I ventured into the cave before me, boldly wandering into its growing darkness. After taking a few clumsy, blind steps inward, I lit my lone torch. The cave was dank and smelled of rot. It was ominous and unfriendly, as if it knew I had killed its master. The others would come soon, and spite its taunting arrogance with brightness created by thousands of beaming torches. The swipes of talons and swords, evidence of battle, had scarred the smooth stone walls. Through winding tunnels I continued, confidant that I would soon reach the treasure the dragon had surrendered his life to protect.

I walked with dreams of the bounty that lay before me. In my mind I poured through a lake of gold, silver, and precious gems. I brushed a few golden Giloan pieces off of my shoe, a year’s pay, and they clattered into a pile with thousands of others that surrounded me. I myself became a golden man, with eyes made of piercing emeralds, hair of golden thread, a mouth cut from rubies. People flocked to see my splendor, and worshipped me for the god I had become. Carelessly I flung gold pieces at men and planted gems in between the lips of the eager women. I was plucked from my future as I noticed that a light shimmered above me in the tunnel. My heart leapt with joy, surely I had reached the treasure of the dragon.

I came into a large chamber, massive in comparison to any I had seen thus far. The light surrounded something in the center. If that was the treasure, it certainly was not as large as I had imagined; however, it was big enough to be sufficient. Approaching it carefully, I quivered more and more in anticipation with each step I took. The light appeared to be a sort of force, guarding its contents. I reached a hand out, not thinking of any possible consequences, and stretched my fingers toward the unnatural luminance. I withdrew them before they made contact, but then quickly thrust them toward it.

The light evaporated at my touch and before me sat nothing I could have expected. Two baby dragons curled against each other, their tiny snouts each nuzzled against the other’s neck in their light nap. My torch, which I nearly lost in surprise, cast light upon their purple and green scales, surrounding each in an unearthly glow. They still slept, and my presence had not yet disturbed their slumber. They were not gold, they were not silver, they were not even gems, nor were any of these items anywhere else in the cavern. In fact, except for the pile of bedding on which the twins slept, the ground was empty.

The he had been a she, and she was not protecting bounty stolen from our kinsman. She had been a mother following the maternal instinct found in every living creature. For that crime we had killed her and robbed the twins of a mother and protector. This instinct had not been meant to guard against greedy men, driven by a lust for money and fame. It had been meant to guard against the natural forces she encountered every day. The forces that wished to keep her offspring from ever reaching adulthood. She found herself against more than she had bargained for, but the mother still fought. Driven by something she may or may not have even understood.

The twins stirred and groggily opened their golden eyes. They knew I was not their mother, I could see it in their eyes. "Where is she?" those same eyes asked. "How did you get here?" "What has happened?" They looked around desperately, glancing at me with fright from time to time. Then they began crying for their mother, their squeals speaking a language I could not understand. Even in my misunderstanding, I knew they pleaded for their mother to return. The cries then turned sorrowful and frightened. They still did not move though, staying in what they believed to be the protection of the nest. It smelled of mother, mother built it, the other creature could not get into it.

I could not believe what we had done. We had caused this desperation and loss, only thinking of our own purses. Only minutes before I had dreamed of being rich. Rich on the treasures of a poor creature we had slaughtered. It would only get worse once the others arrived. I had been sent ahead to check it out and guard it as they paraded the carcass to the town. No doubt they would receive drink at their arrival and become drunk before they returned. In their drunken rage, they would be angry and kill the twins as they had their mother. I knew I would try to stop them, but that I would also fail. My own helplessness filled me with rage.

Perhaps I could get them out of there in time. The bulk of the men may still be celebrating in town. I could easily fight off or enlist the aid of a few men, provided I only met up with a few. But no, would the dragons follow me? I knew they wouldn’t. They still thought they were safe if they stayed in the comfort of their mother’s creation. It was worth a try, anything was better than simply standing here and waiting for their fate. I tried coaxing them with gentle words but the closer I got, the further they back away. I tried to herd them, yelling and throwing things in an attempt to get them to move; however, that was even less successful. Each time they moved, they stayed within that their tiny nest.

I tried the last thing I could think of. Kneeling down upon the ground, I rolled and rubbed myself within the materials of the nest. I shuddered to think what some of the materials were, but I continued anyway. The twins were attracted by this curious behavior and scooted closer and closer, inch by inch towards me. When I finished they were only a foot away, though they scooted back a few inches when I concluded. That space was soon made up because they were already drawing closer. They knew I smelled like mother. I certainly didn’t look like mother but I sure smelled like her. Perhaps I could be trusted and lead them to mother. I backed up a tiny bit, and to my delight they follow. I moved again, and again, each time they crept a bit forward. Their talons now clicked as they moved, a sign that they had reached the cold stone floor.

I soon walked at a normal pace, and they trotted behind me. They always kept their distance but grew increasingly trustful. As I emerged into the torn up ground, I knew the gods had truly been with us. Forlina, who protected all children, was surely watching over the youngsters and guiding the men away with drinks. The danger had not ended though, in fact it had just begun. "What would we do now?" my own mind asked me that question, and it seemed to be the sentiment on the faces of the babies.

I became suddenly aware of a massive shape in the sky approaching. Another dragon, as black as pitch and much larger than the mother dragon, approached us at rapid speeds. This new arrival caused the babies to squeal with excitement. I could not help but be happy for them but dread filled me as well. When he hit the ground he would split me in two. I deserved it, we all did. As it landed between the babies and me, it swiped at me with a claw. The talon connected to my back, shredding my shirt and slashing deep into my flesh. I felt the blood rise and begin to drip down past my waist. As I hit the ground, pain clouded my mind. The dragon loomed above me and opened its massive jaws, I knew the end had come. Then, two shapes huddled over me, sheltering my fallen body with their wings.

The black monster roared with anger and annoyance at my small protectors but then stopped and looked at them curiously. It let out a casual snort and turned, running to launch itself into the air. Gradually it picked up into the air then turned to circle around us. The twins gave me one last look, nudged me in farewell, and then took off. Their tiny wings flapped fiercely to rise next to their father. I turned myself over to view their flight. Watching as the three shapes grew further and further away until, they too, faded into the night.