"Why didn't we just ride out at dawn?"

Devin ignored Conor, tying his horse's reins to a thick branch. It snuffed in his face.

"Devin."

"To be fair, you agreed to this," Devin responded grumpily. He was sleepy. So sleepy. He craved a warm bed. Or a hot bath.

Conor appeared behind him, and Devin nearly shrieked when he turned around. The other boy merely smiled. "To be fair, you were the one who suggested it."

Devin scoffed, shoving past him. Dawn was breaking, and he just wanted to rest. They could continue at noon, but for now, he was going to curl up on the ground and snooze.

"I take it I have first watch," Conor murmured from behind him.

Oh, Devin thought, forgot about that. "Have fun!" he called over his shoulder. He then proceeded to lie down by the bottom of a tree in a heap that barely looked like Devin Trunswick.

Conor awoke him about an hour or two later, and they switched places. Devin found keeping watch extremely boring, and half the time, he wasn't even really paying attention. He knew it was probably a bad thing. If anything snuck up on them, he wouldn't notice it until it was too late. However, that didn't stop him from zoning out every ten minutes.

Devin found it hard to pay attention to anything, really. His mind would wander to "what's for dinner tonight?" or "what was I supposed to do today?" It was caused by his impatience, and he couldn't seem to snap out of it.

A twig snapped.

Devin hurriedly looked up, scanning the woods around them with wide eyes. It suddenly occurred to him that he didn't have a proper weapon to fight a wild animal with. He longed for a sword, but the itty bitty dagger he'd tucked away at his belt would have to do.

His eyes met two amber ones. The animal's eyes were dark and hungry. Devin slowly grabbed his dagger, then leaned over to tap Conor, never diverting his gaze from the very hungry and utterly terrifying creature staring at them.

Conor blinked up at him lazily. "What is it?" he asked, beginning to sit up.

"Something's-"

The wolf lunged at them, teeth bared and threatening. With a yelp, both boys jumped away, quickly getting to their feet. Devin had never fought a wolf. He'd never so much as fought an animal, really. Humans were predictable and slow, but this wolf was going for the kill. When he glanced up, he noticed Conor holding the axe he'd opted for in a shaking hand. He thought he saw more fear in his eyes than panic. The horses nearby whinnied anxiously, hooves thumping against the ground.

The wolf glanced between them. Devin's panic began to set in more and more. Him and Conor should've leapt in the same direction. They'd be more powerful fighting together. If the wolf pounced at one of them, the other wouldn't have much of a chance at stopping it.

To his horror, it stalked towards him, growling. He had never fought a wolf. Devin shakily held up the pitiful dagger. It was useless, really. If he had managed to find a good sword, then maybe he'd feel more confident here. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

The wolf was suddenly no longer on the ground, and instead knocking him over. He had expected it to be heavy, but not this heavy. That was the least of his concerns, though. Suddenly jaws were snapping at his face, at his neck. Claws were digging into his skin. Devin yelled at one point, slashing at the wild animal. It whimpered as the blade met its snout, blood dampening the fur around the cut.

Going to die, going to die.

Suddenly, the weight was off of him, and the wolf was snarling a challenge at a new opponent. Devin had practically forgotten about Conor. Whoops.

Conor seemed to be better at this than him. He swung the axe at the wolf as it snapped at him, over and over again, until the wolf was farther away from them, and closer to the trees. Finally, it gave one last snarl and turned tail, unable to catch its prey.

They were quiet for a moment, and their horses were silent once more as well.

"You're experienced in that department," Devin noted awkwardly. He was still on the ground, blinking at the other boy. No place for a prince.

"You're not," Conor responded, turning around. There was a grin on his face, both of relief and amusement.

Devin bristled. "I'm not good at everything, you know," he argued, getting to his feet. He turned his back to him, walking over to the still tied up horses. He gave them each pats on the neck to calm their nerves.

"I don't expect you to be good at everything," Conor responded after a moment. "Good job on not dying."

Devin only nodded in response. He didn't know what to say to that.

"We should probably get going, too," Conor added. "That wolf may have friends."

Devin nodded again. "Good idea," he muttered to himself. He didn't feel very princely.

The two silently grabbed their bags and untied their horses, mounting soon after. Their ride was just as quiet, until Devin asked, "Where did you learn how to deal with wolves?"

"I grew up herding sheep, Devin."

"Oh." For some reason, it hadn't clicked that Conor had probably had to fend wolves off to protect his sheep. That explained the fear he'd exhibited. He was so used to wolves being seen as killers.

Ironic. The very creature his city was celebrating right now was the cousin to the one that had just attempted to kill them.

"I don't get it," Conor said suddenly, cutting through Devin's thoughts, "wolves don't usually attack humans unless they have to. And, why would they go after us if there were defenseless horses right there?"

He made a fair point. It tickled Devin's brain a little. Maybe a lot. He shifted in his saddle uncomfortably. "Sometimes dragons would release a certain amount of energy based on their level of power. It affects both wildlife and plant growth. People have found plains entirely dead without there ever being word of a fire."

"You're a nerd."

"Watch your mouth."

Conor laughed at his pettiness, then cleared his throat. "So, are you trying to suggest that our dragon is affecting that wolf?"

Devin shrugged. "It's a possibility," was all he said.

"Wouldn't the dragon need to be nearby to do that?" Conor had a faraway look in his eyes, the kind he got when he was thinking a little too hard about something.

Devin pondered for a moment. "As far we know," he said slowly, "this is the only dragon alive. Possibly in the entire world. They were supposedly hunted to extinction thousands of years ago. Over time, it's possible that it's been gaining power."

Conor went rigid. "So, this thing is the most powerful thing in the world at the moment."

"Maybe."

"And two teenagers are confronting it."

That did sound pretty bad. "You make it sound so bland," Devin snorted. "How about: the Prince of Trunswick and Eura's bravest adventurer challenge last living dragon!"

Conor raised a brow. "You don't want to kill it though," he said simply.

Devin narrowed his eyes. "I'd do anything to protect my city," he insisted. "That is part of my duty, isn't it?"

"But the little boy in you wants that dragon to live freely, right?"

Devin didn't respond, just stared ahead. Maybe he did want the dragon to live. But was that cruel? None of its kind was alive, and if it came out of its hidey hole, then it would be hunted. And anyways, if it was going to burn down Eura's most prosperous city, then it would be best to kill it so it couldn't harm anyone.

"We'll figure it out once we get there."