Timothy glared at the visage, defying fate. Blade drawn, he charged and hacked at the jaw. Clunk! His blade bounced awry; this was a stone gateway! Ducking inside among hot vapors, he squinted at a large egg on hot sand, trembling and tapping. Crack! “Friend?” chirped out.
Gerald stood at the threshold of the Cave armed with a sword made of cardboard and duct tape. Last night, he hid under his bed as the dark minions kidnapped his sister. Whatever spell they used was keeping Mom and Dad asleep. It was up to him.
Anskar felt the blade’s power surging and pulsating through his arm. It’s heat forced him to hold it away from his body. The blade hummed, giving him courage.
Anskar found his resolve and huffed, “It's now or never.”
Treading carefully, he marched into the cave, determined to find his brother.
Just because Mama took you in 'cause of your hard luck story don't mean you get to ignore the rules, Baphomet. Mama toldja and she is too nice to scold a guest. Well, I am not. You'll brush your teeth when you wake up and before you go to sleep.
"I am the Bringer of Death, Lord and Ruler of this realm. All shall tremble before me."
"I--I am..." The boy swallowed, shoving down the terror bubbling up in his throat. "I am the bringer of life, hero and warrior of this realm... and I'm here to take you down."
Milo gripped the sword, heart hammering. The dragon’s breath rolled hot, smelling of ash and forgotten kings. Legends warned none returned. Yet his sister’s laughter echoed from its glowing throat. One step, then another—into shadow, into teeth. Some quests weren’t about killing monsters, but freeing what they had devoured.
The gold dripped from the stalactites. The Diamond Of The Deep urged him forward. Tony carefully stepped up to the opening. It was decision time. He could feel the heat of the dragon breathing at him. He weighed the odds. A quick in and out was all he would need.
Cold moist air alternated with hot ashy breeze as the dragon cave breathed. Within snowmelt ran beside the interior stony spine. In daily youthful forever, Elijah had swam alongside friends inside the cavern’s icy waters, playing make-believe explorers. Today, the cave ceased being make-believe. Today, Elijah dreamed the Dragon Cave.
Staring into the dragon’s maw, Raskin wondered why it resembled a real cave inside. Then, realizing he still slept, raised his sword and entered to find adventure. The dragon chuckled and said, into Raskin’s mind, “Very good, child. Soon you will join with others also training for their real adventures.”
Billy stopped, holding his wooden sword and looking into the … cave? He was almost sure it was a cave, but he’d never heard of a cave that was brightly lit and warm. Even hot. Still, a dare was a dare, especially a triple-dog-dare. He would have to go in.
This was not another Grimm tale told by grandma nor something out of 1001 Arabian Nights. Even if the “Wise Old Man” had a speech impediment, this was no Cave of Wonders.
This was the Cave of Blunders, and it only remained to see who the blunderer was: Dominic or the Dragon.
"There's nothing dangerous in that cave."
That's what George remembered when he came face to snout with an angry fire breathing dragon.
He stood his ground. If he died, he'd die a hero. He'd hurt the beast as much as he could.
"No-one runs away anymore. Welcome to my home."
I wonder if the dragon is happy or sad that no one runs anymore. The welcome kind-of indicates loneliness.
Timothy glared at the visage, defying fate. Blade drawn, he charged and hacked at the jaw. Clunk! His blade bounced awry; this was a stone gateway! Ducking inside among hot vapors, he squinted at a large egg on hot sand, trembling and tapping. Crack! “Friend?” chirped out.
Gerald stood at the threshold of the Cave armed with a sword made of cardboard and duct tape. Last night, he hid under his bed as the dark minions kidnapped his sister. Whatever spell they used was keeping Mom and Dad asleep. It was up to him.
“I’m coming, Evie.”
Such a brave little boy.
He's ashamed that he failed his sister the night before and now is determined to make amends.
“Oh, what big ears you have.”
“Ears? Those’r horns, I’ll have you know.”
“Oh, what big eyes you have.”
“Yes… I’m a dragon after all.”
“Oh, what big teeth you have.”
“Come on! You really should read something other than old fairytales. They’re giving you a Grimm outlook on life.”
Anskar felt the blade’s power surging and pulsating through his arm. It’s heat forced him to hold it away from his body. The blade hummed, giving him courage.
Anskar found his resolve and huffed, “It's now or never.”
Treading carefully, he marched into the cave, determined to find his brother.
Just because Mama took you in 'cause of your hard luck story don't mean you get to ignore the rules, Baphomet. Mama toldja and she is too nice to scold a guest. Well, I am not. You'll brush your teeth when you wake up and before you go to sleep.
That ain't no scold; solid advice that is if you be wanting to keep all your teeth.
Mamma called it her boning knife, but to little Ian, it was sword enough. It flashed, and the fire breather noticed him.
It was Ian who had poured the sorcerer’s ichor into Muffin’s bowl of cream. It was Ian’s fault, what Muffin had become.
Ian raised his sword and charged.
"I am the Bringer of Death, Lord and Ruler of this realm. All shall tremble before me."
"I--I am..." The boy swallowed, shoving down the terror bubbling up in his throat. "I am the bringer of life, hero and warrior of this realm... and I'm here to take you down."
In the dark, while all are sleeping
Something born of terror wakes.
Who can know the beast encroaching?
Who dares cross the path it takes?
Lochinvar with sword in hand
Stands to meet it, death inviting
The smallest knight in all the land
“Come foul beast and feel my sting!”
Milo gripped the sword, heart hammering. The dragon’s breath rolled hot, smelling of ash and forgotten kings. Legends warned none returned. Yet his sister’s laughter echoed from its glowing throat. One step, then another—into shadow, into teeth. Some quests weren’t about killing monsters, but freeing what they had devoured.
Saving is much harder than vengeance.
The gold dripped from the stalactites. The Diamond Of The Deep urged him forward. Tony carefully stepped up to the opening. It was decision time. He could feel the heat of the dragon breathing at him. He weighed the odds. A quick in and out was all he would need.
Follow the light.
Defend the castle.
Find sister.
It all led the boy here. To this place. This time. This moment.
He MUST enter the blindingly bright and terribly hot cave to find the key.
One step. Then another. Wooden Sword raised.
“Stop!” Yelled Nanny.
Sister stood by the fireplace.
Cold moist air alternated with hot ashy breeze as the dragon cave breathed. Within snowmelt ran beside the interior stony spine. In daily youthful forever, Elijah had swam alongside friends inside the cavern’s icy waters, playing make-believe explorers. Today, the cave ceased being make-believe. Today, Elijah dreamed the Dragon Cave.
Staring into the dragon’s maw, Raskin wondered why it resembled a real cave inside. Then, realizing he still slept, raised his sword and entered to find adventure. The dragon chuckled and said, into Raskin’s mind, “Very good, child. Soon you will join with others also training for their real adventures.”
Billy stopped, holding his wooden sword and looking into the … cave? He was almost sure it was a cave, but he’d never heard of a cave that was brightly lit and warm. Even hot. Still, a dare was a dare, especially a triple-dog-dare. He would have to go in.
You don't fool around with triple-dog-dares.
This was not another Grimm tale told by grandma nor something out of 1001 Arabian Nights. Even if the “Wise Old Man” had a speech impediment, this was no Cave of Wonders.
This was the Cave of Blunders, and it only remained to see who the blunderer was: Dominic or the Dragon.