The Secret of Valley Lumesa

There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. Once, dragons only existed in those regions of earth deemed uninhabitable by man. But as the human race dwindled, victims of their own biological warfare, the dragons began to migrate, eventually settling into Valley Lumesa, residing in the secret caves.

Nya had never been lucky. Born to parents whose work travels took them far away, she was often left behind to be cared for by her aunt. In all honesty, she barely remembered her parents at all. So, it wasn’t such a shock to her when her Aunt Alma sat her down, her face twisting with pleasure as she informed Nya she was now an orphan.

“If you want to continue living under my roof, things are going to change, little missy.”

And change they did. Nya went from being a reluctantly cared for niece, to a slave forced to work from dawn to dusk, subsisting on scraps thrown her way. In her lonely little attic bedroom, she began to dream of escape.

That dream became reality one day, as Nya visited the market, her basket of cheeses filled to the brim. Aunt Alma had threatened dire consequences if even one ounce of cheese was unaccounted for on the day’s sales receipt.

A trio of barking dogs suddenly barreled through the marketplace, chasing each other and barking. Nya was spun around, catching her hand on a rough post as she fell. She sat in the dirt, seeing the cheeses scattered all around her, not even aware she was bleeding.

Staring in horror at the ruined goods, Nya scrambled to her feet, afraid someone would see and tell Alma. Tossing dusty cheese rounds into her basket, she ran for the hills.

Nya didn’t stop running until she reached the tree line. It was only then that she noticed her hand was badly cut and throbbing. She sat on a boulder and looked up at the sky, wondering what to do now.

It began to drizzle. Of course, she thought. Just my luck. At least it would serve to clean her wound. She held her injured palm to the sky, letting the cool rain cascade down her skin.

“Heal me,” she wished, feeling foolish immediately. But a tingle began in her palm, and when she looked at her hand, she was shocked to see the wound closing.

She barely had time to marvel at this, however, as thunder boomed loudly, and lightning arrowed down. Grabbing her basket, she raced for the caves.

Nya leaned back against the rock wall, letting the sound of rain soothe her. Her thoughts were fuzzy and dreamlike, swirling through the day’s events. When she heard the noise behind her, she thought she was dreaming.

She turned her head to look, and saw two baby dragons, sniffing at the cheese in her basket. This must be a dream.

“We’re hungry.”

“Our mother has left us.”

The words sounded in her head, even as she realized they hadn’t opened their mouths.

They were communicating telepathically!

She caught their twin gazes and thought, “Eat. What I have I’ll share.”

They nibbled delicately on the cheese, making her smile. Who knew dragons liked cheese?

“Where is your family?” The dragons asked silently.

“I have none,” thought Nya. “I am alone.”

Suddenly weary, she rested her head back against the stone. She sensed the dragons move nearer, curling their tales around her to form a protective circle.

“You are no longer alone,” Nya heard them say in her mind. “We are now a family.”

Nya smiled, feeling safe for the first time in her life.