Eleven

Here comes Nadiya, hurrying around a corner on almost silent rubber soles. Her light brown hair is billowing behind her as she runs, and she can't help thinking that her mother's mother wouldn't approve. Grandma had wanted her only daughter to have blond children, like herself.
Slightly out of breath she stops in front of a flight of stairs leading to a grand door. She takes two deep breathes, smoothens the short skirt, which had ridden up her thighs, and climbs the stone steps.

Five

The dragon lay in the entrance to his cave, looking out over the Himalaya. He loved the snow-covered mountain peaks, especially the way they reflected the sunlight. They felt like long-forgotten memories, just out of his reach.
Behind him, at the backside of the cave, a light flared to catch his attention. With a sigh, the dragon turned to watch the picture that had replaced the stone wall. It showed an old woman - crinkled face, grey bun and all - climbing a wooden fence. The dragon watched, intrigued, as she let herself sink slowly to the ground on this side of the fence, smoothed her green velvet dress and made her way around the fence to the entrance of the abandoned playground.
The gate was closed, but not locked, and she entered the compound of the old school, looking around. Her eyes travelled across the graffitied walls, the broken windows and rusty playground equipment. Her steps were weak and insecure as she walked towards a bench to sit down and bury her face in her hands.
Recognising her for what she must be, the dragon walked towards, and through, the picture to appear by her side.

Four

A cold wind was dancing around the cave, running this way and that like a never tiring child. Shivering, Norbert tried to kindle the fire, but the flames stood no chance to the wind. With a low rumbling, the dragon let his head sink back to the icy ground.
He had known for a while now that his time was coming, had felt it in his creaking bones and heavy wings. It bothered him that there was nobody to come after him, no other dragon to take his place and keep the peace in this world. Soon, this would be of no concern to him, but right now it was the last obstacle between him and a happy death. Norbert had even tried to haggle with the universe for just a little more time, desperate as he was, but of course to no avail. The universe has so many ears that it never bothers to listen to anyone.