The Night Before Ruby Came

As Told by ScuzNails to Young Darters of Smeltborn

"Listen, good, yes, yes! ScuzNails tells true story, scary story, about night before big dead dragon came. You pups think you know danger? You know NOTHING! Sit, sit! ScuzNails shows you how to smell death before death smells you!"

---

'Twas the night before Ruby came down from the sky, and creatures were stirring. ScuzNails tells no lie! The warriors slept soundly in Silver Ear stone, not knowing tomorrow they'd fight or they'd moan.

Chief-friend was sleeping, not yet the great chief, and sea-lady far away. Oh, such grief! The clans were divided, scattered like mice, and ScuzNails' nose twitched. Something not nice!

When out on the cliff, there arose such a smell, Old death mixed with fire, with sulfur from hell! ScuzNails' fur stood up, hackles high on the back, and ScuzNails knew, yes, yes, something planned to attack!

Away to the entrance ScuzNails flew like a dart, Claws scraping on stone, fear pounding in heart. The moon on the mountains, all covered in snow, gave light to the shadows that moved down below.

When what to ScuzNails' terrified eyes did appear, But a massive red dragon. Oh no, very fear! With scales like fresh blood and eyes glowing bright, ScuzNails knew in a moment: this was THE fight!

More rapid than eagles his minions they came, while Ruby roared orders and called them by name:

"Now, Sapphire! Now, Emerald! Now, Black-scale and White! On, Copper! On, Bronze-wings! Burn everything bright! To the top of the fortress! To the clan's sacred hall! Now burn away! Burn away! Burn away all!"

As leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with resistance mount up to the sky, So up to the cliff-tops the dragons they flew, With bellies full of fire, and Ruby there too.

And then, on the stone, ScuzNails heard with great dread, the scraping of claws. So many, not dead! As ScuzNails pulled back and was turning around, Ruby landed on fortress without any sound.

He was covered in treasure from his head to his feet, and his scales were all bloody from warriors he'd eaten. A bundle of stolen clan-gold on his back, and he looked like a tyrant come back to attack.

His eyes, how they blazed! His teeth, how they scary! His nostrils breathed smoke, his claws long and hairy! His terrible mouth was drawn up like a bow, and his scales reflected forge-fires' red glow.

He circled the fortress with terrible care, and smoke from his nostrils filled up all the air. ScuzNails tried to warn them. Yes, yes, ScuzNails did! But warriors were sleeping, and doors were not hid.

"WAKE UP!" ScuzNails barked, running through every hall, "BIG SCARY DRAGON! HE'S COMING TO MAUL!" But warriors just grumbled and turned in their beds, "ScuzNails always paranoid. Back to sleep," someone said.

And ScuzNails heard Ruby speak. Oh, such fright! As he circled the mountain throughout that dark night: "Tomorrow at dawn, when the sun starts to rise, I'll burn every orc. Such a pleasant surprise!"

ScuzNails' nose never lies. ScuzNails smelled the doom! Smelled burning and death and warrior tomb! ScuzNails ran to Chief-friend, pulled on his arm: "PLEASE WAKE UP! PLEASE LISTEN! DRAGON MEANS HARM!"

But morning came quick, and Ruby attacked. With fire and fury, the fortress was sacked! Warriors who laughed at ScuzNails' warning cry now wished they had listened. Too late, now they die!

---

ScuzNails stops, eyes gleaming in firelight, and leans close to the young warriors

"You see? YOU SEE?! ScuzNails' nose smelled danger before danger came knocking! Warriors sleeping, doors open wide, nobody listening to poor ScuzNails! And what happened next?"

His voice drops to a whisper

"Death happened. Fire happened. Dragon happened. Many good warriors gone because they not trust their noses, not trust their fur standing up, not trust the FEAR in their bellies!"

He strikes the ground with his paw

"Chief-friend learned this lesson! Sea-lady learned this lesson! Now they always listen when ScuzNails says 'smells bad, very bad!' Now clans united, strong together, but ONLY because they learned to trust the warning signs!"

ScuzNails' tail wags nervously

"So you pups remember: Your nose knows before your brain knows! Your fur knows before your sword knows! When something smells wrong, WHEN SOMETHING SMELLS WRONG, you LISTEN! You trust your instincts! You don't call ScuzNails 'paranoid' and go back to sleep!"

He looks at each young warrior in turn

"Because the night before Ruby came? ScuzNails smelled him. ScuzNails warned them. ScuzNails was RIGHT. And the ones who listened? Still alive. The ones who didn't?"

Long pause

"Dragon food."

ScuzNails nods solemnly

"So! What ScuzNails teaches tonight? TRUST YOUR NOSE! Smell danger? Say something! Fur standing up? PAY ATTENTION! Better to be called paranoid and alive than brave and DEAD!"

He settles back on his haunches

"Now you pups know. Now you REMEMBER. When ScuzNails, or your own nose, says danger coming? You BELIEVE IT. End of story. ScuzNails has spoken."