Lightning crashed illuminating up a huge cave. The air smelled humid and hot, it smelled like animals had been left in the sun to rot and collect maggots. Rain began pelting down on the backs of the dragon hunters. Bright silver steel glinted deadly in the hunter's hands. The eyes of the hunters gleamed with both anticipation and fear. Thunder rolled angrily far away.
   The guide had no trouble seeing in the depths of night. He had always been able to see through the darkness. He led the others to the lair of the dragon, the deep cave that now lay in front of them. They wanted to try to surprise the scaly beast. Many thought it was the only hope of bringing the creature to its death.
   The thoughts that appeared in the mind of the guide were simple; I've led them here, picked plenty of pockets to amount to twice of my pay. Now all I have to do is hide and if they live, get even more money. Hide...hide...
   The rallier of the expedition had worked long on finding a good group of dragon hunters. The first two had been unsuccessful and the dragon had moved after each. He hoped this one would survive to kill the wicked creature that lived within. It had raided their hunting grounds and recently farms since it had moved into this area. He had seen it the other day flying by the village. It came more frequently that way now.. It was likely plotting to send death their way. All he could think of was blind rage towards this beast, that he was sure it would destroy them, all of them some day. He was going to send the evil creature to it's dark grave and the fiery land beyond.
   Varliss thought very differently though. He was the leader of the dragon hunters- whom had been named by the people, Dragon's Bane. The being knew as much as should ever be known about dragons by one who needed to defeat them. But he did his dirty work with his elvish conscience nagging at him. He admired creatures and being who he was, was able to understand more than most could ever perceive from them. So he could feel the dragons in a way. Sympathy and anger flowed through him as he thought of some of the beautiful beasts he had slaughtered. But he was good at this job and more than once had he saved lives by killing the reptilian-like-animals. He was going to do the job fast with his group and the dragon would be killed and get what it deserved! He would get his money and look for another beast to slaughter.  Why did he ever feel pity for dragons? They were creatures of lies and tricks, vicious and deadly.
   Then they stopped their forward moment. Ahead lay a choasmous cave.

   Deep down in the earth, far into the rocky entrance a mother dragon watched her three young. They were still small dragonlings and needed an intense eye. She had worried much over them the past few months while she was out hunting. Even though she knew better, that she shouldn't have, the mother had taken some animals off of the civilizer’s lands to be closer to her offspring. She had refined to flying over or near the village to get back to hers swiftly.
   The female was proud of her babies. They were all strong and healthy and each showed a bit of common-sense and good dragon traits. But she was conscious that if the hunters came while she was away all three would likely be killed. So she was nervous and uptight when she was away from them.
   As the thunder tolled above and lightning crashed she took time to examine her young as they ate a small plump calf. It was easy for them to sink their razor teeth into.
   The little red one caught her eyes most often. He was not so fierce as smart. She liked his mind. Dragons over the years were most famed for their cruel, wicked selves. Little did kind or merciful ones ever get mentioned. Dragons were often wise and powerful beasts. They towered far above a one to one combat with a being. Once it took more than seven hundred men to kill a mountainous one, nearly a thousand. So great were their sizes and cunning in battle.
   The red one knew how to get his way without bloodshed, that's what made him special. He would trick them that they should do something else and he would eat. He could fight if he needed to but he knew that it was not a likely way for him to win. He was not as strong as the black one. The little dragonling knew how to make himself look like a fierce dangerous display and would hiss at the others and sometimes frighten them off. Although it hadn't been working lately. They were sprouting up larger and he was slowly slinking a bit more.
   The mother had once been an unmerciful greedy dragon known as Emerald Fear. She had burned and pillaged dozens of villages and spared no souls. If one of the avengers from her marauding, which was not far in the past, found her again she would likely not get out as the battle as smoothly as before. She had moved her cave three times in the last five years, each after she had done battle for her life. What would it come to if she had her young to worry about when she was in combat? She would certainly have to forget her hoard of treasure if she was forced to move quickly again.
   She looked back to her offspring. The weakest was a handsome sky blue. She felt a glowing affection for the beautiful colored and shaped male. He was timid and his mother guessed would prefer an elusive life. He did not posses very great physical traits but more an average of them all.
    The last was a gargantuan black. He was far more fierce than the others. His teeth and claws were not just extraordinarily deadly sharp and strong at such an age but knew the right spots to wrack or maul. He could use his wings fairly well to help with his battles. She loved him, but he was not her favorite even though he had the true dragon traits. He was the legendry cruel, greedy dragon.
   The female had always called herself Gem after she had retired from her old days of wickedness. She was a radiant green color as a gem so what could fit better? The dragon mother had named the blue one Sky. The black one Coal Fire. The red one she fancied as Thorn. She sensed he was a good hearted dragon. Many dragons no longer heeded good.
   Then she lifted her head up. A noise had come from very near. Gem stiffened, her eyes searching about. She was certain something was in the cave. She listened and heard nothing. Neither could she smell a thing at all. She told her young to hide back, away in a corner.
   Only the red obeyed.
   The mother went to the far opening in which enemies would almost have to go to get her. She moved to the side and listened. No noises. No smell. She waited crouched and nervous. Aware as she could be of everything around her. It was at least two hours till she chanced looking out of the opening in the cave. Something wasn't right. Quietly she went just a bit further. She sensed something...it was just beyond her reach.Then it came to her like a bolt of lightning. But her senses had told her to seek cover just a split second to late...

Varliss cast a spell of hidden fire for a bit of light. The guide was to lead them no further. He beckoned his warriors through the cave entrance, they would have to hurry as silently and quickly as possible. He could not hold the light forever hidden from the eyes of a dragon or he would drain too much of his magic.
   The cave room where the creature stayed was not as far in as the dragon slayer had dreaded. The tunnel had dipped into a sharp decline and stayed as so for awhile then came to the first room. They had been walking for fifteen minutes only. He signaled them to stop. He could hear the noise of a dragon. A dragon with young...
   He had an attack of pity, and hatred for himself. It had been getting worse. How could he bare to kill a dragon with young...? What was he doing in this business of wickedness! But he went on through it.
   Walking further, Varliss tripped over a rock abruptly. His light elvish body thudded lightly on the ground.  He held his breath and knew that the dragon was coming to investigate. Quickly he jumped to his feet and motioned the rest to get into the far dark corner. They slipped into invisibility and waited for the right moment.