Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #19 October 2015 | Page 21

faint tap seemed to echo in the silence like rolling
thunder. Deep in the cave, a low rumble reverberated.
Closing her eyes and hugging the rock, Ella
waited for her eventual doom. When it did not come
and the silence returned, she opened her eyes and
continued up the mountain.

with the rocks.
The dragon pulled back, but could not clear the
landslide fast enough. Dirt and rock rained down on it
and its roar suddenly cut off.

After climbing high enough, she scaled the
entrance of the cave until she found the right spot.
Pausing, she closed her eyes again and took several
deep breaths.

As the rubble crashed down, Ella slammed into
the large boulder and slid off it. She rolled clear of the
largest of the debris, but could not breathe from the
dust and ash that was kicked up. Waving at the cloud
before her, she gasped and jumped back in fear of the
dragon turning on her.

“I hope this works,” Ella said to herself and
gripped the lance tightly. She slammed it into a crack
on the cliff face. Her heart raced and felt like it would
explode.

The dust cleared enough for Ella to see that she
sat face to face with the dragon. Closing her eyes, she
waited for it to strike at her. When nothing happened,
she peeked out and saw the beast had not moved.

Taking a deep breath, Ella paused, then let
loose an immense scream. The sound echoed around
the clearing and deep down into the cave. Louder than
she intended, she flinched at the volume.

Ella pulled herself slowly closer to the dragon.
Reaching out a trembling hand, she pushed on the
snout and pulled quickly back. When it did not
suddenly attack her, she stood and walked closer.

When the echo died away, the mountain fell
eerily silent. Ella drew another deep breath when
the mountain abruptly shifted below her with the
vibrations of a cavernous roar. Repetitive thumps
alerted Ella that the dragon was coming.

The boulder had done what Ella had hoped
and crushed the dragon’s neck. Moving around the
rock she saw the body still intact and breathed a sigh
of relief. The dragon had twisted sickly, as if trying )Ѽ