Well, well. After all these ‘true dragons’ coming around, I suppose I hardly qualify to talk at all. But old Nisha*, she knows a thing or two.
What do you mean, I’m not a dragon? You humans — always thinking you have the right to name things. You invaders might have driven the dragons out of the Cragmaw Mountains, but I’m still here. So stop interrupting and you might learn something.
I’m sure you heard Cazarluun going on about the grand myth of draconic origins. Me, I’m more interested in dragonkind continuing into the future. The constellations that matter to me are somewhat… basic.
Take the one you named “Leo.” To us dragons, that’s The Horse. It’s one of our favorite foods. What you call “Ursa Major and Minor” are The Bison and Calf. “Monoceros?” The Antelope. All of them are delicious meals. You see, the purpose of the constellations is to show us dragons what’s safe to eat. I trust you’ve noted that I haven’t named any of the human-like figures as a food. Frankly, there’s not enough meat on a human to be worth hunting. Except for hatchlings, of course.
Well, aren’t you clever? Yes I did say “us dragons.” I can see you don’t believe it. A harmless old lady like me! Just sit there for a minute and I’ll show you. Perhaps you’d like to meet my hatchlings?
* Old Nisha, a.k.a. Carnisha, is the main character in my short story, “Hoard,” published last year in the anthology The Dragon’s Hoard, edited by Gabrielle Harbowy, for Sky Warrior Books.
