Fantasy
From Fire Born
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. They came and went like a callow lover; lingering through the warmer months and the depths of night, before fading away in the weak sun of winter. No word or warning before their departure. In that, they were far too similar to a lover – one lover in particular.
By Erin Middleton4 years ago in Fiction
Enchantress
Chapter 1 There weren't always dragons in the Valley. Enchantress Selene had inhabited the realm known as Valley long before the arrival of dragons. Her invitation to enter Valley had been accepted by the elder dragons, Mysteris and Cymru, on behalf of their thunder.
By Thomas Durbin4 years ago in Fiction
Clouds and Curses
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. Dragons once dwelled within the vivid panel paintings that snaked the halls of the dragon monastery, guarded zealously by Lina’s people. Dragons once danced through the songs that were sung on the Summer Solstice and flew brazenly on the banners that were posted in the village. Dragons were once revered spiritual guardians, symbols of the longevity and strength of the Empire. The Elders proclaimed that when dark times approached, dragons would descend from the heavens and grace the children of the Empire with wisdom. As a child, Lina remembered being mildly disappointed hearing that. Times were good then, so the dragons wouldn’t come. She imagined beautiful beasts like the temple depictions, with scales flashing every color of the rainbow and with lion-like manes that flowed like a river. She so badly wanted to see one that she prayed for it each night to the Gods of the Celestial Court, the pantheon of the Empire. After a few months of prayer, Lina’s wish was granted- but she’s regretted it ever since. When real dragons descended on the Valley, the nightmare began. Lina learned that dragons weren’t beautiful at all. The paintings, the songs, and the banners were all lies. The Elders’ prophecy was a lie. Dragons only bring death and destruction.
By Miguel Santa Maria 4 years ago in Fiction
Isla Rhea
"A lion´s ship." There weren´t always dragons in the Valley. There wasn´t always doubt in his heart. But as the faith would have it … Captain Edward Kinsley didn´t know what he was looking for. Not at first, anyway. He imagined an underwater kingdom where sharks were the navigators and people were the followers. As the sea would have it, it was more complicated than that. Maybe the twelve seas were too vast to rule and needed a reminder that no ruler was better than an autocratic one.
By Zara Miller4 years ago in Fiction
The Smallest Dragon
There weren't always dragons in the Valley. Old Yarl said they came in the last years of the Goblin Wars. And since he was just about the only person left living that had survived the Goblin Wars, it was likely to be bordering on the truth. Or at least as closely approaching the borders of the truth as Old Yarl ever did. Old Yarl was more of a map maker than an actual explorer, not just of the truth but of everything else as well. As far as I knew, he had never left the valley and was not well positioned to know the intricacies of how and when the dragons had arrived. But he was the only one left who would talk about it, so he got to write his own version of history. There were other survivors. But they had a bleak, harrowed look and they couldn’t be drawn out about it; the dragons’ arrival or the brutal conditions that had precipitated it. The others didn’t live in the village. Nance lived in the hills a few miles out of town and there were rumours of a ranger still living further out. I remember seeing him when I was younger riding into town with a herd of cattle and a brace of deer. That was five years ago though, and for all we saw of him now, Old Nathan could be a ghost. He wasn’t young then and old people die. Everyone dies.
By Kirk Buttermore4 years ago in Fiction
The Dragon Pools
“There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. They escaped from lands far away to find refuge among the Emerald Valley pools.” Ranyi injected fake enthusiasm into a tale her tourist groups often enjoyed. A few tourists wanted to believe mythical creatures existed, but magic didn’t exist when her parents and brother needed yuan to feed them. Instead, only hard work and its resultant tan mattered. Thus, she’d call a deer a horse all day long to wealthy visitors.
By Eileen Davis4 years ago in Fiction
A Mysterious Bundle
“There weren't always dragons in the Valley.” Shirr complained, dodging a spiked tail. I ducked under a widespread wing. “Exactly how far back are you thinking? A century? Because they’ve been here for a few generations!” Pulling a smoke bomb from my bag, I pulled the tab with my teeth and lobbed it up into the dragon’s face. “Run!”
By Taylor Mead4 years ago in Fiction
