The days had settled into a comfortable rhythm of training and patrolling the forest's borders. The King was a strict but fair teacher, and I was learning quickly under his guidance. My body was growing stronger, my mind sharper. I felt a sense of pride each time I successfully completed a task or learned a new skill.

But one morning, as the sun began to rise over the Edoleran Forest, the King called me aside.

"Orphelin," he began, his voice heavy with the weight of what he was about to say. "My time here is coming to an end. I must continue my patrols and ensure the safety of our lands."

A pang of sadness hit me. I had grown accustomed to his presence, his guidance.

"But, Father, can't you stay a bit longer?" I asked, my voice betraying my feelings.

He nuzzled me gently.

"I wish I could, my son. But my duty calls. You are ready to take on more responsibility. You must watch over your family and the nearby border, it's quite calm, but another pair of eyes on it won't hurt."

I nodded, swallowing hard.

"I will, Father. I promise."

We gathered at the den for his departure. Lorish stood tall and proud, her eyes reflecting a mix of love and sorrow. My siblings huddled close, sensing the gravity of the moment.

"Take care of each other," the King said, his voice resonating with authority and affection. "Orphelin, I leave them in your care. Be vigilant."

With that, he turned and disappeared into the forest, his emerald coat blending with the foliage until he was gone.

Lorish looked at us, her expression softening.

"Your father has always roamed the lands, ensuring the safety of our territory. I did the same before you were born. Now, we must continue our lives here and fulfil our duties. But don't worry... He'll be back for winter."

Her words gave me strength. I knew what I had to do. I would protect my family and our home and when the winter comes I'll be proud to report back to Dad.

Days turned into weeks, and I embraced my new responsibilities with determination. Each morning, I trained hard, honing my skills and growing stronger. In the afternoons, I played with my siblings and helped Lorish with tasks around the den. And every evening, I patrolled the nearby border, ensuring our territory remained safe.

One sunny afternoon, I was returning from a patrol when I noticed Orsus following me, his little paws padding softly on the forest floor.

"Orsus! What are you doing here?" I asked, trying to keep my voice calm despite the worry bubbling inside me.

How the bloody hell did I NOT notice this little plump following me?! Was I so concentrated on what was on the other side of the border that I didn't pay enough attention?

"I want see what you do, big buother," he replied, his eyes wide with innocent curiosity.

"It's not safe for you here, Orsus. You need to go back home," I said firmly.

He pouted but nodded.

"Okay, I'll go back."

I watched as he turned and started walking towards the den. Relieved, I resumed my patrol. But just moments later, I heard a sharp, terrified yelp. My heart skipped a beat as I sprinted towards the sound.

Laughter and rough voices met my ears before I saw the source. A group of human hunters had caught Orsus in a crude net. His small body struggled against the bindings, his eyes wide with fear.

"Leave him alone!" I roared, charging at the humans.

Startled, they dropped Orsus, who scampered off into the safety of the trees. But I wasn't so lucky.

"RUN ORSUS!" I roared again at the kiddo who jumped into the wilderness.

The hunters quickly surrounded me, their nets and ropes too much for me to fight off alone. Despite my struggles, they overpowered me, kicking when I tried to bite, and punching me with some metal bars... then they bound my limbs and shoved me into a cold, iron cage.

Pain shot through my body as I was roughly handled, and I could taste blood in my muzzle. My vision blurred, but I forced myself to stay conscious. I couldn't let them take me without a fight.

The hunters carried me back to their camp, a rough clearing filled with the stench of smoke and alcohol. They laughed and congratulated each other, their cruel voices mixing with the crackling of the fire.

"Got ourselves a rare one this time," one of them boasted, kicking my cage for emphasis. "A dragon without wings. Think of the price we'll get for this one!"

"You mean it's rear? Hell let's catch a winged one and cut its wings... that'll be the same!" They laughed.

"Yeah, but winged ones can fly away. This one was probably abandoned. Luck for us!"

I growled weakly, the pain and exhaustion making it hard to stay alert. Through the bars of my cage, I saw other captured creatures, their eyes filled with the same fear and despair I felt. Some were injured, their bodies battered and broken.

I had to find a way out. I couldn't let these humans take me away from my family, from my home. But each time I tried to move, pain shot through me, and my strength failed.

"Tomorrow, we head back to the city," one of the hunters said, taking a swig from his bottle. "We'll fetch a good price for this lot."

Panic clawed at my mind. I couldn't let them take me away. I had to escape. But how? I was too weak, too injured. I closed my eyes, trying to think of a plan, but my thoughts were a jumbled mess.

Please, Orsus, get help. I silently pleaded, hoping my little brother had made it back to the den safely. I needed my family now more than ever... but would they make it in time?

As the night wore on, the camp grew quieter. The hunters, drunk and tired, started to drift off to sleep. The fire crackled softly, casting eerie shadows around the clearing. I lay there, barely able to move, my mind racing with fear and desperation.

Just as I was beginning to lose hope, I heard a soft rustling nearby. I opened my eyes and saw a small figure moving stealthily between the sleeping hunters. It was a boy, no older than ten, with short, messy black hair and determined blue eyes.

He crept towards the cages, doing something with their locks, again and again, his movements silent and precise. My heart pounded as he approached mine, glancing around to make sure no one was watching.

"Hold still," he whispered, fumbling with the lock on my cage.

I could hardly believe what was happening. Who was this boy, and why was he helping us? But there was no time for questions. I stayed as still as I could, trying not to make any noise.

The lock clicked open, and the door swung ajar.

"Go, quickly!" the boy urged, moving to unlock the rest of the cages.

The captured creatures bolted into the forest, their sudden movement stirring the hunters. Chaos erupted as the humans scrambled to catch the escaping animals.

I tried to stand, but my legs buckled beneath me. The pain was too much. I collapsed, unable to move. The boy returned to my side, his eyes wide with urgency.

"Come on, we have to go!" he insisted, lifting me into his arms.

I was too weak to resist. As he carried me away from the camp, the sounds of shouting and confusion faded into the distance. I could feel my consciousness slipping, the pain and exhaustion finally taking their toll.

Just before everything went black, I felt the boy's grip tighten around me.

"You're safe now," he whispered. "I've got you."

And with that, I surrendered to the darkness, hoping that when I woke, I would be back with my family, safe and sound.