Of Dragons and Humans Book 1: Of Freed and Owned

Of Freed of Owned: Prologue

[Still under great editing. Thank you. This writing still will change. See, it changed! :) ] 

 The soldier could tell he was shaking by the spear in his hand swaying slightly. The soldier stared silently at the thicket. There had not been movement for a long time now. He was now getting quite bored. He began to slouch down, even though he knew if the general saw him he would be punished severely. But the general was distracted, so the soldier was off the hook.

Suddenly, a loud crunch came from the thicket, breaking the awkward silence. The soldier shifted his body in an attack position, aiming his spear to the thicket and slightly bending his knees. A bolt of fear raced up his spine. He never thought he would actually fight this creature. He had heard many rumors about this animal and all of them terrified him to the core. One of the most chilling rumors told of twenty men being mauled to death. And worse there was true proof to this rumor. The soldier was part of the reinforcements, since the general ordered for more soldiers after many of them were killed. This information did not help the soldier's nerves settle. He was afraid now.

The soldier tempted to shake off his terrified feeling. He had to be brave if he was to battle this beast, but it was quite difficult for him to accomplish this task. He looked over to the general for the hand sign to charge. The general raised his hand, the sign for the charge. The soldier charged forward, his spear raised.

The next few moments were chaotic and blurred for the soldier. Soon as the line of spears hit the thicket, something leapt out of the bushes, leaping over the soldiers and into open ground. Soldiers rushed around throwing ropes at the creature, most of them missing utterly. Finally, a soldier was able to get a rope around one of it's horns, but the rope did not restrain it very much. Now that the animal was roped, the other soldiers moved in. They surrounded it swiftly as it hissed and flailed, but there work was cut out for them.

The creature turned to the soldier holding it's restraint and charged at top speed. Just as it prepared to attack, a rope wrapped around it's neck. It faced that soldier and flung itself at him just to be caught by a rope around it's back leg. More ropes were thrown and the creature was tangled, unable to move.

Now that the animal was out in the open and was no longer moving, the soldier could clearly see it. It was huge. It was like a lizard, but much larger and more vicious looking. It had scales like a reptile, that were pure gold, like wheat fields. It had frills like the colorful birds that the soldier had seen in aristocrat homes. This creature was truly beautiful with all its elegant characteristics. As if caught in a spell, the soldier stepped closer to the creature.

A loud clap broke the spell and he turned toward the sound. The general stood in front of him holding out a piece of thick leather. The general motioned with his hand to muzzle the creature and handed the leather to the soldier. The soldier took it from him and slowly turned to the creature.

An overwhelming feeling of terror washed over the soldier as he began to slowly step towards the creature. He had been incredibly foolish to step closer, acting as if he was brave. He had never been so terrified in his life before but he carried on. He approached the animal slowly, trying very hard to hide his fear. He tightened his grip on the piece of leather trying desperately to calm himself down. Now he was only feet away from it. He squeezed the leather so hard now, it hurt his hand. His hand was only inches away from it's head.

His eyes met its violet ones. The creature's eyes widened. It's pupils dilated. The soldier tempted to back away but he was stuck in place. Frozen with fear the soldier stood still, barely breathing.

The last things the soldier heard was: first, the sound of ropes snapping; second: the metallic sound of crushing metal and last, the sound of his neck snapping in the jaws of the dragon.