YCH from the talented  DragoDi!

I reared back as one of the men tried to hook another rope around me. I still had firm use of my limbs - those had not yet been bound - but they had wisely begun by strapping my mouth shut. The muzzle, made of good stiff leather, held firm no matter how strongly I tried to open my jaws. Fire breath was out, as was any sort of bite attack.

They had not yet managed to get my wings pinned yet, though. I stood on my hind legs and flared my wings out, buffeting my captors with powerful wingbeats. A few of them went tumbling from the blast, their ropes knocked from the grasp. Others had moved aside as soon as I reared back, having anticipated my attempted defence. These people knew what they were doing.

I looked to one side. Two of the group tugged tight on their ropes, not enough to force me to their will, but enough to make me actively resist. To the other side, one of the group ran towards me and leapt, their rope looping up and around me. I growled low. No one else would have been able to pull such an acrobatic manoeuvre, but I had not noticed that their number included an elf, nimble and lithe.

I tossed my head in an attempt to flick the elf off balance. No good. They were sure and steady in balance, their steps on my back in perfect sync with every thrash. At the same time, another rope lashed around my ankle, two of the others working together to pull it tight. I pulled back - and fell right down upon a trip-rope, set by those who had regained their footing from my buffeting wings.

Behind it, the group had set another trap. Any other dragon may have fallen for it - naturally, after such a trip, a dragon would collapse onto their side, where three of the attackers would swiftly be able to bind their legs. But my own instincts, honed by a life of adventure and battle, knew better. I swept my tail as I fell, scattering them before they could so much as lift their ropes.

I scrambled back to my feet. My back to the wall. The elf, still on my back, hooked their rope under my neck and pulled, yanking my head up. Others moved in to lash my ankles.

"...TIME!"

With a collective groan, the attackers dropped their ropes. The elf climbed nimbly down my neck, unhooked the muzzle, and landed before the leather straps had dropped to the ground.

"You're a challenge!" they laughed, patting my shoulder.
"That's the point, isn't it?" I said. I took in a deep breath. I knew the muzzle was a necessary part of the equipment, but it felt good to breathe properly again. "No point practicing with a dragon who doesn't know how it's done."
"True, true. Take five, everyone!"

The rest of the party, groaning and stretching their exhausted muscles, dissipated to rest and rehydrate. I watched them and cocked my head. I was the one in there, thrashing and pulling against their restraints, and I was hardly panting. How could they be so exhausted?

"How close were we?" the elf said.
"You need to remember to secure the tail as soon as possible," I replied, thumping my tail on the stone floor to punctuate my words. "Other than that, as long as the other team's dragon is a little weaker than me, I think you have a real shot."
"Thanks a lot, Arix," the elf grinned. "With your help, this year's Annual Dragon Wrangling Championship is ours!"