The Locket

The year is 2128.The Earth has split open in several locations,and strange creatures crawled out. Many of them being described as creatures of legend. Dragons,Chimera,Basilisks, and others. In the oceans,lakes and rivers other creatures never seen before roamed. There was even a rumor that the legendary Lock Ness Monster came out of hiding. Many People talked about a mysterious heart shaped jade locket. Supposedly, this locket could heal the earth,send the creatures back to where they came from and enforce world peace. Though there were many who were using the creatures for their own personal gain or, in attempts to grab for political power. These people were hunting for this locket, in the hopes of destroying it.

Cassidy VonRae,drove her ancient truck up the drive to her home. She was tired and dirty, from the day of foraging and bartering for some much needed supplies in the Little town of Nova, Wisconsin. She couldn't complain about her truck, a 2099 Ford F150 Legacy It ran on everything, so she was never stranded as long as she could fill the the tank will a few cups of water first. Though her favorite form of “fuel” was grass clippings or in an emergency a powder known as “dark dust.” Cassidy walked into her house with her few supplies that would get her through the next few weeks till she ventured into town again. As she opened the door her two bishop hounds raced toward her. “You're home! Did you bring treats? Did you bring food for everyone? Do you want to play ball or tug of war?” Jake the oldest of the two asked her. The younger of the two, named Zeus started to tug at her boot laces. “Yes I got all the supplies we need for the rest of the month. Zeus,stop tugging at my boot laces, I need to bring everything in and go feed the others.” Cassidy told them. Going out to her truck she unloaded several bags and boxes into a hover cart. She whistled ,calling the two hounds out to pull the cart inside. “Don't go digging through that cart you two and come right back outside, I still need you two to help me get the other feed out to the pens and the pond.” The two hounds nodded in unison quickly pulling the hover cart into the house. The two hounds quickly bounded back out of the house to see Cassidy loading two more hover carts with what looked like heavy bags of various feeds. Zeus slowly walked over to Cassidy and yipped quietly as he looked at the bags. Cassidy looked down at his worried expression. “Zeus,you know we are helping those creatures who are hiding here. They deserve a peaceful life and sanctuary from those who want to harm them.”Zeus hung his head ashamed. He knew that they were protecting a lot of lives here, the local government gave Cassidy a monthly allowance to shelter many of them. Cassidy walked around her small piece of land, unlike many others she was able to to keep her home safe from the rare bands of marauding nomads, who stripped what resources they could find and left few survivors. She had two small ponds . One that was fed by a mineral spring and the other was fed by the local river, ensuring her a small supply of fresh fish for her freezer. She had a small forest which of course brought in some occasional meat but only enough to get through a couple of weeks and usually only birds.

Cassidy's local government had adopted some of the creatures as they had made their way to new homes. Most were friendly,kind creatures who wanted to help the town, they had made worn soil fruitful again, encouraging new life into the town. There were a few trouble makers who preferred to stay in the wasteland areas of the state,they rarely ventured into towns, finding them too “clean” for their liking. The local government of Nova, gave anyone who could and would help these creatures a monthly allowance for supplies.

Cassidy took in as many as she could to her little property. At this point in time there were three dragon families, a small pack of winged dogs , commonly known as Bishop hounds, a bonded pair of three headed Chimera and a small pride of semi aquatic cats known as Feliscampus living on Cassidy's property. She knew that soon one of the dragon families would leave for a new home. She never asked her “guests” to stay. Those that choose to, did with the agreement that they would help and act as security if needed.

Cassidy walked down to the dragon crater where the three families made their communal nest. “Hello Crater,I've got fish!” Cassidy called out. Suddenly The matriarch of the group landed next to her. “Cassidy! It's good of you to come, we need to speak to you and apologize for building the tunnels again.” Cassidy chuckled at the memory of the first time she had met all of the dragons, three heavily pregnant females who were traveling with a large black scaled male, who admitted he was the father of all. The female who just landed next to her, was a beautiful rose gold scaled female named Glory. “Glory, how are the hatchlings doing? May I see them? As for the tunnels, I said I forgive all of you. What do you need to talk to me about?” just then Glory's mate, Rune walked up. “Cassidy, you have been a friend and supporter to us, Now we need to ask a big favor of you.” Cassidy was puzzled. Rune Looked at Cassidy dreading what he must ask.

“Long before we came to the surface, we lived just below what you call the trench. We lived in fear of Him. He's Darkness in it's purest form. All creatures fear him. All of the surface dwellers have had a name for him. When the craters can cracks gave us an opportunity to escape his rule, many creatures did but, not before we stole this from him. It allows him to have influence on the surface dwellers. We have to find a new home so we must leave our young with someone we trust . We must leave this with you.” Rune raised several of his scales and a large heart shaped Jade locket fell into Cassidy's hand. “What is it? What does it do?” Cassidy asked , her voice shaking.

Rune Looked at her as a tear rolled down his face. “It is the the one thing he desires the most. If He gets his hands on it it will bring destruction of the worst kind upon all creatures. He'll be able to rise to the surface and if that happens, no one is safe. My parents died in taking this from him. The strange thing is if it is hidden by the purest heart, he'll never know where it is .Please It's the one thing other than sanctuary for my family I have ever asked” Rune told her.

Cassidy looked at the locket,it was framed in gold with a tiny band of crystals making a diagonal slash.”Rune, you are my friend but, if he comes what do I do? I know how to protect your young but, what do I do with this?” She asked Him. Rune knew she was accepting the one request he had to make. Suddenly Glory raised her scales and a small sword with a dragon hilt hit the ground .”His howlers and parasites passed through here while you were gone. We got rid of most of them but,the ones that escaped will have told him about our nest . They are worse than he is, they live to feed and he promised them all the prey they want as soon as he get the locket back. If you have to, hit it three times with this sword and throw it in the mineral pond . Then run away.” Glory said. Cassidy nodded. “When do you leave?” She asked hugging Glory. “Tonight, it's the dark of the moon, His followers won't see us leave. Will you come to see us off? We will move the young to your barns.” Cassidy's eyes filled with tears. “I will meet you in the barn at midnight, and I will bring you supplies to last a few days.”

She told them.

Cassidy met the adult dragons at the barn. The young were already settled in nests.

“Will you come back? You'll be welcome here. I'll keep your den ready.” She knew she was close to begging them to stay. Glory looked at her. “Cassidy we'll be back but, if you have to destroy the locket. His howlers are out. Destroying the locket will ensure that he can't come to the surface.” Glory told her. Suddenly howls and hissing filled the air . The dragons looked at each other. Then grabbed the young and woke the other creatures in the barn.”Everyone, his howlers and parasites are coming, there's no time for the plan. We have to go to the mineral pond.” Rune told everyone. As everyone made their way to the mineral pond , the earth shuddered.

They reached the edge of the mineral pond. Rune looked at Cassidy. “You know what to do. We'll get you out of here. The way they are howling and hissing, he has found a way to come to the surface.” He told her. Suddenly a voice called out.”Stop don't destroy the locket you'll destroy us all Cassidy!”

She raised the sword.

One Strike against the locket.........

She Raised the sword again.

The second strike against the locket, a crack formed …..

she raised the sword and hit the locket a third time and threw the locket into the mineral pond.....

Several hours later. Cassidy woke up in the town hospital.