I still mourned for Tanga's untimely death. But I had to find a cave, or I would be a roamer, with no real home. And that could be very bad for a dragon. Especially one as small as I.
So, I soared along the shores of this land called 'Kells'. It was an island, with no dragons. That was perfect for a dragon just starting out on a claim. I looked around for a suitable cave. There were hundreds of scooped out caverns around volcanoes, but all were too close to human civilization. I had to find someplace that was avoided by humans.
I flew to the mountaintops, looking there. In the mountain ranges, I found many caves. I swirled around the mouth of the long dormant volcano near the top of the mountain ranges. I could see a huge indentation in the side of the volcano, and let air out of my wings to get a closer look. Sure enough, it was a nice-sized cave.
I landed on the entrance to the cave, and walked inside. There were numerous geysers and rivers of boiling water: reasons why there were no inhabitants. My scales protected me from the intense heat and other dangers of the cave. I continued to look around, alert for any other inhabitants. There were a few skulls scattered around, evidence that something had tried to live in this cave.
'Pyre, you've finally done it'. I said to myself. 'You've found a cave that would make the king of dragon's jealous.'
I walked to the front of my new cave. For the first time of many days to come, I saw the view from my cave's entrance. It was one of the newly discovered wonders for me. There was no spectacular purple, blue, and gold sunset, or a huge, oversized moon near one of the hills. Indeed, it was the middle of the day.
But what I did see was miles of yard-high grass, waving in the slight breeze. Rolling hills dotted with the odd rock or stone went for miles around my cave. This was the countryside called Dare. So, I proudly puffed up my chest, and declared myself the Dragon of Dare, roaring my triumph to the winds.
I was quite content with my humble adobe. Just when I was about to turn back to continue searching my cave, a glint of silver caught my eye. I launched off the ledge, determined to find out what that was. I flew in that direction, my curiousity forcing me to find out everything about Dare. As I flew, I saw the source of the silver glint… a herd of Unicorns. I was even more curious, I had never seen Unicorns of that color. Red, mahogany, blues, reds, and greens, completely unhorse-like. The Unicorns saw me, and rose their horns in the air, as a threat. I landed a short distance away from the herd, trusting I could take flight and flee if they charged. One Unicorn came prancing up to me, the largest of them all. He was colored a deep blue, with red socks and mane. His spiraled horn and hard hooves were a pearl white, his eyes burning red like coals.
"So you," He said primly, "Are the dragon who took up residence in yonder hills."
"That I am." I told him. "I am Pyre, the Dragon of Dare."
I loved that title, Dragon of Dare. As newly as it had been won, it meant I had a home at long last, one I could live in as long as I could breath. I would defend my home from all invaders, and all the strength I had at my disposal would keep it under my command.
"Well, Dragon of Dare." The Unicorn snorted, as though he found my title to be a joke, "I am the Herd Stallion, the leader of my herd. You would be best to stay away from my herd, as you have not enough power to challenge all the 'corns at once."
Yes, this Unicorn, the Herd Stallion, definitely did not want to be friends! He thought I was a joke. "I assure you, Stallion. I didn't plan on attacking your herd, no threats included." I paused. "But I will now allow any intrusions on your part, either."
"I think yhou are making a mistake, trying to threaten me." The Herd stallion snorted.
The Herd stallion was not only a magisterial fool, he was an idiot, too. No matter how many Unicorns laid at his command over the hills, I could have snapped him up and flown away before any of them could get there. He stood alone, and threatened a dragon. Still, I didn't want to start a battle with this stallion's large herd. So, I decided to back off. "I assure you, I am making no mistakes." I told him. "But I will offer you a treaty of sorts, you stay away from my cave, I will not hunt your people."
I launched into the air, not waiting for his reply, as it would have been sarcastic, anyway. I would have had something about a dragon's weaknesses, or stupidity, or some other thing that would make me want to eat him. I headed at top speed away from the herd, and back to my cave. Nothing had come while I had been away, not that I had expected anything to show. At least, not with the fresh smell of dragon.
I settled down, comfortable. This cave was perfect for a dragon like me! I was extremely satisfied. But, there was always the matter of the Herd Stallion and other 'corns, and their obviously violent nature. They were probably a collection of the rejects from other herds, collected here over the centuries. That could make their leader tougher then the average Unicorn. I still had no doubt I could beat the Herd Stallion in fair combat… but what would keep him from making it unfair? He seemed the type to send his people into combat while he ruled from the rear.
I soon fell asleep, lulled by the hot sands and air. That night, I dreamed I was being invaded by a dark force from outside. I leaped up, and roared. The Unicorns which had been in my cave, about to kill me with their horns, fled. They were assassins! They tore away from my cave at top Unicorn speed, somehow managing not to trip over the many stones. I launched into the air, and was unhindered by the rocks and ruts in the dirt that might have caused me trouble.
The Unicorns leaped down the hill, and into the midst of the Unicorn herd. The horned horses turned their long horns on me. "What is the meaning of this betrayal?" The Herd Stallion demanded, stepping out of the midst of the herd. "We agreed not to bother you, but here you are chasing our brothers!"
"You are the one that betrayed me." I growled. "Those Unicorns invaded my cave, and were going to kill me. Sent to do so by your command, I'm guessing."
"Why, Pyre, why do you think that?" The Herd Stallion said silkily. He looked nervous, though, the Unicorns did not like betrayal.
"A Unicorn would do nothing without your order." I said, but I wasn't sure. He looked too surprised.
"You misunderstand the law of the Unicorns." The Herd Stallion said.
"It's true." One of the Unicorn-assassins said, a small, black one with shift eyes and a dirty mane. "he told us to do it."
Now the main body of the herd turned shocked gazes on their leader. Shocked turned quickly to angry, and they powered their horns to run the Herd Stallion through.
"You can't believe Ciperon!" The Herd Stallion neighed, swinging his horn in defense of himself. "He's an outsider, a liar!"
I met gazes then with Ciperon, the little black unicorn. The one that accused the Herd Stallion. Any beast I knew of would be ashamed of himself for betraying his leader. Not this one. He was shaking his mane, bobbing his head… he was laughing!
"Stop!" I yelled, launching into the air. The Unicorns swung their heads to defend themselves from the apparently rampaging dragon.
I dove, and snagged up the Herd Stallion in one claw. I then slid over the suddenly panicked Herd and snagged up Ciperon. I landed at the top of a nearby hill. The Unicorns all turned towards me, horns leveled uneasily.
"Listen to me." I said. "The Herd stallion is not the traitor."
"About time you believed me." The Stallion snorted as I set him down.
"You are the true traitor." I snapped at Ciperon.
"Ciperon would never…" An old mare protested, but the others silenced her.
"Please explain, Dragon of Dare." The Herd Stallion said, though this time the title was not as much of a mockery as before.
I looked over at the Herd Stallion. Though ruffled from the latest occurrences in his daily roaster and almost being lynched, he still stood tall. His fur was not in order, but shone, and his appearance gave one the sense of a regal King.
"Ciperon, here…" I said, raising the little black unicorn in one claw for everyone to see, "Looked extremely joyful when you set upon the stallion. No one else seemed happy about it. You found having to kill him a matter of pride. Someone else sent the assassins after me, breaking whatever treaty we had made."
"How do you know Ciperon himself didn't…" A dark gray Unicorn asked, visibly trembling.
"Because if he was a member of the assassin's party, he would not have enough respect, nor he is not big enough, to be the Herd stallion." The Herd Stallion said for me.
Mutterings of shock where heard, and 'corns giving each other suspicious glances. This herd would obviously be in a little bit of trouble, attacking their leader! "It was one of the males." I noted. "So tell us who it was, Ciperon."
Ciperon didn't move. "Tell him." The Herd Stallion snorted, and I gave the little black Unicorn a hot breath of steam to speed him up.
Ciperon began to babble. "It was Tex, he made me do it, he said…" The Herd Stallion turned, nostrils flaring, eyes ablaze. The Herd split, revealing the huge gray Unicorn which I had noticed earlier. He lowered his horn, but not in submission or praise, in attack. With a flash of hooves, Tex charged the Herd Stallion.
Tex was younger, bigger, and since he had been marked for death because of his betrayal, would die unless he could become Herd Stallion. He had everything to loose if he lost this battle.
The Herd Stallion calmly stood his ground, staring down Tex. Tex continued racing at the Herd Stallion, horn lowered, a look of futile anger on his face. At the last minute, the Herd Stallion dodged to one side, and gored Tex through the neck. The gray unicorn stumbled and fell onto his side, bleeding terribly. In my talons, Ciperon began shaking terribly.
"Thank you, Pyre, Dragon of dare." The Herd Stallion said, lowering his bloodied horn in respect to me. "If you can not identify any more of the assassin 'corns, could you give us Ciperon?" The Stallion asked. "We would like to… speak with him."
"I see no others." I said, setting Ciperon down by the Herd stallion. "But I'm sure Ciperon knows who they are."
"We thank you." The Herd stallion repeated. "I sincerely hope our peace treaty still stands?" He asked.
"Of course, Herd Stallion." I said.
I launched myself from the hill, where dawn was just beginning to break over the hills. And this sunrise was spectacular.
