This story is a continuation of the one posted 4/26/2019
Brock knelt down and cautiously reached out to touch the baby dragon.
“Be careful,” Mace warned.
Brock ran his hand along the rough scales of the baby dragon’s back. The little creature remained still, simply gazing at the boys.
Once he felt it was safe, Brock cautiously reached down with both hands and picked the baby up. It let out a whimper, but did not struggle or fight.
“Give me your scarf,” Brock said to his brother, Mace.
Together, the boys wrapped the wool scarf around the tiny dragon the best they could.
They couldn’t help but squinted at the bright, snowy landscape, as they left the cave. Brock led the way across the valley, and through the dark pine forest. Back at the mountain trail, they found Luna, the mammoth, munching on dry grass that she had dug up from under the layer of snow.
First, Mace scrambled up onto Luna’s back, and then Brock handed him the dragon. Brock climbed aboard, and pointed the mammoth toward home. On the way, Mace kept the dragon cradled in his arms, protected from the biting mountain breeze.
Luna carried her passengers into the village. Without being told, she came to a halt at the small farm where the boys lived. There, the brothers climbed down, and went in search of their father.
“Papa,” Brock called a man carrying an armful of firewood. “We found a new pet. May we keep him in the old shed?”
At first the boys’ father paid little attention. It was not the first time his sons brought an animal home to care for. But, when he saw the baby dragon in Mace’s arms, he took a quick step backward.
“Where did you find that?” He demanded. Without waiting for an answer, he continued, “Get that creature out of the village at once. If the mother dragon finds her baby here, there will be trouble for everyone!”
“But, he will die,” Brock protested.
He told his father about the abandoned cave, and the dying baby.
“Keeping him is not a good idea,” Papa shook his head, and stomped off toward the house.
The boys understood this was their father’s way of saying he didn’t approve, but would allow them to keep the dragon.
The old shed was a small rundown farm building where sheep were kept, but it would be empty until the baby lambs arrived in the springtime. After Brock made a bed of straw, Mace placed the baby in its new home. The dragon shuffled through the straw and then laid down.
When he was warm and comfortable, the boys ran to find food. Although no one really knew what dragons ate, the boys soon returned with a handful of vegetables from the root cellar and a bowl of goat’s milk. The baby quickly lapped up the milk, and then nibbled on a few raw turnips. Happy with its meal, the dragon closed his eyes and went to sleep.
As soon as the sun rose the next morning, Brock and Mace were up, bring more food for their new pet. The dragon was not as sleepy, and seemed to be more alert. However, he was still weak. When he finished his breakfast, the baby curled up and went back to sleep.
The boys cared for the little dragon for several days, and were happy to find him growing stronger.
“Let’s go feed the dragon,” Brock told his brother.
“We need to give him a name,” said Mace.
“You’re right. Do you have any ideas?” asked Brock.
The boys thought for moment.
“How about Hector?” said Mace, hoping his brother would agree.
“Hector?” Brock thought for a moment.” I like it. Hector it is.”
Brock carried the milk and vegetable into the shed, and put them in front of the waiting dragon.
As the dragon ate, Brock stroked Hector’s scaly back. Without warning, the dragon snapped at Brock’s hand. Since its teeth hadn’t started to grow yet, the bite only left a red mark on Brock hand.
“Hey! What’s the matter?” Brock was stunned. Until now, the baby had been friendly.
“Why is he biting?” Mace asked.
Brock wondered that same thing, then came up with an excuse. “I think he just misses his mother.”
The following day, Hector was calm and happy as could be. When Brock teased him with a long piece of straw, he rolled on his back and pawed at the straw like a kitten.
The weeks passed, and Hector grew quickly. Brock and Mace planned to let their pet out of the shed as soon as the winter snows melted. They were anxious to let him run and explore the farm.
One day, as the warm sun melted away the last of the stubborn winter snow, Brock and Mace made their way out to the shed. As they approached, there was a loud commotion inside. The boys ran to the shed and threw open the door.
Hector, now nearly half grown, stood on his hind legs. He stretched out his wings, and let out a loud hiss. Sparks flew from his mouth followed by a bright orange flame.
“Hector! Calm down!” Brock cried.
The dragon thrashed about some much that the boys’ father and some neighbors rushed to see what was happening.
Not knowing what to do, Brock slammed the door shut and barred it with a heavy wooden board. But that only made matters worse. The violent dragon rushed the door with all its strength. The force of the blow cracked the old wooden board. The frightened villagers all backed away from the shed.
Again, the powerful dragon rammed the door with a loud crash. The third time, the door gave way. Splinters of wood flew in all directions. The dragon stepped out and, for the first time, examined the world around him. Once more he reared up on his hind legs and hissed. This time it produced a large fireball. Brock and Mace felt a wave of heat rush past.
When he began beating his wings as it prepared to take off in flight.
The dragon paused and gazed at the boys. His black eyes showed no sign of emotion, neither hatred nor love. Again, he flapped his wings until his feet lifted off the ground. He rose up above the little farm, and hovered in the air for a few seconds. Then the dragon flew toward the mountains.
The villagers stood and watched until he disappeared into the clouds.
Years later, on a hunting trip, Brock and Mace caught a glimpse of the dragon flying high above the forest, but Hector never returned to the village.
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In the story, what animal were Brock and Mace able to tame?
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