Will Ye page 10
Suddenly, Sourjack McFearsome sat boldly upright and realized what he had figure out -- almost against his will.
"Why, Smilerina is the treasure!"
And then with a start, he leapt out of bed and was putting on his fighting equipment; for the last time he had seen her she was completely helpless, draped over a large rock and out in the open as she was.
A tasty little snack for the weredragons!
Sure, he had killed one himself, so he knew it could be done, but that one had been injured and a youngster at that.
She didn’t stand a chance!
Running out the door, he had forgotten in his haste that the weredragons came out at night, ready to burn one’s flesh to a crisp and suck out the boiled liquids therein.
And he had come across one on the path to the treasure -- the only route to Smilerina!
Rearing up on its hind legs, because the dark greenish gray monster had been startled as well, it stood twenty feet tall; its jagged fur bristling outwards to make it appear even heftier than it really was.
It roared its death roar and came down on all fours just as it let out a blinding stream of fire-breath from its nostrils, while at the same time beating its black wings forward to contain its prey.
But Sourjack was ready for the attack. Angling his shield in front of him, he knelt down on one knee to absorb both the blow and the heat. The flames completely surrounded him, having been parted by his shield.
Rising up when the temperature became bearable, Sourjack started to draw out his sword -- but then thought better of it.
Straining its neck towards Sourjack, the beast let out another roar when it realized his quarry was still alive.
Had he not sheathed his sword he could have ended things right then and there.
Wasting no time, Sourjack leapt upon the back of its neck just behind its head.
The beast reared up once again, but Sourjack held on tightly with one hand.
