A dragon’s quest for happiness A foxwandered about the desolate streets. Prancing towards his destination. An egg grasped in his mouth. He stopped behind a group of bins, dropped the egg, and strutted into the night. A week passed, the egg started to move. The slightest wobble, but still moving. A crack appeared, streaming round the egg like a river. Ever so slightly, a figure emerged. A small body covered in scarlet and arms draped with skin, stubby legs unfolded and there stood a dragon. It soon came accustomed to the dark. Humans petrified it so better hide in the shadows. But, one morning, a man saw him, the man had bloodshot eyes and a sinister grin like the devil. Darting back to the shadows, the dragon saw his intentions. To catch and sell him like any other good. The dragon grew up on the streets, not having a home. He knew his mother and father were out there somewhere, just hidden, like a treasure inside a chest. One night this would all change. In the darkness, the dragon fumbled for food, searching every corner with a desire to eat. Then he heard a call, not any call but a dragon roar! He looked up, a dragon circling him! But then black, he had been caught. Not just by anyone, no, theman had come back. Holding himupwith hiswithered fingers he stared into the eyes of the dragon. The rest happened too quickly. The man shoving him into a cage, selling him and being transported away from his mother. At least the new owner was kind and loving. She was a plump little girl and always wore blue tweed skirts. But, apart from her appearance, she was lovely. Every day passed with the same routine and nothing was how the dragon liked it. One day as the girl went to bed, the dragon bolted from his cage and ran out the door. Leaping in the fresh air and grass. He set off on a journey. Livingnowwas a struggle.Therewasno shelter andalways a food shortage. Farmers chased him, brandishing their hoes. Now there was definitely no hope. Weeks went in the same manner and it was certainly no place for a baby dragon. Out of the blue, something circled him in the sky. Not wanting to cause attention, the dragon hung his head, he was sick of running. But, with his head hung low, he could not see anything. Peering up at the sky, a dragon swiftly landed to an abrupt halt. He had found his parents. Now all was safe, nothing could stop his happiness. Nestling his head into his parents, he fell into a deep sleep. Now if you look into the countryside, youmight see this dragon. Swirling so gracefully in the cobalt sky.
The Trial of the Hippogriff They say that if an apprentice wants to become a knight, they must tame a beast first. To tame one, you must be fast and quiet. Though they normally hear you before you even see them. Many apprentices go for pegasi, but only the bravest can tame a hippogriff, which is what I am trying to find. So here I am, hoping that my pet hydrus doesn’t eat another kelpie from the inside-out. We had just made it to the deep forest. That was where the hippogriffs were. I heard an ear-deafening roar. I grasped the handle of my knife. It was probably a roc, a fifty-foot-long bird that ruled the sky. I decided that we continue the walk till twilight, then set up camp for the night. Just then, a flash of gold caught my eye. The hippogriff was incredible. Its mane gleamed in the low light. I couldn’t help but kneel in respect to it. Suddenly, the roar pierced the sky and it flew off, much to my disappointment. I decided that this was where we would set up camp for the night. And so I went to get firewood Mist was clinging to the mossy trees and I wondered if I would ever be able to tame a hippogriff, and if I was doing all this for nothing. I could barely even see my hand in front of my face. It was already dark, and I didn’t know which way camp was. Darkness closed in like a suffocating blanket. The only thing I could see was the faint glow of pixies and fireflies. I turned round and round but all the trees looked the same. I was lost in the deep forest, there was no way that I would find my way out. I was stuck. Suddenly, heavy footsteps filled the silence of the night. I ran into the undergrowth and crouched down just as the beast came into view. Using the little light there was, I could make out one large eye, staring right at me. I ran as fast as my legs would carry me. Every muscle in my body ached with tiredness. The cyclops was still following me, and he hadn’t broken a sweat. A chimera was hissing at me, so I hissed back, a good idea if you don’t want to lose a fight. Just then, the flash of gold reappeared, barrelling right into the cyclops. They tossed and turned, each trying to land a hit on the other. Then the hippogriff flew up and charged right into the cyclops, who then lay there motionless on the ground, dead. The hippogriff came closer and bowed its head. I felt its soft feathers and climbed onto its back. Then, I felt something stronger than bravery. I took off into the sky and looked down at the patchwork fields and the whole kingdom to explore. I made a decision. I placed my hand on my hydrus’s back and soared through the sky at speeds I didn’t know were possible. I didn’t want to be a knight. I wanted to be free to do anything. Which is what I’m doing now.
Lloyd Martin, Year 5
Tom Adair, Year 6
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