Note: I got inspired to write this after reading about a komodo dragon attacking an eight-year-old boy, and the idea kinda popped into my head. Anyway, hope you like it. I couldn't think of a real clever title, but whatever.
The Komodo Way
Dire Claw slithered his long, dark body carefully over the scattered leaves and brush that littered the forest floor, mindful of where he decided to swish his tail; he was nearing the human village and didn't want to be detected by the strange creatures before it was too late.
Dire Claw was a juvenile komodo dragon approaching adulthood. His parents had always taken an indifferent attitude towards him; that was the komodo way. Dire Claw flicked his tongue in distaste as he thought of the way humans seemed to pay so much attention to their young. What was the point of it all? Weren't their young able to defend themselves, or were they so helpless as to need continual watch by their parents?
He was approaching the outskirts of the village now. Soon he would have to cross the large stream that ran swiftly by the human buildings. Dire Claw had anticipated this day for a long time. When a youngling came of age, he or she was required to go and kill a human youngster; it was the komodo way. Why this was needed, Dire Claw didn't know, nor did he question it. Human was as good as any other prey. As the young komodo dragon came closer, he recalled memories of his brothers and sisters exploring the area outside their nests. It had been a day like any other; hot, sweltering heat and humidity beating its cruel fist down on the world. Mosquitoes and flies buzzed in the air, and most of the elder komodo dragons were spending their time basking in the sun. Dire Claw had wandered away from the watchful eyes of his parents, back when he was young enough to have to be watched, and strayed far into the woods until he found himself at the edge of a river. He remembered seeing two humans there, his first sight of the strange creatures, and flicked his tongue out in curiosity; they had a salty smell clinging to them. One of the humans was larger than the other; Dire Claw supposed it must be an elder, like one of his parents. The two seemed to be playing, much like the way he sometimes played with his brothers and sisters. One of the humans looked up and spotted him; the creature rose, scooping the smaller human into its arms…
Dire Claw chose a position behind a group of palm fronds and bushes. He was in the human village, now all he needed was to find a youngster and kill it. It sounded simple enough. Mostly he saw adult humans passing by, going about their bizarre daily customs that made very little sense to Dire Claw. Finally, the reptile spotted a small human boy-child on his knees by one of the human structures, supposedly playing with some weird object. Dire Claw smelled the air with his tongue once again. The child was alone and helpless; there were no adult humans near by.
He took a step foreword, then stopped. He might feel bad, for was this creature not a youngling like he was? But no…he was not a youngling anymore; he was approaching adulthood, and killing this boy-child was the last step.
With an astounding burst of energy, like a rock being launched from a slingshot, Dire Claw launched himself at the human boy, ready to make the kill. After all, it was the komodo way.