(I decided to challenge myself with a 100 word story today)

Dragons aren’t monsters but they are compelled to protect the gold they sleep on. Yet, the Emperor will only trade my sister for a doubloon marked by a dragon’s claw.

I crept into the sleeping beast’s lair, eased the coin from beneath him, and made my way toward the mouth of the cave. The light from outside made me bold and I hurried toward our freedom, but, in my haste, a stone skittered from beneath my foot. A creature that large shouldn’t be able to move so quickly, just a moment between claws on coins and claws encircling my waist.