“Go Jimmy,” Henry pleaded, “I can handle it from here!”
“I can’t leave you in this situation!” Jimmy shouted.
“Please!” Henry replied impatiently, “This is not the time to argue! Get back to camp and get help!”
It was bad enough the lion was threatening to attack but the dragon was still moving and Jimmy knew Henry would be lost if he didn’t get help immediately.
Jimmy heard the roar of the lion as ran out of the cave. He hesitated but forced himself to keep going to get help for his friend. The path was muddy from the steady rain but Jimmy pushed on, slipping and grabbing at the foliage. The drizzle blinded him but he put his head down and aimed for the clearing he knew existed up ahead.
Finally Jimmy saw the camp counselors. He ran to them gasping, “Hurry! Henry needs our help!”
“Whoa, fella, take a breath, where is Henry?” asked Jon
“You’ve got to come quick before it is too late!” screamed Jimmy. He grabbed Jon’s shirt and pulled him in the direction of the cave.
“Jimmy, we need more information before we go. What kind of trouble is Henry in?
“Just hurry!” cried Jimmy.
Without further discussion Jon hollered out, “Debi call the police! Ken, come with me!” Jon reached for an ax and Ken grabbed the first aid kit. “Show us where he is.”
Jimmy’s stomach felt like he had been kicked. He was gasping for breath by the time they reached the opening in the cave. Who could predict the explorations this morning could lead to this?
Now everything was strangely quiet. The rain had stopped and the last light was quickly fading. Jimmy wanted to see Henry but was afraid what he would find.
“Henry,” he called out breathlessly.
Henry came out of the cave with the body of the large green dragon draped over his shoulder, his right hand gently resting on the head of the lion, and the other hand holding the wand.
“I’m okay,” he said.
“What’s going on here?” Jon shouted as he lifted the ax.
Henry put down the dragon and said, “When Jimmy left I thought the lion was going to attack me. I looked for something to defend myself when the lion roared. Instead of coming for me he flew across the cave and ripped into the dragons’ flesh. The dragon landed in a heap on the floor."
"So you're okay?" Jon asked.
"That dragon was a balloon… just a large balloon!” Henry laughed.
“Wow, what about the lion?”
“I was startled when the dragon deflated and just sat on the ground staring at it, then the Lion started purring,” Henry said. “Do you believe that? He was purring. I reached over he licked my hand. He’s been friendly ever since.”
“… and the magic wand?” asked Jimmy.
Henry laughed, “It’s a prop. It appeared to be magical because the dragon seemed to obey my command. Remember how I pointed the wand at the dragon and it settled back to the ground? It was losing its buoyancy. There was no magic at all.”
“No way. Everything looked real,” Jimmy said shaking his head.
“Well, boys you’ve had quite an adventure for one day but we have to get back to camp before nightfall,” Ken reminded them.
Jon agreed, “Henry, can you move away from your friend?”
“Yes, but I’m bringing the dragon as a souvenir for Jimmy and me,” Henry replied.
“Yeah, like I want a souvenir. I would like forget this day ever happened,” mumbled Jimmy as they headed down the path.
Henry followed behind the others and took one last looked at the lion sitting at the cave’s entrance. Then he carefully positioned the punctured dragon over his shoulder and let out a deep sigh struggling to carry his trophy back to camp.
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