"Four Young Ones and a Terrible Dragon"
by David M. Fitzpatrick
“We have called this meeting of the
Fearless Four to face our first big duty,” Emm-Jay said, her voice like
the pleasant sound of a harp. She looked about the treehouse at them. They
stared in surprise. She smiled,
pointed ears peeking out of her silky, copper-colored hair. She was
fair-faced and beautiful, as elves were, even at her young age. She
was easily the tallest of the group at almost four feet.
To her right was Chukk, shorter than
her but with a hefty body. The young dwarf already sported a fuzzy
face that would soon become a full beard. He was seated on a dried
giant mushroom that they had hauled out of the woods to use as
furniture. To her left was
Alyn. At three feet, he was about as tall as a boy halfling would
get. He was thin like Emm-Jay, his hair short and his feet bare.
Atop his feet were fluffy, curly locks of furry hair. His bright
green eyes stared, excited and waiting.
Before Emm-Jay, Barrandee was seated
right on the table, which was fine since the gnome girl was only two
feet tall. Barrandee’s ears, nose, chin, and fingers were all pudgy
and rounded. She eagerly sat, legs crossed.
“We have been playmates for several
years,” Emm-Jay continued, “and we have pretended to be heroes
saving others from evils. We have always sworn to grow up to become
the kinds of heroes our parents have been. Well, now it is finally
time to do that growing.”
“What is it, Emm?” Barrandee squeaked from the table.
“Is it someone in trouble?” Alyn said
hopefully. “I hope it isn’t
another wild skarglin,” Chukk said with a gruff sigh. His voice was
as deep as a grown human’s. “Those green-furred beasts are never big
deals. I’m getting tired of chasing those things.”
“No, we have had enough of stopping
wild skarglins!” Emm-Jay said with a laugh that sounded like wind
chimes tinkling. “But, it is a fierce monster, and someone is in
trouble.” *
* *
Read the entire story (there's substantially more) in Fun Times
in Strange Lands.
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