Hungry...

​“Hungry!”

Baroness Dragonia turned to look at Acorn with an irritated glance, “We are not calling it Hungry.”

“What are you talking about?  Why would you call it Hungry?” he replied.  Then they both turned to the dragon.  This time together they heard in their minds the dragon’s demand.  “HUNGRY!"

“So what do you feed a baby dragon,” asked Acorn.  Dragonia responded while shrugging her shoulders, “I don’t know.  I told you before this is my first time too.”

Behind them they heard a quiet but firm voice.  “I know.”

Startled, Acorn and Dragonia with the baby dragon turned around to see Granny Flare standing at the entrance to the cave.  “Long has it been since I have seen a baby dragon, but not so long as I have forgotten them.  Hello little one.  I am Granny Flare and you are?”

“Yet to be named,” Granny heard in her mind.
 
“It is not polite to mind talk in a group of listeners.  You should speak instead,” she replied looking at the baby.  She then turned to Acorn.  “I should have known you would be somehow involved Acorn.  When there is a little chaos brewing you always seem to be in the middle of it.  I predict that you have just now become part of the biggest event this area has seen in many a year.”  Before Acorn could respond, Granny turned to Dragonia and continued, “So, this is the big thing you wanted me to see.  I felt the power building when I was using the tunnel to the Baron’s mansion but never expected it to be this.  What will you do now Baroness?”

---

​We will raise it.  It must be in secret to start with though so we do not repeat the past,” she replied.  “Besides, it needs us right now as much as we need it.”

Granny Flare looking at Dragonia nodded her head and said, “Then I will help.  Being a dragon, it needs something other than milk.  I am writing you a market list of the necessary items, but for now, we need to feed it.”

“About time!” they all heard in their minds.

​“What did I tell you?” Granny Flare glared at the baby.
​
“Hungry” replied the dragon out loud this time.  Acorn jumped back a little startled.  It was one thing to hear a voice in one’s head, but quite a different thing to see a dragon speak.

“Acorn, you go and find some coal oil or kerosene and the biggest bottle you can find.  Baroness, we will need something tough, like leather for the baby to suck on,” commanded Granny Flare.

Acorn started to argue but the look that Granny gave him helped him to change his mind and off he went.  “Remember, no one must know about the baby yet!” he heard her yell as he was leaving.

Looking at the Baroness, Granny Flare, being the house brownie that she is, continued “Now, what are we going to do about cleaning up this mess?”

“More importantly, what are we going to do so that the Village Council doesn’t find out about the baby?” replied Dragonia.