[ WP ] A countryside in distress . A hidden treasure . A brave young dragon sets out to slay a fearsome knight in shining armor .

*They found us. * thought Drakkar. After ten long years of solitude, *they found us. * The dragonling stayed hidden in the cavern, right where his mother left him. *Why are n't they back yet then? * he wondered. *It was only five men, father has fought of more than that, has n't he? * 
 
 Not long ago, the last remaining society of dragons had been numerous and healthy, but they were hunted mercilessly for sport. Dragonskin was in high demand by the nobles, and many knights were willing to risk their lives for the fame and fortune that came with slaying dragons. 
 
 Drakkar was the only one of his brood to hatch before the knights had attacked. While he was too young to fly, his parents carried him as they fled the slaughter that had occurred in the old caves. Almost a decade later, and they still had not seen any other survivors. Luckily, there were no signs of humans after that, either. *Not until today, at least. * 
 
 He was flying outside the caves like every other morning, when he saw smoke in the distance. His father always showed him never to fly above the treeline, and to stay nearby the mouth of the cave in case of danger. But smoke meant fire. Fire meant other dragons were nearby. Fire meant that hope was not lost after all. 
 
 Without thinking, Drakkar had barreled through the forest, flying faster than ever before. When the brush got too dense, he rose above the trees and continued straight for the smoke. Anxious to meet his new friends and show them the way home, he almost dove straight into the encampment. They sat in a circle below him, humans in metal armor that was tougher than stone, with weapons that resembled long claws. The knights did n't seem to notice him at first, until the one in black scaled armor pointed at him and shouted. *He's wearing Dragonskin. * Drakkar had realized. 
 
 Panicked, the dragonling tried to turn around and fly back over the trees, towards his home, but something sharp whizzed through the air and bit him in the tail as he did so. He plummeted towards the forest, and crashed through a couple branches before regaining his stability and zooming towards the caves. 
 
 When he got home, his parents were standing in the mouth of the cave, searching for him. Their worried expressions were instantly relieved as they saw him approaching, and turned then fear once they saw the arrow in his tail. 
 
 After that, everything was a blur. Drakkar was in the caves, watching over the eggs that contained his unborn siblings. His parents were out there, fighting humans. *it's been too long* the dragonling finally decided. *They need my help. * 
 
 By the time that Drakkar exited the cave, the battle was over. Four knights and two dragons were on the ground, unmoving. *No. * thought Drakkar, as he saw his parents. *Get up! * he wanted to tell them, but they never moved. The fifth knight, who wore the black Dragonskin, was surrounded in a circle of flames, which began spreading to the nearby forest. Soon, the whole mountainside would be engulfed in flames, taking him with it. 
 
 Drakkar only felt anger and hatred towards the human, this was all his fault. He watched the fire spread up the man's leg, waiting for it to take the man away. Instead, he simply swatted the fire off and walked through the flames, back towards his camp. 
 
 Stunned, Drakkar watched helplessly as the man disappeared into the burning forest. *It is the Dragonskin. * he finally realized. *It protects them as well as it protects us. * Another realization dawned on him, he knew where to find him. He knew where to find the eggs. If that knight made it back to his town and told the others... *I ca n't let that happen. * the young dragon decided. *How will I stop him if he is immune to fire? * he wondered. First he would mourn his parents, then he would check on the eggs. After that, he would have to find a way.
