the dragon

the dragon
spit
flame
at any
who
dared
to get
too
close
-i was only protecting myself


the dragon
swooped
down
from the
skies
dodging the
people’s
arrows

an arrow
with
goose feather
fletching
lodged itself
in between
the dragon’s
scales

the dragon
roared
in pain
raining hellfire
on the
village below
-it wasn't my fault

the princess
entered
the dragon’s
lair
on a mission
to rid her people
of this
monstrosity

she expected
to find
a fearsome
creature
with fire
spewing
from its jaws

what the princess
found
was not a
monster out
for blood
but a
miserable creature
who had not
planned to
harm anybody

the princess
pitied
the dragon
and thought
to return home
and declare
the dragon to be
peaceful

the dragon
had heard the princess
approach
and turned it’s
scaled head

knowing that
the princess
had been sent to
slay it
the dragon
reared back

heat pooled
in the dragon’s
throat
and burst
from its mouth
in licks of
copper flame

the princess
dropped her
sword
and held her
hands up
in a gesture
of peace
as she
burned
-it was too late

the people
banded together
to avenge
their beloved
princess

they found
the dragon
with its wings
hanging limply
on either side
of what
seemed to be
a mound
of dry earth

the dragon
did not turn
when the people
entered its lair

the dragon
only lay its head down
beside the ashen soil
as the people
pried at its scales
with their
pitchforks
and
arrows
and
blades

the ground darkened
stained with the
blood
of the fallen
winged creature
-was it ash?