Entry #24

Dragon Sunset
by Aaron Longoria


Licking blood stained, razor sharp canines with his slender, forked tongue, Bargoth lifted powerful jaws from the carcass of his fresh kill. Soft-green eyes blinked at the fur of the large, hoofed animal, stained a deep crimson from torn, exposed muscle.

Blood seeped along the beast’s belly and into the grass; some of the scarlet liquid trickling between Bargoth’s long, clawed toes. Bargoth pulled back the upper skin around his muzzle and hissed softly, rubbing his paws together. That sensation always made him giggle.

His appetite had been sated for the moment. There was still plenty of beast left to devour, but Bargoth wasn’t a glutton, contrary to popular myth about his kind. Teeth and claws were blood soaked resembling the heavens above.

Bargoth stared at the sky, the wide patches of thick, billowing clouds absorbing the waning rays of the setting sun with a crimson hue heralding the end of another day of prosperous health and vigorous spirit.

Powerful chest scales expanding, Bargoth released a concentrated burst of fire aimed directly at the clouds. Crimson and blue combined spiraled into the sky propelled by mighty breath.

The spiral sailed higher, slowly dissipating in integrity the farther it soared, brilliant flames losing their strength, their vibrant colors fading into the ether.

Extinguished.

Bargoth snorted sharply as formidable paws carried his great, reptilian bulk through the wide dirt path of the surrounding forest. Dry, fallen leaves crunched loudly, echoing through the woods.

Bargoth hissed again; the dry leaves tickling his paws.