The Golden Mountains

“She is cursed! A devil from the depths of hell!” The villagers would say, Cassandra’s mother trying hard to convince them her daughter was harmless. But alas it was futile. They had made up their minds. “Burn her! Send her back to the fiery pits she came from” one man screamed, met with cheers from the rest. “Please! She’s just a child!” Her mother begged. Cassandra couldn’t help it if she was born with the mark of the dragon hunters. Black markings cover the right side of her face, and her eyes were a deep purple. This was usually something people celebrated, but unfortunately for Cassandra the Village of Mirstone was unaware of what the markings truly meant. The rest of England was desperately searching for the dragon hunter child, only for Mirstone to cast her away. They held her mother back, screaming and sobbing as Cassandra was led into the forest, where the villagers hoped she would starve.

Cassandra sat on a rock chewing on her black pigtails, wondering where her mother was, or why her uncle had told her to stay on this rock. She didn’t really understand anything that had just happened, she didn’t even know that her village regarded her as a cursed child, but if her uncle wanted her to stay on this rock then that’s what she was gonna do. She was only 5 years old, but her only goal was to make her village happy. She didn’t like the way every scowled at her when they saw her, and figured that she must be doing something wrong, which is why everyone scowled at her. It was flawless logic to her, and she was determined to correct her mistake and see the village smile. She wasn’t sure why sitting on a rock was what her people wanted her to do, but who was she to question their wishes? so she just kept on chewing her pigtails, blissfully unaware that her uncle was never coming back.

“Lady Lilith, the dragon hunter child has been spotted by the scouts in the forest of Mirstone” The wind dragon Selina Informed the queen, her head bowed in respect despite being the princess of the wind dragons, and almost as Powerful as Lilith herself. “Good. Kill her” Lilith demanded, her back turned on the princess. “My lady, if I may, killing her will do us no good. When her life is ended another dragon hunter will only be born, this one perhaps closer to the main cities” Selina stated, head still bowed in respect. “Go on…” Lilith hissed, her curiosity getting the best of her, as she wished to know Selina’s Almost definitely reckless and risky plan. Dragons are known for being curious creatures after all. “What if we were to adopt this girl, and raise her to be a protector of all dragon kind?” Lilith was unable to stop a laugh from escaping her sharp teeth. “She is a dragon hunter, Selina! It's in her blood to murder our kind!” Selina nodded but remained persistent. “Please lady Lilith, at least let me try to contact her! If things go wrong we can kill her instantly! I just feel this could be worth a shot” Selina begged, her green scales shimmering in the moonlight. “Fine.” Lilith spat, clearly not thinking Selina’s plan would work. “But if the child tried anything you are to Take her life.” Selina thanked Lilith, Leaving her Cave atop the golden mountains highest peak and began flying towards Mirstone.

Cassandra sat patiently on the rock, freezing in the cold night, but sure her uncle would be back soon. And it would be such a shame if he couldn’t find her because she had moved! She suddenly felt a warm breeze on her skin and sure it was her uncle back to take her home she turned around. Only to come face to face with a large green dragon. The dragon's emerald eyes stared back into her purple ones. But Cassandra wasn’t afraid. She reached out to place her tiny hand on the dragon's nose. She laughed as the dragon used her snout to lift Cassandra onto her back. “What is your name, little one?” The dragon let out in a gruff voice, But Cassandra still wasn’t afraid. “Cassandra!” She giggled, Petting the dragons head before her. “Well Cassandra, I’m going to take you to your new home” She informed her, But Cassandra had fallen asleep on her back. Selina smiled and began her flight back to the golden mountains with Cassandra on her back.

The golden mountains were truly a sight to behold, the 7 peaks each being the home of the 6 Dragon princess’s and princes and Queen Lilith. Selina brought Cassandra to her cave before heading to Queen Lilith’s Mountain to inform her of Cassandra’s arrival. To her surprise all the other Princes and princesses were there awaiting her arrival. Queen Lilith’s colourful scales were truly a sight to behold when compared to the other dragon royalties plain single-coloured scales. Lilith was the queen for a reason. She had the ability to control all the elements, while Selina could only control the wind or while Agni could only control fire. “Selina. You have returned.” Lilith said through gritted teeth. “Selina! I heard you were adopting a Dragon hunter!” Adria, Princess of water squeaked, getting a little too close to Selina than she would like. “Y-Yes, I was successfully able to gain the trust of Cassandra, the 5-year-old dragon hunter” Selina stuttered, Excited mumbles echoing from her fellow dragons. Lilith just nodded, a scowl still on her face. “Silas, you will keep an Eye on Selina and the dragon hunter.” Lilith instructed, as the prince of nature was the most loyal of the princes and princesses. “My lady, Do you not trust me?” Selina inquired, only to be met by a laugh from Lilith. “Selina, its not that I do not trust you. It's that you are known for getting emotionally attached to things you should not be attached to” Lilith informed her. “You are all dismissed. Keep and eye on that Dragon hunter.” The dragons all left the queens golden peak and returned to their own mountain caves. Selina glanced at the child who was fast asleep in her nest. “Don’t worry Cassandra. I won’t let them hurt you. I’ll take good care of you” she whispered, before curling up next to her in the nest, gently curling her tail around the human child. “I don’t care if you’re a dragon hunter.”