1. © 2013 Matthew Albren

2. MaFhew#Albren
Part#three
Up#and#Over#Down#Under
# #“Are#we#going#to#get#going#soon?”#Asked#Gadzooks.#Both#dragons#had#awakened#and#were#
prepared#for#a#long#day#of#searching.#“Of#course.#The#sooner#the#beFer.”#Answered#Daisy.#Gadzooks#
rubbed#his#eyes,#which#were#sore.#Daisy#fluFered#her#wings,#which#were#sIcky#from#the#dried#moss.#
They#both#looked#at#each#other,#then#they#both#stood#up.#“Why#don’t#we#start#on#foot,#my#wings#need#a#
liFle#longer#rest.”#Daisy#told#Gadzooks,#who#nodded#in#agreement.## # # #
# “We#are#going#to#a#far#off#place#according#to#this#map.”#Daisy#announced.#“I#don’t#care#how#long,#
this#will#be#an#amazing#and#dangerous#adventure,#and#I#am#now#devoted#to#helping#you#rescue#your#
father.”#Gadzooks#told#Daisy.#“We#can’t#take#down#the#conkle#alone,#so#we#will#have#to#free#my#father#
before#any#of#that.”#Daisy#told#her#green#dragon#companion.#Gadzooks#agreed,#then#he#smiled,#looking#
forward#to#saving#the#lord.#
# They#walked#for#miles#on#the#mountain.#Daisy#was#sIll#not#capable#of#flying,#so#they#just#kept#
walking.#At#this#point#though,#Gadzooks#was#trudging.#His#back#ached#and#his#legs#were#jelly.#They#
stopped#for#a#moment.#Then#there#was#a#deep#rumbling#that#silenced#both#dragons#completely.#
Gadzooks#got#that#awful#feeling,#when#your#up#late#at#night#and#you’re#the#only#one#in#your#house#
awake#and#you#hear#a#slight#crack.#It’s#really#nothing,#but#you#get#horrified.#Only#in#this#situaIon,#it#was#
something...#Gadzooks’s#heart#began#to#beat#rapidly.#They#looked#all#around#them,#nothing#in#sight.#
Daisy#tried#to#stay#calm.#Then#there#was#a#loud#hiss#from#above#them.#Each#dragon#froze,#both#their#eyes#
turning#green.
# Eventually,#they#both#worked#up#the#nerve#to#make#their#eyes#violet#again.#Gadzooks#slowly#
turned#around.#He#squinted#from#the#light#of#the#sun,#and#saw#a#large#figure#standing#above#them.#It#had#
white#fur#with#black#marks#and#dirt#all#over#it.#The#creature#had#a#deep#scowl#on#its#face,#and#its#long#
claws#were#very#noIceable.#It#made#no#sound,#but#screamed#the#word#scary#right#at#them.#“Let’s#run.”#
Gadzooks#whispered.#Daisy#pointed#towards#the#boFom#of#the#mountain,#it#was#a#long#run,#but#their#
only#hope.#Both#dragons#began#to#sprint#at#top#speed.#The#creature#turned#its#big#head.#It#leaped#from#
its#perch#and#began#to#chase#the#dragons.
# “Hold#on#a#second.”#A#panIng#Gadzooks#screamed,#“Why#is#that#thing#chasing#us#in#the#first#
place!?”#“Who#cares,#just#keep#running!”#Daisy#shouted.
# They#arrived#at#a#cliff’s#edge.#“What#now?”#Gadzooks#asked,#more#worried#than#ever.#“I#guess#
we#could#try#flying.”#Daisy#told#Gadzooks.#So,#both#dragons#began#to#flap#their#wings.#Gadzooks#liZed#off#
the#ground,#but#Daisy’s#wings#wouldn’t#budge.#She#gulped.#“Give#me#your#hand!”#Gadzooks#shouted.#He#
grasped#it#and#began#to#fly#up#while#holding#her.#It#was#a#heavy#load#for#Gadzooks.#Himself#and#Daisy#
was#just#too#much.#Then#something#awful#happened.#The#creature#grabbed#them#from#the#air.#It#hissed#
and#terrible#purple#goo#engulfed#the#captured#dragons.#Daisy#looked#ready#to#puke.#
# #They#both#froze#with#fear.#“What#even#is#this#thing?”#Gadzooks#managed#to#say.#Daisy#didn’t#
answer.#Then#it#pulled#the#dragons#apart#from#one#another.#It#put#Gadzooks#in#one#paw,#and#Daisy#in#the#
other.#Then#the#unimaginable#happened.#The#creature#roared#loudly.#Then,#for#no#reason#except#
possibly#anger,#it#threw#Gadzooks#over#the#cliff’s#edge.#He#tumbled#towards#the#ground#at#great#speed.#
Daisy#covered#her#mouth#in#horror.#Then#a#loud#banging#sound#uFered#throughout#the#big#mountain.#
Gadzooks#hadn’t#even#had#a#moment#to#spread#his#wings...#
( Daisy#peered#down#from#the#creature’s#big#paw.#She#couldn’t#see#anything#from#that#high#up.##
Her#eyes#scanned#every#possible#landing#spot#in#sight.#The#creature#scowled.#Daisy#looked#at#its#repulsive#
lips,#which#were#drooling#purple#saliva#everywhere.#Then#Daisy#figured#it#out!#Unlike#dragons,#most#
© 2013 Matthew Albren

3. animals#are#territorial.#But#that#meant...#It#wasn’t#too#thrilled#about#Daisy#being#there#anymore#than#
Gadzooks.#The#creature#looked#over#the#edge.#It#held#Daisy#firmly,#but#dangled#her#over#the#edge.#
Terrified,#Daisy#shut#her#eyes.#The#creature#gave#her#a#long,#dark,#deep#stare.#Then,#the#moment#ended,#
and#it#swung#its#arm#up#and#over,#releasing#its#grip#on#Daisy,#who#began#to#fall#to#her#tragic#doom...
© 2013 Matthew Albren

4. MaFhew#Albren
Part#four
MeeIng#Others:#Friend#or#Foe?
# It#was#a#shocking#moment.#Daisy#didn’t#think#she#would#make#it#out#of#this.#She#reached#out,#
trying#to#grab#anything.#Nothing#helped#her,#and#she#collided#with#the#ground.#When#the#smoke#cleared,#
Daisy#had#passed#out#completely.
# AZer#a#long#amount#of#Ime,#Daisy#woke#up.#She#looked#around#and#wondered#where#she#was.#
She#was#no#longer#outside.#She#was#certain#that#she#was#indoors.#She#tried#to#stand#up,#then#realized#her#
hands#were#Ied#together#with#rope.#“Hello!#Hello?”#She#yelled.#Only#silence#answered#her.#Then#from#
behind#a#corner,#unexpectedly,##Gadzooks#appeared.# # # #
# He#was#cracked#and#shaFered#in#many#places.#His#mouth#was#cracked.#“Daisy,#you#survived#
too!”#He#said#weakly.#Daisy#looked#at#him#with#suspicion.#Then#Gadzooks#revealed#himself#completely.#A#
dragon,#black#all#over,#was#holding#Gadzooks’s#Ied#hands#together.#He#was#quite#odd.#His#voice#was#very#
interesIng.#He#wore#a#black#mask#over#his#mouth.#His#eyes#were#a#very#dark#and#evil#violet#hue.#
“Thought#ya#were#out#a#here#safe,#huh?#Well,#ya#thought#wrong,#goyly!”#The#dragon#said#rudely.
# Daisy#was#overwhelmed.#“Who#are#you?”#She#asked#the#creepy#dragon.#“My#name#ain’t#
impoitant!”#He#yelled#at#Daisy.#“But,#I#did,#as#weid#as#it#is,#saved#both#ya#pointless#lives.#So#you#must#be#
Inking,#how#would#ya#ever#repay#me?#Well,#I#have#a#few#ideas#in#mind!”#The#black#dragon#yelled,#as#spit#
flew#from#his#mouth.#Daisy#and#Gadzooks#locked#eyes,#then#Daisy’s#eyes#met#the#black#dragon’s.#
Gadzooks#looked#at#her.#They#both#said#nothing,#but#knew#this#wasn’t#good.
# The#black#dragon#threw#Gadzooks#up#against#a#wall.#He#strolled#over#to#Daisy,#who#was#secretly#
working#hard#to#break#the#rope#holding#her#hands#together.#“Yer#green#friend#ain’t#one#to#reveal#
infoimaIon.”#The#black#dragon#sneered.#“So,#I#wonder#if#ya#arrrrrr.”#
# Daisy#gulped.#Her#worried#expression#talked#with#Gadzooks.#“Why#are#ya#lookin’#for#my#pet?”#
The#black#dragon#asked#calmly.#Daisy#looked#away.#“Answa#me!”#The#dragon#yelled.#Daisy#looked#up#at#
him#with#her#preFy#eyes.#“I#don’t#know#anything#about#your#pet.”#She#muFered.#“Oh,#I#am#quite#sowwy.#
Let#me#we@phwase#that!#Why#arrrrr#you#lookin’#for#my#pet,#cownkle?”#The#black#dragon#laughed,#spicng#
in#Daisy’s#face.#The#dragon’s#breath#smelled#of#onions.#He#got#very#close#to#Daisy.#Then#he#clutched#her#
neck,#holding#her#up#against#the#wall.#
# “Daisy!”#Gadzooks#screamed.#“Tell#me#what#ya#aZer,#or#ya#both#pewish#fwom#the#eawth!”#The#
black#dragon#yelled.#Then#he#pulled#Gadzooks’s#blade#from#a#hidden#scabbard.#Daisy#did#her#best#to#
breath.#Then,#she#did#it,#she#snapped#the#rope.#But#the#black#dragon#didn’t#noIce.#
# Gadzooks#looked#at#Daisy#with#worry#in#his#eyes.#The#dragon#inched#the#blade#nearer#to#Daisy,#
who#pretended#to#screech#in#horror.#Then#Daisy#used#her#right#hand#to#chop#the#dragon#in#the#stomach.#
The#dragon#stumbled#backwards,#dropping#Gadzooks’s#weapon.#Daisy#threw#a#kick#at#the#dragon’s#
snout,#sending#him#onto#his#back.#The#dragon#looked#dazed.#Daisy#smirked#at#him.#Then#used#the#rope#
that#Ied#her,#to#Ie#him#up,#and#gag#him#all#at#once.
# Daisy#found#her#secret#weapon,#which#she#used#to#free#Gadzooks.#She#wiped#the#blood#off#his#
boFom#lip.#“You#alright?”#She#asked#him.#“I’ll#be#fine.”#Gadzooks#mumbled,#picking#up#his#blade.#Daisy#
gave#a#light#kick#to#the#black#dragons’s#ribs.#Then#she#walked#out#of#the#cave,#and#found#herself#on#the#
ground.#Gadzooks#walked#out#behind#her,#they#were#on#the#boFom#of#the#mountain.#Gadzooks#smiled#
at#Daisy,#who#smiled#back.#“We#make#a#preFy#good#team.”#She#laughed.#“Well,#really#you#did#it#alone.”#
Gadzooks#mumbled#back.#Daisy#tapped#his#arm,#and#walked#forward.#Gadzooks#ran#aZer#her.#They#ran#
together,#unIl#they#reached#their#desInaIon:#The#U@kells#of#Distance.
© 2013 Matthew Albren

5. ! The dragons looked around. The U-kells of Distance was a small place. Many shrines covered
the ground. Gadzooks was confused. “What do we do here?” He asked Daisy, who was looking at the
map. “I’m not sure.” Daisy told him. The dragons looked around for a clue... Nothing.
! Both dragons were not sure what to do. They began to walk around looking for a clue of some
sort. Daisy looked in corners. Gadzooks checked next to every shrine. They searched and searched, only
to meet at the center of the U-kells. “Are you sure the map told us to come here?” Gadzooks asked. Daisy
didn’t answer. Then she jabbed her pointer finger down on the map. “Right here!” She shouted. Gadzooks
stared at the map upside down. Daisy walked forward, and then turned. She looked around for a clue. “It
says the destination is right here... or should be.” Daisy concluded.
! Gadzooks walked over to the spot. They spun in a circle, looking around. Then Daisy stumbled
backwards falling onto Gadzooks’s back. The dragons looked in Daisy’s direction. There it was. Their first
destination and symbol. It was a shrine.
! The shrine was covered in moss and dead insects. “How repulsive!” Daisy exclaimed. There were
four claw marks running through the stone. Obviously the conkle’s nasty inscription.There were also two
words, barely noticeable, but there, on the shrine. Daisy read them out loud. “Clair Lekon.” “If you mix up
the letters, they spell, Conkle Lair.” Gadzooks noticed. The dragons then noticed a secret switch under
the letters “C” and “L”. Gadzooks pushed the switch and nothing happened. Then, the shrine began to
wobble and rock. It’s pedestal crashed to the ground. The shrine lifted itself up with magic. Once the
shrine was in the air and its pedestal was firmly on the ground, a large hole was visible. There was only
darkness inside. Daisy gulped. Gadzooks looked away and back quickly. “I guess that’s probably where
the conkle’s home is.” Daisy said nervously. Gadzooks nodded. They both knew what they would have to
do next.
! “Please, you first.” Daisy gestured Gadzooks toward the hole. Gadzooks stepped back. “No, no,
ladies first!” He insisted. Daisy looked quite annoyed at the comment. Gadzooks didn’t seem to notice.
Daisy slapped his shoulder and stood beside the hole. She gulped again. Gadzooks towered over her
shoulder. Then, from behind, something large and strong bashed into Gadzooks, who bonked into Daisy,
sending them both down the long hole.
! When Gadzooks opened his eyes again, he only saw black. He reached around. Nothing in
reach. “Daisy!” He shouted. All that shouted back was an unsatisfying, spooky echo.
! Daisy pulled herself up. She was lost and was a little scared too. She rubbed her head, which had
a deep cut. “Zookie!” She yelled. No reply except the scurrying feet of mice.
! Gadzooks bit his lip. He looked in every direction for some light. “Why does this keep happening
to me?” He moaned. Then he decided to look up. Nothing still. He knew it was unsafe to fly since he didn’t
know the ceiling’s height in this place. He could crack a wing seal or something. He took a step forward.
He felt small stones underneath his feet. Then he whipped around. His strong hearing senses let him hear
from far away. Thump! Thump! Thump! The noise echoed loudly. Gadzooks stared around. The noise
kept coming. It grew louder too. Gadzooks was utterly terrified. He flapped his wings, a major risk, and
zoomed away from the noise. Then, in mid-flight, he smashed into a hard rock hanging from the ceiling.
Gadzooks’s wings whipped back, throwing him to his back on the hard ground. Then a mighty rumbling
echoed. No longer a thump. Then, BANG! A pile of heavy rocks began to fall from above. Gadzooks
wasn’t aware of this and stayed where he was for a breather. Then his eyes widened, his life flashed
before him, and then he was out cold...
© 2013 Matthew Albren