Fire in the Valley

Chapter 1

There weren’t always dragons in the valley.

The Great Valley, once home to the main waterway between the Fortuna Lake to the west, and Angels Lagoon to the east. It was the great divide between the ocean and the earth. Salt water became fresh, and the riverbed turned from sand into beautiful rich soil, from which much of our food was grown and traded to us by the mir-people that resided in the river’s depths.

The banks of the river were equally lush. Long stretches of tall grasses were interrupted by fauna-rich mudflats. Eventually though, the land got step and rocky, rising quickly away to form breathtaking cliffs that towered over the entire valley, allowing one to see almost to the ocean. But most marvelous of all, were the threads of magic that were woven into the very current of the river. It allowed the wildlife to adapt from fresh to salt water, and salt to fresh water. It let life blossom. It let life thrive in the valley.

Dry, crunchy grass cut into my arms and legs as I lay on my stomach, my eyes scanning the rocky cliffs edge, and the valley beyond. Dust and dirt blew into my face, stinging my eyes and coating my nasal passages. Squinting through the tears that pricked at the corners of my eyes, I watched the party of villagers wandering cautiously but quickly to the water edge. It was a weekly task, to collect what limited food and magical essence we could, that we needed to survive. I’d been put on watch duty, to ensure the other villagers were safe in their mission. Not that there was much I could do against the dragons.

They’d first invaded maybe three years ago. Creatures of fire and death, children of the queen of hell herself, they’d made their home right where the magic flowed, and utterly ravaged it. The flames that covered their demonic, scaled bodies scorched the earth where they stepped, and the river would dry up the moment they approached. They seemed to take pleasure in guarding the river and its resources from all those who would try to take it, despite not even needing to drink from it. They seemed to enjoy our suffering, it was disgusting.

A dusty cloud settled as the townspeople gathered at the waters edge, no longer kicking up sand with their feet. Now for the most dangerous part of the mission, the collection. I watched for a moment as canteens and flasks were taken out and uncorked, before scanning my gaze along the parched, desert-like riverbank. As depressing as the barren landscape was, lifeless was better than the alternative.

I let my eyes scan in the other direction, to the right of the group. At first, I saw only more deserted landscape. But a sharp glint caught my eye from behind a clump of grey boulders that sprouted with dead, brown weeds.

I squinted through the grains of sand that stung my eyes, and terror cinched my heart as I recognized the long, slender body covered in red and brown scales. Some were heavily dulled and some reflected the sunlight perfectly, yet both inspired fear. Its face was the stuff of nightmares, peering out from behind the rock as it slowly crept around. It had a short snout, its mouth filled with an uncountable amount of needle like teeth. Finally, its eyes appeared, large and solid black like looking into a starless night sky.

“Dear god,” I murmured to myself, before pushing myself up to my knees and pulling my bow to my chest. Notching an arrow quickly, I took aim. I’d done this many times, and practiced it many more. The arrow was aimed not at the dragon, but half way between the dragon and my people. The head of the arrow was designed to generate a loud crackling noise, along with sparks and small flames. It would get the villagers' attention, and hopefully startle the dragon. I took a deep breath and held the bow steady; I had done this before.

I let the arrow fly, praying I’d given them enough time to react, to prepare, to fight. I’d seen dragons kill with the same ease as they breathe… I didn’t want to see it again. I couldn’t live with more lives lost on my watch.