A Self-Guided Dragon Safari

By Morgan J. Manns

Carl rested his head against the passenger window of the family-sized hovercraft, wishing he was anywhere but the middle of the Pacific Ocean, traversing the Ring of Fire. Family road trips were the worst.

He glanced at his younger sister. Stella sat beside him, happily braiding her hair. That would be one way to pass the time—he could bicker with his little sister.

Carl lifted his head from the curved window and smirked. “I don’t know why you’re so excited about this trip, Stella. ‘Dragons are just oversized lizards with wings.’” It was a direct quote from the biology essay he’d written last month.

With a heavy sigh, Stella straightened in her seat. “Just give dragons a chance, Carl. Seeing a real one will be amazing.” She grinned and tucked another lock into place. “Plus, they’re almost as rare as one of your smiles.”

“Ha. Ha.” He rolled his eyes. “Well, if we get too close, they’ll tear us to pieces.” He pointed toward his window, his voice rising. “And here we are flying into their home, inviting them to scorch us. We even had to sign death waivers!”

From the driver’s seat, their father sighed. “Would you two knock it off? We’re almost there.”

Carl sank back into his seat, crossing his arms tightly across his chest.

“Sorry, Daddy,” Stella apologized in her sweetest voice. “I just think Carl should be thankful you’re taking us to see real dragons!”

His mother nodded, turning in her seat to face him. “Stella’s right, Carl. It’s not every day you get to see dragons. They don’t venture outside the Ring of Fire. This is a once-in-a-lifetime trip!”

Biting back his own witty retort, Carl slumped his forehead back against the window and studied the hovercraft’s exterior. He couldn’t fathom why his father didn’t need a special driver’s license to operate this silver beast. Sunlight glinted off its metallic, fireproof siding as they soared across the ocean at breakneck speeds. Meanwhile, glistening water sprayed out from their oversized thrusters, dissipating behind them. Carl shifted uncomfortably, trying not to think of what would happen if the vehicle crashed way out here in the middle of nowhere.

He sighed. What did he do to deserve a vacation in one of the most dangerous places on the planet? Set against tectonic rifts, fire-breathing drakes, volcanic tremors, and miles of unending ocean, his boring, North American small town looked pretty good right about now. No matter what the travel agent said, the Ring of Fire was not family-friendly.

Carl peered at the archaic GPS on the dash. In a matter of minutes, they would slow their engines and turn north, following a string of volcanic islands in search of elusive dragons. His mother had even bought a holographic camera for the occasion. He—

“I think I see an island!” Stella bounced in her seat. “Is that where we’re supposed to start our Dragon Safari, Daddy?”

Carl followed Stella’s gaze. Indeed, a small mountainous island loomed before them.

Smoke billowed from the distinctive cone of a volcano reaching toward the sky.

“I—I don’t see that island marked anywhere on the GPS.” Their dad tapped the screen on the dashboard. “It’s not supposed to be here.”

Carl swallowed. Great. Now one of his next-worst fears was coming to light. They were lost. In the Pacific Ocean. In a family-sized tin can. He dropped his head into his hands.

His father put on his best “this is fine, we’re fine” voice. “Well, I suppose this means we’re going off-roading, family!”

“Whoo-hoo!” Stella pumped her fist in the air.

Carl watched his mother shift uneasily in her seat. “Are you sure, Henry?” She picked nervously at her perfectly manicured nails. “Perhaps we should call the travel agent.”

Carl closed his eyes, wordlessly thanking his mother for saying the first sane thing he’d heard all day.

Of course, the moment didn’t last.

“No, no, Elizabeth! This will be fun. We only live once.” His father eagerly switched the craft to manual mode.

“I didn’t think my life would be this short,” Carl muttered under his breath.

His father pushed the thruster forward, making the engines roar. The hovercraft careened toward the island, soaring over another large wave. “Look there, everyone!” he called out. “Our first dragon sighting!”

Carl bit his lip and looked through the windshield. The silhouette of a massive dragon emerged from the clouds, circling the volcano. It drifted playfully in and out of the billowing smoke, leaving wispy gray trails behind it.

“Yippie!” Stella squealed with delight.

As if the dragon had heard his sister’s joy, it suddenly changed course and flew directly for their hovercraft.

Carl’s eyes widened, and he grasped the back of his father’s seat. “Uh, Dad, are you sure this thing is fireproof?”

His father waved a hand. “Yes, of course! Stop worrying, Carl.”

Easier said than done, Dad.

The dragon closed the distance, its leathery wings easily carrying its gargantuan, obsidian-scaled body through the bright blue sky. It glided downward until it was just above the ocean, effectively blocking the hovercraft’s path.

“Hold tight, everyone!” his father shouted. “I never thought I’d get to play a game of Chicken with a dragon!”

Carl held his breath, bracing himself for certain death.

Just as the hovercraft was about to collide with the beast, the dragon pulled up and soared past them. A flurry of clicks from his mother’s camera followed until the dragon was out of view.

“That was amazing!” Stella declared.

Carl’s father let out a relieved laugh. “Yes, it certainly was!”

Carl’s heartbeat gradually slowed—until something eclipsed his window, shrouding them in darkness. Carefully, he turned his head. A large yellow-slitted eye stared back at him.

Stella squealed. “Quick, Mom, take a picture! It’s an oversized lizard with wings!”

Carl swallowed. If they survived this, he would never again step foot off the continent, family adventure or not. He was much more comfortable with dragons staying inside his textbooks.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Morgan Manns resides beneath the endless skies of the Canadian prairies. Living in a quirky, five-level split home overflowing with books and nestled on a twenty-acre plot of land, she’s surrounded by writing inspiration at every turn. With a deep passion for the outdoors, she embarks on explorations of the world’s beauty alongside her husband and two young children. Specializing in speculative fiction and mysterious themes, Morgan weaves captivating tales during the tranquil hours after her household settles into slumber.

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