When Dragons Saved The Unicorns

In the northern part of Agoria was a valley. It has never been on any map and very few humans ever wander through the forests that covered the floor and spread up onto the sides of the surrounding mountains. Because of its isolation many of the creatures that modern man consider mythological have survived and thrived. The most numerous are the unicorns. Their numbers, although started out as low, have bounced back with one thousand adults and nearly as many babies.

The last humans to see this land were hunters from the local farms who were hunting for meat to feed their families. Oft times they would spend weeks or even months searching the valley for an animal that was suitable for food.

In desperate times, like when snow covered the area for weeks, they would eat their cows and pigs but when thing got bad they often killed and ate their prized horses and when the horses were all dead they needed the local wildlife was hunted to fill the need. Once the local wildlife was exhausted they had to go to even more extreme measures which meant spreading out to find food.

A small pass was found in between two mountains was found during one of those times. It was just barely enough for a small man to fit through but they knew that it had to be done so they did what they had to and they entered the pass and found themselves in the plush valley.

The hunters covered the area but all they could find that matched anything they knew was able to be used as food were the unicorns…female unicorns to be exact since it was thought that their meat would be more tender and more flavorable. There were only a few taken at a time but because of the hunting the unicorn population was slightly on the decline.

On one trip the hunters killed a dozen of the unicorns. They were hauled back to the farms, cut up and served for their meals for more than a month.

On the last trip a group of hunters cornered a herd of unicorns against the side of a sheer cliff. They aimed their crossbows at three of the females in the herd. There was a panic within the herd and their screams could be heard throughout the valley.

The hunters pulled their bow back and when they released all three of the unicorns fell. However, not being satisfied with their kill they reloaded and aimed again.

In the distance there was a roar that sounded more like the eruption of a volcano rather than an animal.

The sky darkened as several dragons began circling in the air above them. Barely above the treetops they flew, their eyes locked on the hunters who stood in fear beneath them. In one quick movement a large black dragon landed between the hunters and the unicorns. Spreading its massive wings it completely shielded the unicorns. Its eyes were locked on the men, following every movement they made. A second later, while the other dragons circled above, the black dragon raised his head and shot blue flames into the sky.

The hunters, in a pure panic, ran screaming back into the pass, going home without their kill.

The black dragon followed them growling and spitting fire as it moved. As soon as the men rushed into the pass the dragon stopped and looked at the rocks surrounding the opening. It let loose with an horrendous growl as if it was issuing a warning to the hunters.

All the dragons landed around the first one. They looked at each other as if they were communicating. The black dragon looked at the pass. It growled again and all the other dragons followed suit. Suddenly each dragon opened it massive mouth and blue flames covered the pass.

They were not trying to kill the men who had already made it through. Their combined heat melted the surrounding rock and fused it over the entrance.

That was the last time human could ever invade the valley. It may have been fear or it made be the stories that became fairy tales to scare children into behaving but no one ever went to that pass again and the animals in that valley lived peacefully and are still there if anyone has the nerve to look.