The Keep talk:Habitican Exploration and Research Organization (H.E.R.O.)/Challenge 3:Here, Be Dragons

There Might Be Dragons Here 

Ash was the world’s worst procrastinator. She knew this but she was still out walking along the cliffs rather than doing her essay. It was a lovely day. It would be criminal to waste it stuck indoors typing away when she could be out enjoying the fresh air and the sunshine. She only wished she could relax properly but the knowledge of her essay was niggling in the back of her mind. It wasn’t helped by her loyal red wolf who kept throwing her speaking glances from his place loping along at her side. She ignored him. He huffed and followed her. She came to a fork in the path and decided to carry on along the cliff edge. She was enjoying the sea view after all. Her wolf stepped in front of her. She glared at him and tried to pass but he would not budge. The stand-off continued for some time but the wolf was more stubborn and Ash turned right, away from the sea and towards the forest.

The light was dappled in the shade of the leaves and Ash shivered a little. She followed her wolf deeper in, trusting him not to let her get lost. The forest floor was spotted with beautiful flowers and she sometimes caught sight of the native shade foxes that called the forest their home. The trees grew taller and thicker and just as Ash began to think that she should turn for home, something heavy landed on her head. She shrieked.

‘Oh dearie me!’ a deep voice exclaimed from her ponytail. ‘What have we got here?’

Ash trembled and didn’t answer. She’d heard stories about the deep forest after all. She’d clearly walked further than she’d meant to. She should have been safe on the path.

‘You’ve had some unwelcome visitors I see,’ the voice continued.

Suddenly the weight on her head lifted and a golden blur passed in front of her face to land on the back of her wolf. When she’d recovered from her fright she saw that it was a tiny golden dragon. She relaxed a little. Dragons were generally friendly, as long as you didn’t offend them.

‘Visitors?’ she asked.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘Yes,’ the dragon replied. ‘You’re fairly glowing with the dust they’ve left behind. I’ll bet you’ve noticed a decrease in productivity lately.’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Ash nodded.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘Distraction Faeries,’ the dragon sighed. ‘It’s just the right time of year for them too. I’ve got just the thing.’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">He lifted his back leg and scratched at a spot just above his belly. A scale drifted loose and settled onto the leaves of the forest floor.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">‘Ah, that’s better,’ the dragon muttered, ‘ it’s been itching something fierce for days. Take the scale and hang it up near your desk. The Faeries can’t resist shiny things and they’ll leave you alone to get some work done.’

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">Ash didn’t have the words to properly express her gratitude. She hurried home and did as the dragon had advised. Sure enough by the next afternoon she had finished her essay and was free to enjoy the sunshine as much as she wanted.

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;">

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">By FrenchKey

<p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt;"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial;color:#000000;font-weight:400;font-variant:normal;text-decoration:none;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap;">86.156.29.156 19:26, May 20, 2017 (UTC)