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CLIMBING UP TO THE top of a tower was a harrowing and dangerous experience in and of itself. But now we were being forced to contend with a terrible dragon that seemed bent on our destruction! The monstrous beast tucked it's wings close to its scaly body and swooped down towards us at an astonishing speed. I saw it's massive jaws open wide, exposing hundreds of razor sharp teeth! There was no time, no place, to run. We had only one option to save ourselves, and that was to jump.
“Gunter! Don't let go of that egg fragment!” I screamed.
“What? Wh-”
Gunter never finished his sentence. I leaped forward and grabbed him around the waist, and together the two of us plunged downward, towards the canal below us. As we plummeted towards the waters I closed my eyes and hoped that the water was deep enough that we wouldn't strike the bottom! Just behind us, the dragon rammed face first into the tower, completely demolishing it and sending a shower of stone chasing us towards the canal!
SPLASH!!!!!!
We struck the water with a bone-jarring force, that knocked Gunter free of my grasp. I found myself toppling head over heels in the water, disorienting me to the point I no longer knew which way was up! Somehow, after a few scary moments, my hands broke the surface of the canal and I sucked in a large gasp of air. After a few confused moments, I located Gunter. He had made his way to the edge of the canal and clambered into a boat there.
“Jon, get over here, quickly!” he cried, beckoning me frantically.
I did as I was bid and swam to the boat where Gunter pulled me in. As I climbed aboard another piercing scream was heard overhead.
“We have to get out of here now,” Gunter was saying. “That blasted dragon is still hunting us!”
True to his word, the dragon wheeled overhead, spotted us, and began to swoop in our direction!
“Take the wheel, Jon, get us out of here!”
I leaped to the controls of the boat and pushed forward hard on the throttle! The little craft leaped forward and we sped down the canal!
“Where are we going?” I shouted at Gunter, who was anxiously watching the skies.
“Get us back to the house where we came in!” he replied.
I did my best to navigate our vessel, but the canals of the city were a virtual labyrinth and the fact that there was an angry dragon seeking us only added to the chaos. I could hear his ferocious cries overhead, but I dared not look back. I kept my eyes on the water in front of me. Finally, after several frantic moments of searching, I spotted the house where our portal was located.
“It's just up ahead,” Gunter cried. “Hit the gas, Jon!”
I did as ordered and we shot towards the house. I finally dared to look over my shoulder and was shocked to see the dragon just overhead! Once more, the creature was diving towards us, almost as if he wanted to cut off our escape! Gunter and I leaped from the boat, crashed through the door of the house, and dove into the basement, barely avoiding the attack of the dragon! From the sound of the blow, the beast had almost certainly destroyed the home above us. But we were safe again and ready to head back into the portal!