[ WP ] Dragon . Wanted Alive . No bounty paid for a corpse .

`` What do you want, oil-skin?'' The dragon peered down at the child. `` Have you come to give your ancestors company?'' 
 
 Somehow, Alphonse found himself more impressed by the towering mound of ancient bones and charred corpses than the beast that sat upon it. He wondered how many kings and queens and valiant warriors had found their end in that pile. 
 
 `` I'm much too young for that,'' the boy whispered. His neck was crained towards the roof of the cave. `` I come to speak vicariously.'' 
 
 `` Oh?'' the dragon said, and, after a movement too swift for such a large figure, Alphonse found himself staring face-to-face with the most dangerous killer known to his culture, and he quickly changed his mind about which was more impressive. 
 
 Wisps of smoke danced out of the dragon's serrated nostrils as it bared its teeth. Its skin was the color of blood. `` Who you speak for means little to me. I am interested in *you*.'' 
 
 `` In that case, I will be open about my intentions,'' Alphonse told the dragon. `` There is a bounty placed on your capture, and I intend to score it.'' 
 
 The dragon laughed a deep, earth-shaking laugh. `` So you *have* come to join your ancestors!'' Waves of smoke poured into the room and dust rained from the ceiling, and the boy almost missed his chance to dodge the beast's speeding paw as it slapped the ground. `` I am the Dragon of the South, harbinger of death and destruction!'' he roared. `` Not a warrior has ever laid a scratch on my divine skin. I am eager to see you try, child.'' 
 
 `` Oh, come off it,'' Alphonse said. `` I know what you really are. And I've got the bottle of you-know-what to prove it.'' His fingers found a small jar in his coat pocket and he pulled it from the cloth. A rabbit's foot, floating in red liquid, could be seen through the glass. 
 
 Methodical and deliberate, Alphonse dropped the jar against the ground. It shattered. 
 
 Instead of a dragon, a white rabbit sat before him. 
 
 In the blink of an eye, the creature made its way to scurry past Alphonse, but he was ready. `` Not so fast,'' he said, scooping the former dragon into his hands. It kicked and squirmed in his grip and the boy frowned. 
 
 `` Quit it,'' he said. `` You'll scratch.'' 
 
 -007 

