Fantasy

Harlem's Quest
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. Although to be fair, there still weren’t. Not really anyway. In the entire history of One-Road Village -- one of two villages existing in Furthersouth Valley which itself sat deep in the southern regions of Kingdom Cox -- there had only ever been the one dragon attack. But for those who have ever been unlucky enough to find themselves on the business end of a fully grown dragon having a bad day, they’ll know that this is no small thing. Even now, a sign exists just outside of One-Road Village which reads ‘Here be dragons, sometimes,’ as a warning to any would-be travelers. (The added ‘sometimes’ was decided on by a village wide vote which went 73% in favor of, as they felt that to leave it out would be dishonest).
By James David4 years ago in Fiction
Speaker of the Gods
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. It was once a place of lushness. Of life. Generations of families lived in peace, their lives full of love and joy.
By Louise Lilley4 years ago in Fiction
Season of Storms and Shadows
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. Now it was filled with them, in their varied colourations and sizes, both on the ground and in the sky above, in the predawn morning.
By Michael Lewis4 years ago in Fiction
The Tribute
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. In fact, it wasn’t more than 20 years ago that people denied their very existence.
By John Markham4 years ago in Fiction
Last Wish
“There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. In a time that seems so distant to memory, the valley had been filled with life. Trees had stood so tall they touched the clouds, and the river rushed downstream, brimming with aquatic life.” The elderly man heaved out a sigh so heavy that Kaida couldn’t help but pity him.
By Leah and Melissa. 4 years ago in Fiction
Seventh Moon
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. Shevaun and her friends knew it well. In the fourteen short years of her life, the dragons had been about for six moons of the year and by the end of the seventh, they were all gone again.
By Ralph Brew4 years ago in Fiction
The Valley of Fire
“There weren’t always dragons in the valley and under your new reign, may there never be dragons again!” The hundreds of men, women, and children living in the Kingdom of the West, looking up at the nearly-appointed teenage king erupted in praise. Xenos knelt before his people, humbled and terrified for what would come next. The Archduke of Doldran stood behind the trembling prince, holding the gold, jewel-encrusted crown just inches above his bowed head. The crowd grew silent as the Archduke recited the king’s prayer over Xenos, calling for the men who served before him to guide and protect the young king. Xenos silently recited his own version of this prayer to one king in particular. His father.
By Bree Alexander (she/her)4 years ago in Fiction
Resurrecting Dragons
There weren't always dragons in the valley. My father never saw them like you today. One hundred, no two hundred years since the last one was seen, before we brought them back. I get to see them. Before my generation, no one could ever ride a dragon. They flew so high. They were too aggressive on the ground for anyone to even try. But just imagine the feeling of soaring through the clouds. This is what I get to do.
By Emily Dangil4 years ago in Fiction
Beyond the Valley
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. In fact, there was seldom anything new. The Valley itself was wrapped by steep mountains that were almost impossible to climb. Beyond the mountains, a variety of monsters made their home in the surrounding forest, and had only grown in numbers over the years. Almost no one ventured into the forest for this reason, and even if they did, the narrow entrances to the Valley were blocked off by walls of stone meant to keep the monsters out.
By Jay4 years ago in Fiction
Elan Musk Father of Dragons
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. There were Teslas packed with organic beach towels and newborn film and tv scripts. There were coffee shops with spoiled dogs and busy laptops. And transient tents like piñatas, spilling their insides out onto the sidewalks. Now the Teslas are packed with ash, the coffee shops darkly roasted, and the homeless crisis in Los Angeles has been solved. All since the arrival of The Valley Dragons. Hi, I’m Dragon Dame, you’re expert on everything Dragon!
By Jessica Berkmen4 years ago in Fiction
The Whisperer of Death
“There weren’t always dragons in the Valley.” The voice of grandmother Eda in her usual soft storytelling tone lulled Adrielle back into a gentler time, a time when she was a protected child. “In the beginning,” she continued, “when the world was still young and the jinn, the beings of fire and air, had only just established their kingdoms in the mountains, the Creator sculpted humans from clay and deposited them in the Valley. Centuries passed with little interaction between the two groups until one greedy human king rose to power and began hunting for magical beings rumored to live in the mountains and beyond. Beings of which, were said to grant untold power and knowledge of everlasting health. Years passed and the jinn waited to see what this king would do, but with each passing year, the human's search decimated the forest. Until the jinn king pulled out a horn, a horn given in allegiance in the time before humans were sculpted, to call upon the dragons. At the bellow of the horn, dragons arose from their slumber in faraway lands and headed the call. Together with the jinn on the backs of the very creature the humans sought, brought forth fire and war. The humans were woefully unprepared for war, especially one waged by two beings of fire, and with the greedy human king dead and the princess crowned queen a peace treaty was formed, cementing the bond of clay and fire. As a show of good faith, jinn and dragon alike, assisted in the reconstruction of the human city, which eventually grew into a sprawling metropolis. The same hands that tore apart the city took excruciating care to put it back together. Your great-grandparents were at the forefront of these projects. Two dragons chose them as their partners, and I know it in my bones Adrielle, that you will be chosen as well.”
By Marya Pettingill4 years ago in Fiction
More Valuable Than Gold
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley… Eva Anders thought to herself while climbing into the bunker underneath her family’s ranch house, in search of anything to arm herself against an attack. Though, how handguns and rifles would stand any realistic chance against a fire-breathing dragon, she had no idea. Her greatest opportunity of surviving was through her unique gifts and undeniable spirit, for she obtained a very rare power of connecting with creatures, reading their minds, and swaying their wild hearts.
By Kate Zolezzi4 years ago in Fiction