Free Drake the Dragonboy by Rebecca Schultz Page A

width as his face, he looked like a giant sausage. Drake nicknamed him Sausage-head. The man on the right was covered in muscle and had a round red face with a squashed little mouth that was all wrinkled up like a monkey’s bottom. Drake nicknamed him Monkey-bottom-face. Sausage-head and Monkey-bottom-face looked menacing and when Sausage-head spoke it was a growl.
    â€œYouse better come with us without a struggle or we’ll squash you,” he growled.
    â€œWhere are you taking us?” asked Donny.
    â€œNowhere terrible,” he said, “if that’s what you’re thinking. We just need to keep you safe while the authorities decide how to deal with the situation.” None of them moved.
    â€œLook what happened last time they decided to deal with the situation. They sent a whole lot of dragonfolk to a building to die,” whispered Juniper. Donny nodded in agreement. Somehow, they all seemed to be thinking the same thing. Drake noticed Ronan had twisted a sheet around his arm. “Now,” yelled Ronan as he ran towards the window and smashed it with his sheet-covered arm. The window shattered, leaving clear access to the sky above. Ronan grabbed Daisy around the middle and launched into the sky making a clean getaway. Juniper quickly shot through the window, darting around the now frantic Sausage-head as he tried to grab her. Drake grabbed Donny, wobbling with his weight as he tried to fly upwards. Donny’s weight made him slow and Monkey-bottom was only centimetres away. He flapped ferociously and made a little ground but Monkey-bottom leapt upwards, grabbing Donny’s leg and dragging them backwards. Drake saw Juniper dart beneath them. She let out a frightening roar and fire shot out, burning Monkey-bottom’s arms and causing him to fall to the ground in pain. Drake gathered up some momentum and flew with increasing speed up into the sky. They flew as quickly as they all could, staying close together, until they reached the edge of the desert and then Drake followed Ronan down to the ground. He landed with a thud and let Donny fall onto the ground. Donny clumsily landed on his bottom. Juniper landed lightly next to him.

    Standing at the edge of the desert, Donny put his arm around Drake.
    â€œYou kids are amazing. I never imagined you’d be able to save me on your own. I thought you’d go straight to your mum or my work … but you’ve done all this yourself. And if you hadn’t, who knows what would have happened to me?” Drake smiled at Donny, feeling a bit uncomfortable at all the praise, and then looked in turn at Ronan, Juniper and Daisy.
    â€œWhat now, guys? I guess we get ourselves back to Dragonland,” said Drake.
    â€œI’m not going back with you. There’s nothing back in Dragonland for me. I like it here,” said Ronan. He put his arm around Daisy, who blushed.
    â€œI’d like you to change your mind, Ronan. Really. I know it has been safe for you but it won’t be now. People, scary people, now know that there have been dragonfolk in the city. The Quintas have come in with us and hurt lots of people. People will be scared and when people are scared … Please come back with us … I really don’t want to have to force you,” said Donny.
    It was pretty funny hearing Donny Dramco threatening Ronan like this. Parents just always thought they had all the control. Donny was barely over five foot, tubby and unfit. Ronan stood six foot tall, like a warrior. His huge black wings opened, with just a little arched majestically over his head. His once shaved head had grown back into soft, dark curls and when he smiled at Donny, he looked like a powerful angel and not necessarily a good angel. Ronan definitely had a darker side.
    â€œMr Dramco, no disrespect but there’s nothing you can do. Bye guys. Hope you make it okay. Give the Quintas a smackin’ for me,” he said and hugged Juniper and Drake in