Silver Secrets

Dawn came as little comfort to Rowyn's restless soul. Soon, the dreams that seemed so tangible beneath starlight and shadow would dim in the face of glaring reality, and she'd be forced to accept them as what they were- merely dreams.

As the dim light turned indigo, she made her choice.

She wanted to dream a little while longer.

She flew over the slushy snow, knowing the crisscross tracks of days prior would obscure her escape. The forest wasn’t far, it would hide her from the sun and with it, her responsibilities. She wanted to run in the opposite direction, towards the stables, towards adventure and escape. But some dreams were too big, even for the dark. The forest was for smaller, more practical dreams. The forest was for secrets.

As the sky continued its traitorous lightening, the old, wet snow began to glow silver under the branches, like so many diamonds glittering just out of reach.

Rowyn ran until her lungs burned and her worn boots were soaked.

She pitched forward, hands on knees, panting for air. A deep gurgle rose slowly off to the side. She’d made it to the river, a frozen sludge of mud and ice. The river that was a leisurely stroll away from the house in the summertime.

She fell to her knees, tears freezing to her cheeks. She was never going to escape her confining little world.

That's when she saw them.

Four perfect, scaly, frost blue eggs.

Dragon eggs.