Treasure

Fire sprung on to trees and ate their branches as people fled their small village in terror leaving behind their homes and belongings. They had known a village so near the Great Dragon’s territory was a dangerous place to live but two generations had passed since Cinder Town had been established. The people felt safe and were too comfortable, wandering too near the dragon’s land for their own good and had to learn so in the worst of ways.

Hours had passed and a short April downpour had extinguished the flames leaving only charred remains of the few spread out houses that comprised the small town. The Great Dragon had come back to Cinder Town to survey the destruction and heard a whimper in the forest. “Unusual,” wondered the dragon, “even birds know better than to sing so soon and near where my flames have been claiming land.” That was true, not a sound other than the wind moving through trees could be heard outside that peeping whimper. The Great Dragon moved into the forest toward the noise, flames sprouting from his nostrils at the annoyance.

Walking a few steps then, falling over and letting out a small cry, a tiny curious creature bumbled about alone, lost, and quite miserable looking. It was a new human the Great Dragon realized as it looked up and widened its puffy little eyes and then smiled looking at the Great Dragon. “You don’t even know to fear me.” the Great Dragon chuckled. The child didn’t understand but repeated “fear me” in a voice even the Great Dragon found adorable. The dragon knew the child had been left for dead by one of the fleeing people of Cinder Town and that it needed food and someone to care for it.

While dragons may not allow humans to invade their territories and hunt their prey, they don’t have any hatred for humankind. This helpless little child needed someone and the Great Dragon, much to his own surprise, became that someone. He hunted and brought her meat cooked with his fire and brought her to live in his cave under Rockhome Mountain past Cinder Town along the Drinking River.

Days and months then eventually years went by under and above Rockhome Mountain. All the while the Great Dragon told the new human stories, played games, and taught lessons and before he knew it the tiny thing grew to be a girl. She loved swimming in the Thirsty River in the summers and roaming the forest past the foot of the mountain year round and enjoyed her life with the Great Dragon. She had long forgotten her human family and Cinder Town was now only some overgrown stumps of unrecognizable buildings she enjoyed exploring.

The Great Dragon called her Treasure and she referred to him as Bird. The name insulted him at first but little Treasure didn’t know any better and he eventually grew fond of the name. They lived happily together cozy in their cave at night, during days when the Great Dragon went on a long hunt Treasure would wander their territory, and they would spend other days doing all kinds of fun things. She was always safe because predators knew better than to intrude on the Great Dragon’s domain. However, something always drew her away from their home up the Thirsty River past Cinder Town and as she grew older every day she started to go the same route only further and further from Rockhome Mountain.

One day, 14 years after the Great Dragon had found his Treasure, he arrived home from a long hunt with a full belly and more than enough cooked deer thigh for the girl and found she was not yet home. Her late return was expected as she had been venturing nearer and nearer the edge of his territory the past few days and coming back to Rockhome Mountain at nightfall.

Treasure finally arrived dressed in her self made fur clothing she always wore. Instead of eating first thing as was normal she went straight to the Great Dragon and asked “Bird, are there more humans like me?” and he responded “Of course there are more humans like you, just as there are more dragons like me. We both came from somewhere.”

“Where did I come from?”

Not wanting to have to tell Treasure how he had destroyed her home Cinder Town the Great Dragon lied “You came from Near Village. It is a place with lots of humans like you that is outside our land, up Thirsty River past the Cinder Town where you explore. It is a very dangerous place, please promise me you will never go there.”

Treasure’s face scrunched with confusion and she shook her head. “I think I already did,” she revealed, “or at least close. I saw someone in that area and I think they were hunting but I hid and they didn’t see me. They didn’t look dangerous and if I came from there how can it be so dangerous?”

“Treasure, you must promise me never to go there!” the Great Dragon firmly reiterated. She was shocked, Bird had never spoken to her in such a way before and she knew it was important to him. “Yes Bird I promise,” she forced herself to say. There were other humans like her in the world! They were so close and she refused to believe they were dangerous. Bird had never given any reason not to trust him but something felt off. So, full of questions and a strong sense that she shouldn’t ask, she passed on dinner and went to their cave where they slept in dragon warmth until morning.

The following days passed as if nothing had happened, though neither had forgotten. The Great Dragon felt reassured by Treasure’s promise as she had always done as she was told. Bird didn’t spend so long hunting each day because dragons only eat every three or four days and finding only one small animal for Treasure was easy enough for a skilled hunter. The two sat by the lake, talked about anything other than Near Village and humans, climbed Rockhome mountain, made drawings in the dirt, and did all the things they normally did to pass the days. It was different for Treasure though, she had never hidden something from Bird and she knew as soon as he left for a day hunt she would go against her promise. She had to know what her kind was like. She had to meet them and talk with them. She had to do it without Bird.

Early the next morning, Bird flew off for a long hunt from the bank of the Thirsty River and Treasure didn’t hesitate to take this opportunity. She set off at a much faster pace than ever before and had to stop herself from running so she wouldn’t exhaust her energy. The cool morning air brushing by her face never felt so good despite the guilt gnawing on her stomach.

Before the sun reached its highest point in the sky, she was past Cinder Town near where she encountered the hunter at the border of their territory. There was no human to be found today so she continued in the direction she had been going and hoped she would find signs of other humans before she would have to turn back. To her delight she found just that. Only a thirty minute brisk walk from where the hunter was she could see, not far off, a small crop field, a small house, and a stable. Filled with curiosity and with her usual sense of security that blinded her to any danger, she ran straight to the house. As she approached the field a man she hadn’t noticed rose up from his seat on the porch of the small house.

They met with great concern on behalf of the farmer and great enthusiasm on behalf of Treasure. After they had talked long enough for the farmer to learn that the girl was safe and just wanted to socialize, he reluctantly invited her in to meet his wife and children. Treasure was extremely interested in learning about these people and asked question after question which the family found odd. The mother asked her a few questions of her own and doing so learned she had only ever known Bird, which explained why she was so curious. Much to the shock of the family Treasure told them Bird was a dragon and immediately continued to ask further questions of her own.

The farmer and his wife exchanged some whispers and the man excused himself saying he needed to run into town and did so. Treasure only then realized the sun, though still full in the sky, had passed its highest point and began to sink. This meant it was time for her to head back home if she wanted to make it before dark. So Treasure shared “I should really be getting back home now.” To which the woman replied, “Oh, please stay longer! I'll fix you up a late lunch.” The offer of food was impossible to refuse and the woman put together something to eat.

Right as they were finishing up their food the farmer returned. “Now I absolutely must go or Bird will worry about me.” Treasure exclaimed. She didn’t know this but the farmer had brought men from Near Village back with him who were hidden out behind the stable. The family bade her farewell and Treasure promised to visit again.

As the spirited girl set out for home in a rush she didn’t have the slightest clue that she was being followed. Men the farmer had recruited from Near Village all armed themselves with farming and hunting tools and weapons in a hurry to follow her to the Rockhome Mountain. There she would lead them straight to her front door and the Great Dragon’s cave.

Treasure made her way down the Thirsty River past Cinder Town and back to the foot of the Rockhome Mountain as quickly as she had traveled up to the stranger’s farm. It was only slightly darker than when she wandered upon the hunter only a few days ago and Bird laid waiting patiently with her already cooked dinner. The trip to the farm was very exciting but Treasure was happy to be back home with Bird after such an adventurous day. She ate her dinner, talked with Bird about his hunt, and when the stars were out in the sky they both retreated to their cave. Warm and happy they drifted to sleep in their Rockhome Mountain dwelling.

The men of Near Village had watched from afar as they entered their home. After waiting a good amount of time, they moved to the entrance of the cave and listened in. Hearing the rumbling snore of the dragon the men inched into the dark cave, feeling the wall until their eyes adjusted to the dark. Once they made their way into the area where the Great Dragon and his Treasure were sleeping they attacked.

Two of the men sunk their weapons into the dragon from behind, one a pitchfork stab in the hind right leg and the other a hunting knife in a meaty part of the dragon’s neck that left with a trail of hot blood. The Great Dragon roared in pain as three other men moved in with their weapons before the dragon could retaliate. Treasure jumped up and backed away confused by the confrontation waking her. The three men landed their blows earning the Great Dragon a sickle left in his right front leg, a shallow cut of a scythe along the soft part of his neck and a spear under a scale on his side and deep between the ribs. As the Great Dragon turned to face his attackers he realized he was struggling to breathe and gasped “Run!” to his precious Treasure. Then he stumbled forward landing on and crushing one of his attackers as he struggled for his last few gasps of air.

The remaining men, though saddened by their loss, rejoiced at the death of the Great Dragon. They returned to their homes and celebrated and made plans to rebuild Cinder Town, where many of them had once lived and grown up. For them this was a victory they had never hoped to achieve.

Treasure had fled their cave under Rockhome Mountain when she was told to run. And run she did, tears burning down her face she followed the Thirsty River down to places she had never wandered before. Never again did she feel drawn toward Near Village or others of her kind and she was never again seen by anyone. Bird was all she had ever known now she was doomed to wander the land alone, lost, and miserable.