Clambering metals in the night interrupt an otherwise peaceful slumber. A group of knights stormed a cave filled with coins and jewels. A symphony of coloured riches that lay as the dragon's bed. They paint the walls with beautiful lights as the armoured mob's torches lit the treasured cave. The large dragon thrashes about with it's tail and claws, taking out some of the brave soldiers that dared enter the scaled beast's abode. They scream and groan as their metal apparel slams against rock, yet their resolve is mighty. Fire from the beast's mouth scorches some others, yet they push on. The dragon is soon overwhelmed by the number against it. It did all it could, but there were too many to combat against with their aria of weaponry. As she lay defeated, one young knight, too scared to enter the initial fray, stayed back to start collecting the lost treasures. The beautiful colours no longer danced on the walls of the cave, only death loomed there now. Rustling came from under the mound of riches. The dragon had a child, presumably why it fought so hard. She was protecting her child from the human invaders. The dragon child shook in fear with its reveal to the knight. The poor thing had witnessed the end of its mother's life and this might spell the the same fate for it as well. The knight, however, took pity on the scaly child and would not harm it. He left the cave for a moment to see if others returned to assist in the acquiring of the treasures, and there they came with carts to load, yet far enough still for the little dragon's escape. The knight rushed in and the dragon staggered back, caught off guard while nuzzling its mother gone. The knight waved the dragon to leave the cave, swinging his arms frantically to maybe scare the child to flee. The dragon took heed, ran out of its home and took flight into the dawn's rising hours. The knight let out a sigh of relief as the others returned none the wiser to the dragon child's existence. He looked into the sunrise, hoping he did the right thing.
20 years later. The now grown dragon awakes from the nightmares that replay that night of horror every so often. The dragon cannot take the visions of its mother gasping as blades and arrows cut her life short. It has lived a peaceful life hidden amongst some woodland creatures for the last two decades, but the nightmares plague it still. It drives the creature mad. It paces as it makes a final decision to act or not. The dragon cannot bear it any further after deliberation. The scaled monster takes flight and heads to the village near its old cavernous home. An unsuspecting village, thought rid of the scaled beast that once took its treasures, now meets its vengeful child. Villagers lay stunned as they see their end fly over them. Thunderous claps in the skies as the dragon beats its wings. The dragon looks at the knights, now ready for battle with angered hatred. Without thought, the dragon unleashes its fiery wrath upon them. It stayed far enough from their weapons, knowing well what these men are capable of with them. the people of the village are helpless with this intelligent beast laying waste. With most of the townspeople escaping or done with, the dragon lands to savour its revenge, and attacks some weakened knights with claws and tail swinging violently. Eventually it stalls as it sees a man protecting his children, terrified. He recognizes the man as the one who spared him. Just there protecting his children like its mother did long ago. The man recognizes the beast as well and pleads. The dragon stumbles back and reflects on what it has done. It had become the very thing its nightmares wrought on it for years. The dragon flaps its might wings and flies off. The man breathes a sigh of relief and hugs his children. The dragon knows the cycle must end and flies far away. What has it done, it thinks. No more of this. Not again. Not ever.
About the Creator
Keep reading
More stories from Adam Franco and writers in Fiction and other communities.
Grimm Tidings
Racing footsteps rage forward on the thick ice of the frozen pond. Roars of opposing forces cut through the crisp, cold air. A battle of myths, made manifest, is to be had. A grotesque, giant, monster goose shrieks a horrifying sound as its enemies draw near. The four women who had summoned their mother goose, were engulfed by the very monster they thought to rely on. They screamed in horror as they were swallowed into the monster's body. It needed the energy to fight the encroaching warriors of fable, so it took it from its own kin. Seven bearded dwarves lead the charge, with a beast and five knightly heroes, one whom rode atop a big wolf, following suit. The two Grimm brothers, Karl and Carl stayed back to watch the ensuing mayhem. The child knight, Ruby and her wolf companion, Fen, ran alongside the beast, Adam, to come up with a quick plan of attack. "Ruby and I will attack one of its wings. Come up with a way to get at its head while we have it distracted," Fen demanded as he ran ahead. "Right, on it," Adam caught up to the dwarves, "I'm going to start throwing you at the head of whatever the hell this is. Try to get its eyes, if not do some bigger damage." "I like the way you think, laddie," the dwarf leader exclaimed. "Alright, furball, gimme a good throw," another dwarf said. Fen leapt into the air with Ruby holding tightly onto his tufts of fur, as he bit down on one of the monster goose's wings. It shrieked in pain as Fen pulled the wing downwards. Ruby climbed over Fen and onto the wing and swung her axe into the wing multiple times, trying to cleave it off. The monster goose was about to bite either Fen or Ruby, but Adam started chucking the dwarves at her head. The dwarves let out war cries as they flew through the air and grabbed hold of the ghastly feathers, as they landed on the monster. They began to strike the monster with their pickaxes and hammers. They eventually were able to strike the eyes and blind her. She shook her head more violently and the dwarves were tossed about. They grunted as they hit the ground, some having the wind knocked from them. The armour would see to them having little damage though. The other four knightly heroes, Allie, Anabelle, Pearl and Philip struck the torso with their swords and spears. The monster goose started thrashing about in pain, knocking them all back. Fen saved Ruby from hitting the ground too hard and the dwarves got up to pull the others away from harm. They watched as the monster goose flailed about blindly and bled out. It was almost sad if it weren't a malicious monster. They let out a collective sigh of relief as it lay dead and took a moment.
By Adam Franco4 years ago in Fiction
The Path to Salvation
The late autumn evening air filled the monk's lungs, but it wasn't the season that chilled his bones. The heavy-handed presence of evil he had sensed upon entering the woods surrounding this mountain village had not bothered to conceal itself from him.
By Made in DNAa day ago in Fiction
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.