Tale of The Lost Dragons

There weren't always dragons in the Valley. Not for years, if ever. It was a peaceful area, far away from any danger or strife at all, but it was still a bit wild on occasion. And so one day, just as the sun was going down over the valley and everything was calm, it was rumored that there were a few that wandered around the hills and the mountains surrounding it, but they didn't often venture too far from their home nest. The dragon's lair that is.

The lost dragons are still a mystery to many of the towns that surround the Valley. Those who live nearby don't bother to find out why the dragon clan resides within the mountain ranges that separate the Valley from the rest of the world.

When the world was younger, there used to be much more dragons than there are now. But now, only a handful of them live in the land. The rest have either gone extinct or moved out into other lands where no one else lives. Or so some say.

It is not known why they're still here; no one knows exactly what happened that day. No one was there to see it, except perhaps a few curious souls who ventured into those areas, but no one has seen hide nor heard of them since then. And so people begin to wonder just how strong these monsters truly are, or what sort of power would they possess should they be willing to attack an entire village.

Some say that they were scared off by something, while others say that the dragons are simply hiding from humans who wish to take their places in power. Whatever the reason, they haven't left and now nobody goes near their nest.

But certain parts of this valley do get visits.

These dragons are called the Lost Dragons because when they were young before they even knew how to walk on two legs, they lost them. Their wings had gotten cut out by human warriors who wanted to destroy the dragon species in fear of becoming immortal themselves and ruling over the land in dragon form forever. It is said that these dragons fought back, with great fury and ferocity, taking the lives of their attackers in return for their freedom. Some believe that the dragon race will never recover.

They are still being hunted like the animals that they are by humans. Sometimes they appear in public in the dark, to make sure that no humans try to harm them. Other times, they remain hidden, refusing to let anyone see or even hear them, and they stay safe from humans until they deem that there is no threat left. Some still think that they can still live among humans. Others say that the dragons will never again go near another living being.

The Lost Dragons stay mostly to themselves, hidden within those tall cliffs or the dark recesses of caves in which they hide.

They know the secrets of their home territory better than almost anything else, and they don't allow anyone to enter or interfere with its safety. If the secret of the Lost Dragons' den isn't kept, they know better than most just how vulnerable humans can be to them, and so they keep away from the villages as much as they can, making their home along the shores of the bay that separates the Valley from the world beyond, hidden by a veil of darkness and fog. They prefer to avoid contact with humans altogether unless necessary. It's not their fault. After all, they have suffered greatly for thousands of years. Many are missing feathers and tails along with their wings. Even their scales have long rotted away. Most are wounded severely in battle, scars marring their once golden bodies.

So, for this reason, the lost dragons remain hidden away from everyone, preferring instead to exist in their world. Only a select few dare to approach them, though not many ever succeed in doing so.

Everyone knows about the dragons who live in the Hidden Valley, but the Lost Dragons are a secretive breed despite their close relations with the rest of the world. Some people still insist that the dragons are hiding out of shame. Maybe they should leave the valley entirely, or move back out into the open ocean.

Others suggest that they've been abandoned, but most think that the Lost Dragons have been driven off by forces they couldn't understand. Either way, the valley remains a place to be avoided, and most people keep their distance.

That's why today was such a special day. Today was also the first time that the Lost Dragons have come out of their hidden home.

As usual, the Lost Dragons emerged in groups. So far, only a small handful of people have managed to find their cave, and most of them only came close enough to see the strange creatures inside before running back to tell the villagers. It was a big deal, so everyone was invited to watch the dragons emerge from their den.

It was a nice sight. The sunset was upon them.