspected his scales. He snorted and raised his head up proudly. He realized he’d never felt better.

Juma lowered his head towards the childs once more, matching her stare. He puffed a small plume of smoke around her, prompting a coughing fit mixed with a slight chuckle. His large head reared back playfully as small growl-like noises escaped him.

“Are you laughing?” The child jested. “Dragon’s can't- wait!” And Juma lifted her up and placed the young one back at the nape of his neck. It was getting late and he knew the perfect pine to sleep under.