Okay, I'm positive fanpop messed up my formatting, and I don't feel like fixing 11 pages(nor do I have the time), but here it goes. I really would like Criticism please, All I've been getting is how much people like it on the writing spot, good criticism is hard to find over there, So don't tell me what u like, tell me what u hate, as vehemently as possible.
“This world is lost…” The dragon’s words echoed in Karaza’s mind. She had been hiding near the gathering place, hoping for a chance to steal some of the dragons’ supplies before the great beasts flew away to their new home. She leaves the safety of the rocks now and sighs. “So much for getting some loot.” She looks around and notices a faint gleam. Karaza pounces on it and stares, breathless. “A dragon’s scale! Finally, a little luck!” She looks around now, and finds another wonder: a bridge of ice, tonen absolutely no sign of melting despite the bright sunlight. She walks over to the bridge and marvels at the clear surface. “Unbelievable,” she touches the ice, it is completely dry. “And cold!” she cries, pulling her hand away. She wanders, holding the scale tight to her chest “So, they’re gone…” a flight of dark dragons passes over, their auras chilling the air. “Except for them.” She shudders as she remembers. The beasts flying over, spilling brand from their jaws, leaving nothing except ash and death. The cackling laugh of the demons, as they gather the few survivors and take them away. “Lost…” She stumbles, crying out as she nearly loses her grip on the blue-gray gem. Despite the brightness of the day, it was the only color she could see, everything else had lost color in her eyes, gray and black and hopeless since the dragons left. She stumbles again and lets herself fall in the shade of some bushes, sobbing uncontrollably. Then, suddenly, it was night.
The sound of a brand wakes Karaza. She opens her eyes a slit and looks toward the sound. Two grizzled men are staring into the night while talking.
“I swear, it’s the end of the world, there are those evil dragons and all these demons wandering around, they give me the creeps.”
“Of course they creep u out, they’re monsters! I heard that if they catch u they take u to their mines and put u under a spell so that u can’t stop working, no matter how tired u are, u just keep going until u drop. And when the demons find u like that they take u apart and-”
“That’s enough of that, Aaron, I won’t be able to sleep after hearing stories like that.”
“Well that’s perfect,” Aaron responds, “Because u got first watch, I’ll check on the girl before I go to sleep.”
With that, Aaron moves toward Karaza, she scrambles to her feet ready to run.
“Ah, you’re awake, good. I’m Aaron, and the clod over there is Sven. Come closer to the fire, we don’t bite.”
Karaza nods and wobbles to the fire. Aaron hands her a bottle and she happily takes a drink. “Thank you. My name is Karaza; would u happen to have some spare food? I’m hungry.”
“Nothing can be ‘spare’ in this world except misery, but yes, we have a little” Aaron settles down and passes a small bag to Karaza. “If u need anything else, u can ask Sven. Don’t worry; we’ll take good care of you.”
Karaza nibbles on some meat from the bag and regards the two men closely. Aaron’s aura had already faded slightly in his sleep, but it was a pleasant yellow. Sven’s was green, but tinged with shades of nervousness and worry. She puts the bag back and examines the scale, its surface glossy and smooth. This, she thought, this is hope, this gem will help me find a way. She felt the presence of a demon, but it was heading the other way, and she did not mention it.
"Dragons all,
Dragons we.
Call beyond
Time and Space.
Gentle Air,
Grant us wind.
Lift we our wings
In exaltation.
Fierce Fire,
Keep us strong.
Our breath which
Keeps enemies at bay.
Strong Earth,
Give us dens.
u make our
Nests and tombs.
Noble Time,
Keep us young.
Beautiful Water,
Fill our rivers.
Life and Death,
Watch our souls.
Powerful Magic,
Fuel our bodies.
Great Draco,
Our souls are yours.
Dragons all,
Dragons we.
Now we fly
'Gainst our ancient Foe.
Great Ones,
From beyond the stars,
We call to You."
The song came out of nowhere, caressing Karaza’s mind, and then it was gone. It seemed like a memory, but she had never heard it before. She looks down at the scale in time to see an aura fade from it, but she could not make out anything other than the fact that it had been there.
Morning came, and after a scant breakfast Karaza found herself plodding after Sven and Aaron. “Where are we going?”
“To the mountains, supposedly there’s a cave up there that the Dark Ones can’t get near, it should be a little safer there.” Aaron’s voice sounded hopeful, but Karaza saw his aura flare with uncertainty.
“But why can’t they go near it? A cave in the mountains doesn’t sound so special.”
“I don’t know, but even without any sort of special protection, a cave is still safer than open ground, and there’s game in the forests on the mountainside, so we won’t go hungry.”
“Speaking of hungry, I’m starving!” Sven called from the rear.
Aaron sighed; Sven had been like that ever since they met. “Sven, we just had breakfast, can’t u wait until noon; that’s when we should reach the cave. u can scout ahead and find some rabbits if u want, but you’d still need to cook them. And we can’t do that until we’re there.”
Karaza headed to one side of the path and looked at the scale. She focused on it, trying to get a reaction from it. “Anyone there? Hello?” She called silently, hoping for a response. She stops, feeling something out of place. “Demons.” She whispered, holding out her arm to stop her companions. “I hope u know some way of killing them.”
“Err, yeah,” Aaron muttered, “Find a dragon and beg him to save us.”
“So, we’re doomed.” Sven zei in a low voice.
Karaza shook her head, “They haven’t noticed us yet, if we go into the woods on the left, we may be able to get by.”
“Well we definitely have confidence to spare.”
“Nothing can be ‘spare’ in this world except misery.” Karaza smirked, “But yes, we have a little.”
As the group slinks through the forest, Karaza watches the far side for signs of the demons. She had to rely on her normal sight, as demons had a feeling to them, rather than an aura. She spots one eager fiend, waiting near the edge; a hideous creature with coarse hair over its entire body, its limbs thin, its fangs rotten, but still razor sharp, and its horns tightly curled.
“So, Karaza, How did u know those demons where there?” Sven asked once Karaza sounded the all clear.
Karaza hesitated slightly. “I- I had a feeling, that’s all.” She was telling the truth, but Sven noticed the hesitation and knew there was something more.
Karaza stopped dead again. The cave was just in sight, but that’s not what she saw. Sven, alert for strange behavior, saw her staring and futilely tried to see what her focus was. But Karaza could see it clearly; a net of life, a uithangbord of power, a shield of light. The barrier stood, a ball of glowing threads, but it was in ruins. The magic torn and faded, holding no safety, it was nothing but the sign of a lost battle. Yet the power was there, and Karaza could see it was the same as the aura she glimpsed from the scale. This dragon was here; maybe I can reach it from this place.
Once inside, even Sven could tell the cave’s history. “It’s a dragon’s den.”
“Yes,” Karaza breathed, “A dragon’s den.” She noticed another glow of magic and moved toward it, starting as she heard a crack under her foot; the remains of a dragon egg.
“I shall name her… Clat,” Came the voice from the scale again, stronger, but still a memory. Karaza shook the feeling and reached for the glow, retrieving a crystal that was both burning and freezing. Physically, it was clear with a purple center, which seemed to shimmer like a trapped flame. But on the plane of spirit, it shown with a dazzling multitude of colors, twinkling and shifting ceaselessly.
“Demon-spawn.” Karaza turned to find Sven standing over her, his eyes burning with hate. “That is how u knew those demons where waiting there, hell, u probably told them to be there! And u hesi-“
“Sven! Enough, if she had the demons waiting, why would she warn us? Why would she toon us how to get away?”
“To gain out trust for some kinda plot!”
“Why go through all the trouble? She could have let them catch us and put us under a spell to enslave us.”
At this point, Sven may have seen his foolishness; if a demon had not appeared at the entrance.
“She calls them!” Sven cries, dropping to the floor in a panic. Karaza grabs her scale, an unlikely weapon, and holds it like a dagger. The demon’s eyes skip over the quivering form of Sven and lock on to Karaza’s defiant features. Aaron rushes the demon with a large branch, but is pushed away. The demon moves toward Karaza. “I beg of you, help me!” She cries with her mind and voice. Then time stops.
In Karaza’s hand, the scale’s aura flares into a bright flame; her mind clears and her arm begins to verplaats as if it has its own mind. Karaza’s body twists itself in an intricate dance, the scale flashes across the demon’s hide, tearing its flesh, burning the hate and jealousy and bloodlust out. A final cut, far deeper than the scale’s physical form could penetrate, rent the monster in two.
Time restarts.
Karaza looks at the scale in her hand, then down at the demon’s broken body. She knows that she is the one that killed it, but all she remembers is a bright light. The demon’s dead arm flops over, striking Sven, who cries out mindlessly.
“It’s dead.” Karaza’s voice is hollow. “I-I killed it, it won’t bother us again.”
“No, it won’t.” Aaron was back on his feet. “Sven, Get up! Apologize.” Sven gets up and tries to speak, but all he can do is nod to Karaza and slink to a corner of the cave.”Bah, clearly this cave being special was just a rumor.” Aaron sighs. “Well, I guess I’ll get rid of the body, I for one am not sleeping with a demon, even if it is dead.”
/////
Vilicus awoke and immediately knew something was different. He resisted the urge to test the bonds on his mind; it would only draw attention to him. He walked to the opening of the cave and looked up. A patrol was returning, and he recognized Calana, her scales like a mantel of rubies, at the lead. At the sight of her, the cracks in the suffocating shell of darkness widened, allowing Vilicus’s withered soul to drink in light – but only a little. “When I escape,” Vilicus thought, “I will free her, too.”
/////
Karaza, Sven, and Aaron where heading for the remains of a burnt town in zoek of weapons. Sven had mentioned the need to find guns for protection, but Aaron shook his head. “Guns won’t break through a dragon’s scales, and they won’t put a big enough hole in a demon.” Aaron paused, “However, a good, old - fashioned sword should do the trick. As long as u don’t cut yourself.”
Aaron noticed that Karaza seemed withdrawn and motioned for Sven to her. Sven knew what he had to say and slowed his pace, allowing Karaza to draw even with him.
“Kara,” he zei softly, “I - I’m sorry about that whole thing, it’s just, I had a weird feeling, like u could see into my soul of something.” Glancing at Sven’s aura, Karaza allowed herself a slight smile. Indeed, she could; in a way. His aura was radiating his embarrassment and uncertainty and, on a deeper level, it showed his character in shifting, shimmering colors.
“I understand, I do seem to have that effect on people.”
They reach the charred remains of the town. There was no stench of death; all the bodies had been burnt away door the dark fire. Despite Aaron’s arguments, they all hoped to find some kind of firearms and ammunition, but every shell they found had detonated in the heat of the flames. Sven was crossing the empty space where a rather large house once stood when he fell vooruit, voorwaarts with a cry. Aaron and Karaza jogged toward him and, seeing that he was fully recovered and only slightly embarrassed, examined the disturbed ash where he had fallen. They both notice the raised lip at the same time.
“It’s a trapdoor,” Karaza breathed, knowing what it implied.
“Solid steel, too.” Aaron added. “I can’t see the fires getting trough that.”
/////
It was Vilicus’ turn to lead the patrol. Surprisingly, the assassinations of Rockpeke and the other high ranking Dark Dragons had very little effect on the operations of the army. However, the disappearance of the Pure Dragons did have an effect; without an enemy, the ‘patrols’ had become nothing meer than sporadic raids.
“I heard the humans were massing to the North-East,” One of the patrol members hissed.
“What are they gonna do? Have a thee party with the demons?” Another snickered in response.
Like so many chittering bats, Vilicus thought, giving the order to take flight.
/////
“Ha! I wouldn’t mess with us now if I was a monster of a demon!” Aaron laughs as he strapps his new equipment, a longsword and a high-powered sniper rifle, slung across each other on his back. He turns to grab his ammo pack, and his eyes fall on a bright, stumbling figure. “Sven! What in the world are u doing with that armor?”
“It’s for protection!” Sven calls, finally finding his footing.
“Protection from what? Dragon-fire will burn right through that! And I bet it’s pretty heavy too, think u can walk around in it all day?” Aaron notices Karaza weighing a stone in her hand, focused on Sven’s helmet, and barely suppresses a laugh. Karaza releases the stone and it strikes its target, causing Sven’s helm to ring like a bell. “Ha! And it doesn’t seem to protect u from rocks, either.” Aaron and Karaza laugh as Sven loses his balance once more.
“Fine! I’ll take it off,” Sven grumbles, tossing the helm aside. “It’s too heavy anyhow.”
Karaza sighs. “So, what now? We’ve got plenty of supplies, and-” Karaza feels a chill. “We’re not alone.”
The demons seem to rise out of the ash, three hairy brutes, baring their fangs and slavering. Aaron charges the nearest fiend, but, surprisingly, is blocked door Sven, who shoves his short, wide Gladius into the beast’s heart, killing it instantly. Aaron wheels around to face the seconde demon and cleanly removes its head. The final demon hesitates, and vanishes into thin air, fear overriding bloodlust.
“Well, that was weird,” Aaron mumbles, “Who invited them to the party?”
“Well, at least now u know u can use those swords of yours.” Karaza turns and looks into the distance. Did she just see a dragon’s aura? There it was again, an uncertain light flickering as if it was shining through a dark cloud. Maybe there is hope in this world.
/////
“… What? It’s over? I’m free of the darkness? I am… cleansed?” Vilicus did not understand; after his entire struggle, something else simply wiped the darkness away. His thoughts soon turned to Calana, did the same strange force cleanse her too? He leapt off the floor of his cave and took flight. Where would she be? There, her sparkling hide was visible door the pond, and there was something more, a glow of life that was absent in the other Dark Dragons. “Whoever u are, whatever u are, I can’t think of how to possibly thank you.” The being had gegeven Vilicus something all the word needs, Hope.
Vilicus lands volgende to Calana as calmly as possible and looks into her eyes. “My love, we are free.”
/////
Karaza spun the scale between her fingers. She found that if she focused just right, she could reshape its aura and produce strange effects. She was learning the basics of magic.
“Hey, Kara, think u can pass me that can of soup?” Sven asked. Karaza focused through the scale and pictured the can jumping straight into his hand. The can flies at Sven and he ducks, yelping in surprise.
“What the Devil was that!?” He cries as the can shoots over his head and hits the wall, dinging dully.
“Well,” Karaza answers, “That was a really bad throw; I guess I should have practiced a little first.”
“I was talking about u using magic!”
“Err, well it just kind of happened,” Karaza lied, “I guess I have a little witch in me.” She smiles, hoping Sven would drop the subject, despite its significance. He did, and turned to rescue the wayward can. Have I always had a little bit of magic? Karaza wondered. Whenever I do of say something weird like that, people just let it drop if I want it to go away.
/////
Night fell, and Vilicus and Calana took flight.
“So, what is our plan?” Calana asked, gliding beside Vilicus in the dark.
“I don’t know. I wasn’t ready yet, but we need to get away. We can think about the future when we are veilig in the present.” The two dragons flew through the night, the full moon lighting their way and glinting off their scales, creating two moving constellations that quickly crossed the sky.
/////
Karaza was dreaming. She was flying, surrounded door dragons. Ahead, there was a cave like the maw of a gigantic beast, and within, a bright regenboog of light, visible only to her seconde sight. She hangs back waiting for the dragons to pass through. Then she dives, her body glowing with magic, into the light, collapsing it behind herself.
Aaron was shaking Karaza and whispering excitedly. “-Side the cave, and they aren’t with the shadows!”
“What?” Karaza groaned, shaking off sleep and the colors of her dream.
“Dragons, outside,” Aaron repeated. “Come on, they’re good dragons.”
Good dragons? But they all left, they ran away and left only the Shadows. Karaza turned to the cave entrance, and immediately had to close her inner eye; the auras of the two beasts were blindingly bright, and even without her seconde sight they seemed to glow. Sven was standing there in front of them, tiny and awkward at their feet.
/////
Vilicus watched the little human curiously, when he and Calana had landed the human had jumped, brandished a stubby blade, and called back into the cave. Another call rang out from the cave and the human sheathed his sword, giving the dragons nervous looks. Now, two meer humans emerged from the cave; a male, slightly taller than the first; then a small female, not quite fully grown, but with a strange look of knowledge in her eyes.
“Are u sure they aren’t edible?” Calana asks Vilicus silently.
“Of course they are,” Vilicus replied in kind. “But I don’t think it would be polite, my love.”
Vilicus lowered his head to listen to the humans’ conversation. The two males step back, their hands falling to their weapons, but the female stood her ground and looked up at him, smiling.
“Hi, my name is Karaza.” She peeped, in the small, squeaky voice of a human.
/////
Karaza peered up at the black dragon, waiting patiently for a response.
“I am Vilicus.” He finally replied, in the deep voice of a dragon. He turns his massive head, indicating the bright scarlet dragon beside him. “And this is Calana.”
“Kara!” Sven whispers. “Be careful, they look hungry!”
“You do realize we can hear you, don’t you?” Calana asks, both offended and amused. Sven steps back, startled; and Aaron laughs.
“Sven, if you’re surprised door their hearing, wait until one of them spits a little fire.”
At Aaron’s words, Calana tosses her head slightly and blows a smoke ring at the unfortunate Sven, causing him to cringe slightly.
/////
“So you’re telling us that there’s a whole other world that these shadows can’t get to. Sounds like just another wild rumor to me.” Aaron was irritated. The dragons had gegeven plenty of useful information, but the one thing that stuck was the rumor of Eden, a realm that the Shadows could not reach.
“I think it’s true.” Karaza whispers.
“You too? Is everyone stuck on rumors? Well then I guess we’ll just waltz on over to wonderland and live the rest of our lives in peace.”
“It’s not that simple,” Calana zei in a soothing voice, “the Shadows can’t get there because the Door was sealed.”
“It’s never that simple.” Aaron sighs and sits on a ledge.
“Wait, I- I saw the Door! It was a bright, glowing light in the back of a cave.” Karaza turns to address everyone. “I- I’ve been having visions, something to do with this.” She pulls the dragon scale out of its hiding place, “It showed me the way.”
“That’s wonderful.” Aaron antwoorden sarcastically. “We’ll talk about it meer in the morning. Sven, first watch. Good night.” He lies over and covers himself with a thin blanket.
“What is wrong with him?” Vilicus asks.
“He’s not into fairy-tales.” Sven replies. Karaza glares at Aaron’s back and walks towards the cave opening. “Where are u off to?”
“Not far away.” She responds. “Oh, and u know what else is a fairy-tale? Dragons.”
”Feisty one, isn’t she?” Vilicus asks Calana.
“Yes, she has brand in her.” Calana watches Karaza as she climbs the slope door the cave.
“I know what I saw.” Karaza sits alone on the mountainside far above the cave. “There is a Door, a gateway into another world.” She pulls out the scale and stares at it. “Why won’t u speak to me? Why only toon me your memories, u horrid beast!”
“Is something wrong…?”
“Yes! Your words are not meant for me! It’s as if I don’t exist! As if u don’t care that an entire world is covered in darkness, and is dying!” Karaza grips the scale, cutting herself on the edges. “Why? Just… why?” Why is it that no one ever cares about me? Karaza starts to cry.
“Why do u weep, little one?” came a voice from nowhere.
“Because this world is dead, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.”
Calana snakes her head up, and looks sadly at Karaza. “Dead, u say? Yet we live, of are we naught but phantoms?”
“I- I don’t know, the world has become so cold, and dark. Maybe this is the land of the dead.” Karaza looks at the blood on her hand, barely feeling the pain.
“Child, u bleed, is that not proof enough that we live?” As Calana spoke, she eased herself closer, easily scaling the mountainside as she came level with Karaza. “As long as there is life, there is hope. Let me toon you.”
“What?” Before Karaza could protest, she felt Calana’s mind push on hers, and the mountainside vanished.
Karaza was alone, she was hurt and afraid, they were gone, taken door the darkness. She knew she was next, she could sense the dark ones coming back… Darkness, brief flashes of light, scenes of horror, all made worse door the fact that it was her, despite the protests of her tortured mind, she was the bron of the suffering she saw… A faint voice, musical, but incomprehensible, calls to her, piercing the darkness, freeing her mind from its bonds, giving her life once more.
“This is all I can do for you.” Calana withdraws, her own eyes holding tears. “Good-night, little one.”
....
“This world is lost…” The dragon’s words echoed in Karaza’s mind. She had been hiding near the gathering place, hoping for a chance to steal some of the dragons’ supplies before the great beasts flew away to their new home. She leaves the safety of the rocks now and sighs. “So much for getting some loot.” She looks around and notices a faint gleam. Karaza pounces on it and stares, breathless. “A dragon’s scale! Finally, a little luck!” She looks around now, and finds another wonder: a bridge of ice, tonen absolutely no sign of melting despite the bright sunlight. She walks over to the bridge and marvels at the clear surface. “Unbelievable,” she touches the ice, it is completely dry. “And cold!” she cries, pulling her hand away. She wanders, holding the scale tight to her chest “So, they’re gone…” a flight of dark dragons passes over, their auras chilling the air. “Except for them.” She shudders as she remembers. The beasts flying over, spilling brand from their jaws, leaving nothing except ash and death. The cackling laugh of the demons, as they gather the few survivors and take them away. “Lost…” She stumbles, crying out as she nearly loses her grip on the blue-gray gem. Despite the brightness of the day, it was the only color she could see, everything else had lost color in her eyes, gray and black and hopeless since the dragons left. She stumbles again and lets herself fall in the shade of some bushes, sobbing uncontrollably. Then, suddenly, it was night.
The sound of a brand wakes Karaza. She opens her eyes a slit and looks toward the sound. Two grizzled men are staring into the night while talking.
“I swear, it’s the end of the world, there are those evil dragons and all these demons wandering around, they give me the creeps.”
“Of course they creep u out, they’re monsters! I heard that if they catch u they take u to their mines and put u under a spell so that u can’t stop working, no matter how tired u are, u just keep going until u drop. And when the demons find u like that they take u apart and-”
“That’s enough of that, Aaron, I won’t be able to sleep after hearing stories like that.”
“Well that’s perfect,” Aaron responds, “Because u got first watch, I’ll check on the girl before I go to sleep.”
With that, Aaron moves toward Karaza, she scrambles to her feet ready to run.
“Ah, you’re awake, good. I’m Aaron, and the clod over there is Sven. Come closer to the fire, we don’t bite.”
Karaza nods and wobbles to the fire. Aaron hands her a bottle and she happily takes a drink. “Thank you. My name is Karaza; would u happen to have some spare food? I’m hungry.”
“Nothing can be ‘spare’ in this world except misery, but yes, we have a little” Aaron settles down and passes a small bag to Karaza. “If u need anything else, u can ask Sven. Don’t worry; we’ll take good care of you.”
Karaza nibbles on some meat from the bag and regards the two men closely. Aaron’s aura had already faded slightly in his sleep, but it was a pleasant yellow. Sven’s was green, but tinged with shades of nervousness and worry. She puts the bag back and examines the scale, its surface glossy and smooth. This, she thought, this is hope, this gem will help me find a way. She felt the presence of a demon, but it was heading the other way, and she did not mention it.
"Dragons all,
Dragons we.
Call beyond
Time and Space.
Gentle Air,
Grant us wind.
Lift we our wings
In exaltation.
Fierce Fire,
Keep us strong.
Our breath which
Keeps enemies at bay.
Strong Earth,
Give us dens.
u make our
Nests and tombs.
Noble Time,
Keep us young.
Beautiful Water,
Fill our rivers.
Life and Death,
Watch our souls.
Powerful Magic,
Fuel our bodies.
Great Draco,
Our souls are yours.
Dragons all,
Dragons we.
Now we fly
'Gainst our ancient Foe.
Great Ones,
From beyond the stars,
We call to You."
The song came out of nowhere, caressing Karaza’s mind, and then it was gone. It seemed like a memory, but she had never heard it before. She looks down at the scale in time to see an aura fade from it, but she could not make out anything other than the fact that it had been there.
Morning came, and after a scant breakfast Karaza found herself plodding after Sven and Aaron. “Where are we going?”
“To the mountains, supposedly there’s a cave up there that the Dark Ones can’t get near, it should be a little safer there.” Aaron’s voice sounded hopeful, but Karaza saw his aura flare with uncertainty.
“But why can’t they go near it? A cave in the mountains doesn’t sound so special.”
“I don’t know, but even without any sort of special protection, a cave is still safer than open ground, and there’s game in the forests on the mountainside, so we won’t go hungry.”
“Speaking of hungry, I’m starving!” Sven called from the rear.
Aaron sighed; Sven had been like that ever since they met. “Sven, we just had breakfast, can’t u wait until noon; that’s when we should reach the cave. u can scout ahead and find some rabbits if u want, but you’d still need to cook them. And we can’t do that until we’re there.”
Karaza headed to one side of the path and looked at the scale. She focused on it, trying to get a reaction from it. “Anyone there? Hello?” She called silently, hoping for a response. She stops, feeling something out of place. “Demons.” She whispered, holding out her arm to stop her companions. “I hope u know some way of killing them.”
“Err, yeah,” Aaron muttered, “Find a dragon and beg him to save us.”
“So, we’re doomed.” Sven zei in a low voice.
Karaza shook her head, “They haven’t noticed us yet, if we go into the woods on the left, we may be able to get by.”
“Well we definitely have confidence to spare.”
“Nothing can be ‘spare’ in this world except misery.” Karaza smirked, “But yes, we have a little.”
As the group slinks through the forest, Karaza watches the far side for signs of the demons. She had to rely on her normal sight, as demons had a feeling to them, rather than an aura. She spots one eager fiend, waiting near the edge; a hideous creature with coarse hair over its entire body, its limbs thin, its fangs rotten, but still razor sharp, and its horns tightly curled.
“So, Karaza, How did u know those demons where there?” Sven asked once Karaza sounded the all clear.
Karaza hesitated slightly. “I- I had a feeling, that’s all.” She was telling the truth, but Sven noticed the hesitation and knew there was something more.
Karaza stopped dead again. The cave was just in sight, but that’s not what she saw. Sven, alert for strange behavior, saw her staring and futilely tried to see what her focus was. But Karaza could see it clearly; a net of life, a uithangbord of power, a shield of light. The barrier stood, a ball of glowing threads, but it was in ruins. The magic torn and faded, holding no safety, it was nothing but the sign of a lost battle. Yet the power was there, and Karaza could see it was the same as the aura she glimpsed from the scale. This dragon was here; maybe I can reach it from this place.
Once inside, even Sven could tell the cave’s history. “It’s a dragon’s den.”
“Yes,” Karaza breathed, “A dragon’s den.” She noticed another glow of magic and moved toward it, starting as she heard a crack under her foot; the remains of a dragon egg.
“I shall name her… Clat,” Came the voice from the scale again, stronger, but still a memory. Karaza shook the feeling and reached for the glow, retrieving a crystal that was both burning and freezing. Physically, it was clear with a purple center, which seemed to shimmer like a trapped flame. But on the plane of spirit, it shown with a dazzling multitude of colors, twinkling and shifting ceaselessly.
“Demon-spawn.” Karaza turned to find Sven standing over her, his eyes burning with hate. “That is how u knew those demons where waiting there, hell, u probably told them to be there! And u hesi-“
“Sven! Enough, if she had the demons waiting, why would she warn us? Why would she toon us how to get away?”
“To gain out trust for some kinda plot!”
“Why go through all the trouble? She could have let them catch us and put us under a spell to enslave us.”
At this point, Sven may have seen his foolishness; if a demon had not appeared at the entrance.
“She calls them!” Sven cries, dropping to the floor in a panic. Karaza grabs her scale, an unlikely weapon, and holds it like a dagger. The demon’s eyes skip over the quivering form of Sven and lock on to Karaza’s defiant features. Aaron rushes the demon with a large branch, but is pushed away. The demon moves toward Karaza. “I beg of you, help me!” She cries with her mind and voice. Then time stops.
In Karaza’s hand, the scale’s aura flares into a bright flame; her mind clears and her arm begins to verplaats as if it has its own mind. Karaza’s body twists itself in an intricate dance, the scale flashes across the demon’s hide, tearing its flesh, burning the hate and jealousy and bloodlust out. A final cut, far deeper than the scale’s physical form could penetrate, rent the monster in two.
Time restarts.
Karaza looks at the scale in her hand, then down at the demon’s broken body. She knows that she is the one that killed it, but all she remembers is a bright light. The demon’s dead arm flops over, striking Sven, who cries out mindlessly.
“It’s dead.” Karaza’s voice is hollow. “I-I killed it, it won’t bother us again.”
“No, it won’t.” Aaron was back on his feet. “Sven, Get up! Apologize.” Sven gets up and tries to speak, but all he can do is nod to Karaza and slink to a corner of the cave.”Bah, clearly this cave being special was just a rumor.” Aaron sighs. “Well, I guess I’ll get rid of the body, I for one am not sleeping with a demon, even if it is dead.”
/////
Vilicus awoke and immediately knew something was different. He resisted the urge to test the bonds on his mind; it would only draw attention to him. He walked to the opening of the cave and looked up. A patrol was returning, and he recognized Calana, her scales like a mantel of rubies, at the lead. At the sight of her, the cracks in the suffocating shell of darkness widened, allowing Vilicus’s withered soul to drink in light – but only a little. “When I escape,” Vilicus thought, “I will free her, too.”
/////
Karaza, Sven, and Aaron where heading for the remains of a burnt town in zoek of weapons. Sven had mentioned the need to find guns for protection, but Aaron shook his head. “Guns won’t break through a dragon’s scales, and they won’t put a big enough hole in a demon.” Aaron paused, “However, a good, old - fashioned sword should do the trick. As long as u don’t cut yourself.”
Aaron noticed that Karaza seemed withdrawn and motioned for Sven to her. Sven knew what he had to say and slowed his pace, allowing Karaza to draw even with him.
“Kara,” he zei softly, “I - I’m sorry about that whole thing, it’s just, I had a weird feeling, like u could see into my soul of something.” Glancing at Sven’s aura, Karaza allowed herself a slight smile. Indeed, she could; in a way. His aura was radiating his embarrassment and uncertainty and, on a deeper level, it showed his character in shifting, shimmering colors.
“I understand, I do seem to have that effect on people.”
They reach the charred remains of the town. There was no stench of death; all the bodies had been burnt away door the dark fire. Despite Aaron’s arguments, they all hoped to find some kind of firearms and ammunition, but every shell they found had detonated in the heat of the flames. Sven was crossing the empty space where a rather large house once stood when he fell vooruit, voorwaarts with a cry. Aaron and Karaza jogged toward him and, seeing that he was fully recovered and only slightly embarrassed, examined the disturbed ash where he had fallen. They both notice the raised lip at the same time.
“It’s a trapdoor,” Karaza breathed, knowing what it implied.
“Solid steel, too.” Aaron added. “I can’t see the fires getting trough that.”
/////
It was Vilicus’ turn to lead the patrol. Surprisingly, the assassinations of Rockpeke and the other high ranking Dark Dragons had very little effect on the operations of the army. However, the disappearance of the Pure Dragons did have an effect; without an enemy, the ‘patrols’ had become nothing meer than sporadic raids.
“I heard the humans were massing to the North-East,” One of the patrol members hissed.
“What are they gonna do? Have a thee party with the demons?” Another snickered in response.
Like so many chittering bats, Vilicus thought, giving the order to take flight.
/////
“Ha! I wouldn’t mess with us now if I was a monster of a demon!” Aaron laughs as he strapps his new equipment, a longsword and a high-powered sniper rifle, slung across each other on his back. He turns to grab his ammo pack, and his eyes fall on a bright, stumbling figure. “Sven! What in the world are u doing with that armor?”
“It’s for protection!” Sven calls, finally finding his footing.
“Protection from what? Dragon-fire will burn right through that! And I bet it’s pretty heavy too, think u can walk around in it all day?” Aaron notices Karaza weighing a stone in her hand, focused on Sven’s helmet, and barely suppresses a laugh. Karaza releases the stone and it strikes its target, causing Sven’s helm to ring like a bell. “Ha! And it doesn’t seem to protect u from rocks, either.” Aaron and Karaza laugh as Sven loses his balance once more.
“Fine! I’ll take it off,” Sven grumbles, tossing the helm aside. “It’s too heavy anyhow.”
Karaza sighs. “So, what now? We’ve got plenty of supplies, and-” Karaza feels a chill. “We’re not alone.”
The demons seem to rise out of the ash, three hairy brutes, baring their fangs and slavering. Aaron charges the nearest fiend, but, surprisingly, is blocked door Sven, who shoves his short, wide Gladius into the beast’s heart, killing it instantly. Aaron wheels around to face the seconde demon and cleanly removes its head. The final demon hesitates, and vanishes into thin air, fear overriding bloodlust.
“Well, that was weird,” Aaron mumbles, “Who invited them to the party?”
“Well, at least now u know u can use those swords of yours.” Karaza turns and looks into the distance. Did she just see a dragon’s aura? There it was again, an uncertain light flickering as if it was shining through a dark cloud. Maybe there is hope in this world.
/////
“… What? It’s over? I’m free of the darkness? I am… cleansed?” Vilicus did not understand; after his entire struggle, something else simply wiped the darkness away. His thoughts soon turned to Calana, did the same strange force cleanse her too? He leapt off the floor of his cave and took flight. Where would she be? There, her sparkling hide was visible door the pond, and there was something more, a glow of life that was absent in the other Dark Dragons. “Whoever u are, whatever u are, I can’t think of how to possibly thank you.” The being had gegeven Vilicus something all the word needs, Hope.
Vilicus lands volgende to Calana as calmly as possible and looks into her eyes. “My love, we are free.”
/////
Karaza spun the scale between her fingers. She found that if she focused just right, she could reshape its aura and produce strange effects. She was learning the basics of magic.
“Hey, Kara, think u can pass me that can of soup?” Sven asked. Karaza focused through the scale and pictured the can jumping straight into his hand. The can flies at Sven and he ducks, yelping in surprise.
“What the Devil was that!?” He cries as the can shoots over his head and hits the wall, dinging dully.
“Well,” Karaza answers, “That was a really bad throw; I guess I should have practiced a little first.”
“I was talking about u using magic!”
“Err, well it just kind of happened,” Karaza lied, “I guess I have a little witch in me.” She smiles, hoping Sven would drop the subject, despite its significance. He did, and turned to rescue the wayward can. Have I always had a little bit of magic? Karaza wondered. Whenever I do of say something weird like that, people just let it drop if I want it to go away.
/////
Night fell, and Vilicus and Calana took flight.
“So, what is our plan?” Calana asked, gliding beside Vilicus in the dark.
“I don’t know. I wasn’t ready yet, but we need to get away. We can think about the future when we are veilig in the present.” The two dragons flew through the night, the full moon lighting their way and glinting off their scales, creating two moving constellations that quickly crossed the sky.
/////
Karaza was dreaming. She was flying, surrounded door dragons. Ahead, there was a cave like the maw of a gigantic beast, and within, a bright regenboog of light, visible only to her seconde sight. She hangs back waiting for the dragons to pass through. Then she dives, her body glowing with magic, into the light, collapsing it behind herself.
Aaron was shaking Karaza and whispering excitedly. “-Side the cave, and they aren’t with the shadows!”
“What?” Karaza groaned, shaking off sleep and the colors of her dream.
“Dragons, outside,” Aaron repeated. “Come on, they’re good dragons.”
Good dragons? But they all left, they ran away and left only the Shadows. Karaza turned to the cave entrance, and immediately had to close her inner eye; the auras of the two beasts were blindingly bright, and even without her seconde sight they seemed to glow. Sven was standing there in front of them, tiny and awkward at their feet.
/////
Vilicus watched the little human curiously, when he and Calana had landed the human had jumped, brandished a stubby blade, and called back into the cave. Another call rang out from the cave and the human sheathed his sword, giving the dragons nervous looks. Now, two meer humans emerged from the cave; a male, slightly taller than the first; then a small female, not quite fully grown, but with a strange look of knowledge in her eyes.
“Are u sure they aren’t edible?” Calana asks Vilicus silently.
“Of course they are,” Vilicus replied in kind. “But I don’t think it would be polite, my love.”
Vilicus lowered his head to listen to the humans’ conversation. The two males step back, their hands falling to their weapons, but the female stood her ground and looked up at him, smiling.
“Hi, my name is Karaza.” She peeped, in the small, squeaky voice of a human.
/////
Karaza peered up at the black dragon, waiting patiently for a response.
“I am Vilicus.” He finally replied, in the deep voice of a dragon. He turns his massive head, indicating the bright scarlet dragon beside him. “And this is Calana.”
“Kara!” Sven whispers. “Be careful, they look hungry!”
“You do realize we can hear you, don’t you?” Calana asks, both offended and amused. Sven steps back, startled; and Aaron laughs.
“Sven, if you’re surprised door their hearing, wait until one of them spits a little fire.”
At Aaron’s words, Calana tosses her head slightly and blows a smoke ring at the unfortunate Sven, causing him to cringe slightly.
/////
“So you’re telling us that there’s a whole other world that these shadows can’t get to. Sounds like just another wild rumor to me.” Aaron was irritated. The dragons had gegeven plenty of useful information, but the one thing that stuck was the rumor of Eden, a realm that the Shadows could not reach.
“I think it’s true.” Karaza whispers.
“You too? Is everyone stuck on rumors? Well then I guess we’ll just waltz on over to wonderland and live the rest of our lives in peace.”
“It’s not that simple,” Calana zei in a soothing voice, “the Shadows can’t get there because the Door was sealed.”
“It’s never that simple.” Aaron sighs and sits on a ledge.
“Wait, I- I saw the Door! It was a bright, glowing light in the back of a cave.” Karaza turns to address everyone. “I- I’ve been having visions, something to do with this.” She pulls the dragon scale out of its hiding place, “It showed me the way.”
“That’s wonderful.” Aaron antwoorden sarcastically. “We’ll talk about it meer in the morning. Sven, first watch. Good night.” He lies over and covers himself with a thin blanket.
“What is wrong with him?” Vilicus asks.
“He’s not into fairy-tales.” Sven replies. Karaza glares at Aaron’s back and walks towards the cave opening. “Where are u off to?”
“Not far away.” She responds. “Oh, and u know what else is a fairy-tale? Dragons.”
”Feisty one, isn’t she?” Vilicus asks Calana.
“Yes, she has brand in her.” Calana watches Karaza as she climbs the slope door the cave.
“I know what I saw.” Karaza sits alone on the mountainside far above the cave. “There is a Door, a gateway into another world.” She pulls out the scale and stares at it. “Why won’t u speak to me? Why only toon me your memories, u horrid beast!”
“Is something wrong…?”
“Yes! Your words are not meant for me! It’s as if I don’t exist! As if u don’t care that an entire world is covered in darkness, and is dying!” Karaza grips the scale, cutting herself on the edges. “Why? Just… why?” Why is it that no one ever cares about me? Karaza starts to cry.
“Why do u weep, little one?” came a voice from nowhere.
“Because this world is dead, and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.”
Calana snakes her head up, and looks sadly at Karaza. “Dead, u say? Yet we live, of are we naught but phantoms?”
“I- I don’t know, the world has become so cold, and dark. Maybe this is the land of the dead.” Karaza looks at the blood on her hand, barely feeling the pain.
“Child, u bleed, is that not proof enough that we live?” As Calana spoke, she eased herself closer, easily scaling the mountainside as she came level with Karaza. “As long as there is life, there is hope. Let me toon you.”
“What?” Before Karaza could protest, she felt Calana’s mind push on hers, and the mountainside vanished.
Karaza was alone, she was hurt and afraid, they were gone, taken door the darkness. She knew she was next, she could sense the dark ones coming back… Darkness, brief flashes of light, scenes of horror, all made worse door the fact that it was her, despite the protests of her tortured mind, she was the bron of the suffering she saw… A faint voice, musical, but incomprehensible, calls to her, piercing the darkness, freeing her mind from its bonds, giving her life once more.
“This is all I can do for you.” Calana withdraws, her own eyes holding tears. “Good-night, little one.”
....
We are going separate ways.
We must leave each other,
Though I regret it,
There is nothing either of us
Can do.
We are going separate ways.
The bright light shines in our futures,
For the separate ways we go
Are the best for each of us.
We must leave for the good of it,
Though I don't want to,
And I know u don't either.
But it is important that we do.
It is never easy
Doing what we do the worst,
Leaving each other,
And the thoughts that we are...
Best friends...leaving each other...
We must go our separate ways.
For our own good.
And we pray that one day...
We will meet each other again.
And we will.
We must leave each other,
Though I regret it,
There is nothing either of us
Can do.
We are going separate ways.
The bright light shines in our futures,
For the separate ways we go
Are the best for each of us.
We must leave for the good of it,
Though I don't want to,
And I know u don't either.
But it is important that we do.
It is never easy
Doing what we do the worst,
Leaving each other,
And the thoughts that we are...
Best friends...leaving each other...
We must go our separate ways.
For our own good.
And we pray that one day...
We will meet each other again.
And we will.
On a starry sky
In the moonlight
At midnight
When I think of you
My hart-, hart beats faster
For there is no one like you
Who makes my dag perfect
Make my body to go numb
Lose myself
And forever hold that smile on my face
Its true that we are
Now on our separate ways
With the promises aside
That we'll meet again
For again might also mean
The volgende moment
of maybe never
u may verplaats on
Find your perfect princess
In this imperfect world
But to me
You'll always be
My prince charming
And thus the vraag remains
Should I verplaats on?
Should I forget?
Is this the destiny of my life?
Only time will tell
But until then
You'll hold a fragment of my soul
For my mind wants to verplaats on
But my hart-, hart stays persistent
That you'll one dag turn unto me
In the moonlight
At midnight
When I think of you
My hart-, hart beats faster
For there is no one like you
Who makes my dag perfect
Make my body to go numb
Lose myself
And forever hold that smile on my face
Its true that we are
Now on our separate ways
With the promises aside
That we'll meet again
For again might also mean
The volgende moment
of maybe never
u may verplaats on
Find your perfect princess
In this imperfect world
But to me
You'll always be
My prince charming
And thus the vraag remains
Should I verplaats on?
Should I forget?
Is this the destiny of my life?
Only time will tell
But until then
You'll hold a fragment of my soul
For my mind wants to verplaats on
But my hart-, hart stays persistent
That you'll one dag turn unto me