Unexpected Flight

They climbed up on a haystack and rested, quite out of breath from running. Although the sun was at its peak, the slight breeze worked wonders as it brushed against their faces. "This is so picturesque!" Raymie said, while taking a deep breath. And it was, the feel, the smell of the haystack, the way the clouds sailed across the sky.

"Sure glad we could outrun those gremlins in the forest!" Peter said.

"Eh, I wasn't worried at all!" Raymie said as he shrugged his shoulders.

"You brave soul, you..." Peter winked.

Raymie smiled and rolled his eyes, "Save it for the trip back home."

"Home! We're not going home anytime soon...silly."

"Well, yeah...obviously!"

Laughing, Peter laid back and spotted something in the sky.

"Huh. What do you suppose that is?"

"It's too big of a shape to be a bird."

"Think it's some sort of secret jet?"

"No, it seems like it has large wings that are moving unlike a jet."

"A dragon?"

"Yes, that's exactly what it is!" Peter's eyes grew very large.

"Where do you think it's going?"

"By the looks of it...straight for us now!"

"Hmmm. I believe it's time we move."

They scampered off the haystack like two scared field mice. The sky darkened as the figure drew closer, and the breeze turned into a strong gust. It felt like the dragon was going to simply blast into the earth. The ground trembled as an enormous, scaled hand crushed the haystack. Then, the dragon powerfully spewed fire from the depths of its lungs and the haystack went up in flames. Raymie froze in a combination of fear and awe, "Whoa, cool!" The dragon glared at them. "Pete..."

"Run!" Peter cried. The boys took off in the direction of the forest. But before they could make it, the dragon scooped them up and started flying upwards. The world became a blurred mesh of colors and the wind roared in their ears. Hearts pounding, adrenaline rushing, they couldn't move in pure shock.

Finally, Raymie found the courage to speak, "Pete?!?!"

Trying to look over, "I think we may never make it home," he yelled through the wild wind.

He let out a chuckle, "Great."

Peter reached over and grabbed Raymie's hand, "It's a shame we have to die like this."

Peter felt Raymie's hand tighten its grip, "Don't be ridiculous!" The dragon dipped downward and appeared to be getting ready to land. "What do you think it wants with us?"

"In all the bedtime stories dragons eat people...he's gonna eat us, Raymie!"

"It can't be! Why didn't he just eat us back there?"

"Maybe he wants to share with his dragon family..."

The dragon leaned back and stretched out its legs as it prepared for landing. Landing on top of a massive boulder, the dragon placed the dazed boys in front, as if to inspect them for signs of damage during the flight.

"Don't hurt us, please!"

The dragon's eyes appeared less fierce now and more peaceful almost. Peter watched intensely as the dragon began to sniff Raymie.

"You smell just like gremlins," said the dragon in a slow manner. The boys sat in silence, taken aback by the creature's ability to speak.

"A talking dragon!" shrieked Raymie.

"If you were able to understand us this entire time, why didn't you say anything?"

The dragon sniffed the boys both again and said, "I have my reasons."

"What do you want with us?", asked a terrified Raymie.

First, I want to know why you both smell like gremlins when you are clearly human flesh?"

"We were in the forest, had a run-in with them, and had to flee. We were catching our breath when you showed up."

"I see..." blinked the dragon.

"Anyhow, it'll be dark soon and we should see our way home."

"And, you'll have to take us home as we have no idea where we are," said Peter. Raymie's eyes shot over to Peter, who gave him a subtle nod of affirmation.

The dragon began laughing hysterically and replied, "You think I brought you all this way, only to take you back home again just because it's dark?" and he laughed some more.

Peter remained firm, "Yes, you seem like a very wise dragon. Surely you can understand what it means to be lost, or to worry about someone you care for."

"Hm, cute...as far as I'm concerned, you're not lost as long as you're with me and we've got much to accomplish...now come with me." The dragon grabbed both boys before quickly leaping into the sky.