The Dragon Realm

There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. Discovered nearly sixty moons ago, the first found dragon caused fear and panic. It brought out a new generation of treasure collectors, mercenaries, and dark magic devotions. Some would start to seek out the dragons for the power they held while others would run from the mere discussion. No one knew where the dragons originated or why they began to appear in the Valley, but one thing was certain… blood would be shed over their existence. ____________________________________________________

The fire raged quickly across the grasslands before jumping to the canopy. Tree to tree it danced, traversing branches as bridges. Deeper into the forest it snarled and growled a terrifying hum. Ekata ran as fast as she could, the heat tasting the back of her neck desperate to devour its prey. Her eyes stung from the smoke, her skin blistered under the tremendous hot, and her lungs burned, begging for fresh air. She leapt over a log and through the bramble. She dashed around the rock outcrop. The deeper into the void she traveled, the less moonlight shown through the foliage. Her shadow from the fire spilling out ahead of her, pulling her along. She could outrun the fire if she made it to the roads on the northside. She had just passed the riverbed. The monster behind was starting to trail. Familiar noises of the forest crept back into her ears. Slowing to a walking pace, Ekata placed her hands on her hips and raised her head for a deep breath. Organic smells and clean air rushed toward her with a euphoric bolt. There was a stump nearby, covered in lush moss, that would be a good resting place. Breathing out one final huff, Ekata stepped through the dense grass and thudded onto the perch.

The darkness was somewhat comforting as Ekata was not only running from the inferno but also the men who had set fire to the timberland. She saw them, the Phalanx; a group of war criminals promoted to the kings’ guard. They wore signature gold and black platelets across their chests. More monster than man was left in the souls of this hoard. There was no mistaking their purpose of lurking through the village corridors; they reasoned to burn the Valley to the ground in search of one thing… their chance at finding the corrupt duke his dragon.

Ekata was sitting, eyes closed, planning the next steps of her escape when she heard it. The low thrum of clanging whispered through the leaves. They had tracked her from the blaze. They knew she had seen them, and her death would come swiftly at the edge of a blade. Phalanx were of honor. This honor not earned; arbitrarily given and avowed by the monarchy. Their regard could not be diminished by a child roaming outside of curfew. The duke would have their heads for aiming blame of the Valley demise back toward the crown.

Again, she began to run. This time thrashing through the darkness with much less grace as the moon cowered behind clouds above. Galloping through the bushes, she could feel the lashings on her arms and legs. Wetness dripped onto her eyebrow when one large branch ripped against her forehead. Ekata couldn’t see the blood she wiped away, but her hand was surely now covered in it. There was a clearing ahead. Ten more steps and she could reorient herself. Five more steps toward the safety of what Ekata thought was the kings’ trailhead. Four steps left. Three. Two. One!

Ekata was knee deep and sinking fast into the mud. Near the riverbed she must’ve gotten turned around as what faced her was not the kings’ road. Swampland stretched outward into the darkness. Ekata was stuck. Panicked and gripping for anything she could reach, the girl cried out in distress. She was now submerged to her midriff. A sickened sound reached her ears; the drumbeat of armor steadily approaching. Her absentminded cries had led the Phalanx straight to her.

“Please, help me!” She pleaded into the darkness. Tears dropped into the quicksand as Ekata was now shoulder deep with only one arm free to reach out. “Please…” she whimpered into the void. She sobbed and lunged one last time to the edge of the swamp. Grasping, she felt her fingers rake across slick lichen until she settled onto a smooth rock. Her last glimpse of life would be of limestone or shale; a completely useless item in her attempt to save herself. Bringing the rock closer to her face, Ekata now noticed something peculiar. The stone wasn’t stone at all. In fact, it was a blood ruby. Carved onto its face, inlaid into the gem was the profile of a dragon. She had found one. A terrible curse dressed up as a coin. Or maybe it found her… Pulsing with energy, the dragon glowed in the darkness. Ekata gripped the coin and wished for salvation. “Please,” she thought. The dragon answered with a sparkle and a thundering crack.