Chapter 3

Chapter 3 "Can you see any animals from up there?" Dribble called to Lucas a few hours later as the trio traveled along in the hills outside Ire-Mire-Briar-Shire. Lucas was perched on the tip of Dribble's tail, searching the countryside for the stolen cows, sheep, and goats. "Not yet," he answered. "They have to be here somewhere," Dribble grumbled. He picked up his pace. "Whole herds don't just disappear into thin air." "Slow down," Lucas pleaded with the dragon. "You almost threw me off on that last turn." "Quit complaining," Princess Pulverizer scolded Lucas. "At least you're getting a ride. I've been walking this whole time. And we are miles and miles from Ire-Mire-Briar-Shire!" "I almost forgot you were down there," Lucas told her. "I didn't hear your footsteps at all."

"That's because I'm wearing the magical ruby ring that the Queen of Shmergermeister gave us as a thank-you for helping her," Princess Pulverizer explained. "Anyone who wears this ring moves in complete silence." "Then why can we still hear you talking to us?" asked Dribble. "The ring only seems to keep my footsteps quiet—not my mouth," the princess replied. "Well, it definitely works," Lucas told her. "Your feet aren't making a sound."

"No, but they are getting blisters," Princess Pulverizer told Lucas. "This is such a steep hill we're climbing. I wouldn't mind taking a turn riding up there on Dribble's tail." Lucas didn't reply. Instead, he pointed at some place off in the distance and began bouncing up and down. "There they are!" he shouted. "I can see them! There's a huge herd of animals in that pasture beyond the pine trees!" Dribble stopped short to stare at the pasture down below the hill. "We found them!" he shouted excitedly. "We did it!" "No wonder the people of Ire-Mire-Briar-Shire didn't find them," Lucas said. "It would be hard for someone to see the pasture through these trees if they weren't riding high on a dragon's tail, and standing at the top of this hill."

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Princess Pulverizer was thrilled. "That's number three!" she cheered. "Is that Quest of Kindness all you can think about?" Dribble asked her. "Is it all about what you can get out of this?" "I... well... um... no," Princess Pulverizer answered. "I meant there are three different kinds of animals out there for us to bring back —cows, sheep, and goats. To help the people of Ire-Mire-Briar-Shire." Dribble gave her a funny look. "Speaking of the Quest of Kindness," Lucas said. "We actually haven't really done anything to help the people of Ire-Mire-Briar-Shire yet." "What are you talking about?" Princess Pulverizer demanded. "We found their animals." "Yes," Lucas agreed. "But now we have to figure out how to get them all the way from here back to there." "He's right. We have to herd them back to the village," Dribble agreed. He looked at the princess. "Do you know how to herd animals?"

"Well, no," Princess Pulverizer admitted. "But how hard can herding be? I mean, German shepherds do it all the time. If a dog can do it, a human can." "Excuse me?" Dribble was so angry, his whole body shook. "Whoa!" Lucas shouted. Clank! The knight-in-training fell from the top of the dragon's tail. "Ow! That hurt!" Lucas exclaimed. "Sorry," Dribble apologized. "She just makes me so mad." "What did I say?" Princess Pulverizer asked him. "Why do you think that humans are so much better than everyone else?" Dribble demanded. "You act like you're the big cheese, but you're not. You know, dragons can do a lot of things humans can't, like breathe fire and fly." "You can't fly," Princess Pulverizer countered. "Not yet," Dribble admitted. "But as soon as my big, grown-up wings grow in, I'll be able to."