The Quest's End

His horse was puffing and lathered with sweat by the time he made it to the mountain cave.

"Dragon!" the knight called, drawing his sword. "Come and fight, for I have traveled far to end your reign of terror. You'll slay no more innocents this day!"

The knight was taken aback when a slender, humanoid figure sauntered from the cave mouth. "You?" he said. "But... the burnings... the slain cattle... the virgin offerings..."

The dark-haired man smiled up at the armored figure on horseback. He licked blood from one manicured hand. "One is what one aspires to be, Sir Knight."