The Shrouded Sanctuary

There weren't always dragons in the Valley. Dragons didn’t dare consider residing anywhere other than the highest heavens, especially not in a place looked down on by their noble breed as a dishonorable retreat for weak outcasts. Instead, they preferred secluded caves with mineral encrusted walls, stone floors, and high ceilings–a typical dragon’s home.

A dragon flew down to an inconspicuous cave entrance. Once a few steps inside torches inlaid in walls of fluorescent colors lit with green flames revealed a hallway of gold stalactites that dangled precariously above. The dragon continued down the hall, turned left, and continued further until it reached a vast rainbow room with a glowing lake. Several dragons huddled in a circle around a basin of scintillating purples and browns holding an enormous green fire. The tips of the center inferno appeared to graze a cluster of gold stalactites that hung like a chandelier. Around the room, stone furniture was cushioned with a variety of precious jewels, mostly diamonds, portraits of dragons as colorful as the walls hung, and columns supported intricately carved dragon statues. The dragon that flew in late joined the gathering quietly as another spoke.

“Where will you go, Argyll? There is no place in Larklence shrouded enough for us. How will you find the reputed sanctuary, lest you intend to be slain?” warned Helix, a gradient red dragon of slender build, a narrow taut face that framed her angular eyes, and whose breath glowed a yellow fire.

“I’ve heard in my days in the House of Arcella that a fairy defected to the Valley, and hidden in the mists of the land built a fortress with the arcane magic of her family. I will find the Valley for us, and that’s where we’ll seek safety,” said Argyll who bowed humbly to the scoffs and jeers of the rest.

“I will not stand for another of our kind to be made into trophies the humans trade as commodities!” hissed Pyrena, an orange-speckled green dragon that breathed purple-blue flames from her rouged cheeks. Never were her cheeks as red as now as she scathingly bellowed her frustrations.

“Peace, colleague, I trust Argyll is not a fool. Surely, more than a rumor has convinced you that Efèvirène, as the Dryads call the land, is not just a myth?” inquired Jasper, a dragon with scales of all colors and sizes of gems and eyes that matched, who was trained by Fairy Royals to be stately and refined. “The House of Arcella is not a place of supercilious splendor. I had the honor of visiting while in the House of Sabian, which, unfortunately, has surrendered to the malfeasance we see overhauling the great land of Larklence.”

Pyrena blew smoke from her nose. “This talk is nonsense! There are plenty of us to mount a counterattack!”

"Unfortunately Pyrena, that plan is unsustainable. We dragons are but few left in Larklence, with a reputation of ferocity. Garnering support will be a challenge, and many hunt us for our individual magical qualities. If your father was still around I would not doubt our capacity for retaliation, but unfortunately, he is a late great dragon of combat, though not the last with you. You’ve not matured in your ability, however." Jasper punctuated his thought with a gentle nod, to which Pyrena’s cheeks quelled in redness as a response. She felt complimented whenever considered in likeness to her father.

"I have to agree with Jasper, you've inherited your father's magic but have yet to exhibit the level-headedness from his later years of refined experience," reinforced Helix.

“Nobody asked you, with your constant skepticism! Other than that, you provide little solutions!” Pyrena’s cheeks reddened again. Helix’s eyes narrowed even more than they seemed they could.

“And what of you and your lacking–”

“Late again, Zephyr. I was listening intently until your disruption. I hope you came in undetected at least,” interjected a green dragon swathed in purple velour and holding an ornate scepter who seemed entertained by the spat.

“I apologize Peroditin, but my brother Azrule has perished.” Peroditin was immediately regretful for the biting remark and looked away embarrassed. There was a resounding silence in the room.

“I am mortified at this tragic loss of life. A dragon such as Azrule, one of the few water-breathing dragons, if not the most powerful water-breathing dragon, has succumbed to death that has gripped numerous of our fellow dragons. Explain how this could be, as I cannot comprehend it, truly.” Perodotin’s scepter emblazoned, and the green gem encased securely at the top radiated an aura.

Zephyr bowed his head, glanced at the group, and looked Peroditin in the eyes that seemed to peer into souls. “At the cusp of dawn, Azrule who was known to frequent Lake Lucent outside of Concordia here in Larklence was slain. Not to sound immodest, but I’m the dragon with the greatest wingspan capable of flying the farthest, fastest, and highest. But I couldn’t find the human, who evaded even mermaids. I’ve searched high and low for this human into the evening. Hence, the reason for my tardiness. As you all know, the humans covet our gems, minerals, skins, and even the textiles which we trade our resources with the Fairies of Concordia for. Unfortunately, I couldn’t retrieve Azrule’s body, except I sensed his magic fading, and the smell of his plentiful blood made known the time of his death. However, I too smelled the blood of other dragons, many other dragons.”

Perodotin after staring a while into Zephyr’s eyes spoke. “My power is giving details, but they are murky. I see the use of a magical weapon, of abilities not of human origin. I sense the miscreant morphing into another creature, and that they have a power that is resulting in the blocking of my sight. I cannot sense if they are hiding near us here on Mt. Sterling. I do not think this is the work of a human, though humans have struck down several dragons. This, however, seems beyond human strength, as Azrule was a more powerful dragon than those killed by humans.”

Perodotin became silent for a moment. Her scepter glowed forcefully, and the center inferno rose and shifted in shades from the darkest to the lightest greens. The slits of her pupils expanded as she gained profound revelation.

“I have seen a vision of our impending doom! A beast mightier than us seeks to destroy us! I could not have anticipated the grave danger we are all in. Argyl, you must take to the skies at once and find the Valley!”

“Then it's decided. I shall go now by the cover of night, and with every ounce of my power to camouflage will I shield myself.”

Without any hesitation, Argyll departed, her black and brown scales outlined with crimson in a pattern unlike any other twinkling for a moment like the stars until her figure blurred and then vanished.