The thief waited until the dragon flew off before sneaking into the cave. His patience was rewarded with a huge pile of glittering treasure at the back.
Working quickly and quietly, he began to fill his pack. A large, glittering ruby caught his eye. The thief grabbed for it, but it slid just out of his grasp. Muttering curses, he tried again, and chased the jewel until he found himself knee deep in the hoard.
The coins suddenly shifted, revealing a baleful eye and gaping jaws. The mimic devoured the thief in a single bite, leaving only a boot behind.

“Wickham Market Iron Age coin hoard” by portableantiquities is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

My first very short story collection, The Mountain’s Shadow, is available now from Amazon and Smashwords!

Everyday Drabbles © 2024 by Hugh J. O’Donnell is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 

Have a fabulous day!