[ IP ] `` Shh . I 'm here . I 'm right here ... ''

I did n't understand how people feared the Dragons, sure they could cause limitless destruction, but they were docile and friendly creatures. 
 
 I pondered some more on the unfortunate hate of the glorious creatures as I removed some fire wood from a bag, tied to Dragfir. He yawned loudly into the night sky, tired from the long flight through the desert. His jaw widened to expose his glorious fangs, his mouth wide enough to swallow a deer in one motion. 
 
 I set the camp fire wood down, stacking them against each other. 
 
 I took an elbow and with a chuckle, I nudged the great Dragon. He peered over towards me with his long charcoal brown neck, a groan of amusement escaped his vocal cords. With his jaw closed, a small puff of fire escaped his mouth, instantly igniting the stacked wood, the achievement confirmed with the crackles of sparks. 
 
 `` Thank you my glorified fire lighter,'' I mused. 
 
 Dragfir spread his wings wide, exposing the radiance of his enormous size, as he gazed up into the night sky with a prideful howl, displaying a joking set of pride towards a job well done. 
 
 I laughed, `` do n't get too full of yourself now,'' I joked. 
 
 Dragfir folded his wings once more, he curved his tail inwards, creating an enclosure for me to keep me warm, his head; he rested on the sand with a tired yet mighty groan. He brought his head inward as well, as he stared at me with one giant reptilian eye, larger than my torso. 
 
 I stared back at it, a mighty sigh escaped the dragons throat as he stared upon me, his eye blinking slowly, it was obvious he was tired. 
 
 `` You did good today, Dragfir. We covered a lot of ground, now rest, tomorrow will be just as hard.'' Dragfir puffed another sigh as a sound of appreciation and acknowledgement, before closing his eyes and bringing tail ever closer to himself, dragging me and his own body slightly along with it. 
 
 I stared up at the night sky, it sparkled as brightly as diamonds with no end in sight; they reminded me of Dragfirs scales that also sparkled in light. It was one of the reasons why Dragons were being hunted, their scales were priceless as jewelry, and not many remained. 
 
 My eyes grew weary as well, it became harder to hold them open as I too began to fell asleep. 
 
 
 I awoke to the sounds of battle cries and the clashes of swords. 
 
 My eyes burst open, I stared upon the masses of sand people, as they rode upon their horses, surrounding us in a horde no less than a hundred hunters. 
 
 I cursed myself for my carelessness. 
 
 `` Dragfir, lets get out of here,'' I shouted, turning to look at my dragon, arrows and spears had pierced his hide, his scales scratched from the clashes of swords, a mighty roar escaped his enormous vocal cords, rearing its head back and forth, looking for those who had come dangerously close to him and myself. 
 
 `` We have to get out of here Dragfir,'' I said, hoping the dragon could hear me, tunnel vision had set in, its only thought was to protect me. 
 
 Harpoons were brought to the front of the encirclement. 
 
 `` Dragfir!'' I cried, warning him. 
 
 It was too late, the harpoon fired, piercing his tail. A ear piercing cry of pain escaped the dragons mouth, I clenched my ears shut. 
 
 `` Dragfir!'' I cried once more. 
 
 More harpoons were fired, as they anchored themself into his flesh, the pain was excruciating, as Dragfir began to thrash and worm, completely forgetting about me, his tail knocked me away into the masses of hunters, a rib broken, I cried in anguish. 
 
 Dragfir paused, turning to the sound of my cry, rage filled his stare, a gaze that was unlike the joyful Dragfir I remembered. 
 
 A command was shouted at the hunters who grabbed me, they grunted in approval, as they took me and threw me upon their horses, riding away as fast as the legs of the horses would take them, *they want to use me as bait* I thought. 
 
 The distance covered was fast, I stared upon the flightless dragon, it cried in anguish as it watched me be taken away, the ropes of the harpoons tightening around its body keeping it in place, tears began to well up in my eyes. 
 
 We disappeared behind a sand dune, the only thing remaining were the sounds of the dragons rage-filled roars filling the sky, we ran, we kept on running, as the roars and cries of Dragfir grew as faint as a whisper. 
 
 The sand peoples village was filled with tents, parchments filled the villagers from head to toe, most only had their eyes visible. 
 
 I was tied to a wooden post in the center of the village, my hands above my head in a noose. 
 
 I cried, constantly trying to free myself, the villagers simply passed by, the occasional spit flying at me, or children throwing dirt. 
 
 I barely paid attention, my thoughts were to Dragfir, wondering if his death was slow and painless. 
 
 If he was dead, they no longer had need for me, if he was n't they would use me as a lure to bring him to the village and set up a trap. 
 
 Hours passed by, my mouth dry from dehydration, my thoughts hazy. 
 
 My ears twitched as I thought I heard something, my head remained bowed to the floor. 
 
 Once more I heard it, and wrench my head up, an all too familiar roar bellowed its arrival. 
 
 I smiled, as I saw Dragfirs in the distance, my smile fading the closer it came. 
 
 Scars filled every crevice of his body, his golden fiery blood ran down in scores, the glorious and beautiful dragon wounded from head to toe. 
 
 My joy turned to rage at what they dared do to him. 
 
 Another roar escaped him, madness filled it to its core. The dragon neared the village, flying ever closer, it slowed its descent, flapping against the wind as descended, its form seemed grander, its size, bigger, and its stare: foreboding. 
 
 My mouth opened agape, trying to find the words to speak, I was lost between joy and rage. 
 
 A shriek of terror escaped Dragfir before I could speak, a sound that pierced the very soul, and made bones tremble to their very core. 
 
 A harpoon hidden in the sand fired at Dragfir, and another, and another, until I had lost count, more and more pierced him, dragging him to the ground. 
 
 His eyes widened, terror incarnate took form, as his mighty muscles pushed himself off the ground, tearing the harpoons out with the scales, causing more gaping wounds from which his glorious golden blood flowed from. 
 
 Destruction ensued, one after another Dragfir would trample screaming and fleeing villagers, houses were burnt to unrecognisable husks from a torrent of his searing flame, its heart capable of melting even the strongest of metal. 
 
 Fleeing villagers grabbed by the tip of his teeth, bitten in half as their lower bodies fell to the ground and the rest swallowed. 
 
 I stared in terror as the horror ensued, not at what was happening to the villagers, but at what Dragfir was becoming. 
 
 I strained harder, grunting as I tried to remove the restrains of the ropes that held me, pushing harder, blood began to drip down my wrists, I pushed even harder, the blood causing my wrists to become even more slippery. 
 
 Finally I broke free, falling forward to my knees, gasping for air, fear buckled my knees, I struggled to stand. 
 
 With a force of sheer will I stood up, running to Dragfir. 
 
 `` Dragfir!'' I called. 
 
 The dragons head reared towards me, madness enveloped it, a roar escaped his jaws as he charged towards me. 
 
 Tears began to form in my eyes as Dragfir came closer. 
 
 `` Please stop,'' I begged with a broken voice, stretching out my trembling hands, `` I beg of you.'' 
 
 Composure began to return to Dragfir, it lowered its head to me, sniffing at my hands, as it allowed me to caress his big mighty nose, I stared closer at the flows of blood which streamed across his face like a valley of molten gold. 
 
 `` Shh. I'm here. I'm right here.''
