A Warrior Made Of Dragon's Blood

Chapter 5

It's pitch black inside the cave and I have to use the wall to find my way forward. I walk on for several minutes in complete darkness and I contemplate turning back when I trip over something in the darkness. I look down and see a faint glowing golden rope leading around a corner. Puzzled, I walk around the bend of the cave and see a large golden coil. I start walking forward until I become aware that something is watching me. Spinning around I come face to face with a gigantic emerald eye. Tripping backward I stare at it transfixed. Then I hear a booming deep voice,

"Who are you?" it roars.

In this type of situation I know not to show fear. If you show that you are afraid of an animal they will take advantage of you and make your fear your weakness. Replying in the calmest voice I can muster, I say,

"I am Sora and I live in a village nearby."

"Well, get out. I have no time for you!" it responds.

I speak cautiously: "I'll go, but I want to know your name and if you know what happened to the people in my village."

"My name is not important and I don't know where the villagers are. Now go away and let me sleep!" it roars before rearing up and creating a ball of fire in front of its face. The dragon's golden scales reflect the fire and its eyes glitter.

"You came in here by yourself, just a child," it roars in surprise.

"Yes, I came here alone and I'm not a child. I just turned 7 years old," I respond indignant.

"Well, I can't kill a child. It would haunt me for the rest of my life. Go home to your parents kid and stay away from me."

"I would love to except for the fact that everyone left the village and my family's not there."

The dragon looks taken aback and softens,

"Isn't there any other family member you could go to?"

"Not that I know of." I respond.

"I'm going to regret this later, but I can't let you wander the world alone, so you can stay and live with me until someone comes looking for you."

At first I am shocked, but when I come to my senses I ask, "Why are you helping me? You don't even know anything about me."

"I told you I wouldn't feel right killing a child and I know that you have nowhere to go. It would be wrong to turn you away. Now, go to sleep and stop asking me questions," he says before curling up to go to sleep.

Now that I think of it I don't have anywhere to go and the dragon might help me find out where my parents are. I lie down on the floor and close my eyes. That night, I have a nightmare of a group of unknown people killing and piling bodies in the forest.