A Score to Settle
by J. A. Heath
Grax‘s boat slowly drifted toward the shore. He stared up at the immense mountain that dominated the small island. He squinted, trying to find its peak. That‘s where he‘ll be. He saw that it would be a vertical climb straight to the top, and he was an old man now.
The small vessel‘s hull dug into the beach‘s sand. Now or never, Grax thought as he carefully stepped over the side of the boat. Easing himself down into the shallow water, he looked around, pausing as he noticed a tree lying on its side. He‘s been here. The tree was freshly uprooted and covered with deep scratch marks, an unmistakable sign of the prey he was tracking.
He pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to regain focus. Leaning back over the side of the small boat, he picked up his rope and shield. Feeling the fibrous woven threads reminded him of the danger in the task he was about to perform. Keep low, keep quiet, and don‘t die.
He waded through the shallow water as he crept up an embankment behind the beach. Stepping carefully and quietly, he began to look for signs of where the beast was lurking. He must be at the top; there‘s nothing down here worthy of his interest. Grax moved silently from the beach to the thick stretch of trees that outlined the beach. Moving into the forest, he maneuvered around them, making sure not to step on any small branches that might alert his prey. He soon found his way to the mountain‘s vertical slope.
Placing his hands onto rocky footholds, he slowly scaled the cliff. Looking back down, Grax realized that he must have been over a hundred feet up in the air. Don‘t look down! He forced himself to turn his head back up, and kept climbing.
After a few more moments, he came to the top of the cliff. Gasping for air as he grabbed for something to pull himself up with, he lost his grip. He began to slide backward, struggling for a handhold. I haven‘t even completed something worth being remembered! he thought. I can‘t die yet!
His hand closed on a solid-feeling tree root. He felt it beginning to give way, and heaved himself up over the side of the cliff. That was close! He looked back over the edge as he took a moment to relish the fact that he had once again evaded death. He returned to his feet and took a moment to regain his bearings. Time to capture this monster.
He noticed a swath of broken and flattened brush. That way! Focused on the gnarled trail the creature had created, he paused to account for the wind. Downwind, good. He crept down the pathway, keeping low. Trying to avoid snapping branches, he saw the tracks that the leviathan had left.
Grax stepped inside the footprint and realized just how bold an endeavor he had chosen. He‘s grown since I last saw him. His prints are twice the size of mine. Nothing good is easy, is it? The aged hunter grinned tensely as he thought of the fight to come.
Grax was on high alert. Listening for the familiar sounds of his prey, he thought, Can‘t let my guard down. The hunter pressed on. Grax stopped when he neared the opening in the brush. There he is! With his eyes wide, the hunter looked upon the beast. His prey stepped fearlessly out from the brush line on the other side of the opening, unaware of Grax‘s position.
Coming to a stop in the middle of the opening was Braxathen. The immense dragon towered over the trees, his body shimmering as the sun reflected off his scales. With his wings spread wide, he sunned himself. Braxathen was young and powerful, in the prime of his strength. Grax gazed upon the magnificent beast in awe. He hasn‘t changed colors. He‘s still that soft blue that I remember. The memory of a once-small dragon was replaced by the giant adult standing in front of him.
Wait until he turns around. Grax continued to stalk the dragon, waiting for the opportunity to arise.
Braxathen, unaware of him, gazed about unconcernedly. He yawned, exposing his razor-sharp teeth.
Grax continued to study his opponent, waiting in anticipation. As the dragon turned to make his way back to his nest, Grax sprang out from his hiding spot, quickly descending onto the monstrous beast. "I‘ve got you this time!" he yelled.
But Braxathen was quicker than Grax had anticipated. The beast dodged Grax‘s attempt to grab hold of him, then whipped around and snarled at the grizzled man. With a bone-chilling roar, teeth exposed and tail tucked behind him, Braxathen was on the defense.
Grax quickly recovered. “Ah. You‘re smarter than I thought. I didn‘t give you enough credit, did I?”
The dragon continued to bare his teeth. Moving his wings over his body, he formed a protective barrier over his back. Trying to think of his next move, Grax grabbed hold of the rope. Cautiously weaving one end into a loop, he maintained eye contact with the beast. I‘ve got one shot at this. If I miss, I‘m done. Grax tightened the knot of the lasso.
He darted toward the dragon, exposing the loop of the lasso in his hand while he moved. As Grax closed in on Braxathen, the beast let out a guttural growl. In an effort of defense, Braxathen whipped around and slung his tail at the man. Just as the tail was about to hit him, Grax dropped to his knees and slid under, dodging the furious blow. Mid-slide, he neared the front of the dragon. As he skated towards the monster‘s head, the old man jumped back onto his feet and leaped onto the beast‘s head.
Caught off guard, the dragon wriggled and flung his head from side to side, trying to shake the hunter from his grip. Moving fast, Grax looped the lasso over the dragon‘s snout. Pull it tight! He rushed as the dragon‘s thrashing began to wear on his strength. With a mighty yank, the loop tightened around the mouth of the beast. Now tire him out! Braxathen continued to try to throw the man by tossing his body from side to side, but Grax‘s grip held firm. He could feel the dragon beginning to tire. I‘ve got him! He‘s mine!
Just as Grax began to think he had won, Braxathen spread his wings. “Oh no, you don‘t!” Grax yelled, and he pulled the lasso back, trying to control the beast. But the old hunter‘s attempt was in vain. With a mighty gush of wind, Braxathen and Grax shot into the air.
Gripping the lasso hard, Grax latched onto Braxathen‘s back. “You crazy lizard! You‘re cheating!” The old man tried to reason with the dragon, but Braxathen wouldn‘t have it. With a flap of his wings, the pair moved higher into the sky. “This isn‘t funny! Put me down!” Grax commanded the dragon.
In mid-air, Braxathen froze with a smile. Without warning, they began to drop out of the sky. Moving into a spiraling fall, the man shouted at the top of his lungs. “Okay! Okay! You win! I give up!” With just a moment to spare, Braxathen spread his wings and pulled the pair out of the fall. From just a few feet of room to spare, the couple shot back into the sky.
Thankful that the dragon had chosen to listen, Grax rubbed the scaly sides of his friend. “I‘d call that a close one. I see you‘ve been thinking of how to scare me to death. Next time, buck me off or something. My heart can‘t take much more of that kind of stuff.”
The dragon answered the old man with a puppy-like yip.
“I know, maybe I‘ll win next time. But you‘ve got to admit; I almost had you.” Grax smiled as the wind blew through his hair. Looking into the distance, the two continued on their flight. soaring into the sunset.
The score now stood Braxathen, three; the old man, zero.
Copyright © 2023 by J. A. Heath
