Wendy & The Dragon

‘ROOOOAAAAARRRRRRRR!’

Wendy froze where she stood, she hadn’t even reached the cave but she could smell the breath of the roaring beast within.

‘ROOOOAAAAAkkkakkakakkkkkaaah.’

That was a strange noise.

Wendy knelt and checked her provisions. A yo-yo; some cheese; half a pot of honey and roughly torn chunk of slightly stale bread; four hair clips; a spare pair of socks, she never left home without them, and four jelly beans fused together. Of course, she also had her mighty sword and shield fashioned from the finest Rice Krispie box. She didn’t exactly feel dragon hunting ready, but she had made quite the fuss about ‘little girls being just as brave as any knight’ so this was where she was.

‘ROOOOAAAAAccccchhhhhhhhhffffffutchkkk’

Wendy reclosed her backpack and slid it over her arms. She looked up, the sky had filled with grey clouds and the faintest smattering of raindrops was beginning to fall. Wendy thought about the thick yellow raincoat she’d marched past indignantly as she left the castle. 

‘HACKKKKPFUTTT’

The entrance to the cave was blocked by a huge plank of wood. Wendy stood before it and folded her arms. Her mouth and nose twisted into a little knot of puzzlement. Wendy was only three feet three and three quarters and she barely weighed three stones. The blockage was at least twice her size. This wasn’t going to be easy.

‘What was it Ali Baba said?’ Wendy thought. She knew ‘abracadabra’ but that wasn’t for caves. No. It was something to do with hamburgers. Ketchup? No. Cheese? No. Buns… ah, that was it. Wendy stood triumphant. She held both arms in the air, fingers spread wide for maximum magic projection.

‘OPEN, SEZMEE SEEDS!’ she yelled at the top of her lungs.

‘Uh?’ was the sound made in the cave, but Wendy didn’t hear it. Her eyes were shut and she was too focused on the magic to listen.

She opened her eyes. The plank was still there.

‘Mmm. Maybe it just needs…’ Wendy thought. She took a few steps back, turned, narrowed her eyes, and ran. A couple of steps up to the plank and a big thump with her shoulder. The plank swung away from Wendy’s impact and she tumbled through the entrance and onto the cave floor

‘Uh?’

This time Wendy heard the confused noise. It came from behind her as she lay flat on her charging shoulder and rubbed her head where it had glanced off the cave wall. She steeled herself to face the beast, sat up, and looked over her shoulder.

There it was. Grizzled and leathery. Smoke dripped from its nostrils. Wendy instinctively wrapped her arm across her nose in defence against the smell as she turned to face it.

Their eyes met and there was a pause as a shiver ran down Wendy’s spine. This was it, there was no turning back. Wendy looked at the dragon and raised her sword.

‘And what do you intend to do with that?’ said the dragon.

Wendy took a step back in shock.

‘You speak?’ she trembled.

‘Of course, I speak,’ the beast snapped. ‘Silly little girl. You don’t live as long as I have without mastering something so simple as speech.’

Wendy said nothing.

‘I ask again,’ said the dragon. ‘What do you plan to do with that flimsy looking weapon?’

‘I’m here to slay you!’ Wendy kicked her heels together and stiffened, making herself tall against the fear.

‘Slay me?’ the dragon cackled. ‘I could vaporise that sword and shield with one breath. Smoke billowed from the dragon’s mouth as she spoke, as though offering a warning of the power she hid within.

Wendy knew this was true but she could not admit it. She dropped to her knees, placed her sword on the ground and, carefully, behind her shield, poured out the contents of her backpack, hoping for inspiration.

The dragon watched in curiosity as Wendy moved her fingers over each item as though looking for the perfect weapon.

‘Are you going to assault me with a cheese sandwich?’ the dragon mocked. ‘Or set your jelly baby army on me?’ This thought was too amusing for the dragon who burst into cruel laughter. The laughter seemed to catch in the beast’s throat and sent it into a coughing fit. Wendy could see water forming at the edges of the dragon’s eyes as clutched at its chest with one claw while it banged on the side of the cave with another as though trying to dislodge the cough by jolting its body. Something fell from a raised shelf in the wall and shattered on the ground.

‘What on earth is going on out here?’ a man entered the cave behind Wendy and rushed straight to the dragon. Wendy recognised him. It was the King, her father. She watched in disbelief as he ignored his own daughter and instead placed his arm comfortingly around the dragon. He looked back sternly at Wendy.

‘What have we told you about not disturbing your grandma when she’s in her caravan?’

Wendy didn’t respond.

‘Mum, are you OK? Jeez, these vapes are going to be the death of you,’ then, turning to the girl. ‘Get inside the house, now!’ he barked.

‘Don’t scold the child,’ said the dragon. ‘She was just,’ there was a pause as the beast looked towards her would-be slayer and smiled. ‘She was just bringing me some honey for my tea, to help soothe my throat. Isn’t that right, Wendy dear?’

Wendy nodded enthusiastically, picked up the jar and held it out for her grandma to take.