“Are you still thinking, it’s a good idea, milady?” she-werewolf asked, wriggling nervously “Last time we came here…” she gasped.

“Shut your cowardly mouth!” the vampiress replied “I really need these books, and I’ll get them by all means! And don’t you dare whining about your roasted backside again! I don’t care, how many time you’ll got your stupid ass send on fire again, if that’ll move me closer to success!”

She-werewolf growled in anger, but said nothing. She was almost sure that this new raiding of the dragon’s lair won’t end well for them. Especially for her. Last time she was the one who got her poor bottom not just mercilessly whipped by dragon’s tale, but the dragon also roasted it with his flame. It took more than a week before she could just sit down again after that. And now she and her vampire companion returned into the dragon’s lair to try their luck again.

The lair was looking empty and the treasures were just right where they were the last time two adventurers walked in. Vampiress smiled.

"Excellent! Just excellent! Easy as pie! Now let’s take the books, and skedaddle!”

No sooner said than done. Girls grabbed the magic books quickly, but before they even turned around, they heard a familiar growing voice and heavy steps.

“Well, well, well! What do we have here?” the dragon asked, smiling “You two returned for another thrashing, didn’t you?” he exhaled some smoke right in the scared girls faces, making them cough. “Or do you want me to burn you both right here and now? Explain yourselves! Quickly!”

“Well, your mightiness, maybe we can make arrangements?” the vampiress asked carefully “Maybe these books aren’t very important for you? Maybe I can pay you for them, or we can discuss some other exchange?”

The dragon laughed.

“Stupid creature! Just look around!” he said “Don’t you see? I already have all I want! And even more! You can’t suggest anything to me, I couldn’t get by myself!” his eyes jumped from vampiress to her werewolf companion and back “Again - what have we here? A haughty and arrogant undead creature, who behaves herself, just like she already rules the world. And some time ago a proud, but now almost broken beast, who is tamed well enough to take all the injustice from her mistress, like a lamb. Well, I guess, we can make a deal!”

Story inspired by Kalidwen's game Elven Kingdom (which you may found here - https://kalidwen.itch.io/elven-kingdom)