A Darkening Sky

There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. There couldn’t be. Few knew what sort of valley this was and Sekra knew it was time to leave. She had lived longer than any in her flock and could see the signs few others would notice. And have the willpower few others could muster to move first. Bubbles shot up past her head again. Yes. It was time to go. Sekra rose her great bulk out of the steaming, mineral laden pool, disturbing large rocklike mounds as she dragged herself up onto the muddy bank and slowly stretched out her wings. She had grown stronger during her time here, and larger. Taller than the great oak from my homeland she mused while scratching off the hardy moss that had grown over one nostril. But along with her increased size came tight old skin and a deep hunger that was just beginning to wake.

Back in the water the large mounds began to move, roused by her extraction. More of the dragons began unfurling themselves and stretching, pulling themselves slowly up onto the muddy bank and shaking out their wings, pumping life back into their tight, leathery limbs. Some dragons hissed at each other as muck was shaken onto them. Others hissed or trumpeted at the air, warm by any animals standards but not nearly as warm as the steaming pools in which they had slumbered. Near Sekra, an angered Calda snapped at Gaunt’s dripping wing, “You did that on purpose!” She spat, as more of the cooled water fell on her from the larger dragons shaking.

There were now five dragons along the bank of the thermal pool. Some had begun to scratch and tear at their old browned hide and Sekra desperately wished to join them, to rid herself of the horrid tightness. But there were yet more in her flock that needed waking and she would see to that first. Ten more rock coloured dragons slept in the pool across from hers. The pool was shallower than she remembered it being when they had settled here. Yet another sign it was time to move on. She moved over to it and risked walking claw deep into it’s dark, seductive warmth. Careful not to sink too far, she darted her head out and struck the hind of one of the larger sleepers. If anything was to have a chance of rousing Tesk, it would be anger. Sure enough, the mound unfurled and sluggishly lunged at Sekra but she was already back on the bank. “You are only older by one Sleep, Sekra!” came Tesk’s rasping voice as he dragged himself out of the silty floor of the thermal. His quick, heavy movements had been enough to wake the others but she waited, watching to be sure. During the last Sleep, one of her flock had set his head on a piece of earth that sank while they slept. He had been too deep to wake as the water and minerals replaced air. Satisfied all were moving to the banks, she finally found a spot near where she had first come out and started scratching at the tight skin that was bothering her more now it was drying.

All around the thermal pools dragons were tearing off their shed. Eating what sloughed off for the extra kick of minerals that had accumulated on it. Underneath were the deep, iridescent colours of true dragons. Prey should have lost their fear of them by now. Sekra took a moment to wonder about the screeching apes that had harried her once with sharp sticks, and knew a moment’s annoyance at the thought of their foolish tool making. Creatures were born with the tools they needed. She hoped they had become bored and gone back to their scavenging, who knows how much trouble it could be to get an easy meal with ambitious bipeds around. No matter. The land and sky belonged to dragons. If the apes had begun to think highly of themselves, she will just have to remind them of their place.

Up on the rocky escarpment bordering the other side of the pools, a prey bird cried out in alarm as a scalding pillar of water shot into the air, hissing as it fell back to earth. Some of the dragons lifted their heads to look. More in hungry curiosity than concern, they swiftly decided the bird wasn’t worth the effort and went back to their preening. Tesk folded his dark wings to looked at Sekra from across the pool and grudgingly nodded. Yes, it was indeed time to go.