Max hadn't been sure from a distance what the thing moving in the rocks was but now that he was near it he could see the dark scales. He new he should run but something about the creature was drawing him forward. He reached a hand out and ran his fingers over the slick shining skin. A large reptilian face appeared in his peripheral vision.

"How nice of you to come," it said with a hiss.

"Are you a dragon?" Max asked because that was the only thing he could think to ask.

"Not a dragon exactly though he is a distant cousin," the creature said. His forked tongue ...

Max hadn't been sure from a distance what the thing moving in the rocks was but now that he was near it he could see the dark scales. He new he should run but something about the creature was drawing him forward. He reached a hand out and ran his fingers over the slick shining skin. A large reptilian face appeared in his peripheral vision.

"How nice of you to come," it said with a hiss.

"Are you a dragon?" Max asked because that was the only thing he could think to ask.

"Not a dragon exactly though he is a distant cousin," the creature said. His forked tongue licking his lips as he spoke.

"Do you live here?" Max asked indicating the cliffs around them.

"This has been my home for many centuries. Explorers like you see to it that I can live here without moving from this spot for many moons," the creature said.

Max wasn't sure if it was the pack on his back that had identified him as an explorer or if the creature just assumed that anyone who would climb such dangerous cliffs in the high altitude mountain range surrounding them must be an explorer. Max wouldn't have called himself an explorer in general but something had driven him to this spot.

"What do you want of me?" Max asked.

"I want to devour you," the creature said. It opened its mouth to expose four large fangs.......... Buy now for full story!!