text: (WP) Fire and Gold The dragon stared down at the intruding knight, its ruby eyes boring into his face. “Give me a single reason why I shouldn’t roast you over my own flames,” The creature growled, and lowered its long, scaly neck, the better to look the human in the eye. “A dragon as wise and ancient as yourself has a hoard that the legends echo! What if I keep track of your hoard, and organize it? I can be of great use to you. There are so many treasures here, and anyway, why waste your time cooking me? I’m all bones and gristle!” The knight spoke in a hurried rush, desperate to save his own life. Who knew that he had such a strong sense of self-preservation? The dragon said nothing, silent, and the knight waited, half expecting the monster’s sharp teeth to tear off a limb. But the dragon surprised him by doing something else entirely. “Very well. You may stay on to guard and organize my hoard,” The dragon said at last, using its nose to push the knight forward, toward the mountains of treasure: bright gold and silver coins, chests filled with jewels and pearls, sparkling specters with all manner of symbols carved into their handles. \*\* Three Years Later \*\* The knight hoped that the rumors that had reached the mountains weren’t true. A group of heroes, at the behest of the King and Queen, had declared the dragon he served as a menace that could no longer be tolerated. It was so strange, thinking about how he’d come to the dragon’s cavern with the intention of killing him. Now, he couldn’t imagine doing anything else but organizing and tending to the creature’s material possessions. The dragon had provided him with food, shelter, purpose. He’d be damned if he’d let the king’s lackeys kill the beast. He had to get back to the cavern; at this rate, the humans would beat him home and the dragon would have to defend itself alone. Swearing under his breath, he hurried his mare on, desperate to aid his friend. A vicious, angry roar echoed over the mountains, a warning for all who dared trespass. When he finally arrived at the cavern, the dragon was snapping its jaws in warning, his huge body crouched protectively over his stolen hoard. The knight found himself hoping that these foolish humans were devoured by his scaly friend. It would be the least that they all deserved. The dragon had told him about how his kind roamed the earth so many years ago, but they’d been vilified and hunted to near extinction. He’d lost his mate and several children in the struggle. Ever since, he’d despised humankind, and the knight couldn’t exactly blame him. “Foolish mortals! The only thing left of you will be your scorched bones!” The dragon howled, spitting fire and smoke. The last thing the knight heard was the humans’ screams of anguish. But really, everyone should’ve known better than to anger a being of fire and air.