Arnori's Brave Dragons

“This better not be another prank,” Amari said to the other two dragons as they approached their destination.

“I am telling you I saw it with my own eyes!” Aril exclaimed, “It was a massive black dragon that looked like a mass of shadows, but it moved in such a way that it was impossible to see how many legs it had. It just floated through the air and then disappeared when I tried to follow it.”

“And yet we are here to face this beast because you, who has never been outside of Arnori, says he saw it?” Etain asked with disdain.

“Why must we do this anyway? Arnori is safe and peaceful, why would we risk our lives like this? The King would never send us out on this quest he fancies so much. He knows we are too young. We have not even reached our first century yet!” Aril replied, “We will die if we go to fight his beast!”

“I cannot believe that you would question the judgement of your King in such a way! It is because of his wisdom that we have lived in peace for centuries now! He knows that time is on our side. With every passing year, our powers increase. You don't know what you are talking about!” Amari bellowed at Aril, “Besides, there is only one reason why the King would send us on this quest: if there is no hope left for our Kingdom! And if there is no hope then we will die in battle while saving our homeland! Do you wish to live forever as cowards?”

Aril began to sob softly at the thought of dying without ever seeing the outside world. Etain walked over and put his hand on his shoulder. “Are you ok? You don't look well. We can take a break if you want?” he said gently. Aril looked up at Etain and smiled weakly at him. Etain smiled back and turned to Amari and shook his head disapprovingly at him. “You should be more careful with your words. Your pride could destroy us all if you are not careful,” Etain told Amari sternly before turning around and walking towards the cottage at the top of the hill ahead of them.

* * * * *

The three dragons made their way up the hill towards the run down looking cottage sitting atop it. A thin wisp of smoke rose above its chimney indicating that someone was home within its walls. As they approached closer they could hear faint noises within coming from several voices arguing amongst each other over something hidden from view by its walls and windows tightly shuttered closed from whatever lay beyond them. They approached slowly, unsure of what lay behind those walls as they listened to the argument going on inside get louder and angrier as they got closer until suddenly a loud crash followed by a sharp silence caused all three dragons to jump back in fear thinking someone had heard them approach and threw something through one of the windows at them.

They stood guard for a moment before Aril stepped forward cautiously and poked his head inside through the broken window pane that sat upon the floor where it had fallen after crashing through one of the windows on the second floor landing directly in front of him after being thrown out by whoever was still inside fighting with each other now silently between themselves above him inside despite their angry shouts earlier as he looked around cautiously eyeing all corners as he entered through what remained of an open doorway above him looking around at everything within carefully while trying not to touch anything else that might break and alert anyone inside to his presence as he made his way across what remained of the room carefully looking around before noticing something move out of place against a wall by himself in an open space between two pieces of furniture infront of him causing him to stop before sneaking closer and peering around them carefully attempting to see what or who was hiding behind them for he knew that no one lived in this place but whoever owned these things obviously had been here recently otherwise this mess would not be here as he crept closer towards them seeing a small piece of paper beneath one set of feet reaching down picking up the slip of paper seeing writing on it before moving away again glancing back over his shoulder seeing nothing standing up straight once more clutching whatever it was under one arm as he walked away from whatever it was silently making his way towards where Etain waited for him up ahead watching him quietly amused before frowning when he saw what Aril clutched under his arm shaking his head disapprovingly at him before walking past him ignoring Aril's questioning glance at him towards Amari who stood leaning against a wall looking bored waiting for them as Etain bent down and picked up a piece of broken glass off the floor with one claw holding it carefully between two fingers before approaching Amari inspecting its edge closely before throwing it back onto the floor angrily near Amari's feet causing Amari to jump back startled by Etain's sudden outburst angrily glaring at him while rubbing away dust from behind his ear where some shards had landed after flying up into it upon being thrown causing both Aril and Etain to laugh quietly amused by Amari's startled reaction causing Amari's anger towards Etain's outburst to melt away quickly replaced by an embarrassed smile towards both dragons chuckling quietly along with them before hearing a faint whisper from somewhere behind them causing all three dragons to turn around quickly looking around suspiciously as they tried to pinpoint its source but found nothing but silence surrounding them once more causing all three dragons to shrug their shoulders confused by what they heard but nevertheless decided not to pay any further attention to it instead choosing instead return their gaze toward their goal in front of them wanting desperately try end this mystery finally once and for all so they could make their long trek back home before nightfall caught up with them forcing them spend another night sleeping poorly in an empty barn like they did last night when they got lost trying unending forest heading deeper into unknown territory further than Arnori itself possibly putting themselves in danger rather than helping save their Kingdom as they were meant to do if there truly was even anything wrong with Arnori causing all three dragons' hearts heavy with regret wondering whether or not their actions were correct after all or foolishly risky potentially putting everyone living within Arnori including themselves in danger somehow otherwise especially if there really was nothing wrong with Arnori leaving behind everyone they loved including King Kalex whom they barely knew personally yet felt affectionate respect toward knowing little about except for stories told about him from others only feeling thankful for having lived under his rule unaware that soon enough all hell would break loose within Arnori itself tearing apart everything good about living within Arnori thanks hardworking farmers who worked day in and day out caring for crops regardless knowing how little reward awaited them outside Aldroch's greedy hands keeping everything running smoothly allowing everyone living within Arnori live without fear worrying about starvation or homelessness or worse having been born into slavery working endlessly without stopping until either killed during work or collapsed dead tired unable to carry on anymore leaving behind families wondering where they went only finding bones instead leading King Kalex himself taken prisoner by dark forces wanting nothing but power himself killing off anyone standing between themselves ruling Arnori unless stopped cold dead by those brave enough remaining powerful enough willing risking everything fighting against unimaginable evil freeing their Kingdom putting themselves into harms way facing death constantly risking everything simply because doing so was right thing doing chills run down spine knowing full well just how fortunate fate allowed us exist today continuing on living oblivious blissful lives ignorant blissfully unaware real cost risking everything paid everyday protecting our lives freedoms security happiness taken for granted sadly knowing full well only too well maybe I should have spoken my mind defiantly refused act cowardly following orders 'Yes Yes My Lord'...