In this, these prehistory days stood waylayed deep in the Northern recesses masses, not of humankind but ones of a much simpler mind. A nomadic tribe by any define. They derived a living from hunt and trade with dragons they enslaved to do their bidding. They have slain whoever stood in their way For eons they thrived united known as the Draco
Fear was inset into everyone they met for mercy was unknown to this warrior brood. Quite uncouth it would have behooved them to pursue other avenues than to steal loot and burn to attain their gains.
To their dismay there were climate changes underway these days Bringing strife into their simple way of life Disease and famine spread without relent dwindling their numbers down to just a few thousand now that their brood was done pillaging for a living.

Their dragons many say could decimate any that stood in their way These giant lizards had magical fire breath within their breast to exhaust on the lost for nothing could outlast their flame when casted
Ancient legends foretold their fire could melt even iron plate. No matter how bold no army could withhold a line with such intensive fire to instantly boil a soldier whilst standing in his battle armor
But the recent colder temps prevented their inner fire from reaching the desired fahrenheit to smite even the weakest of knights So beleaguered and fatigued they received no reprieve from the Draco's ire without their fire They were forced to spend the rest of their days to reside hidden away in the mountain caves until their graves beckoned on their final days

The Dracos were lead by a man called Khret He inset a sense of fear and made it clear he was in charge A caste system was in place in their race which inset hierarchy based solely on physical strength
So Khret being seven foot six with large muscles installed onto every arm and leg he was unchallenged to dominate the Dracos
Despite his skill with a blade, all the scars from others make who attempted to take Khret in the past could be seen in obscene display covering every inch of skin on his body to be shown as trophy to permanently stay
Crudely healed wounds everywhere for all to stare Even his right eye was bereft of vision from a lucky foe's dagger incision
Also one had to concede that he wasn't too bright and lacked insight for someone that leads needs to intercede for the betterment of his peoples' life
Highly prone to fits of anger this man only sat on the throne by his own hands alone

Now Kurupi was a devious type always known for his lies so he took a try at Khret's simple mind and initiated his crime

Kurupi: "Greetings mighty Khret!" "I bring greetings and advise." "I heard that your people are plagued with disease and now I just learned even your dragons continued survive to be alive is in question from climate change progression."

Khret: "You dare walk into my tribe quite of uninvite that is ill-advised." "I'd have your head on a pike a sight for my people who'd dare think to defy." "But you are such an ugly beast I cannot tell least where your head starts or what part is your necks source." "Why do you come at an hour this late?"

Kurupi: "I have urgent news and I refused to wait." "The other deities and kings keep you in the dark while your people knock on death's door."

Khret: "Out with it, I have no patience for your kind within my sight!"

Kurupi: "Have you not noticed the days getting colder?" "The sun God now shines on the Chacos Southern abide." "Your people still linger away in tents while their nation has beautiful accommodations at its foundations for everyone to live would you not give that to your brood?"

Khret: What would you have us do walk through their gate and cast their entire mass out?

Kurupi: Your tribe has thus survived all these hundreds of years to endear when hardships appear by instilling fear into Draco foes. To now console and succumb to your woes does not cajole with the Dracos I know. I had no idea your cowardice left you soo powerless.

Khret immediately lep into the air and landed in Kurupi's face quite eager to place his sword inward to cut his guts and disable his words that brought concern to his rule. But when he looked over to the faces of his advise General Krog and his son Krug before the Kurupi's undone they exclaimed.

Krug: "Father, the beast is right despite his lack of insight." "Your rules' cession has been brought into question as of late while we sit and waste away."

General Krog: "Inquiry into Draco history is ripe with strife being met with our might." "We've endured worse assault and always vaulted a win at least regarding our ancient kin."

Khret: "What is in it for you to give the Chacos just do?"

Kurupi: "Their King owes me his much-laudered daughter and refuses me her hand to come to my land

Khret: "My twelfth daughter Krood was head of her brood in school I would gladly pair her to you in lieu of a Chaco bride if you abide?

Krug: "Lol" "Wait till this beast sees how ugly is she." "He would flee upon first sight."

Kurupi fains an uninspired grin but to Khrets chagrin he lays into him again

Kurupi: "Khret while your people die and recede you deny them a life free of impede." "The Chaco barely have a military for you parry." "Just one small faction not enough to take action against the Draco's might with your dragons' fire and ability of flight."

Khret: "I'm listening to your soliciting."

"Well.. since I'm about to be met with my most certain death at your hand speaking of your scaley pets. To reset their inner fire the gold in the Chacos hold would embold their flame to gain strength enough to recover from their fallen place. They are beautiful beasts and deserve to be restored to their former glory. Oh, the stories of their kind wreaking havoc in the skies of ancient times. Tis, a beautiful sight to see in the twilight.
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Khret: "How can this be?" "Such blaspheme we have never given gold to the dragon we hold."

Kurupi: "The unique minerals the gold therein contain will embold their inner fire to rise it higher and higher. All they need is a stomach full

Kurupi then pulls out a bag of gold he invisibly laced with sodium nitrate. He throws it to Khret's pet waiting on the side for him to dine. It's immediately swallowed Then a hollow belch does rise from deep inside the beast The ensuing flame does sprout out quite a fahrenheit as it nearly misses Khret still standing at wait to gut Kurupi for his debase.

As Khret addresses the fringe of his singed eyebrows he retracts his sword from the jungle lords' gut and replies "Ok Kurupi I believe you I see no deceive." "Besides there has always been a divide between the Chacos and Dracos"
"I hear all the jeers they make about us being mistakes the Gods disgraces we should never been allowed to come about."
"They shout it out loud over the crowd stating we should be caged and sold for trade."
"They treat my people with contempt because we are unkempt." "They look down upon those that don't have enough gold to hold."
"In the past, I tried to get help from Marco but he denied our implies and insisted that we enlisted our people to grow our own food first before his reimburse
No Draco will harbor the need to be a farmer the grow of crops is beyond us We ardor stealing our needs as we see fit and not to earn it
But Marco inferred we change our culture to learn agriculture


"Perhaps it is time we realign the status quo so they will know not to trifle with the Draco." "General Krog, what do you know about what Chaco's defenses have in stow?"

Krog: "Hahahahahaha!" "They are all farmers and craftsmen with nary any armor to hold." "What military they have can easily be subdued in a day or two."

Khret: "Then it is settled." "The Chaco war and my line will go down in Draco lore." "The fury of Khret will make Chaco regret their maltreat of my people
They will be Begging at my feet while I take seat in Marco's throne While prone they will be shown what it's like to bow down to a Draco crown after their town frowned on our maligned kind when our needs impeded their greed

Kurupi: "One more thing My daughter is an employ of the King." "I would ask that you spare her life through this strife."

Khret: "I have heard tales of your seed this one they call Taurine." "If the tales are right she needs no protection from me but an invite to join the pillage and plight."

Kurupi: "She loves the Chaco King and would never do anything to displeasure her oppressor."

Khret: "Oppression indeed." "That's about to change shes' about to be freed by Draconian seed."

So war drums began to beat the next morn as the Draco prepared to go to war All the native men with weapon in hand did have intent to attack the Chaco's land

All their dragons are unchained and retrieved from their caverns' exile while an evil smile can be seen on Kurupi's face now replaced from the frown of Marco's put downs
The Kurupi lends an assist to his new enlist by having all the dragons gobble down his laced nitrate gold mix to ensure a temporary fix to their diminished flames so once again they can take their deadly aim and gain him a Queen for his jungle labyrinthine

As the dragon's fiery breath rages away in the sky no one can deny the sulfur smell from the gates of hell that will spell the doom of any that loom in their wake
Death will now shake the hand of Chacoans that fight as they are set alight by the Draco's reptile kites No matter their might it will be quite an ugly sight to behold

General Krog directs catapault heavy artillery to be built and be placed on the hills surround the Chaco town To make quick dispose of those who chose to fight and stay in the Draco's way Kurupi hands him bags filled with black powder
Krog quickly questions "What is this black sand you hand?" "I need no assist for war is what I was born for." "Seven generations of my line have served the Draco just fine without assist from dieties enlist."

Kurupi: "This will just give an extra blast to the boulders your catapults cast."

Krog: "Listen beast I don't trust ye!" "Your name is well-known as one who is prone to lies and I despise ones who speak in tongues of truth while staying hidden and aloof." "I serve the man who sits on the Draco throne so it is with Khret you will have to consult about your access into our artilleries success."

Kurupi: "Khret is aware of my assist trust me you cannot miss once the powder is packed inside it will magnify the blast radius vastly." "Need I remind you that with the Draco's success I will be blessed with a bride at my side." "So it would seem you get a reprieve from my deceive." "Hahaha!"

Khret calls all the men to align into rows as they prepare to go toe-to-toe with a foe that was maligned towards their own kind but, will their prior ills be worth the blood that's about to be spilled?
A chill fills the air as their warrior Lord stares them down A discerning frown is found upon his person He screams in rage his voice now uncaged towards his untested rabble that is about to go into battle

Khret: "Do not think that you will walk into Chaco square with nary a care!" "Their heirs will bear down to keep Chaco theirs and will not share!" "You will have to remind humanmankind that you are not blind to their unkind ways."
"Show them the meaning of fear adhere to Draco ways to slay your foes with nary a woe for mercy will be foregone this day." "Lest I remind you their unkind deny of aid for our sick and lame." "It's time for the Draco to get back to their roots to pillage and loot." "Make the tip of your steele the last thing they feel as you send them to their beyond at the feet of their Gods!"

All the men rant his name granting entry into Draco lore forevermore; "Khret!" "Khret!" "Khret!"

Khret's son, Krug looks proudly at his father something that he has never done before Every story spun afore questioned if he was the proper one to don the Draco crown But now they all cheer Khret's name though this war seemingly insane it does push the Draco's drive to stay alive for a new promise to thrive on the Chaco's stolen derives

Such unity displayed this day it had been decayed as of late but to remake the people's inner fire their desire to live does grow and embold them to fight through their recent life though riddled with strife
© Peter Gunn