the sound of footsteps, crashing through the wood, closer and closer, nearer and nearer. Dan pushed in desperation, knowing the owner of the footsteps would reach him long before he had completed his task. Then, when all seemed lost, the owner of the footsteps spoke.
“Hi Dan, what’s going on?” Lucy stepped calmly into the clearing.
Lucy had had a boring morning. Her Nan had come over to see them and there was only so much tea, biscuits and ‘my how you’ve grown’, that Lucy could take. It was a relief when mum had agreed to let Lucy go to Dan’s. As Dan wasn’t at home, Lucy had gone straight to the woods, as she knew Dan would surely be there.
“What’s going on then Dan?”
Lucy looked a little perplexed as she stood waiting for Dan to answer. He was all red in the face and sweaty. It wasn’t a particularly pleasant sight!
“Here, grab this log and help me”, shouted Dan, gesturing to the large piece of dead wood lying at his feet. Lucy began to protest but Dan was already starting to push the log over to what looked like a large hole in the clearings floor. Lucy followed Dan’s example, and little by little, the log was moved toward the pit. Then, with one final monumental push they sent the log crashing into the dark hole.
One end was sticking up out of the hole and a scrabbling sound was heard emanating from below. Lucy held her breath as, first two scaly paws, followed by a scaly head and body appeared into view.
“Dan! It’s... It’s... a ... dragon!”
The last word was almost spurted out from Lucy’s mouth in surprise and a little alarm. The dragon looked at Dan briefly and uttered,
“You have saved my life, a debt I owe to you. Now go, before the hunter sees us! I will see you again, I promise.”
With that the dragon leapt into the thick wood and was gone. All at once, a crashing could be heard from the opposite direction. The hunter was returning.
“Run Lucy, run for your life!”
They both ran through the wood, slowly curving to their right until the path that led to the stile could be seen. Climbing the stile and running off they both shuddered when they heard the hunter’s wails of anger at his discovery. They didn’t stop running until they reached Dan’s house, and to safety. Dan had so much to tell Lucy!
“Simon! I don’t understand?”
Lucy shook her head, glancing out of the window in the direction of the woods. Dan sat cross-legged on his bed, scratching his chin thoughtfully.
“I don’t understand how I’ve never seen the dragon before. I always play in the woods!”
Lucy gave no answer but stood still, looking out of the window.
“But I can’t believe it is Simon!!”
And then the awful realisation hit them. They not only had to face him at school but now they knew he would realise who helped the dragon. It had to be Dan. Who else at school had seen a dragon in the woods? Dan could have kicked himself for blurting it out. He should have waited until after school to tell Lucy. Why on earth didn’t he wait? Lucy sensed Dan’s anguish and looked round to him.
“It wasn’t your fault Dan. There’s no way you could have known what would happen!”
“I must help him. The dragon I mean. I must help it to find a new home where he can live undiscovered. I must find him Lucy, I just must!”
THE DRAGONS LAIR
Dan was glad of his coat as he trudged through the wood, looking to his left and right as he went, searching. A greyish mist drifted through the trees. It seemed to cling to everything, including Dan and almost prevented his progress. Dan looked up and could see the sun glinting in the early morning. Normally, Dan would be tearing through the wood, playing one of a hundred games. Pretending to be a big game hunter or a fighter pilot! Today, however, Dan kept silent, listening out for any footsteps that could tell him the dragon was near, or Simon! Dan was scared!
He poked his head round the tree, surveying the clearing. Nothing! Cautiously, Dan crept forward, looking all ways in case of ambush. But none came. He headed for the big tree at the end of the clearing in trepidation. The dragon must be around here somewhere?
The tree was old. It was easily the oldest tree in the wood. A gnarled trunk, massive girth, rose up from the ground. Its ancient bark was broken here and there, to reveal the smooth innards of the tree. Large roots seemed to twist around the tree base, this way and that. Dan clambered over the roots, slowly circling the large ancient tree.
At the point furthest from the clearing, facing into the woods, there was a large pile of leaves. Dan kicked at the leaves, scattering them and sending some into the air where they drifted gently back to earth. Dan couldn’t resist a pile of leaves and grinned inwardly at the resulting destruction. Dan’s attention moved from the leaves to the space where they had occupied only moments earlier. Dan had discovered a hole!
Crouching, Dan began scooping more leaves away, like a dog burying its favourite bone, until the hole had been completely uncovered. Squinting, Dan peered into the inky blackness. Nothing could be seen. The hole was certainly large. It was easily large enough for a boy. Or a dragon!
DESCENT
Dan looked nervously round, straining to hear any sound that might indicate discovery. Nothing!
“Probably not very deep, come on Dan, not scared are you?”
Dan imagined Peter mocking him, daring him to crawl in.
“I’m not afraid”, called out Dan, a little more loudly than he intended and instinctively hugged the tree in case of being discovered. Slowly, Dan entered the hole until only his feet could be seen poking out. Squinting, crawling in deeper and deeper, Dan’s eyes slowly became accustomed to the gloom and he could check out his surroundings. The hole became a tunnel, which seemed to descend in a seemingly straight line into the ground. Dan could make out something moving at the far end. Fear began to creep over Dan and he began to back up when suddenly a familiar voice called out.
“Knew you’d find me, you are smart for a human!”
Dan had found the dragon!
The cave was somewhat cramped but homely. Light from the tunnel filtered down, creating a gloomy atmosphere. The dragon led Dan to the far end where a small green glow illuminated the area. Straw and other materials were placed on the floor and Dan was surprised how comfy and dry it was, as he sat cross- legged opposite the dragon.
“What makes the light?” inquired Dan, puzzled at the green glow.
“A dragon stone, there are various types. This one creates light”.
The dragon handed it to Dan. It was smooth and slightly warm as it glowed in Dan’s small hand. Dan passed it back to the dragon, which then placed it between them as they sat. It gave enough light for them to see each other. They talked. Dan had many questions, which the dragon answered as detailed as he could. Dan learnt a lot about dragons that afternoon!
It turned out that dragons had ruled the earth a long time back. Most were good, honest, friendly dragons. However, a small band had waged war on the humans who, fearing for their lives, sought them out and fought them. The battle of dragon dell was legendary in dragon mythology, which saw the evil dragon, Saw-tooth, defeated and the humans victorious.
Unfortunately, the humans had grown to hate dragons and sent men out to seek and kill them. The dragon hunters were thus born. Dan learnt that their primary weapon was actually a dragon stone. The particular dragon stone used was the size of a tennis ball. It was a crystal, sporting gold flecks which made dragons immobile and strangely light. The men would carry the dragons off to be killed or kept as slaves to work for the humans. Dan learnt that a dragon could only be killed at the stroke of midnight, as their powers were too great any other time. The dragon’s parents were descended from these slave dragons. Some had escaped and lived solitary lives away from humans. Some of them lived in marshes. Others lived in desert. And yes, some took refuge amongst the great woods and forests of the world. These were the ancestors of this particular dragon.
“Dragon hunters are dedicated to the cause. They will stop at nothing to def
eat us. Simon, the one you know Dan, will be back. He will not rest until I am defeated. I am lost”.
The dragon bowed his head and half closed his eyes as if in deep contemplation. Dan vowed to help the dragons. There and then he decided to risk all and help them to establish their place in the world. With that, Dan’s adventures had only just begun!
The light from the tunnel faded and Dan guessed that he was long overdue back home. After vowing to help the dragon, Dan began to crawl back up the tunnel. What could he do? Dan didn’t know but knew he had to bring Lucy next time. Two were better than one he figured! Stretching his aching muscles, Dan stood at the entrance of the tunnel and was just about to make his way home when he felt two hands grab his shoulders and push him roughly to the ground. Dan struggled to get to his feet and, glancing up, caught the gaze of those piercing blue eyes. Simon!!
CAUGHT!
Simon had almost given up his search. Where was the dragon? He could have been anywhere in the woods, if he hadn’t fled them altogether! He was, as a matter of fact, on his way home when approaching the clearing in the middle of the wood, Dan appeared! What a stroke of luck! Now Dan lay on the floor, looking up at Simon, staring in surprise and alarm.
“I told you to stay away boy! But now I’m glad you didn’t. Because of you I have found the dragon’s lair! Laughing, Simon reached into his pocket and produced a small bottle.