The prince laughed so hard, his stomach started to hurt. Through the hole, he could see the still unaware dragon.
"Hey you flying menace!" he yelled, grinning.
The dragon stopped, listening carefully. "Where are you? Come out, or I will raise the whole kingdom to the ground!"
"Speaking boldly for someone without a home, don't you think?" the prince chuckled.
Confused, the dragon turned towards his castle. He screamed petrified, seeing the large construction. No longer still, it floated up into the clouds, closer and closer to the sun. He flew towards it, howling in despair. The dragon wailed in tears. "My home! My gold! All my beautiful shiny things!" was the last thing the prince could hear before the dragon became a tiny speck in the sky, completely disappearing afterwards.
Aidan' smiling face emerged as he went backdown the narrow passage onto the estate. Not a second later, it changed from a thrilled expression to that of complete bewilderment. The old lady was bringing a plate to a long table with a decorative cover where hundreds of meat dishes were served. There, on the neatly cut grass of the inner garden, princess Anna, Zora in her wolf form, and her three male companions sat. The two princesses peacefully feasted while the wolf siblings did their best to look as polite and possible. The second one even tried to slurp his soup without getting his snout wet. The leader had the most trouble growling and spewing meat pieces all over his fur. The cat was back on the porch, cleaning its fur.
The prince approached slowly, with his mouth open. "What happened here?" he uttered, completely baffled.
The bat queen looked at him serious. "You could have told me Viniria sent you," she said, calmly tending to others.
"Viniria?" he uttered, tilting his head.
"Yes," Zora said after chomping down on some meat. "It appears that our host and the forest guardian were friends long ago. Isn't that incredible?"
"Well I would phrase it differently. Viniria and her sisters were a very cheerful bunch. Many magical creatures would clap with glee whenever they announced their party horns." The old woman smiled as her eyes twinkled reminiscing. "Ah yes... Those were the good old days. We used to ride unicorns and bathe among the clouds. I was a typical wallflower you see, but they did not seem to mind. They would often let me tag along, as long as I made food preparations. It's not like anyone could say no to my mouth-watering dishes after all," she winked playfully.
"Hmm, they were right. This is delicious," Anna replied.
"Thank you, dear," Baticia grinned, flattered. "Please have another piece of chicken.
The prince approached the table, feeling his stomach growling. "If I only knew that before," Aidan uttered, gawking at the food.
"Well, you would have saved yourself a lot of trouble, that is all I am saying," the bat queen said calmly, offering him a spot at the table. Aidan happily obliged, eager to tell everyone what happened.
"So, I got rid of the dragon," he said with a smile, yanking a chicken leg.
Their gazes flung towards him. "You what?" the three women gasped.
"Yes," he stated in a merry mood. "Nothing to it really. Simply had to set his house afloat," he added, still giddy about it.
"I don't understand," Zora squinted.
The prince turned to her, excited. "I cut the rope that held the flying gigantic construction. It floated higher into the sky and disappeared along with the dragon," he paused dramatically. "Can you not see how absurd that is?" he said barely holding in his laugh.
The she-wolf observed his, baffled. "Have you gone mad?" she asked stunned as he tried to hold in a snicker.
"Charming fellow this prince of yours," the sarcastic Baticia whispered to Anna.
"Oh, he is not my husband," the princess replied and pointed to the she-wolf. "He's hers."
The bat queen turned towards her confused. "Aha. Well… In that case, are those their children?" she asked with more caution.
"Gosh, I certainly hope not," princess Anna murmured concerned.
After some time, the group set on their way back, with instructions and a full bag of delicious goodies.
"Goodbye," the short woman waved. "Make sure you send my regards to Viniria. And tell her she's welcome at any time. I would love to show her what I've done with the place."
"Alright," Zora said, reserved. "Farewell."
"Oh! And ignore that part with me turning on you. We can let that be out little secret, right?" she added embarrassed.
"Will do," Zora said nodding.
Once her guests left, the bat queen let out a deep sigh. She turned towards her house, where the small black cat was peacefully sleeping. With her sunny disposition quickly turning sour, the old woman rushed towards him and furiously kicked the little creature. The strike propelled him into the air as he let out a flabbergasted screech.
"You little scoundrel. Your stunt almost got me in trouble with the meanest fairy of them all!" he growled as the cat meowed in pain.
Only muffled sounds could reached the traveling companions.
Anna could not stop smiling. "I can't believe it. He is truly gone? The nightmare is over?" she said, thrilled.
"Yes... I saw him fly away with my own eyes," the prince boasted.
The three wolves walked behind them silent. Aidan waved at them, but they did not seem to respond to anyone except Zora.
"Where did these wolves come from? And why are they enamored with you?" he leaned and whispered into Zora's pointy ear. She groaned trying to touch the ridge of her nose with her paw.
"I met them near the boarder a while ago. The dragon chased them out of the forest and I..." she turned her head, reluctant to continue.
"And then what?" the prince asked.
"I sort of became their leader," she said shrugging, which was a wolf equivalent of blushing from embarrassment.
The prince nodded and then his smile grew. He covered it, but could not stop giggling.
"I knew you would make fun of me," Zora frowned.
Aidan tried to calm down, but could not stop his laughing fit. "You are full of surprises my dear," he said wiping a tear.
"Is this human bothering you?" the oldest barked.
"All is well. Stand down," she commanded. The prince grinned glancing at Anna. "My wife. A leader of a wolf pack. And in only a few days. Why, if I left her for longer, she might have had her own army," he joked almost proud.
The she-wolf growled annoyed. "I can eat you, you know," she added in a monotone voice.
The prince bowed deeply. "I apologize, oh great and noble leader. I am but your humble servant," he stated dramatically.
Zora shook her head, swiping him with her tail. Even as a scary wolf, she was not spared of his shenanigans.
Princess Anna emerged from the cave first. She looked up at the sky and jumped from joy seeing that only fluffy clouds and sunlight occupied the sky above.
"Finally! We are free of him," she cheered.
The others got out one by one and rejoiced. They were spared. However, that could not be said for the rest of the forest. The large pieces of the forest were still scorched into nothingness.
Princess Anna sighed, seeing her land devastated.
"Do not worry. It will grow back," Zora said.
"That was so much fun. I cannot wait to see where else you will take us," the oldest said.
"Pardon?" the she-wolf uttered stunned.
"Yes, what now, our leader?" the second said as all the wolves wagged their tails excited.
"Yeah, where will we go from here?" the youngest wolf leaped from joy.
Zora tittered hearing the question. She turned towards them and said. "Didn't you say that you want to make this cave your home?"
The three brothers looked at each other. "Yes, but you seem to be leaving, and we can't stay here without you."
"And why not?" she uttered.
"Because we want to go with you," the middle said.
"Yes," the youngest barked. "Where you go, we go."
Zora looked at her human companions who could only observe, scratching their heads at the incomprehensible barking and wailing. She sighed and pondered. "Listen, I have to go with the humans. It is where I belong."
"But why?" they howled.
The large she-wolf sat looking at all of them somber. "If I show you. Will you promise not to attack me?"
"Of course, our leader," the oldest declared. "Why would we ever attack you?"
Her long nose fell. Closing her eyes, she immediately transformed into a young woman in fine clothing. Her beautiful white coat was replaced with long summer-hay strains.
The wolves stepped back, yelping.
"No, this can't be!" the middle brother cried.