Shadow Valley

There weren’t always dragons in the valley. None like this, such colors of scales as if hewn from the very land they patrol. Grey as the mountain, green as the grass, and red and orange as the fire they spew from their throats. Frightening indeed to cross such a valley, but that’s how it’s been for just over 300 years now. Even for Colton, who as a turtlefolk can live for 150 years or more, knows nothing of the land on the other side of Shadow Valley. Anyone who has tried to brave the journey never came back, there are stories and legends of a few that have made it but for some reason no one has ever met them. Any elf, fairy, or other magical creatures of Enterra old enough to know the time before the dragons is long gone, including Colton’s parents. The books of old say the valley used to be a perfect trade route. Merchants would travel those lands daily with no threat of attack, except the occasional group of goblin bandits or wolfman tribes. No dragons though, no one even knows where they came from. Colton knows all there is to know about it, his nose always in these books during all hours. A simple man, Colton makes a modest living digging graves for 10 copper a grave in a small village. Work was slow as most graves are dug for the elderly and those who get too sick for the feeble medicine of the quiet and small town of Linden. His graves dug for the night, he digs a small hole at the edge of the cemetery which lies on the outside of town just over a hill, to rest his shell and reads the rest of his book, The Time Before Shadows.

“Time for bed more like” he says aloud as he closes the book and examines the cover. Thinking no one was there, as he stands he hears in his head, “You often speak to yourself turtle?” a growling, burly yet feminine voice says to him. “Oy, who’s there” Colton calls out, panicked. “who’s in my head?” he thinks as he tucks his head halfway into his shell.

“Ha, that will not save you from your thoughts, now look up and do not be frightened.” As Colton, this turtle man who often dreams of what Shadow Valley is like lifts his head out of his protection gets his own taste of his dreams. A dragon, large and silver colored, slowly making its way down to him from above the clouds. Its decent slow, methodical, Colton gasps, his throat almost clogged with fear. He does what his instincts tell him and completely goes into his shell. He sees nothing else and hopes its all a dream.

“Please young turtle, I’m not here to harm you. I wish only to ask your aid, I’m not much longer for this world.” The pain more evident in the voce in his head. “GO AWAY, YOURE NOT REAL” echoes out of his shell. “I can hear your thoughts, no need to yell or even to speak. Simply think what you wish to tell me, but for now you must listen to me.” As a soft thud lands right next to him, Colton peers out of his shell and sees only the large feet of what he can only guess is indeed, a dragon. “Please, don’t eat me, just go away” he repeats in his mind.

“Things are not as they seem young one, just because we dragons are large with sharp teeth and claws doesn’t mean we eat all we come across. Linden and the other towns this side of the valley are yet our allies, for you tend to live off the land and treat nature as a friend. You, young turtle, know more than most that the job you do gives back to the land as the bodies you bury break down and feeds the planet.”

These words ring true. It’s easy to forget about this circle of life of taking and giving. That simple truth put a small smile on Colton’s face and against his better judgement he pops his head out of his shell. There it was, massive, winged. The books did these creatures no justice, yet this one was injured. Now he could see why the dragon’s voice was so pained. Wounds like he’s never seen, no arrows or spears could do this. “What happened to you?” his good nature getting the better of him as he longed to help this creature, hearing the intelligence it has only makes its words more believable.

What could only be described as a smile appears on the dragon’s face, seeing the almost tortured look on Colton’s face as she knew he wanted to help. “You are a good man little Turtle, but it is too late for me, I flew far and high in the clouds until I smelled a member of my kin. Yes, we are distant cousins if you really get into it,” Seeing the shock in his eyes as she spoke. “But that’s not why I’m here, I truly need your help. I was attacked by an army shortly after my young one hatched. She is slightly injured and has not yet learned to fly.” As she speaks, she leans down and opens her mouth, gently laying on her tongue is a small dragon. She lays her down in front of Colton, “Please look after her, help her get better and bring her back to her kind. I promise none of my kind will harm you, but the way is treacherous, and you shouldn’t go alone. Help is on the way in the form of a young woman. You must make your way through the valley, find out the truth for yourself. It is imperative that you find a way to stop it from spreading.”

Drinking in all this with disbelief, Colton approaches the baby dragon in awe of its fragility. “Asmeris, wake up” he hears in his head. He dutifully repeats the words. The young dragon opens her eyes and looks to Colton in anger but quickly jolts her head to her mother. Its quiet for awhile as these two creatures stare at ach other. Asmeris clearly getting sadder and sadder until the point of whimpering out loud and tears rolling over her small but scaly cheeks. It is clear to Colton that they are having a conversation. One which the only sign of it ending is Asmeris coming to Colton’s side and sitting in a huff. It dawns on Colton, “Stop what from spreading? Take her where? I’m not capable of such adventures!”

“Please quiet your mind my small, shelled friend. You will see what I speak of when you bury my body. Asmeris will help you and the night is long, take this with you and use it to maintain dominance over my strong-willed daughter.” As she speaks in his mind she reaches up and yanks a fang out of her mouth and hands it to Colton. “Press it into her when teaching, if she is disobedient, it will remind her of me and my will. Just know cousin, if you can’t stop those on the other side then the suffering of this land will only continue until they arrive and consume all.” Colton doesn’t know how to react; this is all too much. Surely, he will wake up in his small shack, surrounded by his books. He waits awhile, “It’s all real isn’t it? I’ve read about this kind of thing. Young stalwart man going on an adventure that’s been thrust upon him.” He thinks in his head forgetting they can hear him. “Yes, a quest young turtle.” The dragon snorts, “Asmeris will help you and as I said help in on the way. Don’t be afraid of the wolf.”

More confusion sets in. what wolf? As he thinks to himself about all that has been told to him, Asmeris lets out a yelp that echoes through the hills. Colton jumps and looks up to see the bright silver the dragon once shone is now dull and grey. Asmeris goes to yelp again but Colton grabs her snout, looking around. Knowing all to well the signs of death, he assures the young dragon, “It is all going to be fine, we must listen to your mother and bury her body. Now first we must make sure you haven’t woken the whole town, wait here.” He slowly presses the fang into the back of her nape, to almost mimic a cat picking up her young. Then slowly makes his way up the hill until the town comes into sight. No lights are on, no crowd making its way with torches and pitchforks. Relief hits him, though why should he care, as he makes his way down to giant body he must bury, grabbing his shovel on the way. “Yes, she picked me to do this, I guess that’s flattering. But in no way am I compelled to do this. I like my life, not much to it but I do like it very much.” He thinks with images of his small town in his mind. “Though, I wonder what she meant, what can I do against anything? I could be a hero.” He thinks to himself as he shoulders his shovel and stands stoically in the moonlight. “But what am I fighting? She said I will know when I bury her body” as he approaches the huge body, he realizes he has full nights work ahead of him if he wants to get this buried before the townspeople wake. He looks to Asmeris, his new hopefully companion, and nods. She looks at him quizzically eyeing how is holding his shovel, fully able to hear his thoughts when he made his way back.

The digging takes a long time, Colton an expert makes short work of the soft dirt but the mass of what he must bury is great. The young dragon following commands, intelligent enough to understand, young enough to be a hinderance, she tries her best to dig but her tiny claws do little to help. Mostly tossing dirt into Colton’s already dug section. Too kind to say anything, Colton, just works harder to get the job done. As he digs and digs and digs the ground seems to be becoming strange. Darker and muddier, but unnaturally so. He feels sickly, and before he realizes it the mud he is shoveling is more of a black sludge. It smells rancid and makes him vomit. He can’t continue digging in this, what even is this stuff. It is clearly unnatural, Asmeris realizing what it is starts to growl. Clearly staring at the sludge, she approaches and lets out a small flame which when the flame touches the sludge makes it burn and evaporate quite quickly. This is how she helps, now Colton can dig. “This is what your mother was speaking of?” Colton thinks towards Asmeris. She nods, “This is man made, for personal gain. At first it wasn’t a problem but as they advanced on the other side of the valley they grew and now the waste spreads to even here. Soon there will be nothing left that can grow. That is all I know.” Colton nods in understanding, gulps hard and continues working. He feels for Asmeris, to be born and immediately attacked, lose your mother and then forced into a fight to save the planet. “What did she mean by the wolf?” Colton asks. “She told me little, but there is a female from the wolfman tribe heading your way. She was tracking us.” Colton nods and looks around. Seeing no immediate threat “I’m sorry to ask but can you help me with this?” The digging done in a way to slide the body down. Asmeris nods, and they gently push the body into place.

Covering the body seems to be much easier than digging the hole. That’s always the case, Colton smirked. Taking an odd satisfaction at the way the dirt covers and hides the sight of something as sad as death. Just as they finished, the sun getting close to rising, a splash of energy hits the ground in front of him. Asmeris growls, Colton looks in the direction it came from, a wolf running straight at them. No, it’s a person. “Don’t fear the wolf” echoes in his mind. He fights the instinct to duck in his shell, and stands firm, a tight grip on his shovel, Asmeris following suit. The speed of this person seemed unreal. In a flash she was upon us, she stops short and begins to circle us as if we were prey.

“I’ve been tracking these two for days, I saw them attacked and flee.” This female that seemed like an animal growled. Colton has read about this, wolfman, a tribe that lived in the valley. They used to get by on the attacks of merchants that crossed the valley. Since the Great Appearance they were thought to have died out. Killed by all the dragons. A firm grip still on his shovel, “Aye, and was it you that attacked them? She came to me on death’s door and asked to be buried. Was it you?!” Colton feeling an anger he didn’t realize he would have.

“It was not I turtle man. I merely witnessed the attack” her tone softening as she removes her wolfed hood. “I only tracked them to offer aid. We wolfman have worked with the dragons to fight the impending doom for centuries. Offering healing and safe place for their children.” She turns to Amseris and bows slightly. “If her mother trusted you then I too trust you, I am Kipocia, but you can call me Kip.”

“I’m Colton, this is Asmeris, you come from the valley? What’s it like?’ Colton asks his interest in the history that this woman knows is filling to the brim. Kip smiles, “Maybe now is not the time, I fear when the townsfolk wake and see the two of us it may cause a problem.” Colton looks at his two new companions, “Does that mean you’re joining us then?” Kip nods, “I can show you the way, and im guessing you aren’t the quickest on your feet.” Colton’s head bows slightly, “Yeah” he says grumpily, “I have to go home and grab my books.” Kip touches his shoulder, “We must go now and get hidden.” Asmeris nods in agreement, still quiet after the death of her mother. Exhausted from a full night’s work, he looks back and hears the rustling of his old town as they wake, wondering if he will ever again hear the sounds, and walks towards the woods. An odd trio he thinks to himself, but after a short while they come upon what he can only guess is Kip’s camp from the night before. She offers to take watch while we rest saying its best to move at night anyway. Colton is used to staying up all night, so this worked out for him. Dirty, tired, he pops is his shell tries to sleep on the cache of information he received. Asmeris sees Colton tucked away in his shell, still missing her mother crawls over to the round like shape of the turtle shell and curls her serpent like tail around him to rest.

The woods were always my favorite place Kip thinks to herself. The beauty in the tall trees and thick canopy covering the lush growth and animals beneath. Her eyes up gazing at a spider building it’s web in the midday’s warmth. Mesmerized by the natures purity she almost didn’t hear the foot steps behind her, she follows her wolf like instincts and ducks out of the way. An axe the size of her head hits the tree she was resting on. Kip turns to see a large human man, with red hair, and many scars on his face. She pulls out her small wooden quarter staff and dagger, yells and pounces on the warrior to use him as leverage to jump on a large rock. She begins casting her spell, at this point the rest of the party have woken up. Colton has never been in a fight before so pulls out the only thing he can use, his shovel. Asmeris, still wounded jumps up in a defensive stance. The warrior retrieves his axe, Colton readies his shovel, Asmeris throat begins to glow when two astral like hands eppear from the ground glowing in green and grab the warrior holding him in place. Colton and Asmeris look up at kip and see her hands out gripping nothing, her eyes glowing the same astral color as the hands. Impressed, Colton runs over and slams his shovel into the face of this ginger haired attacker, breaking his nose. “Why are you attacking us?” he yells at the stranger. A gruff voice answers, “A wolfman and a dragon! You were in your shell! I thought they were attacking a turtlefolk. Clearly I was wrong, now let me go.” Colton raises his shovel, “If you attack us again I’ll clobber you.” Words that surprised even Colton, but he stood his ground and hoped his knees weren’t shaking. He turns and nods at Kip, she releases him. “What is a turtle, a dragon and a wolfman doing together in the woods?”

“First tell us your name.” Colton says firmly being backed up by a dragon hatchling and a wolfman gave him more confidence than he usually would have. The ginger-haired man annoyed he wasn’t answered huffs, “Helix, I’m just a woodcutter. I happened to see a wolfman run close by my village, so I followed. When I came upon your camp I assumed the worst, for that I apologize.” Colton looks to Asmeris, in his head he thinks “Is he thinking the same thing he is saying?” Asmeris nods and speaks to Colton for the first time since they were digging her mother’s grave, “He speaks the truth, we could use someone like him on the journey, but he isn’t going to trust us so I will leave the decision up to you.” Colton nods and thinks hard on what should be done. “Well Helix there is a lot you don’t know.” Colton goes on to tell him everything that has happened in the last day and finishes with, “I don’t expect you to believe me or to help us, but the dragons are not the enemy. There is one out there though, will you join us in finding out what it is?” Helix rises, grabs his axe and straps it to his back that is only covered with an old tunic, “I think you are far too trusting turtle. But you seem to have honorable intentions. This dragon chose you to do all of this, and it beats splitting wood all day.” He laughs jovially, “Aye I’ll join this motley crew. I’m ok with an axe but im just as good with a bow. I hunt my own food so I will fend for myself.” Food is a pleasant thought, Colton looks to Asmeris and Kip who all nod in agreement. “ Could you hunt us some food right now?” Colton asks and before he can even look to see his response Helix laughs again, “I have a camp not far from here with wild boar smoking right now. Come and join me, we can tell each other more of ourselves over dinner.

They travel for a while, midday turns to evening and the hunger is truly setting in when they come across a simple tent and a handmade smoking box. Once the smell reaches Colton’s nose he can almost run, it wouldn’t be very fast anyway, so he steels himself and practices patience. The four new companions all sit around the embers of a burnt-out fire with handfuls of smoked meat in front of them. They eat their fill, telling stories of each other’s lives until their eyes grow heavy. Asmeris sits perched on a tree looking towards the valley that lies well in the distance as the rest of them drift off to sleep.