Dragon Hunting

I drew my sword and once again looked into the forest that was directly in front of me. Not a twig moved, and no creatures stirred. Even the wind had stopped blowing. After hours of searching I had at last found a path leading into the woods, but it was overgrown with weeds and almost impossible to see. For all I knew the path might lead a half mile and then peter out, leaving me lost in a maze of endless trees. I strained to see more, but the underbrush was so thick that I could not see further than a few hundred yards. The forest was dark, even in the daylight, and I knew it would be difficult to force my way through it. It would be even more difficult to find my prey before it found me.

The worst part of all was the danger that lurked inside it. So many people – so many friends – had died in the past two months, burned to ashes by a remorseless dragon. I knew that dragon lurked in this forest, and was just waiting to strike again. I knew what I had to do.

As I started to walk down the path that led into the forest I heard a strained voice call out behind me. “Don’t go in there – you’ll be killed, you fool!”

I stopped and turned around to see who had spoken, and spotted the gentleman who had called out. He appeared to be an older fellow – a farmer, perhaps, judging from his clothing.

“What would you have me do?” I asked. “Just leave the danger for someone else?”

“The dragon will kill you for sure if you try!” he warned. “It’s worth a man’s life just to get near that forest. I don’t know anyone who has ever entered it and returned to tell the tale.”

I knew he was right. “Someone has to try,” I said. “I don’t see other dragon hunters lining up to engage it in battle.”

“Of course not,” he said. “It’s too dangerous. Men aren’t as big fools as that.”

“Waiting at home for the dragon to attack is equally dangerous,” I said. “I would rather try to conquer him and fail than never try at all.”

“Good heavens,” he said, “you’ve gone mad. What possible good is that? If you try and fail you’ll be dead, and then what good will you be? A dead man isn’t worth anything to anybody.”

I looked him squarely in the eye. “You tell me which is better: to march into that forest and fight the beast, possibly giving my life for my friends and family, or to do nothing and watch as I and everything I care for are destroyed by the dragon. Is it truly wiser to wait for the dragon to come and kill my family, and die knowing that I did nothing to help them?”

The farmer said nothing.

“Will you come with me?” I asked. “The forest is dark, and I do not know the way.”

“I won’t,” he said. “It’s too dangerous.”

“Then I shall defeat the beast alone,” I said. I turned around and resumed walking into the woods.