Territorial

The white dragon stalked the deer closely, circling the edge of the clearing as the creature feasted on lush grass. His eyes narrowed with focus, and he lowered his head as he prepared to pounce.

A black blur rushed out of the opposite end of the clearing and pinned down the deer. Blood splattered and gushed on the bright green grass as the black dragon tore into the squirming deer’s flesh. Soon, the deer’s kicking subsided as the black dragon devoured his stolen meal.

The white dragon growled low in his throat. He clawed at the ground beneath him, leaving deep trenches in his wake. With a deafening roar that shook the forest for miles around, the white dragon charged the intruder.

The black dragon lifted his head—snout dripping crimson with blood—just as the white dragon knocked him out of the clearing. The black dragon quickly regained his footing as the white dragon ran at him, bearing his glistening white fangs. He braced himself for the impact and pushed back as the white dragon dragged him farther and farther into the forest. As they skidded to a halt, the black dragon shoved the white dragon back with all his strength.

The white dragon shook himself off as he stumbled backwards. Before the white dragon could react, the black dragon tackled him, and they went rolling through the forest, across the clearing, and into the other end of the forest.

They fell, head over tail, gnashing their fangs at each other as they attempted to clamp onto each other’s throats. The white dragon clawed at the black dragon’s eye, scratching open the eyeball until blood dripped from it. The black dragon scraped the white dragon’s sensitive underbelly. Their roars of pain and anger echoed throughout the forest, sending away all the creatures—all but one.

Despite his injured underbelly, the white dragon gained the upper hand and pinned the black dragon beneath him. He reared his head back and prepared to deliver the final strike to the black dragon’s expose throat.

Then a noose wrapped around the white dragon’s neck and yanked him back. Infuriated, the white dragon whipped around to face his new foes.

Humans. But not just any humans—knights.

The white dragon summoned all his power and expelled all the fire that he had at the new intruders. They were prepared, though, with armor protected by a fire-proof spell, and did not back down. Instead, they came closer with their iron chains and started throwing them over the white dragon’s back.

As the white dragon struggled and fought against his new foes, the black dragon scrambled onto his feet and launched into the air, smashing through the trees without regard. Safely in the sky, he took one last look back at his brethren’s plight. Then he flew off towards the mountains in search of new hunting grounds.