text: “Pass me the warden.” She reached out her hand to Caddy, her rusted out android companion. “excellent choice Sir.” Caddy opened the mobile crate which had a fair selection of weapons tucked away, he fished out a large rifle nicknamed the warden. It has a five round magazine and small magnified scope. Its almost as long as the elf is tall. “I told you not to call me sir” She frowned checking the magazine in the warden. She wore an army green t-shirt with the sleeves cut off. Her thin but muscular arms flexed lifting the heavy weapon over her shoulder. “He’s not getting away this time.” “I should hope not...Alanna that is an anti-vehicle rifle- “ “With Armor piercing tracer rounds. For good measure.” Her smile came back as she pulled her white shoulder-length hair into a ponytail. The look kept hair out her face and showed off her pointy elvish ears. It’s about noon, the birds are chirping, and the bugs are biting. The trees in the forest aren’t too dense, and the undergrowth is light making travel by foot bearable. Caddy followed ten feet behind Alanna with the mobile crate being worn on his back. The equipment pack contained weapons, food, and supplies for being out in the woods. They took their time and moved slowly, doing their best not to alert their prey, a young green dragon. Forty-five feet long and a wingspan of around sixty feet made this youngling, dangerous prey. The animal reportedly showed up in the area a week ago and has been eating plenty of sheep from the local farms. People said it flew in from the western foothills and so that’s where the party of two hunts. “There’s a burrow up ahead.” Scratched out of the side of the hill is a large hole that looks to be the right size. A tiny clearing just outside the burrow would make a good place for it to land. “That’s got to be it. Get out the perfume.” She motioned to Caddy who pulled a spraying device from a satchel. He quickly sprayed Alanna and the area to cover their scent. They hunkered down making their small foxhole about 70 meters from the dragons home. “Do you think we will have to wait long?” asked Caddy. “Be patient. Could be a few hours. It’s not every day you get to hunt a dragon.” She spoke quietly as she could. She double checked her weapon was loaded with one In the chamber before perching it on a log at the edge of the foxhole. They waited all day with no sign of the beast. Alanna kept her leg from cramping by keeping her weight on her bionic leg. One she lost on one of her first hunts over sixty years ago. “Did I ever tell you how I lost this leg?” She asked and then began recalling the tail without pause. “My mentor, Charles took me on a giant wolverine hunt. Those things are nasty beasts, bigger than a bear and twice as mean. We got the call that they were threatening the locals and their livestock. Good ol’ Charles made sure we were plenty prepared by making sure we had large caliber rounds for the monsters. We each set up a tree stand. Mine overlooked a small farm with animals grazing the fields. They were a funny looking creature id never seen before. They were Good eating though. Charles set up overlooking a watering hole he expected to be a hot spot for the wolverines. Lucky me though, two of the big bastards charged out from the woods and after the livestock. The first one I dropped with two shots at about 70 yards. I was shaking so bad I was barely able to chamber the next round. I missed the second wolverine with my first shot. He managed to get his teeth into the farmers animal. That made him an easier target, and he fell before getting two bites in.” “Your stories sure drag on, cut to the chase.” Caddy teased. “Short story put another one into them before taking a trophy selfie. Got me with my back turned...” She shook her head and tapped her metal leg. “Well, it’s been long enough. Let's go take a look at this nook.” “If you insist.” “I do.” She climbed up out of the foxhole and started pacing towards the hole in the side of the hill. The ground was soft beneath her feet, sinking an inch or two with each step making walking a bit awkward. Sure enough, as they got closer, they found large deep footprints from what had to be their prey. “This is it for sure, but I don’t think anyone is home right now.” “Back to our hole we go...?” he sounded gripping his 10-gauge shotgun. “I didn’t walk up here just to check footprints. I want to see the treasure this thing is hoarding.” “Of course, you do. I hope this isn’t going to turn into a teachable moment.” He shook his head following Alanna into the cave. The air was very humid, water dripped from the roof. There is a small pool of water fed by a small stream. Alanna shined a light, and the cave was revealed to be rather small, going back only forty-five meters or so. “Well, I don’t see any...no.” The deep drum of large wings flapping was heard for only a few seconds before It landed right at the entrance of the cave. Less than twenty meters from the duo. It’s eye’s pierced the pair, and they stumbled back. Its skin is very rough and boney. A long neck attached to a musculer physique and sprawling wings. Its two hands touched the ground, and it arched it’s back facing Alanna and bellowing out a roar that felt as hot as it was loud. Alanna and Caddy shouldered their weapons immediately. The beast roared again, this time smoke rolled out of its mouth. It paced back and forth at the entrance blocking their way out. Caddy took the first shot, and hot buckshot tore into the dragon's chest. An empty cartridge kicked out the side of the gun while another one was chambered. Alanna took a knee to steady the heavy rifle, aiming for the vitals. The bullet went clean through its chest and out its back spraying a bloody mist into the air. Collapsing under its own weight for a second it looked defeated. A second later it charged the hunters. There was very little time to make a shot count. Both guns went off almost together. The buckshot tore up the big green monsters face, but it was the warden who put it down with a headshot. Half the dragons horned green head was torn away from its skull. Smoke crept out of its chest wound. A grunt and a weakened growl slipped out of its mouth and its corpse settled into the soft ground. “Another successful hunt. Well, put Alanna.” “Another one for the wall.” She winked at Caddy. “That was close, I don’t know why she didn’t bath us in fire, right away.” She slung her rifle over her shoulder and turned towards the back of the cave. They both began inspecting the area. It only took a minute to find the nest. “Found her treasure...” Alanna motioned towards the lone egg tucked into the nest.