Jerreck's Tale

Prologue

The old dragon barely ventured out anymore, ever since the day he knew his beloved Darcy was slain by the wizard known as Wiley. Yet, the day he noticed the young child near the waterfall, he knew she was lost; and in his heart, he felt the child would not be frightened of him, nor would she ever be a threat to his kind. Jerreck decided he should watch the girl closely for a while before deciding to make his presence known to her. She was barely 4 years old, and yet, she seemed so calm and wise. It wasn't until he caught her scent rising over the rushing waterfall she sat next to, that Jerreck's eyes dilated. This child not only carried the smell of the witch known as Marge, but he could smell dragon blood as well. She was too young to understand, but that didn't mean he couldn't help her. So Jerreck emerged from behind the cascading waterfall slowly. The child looked at him as if to say "what took you so long?" and smiled at him brightly. He felt this interaction in his heart. Jerreck was unsure what she was doing at the water's edge all by herself, but she seemed to know his curiosity and was determined to show him. She continued placing her hand a few inches above the water and slowly pulling it away, watching the surface of the water move like it wanted to follow her hand. When the child smiled at Jerreck every time she accomplished this, her eyes twinkling, his heart pulled intensely. He knew she didn't understand what was happening but was very curious and docile. He didn't want to allow her to continue but couldn't help but be proud of the severity in which she was concentrating at such a young age.

Jerreck decided he should try to lead the girl back towards her cottage, but he knew Marge usually had eyes in the forest one way or another. He laid his head down next to the tiny girl and rolled his eyes toward the sky. She knew instantly to climb upon his neck, and held on tightly. Jerreck felt calm immediately and was not worried as he usually would be whenever he ventured out. He moved slowly and stayed close to the ground, following the girl's scent back the way she had come. He appreciated the cover the low hanging branches gave him but considering his size, Jerreck had to be careful not to harm the tiny child. When he felt he had brought her close enough to where she could find her way to the cottage, Jerreck lowered his head once again to allow her to slide down easily. With a wink he turned and walked away, leaving her standing and watching him go. He didn't see the single tear fall from the girl's cheek.

Once he got far enough away, Jerreck camouflaged himself so he could watch her from a distance. Of course Marge had known all along exactly where the girl was, and arrived with the girl's twin in tow. Jerreck watched for a few moments, observing the twins with the old witch. He then made the trip back and returned to his cave with a full heart and a smile; but as he laid his old tired body down, he felt his heart break a little more. He wondered what would become of the twins and tried to not worry himself, as he knew Darcy and Marge would have made sure they were taken care of.

Intro

Ages ago, there were many dragons living in the caves of the mountain tops just above the Flourishing Forest and the Royal River. There was a vibrant village located in the valley. The humans who resided there knew and respected the large beasts who frequently flew in the sky. Although they were mere blacksmiths, farmers, and a few elders, the town knew the magic of the mountains that surrounded them was special. But the sheer power of that magic also instilled a respectful duty of the people in the village. No one traveled through the forest to approach the mountains for fear of upsetting the dragons. Feeling protected by the power, respect was paid in the highest regards to their guardians in the sky.

The folklore that passed through each generation of the townspeople, was that of magnificent beasts who were caring and giving in nature. As a species, the dragons were told to be of beauty, and graceful in every way. They stayed in the mountain range but would often be seen protecting and watching over the village from the sky. This was how it became known that naturally mystic animals had magic in their blood, but unlike any other, the power that was within the dragon's blood was far stronger. In those old ages, the wise ones knew this and did all they could to protect the large beasts.

The villagers were unaware that the last remaining dragons were fleeing for their lives as they were being hunted for their magic. At that point in time, they were sought after by evil magicians and wizards. The slaying of dragons, while sad to the humans, was a right of passage and huge bragging rights among the beings known as the dark ones. Many dark wizards, witches, and trolls had attempted to slay a dragon for themselves, knowing their blood contained more than any other magical power. As the number of the dragons dwindled, the race for power became the dark ones’ only focus. When the dragons vanished from the sky, the entire village mourned together, yet didn't know why.

As the villagers changed with time, magic was slowly starting to creep into the commoners of the town. A young prospering wizard known as Wiley, dreamed of dragons every night and was never quite accepted by the townspeople, making him stand out. Being the son of a simple farmer and the only medicine elder of the village, the eyes of the town were always on him. This made Wiley feel shunned, but also deeply worshiped. As a growing boy, he tended to learn herbs and medicines from his mother instead of plowing fields with his father. His father, Web, was the most hated man in the village, known for being rude and always picking a fight. His mother, Fawn, on the other hand was loved by all and was sought out frequently for her knowledge and skills. Being a jealous man, Web always initiated fights with his wife. While Fawn enjoyed every moment with her son, she knew her husband grew more and more frustrated. To protect her son’s potential future, Fawn decided to leave without a trace in the middle of the night.

After his mother’s disappearance, Wiley grew angry and deprived. He had such despair and hatred in his heart, he didn't know what was changing in him but he blamed his father with every bone in his body. He was considered too young and foolish to leave the cottage to go out on his own; he had two more years before anyone would consider him a man. Each day after his mother's leaving, he refused to acknowledge his father. This made Web even more angry. He despised Wiley and couldn't stand the thought of losing his beloved wife because of his sad excuse for a son. Web, although ignored by his son, never failed to put Wiley down and belittle him for his practices in magic. This resulted in Wiley practicing more everyday and with his anger in his heart he was turning to the dark and using it against the light.

Once Wiley realized he was practicing dark magic, he thrived like he never had in his younger years. He continued to practice his skills daily, and decided to test himself by putting a spell on his father. Conjuring this powerful spell would require ingredients he would have to journey into the mountains to retrieve. He only knew this because it came to him in one of his dragon dreams. He packed the things he would need for his travels and as he loaded his bags on his horse, his father stormed out of the cottage. Web was once again screaming at the top of his lungs. Wiley ignored him as he always did and rode off the property up the trail into the mountains. For weeks no one heard anything from Wiley or even about him. Until, a group of travelers came through the valley a few months later. They claimed it was Wiley who was said to have slain the last dragon.

****

Darcey lay peacefully in her slumber as Wiley climbed stealthy into the cave entrance. He had traveled so far and had finally arrived. He planned to sneak up and slash the dragon's throat while it slept. He had his sharpest knife ready by his side, and had faith it would uphold to achieve the task at hand. As he quietly approached the dragon, he noticed she was laying on the ground, curled around a small space protectively. With her breath at a steady pace, Wiley took the chance for a closer look. The small bunch of twigs hardly looked like a nest, but he knew it could be nothing else. He listened to the large dragon snoring so peacefully, he almost had a moment of doubt. Yet he brushed off the feeling and decided to sit and admire this huge mythical creature for a few more moments. He began thinking of his wonderful mother and how nurturing she had been, which got him lost in his memories for hours.

When Wiley snapped out of his day dreaming, he realized it was about to be dark. Knowing he needed to make camp quickly, he made fast work of killing the mother while she slept. Feeling triumphant and strong in the moment, Wiley lost his last bit of innocence when he felt no remorse in his decision. As he waited for the dragon's blood to seep into the special bottles he made, he grew more curious about the egg she was protecting. He would just keep the egg and could eventually sell it to make a fortune. He ventured out of the cave to gather wood so he could make camp for the night. During the time Wiley was away, the old witch, Marge, came to the mother as she lay breathing her last breath. The witch wept for the old dragon that was dying and whispered her prayers of gratitude. A deal was made between a dying mother and the old woman to protect the eggs with a spell. The two eggs would be protected under the witch's care until it was safe for dragons to return to their home in the mountains. Until then, they would stay hidden in the forest of the valley.

Willow & Fern

The twin infant girls were special and needed to be protected. So, they were to be raised by the Majestic Witch herself until they were taught how to use and control their powers The oldest magics in the world would be taught to the two children as they grew up with the witch known as Marge. When Marge returned to her cottage with the infants, she laid the twins side by side in a bassinet, one was wrapped in a silk cloak of royal blue, the other in mystic purple. These magical cloaks that would bring these girls to their true power when the time came. Marge went about her daily routines knowing the beginning stages of this quest were only starting. She cared for the girls, nurtured and loved them. She would continue to raise them, guiding and praising them every step of the way. She only allowed the comfort of their cloaks until the age of 4. On their fourth birthday, she stowed the cloaks away, hoping to keep their instincts at bay for their own protection. The journey laid out ahead would test the boundaries of their instincts enough on its own.

They lived in a simple cottage in the woods without any idea of their bloodline and what it meant for the future. Living as normal a life as possible until they matured enough was the main goal. The old witch knew all along the day would come she would have to explain everything and the true training would begin. She avoided any discussion or topics about their parents as best she could but told them only she was their grandmother in her own way and loved them dearly.

Although they were identical beautiful children, their opposite personalities kept them from being easily confused. The girls spent their time pursuing their own interests each and every day. For Willow, she practiced the harp for a majority of her mornings, archery and knife throwing in the afternoon, and the violin in the evening. Fern on the other hand enjoyed the nature of the woods and the animals that enchanted it. She would follow the wind, wherever it may take her. Marge had ways of keeping a watchful eye over the two even when they were away from the cottage. She feared their true identity would be revealed to them before the time when they were ready.

As the girls reached their teenage years, their differences became their only bond. Not that they hated each other but only despised that one could be mistaken for the other. This was their only struggle as their bond was strong like typical twins. As they grew into young women, the competitive sides between the two really erupted. The old witch’s heart ached for the girls as she watched it all unfold. There was not enough concern to reveal the truth until the time Willow sat angry and frustrated enough that the witch saw the small warning signs. Fern had always been the more intune of the two but Willow always displayed more without her even being aware. These small disputes went on without disruption and usually explained away with normalcy. Willow lost her temper after becoming frustrated and the room vibrated with energy. Unaware as usual, she continued to get increasingly upset. Marge tried to soothe and calm her to no avail. When Fern returned home and could feel Willow’s angry energy, she sat next to Willow with an arm around her shoulder. Trying to console her twin was not an easy task. Marge knew both girls were still unaware of what was changing in them and she wasn't sure how to handle having the discussion with them. Should it be together or separately, sooner or later? She wasn't sure. Marge thought with time she could figure it out but she might have just reached that limit. She decided to interject with the idea of a family cooked meal, the girls favorite, a night in the kitchen. As it seemed to work, she stewed over the thought of having the conversation over dinner. As the three women worked seamlessly in the kitchen, the meal was prepped and plated before nightfall. This left Marge feeling unnerved and unsettled over what to do. The delicious meal passed without the discussion entering anything close to magic. The girls chattered away about their day, their practices, dreams, and goals. No one brought up Willow’s moment of anger and Marge was thankful for it. The answer came to her as she put away dishes. Tomorrow she would give the girls their cloaks back. It was the best way she could conjure to break the ice.

The twins could sense the stress over the meal and were unsure if it had anything to do with Willow’s episode earlier in the night but they loved Marge as she was the only parent they had known. They cared for her deeply and both girls tried to make her proud every day. They knew she had done her best in raising them and they had always tried to repay her with simple things throughout the days. They discussed their feelings as they took their nightly walk before bed. They planned to do something extra special for their grandmother tomorrow as a surprise.

The next morning when the girls awoke and entered the kitchen, they saw the beautiful cloaks draped over each of their chairs. In confusion they both stopped and looked directly at Marge who had already had breakfast piping hot set out on the table. Gesturing to their chairs she told the girls to have a seat, that this was going to be a long talk that was long overdue.

This revelation made both girls excited, confused, and in the end, feeling slightly betrayed. They both felt strangely at home with their cloaks on and venturing outside with this new feeling brought on a change in each that they could not describe. Fern immediately wanted to practice with mother nature whereas Willow wondered about conjuring battling opponents. Marge had explained to them that like all things it would take time, practice, and dedication. Both girls felt confident that they would excel and make their grandmother proud, but they still had a small amount of doubt and fear. Marge had claimed that was normal as well but calmed the girls with a laid out plan of lessons so they might know what to expect. Their curiosity over their real parents and the reasons behind the prophecies were only natural but could only be revealed over time with the natural way of things. This annoyed Willow more than Fern and Marge knew it. Willow was a strong headed stubborn young woman and didnt like being kept waiting, but there was nothing anyone could do about it.

****

Jerreck could feel his time was growing short. He didn't mind because he missed his Darcey with every scale on his enormous body. His heart did ache for the young girls that lived with Marge in the forest. He wished for just one meeting with them before he expired. He didn't know if that would change their future but at this point he didn't really care. He decided to send a message on the wind to draw them near on their evening walk later tonight. Closing his eyes, Jerreck sent the spell through the smoke escaping his nostrils. Although this task exhausted him, he hoped the girls would come. He slept for hours, dreaming of the life they all should have had.

The scent in the air awoke him, they had come. He tried to get himself up but collapsed quickly. He listened to the two girls chatting on the other side of the waterfall. One was telling the other her memory of when she was really little and was at this waterfall once before. He watched as the cascading water separated and opened like a curtain. The two girls locked eyes with him at the same time. The smell of them alone brought a smile to his face but the sight of them made his old sorry eyes cry. He wished his beloved Darcey was here to witness this. He knew she had loved their children and would have given anything to see them all grown. He hadn't expected this was the way things would work out but was happy to know they were safe and alive. He felt he could share his last moments with the girls and go peacefully when they left him. Both girls looked at each other and told him they were not leaving him, that they wanted to know about their mother if he had the energy. Jerreck bobbed his head yes and closed his eyes. Jerreck took his mind back to the day he had his first sight of the love of his life, Darcey. Her dignified grace caught his attention before her beauty stunned him to his core. He followed her every move for the first few days after knowing her, he studied her every move and intention. The scent he picked up every time she was in the area made his heart triple a beat. His twins were enjoying every memory with him as if they were there. He could feel their admiration coming off of them in waves. All of the memories he ever had started to flash before his eyes so quickly, like he had lost control. He looked at the girls and knew it was them fast forwarding to his very last moment with Darcey. The amount of power they already had, together or separate, astounded him. They were stronger with their natural magic than he ever could have imagined. Jerreck had known they were going to be special but he had not understood the true magnitude of their power until this very moment. The girls walked towards him slowly and wrapped their arms around his large neck. This moment shared between them would be his last memory he would take with him when he passed. The old dragon wept with mixed emotions of feeling love, joy, pride, grief, and despair. As his last breath escaped his lungs, the girls clung to him firmly.

Willow and Fern did not leave their fathers cave for many hours as it took days for a dragon's body to finish its process of transcending to the next realm. The girls now knew his corpse was highly sought after for the magical blood that remained in it. They worried and wondered about their mother’s killer, the wizard known as Wiley. Whether he was searching for his father, if he had ventured this far into the woods, or had stayed in the mountains all this time. It was possible Wiley had moved on to other parts of the world, but both girls felt the need to stay cautious. They were now their parents' only legacy and were prepared to defend it at all costs. Willow decided she would practice her magic here in her fathers den, hoping to feel closer to her father. While Fern created a safe circle around them, Willow conjured a sight spell to allow them to search for the wizard. It took time as both girls were still getting accustomed to their power, but it came easily and stronger next to Jerreck. Through their tremendous sense of loss for both of their parents, the girls had to keep their concentration on the task at hand. The importance of finding Wiley was not completely deduced as of yet, but the pressure was there weighing on them from all sides it seemed. Once the safe circle was set, the girls would not be able to communicate with Marge, so Fern called upon a falcon from a nearby tree and sent it to the cottage with a message for Marge. They knew she would understand everything and would only worry for their safety. Fern and Willow sat across from each other, next to Jerreck’s side, and grasped hands. Immediately their joined power and desires of their heart took their sight flying high in the clouds at extreme speeds over the valley. When the vision slowed above the caves in the mountains that belonged to the trolls, both girls released their hands and opened their eyes. Knowing Marge would tell them exactly how many days of travel those caves were away, the girls felt they were running out of time. Saying goodbye to their father they had only just met was harder than anything either girl had ever experienced. Fern decided she would stay to continue the circle while Willow ran to the cottage to bring Marge to the cave. The girls were planning to hunt down the wizard to get their revenge.

Wiley

Wiley had ventured for years in search of those two eggs from that female dragon that had been his first slaying. He had known then that there must be other dragons left in existence, or at least just her mate. His search brought him to the dark caves of the trolls that were also searching for dragon’s blood. He had sold one of his bottles containing a small amount of the magic blood to the leader of that group for a heavy price. His service was sought after by many who also wanted the special bottles he had created, so Wiley had made a home for himself in those caves. His time there mostly spent in his kitchen where he had everything he needed for his magic. After preparing spells he spent time seeking the eggs with magic. Unfortunately his sight was blocked and couldn't find a single trail of where those two eggs might have gone. Wiley suspected they were protected by a spell and tried everything he could to see past it. The only vision his sight spell kept giving him was of a waterfall in the woods. Wiley packed every supply he could imagine he might need and set out for the 6 days of travel he suspected it might take him to reach that area of the woods.

All along his journey Wiley could only selfishly dream of what his power would become when he found and stole the blood of the two dragon eggs that he had lost. He knew they had to be grown by now but without the sight from the spell he had no idea what they might look like. He considered himself one of the smartest and most gifted wizards of this world so the addition of the dragon's blood would make him unstoppable by anyone. He longed for that amount of power more than anything. He wished his parents could only see him now. He didn't care for their pride, it was more that he wanted to rub it in their faces. His father's for underestimating him, and his mother's for leaving him. He wondered if he would ever come across Fawn again but decided not to waste his time thinking about it. He was set out on this quest and needed to keep his mind clear. As confident as he was, he couldn't afford to let his mind wander to lesser important things. With days of travel still ahead of him, Wiley conserved all of his energy to focus on the twins.

Marge

Marge knew what revenge can do to one's soul and didn't blame the girls one bit. Although she feared they might not be ready for such a battle, she did all she could to help the girls prepare for the days ahead of them. She never thought saying goodbye would upset her so much, but she tried to pull herself together for the girls she raised. They were facing enough changes, emotions, and revelations that she only wanted to be strong for them. She hadn't thought this day would come so quickly but had always felt the girls would continue to surprise her. Packing their cloaks into a satchel to bring to them, Marge allowed herself to cry for only a few moment's. When she arrived at the cave, the 3 women embraced for a long time. Words were not needed. Marge would stay in Jerreck's lair as long as was needed, and the girls would set out on their journey in the morning. This would be their last night together because an unknown future was ahead of all of them. Marge had brought her famous mushroom stew for them to enjoy together and to give them all strength and endurance. While eating in silence, the girls pushed their fondest memories with Marge into the forefront of her mind, a way of saying thank you for all she had done for them. The rest of the evening was shared between the 3 of them in front of a fire in the cave behind the waterfall. In the morning Marge awoke and the girls had left.

To be continued....