Chapter 1 #2
I hurled the water towards the fire, the torrent of liquid crashing into the flames with a deafening hiss.
The fire spluttered, steam rising in thick black clouds as the water smothered it.
It didn’t go down easily; the flames fought back, but slowly, inch by inch, the fire lost its battle.
What was once a roaring inferno now faded into a faint hiss, leaving nothing but scorched grass and a damp, smoky haze in the air.
Exhaustion hit me like a tidal wave, and I staggered back, breathing heavily, my legs shaking beneath me. The fire was out, but I knew this victory was fleeting. There would be consequences for this, but at least, for now, I had stopped the destruction.
I couldn’t help but hope my magic hadn’t caught anyone’s attention. It was a risky move, but the fire needed to be stopped, no matter the cost.
I lowered my head, gasping for breath. The cool rain was falling more slowly now, and the steady patter on the ground felt almost comforting.
That’s when I heard it—a soft, tortured whine followed by a low growl, a sound of pain.
My heart skipped a beat, and I froze. My instincts kicked in; something was out there.
I moved cautiously, every step deliberate, my boots crunching against the scorched earth. The once vibrant grass was now charred, the scent of burnt vegetation hanging thick in the air. The rain had slowed to a mere drizzle.
Then something flickered in the corner of my eye. A movement, only small but noticeable. It had wings.
My pulse quickened as I moved forward, my mind racing with questions as my heart raced in my chest. As I approached, the creature came into view, and my breath caught in my throat.
I stopped in my tracks, eyes wide. It writhed in pain on the ground, its wings crumpled awkwardly under its body.
The sound of its whimpers and growls filled the silence of the night, and the helplessness in its cries was almost too much to bear.
My heart skipped a beat when its head snapped towards me. Its silver eyes, like the stars themselves, locked onto mine with an intensity that made me freeze. Time seemed to slow as I stumbled back, my stomach twisting with disbelief.
A small dragon.
The creature, no bigger than a large dog, was struggling to move, its delicate wing tangled in some broken debris. They were extinct, a creature we spoke about only in bedtime stories. But here, in front of me, was the very creature everyone thought was dead.
A myth comes to life.
I stared at it, disbelieving. The weight of what I saw hit me all at once.
The creature, which I had only heard about in whispers, was real, and it was in pain.
I took a step forward, instinctively wanting to help.
The dragon's silver eyes never left mine, narrowing slightly as if weighing my every move.
Its pain was palpable, its body trembling with each breath.
I held my ground, though, lowering myself slowly and cautiously, making sure not to make any sudden movements that might frighten it.
“I’m not here to hurt you,” I whispered; my voice soft but steady. “I just want to help.”
The dragon's gaze flickered between me and its injured wing.
I could feel the tension radiating off it, the way it instinctively pulled away whenever I moved too close.
I took another small step forward, careful not to make the creature feel cornered.
The last thing I needed was to get burned or worse.
“I’m not your enemy,” I added, my voice softer this time. “Please.”
For a long moment, neither of us moved. Then, finally, its head dipped slightly, as if acknowledging me. That small shift of trust felt like a victory. Slowly, I reached out, my fingers trembling slightly as I extended my hand towards its injured wing.
The moment my fingers brushed its wing scales, a deep searing heat shot through me like electricity surging through my veins. It wasn’t just warmth but raw, primal, and alive. I gasped, my body stiffening as the heat spread through me, engulfing me in a rush of intensity that made my skin tingle.
The dragon’s eyes widened, its body still as if it was feeling something. I could feel the pulse of energy as if something ancient and powerful was awakening between us. Then a voice, no, not a voice, more like a presence filled my mind. It wasn’t my thoughts. It was the dragons.
“Ravena.”
The word echoed in my head, clear and unyielding, as if it had always been there, just waiting for the right moment to surface. How did it know my name?
“You,” the voice was deeper now, its vibration like a hum under my skin. “You are not what they think you are.”
The words hung heavy in the air, heavy with meaning. My stomach churned, but I didn’t let go. I couldn’t pull my hand away. A part of me knew I had to stay. The dragon’s presence was pulling at something inside me, something I had buried a long time ago.
“I… I don’t understand,” I whispered, my voice shaky.
“You will.” The dragon replied, its voice both soothing and powerful, filling every corner of my mind.
“In time, you will.”
The heat surged again, stronger this time, and the pain in the dragon’s wing seemed to ebb just slightly.
It was enough to give me some hope. Enough to make me believe that maybe I had found something here that I didn’t even know I was looking for.
The connection between us pulsed like a heartbeat, like an ancient bond being forged, something that had been waiting for us both.
For the first time in years, I felt like maybe I wasn’t as alone as I thought.
I swallowed hard. I needed to move because the dragon needed my help. Shaking off my shock, I knelt beside him, my hands hovering near his injured wing.
“I need to get you out of here,” I murmured. “It’s not safe.”
The dragon didn’t move at first, silver eyes locked onto mine, still wary and unsure.
He didn’t pull away when I carefully reached beneath him, sliding my arms around his small but surprisingly stocky form.
His scales were smooth beneath my touch, yet I could feel the raw power thrumming beneath them.
He let out a low growl, not aggressive but cautious. I held still, meeting his gaze. “I know you don’t trust me,” I said softly. “But I swear, I just want to help you.”
For a moment, there was nothing but the sound of the rain dripping from the trees and the distant rumble of thunder rolling across the sky.
Then, finally, the dragon huffed, the tension in his body easing just slightly.
Taking that as permission, I tightened my grip and lifted him carefully.
He was heavier than I expected, his body solid with muscle and strength, but I managed to hoist him into my arms. He flinched when I adjusted my hold, his claws digging into my sleeve, but he didn’t fight me.
“Almost there,” I reassured him, moving as quickly as I could towards the cottage. The burnt grass crunched beneath my boots as I stepped over some fallen branches, my legs burning from the effort. His weight pressed against me, but I refused to stop.
The cottage wasn’t far, tucked deeper within the whispering woods, hidden away from anyone who might come searching. My safe haven, and now it was the dragons, too.
As I reached the door, I nudged it open with my foot, stepping inside the dimly lit space. The warmth from the dying embers in the fireplace greeted me, along with the familiar scent of herbs and aged wood.
Gently, I knelt and set him down on the worn rug near the fire. His body tensed as I pulled away, his eyes scanning the place before flickering back to me. His breathing was uneven, and his wing was still trapped at an awkward angle.
I exhaled, my heart still racing from everything that had just happened. “Alright,” I whispered, brushing my damp hair from my face. “Let’s see what I can do about that wing.”
The dragon watched me as I reached out towards him again, but then a single word echoed in my mind, softer this time.
“Thank you.”
I stilled, my breath catching. Yeah, my life had just gotten a whole lot more complicated.