Shadows in the Valley

There weren't always dragons in the valley.

The last dragons had perished in The Great Divide more than 1,000 years ago. But the beasts that now roamed the Valley and North Wilds were not like the Dragons of old; they were unnatural, created by science and chaos. Resurrected from ancient remains, then somehow manipulated into obedient killing machines with a singular purpose. No one outside the Torren family knew how they did it or how to stop them. The old stories sometimes briefly mentioned that only the strongest of Senti's could temporarily reanimate a life that had recently passed over. Still, there had never been anything remotely close to what lay before them now.

Most would say the continent has been at war with itself for centuries, with only a few pockets of relative but corrupted peace that never seems to last. For the last 700 years, the continent had been split into five territories, ruled by the five families and the Council of five. They were supposed to rule over their sovereign nations and make decisions for the continent together. Still, from the beginning, there was a constant struggle for more control.

The Torren family- of the Yavek territory in the North had been attempting to grab any opportunity for more control over the last ten years. They were responsible for the Dragons, the ones who had descended upon their own people and the rest of the continent six months ago. The four remaining territories attempted to maneuver or fight their way back to power to no avail. The dragons burned entire armies and towns to the ground. Once bustling with talk of war and revenge, the territories had now seemed to accept their fate quietly.

Vel silently observed the compound from her hiding spot in a tree on the valley's north side. Her palms were slick with sweat as she watched the four monstrous dragons fly in a perfect circle around the Torrens' stolen stronghold. She had been contacted by an old acquaintance who gave her the task of infiltrating the Torren ranks to find out how Ettore controlled the dragons. Not an impossible task, but certainly one that would require enormous planning. Typically Vel would be up to the job, but the Torrens knew her and would recognize her face. This time she would have to send in her apprentice, Sid, who was as green as the valley before them.

The air had been thick and hot with humidity all day, threatening rain before the day was done. If lightning followed, she would need to leave her treetop perch and head back to meet up with Sid, risking being seen by the guards or the dragons. Despite her high vantage point, she couldn't gather much information from where she sat. She started to think about how the old stone ruins of Fort Vetszana looked impenetrable and fragile all at once. From afar, the eye would be drawn to the outer wall's ancient and crumbling stone foundation, then to the line of the guard towers up to the small stone castle that the stands within. Some parts of the wall seemed like they had been there forever and would remain in the valley forever. Only two of the four towers remained somewhat intact. At the same time, the other two had been hastily built upon when the Torrens armies moved in. The Torren's numbers had dwindled over the last few months, but the dragons remained the unstoppable force protecting their newfound power. Vel couldn't imagine where they kept the dragons from where she was sitting. She couldn't fathom how any of this was possible. Of all the legends and lore from times long passed, she had never heard of anyone being able to resurrect or control ancient dragons. Even the stories of the Original Senti's never included anything like this.

It wasn't easy to imagine how she could fulfill this mission with so little information and so few allies. She typically relied on her old friend, Reza, to be her eyes and ears within the Torren Family household, but he had missed their last two drops and hadn't sent word in months. She had convinced herself that he was laying low for the time being, but it was getting harder and harder to fight the rising concern that something had happened to him.

A low rumble filled the valley, and the sky began shifting to gray. Vel let out an exasperated sigh, unsure whether she should stick it out a little longer or do what she instructed Sid to do: head back to their meeting spot at first sight of a storm, which would be deadly in the North Wilds. The longer she waited, the more it was starting to look like the storm was not going to wait for her to gather more information. She scanned the valley one final time, noting their defenses' general layout and weak points, and then carefully began her descent.

Sid

The storm was rolling in faster, and the clouds lay like a dark gray blanket, suffocating the clear blue sky. Sid crouched within the branches of a giant oak tree and did her best to scan the fort for any valuable information, but it was hard to take her eyes off the massive dragons circling the perimeter. The tree that Vel wanted her to set up in seemed too far away, so she had chosen to find a spot closer, a risk she hoped she wouldn't come to regret. When Sid decided to begin training with Vel, she expected to see some extraordinary and terrifying things, but no one could have imagined that something like this was even possible.

She hoped to catch a glimpse of Ettore, the man responsible for the dragons, but she hadn't seen anyone important all day. Ettore is a Senti, but from all accounts, he isn't very good at using the energy of the Omni. He is also a man of science and has been working with the Torrens for years, trying and usually failing to find a way to give them the absolute power they all crave. In many ways, he is a mystery, but he is the key to the dragons and one of the most protected men on the continent. The rumors say he is surrounded by 10 of the most powerful Senti's recruited from all over the North whenever he steps out of his chambers.

The wind is picking up, and she feels the branches begin to sway. She knows it's time to return but is almost in a trance, fixated on the dragons and their unnaturally perfect flying pattern. So many things about the vision that lay before her didn't make sense. Ettore had somehow given them skin and scales, although they had undoubtedly been no more than skeletons when torn from their graves. He had somehow constructed wings for them that didn't look like they should be able to support their massive bodies. The biggest one keeps drawing her attention; something about it looks off. Through her binoculars, she tries to focus on him to see if she can figure out what is bothering her. He seemed to be moving slower than the rest, but it was barely noticeable. Her eyes are drawn to his massive jaws and many gnarled teeth; the skin around his mouth sagged and revealed lifeless gray gums. As she scans his face and body, something else catches her eye. A spot of skin around his eyes had also begun to sag; earlier, she noticed some of the skin on his face was gray. As she looks closer, she realizes the gray spot on his face has grown bigger since she first spotted it. Her heart begins to race as the excitement sets in that this could be vital information. Were they decaying? Were they lacking the life source they needed to be sustained?

Her focus was interrupted as she heard the rumbling of what sounded like a large gate opening in the distance. Surprisingly, the mountainside was beginning to slide open like a door, revealing the hidden cave within. A low horn blast came from somewhere in the valley, and suddenly, the dragons turned direction and began to descend rapidly. One by one, with perfect precision, they disappear into the cave.

Not a second after the last one disappeared below the mountain, the skies open up, and the rain falls furiously through the trees. Sid decides she can't wait and starts heading back toward their meeting point. Despite her heavy boots, she keeps up a quick pace and tries not to let herself give in to the fear that is trying to creep up her spine. In the past, she never paid much attention to the lore and legends that shrouded the continent, but after what she had seen over the last year, she wouldn't be surprised if the old stories about the "walking trees" were true. The North Wilds was not a place you wanted to be when a storm rolled in, or the sun went down. The wind howled, and the trees were swaying so fiercely now that they looked as if, at any moment, they would get up and walk away.

A blast of lightning lit up the world around her. She takes a moment to get her bearings, realizing she almost went the wrong way. When she decided to go to a different tree, she left a button on a tree branch to help her mark her path. She knew Vel would disapprove of that decision, but that button had just saved her from getting lost deep in the mountains of the North Wilds. Vel would undoubtedly be mildly annoyed that she had gone against her instructions multiple times today, putting them both in potential danger. Still, she hoped the information she gathered would be enough to earn her forgiveness.

Vel

Vel's mind races as she finds herself caught between conflicting emotions. She is genuinely concerned that Sid is stuck in the wilds or that she was captured and brought back to the compound. But if Sid was ok, she waited too long to make her way back, putting them both in danger, which was a huge mistake. She can't help but think back on all the years that she worked alone and how nothing like this would have ever happened, but she quickly reminds herself that she would not be able to complete this mission, or her last mission, without Sid. The rain was beginning to soften the ground, making it even harder for Vel to stand in one place without the muck tugging at her boots. She tries not to look around too much and keeps her eyes on the direction that Sid should be coming from. Vel knows this place all too well and knows that your mind can play tricks on you out here, and if you believe the old stories, you might think you've seen something.

The moments tick by, and she thinks about her dog Cyrah, whom she left at another meeting point near the trail they'll use to get home. The 130-pound wolvenhound could undoubtedly handle herself, but it was getting rough out here, even for her. Relief washes over Vel for a split second as she sees Sid's bright blonde hair moving towards her in the distance. Sid flashes an awkward, apologetic smile as she approaches, but despite her playful expression, she's pale as a ghost. "We'll talk at the cabin. Let's just get the hell out of here." Vel said with a little more venom than she had intended.

The two women walked silently for several moments, trying to make their way through the impossible brush as swiftly as possible. They were covered in thorns and spider webs remnants, and a chill was starting to set in. "I'm sorry, Vel. I know I put us in danger. I just-" Vel cut her off before she could finish. "We'll talk later, Sid. Even with the storm cover, we should still be as silent as possible."

Several moments later, they made it to Cyrah, who was soaked to the bone and waiting in the same spot she left her. Vel was undoubtedly capable enough on her own, but Cyrah had become an invaluable part of her life and work. She was the perfect partner for the type of work Vel was usually involved in and made the best companion for someone who lives in a cabin in the middle of the wilds. From the meeting point, it wasn't long before they could pick up the start of a trail that Vel and her mother had made years ago. Vel was one of the few left on the continent who knew her way around the North Wilds. She and her mother had lived in their little cabin since she was a young girl, and this place was as much a home as she had ever known. Nightfall was still technically a few hours away, but with the storm bringing early darkness, they had a near impossible journey ahead of them.

Cyrah took her usual place a few feet in front of the women, ears perked and senses on high alert. Usually, Vel would be able to tap into the Omni to increase her awareness, one of the perks of being Senti. Still, extreme weather like this would sometimes interfere with one's ability to access the Omni, or the universal life force, that flowed and vibrated within everything on this planet. With weather like this, Vel was no better off than Sid. At the mercy of the North Wilds and whatever else was out there.

Suddenly Cyrah stopped cold and positioned herself in a defensive stance. Shackles raised a low growl emanating from deep in her throat. Vel and Sid stopped just as quickly, pausing to listen. As Vel turned toward Sid, a gloved hand shot out of the trees and slipped over her mouth.