Elements of Dragon Delight

Ron Koppelberger

Elements of Dragon Delight

He whispered and the flame flowed in smooth easy currents against the roast hare. The smell was tantalizing and delightfully amazing. The dragon sighed and the flame turned a cool blue as the fire cooked the meat. What have I here he said to himself, certainly not woe and the tears of hunger. I have the perfect meal borne of the hunt and the need to taste the delicacies of old. He thought again for a moment as his long tail swished in the underbrush waving dandelions and disturbing the edge of the swamp, “What have I, but the will to live and to dine on the fare of humans and animals alike, am I not the same in that sense?” he said aloud. Feared by all and admonished by none he thought as the cool currents of an early winter stirred the languid air.
The wolf had been watching the dragon from the bushes and as he edged closer he smelled the air, the scent of roast hare overwhelming him and making his stomach grumble. The dragon was oblivious to the wolf and continued on in the way of hungry dragons.
The wolf inched closer and waited for the dragon to turn from the hare. As his fire belched to a low ebb the wolf leapt to the roast rabbit and grabbed it with his sharp fangs. The dragon turned back and roared a loud blast at the wolf as he ran into the thick palm scrub. The creases above the dragons brow grew deep and angry, nevertheless he did not peruse the thief. He would return and next time he would have wolf, but for now the wolf would have his dinner and a few breaths before his next attempt to usurp the good tidings bestowed upon an old dragon.