Mother's Milk

“There weren't always dragons in the Valley!” - I heard Gymelda yell out as she dodged spears, arrows, and fire coming at her from the skies above.

The last queen of the druids, Amarantha, rode behind her best warrior as they weaved in and out of the hellfire raining down.

“I'd heard the stories about dragons in the Valley of Theros but, I never imagined it'd be like this!” Amarantha yelled back. “Just get us to cover! Quickly!”

The women rode on at top speed. Gymelda used her magic to create temporary shields while Amarantha summoned clouds and bursts of lightning to try to take down our sky army. It was definitely a sight to see as the pair scurried for cover.

“We need to get closer! They're getting away!” - roared Paulinius, the commander in charge, as he dug his heels into the sides of the red dragon he called, Chief. "We will retrieve the dragon sword!"

“But sir - if we dive too quickly, our dragons will become unstable! They're no longer used to these speeds!” - shouted Justinas, perhaps the most rational of all the kings' men.

“I don't care! We can't let them get away!” - Paulinius called back. “If those druids reach the lake, then we can say goodbye to this mission! Druids are pure evil! Look how they're already using the elements against us!”

They sped up and then turned sharply as Chief flew over the trees following the fugitives. If I had known what my fate would come to be, I'd have stayed back pretending to be ill. Nobody could have foreseen their diabolical plan.

“I see it!” - shouted Gymelda

“See what?!” - Amarantha quickly responded.

“The white lake! Just where Rathor the blind said it would be! It is Mother's Milk!”

“Quick! Let me take lead! There's great power in that body of water and when I tell you to, remove the shields and take cover best you can.”

“Are you certain?!” - Gymelda questioned.

“If that in fact is Mother's Milk, then I'm certain my magic will be at its strongest and the plan will succeed. I trust Rathor's visions.” - smiled Amarantha.

Chrysalis Lake was a bit of an anomaly in itself. Local townsfolk say the water's white sheen are tears from an angel. That a hundred years ago, in time of great famine, an angel appeared and cried upon the empty crater, overflowing the valley with the white water. The land grew green and became fertile producing crops and saving them from hunger. Outsiders say it was the work of witches and demons and the white milky-like water symbolizes death. A landscape drained of its beauty and nutrients. The water never freezes, no matter how cold it gets and any soul brave enough to bathe in it, comes out changed, be it bless'ed or damned.

Amarantha accelerated her speed and at the same time, Sir Paulinius and the rest of the sky army, lit up the horizon with fireballs as they closed in.

“Faster, Chief!!! Faster!!!!” Paulinius screamed and dug his feet in harder.

The mighty beast pressed on but still, Paulinius wanted him to go even faster. Chief was magnificent but, he was getting older and the speed of the descent was too much for him. He dove anyway but I could see the veins in his left eye starting to bulge.

“Sire!” - I roared. “Not so fast! We could lose Chief!”

Paulinius ignored me and unhooked the whip from Chief's carry pouch.

“He's old and the Dragon Sword is vital but if we all die in the attempt to retrieve it, your sky army will no longer exist.” - I said.

Paulinius shook his head. I knew he didn't care about the fate of any dragon. He was just a servant to the King, the real villain and commander of the Dragon Sword. There weren’t always dragons in the Valley of Theros but King Cyrenius made sure that there would be.

There was talk of a special tool that could control any dragon possessed by a witch named Linnea. It was her descendants who had used pure silver and magic forged from an ancient script then spun in threads of dragonsbane to design one of the most beautiful swords in all the land. Her elders had created the spell during the First War when humans wanted all witches and anything other worldly to perish. For the witches, it was only fair to burn away those who wanted to burn them so they sought out the dragons from Purthoth Peak to help them fight.

One night, the witches appeared a top the peak, cloaked with invisibility. They pierced the ground with the sword which in turn infused dragonsbane into all their food supply. When they fed upon the land, a deep sleep fell over them. The witches entered their lair and stabbed each dragon‘s tail rendering them bonded to the owner of the sword. They then used them to help win the war. Theros had no choice but to give them sanctuary thus allowing all dragons, druids, and anything magical to live together alongside humans in Kittapet Ridge. Dragons could roam free high upon the cliffs and had access to the beautiful sea and all the wild animals they wanted. At least until Cyrenius, great grandson of Theros became King.

Angered that for generations magic was allowed to be practiced throughout the land, his rage grew out of control. He thought witches were of dark magic and was afraid that they would rise up and eventually take over. He went mad and once his reign began, he captured Linnea, forced her to bind him to the sword, then had her killed. He made the dragons burn down their own land as well as the witches’ villages leaving them in ruins. Hundreds of innocent lives were lost. Those who survived fled and hid passing as human and practiced magic quietly from within their homes, never in public again.

Once the dragons had become homeless, he promised them refuge in the sky army and built them an underground fortress in the Valley of Theros. He said it would keep them safe while at rest but it was nothing but a dungeon. Each dragon had a small cave to live in with hardly any room to turn around in and barely enough to eat. It was better than nothing, but it wasn't home. Cyrenius controlled the skies and the land, and with that kind of power, he could eventually own the world but, the last of the druids wasn't going to allow it.

Before the villages were invaded, Rathor, one of the witches town seer, had a vision that a newborn would someday own the clouds and soar across them on great birds. Her name would be Amarantha. When her mother learned of the news she hid her with a trusted human friend of the family. As Amarantha grew she hated that her community had to hide their powers. It wasn't fair to see the humans do what they wanted, whenever they wanted and when she became of age, she promised she'd bring back magic for all to see. With a plan in the making for many years, the day finally came for the prophecy to come true.

My eyes continued staring at Paulinius and with his whip raised high, he snapped and cracked it loud just behind the magnificent beast's ears. Chief let out a deep and mighty roar and released fire as he pushed himself to the limits. It was too much for him and I saw him close his eyes. Paulinius instantly realized his mistake as their descent turned to a fast, uncontrollable plummet.

I knew I had to do something as they were falling at elevated speeds and heading straight for the lake.

“Gymelda!!! The shields!!!” - Amarantha boomed out.

I looked down to see the women still riding strong now only a few strides away from the edge of the lake when suddenly, the shields disappeared leaving them wide open. Norelius, one of the front archers looked over at me and waved frantically, pointing towards the ground.

“Go! Go now!” - He yelled with concern in his voice.

And so I did. Chief was in trouble. I had two choices, the women or the men. Torn between duty and loyalty, I didn't think I could do both but, I was going to try. I increased my speed and attempted to catch up to Chief but what could I do when I got there? I couldn't just slow him down. I'd have to wake him or push him towards the sea where at least if he crashed, he'd still survive with broken wings. Perhaps a touch of fire at his nose would wake him but to do that, I'd have to get in front of him. I let out a big breath and increased my speed even more, diving faster and faster.

I saw the ground coming up before me and all around were arrows and fire from the other dragons and sky men. Gymelda had herself protected but Amarantha, the most wanted one, was left wide open. It didn't make sense and I knew something was going to happen. Just as I had gotten in range, I saw her stand on her galloping horse, and when it stopped, she leaped into the lake with her arms stretched out above her head. The white water instantly bubbled and formed a large tubular churning cloud. At that moment, I had to take my chance too and with top speed, I rolled in close enough to Chief to kick him in his side.

“Sorry my love!” - I said as I booted him hard.

The force caused him to spin like a giant ball. He woke up at the last split second, missed the suction of the white storming cloud over the lake and saved himself and Paulinius from crashing into a brutal death.

“Lavvy! Pull back! Pull back!” - shouted the group but it was too late.

I couldn't stop myself and into the tunnel I went. I felt myself being sucked in and I kept falling and falling. I tried to scream but, the pressure of the spinning kept my mouth closed. I churned until I was sick with dizziness and what felt like eons later, I finally stopped, colliding into the lake with a thunderous splash.

The strange turning cloud melted down into the lake and disappeared. I was disoriented and felt myself floating on top of the water. Everything around me went silent. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Amarantha emerging from the water, hovering on top of it. The sky was clear. There were no clouds and no sign of our flying army in sight. I moved only my eyes from side to side while the rest of me was paralyzed.

Nightfall came and went seven times I counted. I wondered what had happened to Chief and why he and Paulinius hadn't come for me. What was to be my fate and why was I still here? What did these foul druids have in store for me? I would have shuddered or roared but I couldn't move a muscle. I was numb all over.

More days and nights passed until I lost count. Then one day, I heard Amarantha's voice again.

“You're the one they call Black Lavender. Am I right?” - She said.

I blinked and attempted to have my eyes follow her voice but I couldn't see her in any corner.

“What of it?” - I asked, not realizing my jaws did not move.

She laughed.

“Ha! It worked! I knew it was you! The mightiest dragon of them all and we pulled you down from the sky itself!”- she gloated. “From this day on Black Lavender, you shall be sworn to protect me and the rest of my people from your former sky army and any other threats.”

“Why would I do that?” - I said.

“Because, if you don't, I'll just have to give these to a different bird!”

I heard a swoosh of magic and then they came into my view - six, precious lavender and red dragon eggs.

I gasped - “What? No?! How did you find them? My babies!”

I struggled to try to feel my body below me as I wanted to get loose and claw her but I couldn't move. How long had I been suspended in that lake? How did she find my covered nest? The thought enraged me.

“Easy. You're my possession now.” - She taunted as she saw my nostrils flare. “And if you want your babies to remain free, then you will comply.”

“And what if I burn you and this valley down to pieces!” - I grunted.

“You can try but if you haven't noticed, your mouth is also frozen shut. You're speaking with me through a spell of telepathy. The deal is that you'll protect this valley from future attacks and train your babies to fight like you.You'll only be allowed to care for them three at a time while we keep watch over the others.”

“What happens if I don't agree?” - I said

Just then she used her magic and along with 5 other druids including Gymelda, they pulled me out of the lake. There I laid on the shores of Chrysalis Lake, transformed for sure both bless'ed that my babies were with me and damned that my wings broken and my fire no longer burned. I couldn't roar and my scales were peeling. I was a total wreck. I didn't feel like that mighty beast that spit a unique purple fire. There was no question about it, I had to agree to her terms or I wouldn't be able to save my young from whatever gruesome fate she had planned.

I looked once more over at the six eggs she held suspended in the air. Chief didn't know I had laid them yet. Where was he anyway? I worried and hoped he was somewhere, trying to find us.

“Whatever you want, Amarantha.” - I said dejectedly.

“Queen Amarantha to you. Your loyalty is to the druids now, as is the new generation of fire breathers.” - She said, walking away with the Dragon Sword drawn.

“Will we ever leave the valley?” - Interrupted my fierce little Zyrennius.

“I want to see my brothers and sister!” - said Stylus, my 5th born.

“Will we ever meet Father?” - Asked Ilseus, my 4th and one of two females.

“I do not know my children. But I promise you all that we will not be controlled forever. A new world is coming.”

I looked at my young, their tails each with a small matching scar like mine, collared and leashed like domestic pets. No, there weren’t always dragons in the valley and my wrath would make certain we would never be there again. I touched my nose to theirs.

"Now, listen carefully as I tell you my plan to destroy the Dragon Sword for good."