10 Minute Tales

Jan 29 - Dragon at the Fair, Part 3 (Untimed)

A gout of flame from the tent persuaded her to change her mind; she instead started to leave the food plaza. He sped towards the tent, smoke already drifting up from within. The staff had left in a hurry, leaving the dragon to enjoy the hog.
"Hey!" Leo called out, internally panicking. Even if he did get its attention, what was he going to do? It was a dragon, for Pete's sake! It glanced over, huffing a puff of smoke. He blinked, realising. It might have been too young to breathe fire. As long as it didn't bite him, he should be okay...! "Come on, stop! Just... behave!" He approached it, still worried, but feeling as though... something made sense about this. It snapped, tail flicking irritably. He looked around, and saw some meat that had been cut off, ready to serve. He grabbed it, making it snap again and approach him. He backed out, cautious as he lured it out to broad daylight. Once it was clear of the tent, he threw the meat to a side. It made a "glop" sound as it licked its lips, pouncing on the meat. He sighed weakly, feeling a little relieved.
"Ho, there!" Someone called out. He turned to look. It was the dragon keeper from before! He was armed with a rope and a chain, both rather small. "Oh, you found Usrus! Well done, sir!" He approached the dragon, who growled warily but allowed himself to be recaptured without much fuss. "I apologise for the fuss, he always has been lead astray by his stomach. Well done on bringing him out here, though. You're quite right, the enclosed area would have quickly caught on fire had he remained there."
"He's too young to breathe fire, right?" Leo asked, still a little shaken. The keeper's eyes widened a little.
"Why, yes! It'll only be a decade or so before he is ready to do so, but how did you know?"
"I... didn't, I, it just..." He stammered, realising. This information had come to him almost unbidden. As though he had known it for years...
"Well, now... come, we must discuss something." He beckoned for Leo to follow, heading off quickly. Leo frowned, a little confused, but obliged. Something weird was going on.

     Back at the keeper's stand, Leo stood awkwardly as the keeper rummaged through one of several cases. He seemed determined to find something, muttering about it.
"The stories said... oh, what was it that was said..."
"You, uh, you okay, there?"
"Yes, fine! Just need to..." He grumbled, but cried out in triumph as he sat up. In his hand was a large, dusty book, one he placed on the table. Leo reached out to open it, but paused.
"... dragonhide?"
"Brutal, I know, but it is the only way to ensure its accuracy. The hides of all dragons hold powerful magics, even without the dragon as host." Leo grimaced softly, but opened the book and flicked through its ancient pages.