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'A good book has one prologue, the adventure of a lifetime starts with at least three.'

Magnus the red- circa millennium 41.

part one

Prologue

'Twas a dark and stormy night. The clouds were black, the wind howled like an angry wolf the rain lashed out like a thousand little whips. Letting their anger out suddenly there was a flash of lighting and three gigantic silhouettes revealed, standing in a circle in the middle of a green lake. A fierce wind was whipping around their forms, sending the white hair of the two smaller silhouettes into a frenzy, and forming ripples in the lake. The two smaller silhouettes were twenty-five meters tall they were shin-deep in the water, to left were cliffs straight up and jagged to the left was a path that went around the lake slowly curving up to the cliffs and then back down in a large oval the lake stood in the middle of a forest.

“So how ya doing," said the first one, it stood head and shoulders over the other two and its voice it was a deep rumble and a whisper at the same time.

“Fine," the other two replied in bored voices.

The first silhouette gave an extracted sigh, “My god you two sound bored out of your minds."

“We are," they answered in unison.

“What if I told you that I could make it interesting," said the first silhouette.

Then suddenly there was a flash of lightning so bright the three silhouettes appeared. All three were reptilian in nature but also humanoid two legs, two arms but the first one it was different it was taller, border, with massive wings and the digitigrade legs as opposed to the normal structure of the smaller one's legs, but what drew the attention of Pedodrow was the eyes of the first silhouette like orbs of crimson blood. Eyes without mercy eyes that liked to see pain and suffering this thing had those the eyes looking at her she knew that she should have taken the long way home.

“Well, shit" were her last words.

They had finished playing with Pedodrow, if tearing her in too literal sherds and consuming her counted as playing, even though the storm was still whipping around them, they still had not moved from the centre of the lake the black dragon with red eyes turned to her companion's licking blood and gore from its snout,

As the three things Finished their meal another one of the beings showed up, it just appeared out of the storm and it was angry with the other three.

It was growling, 'I told you to stay hidden if they-'

She was cut off by the first one with crimson eyes, 'they won't Find out'

The new arrival's eyes widened despite the storm whipping around them, it looked furious 'you had one job.'

it was shaking with anger, 'to stay hidden to stay out of sight to guard the entry point I don't like this plan as it stands but if we are found-' then the new arrival stopped sniffed the air, 'was that a human?'

There was silence, the storm even seemed to just stop for just a few moments.

'Well, to be fair you said you wouldn't be-'

With surprising speed, the new arrival rushed forward and slugged the red-eyed thing across the jaw. Its head whipped back the two golden-eyed ones stood there torn between loyalty and duty.

Again lightning flashed and then the pure black scales of the red-eyed thing where reviled then moving if it possible faster than the other thing, it grabbed the new arrivals arm but the new arrival sent a knee into the red-eyed things stomach, it doubled over then the red-eyed dragon smashed a fist into the arrivals arm and snapped it like a twig it roared in pain, this decided it for the golden-eyed twins.

They rushed and attacked cawed at the red scales of the other reptilian beast helping the red-eyed one Finish the job the howling wind muffed the screams, the cracking of bones, and tearing of flesh. When they had finished, they dragged the titanic body to a large but secluded clearing surrounded by a hill on one side and dense forest and a river on the other and left it to die.

The black scaled beast wanted to kill the red one but something stayed its hand it fully expected the red one to die anyway, what reason did it have to keep living any way? what did it to live for?

Pedodrow was reported missing on the Twenty fourth of September twenty thirty-three, she was one of three reported missing in the area earth had many archipelagos and islands and two main continents, Archasia it spread up from the equator to the north pole the bottom was lush jungle towards the centre was a mix of arid and forested area and then right up the top was the polar ice cap the second continent, Archericon this is where Pedodrow lived witch was more equatorial in its placement it was in general greener and was more mountains toward its edges then Archasia but was less varied in its environments, in one of there places a Lycanthrope or a dragon may have been the first to be suspected but is Archericon there were no dragons maybe the odd lycanthrope but they had said a firm no to dragons indigenous or otherwise, so the last thing they would expect is a dragon and the last thing a seventeen-year-old would expect to find in a cave.

Chapter 1

The other prologue

Farren woke up breathing heavily, he tossed aside the doona covering his body and got up he was sweating and shaky he had had another nightmare. He tried to remember it he really did after two minutes he couldn't so he went over to the chest of drawers, picking out clothes at random and looking in the full-length mirror, all he had was a sense that it had something to do with the forest with where he had been yesterday.

He thought he looked Fine so without further-a-do Farren ever so quietly opened his door and stepped out into the corridor he very quietly sunk his way into the kitchen and took the dog's lead from its hook. It was still pitch-black outside, but Farren didn't mind there was just something about being in the forest that he found soothing, sometimes he would find a bird or an animal that was injured that's why he carried disinfected bandages and wipes with him. He also carried his sketchpad in there in case he saw something interesting.

It only took him a few seconds to Find the dog. Her name was Ghost needless to say she went ballistic when she saw Farren with the lead, she was a medium-sized dog with a large amount of energy and adorable floppy ears. After calming Ghost down enough to get the lead on Farren opened the door very quietly and headed out.

The storm that had woken him up had since subsided leaving the heavy sense of wet earth in the air which was at odds with the twilight of early-down, Farren's breath turned to ice and crystallized as he breathed out it was cold here. Farren lived in the northern stretch of Archericon in the mountainous area he wrapped his coat tightly around himself grabbed a tight hold on ghost's lead and walked into the forest.

Through a very legal and very large hole in the fence after they had walked deeper into the forest, Farren let the dog off the lead she looked at him for about half a second and then boulted into depths of the forest, Farren gave chase after the furry hound he ran for as long as he could before he bent double wheezing “you- you win Ghost" he wheezed.

She came running back along the path and sat down in the strange way that dogs do. Farren gave the dogs head an affectionate ruffle she nuzzled his hand making her strange grunting noises, then she licked his hand. Farren looked around he didn't know where he was which unsurprising I had only lived here a week, but I was very excited to create a mental map of the space the forest occupied and this sort-of-but-not-quite-gully-but-also-a-clearing-thing which he was very much looking forward to exploring.

I looked up at the sky the sun was starting to rise,

'c'mon Ghost lets head home'

But Ghost wasn't moving she crouched low, staring at a fixed point and growling low in her throat, Farren whistled to long low and then high notes, Ghost broke out of her revelry and ran after him. Farren looked down at Ghost

'I wonder what you found, well I suppose we could always Find out tomorrow.'

As Farren turned away and started walking two eyes followed him from the shadow of an overhang.

I headed home flowing Ghost until we reached a part that he recognized and once he got home I went around the side of the house, holding Ghost aloft jumped the fence on to the veranda I stopped for a second to catch my breath.

'You are getting heavy,' I say to Ghost 'I need to take you out for more walks.'

Ghost a dog noise at the word walk, I smiled and took Ghost off the lead then went inside via the sliding door.

I went past the open plan kitchen down the hallway, my room was at the end my sisters were at the Start and in the middle, there was at the very start and in the middle was a door that led to the laundry and toilet, I had to be careful as he snuck past his sisters' room if I woke her up I would be in trouble so being very careful and sneaky I got to my room. Then got changed into my school uniform and parsed the time by reading a book, I had read the book many times but loved it so much I didn't mind re-reading it.

When my alarm went off at the designated time which was seven-thirty, I shut the book with a snap and got up and went to make myself breakfast I decided that cereal was the best option, I sat at the table in front of the island bench and looked out the floor to ceiling windows past the veranda into the forest whilst he ate his breakfast. I was regretting getting up so early in the morning now I was tired.

As I sat there contemplating and trying to remember my dream, it had involved I paused thinking yes that was it, it was something big, red, something like a hand I almost had it, I concentrated it was, I could almost see-the silence was shattered.

I jumped and hit my head on the island bench. It was sister had by the sounds of it had dropped a bowl again, rubbing my head where it was smarting I stood up and walked around to the other side of the island bench, and I saw why his sister had dropped the bowl I screamed.

'found you,' It said.

A massive fist smashed through the roof.

I woke up covered in sweat again, I stand up quickly looking around making sure that nothing is going to destroy my room, feeling satisfied that it was just a dream I get dressed in my school uniform, it had one of those annoying collar and cuff practically see-through white shirts, which are in my opinion, the worst possible thing you can make people like me where when we live in a mountain range, where it is either cold, wet, or both.

I was muttering darkly about what I would do to the person who designed the school uniform, but I had to admit that the fleece-lined pants were good and logical and so was the jumper, but this wasn't even my jumper I lost mine in year eight. That was three years and four jumpers ago, feeling groggy, I walk down the dark hallway lit only by the faint light of dawn all the rooms were here except my mum's room which meant I had to be quiet for fear of waking my younger sibling who would then wake up my mum she worked long hours.

I decided cereal is what I want today so when I reach the end of the hallway I realize that I still hate island benches as I grab a bowl from the smaller bench opposite, then go the pantry that's inset into the corner of the kitchen, grab the cereal go the fridge grab the milk and add everything together in complete silence, and that's the problem I thought.

with island benches, they split everything up and also reduce the amount of space you have, and it gets worse because over half of the three-meter bench is taken up by a sink, which is also split in two.

I sat there mulling over the new house and decided the proximity of the forest made up for all the houses faults because worst comes to worst just go the forest, and work on the tree fort I smiled well it was less of a fort and more like some sticks leaning against a tree, but all the same.

I stood looking at the kitchen timer it was almost time to go I sighed 'yay' I wasn't usually a very pessimistic person, but recent events at my school have changed that.

'What are you sighing about' my mum said, stepping out of her room my mum was nice she just one of those people that looked nice, I would have even said that she radiated joy, she had a nice face.

'I'm sighing because I have to go to school.'

Mums face softened and she swept me up in a hug, 'I know it's been hard recently but-'

'I know mum' I say softly, 'I'm sure that today will be fine.' But I couldn't help thinking that's a lie.

I looked into my mum's eyes she had nice hazel eyes. I went back to my room to finish packing my bag when I had I put my bag on and begin my walk to the bus stop, it was a crisp morning and a pale sun was shining, I could see the frost on the grass it made a pleasing sound when stepped on. I arrived at the bus stop in record time I stood there me and every other school kid that got on at that bus stop about twenty kids, and three eldritch abominations whose only objective in life seemed to be to make mine as unpleasant as possible and they had only been at the school for three days.

I stood on the outskirts of the group put my bag on the ground and pulled out my choice of book and stood there just minding my own business, then the bus arrived and people started filing on the bus I made my way nervously towards the bus and I almost made it.

'Hey, nerd what book you got there can I have a look' one of the three yelled at me.

He was the big one the ring leader he was tall with sandy blond hair wearing school uniform which was strange since he didn't usually do that, the other two were shorter then he was both with dark brown hair, the main difference between them is one had acne apart from that they were almost entirely forgettable.

'I don't want to deal with this shit today' I mutter as I stepped onto the bus.

I walk along the corridor trying to find an empty seat, I found one and sat down looking out the window deliberately not looking up as Fin and his friends passed me, Fin I thought what the fuck kind of a name is fin then again I named a magpie Maggi I sat up with a pang of guilt, I had forgotten to check on her I pulled out my phone to text mum then realized that she would probably be heading to work now so I left it, she would probably be fine I told myself.

The bus arrived ten minutes before school started as it always did, I waited until everyone had gotten off the bus and then I stood and redyed myself, I said thank you to bus driver and stepped out again into the crisp morning air the school itself was rather small for a high school with only just over four hundred students, it was basically a rectangle with a large inner courtyard and classrooms lining the internal and external of the rectangle, with an oval and a standard sized gym, all in all, it was a fairly standard school I would know I have moved around a bit.

I looked around there was know sine of the three musketeers, so I started towards my locker to grab my stuff for science and I felt his hand on my shoulder, I clenched my fists just for a split second I thought where the same height I could take him.

Then I came to my senses I unclenched my fists and turned around to face Fin, he was leering at 'me wanna give a look at that book now.'

'Fuck off' I said, clutching the book harder.

'It wasn't a request' Fin said, reaching for the book.

I slapped his hand away 'fuck off I don't want or need this today' I said testily.

'Give me the book' Fin said calmly, 'or I will throw rocks at your dumb dog again.'

I felt my fists clench again, that was the problem with having people that hated you living next door

'no.'

Your choice he said and he shoved me, I fell over dropping my book Fin snatched it up.

'Oh,' he said 'this isn't any old book, this is your diary,' people had started to gather around now.

I scrambled to my feet, 'give that back' I spat at Fin.

'No, I don't think I will.'

Rage overrode common since I changed straight at Fin then out of know where his two friends grabbed my arms and then a teacher decided now was a good time to show up.

'What's this?' he asked.

I sighed internally just what I need Mr Henderson the least liked history teacher ever I resisted the urge to make a pun in my head.

'So' Mr Henderson asked.

The strange twins practically dropped me in their efforts to avoid getting in trouble, funny I thought why didn't I see them earlier.

'Mr. Henderson' Finn said In a defensive voice, 'Farren was going to attack me.'

'What' say outraged 'sir, he stated it and stole my diary.'

'Is this true?' Mr Henderson asked Fin.

Fin grumbled something and handed back the diary, he took care to bump into me as hard as he could.

'Just you what until Monday I'm gonna get you he whispered.'

'Thanks, sir,' I said readjusting my bag.

I checked my watch now I only two minutes to get to history I picked up the pace, I found that most schools where very similar you have good teachers, fun teachers, or the one teacher that everyone hated there did change every time,14 sometimes it was the science teacher no one liked and sometimes it was the drama teacher.

Either way, most school days were the same for me during lunch I would find I nice quiet spot to read my book or write in my diary and occasionally sketch some of the birds I had rescued. I was currently sitting on a bench trying to get the wings right and I was running low on eraser, and that was most days for me now, do the work and try to avoid Fin and his friends.

The bell rang I sat up despite how I was feeling I couldn't help but feel my spirits lift I little I had food technology, my favourite class, one of the few classes that let me stretch my creative muscles. The cooking teacher Ms Lee had to be my favourite teacher she was always up for a joke and we had a couple of running jokes as well but she was very strict with the theory component no theory no cooking was like a mantra for her.

I walked into the classroom opening the sliding door, Ms Lee smiled at me I smiled back 'so how are you today Mr Farren.'

I snorted 'fine today thanks to this hear fine class of yours.' I turned and moved into the rear of the classroom and put my things onto one of the tables and walked back into the kitchen.

'so what's on the menu today Ms' I ask.

'Well Farren' Ms lee said doing her best French impression, 'we have the world's finest cinnamon scrolls however, due to staff constraints you will have to make it yourself.'

I snorted 'thanks Miss' I say.

The final bell rang as I was putting my cinnamon scroll into its container, I snapped the lid on thanked Ms lee who reminded me to take my apron off before I walk out witch I hand not forgotten to do, then beelined it for my locker checked I had everything I needed, I zipped up and shouldered my bag and walked to the bus turn around.

I made it, I was on the bus I sat down for what was, an uneventful journey and waited until we reached my stop it was hard to miss it was after all at the end of the line I got off the bus, the sun was starting to wane now it would soon sink below the mountains I shouldered my bag cooking lesson had put me in a better mood and besides school was over, that was always a win I started the walk home.

It was like the walk to the bus stop but in reverse, I got home I still wasn't used to the red brick building, but I was sure I would get used to it sooner or later.

I unlocked the door and made straight for Maggi's current residence to make sure that the magpie was ok, she had flown straight into out of our windows it's current residence was an outdoor birdcage, she made loud bird noises, she was the third bird I had found injured, this one had a damaged wing but It was unwilling to even be near me it sat in the corner nursing its wing, I went to the fridge and got her some salami, I knew that it was bag to feed it human food but I hadn't had time to go to the pet store yet, I sat at my desk watching through my window as Maggi scrutinized the salami. I turned and took out my laptop and started on the history homework Mr Henderson set the class

Mum got home with my sister Marander half an hour later, I saved my work closed the lid of the laptop and stood stretching.

'Hello everyone' I shouted.

Startling Maggi who started screeching, I walked out of my room closing the door behind me.

'Sorry about that' I say to no one in particular.

my sister was just about to close her door.

'Hay sis' I said

she gave an exaggerated sight 'hay brov' she said he fist-bumped me, I and my sister had a strange relationship one the one hand we here related and looked out for each other, on the other hand, we also argued over the dumbest shit.

'All Is right with the world' I say, to mum embracing her.

'Right then' mum said perplexed.

'Also' I asked 'what's for dinner?'

'DIY' mum said, 'now I have work to do so do what you like, just don't burn the house down.'

'It's ok' I say to mum, 'I'm going to bed early tonight.'

Mum's face softened, 'you ok? how was school today?'

'Yea, yea it was fine' I say airily, mum hugged me one last time then went off to go and do her work.

I made my self dinner thinking about what I was going to do on the weekend, I sat in my room I decided I would go into the forest again and begin to build a mental map of the area, I finished my dinner and put my head on the pillow of my bed I was exhausted.

When I woke up I opened the curtains the sun was just starting to rise, I got up and got out of my school uniform and put on warm clothes and a coat, it was a long black coat I liked it. I then went to the kitchen to make a bowl of cereal.

I sat down at the table I hear creaking floorboards behind me, and I turn to see my sister dressed in pyjamas.

I smile at her, 'so are ready?'

she replies with a sarcastic smile, 'you do know its six in the morning.'

'Yep.'

'So why are you awake?'

'Because I'm bored.'

'Goanna go for a walk?' she asked.

'yep.'

I stand up and walk around the island bench and put my bowl in the sink and leave my sister to her business and as open the front door I breathe in the scent of a forest that had been rained on previously. I close the door behind me and stand there listening to the birds chirping and watching my breath crystallize in front of me, I set off into the forest following one of the less conventional paths.

I had a strange sense of Déjà vu I just felt like I had done this before. There was that strange feeling, all the birds had stopped chirping and I felt another strange feeling I stopped walking I could smell something, mingling with the damp earth it was wrong like death or a rotting corpse, I looked down and there it was the clearing with the overhang it was almost a straight fall down into the river from where I was.

I retraced my steps and eventually found what I thought was the river I saw from the top off the cliff, I followed it jumping from large stepping stone to large stepping stone they started to get smaller, I had a feeling of foreboding I rounded the corner and stepped up onto the edge of the clearing and there it was that I had assumed was a small overhang was actually a rather large cave.

I decided to just sit down for a second and process yesterday, that hadn't been any other incidents but still I wondered why, why he would do this so I decided to draw or at least sketch something I pulled out my sketch pad, the feeling of foreboding was gone now and this was a very nice spot and the smell seemed to have gone I dismissed it as an overactive imagination on my behalf.

A sound emanated from the cave a low deep growling. I stood up dropping my sketch pad I was paralysed I haven't heard that noise before, ever the cave seemed to be now emanating that strange smell again. Like copper and something unpleasant I took two steps closer the growling sound stopped, I strode across the clearing and into the mouth of the cave I saw strange light blue shapes begin to shimmer and suddenly there were lights, globs floating there revealing it, I screamed it was there laying on the ground curled into a ball the first thing I saw was the scales, they were a dull red it looked unhealthy but it looked to be human, but bigger. It's its knee alone was at least twice my height I couldn't see much of its head but I thought I saw a pair of horns, it seemed to be nursing one on its arms it was twisted at an odd angle it was a Dragon.

My scream didn't seem to have awakened it, I was shaking adrenaline surging through my veins I did possibly the stupidest thing I could have I crept closer as I got closer I began to see more of the creature, the dragon I could see it's head angular with an elongated snout and jaws capable of holding a large number of people, I shivered I could also now see the two pairs of horns and pointed ears though it seemed one was missing, then what I assumed was shoulder-length hair was particularly mattered with congealed blood and dirt there and it was covered in cuts and gashes, some worse than others one on its shoulder appeared to be leaking puss and the left arm was definitely broken I stepped closer its figures were larger than me I stood in awe at the size of the creature, I reached out and touched it hand that was the size of a large tank.

It started its eyes fluttered open I back peddled straight into its leg it blinked and looked around it seemed confused it inhaled and then looked state at me I recoiled and exclaimed in surprise.

Then it hissed with hostility 'What are you doing here?' what are you doing here what a dumb question the dragon thought to its self.

The Dragon stretched out its legs it winced it still clutched its injured left arm, it grimiest in pain as it propped itself-up on its good arm its left arm dangled uselessly, I took a tentative step forward its eyes with its purple irises studied me.

'Why are you here?' the Dragon said, this time with less hostility

'Ur um,' I clenched my fist trying to control the shaking of my body, 'I just found you.'

'Get out of here' the dragon said, 'leave you never saw me.' or don't, actually please don't.

'But your arm-'

'I don't need your help' the dragon spat, as tried to sit up further but it just slumped.

The creature looked down at the small human it was maybe sixteen or seventeen rotations old it was small and it was scared it made the creature think, the human had seen it now and it needed its strength for its arm it could let the humans go but then what? She would find him kill him for seeing me so what do I do it thought for just a second it thought I could kill they would never know but that was not an option but could it do it, it made a promise oh gods why did I this is my fault.

I watched the dragon but I didn't move was my life hanging in the balance? was it going to kill me? If so how? at that moment I wondered if was actually going to die I had heard stories about dragons from the other continent about horrible things they had done, I personally didn't know what to think, this was my first time meeting a dragon and they were scary.

Then the dragon said after what seemed an eternity and with less hostility this time 'what do you want? Why are you here?'

why are you here the dragon thought to itself you lead him here because you where sad, poor you, it chastised itself revealing yourself If they find you? It doesn't matter, I have cut myself off from other people dragon's for two long yes it's dangerous but I just want a friend it's been too long.

'I, I don't know but I do know that your arm has a major brake along well if you there human I would call it well it looks like your ulna, that's to say the outer bone of your forearm.'

'You certainly seem to know your stuff' the red-scaled Dragon said, 'you want to come and have a look?'

'Um ok' I said the sudden change in the Dragons demeanour was unnerving, I started to walk forward then I heard the growling sound that had drawn me to the cave, it was coming from the stomach of the dragon, it was hungry.

'I'm not going to eat you if that's what you're thinking' the dragon said.

I took a step back, that was exactly what I was thinking.

'No please don't leave me, I don't want to die alone' the dragon said, almost a pleading note in its voice.

I didn't know what to do was torn between leaving the massive injured and quite obviously hungry dragon, but the way the dragon had acted when I had met it seemed confusing, but then I looked into its eyes and he saw something, not what he had expected I had expected cruelty or some kind I hated or anger or anything that suggested harm like the story's said. But what I saw was kindness, something I didn't expect maybe it just wants a friend, just like me she was lonely so I decided to stay to care for this dragon moving it was out of the question I had to rack my brains to find a solution, I decided that I would be best to just leave most of the healing to the creature but I would need to clean out that cut on its shoulder.

'First things first' I say 'I'm going to need to clean out that wound on your shoulder and also, you're not going to die.'

'I know that I'm just very lonely, you know cows don't make the best friends.'

Was that a joke? I thought is the dragon making a joke? Was it trying to relieve the tension? I was very confused why was it doing this? Why am I doing this?

It took a long time with a strong stomach three bottles of antiseptic and getting over the fear of being near the jaws of the dragon and a lot of pus and blood-stained rags, the arm now that was tricky in the end I decided to get the dragon to move the bone back into the correct position, it took some convincing but I swear you could have heard the roar of pain from orbit, I sat back my hands were covered in the creatures strange purple blood I had spent almost the entire Saturday in that cave.

The dragon and it was very confused she didn't want a friend but she had led him here so maybe she was just in denial and, there was just something about this human, he was kind it something with the dragon had not experienced much in her time in this planet, she had also watched the human cared for things. She had watched him care for animals she had seen him drawing, he would just sit there the dragon had never dared reveal herself in the flesh even before she had been cast out, the dragon didn't know why but it had chosen now. so much for keeping the promise, then again he didn't have to come here I didn't expect him to, prophetic dreams good one me she through, the dragon watched amused as the human clambered up onto her shoulder and began to clean the wound working quietly and efficiently the dragon had made a promise to herself, no more friends but where had that gotten her? as it watched the human work it dragon felt a rush of appreciation screw it I'm making this human my friend, I bought him into this against my own better judgement, he's going to help me but the question remained how do I make a friend? It had been a long time.

'I'm going to go and wash my hands' I say.

'Ok,' the dragon said.

I walked outside the cave I looked up at the sun, it was sinking low I decided to go home this dragon was nice maybe we could be friends I didn't know yet then I heard a pained moan I ran back to the cave, purple-stained water running off my hands the dragon was sitting up against the cave wall.

'What's wrong' I asked.

'I feel bad for the way I introduced myself, it's just well I didn't mean-'

'It's ok' i said

'But also I am very, very hungry' the dragon said.

'There is not much I can do about that' I say.

There was a strange gleam in those beautiful purple eyes, 'Oh but there is' the dragon said smiling.

showing all its teeth they were big each as long as my arm and tapered to a needlepoint it opened its jaws.

'say ah' the dragon said, as it lifted me up