The Hunt

The dragon drops his head with a rumbling snort. His breath scalds my face.

His eyes narrow, his head drawing closer.

Run.

I'm frozen to the shale digging into my palms and the backs of my thighs. It's sharp, and it hurts.

I'm giving you a chance, pup. Impatience rolls off his black scales like steam off a horse's flanks. You play along, or you die. His lips lift. I get a close-up glimpse of his teeth, like a mouthful of swords.

Why can't I move?!

I'm angry at myself. Fury is better than fear. It melts whatever has frozen me. Something molten flooding my limbs and sending sparks up my spine. Something to mimic courage.

I'm not thinking, or if I am, it's so fast it's like not thinking at all. Like my muscles have taken over, grabbing at any chance to survive. The rock leaves my hand and lands square in that shining eyeball.

For a fleeting moment, he flinches back. Was that shock? I've already rolled away when the roar blasts over where I'd huddled moments before. I'm on my feet, running, flying, with no idea how fast and far I have to flee to get out of range of its fire.

Claws and scales rattle over the stony ground behind me, too loud, too close. My feet won't go faster.

One thought burns in me: get to the castle. If I get back there, I'll live.

I'm not thinking any further ahead than that. I'm not thinking of power, legacies, alliances or pacts.

The path forks. To the left, a ledge, and the right, a steep incline. I head for the ledge, which is barely wide enough for my feet, and flatten my shoulder blades against the harsh rock. I hope it will be difficult to reach me here.

I scoot along, heart pounding, the path underfoot crumbling. Pebbles bounce down the mountainside. He roars above me. A tongue of flame shoots into the sky.

In a moment he'll take flight. Then he can melt my body where I stand. Someone whimpers pitifully, and I realise it's me.

My heart leaps when I find an opening in the mountainside and squeeze inside.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Author's Note: Word count: 366 (NB. This excludes the title, subtitle, and authors notes.) Submitted on Sunday 1st September at 23:25

A Year of Stories: I'm writing (and submitting, here) a story every day this year. This one continues my 245 day streak since 1st January. Please consider lending your support to the other creators on this madcap "a story every day" adventure. They're putting out excellent content every day! Rachel Deeming Gerard DiLeo

The story behind the story:

I aim to write these so that you can enjoy them as stand alone stories, or one after the other. If you'd like to do the latter (they're all very short):

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Thank you

Especially if you are one of the wonderful people who has been staunchly reading these daily scribbles since the start of the year. I see you, and appreciate you very much indeed!

If you enjoyed this one, the very best compliment you can give me is to share it, or read another!

My new Dollar Challenge! Please give it a look:

Here's a recent Top Story of mine:

A recent Runner Up placement for one of my Wanky Poems:

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Thank you again!