Gon With the Wind: The Tale of Gon
Long ago, when the Kobolds still lived in the land, there was one warrior whose name was Gon. He was not only braver than all the rest, but he was so noble, kind and good that the people came to call him Sir Gon.
No robbers ever dared to trouble the people who lived near his town, and all the wild animals had been killed or driven away, so the little puppies could play even in the woods without being afraid.
One day, Gon walked throughout the country on one of his exercises. Everywhere he saw the men busy at their work in the fields, the women howling gently in their homes, and the little puppies shouting at play.
"Woof! These people are all safe and happy!" exclaimed Gon. "They--woof--need me no more! But somewhere perhaps there is trouble and fear. There--woof--may be someplace where the pups cannot play in safety, or some woman may have been carried away from her home. Grrr!! Woof! Perhaps there are even dragons left to be slain! Woof! Tomorrow I shall go on a journey and never stop until I find work which only a Kobold could do! Woof!!"
Early the next morning, Gon put on his cloak and all his shining armor, and fastened his Very Neat Sword at his side. Then after packing his provisions and saying goodbye to his family and friends, he walked out of Kobold Village. Down the steep, rough road he went, standing straight and tall and looking brave and strong as a Kobold should look.
On past the forests at the foot of the hill and out across the country he journeyed. Everywhere, he saw rich fields filled with waving grain, and everywhere there was peace and plenty. He continued, until at last he came into a part of the country he had never seen before. He noticed that there was nobody working in the fields. The houses which he passed stood silent and empty, and the grass along the roadside was scorched as if a fire had passed over it. A nearby field of what had even been trampled and burned.
Gon stopped walking past the ghastly scene and looked carefully about him. Everywhere there was silence and desolation.
"Arf! What can be the dreadful thing that has driven all the--arf!--people from their homes?" he wondered. "Arf, I must find out, and and give them help if I can!" But there was no one to ask, so Gon trotted forward until at last, far in the distance, he saw the walls of a city. "Ah! Woof! Surely I'll find someone who can tell me the cause of all this!" So with that, he trotted all the hastier towards the city.
Just then, the great gate of the city opened and Gon saw crowds of people standing inside the wall. Some of them were weeping, all of them seemed afraid. As Gon watched, he saw a beautiful Kobold maiden dressed in white, with a girdle of scarlet around her waist, pass through the gate alone. The gate clanged shut after she left, and the maiden walked along the road, weeping bitterly. She did not see Gon, who was galloping towards her.
"Woof! Why are you crying?" he asked as he reached her side. The maiden looked up at Gon standing there, so straight and tall and confident, and cried.
"Arf! Sir Kobold! Run quickly from this place! Woof, you don't know the danger you're in!"
"Danger?!" blurted Gon. "Arf, arf, arf!! Do you think a mighty Kobold warrior would flee from danger?! Besides, woof, you are here alone, fair girl! Arf, you think a warrior would leave you alone? Tell me the trouble and I'll help you, woof!"
"Arf, no!" she cried. "Run away, woof! You would only lose your life, woof! There is a terrible dragon near! He may come at any moment! One breath from the dragon would destroy you if he found you here! Woof, woof, go quickly!"
"Arf, tell me more!" insisted Gon. "Why are you here alone to meet this dragon? Are you crazy, woof? Are there no warriors left in your town, arf?"
"Oh…" sighed the maiden, "my father, the chief, is old and feeble, woof. He has only me to help him take care of his people, woof. This terrible dragon has driven us from our homes! He's carried away our livestock and ruined our crops, woof! Everyone's hiding behind the walls of the city, woof! This dragon has been coming here for weeks on end, woof! We've been forced to feed him two sheep every morning just to make him go away, arf!
"But, yesterday," continued the maiden, "there were no sheep left to give, woof! He said that unless a young maiden was given to him, he would break down the walls and destroy the city, woof! The people begged my father to save them, arf, but he couldn't do anything! I'm giving myself to this dragon, woof! Maybe if he has me, he'll spare our people!" With eyes flashing with rage and a great, furry arm reaching for his sword, the maiden lost her fear as she looked at Gon.
"Arf, lead the way to this dragon!" he barked. "Show me where he is!!" Turning with a sigh of relief, she led the way to a shimmering pool.
"Woof, this is where he is staying," she whispered. "See, the water is moving! Arf, arf, he's waking up!" Gon growled as he saw the head of the dragon lift from the pool. When the enormous creature saw Gon, he gave a roar of rage and plunged towards him. The smoke and flames flew from his nostrils, and he opened his great jaws as if to swallow the Kobold.
Gon shouted and, waving his Very Neat sword above his head, charged at the dragon. Quick and hard came the blows from the mighty sword; it was a terrible battle. After a few brief skirmishes, the dragon was wounded at last. He roared with pain and plunged at Gon, opening his mouth to snap at the furry head. Gon clenched his teeth, then struck with all his strength straight down through the dragon's throat, and with a groan, the creature fell down, dead.
Yelping for victory, Gon called the maiden to his side, tears of amazement streaking her face.
"Woof! Give me the sash around your waist, my lady!" requested Gon. The lady complied, and Gon wrapped the girdle around the dragon's neck. Using all his strength, Gon dragged the dragon with him by that little silken ribbon, all the way back to the village so that the people could have proof of the creature's demise.
When they saw Gon bringing the damsel back safely, and the slain dragon with him, they threw open the gates of the city and sent up great shouts of joy. The chief heard them and came out from his palace to see why the people were shouting. When he saw his daughter safe, he was the happiest of them all.
"O brave warrior!" he barked. "Arf! I am old and weak! Stay here, woof, and help my guard my people from harm!"
"Arf! I'll stay as long as you'll need me!" answered Gon. So Gon lived in the village and helped the old chief take care of his people, and when the chief died, Gon was made chief in his stead, and married his daughter. The people felt happy and safe so long as they had such a brave and good Kobold for their leader.