Hero's Journey - Stage 3: The Trial (PDF)

STAGE 3 Unit focus: A Hero’s Journey Text focus: Narrative Chapter 4 - The Trial The next morning they stepped into the Drailands. Pendril couldn’t work out if there was somethi...

STAGE 3 Unit focus: A Hero’s Journey Text focus: Narrative Chapter 4 - The Trial The next morning they stepped into the Drailands. Pendril couldn’t work out if there was something magical about the Gate of Menace or if it was just in her head, but the temperature on the other side seemed hotter than ever. Perhaps it was just the barren landscape. Whatever it was, it made moving about in their armour unbearable. Again, Sergeant Munk insisted they keep it on. Pendril paired with Jesmin when the time came, and they headed north together. In a way, it was a relief to be away from the others. They were a strange mix of bravado and stupidity, in Pendril’s opinion. On the other hand, Pendril and Jesmin were now alone in a desolate desert hunting a fire-breathing dragon. At least she had a sword. It was a good one. As a friend of Jesmin, the armourer had made sure that she received one of the sharpest and newest blades. “You know, my family had a famous sword once,” Jesmin said as they wandered aimlessly across the red sand. “Father said it was hidden somewhere. I would have sooner had that with me. Apparently, nobody has ever lost a battle while they had it.” Pendril looked at her and smiled. She’d soon realised that Jesmin liked to talk a lot, mainly about herself. She didn’t seem to be selfish overall. Perhaps it was just the result of growing up in a castle? “What was that?” Pendril said suddenly, stopping so quickly that her armour carried on moving, pulling her to the floor. She grimaced and got to her knees. “Can you hear it?” Jesmin turned to look down at her. “I can’t hear a thing with this helmet on. What can you hear?” Pendril didn’t reply. She couldn’t. Her mouth had frozen, and her brain had shut down. She didn’t dare move. “What is it?” Jesmin demanded. “Mmmfghl,” Pendril replied, staring straight past her friend’s shoulder. “Mmmgl!” She managed to raise an arm to point past Jesmin, who turned and instantly swooned to a heap on the floor. all resources ©2023 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com A few feet away, stood over the body of her friend, Pendril tried to take in the entire might of the enormous dragon. Up close, it wasn’t really blue at all. Its scales seemed to shimmer, flitting from blue to green to purple instantaneously. It was a bit like looking at a starling’s wing if the starling was a hundred feet long and snorting small flames. Somehow, from somewhere, a primal instinct kicked in. Pendril drew her sword and darted forward. With all her might, she swung the blade in a perfect arc and brought it down against the dragon’s neck just beneath its head. It struck the hardened scales with a thud and fell from her hand. She yelped and stepped back. “Good effort,” she muttered under her breath. As she stood and watched, the dragon began to breathe in. She could feel the heat rising inside it. If possible, it felt like the atmosphere became even hotter. The air simmered and fizzed in front of the beast’s nostrils. It was ready to explode. At the same time as the first flicker of flame erupted from the dragon’s mouth, Pendril stepped in front of her friend and knelt down. She held her thick shield over her head and felt the flames lick against it. She bit her lip and tried to ignore the pain in her hand where it burned. “Why are you doing this?” Pendril asked, more in desperation than anything, when the flame finally died. Could dragon’s even talk? “These people destroyed my home and family,” the dragon roared, deflating slightly. “They came to my mountains and took what was mine. Now I take what is theirs.” “That’s horrible!” Pendril said with feeling. “When did that happen?” “A thousand years ago.” Pendril stood awkwardly for a moment, trying to think about how to approach the problem in the dragon’s logic. “People don’t live that long,” she tried. “These people never even knew those who killed your family. What if we promised to leave you alone? Would you leave us alone?” As the dragon thought about the offer, the other soldiers appeared. They slowed down as they approached the dragon, unsure what to do. “Kill it!” one of them screamed but was hushed into silence by the others. “Does anybody live in the Drailands?” Pendril asked the sergeant. He shook his head. “Then you can live here, and we will leave you in peace. Do we have a deal?” As an answer, the dragon nodded its head. It took to the air with an almighty clap of its wings and disappeared into the distance. all resources ©2023 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com  VOCABULARY FOCUS 1. Which word in the text means something is bare and nothing lives on it? 2. What does “unbearable” mean? 3. What do you think “bravado” is? 4. Find a word that has a meaning closest to “an ugly twisted expression on somebody’s face”? 5. Which word tells the reader how tough the dragon’s scales were? VIPERS QUESTIONS R In which direction did Pendril and Jesmin head? R What type of weapon did Jesmin’s family have? R Why had Pendril been given a sharp sword? I Why does Pendril only say nonsense when she spots the dragon? S How did Pendril save Jesmin? all resources ©2023 Literacy Shed http://www.literacyshedplus.com