Dragons of Draegonia (6 page)

Dragon Brown was left on his own. It was getting late and the moon was casting its eerie glow over what was now a deserted and much quieter street. He opened up the police station cave door marched across the cavernous room and pressed the Red and White button causing for the second time that day the alarm bell to clang and once more illuminate the flashing blue light. Brown closed the door, locking it after him and with thumping strides marched briskly off to the Great Hall.

Dragon Green had trotted well out of sight of the police station realising that he had volunteered to put his own life at risk by spying on the invaders. He crouched down on the hard ground and thought for a moment. Thinking aloud he said, “I know, I will pretend to have spied on the invaders’ camp site. There must be at least a hundred of them and obviously as some of us are losing the ability to spit fire, the invaders must have a weapon that we do not know about. I’ll pretend to have seen it.” Green had confidently decided, that whatever the strength of the invading army, they would be no match for Dragon Black.

Green finalised his story and rehearsed it to himself a few times as he headed for the Great Hall. At last he would be respected and considered brave and important. His reported observations of the threat would prepare everyone, they would win the battle and he would be a hero. He gave a wry smile as he thought of the medals he might receive for his bravery.

Inside the Great Hall Dragon Brown was discussing the feared imminent attack with Dragon Black as scores of other dragons flooded into the chamber to join those who were members of the Dragon Council. Some had their night caps still on as they had been rudely awakened by a coughing dragon. Some were comparing notes about their ‘Flame Outs’ while others just arrived with worried and frightened looks.

The meeting was roared to order by Dragon Black. He growled
“We believe that there is an invasion of our island, Dragon Brown has reported that he has been advised that hundreds of troops have been sighted and are going to attack us and that at least three of our dragons have already lost their flames and that this may well be connected.”

The congregation of dragons burst into grunts and groans as the importance of the meeting made its impact. Some were roaring at the top of their voices, their failing flames spitting in all directions. There were other dragons who were displaying the tell tale black spots of a sneezing dragon. Their flames also appeared to be getting smaller and smaller.

Before Dragon Black could raise another growl, Dragon Green rushed in. He had a bandage around his head with stains of what looked like blood. In fact it was ‘Tomato Dragon Sauce’ that he had applied for effect a few minutes earlier. The Council of Dragons rushed to his assistance. “It was horrible” Green panted, “they jumped me but after a struggle I managed to get away!” All eyes were on Green as he explained that he had gone to spy on the invaders’ camp but before he could see how many there were several had seen and attacked him. Dragon Brown put an arm round Green, telling him that he was a brave dragon and asked him if his injuries were severe. “How did they cause the head injury Dragon Green?” asked Brown. Green slightly taken by surprise and not having thought about how he might have got the injury responded in a fraught voice: “They clubbed me, hit me over the head.” Gasps were heard from the dragons listening intently to Green’s encounter with the enemy. “Four or five maybe more I couldn’t tell, it was so dark, they just pounced on me” Green hastily continued, “they hit me with large club-like things.”

“
Describe these warriors?”
Black barked. “Yes,” interrupted Brown, “how tall were they? What did they look like? How did you escape them and did they follow you here?” Dragon Green fought for words but clearly he was not prepared for all these questions, instead he decided to keel over and pretended to feint from his pretend injuries. Thump, his body hit the floor. Dragons rushed from all directions to his aid. Some brought water and one was heard to offer to give him the ‘Dragon Kiss of Life’.

Dragon Green, on hearing this, quickly opened his eyes and staggered to his feet assisted by several very supportive dragons. “He is a hero.” “Jolly good show.” “He should be given a medal.” Dragon Green felt a sense of pride, he was being recognised as a hero, his plan was indeed, working.

“What are those black spots?”
Dragon Black asked Dragon Brown, pointing to Green and to all the other dragons who carried the dreaded black sticky spots that Dragon White had coughed, spluttered and sneezed all over them.

At that precise moment Dragon White, exhausted from her messenger duties appeared. Rushing into the hall she blasted out yet again, an enormous sneeze, this time splattering and fully covering Dragon Black with the same droplets that marked every dragon on the Island of Draegonia, which is every dragon, bar one.

Dragon Pink also had heard the alarm for the second time that day and she could see once again the flashing blue light situated high on the volcano, silhouetted against the late night sky. Pink, earlier that evening, had gone for a walk to practice her dance routine she was too embarrassed to do in front of other dragons. She was the youngest and smallest of all the dragons. She had very soft pink skin, a small tail and trim body. Her dragon head was also small and roundish with two bright blue eyes either side of a squat snout that displayed a very cute smile. Dragon Pink did not frighten anyone or anything. This was just as well for as she danced in the moonlight she moved closer and closer towards some very large rocks where four children were fast asleep.

George woke up rubbing his left leg that had pins and needles in it. He had been sleeping quite heavily when he was awoken by two noises. The first was a clang, clang of a bell in the distance, the second a noise of something moving close by in the blackness. “Wake up” he said pulling at Grace and prodding Joel. “Do you hear that?” he whispered. “Hear what?” Zach said loudly, rubbing his eyes. “Shush!” Grace responded putting her hand over Zach’s mouth. “What is it?” she whispered. “I don’t know but it is getting closer” George replied searching in the bag that lay beneath Joel’s feet. George’s hand grabbed a torch and with one movement he pointed and switched it on, its fine bright spot light swept left and right. Joel and Zach followed the beam with their eyes straining into the darkness to see what had made the noise. Grace stood behind them clutching the flare gun used earlier that day against Dragon White. All four children remained very quiet hardly breathing, waiting for what they believed were fierce dragons about to attack them.

Dragon Pink was just finishing the last of her triple pirouettes; her tiny feet thudding on the hard ground when out of nowhere shone a brilliant white light encircling her and her performance. Somewhat surprised she stopped her interpretation of ‘Dragon Swan Lake’ and stared into the light. Her two little eyes became smaller, reacting to the light as it passed her by. The bright beam paused then came back and shot off into the opposite direction. It stopped again and this time slowly came back to where she was crouching. What was this thing? Pink became quite worried and started to stand up on her back legs to peer into the direction where the light had come from.

George could not believe his eyes. Grace started to laugh. Joel crouched in amazement mouth open, unable to say anything and Zach rubbed his eyes in disbelief. “Shush Grace” George said quietly. “Is that a dragon?” Grace enquired, still trying to suppress another giggle. “I think so” George replied. “But what’s it doing wearing a ballet skirt and is that a tiara on its head?” cried Grace. Joel had now closed his mouth and also started to laugh followed by Zach, Grace and George. All four were laughing so much that they had not realised the dragon was now walking slowly towards them.

Dragon Pink could not understand what was making the light appear. Whatever it was it made peculiar noises and it was coming from where there were some large rocks. Dragon Pink slowly walked across to where the four intrepid explorers were in fits of laughter pointing at Dragon Pink. In between the laughs Dragon Pink could make out voices and to her amazement understood what was being said. Tears started to appear in Dragon Pinks eyes as she realised that these little things were making fun of her. They seemed to be pointing to her tiara and skirt and making unkind remarks. Dragon Pink sat down right in front of the children and with a shake of the head rid herself of her tears, and in a quiet low pitch voice said “It is not nice to make fun of dragons.” The children abruptly stopped laughing.

“Did you speak?” Grace asked, looking at the dragon. “Yes, it is not nice to make fun of me, I am very upset, I do have feelings you know.” George looked at the dragon rubbed his eyes and pinched himself. No, he was not dreaming, yet this dragon had actually spoken to them. “Wow!” Joel exclaimed “a talking dragon, wait until I tell them about
this
at school.” Zach moved closer to the dragon and pinched her soft pink scaly skin. “It’s real” he exclaimed. “Ouch” Pink cried. “Who are you? What are you?”

Grace felt sorry for laughing and apologised profusely. “Leave it alone Zach” she commanded. Joel nodded in agreement as George went closer and with a nervous finger prodded the dragon to also make sure it was real. “That’s George, I am Grace and these are my brothers Joel and Zach,” Grace said in a cool clear crisp voice. “We are from a place called England. Our parents let us go sailing but we got caught in a very bad storm, our boat sank and we ended up here.”

George seeing that there was no imminent danger from this strange night visitor offered it a drink pouring the last of their water into a large plastic bag retrieved from the survival box. The pink dragon with one lick took all the water and smiled. Her smile was warm and gentle and the four immediately knew they were in no danger.

Joel shivered, “Please don’t be frightened,” the pink dragon said. Joel responded indignantly, “I’m not, I am just very cold.” The embers of the fire that had helped to keep the children warm had long gone out. The dragon could see that these four funny looking little things were friendly but in the blackness of night were indeed cold. Dragon Pink recommended that they find some smooth round rocks and place them where the fire had been. Before Grace could question why, the two lads started carrying several stones that had been close to the entrance of their new camp. Grace looked on thinking that everyone had lost their minds. George placed the last stone on the pile that now completely covered the old fire and asked. “What are we doing this for?” Pink did not answer instead she took a deep breath and fired a red hot blast towards the stones. Her flames grew brighter and brighter creating a deep blue and purple glow. Within seconds the pile of stones so carefully placed by the two boys, first glowed red, and then white hot, giving off tremendous heat. The three children sat round the glowing stones and beckoned the dragon to join them. Dragon Pink trotted forward and sat down to a barrage of questions.

Grace wanted to know where the dragon lived, did she have a family. George was interested to learn where they were, and could she help them get off the island. Joel’s tummy rumbled as he asked where they might get some food.

Dragon Pink was great company; she explained that the noise and the flashing blue light that they had seen would have been set off by the ‘Dragon Police’. She told the children about Draegonia and all about Dragon Black, the Council of Dragons and how none of the dragons, except Dragon Black could fly. “Why can’t the other dragons fly?” Joel asked. Dragon Pink, embarrassed, shuffled her front paws and flicked two tiny wings that had been hidden until now from her sides. Because Pink was so young, her wings were intact, but too small to assist her to fly. The children watched as she started to flap each little wing in turn. Dragon Pink went on to explain that when dragons reach a certain age their wings are clipped at the root to prevent them from flying.

“That’s terrible” cried Grace.” “But why?” piped up George who was tidying up the makeshift shelter to provide room for all of them to sleep. Dragon Pink’s eyes glazed over as she bowed her head forward so as not to let anyone else other than the children hear what she was about to say. “Dragon Black does not want any of us to leave. He has all the Dragons of Draegonia looking after him, we are no more than his slaves.”

Dragon Pink moved to where George had cleared a space, laid down and rolled on her side with one large front paw holding her head, her elbow making a small indentation in the hard ground. She continued but in a slightly quieter and more frightened tone of voice. “Dragon Black passed a law that all dragons were to lose the ability to fly” she continued, “and his rules are not to be challenged, for those who do, they just disappear, never to be seen again.” Dragon Pink gave a massive yawn, placed her head upon the floor, closed her eyes and just before falling asleep whispered “I only wish he could be replaced with someone kinder.”

“Come on you two” George moved alongside Dragon Pink where his blanket lay and settled down for what was left of the night. “We have a big day tomorrow, it is very late, let’s all get some sleep.” Joel and Grace responded by cuddling up together, whilst Zach moved closer to his super pal, George. By the warmth of the dragon heated rocks they all fell into a deep sleep.

Dragon Brown had adjourned to a side chamber of the Main Hall with a number of dragons following at his heels. Although suspicious of Green’s interpretation of events and what appeared to be such a gigantic injury that would have laid any other dragon out for weeks, Brown decided to give him the benefit of doubt. “Green, I need you to monitor the invading army and its progress so that we can ensure our defences are in place. I recommend that you take Dragon Yellow and you both get as close to their camp and report back to me their every movements.” Dragon Yellow had tried to remain inconspicuous as he was a real coward and was surprised at being conscripted into Brown’s newly formed army.