Cold Sky
A nearly forgotten Earth may be the only safe place in the galaxy
Shelia shivered, staring at the message flashing on her console. The dim sun barely penetrated through the observatory’s glass windows, with the eternally orbiting energy harvesters all but blocking the sun’s warmth from reaching the slowly freezing Earth. The reactors defiantly gasping heat into the atmosphere could not keep up with the thirsty Sphere, as it fueled humankind’s expedition through the cosmos. Humanities’ legacy, an inhospitable planet home to the remaining fraction of civilization, had received its first message from the distant voyagers in over a century. Shelia closed her eyes, the single syllable message floating in her vision.
“Hide”.
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Safe Haven
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. At least, there wasn’t supposed to be. A rising dread crept up Nhial’s spine as she surveyed the scene. There was little doubt about what had caused the deep gouges in the earth, when accompanied by the still smouldering blackened patches of the tough, hardy grassland. The bleak landscape was dotted with small, windblown shrubs; the insistent, biting wind that was funnelled through the valley didn’t allow for anything to grow more than a few feet up from the barren earth. As desolate as the valley was, with boulders scattered around as if thrown by some gleeful giant centuries ago and the only colours as far as the eye could see a dreary grey and brown topped with snow-capped peaks, it was supposed to be safe from dragons. Nhial pulled her woolskin cloak tighter around her shoulders and hefted her spear, knowing that the six-foot length of aged oak with a sharpened flint held to the end with dried sinew would be of little use if a dragon was still around. Scanning the sky, Nhial held her breath, as if any small sound she made might betray her. The wind whistled in her ears, and as much as she strained her senses she couldn’t hear the tell-tale sound of beating wings or catch the scent of reptilian stink. After a few moments, she breathed out, half assured that she wasn’t facing imminent death.
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Comments (2)
Chills 💜
Outstanding!! This felt like the start of a movie! Great work.