“Ere we go,” Smudge whispered again, nudging Bodkin in the ribs.

After digging a sizable hole, the dragon maneuvered her bulky body around until her haunches were over the hole, then sat down, her tail curled around her feet. A few moments later, they heard the muffled sound of air being forced rapidly through a small opening and then several wet splats, like mud being thrown against the side of a house.

The dragon’s large eyes slowly closed and Bodkin could have sworn that her lips curved up into a faint smile for just a moment.

Then she stood and kicked dirt back over the hole with her hind legs. With a final wistful look toward the remains of her meal, she turned and moved slowly off into the woods and disappeared. The hunters remained where they were for a while longer, just to be sure she wasn’t going to return and surprise them, but after a few minutes even the sound of her passage had vanished.

When Smudge and Bodkin entered the clearing, they hurried over to where the hole had been filled in. Letting go the bags they had been carrying, they went quickly to work with their shovels. As dirt flew and they got closer to their goal, the smell hit them and Bodkin stepped back from the pit and covered his mouth and nose with his cap. Seemingly unconcerned with this assault on their senses, Smudge continued to dig until the prize was uncovered. He grabbed for an empty bag and only then noticed that Bodkin had moved away from the depression in the ground they had dug.

“Ere, now, Body, don’t tell me yer getting squeamish at this point,” he said with a wide grin, holding out the sack to his partner. “Lend a ‘and, boy. I can’t do this by meself.”

Waving a cap in front of his face, Bodkin asked, “Tell me again just why it is we're befouling