Night on the island was worse than I thought.
The trees rustled, the wind howled, and every bush seemed to have something lurking inside it.
Dragon was curled up beside me in the cave, shivering under a pile of leaves. Poor guy looked like a sad cabbage.
"I-Iron… you sure we're safe here?"
I cracked my knuckles, feeling the full moon's power still pumping through my veins.
"Safe? No way. But if anything comes in here, I'll turn it into dinner."
And then it came.
A massive boar, twice the size of the one that chased us earlier.
Its tusks looked like swords, and its eyes glowed red in the dark.
Dragon screamed.
I grinned.
"Well, well, well… looks like we've got company."
The boar let out a monstrous snort and charged straight into our cave.
Dragon dove behind a rock.
I stepped forward.
Even though I was still only four years old, under the full moon's light, I felt like a warrior god.
I grabbed a thick branch and swung it like a club.
The boar and I clashed in a spray of dirt and leaves.
"TAKE THIS, PORKY!"
We fought like wild animals.
It gored the ground, I smacked its snout.
It tried to trample me, I leapt aside.
Dragon peeked out from behind the rock.
"YOU'RE CRAZY, IRON!"
I was. And I loved it.
Finally, I managed to jam the branch into the boar's mouth and flip over its head, landing on its back.
With a sharp twist, the beast stumbled, groaned, and fell to the ground.
Victory.
I stood on its body, chest puffed out.
"See, Dragon? Nothing beats big brother Iron under a full moon."
Dragon's jaw dropped.
"You… you're insane."
"Thanks."
We dragged the boar outside and made a campfire.
Okay — I made the fire while Dragon fumbled with rocks.
We roasted the meat, and for the first time since being dumped here, we ate like kings.
"That was the best meal ever…" Dragon mumbled with his face in the dirt.
I looked up at the moon, still shining bright.
Yeah… maybe this island wasn't so bad.
But then I heard rustling.
More eyes in the dark.
Crap. I think that was the Boar King's mate.
"DRAGON, RUN!"
And off we went again.