https://www.deviantart.com/ifritnox/art/3-5-Draco-s-Flames-974236046

With Draco, the darkness unveiled her most terrible weapon.

The dragon was awake! Draco was a terrible monster, worse than the sum of his parts. He had mighty wings, that carried him fast and sounded like thunder. His roar could bring fear into any heart and shake the earth. His scales were impenetrable, the beast immortal. Each scale strengthened the poison in his breath.

But worse of all, the darkness had given the beast that which she feared the most: Light. But it wasn't light as Lupus had it, but a twisted, distorted version. Auriga had helped her to tame this power: It was fire, a flaming blaze out of the Cepheus-Sea, hidden inside the dragon's chest.

This monster could've destroyed them all, had the protectors still been in Trishanku. But thanks to the twins and Mirfak's help, the inhabitants of Andromeda had spread into all parts of Lightreach. This was their salvation in these days, for even united they could never face the beast.

So Draco found Trishanku empty and couldn't fulfill his order to kill everyone. But eager to follow his mistress' command, he circled above the land. All inhabitants of Andromeda, the wolves and bears, foxes and rabbits, hares and birds, and all else, hid in fear in the deep, but some Draco found. Then he cast flames and destruction fell upon the land, while souls were swallowed. Not one of them would ever return.

For days, the dragon flew. This was also seen by five that hid in the Alkeswood: Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, and Bootes with his hunting dogs. The human was especially worried. He soon realized the dead would not return from the fire. Like Mimas, they were lost forever. And Bootes, the protector of the weak, cried for them all.

But what should they do? Even the bears couldn't fight Draco. And Bootes' shield was still on Trishanku, where Lynx had tried to fuel it with light.

What should they do? With each day they lay hidden, their sorrow grew. They thought and thought. The dragon had to be distracted. Otherwise, they would just sit in their hiding until all were dead.

Finally, Draco had to rest. It came that he chose a place not far from the bears. As every time the dragon slept, all breathed in relief, but he could wake at any time. These short pauses were not enough to organize an attack.

Ursa Major, Ursa Minor and Bootes thought, but they soon realized they wouldn't get a chance like this very often. Soon they decided to act. Nobody else was close to them, powerful enough to try it. So they moved toward the dragon's sleeping place.

Draco was an enormous beast. Their courage almost left them, as the five of them closed in on him. Draco had burnt a clearing into the forst to sleep on the embers.

Silently, Ursa Major crept over ashes. Ursa Minor, Bootes, Asterion, and Chara were close behind. They went for the dragon's chest.

"We have to kill him quick", Ursa Major said. "When he wakes, he will kill us all."

"But we can't pierce his scales", Bootes answered.

They all knew this. The two bears exchanged glances and decided without words to strike a mighty blow together.

Few powers in this world were stronger than the paw of Ursa Major. Lupus, maybe, but even he wasn't stronger than both bears together.

They raised their paws in unison. Bootes clang to his dogs in fear.

Then the bears struck the dragon.

The earth shook under the blow. A crack formed in the earth, Bootes had to jump out of its way. The echo of the hit was heard in the whole valley of Andromeda.

But Draco still lay there. Only one big scale had fallen off and presented weak skin below. But then the beast opened his eyes. His breath went over the clearing, and the otherwise brave Asterion and Chara flew with their tails between their hind legs. The heat took the breath of the three heroes. The bears and Bootes ran behind the dogs only moments later.

With a vengeful roar, Draco opened his jaws. Fire came forth, so hot it could burn a soul. A blaze tore through the land.

And then he hit Ursa Minor. The smaller bear let out a cry before she was engulfed. The flames devoured the mighty titan in a few heartbeats.

Her big sister and Bootes stopped. Ursa Major let out a painful scream, no less terrible than the dragon's roar. With eyes full of ridicule, Draco faced her and opened his mouth again. Hot, poisonous breath darkened the grass around her. Heath was glowing in the dragon's gullet.

"Ursa Major, run!", Bootes called out.

But Ursa Major didn't move. Shock froze her in place, so she looked death still in the eye.

Bootes didn't want to stand watching. But he wouldn't be strong enough to drag the bear with him. So he took up his bow and arrow, which he always carried over his shoulder. He aimed for the dragon's chest, where the scale had fallen off, and let the arrow free.

The arrow went deep into the dragon's chest. The sound Draco made sounded like panic. In a frenzy, he turned, and the fire went dark. Then he jumped into the sky and flew away with helpless flapping.

The terrible beast was wounded, but not deadly. With frightened calls, he flew back to his mistress.

Ursa Major and Bootes were left on the burnt clearing. For a while, they were silent, then the big bear walked to her fallen sister and lowered her head in sorrow. Bootes stepped beside her carefully. He was scared of Ursa Major, but he loved Ursa Minor and cried for her as much as her sister.

"I thank you", the big bear finally said slowly. "My sister was right about you."

Thus, Ursa Major and Bootes finally became friends, although under sad circumstances. They carried Ursa Minors body on the back of her sister, Bootes called the dogs back and they went to Trishanku.

For Draco was gone. They didn't know, how much time they had, but this was their chance to gather their friends and hope for the success of a counterattack.