3rd of Sundanse,

It is my thirtieth day away from the village. One entire month has passed since I’ve seen another living human.

I’m close now; I can feel it. I’m going to find a dragon, a culmination of years of research, both mine and Miri’s. Although it has been a long and lonely journey, her spirit is still by my side.

There were footprints on the path. Four of them are spread at an even distance apart. It landed here, and if the blood is anything to go by, it fed. After all this time and effort, I’m finally onto a dragon.

***

5th of Sundanse,

I’m closer now. An entire acre of forest burned to the ground. The ash was cold, but I think this was done recently.

Miri believed some dragons nested in the open causing these scorched areas. If she was right, the dragon chose not to settle here.

I never accepted her theory. Most draconic evidence comes from destruction by fire, yet there has never any reports or even rumors of a nest left behind.

It still leads me to the question: why? Dragons may be destructive by nature, but they are also extraordinarily intelligent. Burning away a patch of their hunting ground without reason is an unlikely behavior.

***

8th of Sundanse,

It’s Miri’s birthday today. She would be 67 summers old. It’s a reminder of my own impending aging.

Today, I remind myself of the reasons I do this. Even though our son has disowned me, and the village has made me a laughingstock, I know she’d want me to continue on. Our life’s work won’t go to waste.

We will get results. I will be the first to confirm the existence of dragons. I will prove them all wrong.

***

14th of Sundanse,

I found another patch of burned forest today. It wasn’t far from the last, if my charting is correct.

The hunting is scarce, even for the dragon. I haven’t seen even a rabbit or a squirrel in days. My rations are dangerously low.

It won’t matter. I’ll find it soon, and then I can return to the village victorious.

***

???

I’ve lost track of the days now. I believe it’s been at least a week since my last entry, but I’m not entirely sure.

Resorting to tree sap, acorns, and the handful of berries I’ve been able to scavenge. Despite this, I think I’ve seen someone off in the trees. They have evaded me but I’ll find them.

There has been no recent evidence.

***

Around 2 months since my departure.

I’ve found it. This was the last clue I needed. The patch of burned forest is it.

They form a triangle when graphed on my map. The scorching’s aren’t failed attempts at making a nest; they’re warding to keep other creatures away. We’ve found it, Miri.

***

I’ve had no luck finding the person in the forest, but they’ve started whispering to me. I can never quite make out what they’re saying, but they remind me a lot of Miri.

***

An Unknown Estimate of Date,

I’ve found the Dragon’s lair, filled with human treasure–gold coins, small jewelry. It’s been theorized of course, that dragons love valuables, but to see it is something else. The implications of such a high level of intelligence is astounding.

Do they have a language? Culture? What more is there to discover?

***

At first, I thought it was a rock, not expecting it to blend so well into the walls-a brilliant evolutionary adaptation.

The Egg.

If I bring it back to the village, I will finally have everything I’ve ever wanted. Everything we’ve ever wanted.

***

The dragon’s back. It’s searching for its young. But I’ve outsmarted it by hiding in a tiny offshoot of rock too narrow for the beast. Maybe it isn’t as intelligent as I thought.

The egg is with me. I wish I could bring the whole dragon back, but I can’t. This one will suffice.

I could raise it as my own.

***

It’s been three days. I haven’t escaped yet, but I’ve learned for sure that the Dragon can’t reach us. It spent the better part of an hour clawing desperately at the rock.

I would have thought it would have burned me out by now, but it’s terrified of hurting the egg. It’s truly a magnificent creature. I wish I could have studied it.

The egg will eventually grow into a dragon of its own, but at my age, I likely won’t live to study it in its entirety.

***

It’s been five days now, hidden in this cave. I ran out of rations yesterday.

I can’t go any deeper into the cave, but I can hear a voice calling out to me. In the forest, I questioned myself, but now I know it’s Miri.

She’s telling me I have to bring back evidence somehow. That’s the only thing worth living here for.

But I’m so hungry. I’m deeply tired. I’m not sure I can fulfill her request.

***

The damned thing won’t go. It’s guarding me.

I would have thought I’d outlast it for sure. How could a creature so large live for so long without a meal? It must be as hungry as me.

I have to outlast it to gather evidence. Miri’s voice begs me not to. It tells me to go face it. But I don’t have the strength to last much longer.

The need for food is stronger.

***

Miri’s voice snarls at me from the depths of my mind. I’m sorry, Miri. I hope you understand.

With this egg, I can fight it. If I can’t bring back a live specimen, I’ll bring back a dead one. I’ll slay the mother dragon.

I hope the egg will give me enough strength.

Editor: Lucy Cafiero