Fantasy
Some Great Treasure
A human has little chance of defeating a dragon at the best of times, and this was certainly not the best of times. Debris fell callously from the sky, diminished tides wreaked havoc on aquatic life everywhere, and humans threw everything they had into increasingly destructive and futile efforts to return to the delusions of control they’d clung to in the times before the moon had died.
By Ruth Rambles4 years ago in Fiction
The Curse of Riding Dragons
The toddling princess lacked any expression as the king placed her gently on the historic Stone of Ora. King Dolant and his small host of 10 had ventured deep into Hankor Forest- the thickest wood on the island. The forest is filled with every type of creature under the sun. They can be small and harmless like buzzing cranes or riggals. They can be large enough to warrant some fear like a forest fox or impact mole. They can be an obvious threat like a grizzly bear, or they can be something so complex that they cannot be put into any specific category.
By Brian Rosen4 years ago in Fiction
A prelude to a war
The throbbing forest was cleared in a heartbeat as he slowly approached the source of the wailing that had been screeching in his ears for too long. He had not resorted to breathe. Rain has been absent for a while and the forest was dry as bone. Fire is tempting but fire is chaos. His throat swelled up and he could feel his blood boil and the path beneath his feet light up in bright orange, but he kept his mouth sealed tight. Tendrils of smoke spat out from his nostrils and fed smoke to the canopies of trees that weren’t lucky enough to evade his approach. His claws dug deep into the ground as he walked as gently as he could.
By Sam Wijesinghe4 years ago in Fiction
Blameless
The red lament of the setting sun is a promise always fulfilled. Its bladed fangs pierce through the dense, glimmering canopy of the Lumos Wood, a massive forest bisecting the domineering continent of Anpherial. The slick skin of the leaves reflecting the morose light from the sun above conjures a sea of sparkling, red, mirror-like reflections along the canopy surface, save for one portion. Deep in the expansive interior lies a darkened teardrop cut into monochromatic sheen. Tails of smoke rise from edges outlined with the hungry darkness peeking beneath the canopy. Roots tear from the ground raised skyward with ashen edges, shattered trees scattered in ruin. Molten blood drips from scattered branches and upended roots, flaring intermittently. A massive, scaled mound lays at the smoldering crater’s apex.
By Keb Rogers4 years ago in Fiction
The Child of TIme
He must have had a reason. No ship had ever arrived on the shores of Arthénátou on purpose. Not that any sailor with half the intelligence of a newborn Pixie would ever want to. The labyrinthian archipelago was said to have formed from the persistently active volcano, spewing fire and molten lava to form snaking islands of rare stones. The Mortals also believed this to be why the islands were constantly shrouded in a film of steam. Getting close to the volcanic island in the heart of the archipelago was often so hot sailor’s sweat would begin to evaporate from their face. Fear of their insides boiling along with the ocean kept them at bay. Centuries had gone by, and this fear alone had been effective enough. Lucrative trade with neighboring shores took a few days longer, but any merchant with a modicum of regional knowledge would take the time over losing their merchandise and possibly their ship.
By Jared W.E.4 years ago in Fiction
Irelia
A quiet calm surrounded the queen Ariata upon walking through the portal. Ears still ringing from the clash of battle left behind in her own world, the stillness of the air made her pounding heart seem louder. She took a quick glance back to make sure the way was closed, then stumbled forward, falling to her knees. The heavy bundle wrapped securely around her chest began to stir at the sudden impact. “Shh now my child,” she crooned softly, “you are safe.” Her blood soaked hands shook while she delicately unwrapped the girl, revealing large grey eyes and a head of jet-black hair.
By Janaya Buehre 4 years ago in Fiction
Obsidian Daises
The smoke ridden air hung low in the thick canopy of trees. The scorched horizon glinted with an unearthly fire, the sky a deep orange from embers and burning buildings. The breeze was strong enough to escort away any scent of death, but cries from the village reverberated in the darkness. A little girl sat in the underbrush, char and blood on her cheeks. Her clothing was shredded and bloody, her bare feet burned red. She shivered as the clashing of metal, laughter, and slaughter echoed in the forest. There were shouts of triumph, then screams of pain. In her stupor, a dark figure broke through the deeper, darker end of the trees, apparently curious by all the commotion nearby. The stygian-scaled beast walked slowly down a slope of dirt, its claws scraping the sides of a steep cliffside as he descended. It stopped abruptly when its feet hit solid ground. The creature stood at least thirty times as tall as the girl. Its eyes were large, yellow with slit pupils; they glowed like lanterns against the pitch-black night. The creature lowered to the ground, sniffing the air and observing the toddler; acknowledging the unmoving human face-down in the dirt that still seemed to be clutching her.
By Rex Parker4 years ago in Fiction
Bound
The kingdom of Wheir had a history of conflict between humankind and dragons. Conflict was not born from differences between the two races so much as from their similarities. You may know from experience that people, individually and in groups, are capable of both great goodness and great evil. The same can be said of dragons. Both races are equally susceptible to inflating a small misunderstanding into all-out war. Trust was built and broken again and again throughout the ages.
By Rebekah Conard4 years ago in Fiction
A House Beholden
The clamorous din of disaster assaulted Arne Adler's acute sense of hearing even through the water-like density of his dreaming. Like most residents of Wealdrake, he was commonly fast asleep at this accursedly dark and early hour, but his body, trained and prepared, propelled him from his bed to the front doorway of his home in an instant. He identified the monsters immediately by their low, guttural but distinctly avian shrieks.
By Jacob Sherman4 years ago in Fiction
Of Smoke and Flame
The winds blew through the branches of the trees in the Blackwood Forest, their song soft and lilting. Drying leaves crunched beneath her feet as she slowly walked, keeping a watchful eye on her surroundings. The Blackwood Forest was unsafe for humans, and though she carried the blood of dragons in her veins, these woods were dangerous for her as well. The soft glow of dawn peaked through the trees, illuminating her path to the Grove of the Keepers. In recent events, more souls came to pass than was expected, and as queen, it was her duty to understand the issues at hand. “Majesty, I trust your stroll was pleasant?” Rygar, an aging reed of a man who stood against the tall pine marking the entrance to the grove, bowed in greeting. “The birdsong will be here soon, Rygar. And with it, another parting of souls. Tell me, has there been much need for aid?” Pushing himself off the tree, the Keeper moved to walk beside her. “The numbers grow steadily, and it is quite clear that something is happening. But the cause is what I am not so sure of. There may be some discord in the south, as many of the souls that come to pass are either human or Fey.” She nodded.
By Serena Norris4 years ago in Fiction
The Tale of Yao-Shu
The spiked nets dug deeper into Yao-Shu’s scales as she struggled against the chains, desperate to throw off her restraints. Her captors closed in around her, their torches burning brightly in the night. Beneath the flames, she could see their crooked smiles wide with repugnant excitement and the pointed spears they carried.
By Braedyn Smith4 years ago in Fiction
