Fantasy Prompt

It seems so odd that the sun is shining and there isn’t a cloud in the sky as you trudge up the mountain to the dragon’s den. It should be thundering and rain and lightning should be stabbing the sky. Your heart should be racing due to the thought of slipping and falling or being struck by lightning and not just your worries of what will happen once you reach your destination. Is the dragon as wise as they say or is he just a dumb animal? Will it really help you? Do you have to pass some sort of test to be worthy of its wisdom? What if you fail? 1

Heart pounding against your ribs, you reach your destination and stop. The cave is dark and doesn’t smell of sulfur. You can hear the thing inside breathing, deep, steady, and even. With each breath that rushes from the cave and rustles your hair and clothes, you lose your courage, but somehow you know that it knows you’re there, and it’s waiting for you to enter so you screw up your remaining courage and step inside. 2