BBOTSS Travel Logue - Part 8

TURCEDA

The feeding had ended. Missandei turned to me and said, "Now it is time to release the treat."

I turned to the frightened boy. He looked rather pale and pathetic at this point. His dark hair was plastered to his forehead by sweat. His face was a mixture of dirt and clean streaks from his tears. I unbound his hands and feet, being careful to make sure he didn't escape. We were two leagues from camp, so if he did escape, it would only add to the dragons' excitement. They preferred to feast on running quarry.

When the boy slumped to the ground and refused to move, I kicked him in the side and pulled him to his feet. The night was dark and cloudy. The dragons were getting restless and Davahoss began snorting flames at the sight of the boy.

I told the treat, "If you can outrun the dragons, you will live. If not, you will suffer a death of fire and consumption. There is a lake in that direction", I said pointing away from the camp, "If you can reach it, you may survive."

The prospect of living brought the boy back to life. Like the fools before him, he believed he would be able to escape Missandei's terrors. Luckily, the wind was blowing in that same direction, which meant that the odor of charred flesh would not reach the camp. The boy took off running and stumbling through the dark to flee the feasting.

Missandei held the dragons back until he had a hundred meter head start. Then she turned with sparkling eyes and sweetly called, "Dragon treat," to Davahoss, Ronnamoss, and Chuknoross. Taking long strides they ran, pursuing their prey. Davahoss was the first to take flight, followed closely by Chuknoross. Ronnamoss took wing and the three began flapping their leathery wings through the dark clouds in pursuit of the boy.

The terrain was flat enough for us to see the feasting. It began with Ronnamoss cutting the boy off by landing in front of him. Chuknoross was close behind and slapped the boy to the ground as he landed. Davahoss completed the circle of dragons, and they all started to spit dragon fire at the morsel. The burning and the screams began. The boy called to the god, his mother, and finally to us to save him. His screams were cut short by Davahoss who decapitated him with one bite. Ronnamoss and Chuknoross each grabbed a flaming arm and tore the body in two like a misshapen wishbone. While they were each devouring the arms and torso, Davahoss stepped in to claim the legs and feet from each half.

Quickly they returned to Missandei with the bloody heart of the boy. She held it in both hands, squeezing it and giggling as the remaining blood drained out onto the ground. The dragons screamed in a shrill pitch as they watched her chew the heart. After a few bites, she cut the remains into three pieces and hand fed each of her sons.

After cleansing Missandei and the dragons' faces with water, we returned to the camp.

Davahoss


Chuknoross


Ronnamoss