text: Benvolio tilted his head, lowering his snout next to Walter. His amber eyes fixed on the photograph of Walter’s family. “Is that your treasure?” He inquired, his eyes studying the photo intently. Walter nodded in return. “My daughter, Beth and my grandson, Sam.” Walter looked at the photo. In the photo they were all smiles, surrounded by a field of pumpkins. He remembered that day. When Beth first moved back home, she was somber, defeated. Sam’s father had left them both. Beth wasn’t sure how she could pick up the pieces. She had been so strong in the face of it all. Then, the day at the pumpkin patch was the first day in several months that he saw Beth smile again. It hadn’t always been easy opening his home after years of being an empty nester, but they managed, and in time Walter couldn’t remember what it was like to live alone. “I see, from what I have learned the gateways are tricky, wavering in and out of existence. Let us consult my treasure to see what we can learn.” Benvolio proceeded back into the cavern. Walter followed. They walked through the chambers, back to the large cavern room where Walter had seen the gold and gems. Benvolio’s eyes darted back to Walter, carefully examining Walter’s face as they passed the sparkling pile of riches. Yes, Walter took a glance, as he did before, but the moment of temptation was fleeting. “I am a bit confused,” Walter admitted, recalling Benvolio’s comment, “How is the treasure helpful for my situation?” Walter wondered if it was simply one of the idiosyncrasies of dragons. He had always heard the tale of dragons hoarding gold. “Oh, that’s not my treasure.” Benvolio chuckled. Benvolio stretched forth his wing, gesturing to several yards beyond the piles of gold. His wing pointed in the direction of rows and rows of tall, sturdy wooden bookshelves overflowing with books and scrolls. “Ah,” Walter smiled, “I am a bit of an avid reader myself.” He thought back to his own collection. King, Grisham, Christie, Tolkien, and more. Lately that collection had expanded to Suess, Sendak, and Carle. “I believe I have just the tome, authored by my favorite mage. I found a lovely spell in there once to jettison a pesky, misguided Knight out of my realm. Though, admittedly, I haven’t mastered controlling the destination and I don’t want to simply maroon you in some strange place.” Benvolio carefully navigated alongside the bookshelves, Walter walking beside him. “Yes, I would like to avoid winding up in another random location.” Walter acknowledged. He glanced up at the shelves, his eyes drifting between Benvolio’s massive form and the comparatively small books. “This might be rude, but how do you manage handling the books and scrolls?” “Alas, my size is a dreadful inconvenience most days. And, I do have to be extra cautious about sneezing while reading, as accidentally igniting the rather flammable material is never fun. I developed my reading habit when I was just a hatchling and have been hooked ever since. I am always happy on the rare occasion in which I have a visitor with hands such as yours that are more suited for handling my treasure. Would it be an imposition to ask you to fetch the blue, leather-bound volume on that shelf there, titled, ‘Incantations of Time and Space, Volume I by Andromeda Chronos’?” Walter walked over to the shelf and began reaching for the book when Benvolio’s head suddenly shot in another direction. Walter paused and listened, hearing the echo of footsteps coming down the passageways of the cavern. “Up ahead!” A man’s voice could be heard in the distance. “Oh bother,” Benvolio groaned, “this again. Walter, take the book and hide. I will handle this. Do not be afraid.” Walter was confused but did as he was instructed. He picked up the book and slid it into the backpack he kept his hiking gear in. Benvolio moved out from the area of the bookshelves, towards the front of the room. “Hark, the monster!” The man’s voice could be heard, louder. Four people wearing armor and carrying weapons entered the main cavern area. Benvolio rolled his eyes and swished his tail, missing them by a yard or two. “Begone adventurers! Give up your folly and I shall spare your lives.” Benvolio rose, stretching to his full height, which practically touched the ceiling of the cavern. He extended his wings out, giving them a single flap, creating a gale that pushed the adventurers back a few feet. “Nay terrible beast. Your reign of terror is over!” The leader of the group proclaimed. The other three adventurers nodded in unison. Walter watched the exchange from the shadows. Walter pondered, what had Benvolio done? The dragon had been nothing but cordial with him. Benvolio sighed deeply and rolled his eyes. He snorted, two small jets of flames shot out of his nostrils, resulting in two plumes of smoke rising to the cavern roof. “As you wish, then.” Benvolio bowed and then let out a roar that shook the stone walls, some of the books rattled off the shelves. The quartet of adventurers lunged toward him with spears and swords, save one adventurer who was armed only with a lute which they strummed furiously. Benvolio batted them away effortlessly. One of the adventurers chanted something, summoning flame from their hands. They shot a fireball at Benvolio. The attack of flame merely glanced off Benvolio’s scales ineffectively. Benvolio chuckled, but then they threw another fireball, which landed a few yards from the bookshelves. Benvolio’s eyes darted to the books, then back to the adventurers.