Fantasy
Draconic Plague
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. In fact, three days ago, there wasn’t even a valley. I’m standing in the middle of Queens Boulevard, a bottle of pepper spray clenched in one white-knuckled fist. In front of me is a toppled over traffic light, a yellow taxi with its rear end jutting out from a grassy foothill, and a twenty-foot tall lizard with wings. Or I guess you could call it a dragon, if you’re into that kind of thing. Personally, I’m having a real hard time coming to terms with the Game of Thrones episode I’ve stumbled into. And I’ve never even watched that show. TV just isn’t my thing; my job keeps me so busy I can’t relax. Whenever I am able to relax, I’ll curl up in the bath and read a couple chapters of the newest spicy rom-com my friend Kylie recommended. Now that I’ve been unemployed for three days, you would think I’d have time to watch a couple episodes of something, but instead I’m pepper spraying a dragon. Yep, that’s me, Hannah Garcia—the very definition of relaxed.
By Willow Seitz4 years ago in Fiction
Balance of Mind and Heart
There weren't always dragons in the Valley. When the small village of Clovemoore was first founded, nestled between the two beautiful mountains Hixladle and Nyborne, there was not a single beast in sight. The stream that cut through the lush green ferns and grasses in the Valley provided the people with all the water they could want, and the livestock of the town had plenty of sweet flowers and grass to graze on.
By Edlyn Escoto4 years ago in Fiction
The Valley of Beginnings
There weren't always dragons in the valley. And there shouldn't be now, Hakkar thought glumly as he crouched and picked up the end of the rope he had tied to a stake the night before. The time for them to have moved on from Brond Vale had come and gone at least six months ago. This had been agreed upon hundreds of years in the past, when the Accords were first made between men and dragons. Yet, reports had reached the king claiming that attacks on livestock had increased. The rope in his hands seemed to support those reports...yet...something was off. Last night there had been a succulent goat tied to the end of this rope, now there was just a cleanly severed end coated with a thick goo for half a cubit. Holding the rope in both gloved hands, he raised it to his nose and sniffed tentatively. He recoiled, nostrils stinging and burning. The acrid odor of the slime was nauseating. It most definitely did not come from a dragon. He sighed, and dropped the rope back onto the torn turf and dirt from which he had plucked it. He hated mysteries. Putting his hands on his knees, he stood. Both his leather armor and his knees creaked from the strain. He was getting too old for this.
By Mark E. Cutter4 years ago in Fiction
Little Wing
There weren't always dragons in the valley. Though much had changed since the valley lost its green, and since Tobius had come of age. He was the third son of Hyrel, although considered illegitimate he was the last living. The first of whom lost shortly after birth. The other was lost to the lustful hunger of a dragon.
By Jordan Flynn4 years ago in Fiction
Qaan
There weren't always dragons in the Valley. Mothers told tales of a time long ago when humans could only dream of a life off Terra Earth. A time before dragons, or bats, or hummingbirds. A time when the endless expanse of the Valley was just known as 'space'. No written records of life before the first dragon came to Terra Earth exist, only stories told by mothers to curious children. Stories filled with descriptions of lush green grass painted so vividly, I could feel it beneath my feet. I dreamt of the crisp morning air in the Spring...even though Terra Earth hasn't seen a 'Spring' in over 5,000 years.
By Dean Mosley4 years ago in Fiction
Son of Earl
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley; there weren´t always misery and darkness, at least, not in my life. My name is Aro, son of Earl, and I was the third of 5 children, living in a small farm on the outskirts of my village. My father was a baker and, although we didn’t have much, we never went hungry and there was love and respect in our humble home. I suppose, like every other lad my age, I took everything for granted at the time, threw an occasional tantrum, and dreamed with the life of glory and adventure we only heard of from old folks’ tales.
By Medusa Stone4 years ago in Fiction
The Dragons
The Dragons Yellav eht ni snogard syawla t’nerew ereht, he was, as usual, unaware that he had said the words backwards. He was trapped in the same world he created every time he told a story. He was always in some other place. Living the tale he was spinning. And this vivid immersion made him almost too inwardly focused. Especially when it came to the world around him.
By Steve McNichols4 years ago in Fiction
Tales of Illidranna
There weren’t always dragons in the valley. During the start of the Thirteen Years War, the Earefrost Empire and Demarr Republic quickly built up their military might in the hopes to overwhelm their enemy. And while their fleets fought and burned in the sky over the valley, the dragons decided to abandon their territory as they did not want to get entangled in the humanoid’s war. This war dragged on and eventually turned into one of attrition as the Republic pushed far into the Empire, past the valley. Once both of their resources had dwindled, the dragons took this as an opportunity to reclaim their land, which to the benefit of the Empire, created a new barrier between the advancing Republic troops and the remnants of the Empirical forces. At first, this did not dissuade the Republic as they sent numerous regiments to cross the valley in an effort to continue their onslaught. They didn’t stand a chance, however, and were quickly dispatched by the tremendous destructive force of the dragons. After months of attempts, the valley gained the nickname of “the Meat Grinder” by troops on both sides of the battlefield.
By Kenny Tripoli4 years ago in Fiction
FireStorm: the Arrival
There weren’t always dragons in the valley. In fact, they had never come that far south. For as long as Murial could remember, the dragons had always been content to stay in their northern home in the Shadow mountains. At least, that is what her grandfather told her.
By Paul Winzenried 4 years ago in Fiction
Bad Luck
There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. The first one appeared wrapped around Falina’s hut when she woke up one morning. She opened her shutters to let in the fresh autumn air and then promptly gave such a scream that it brought every last villager running, some armed with shovels in case it was wolves and others carrying buckets of water in case it was a fire that had escaped from its confines in the chimney.
By Hannah Richards4 years ago in Fiction
Little Heroes
Little Heroes There weren’t always dragons in the Valley. And the dragons and the giants weren’t always at war but as they say, things change. My Great Grandmother used to tell me stories of when the dragons first came into Lander’s Valley centuries ago to flee from those who hunted them in the East. Though they arrived long before she was born she would hear tales from the town elders and the dragons themselves about when the dragons first arrived and spread their kin throughout the land to seek out new and safe homes for their dwindling population.
By Christopher 4 years ago in Fiction
