Dragon Hunters

My long, shimmery neck stretched as I looked around carefully; a field. I was in a field. But not just any field- this was the square of bare land that lay between my house and the empty white house a few yards away. The sun glared down upon the area, making my sapphire-blue scales shine. But something was wrong. 1

Suddenly, I let out a squak and jumped as the sound of a gunshot rang through the still afternoon air. And then I realized what was missing- the birds. Not only the birds, but the children and the dogs and the cars. It was silent.2

Two grimy men came into view, holding large rifles. I wasn't sure how, but immediately I knew that they were hunters...dragon hunters. And I was a dragon hatchling.3

There was no time. I had to fly! Quickly, I spread my wings and flapped twice, and then I felt my body lift into the air. Not fast enough. Not stable enough. Not good enough.4

I crashed into a small group of trees.5

The hunters' rifles somehow disappeared, and they began to climb the large tree that I'd landed in. Their hands slipped and slid down its trunk, but then they found a foothold and clambered up the woody stem of the tree. A spark of fear ran down my spine, leaving me trembling.6

There was only one escape. I couldn't fly well- I was a mere hatchling. But what other option was there? 7

Without letting myself pause long enough to change my mind, I lept from the tree, gliding on my shiny wings. Suddenly, I was falling. My tiny body slammed into the ground, the hunters followed, and the rifles returned to the hunters' hands. I let out a high-pitched squeal, and then-8

"Time for school!" My heart skipped a beat and I scrambled out of my bed. The hunters- they were coming! Had to run, had to- wait...my wings were gone. Pale skin covered my arms. My neck was short again. I was no longer a dragon hatchling. I was no longer in danger.9

I was still alive.