“Hurry up, hurry up!” Roxy said, dragging Charlie through the bushes.

Charlie yelped when he saw a dragon’s head emerge from the trees, smoke streaming from its nose.

The dragon was a deep crimson, with metallic scales that shimmered in the weak sunlight. It had knife-like spikes protruding from its back, the color of blood. When it opened its maw, sharp teeth white as snow sparkled menacingly at them. Its inky black eyes narrowed when it saw them, a low growl erupting from the back of its throat. The dragon shook its head as if to rid itself of some unseen pest, its long mane of sharp spikes swishing haphazardly, cutting off the edges of the nearby branches. It was a sight to behold. Roxy wished halfheartedly that she could linger and take in the sight of the beautiful dragon. However, the dragon had other plans. Roxy and Charlie had stopped in unison as the dragon emerged, but turned around and continued to run as the dragon took a lumbering step towards them.

“Do you have any idea of how to get this thing off our tail?” Roxy weezed besides Charlie, glancing back at the quickly approaching dragon. It appeared to be mildly annoyed that they had woken it up from its nap. It was coming towards them at a slightly slow pace, though due to its size it was nearing fast.

“We’ll never outrun it, and dragons are too smart to hide from. I read in a book once that you have to set it aflame with its own fire, or something like that.’’ Charlie was also breathing hard.

He grabbed a large stick as he went past. “Here. You have longer arms. Hold it up when I tell you.”

“Okay.” She replied nervously. The dragon was closing in on them. She could practically feel it snorting smoke down her back.

After a moment’s pause, Charlie shouted, “Now!” Both of them ducked, while Roxy raised her arm as high as she could stretch it. Once the stick was lit she threw it behind her. They heard a small thud, and Roxy felt a surge of victory. After a few moments Charlie stopped, so she did too.

Roxy turned around and faced the dragon. “Um… Charlie? I think we might need a bigger stick.”

The dragon’s head was on fire, but instead of dying, it was just really irritated. Now these pests had woken it up, and set it on fire. It made a low growling noise deep in its throat.

Charlie started to inch his way to an even larger, pointier stick.

“Charlie!” Roxy hissed. “Charlie, the whole fire thing didn’t work out! Don’t try it again! I was only joking.”

“I’m not gonna try to set it on fire!” He hissed back. Roxy was about to fire back a retort, but fell silent as the dragon slowly stalked forward to deliver the final blow.

The dragon opened its mouth, and just as it was about to send a hot stream of flame to torch the two friends, Charlie threw the bigger stick through the dragon’s throat.

It flinched, then dropped to the ground, wailing as it fell.

“Is it dead?” Roxy whispered, slightly taken aback by Charlie’s bravery.

The dragon moved slightly, feebly attempting to rise. Charlie found another stick and drove it into the dragon’s head. “And stay dead.” He growled.

Roxy flinched. She had never seen this side of Charlie.

“Yeah, um, hate to burst your bubble, Roxy, but that was not a bunny.” Charlie said, turning his back on the dead dragon and giving her a lopsided grin. He had many shallow cuts from running through the brush, but other than that seemed unharmed.

“I saw in a movie once that there was something in the bushes, and it was only a bunny. I thought maybe it was like that.” she reasoned.

“Life’s not like a movie, Rox.”

“Says the talking rat.”

“I’m a mouse.” he said irritably. “You’re not exactly much better.”

“Whatever. Let’s go find somewhere to sleep. It’s getting late.” Roxy said, walking back to the clearing they had landed in earlier.

The skirted around the dragon, following the path of snapped branches and trodden foliage to the clearing.