LOST IN THE JUNGLES OF XANTH

There was trouble in Xanth again - all kinds of trouble, in fact.

The Gap Dragon had escaped from the Gap and was ravaging across the land. The forget-spell that had covered the Gap was breaking up into small forget-whorls that wandered about, giving amnesia to all they touched. Good Magician Humfrey might have had the Answer, but he had overdosed on water from the Fountain of Youth  and was only a helpless baby.

And Ivy, three-year-old daughter of King Dor and Queen Irene, was lost in the jungles south of the Gap. While Irene sought her without much hope, Ivy was wandering further into danger, her memories erased by a passing forget-whorl.
Her path was leading her directly to where the Gap Dragon was seeking dinner.

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MAIDEN AND DRAGON

Ivy walked along the path. It was darkening now, and hte trees were turning ugly. She ran and tripped over a root that lifted to snag her toe. She skinned her knees in the fall and got dirt in her face.

That was too much. Ivy sat down in the path and wailed. she was, after all, only three years old.

Something heard the noise and came toward her, half-slithering, half-whomping through the underbrush. It had six legs and green, metallic scales. It steamed - and it was hungry.
Ivy heard it and looked up in time to stare into the horrendous countenance of the rejuvenated Gap Dragon!