The Wyvern of Mordiford

In the village of Mordiford, a young girl named Maud discovered a tiny, bright-green wyvern in the forest. She carried it home in her apron and fed it bowls of milk, treating it like a pet. But the wyvern grew at an unnatural speed, its appetite shifting from milk to the village's sheep, then its cattle, and finally to the people themselves. It spared only Maud, remaining gentle in her presence while terrorizing the rest of the countryside. Desperate to end the slaughter, the villagers offered a full pardon to a condemned man named Garston if he could kill the beast. Garston devised a cunning plan: he hid inside a large cider barrel lined with sharp iron spikes and positioned himself by the River Lugg where the wyvern came to drink. When the creature lowered its neck, Garston lunged from his hiding place and delivered a fatal blow. The wyvern was defeated, but as it let out its final breath, its venomous fumes overcame Garston, and he fell dead beside his prize. Maud was left to weep for her lost friend, the only creature that had loved her unconditionally, despite its monstrous nature.