Once upon a time there were two young dragons. They were Bugs and her younger brother Mugs. They had dragon names of course but as dragons are loath to reveal their true name these will do for the time being. Bugs was a long, willowy dragon with pink and purple scales who is very inquisitive. Mugs is thicker though not as long as his older sister with red and gold scales. He is very energetic and loves to pounce on anyone and anything that he comes across.

One day Bugs awoke to the sounds of squealing.

“Oh dear, what has my brother pounced this time?” she said to herself as she hurried out of her cave to see what was happening.

As she moved into the main cavern structure she saw that she had been correct. There was Mugs, crouched on top of something, holding it down, his tail wagging in the air. He looked back at Bugs with a grin that was devoid of any guilt over the poor wriggling creature trapped beneath his talons.

“Bugsy, Bugsy. Look at what I catched.” Mugs exclaimed to Bugs using his pet name for her.

What Bugs saw was like no animal she’d seen before. It was uniquely colored with a mix of dark brown hide and shiny silver scales all over the body. There was also a shock of bright orange –red hair all over what seems like the head. It was a thick stocky creature that was just a little smaller than Mugs was. The oddest thing about it was the sounds that it was making. It almost sounded as if it was using words, though if they were words they were too difficult to understand between the low growling tones that kept being interrupted by bursts of high pitched squeals of what was either laughter or tears.

“Ach… Get off me, hee hee, ya beastie. Eeek! Oh lordy. Don’t, ahhh ha ha, eat me. Dwarves are, Gah, nothing but gristle.” Choked out the creature.

Mugs was laughing so hard that smoke and sparks began to escape his muzzle. This in turn seemed to spur the mysterious creatures’ howls and thrashing even more. This, of course, caused Mugs to laugh all the more fervently. It was a vicious cycle that was sure to lead to an unfortunate end. Most likely waking up Mom or Dad.

“Mugs! You know you aren’t supposed to eat creatures who can talk. Mom and Dad are gonna be mad.” pleaded Mugs to her brother.

At the mention of their parents Mugs calmed down visibly, albeit reluctantly.

“I’m not gonna eat it. I just wanted to pounce it. It did sneak into our cave when it wasn’t supposed to.” he replied somewhat guiltily before turning back to the poor creature upon which he was still standing.

“I’m not gonna eat you. Please be quiet before you wake up Mommy and Daddy and get us in trouble.”

With those words of reassurance, and possibly more so the cessation of the rain of sparks, the self-professed Dwarf stopped yelling and thrashing. He seemed to be mulling over the idea of “Mommy and Daddy” quite seriously. He attempted to speak and faltered multiple times before finally responding cautiously.

“So, ahh… you creatures can speak can you? Do you think you might, possibly see as to, perhaps, get off my chest. It isn’t as if I really mind but yer claws are scratching me breastplate which I may have borrowed from my brother… without telling him…

He trails off as he sees smoke begin to pour out from Bug’s nostrils and a narrowing of her eyes into irritated slits.

“Who are you calling creatures you, you, creature you. We are dragons, the best there is!” Bugs exclaims while rising to her full six foot height.

Wincing as Bugs gets louder and shriller throughout her outburst, the dwarf attempts to calm her down with flattery.

“Of course, of course most impressive of dragons. No need to be upset. You are quite correct. Compared to you, a mighty dragon such as yourself, I am but a lowly creature. I must have misspoke, clearly dazzled by your obvious brilliance. Well that and possibly from the lack of oxygen from having this fine young dragon perched upon my chest.”

Bugs wasn’t completely sure of everything the creature, or dwarf, was saying but she did think that it sounded properly apologetic so she relented.

“Well as long as you know your place I supposed I can forgive you.” She says. Then looking to her brother.

“Ok Mugs, let him up.” and then back to the dwarf.

“You better be good or I will let Mugs eat you.”

At that Mugs grins a toothy grin at the dwarf and says,

“Yeah. Betta be good or I gets to eat you.”

The dwarf shudders at this, then exhales a big creaky breath as the young dragon jumps off his chest.

“My thanks young dragon. Aside from a possible broken rib, that feels much better. That was quite the tackle earlier. I never saw you coming. You must be quite the hunter. I, by the way, am Carrack Axebreaker. Perhaps you’ve heard of me?” he asks with a bow.

The two young dragons look at the bowing dwarf and burst out laughing once more as if they have never seen anything so funny.

“Why do you have such long fur on your face but shiny scales on top?” Asked Bugs as she began tapping the poor dwarf on the top of his head with her talon only to get more excited to find it made a pretty ringing sound each time she tapped it. Mugs upon witnessing this couldn’t be left out. Soon both dragons were flanking the dwarf giggling and taking turns tapping him on what was fortunately for Carrack, a steel helm. Still, dwarves are not known for their patience.

“Cut it out ya wee beasti…” he catches himself before he goes too far and continues after deftly ducking away from the two dragons.

“I mean if you fine younglings could give me a moment. I am quite out of breath. If you would like to play with my helm I would be happy to let you see it.”

As he says this he slowly removes the helm from his head extending it out to the dragons, also exposing his bald, pink skull. Upon seeing this the two dragons jump away from him hissing, eyes wide in fear. Bugs, while obviously afraid, moves protectively in front of her brother.

“Bugsy, the dwarf to off his head and isn’t dead. It must be that bad magic Mama was telling us about. Make it go away.” Cried Mugs.

“Stay away from my brother Mr. dead dwarf. Mama and Papa will get you if you try to hurt us. Now shoo!” said Bugs

Poor Carrack was dumbfounded by this reaction.

“No, no. I am not dead you silly hatchlings. I am very much alive. This is just a helmet I wear on my head for protection. It is just armor I wear since I do not have the benefit of scales. Either way I am very much alive and have no interest in harming anyone.” He explains while continuing to hold the helm out in front of him so that the young dragons can see it.

Away from the initial scare Bugs’ natural curiosity begins to assert itself again. She begins to examine the helm more closely as does her brother when he realizes it is safe, eager to see what other tricks this new plaything has to offer. Bugs cautiously reaches out to tap the helm again and finds that the now empty helm rings out with a clearer tone to her delight. She is soon playing it like a bell.

Mugs seeing this has no interest in being left out and races past his sister and snatches it out of Carrack’s hand. He then proceeds to begin hitting it against the cave wall causing a loud clanging sound. Carrack winces with each impact and tries to interject over the din of the helm’s impacts, Mugs laughter, and the irritated scolding of Bugs.

“Mugs, stop that. I was playing with that first. Give it back now!” she yelled shrilly.

“Umm… my friends if you could be careful with that please? As I mentioned before it is not actually mine. You see I kinda borrowed it from me brother. Well when I say borrow… So I did not exactly ask before I took it. And besides we do not want to wake your parents, right? That was what you said.” He mentioned, hoping that this might calm the increasing racket coming from the young dragons.

For a moment he believes this is exactly what happens too as both Bugs and Mugs go quiet, looking rather cowed in his direction. But just as he begins to relax he sees a thick, smoke-like mist swirl around his feet and within seconds it hits. Dragon Fear. Carrack is barely able to turn but when he does he finds himself facing off with two enormous red eyes. They do not seem pleased. The last thing he hears before he passes out from the pressure of the dragon fear is Bug’s voice.

“Oh. We can’t play anymore Mr. Dwarf. Mama’s awake.”

Nullus Anxietas