Amber Scales [Jeon Jungkook] UNEDITED

Chapter 1: The Unexpected Meet

Ella was late.

She was certain that by then, her grandmother's ageing ears would be releasing fuming steams.

She will soon contend with the consequences of her tardiness, as well as the heavy punishment for disobeying the rules that were set for her own welfare. Her limbs continued to move quickly as she pondered, "What reason should I give this time?"
Her mind juggled many appropriate responses. Unfortunately, due to a lack of suitable footing, her foot stumbled. When she tripped in haste, a slew of sticks held tightly in her left hand and waist fell to the ground.

A low howl reached her ears, snatching her attention from the feet and abruptly look ahead.

Her limbs ceased and breath stuck in her lungs when she noticed queer amber jewels shining in the otherwise black surroundings like ember stones in far distance. She wasn't sure what it was until it's shadow creeped from dark corner into the twilight light.

Another low wail resonated but now, source was right in front of her eyes. Much closer than before.

Ella could feel her heart sinking in the pit of her stomach as fear crept around her neck like a vice grip that her scream was muffled back in the voices. When the creature blew a breath in her face, she flinched reflexively. Her legs didn't take a step back as its smaller horns grazed her face, unable to comprehend the unexpected scenario she was thrust into.

Cautiously, the beast sniffed her fragrance.

She let out another impulsive hiss when its little horn surrounding its nares scraped the flesh of her neck. Her  thoughts went blank, her breathe became more rapid.  Her palms were already damp with sweat.

The beast drew his massive head back to look into her terrified eyes. He took a step back to provide a little space.  Ella was taken aback by the gesture, as if the dragon understood her predicament. His respectful little bow reinforced her assumptions.

She hesitantly reached out to touch his golden scales. She knew the beast had no intention of hurting her. But the real question was why he was there. Dragons, as far as she knew, belonged in the northern realms.

There was a time when humanity and dragons coexisted peacefully. They were the two energy forces produced by nature. Human bodies were frail, but their emotions were substantial.  Dragons, on the other hand, were far more fragile on the inside than humans. Their greed compelled them to take what they believed was rightfully theirs. Things were initially attempted to be addressed through understanding, but as time passed, ungrateful occurrences grew worse, resulting in a war for separation.
The conflict was actually a disaster for both types. Many generations have been killed as a result of the tragic past.

The creature moved aside to open the way for her.

Ella was hesitant to make any action since she was amused by the kind behaviour of the creature before her. She couldn't believe her eyes were actually witnessing him live, but then she recalled her grandma, who was surely waiting for her. It was her only option for a quick getaway.

As she passed his gigantic body, her walk was slow and careful. Her uneasiness was raised by the unsettling sensation of his eyes lingering on her every tiny exertion. The basket, which she had felt heavy before the unexpected meeting, had no bearing on the stressful scenario. Her senses were all heightened in anticipation of any deceptive acts from behind, but happily, nothing happened to her expectations, which she was relieved about.

Her feet increased their speed gradually. She let out a stifled sigh and cast a glance to check whether the dragon was still there, and she got her answers when her eyes met his magnificent ambers in the dark.
Small shimmering strands spilled from his fire breath as his tail trembled slightly. His amber scales shone like the sun rising in the depths of the night. His silhouette seemed so beautiful and regal that she wondered whether there was anything more gorgeous than his scales. It was as if his scales were encrusted with precious gold.

The sparkle in his eyes faded as her feet marched out of the woodland.  They were completely immersed behind the layers of forest life. 
As though a secret supposed to be kept safely in the wild, hidden from the world outside.....

The girl was delighted to see the familiar oak board wrapped in wild tendrils on hinges, waiting for her to open it. Warm light from within filtered through the small space  beneath the door. Her owl, perched on the little pole, cocked his head, as if puzzled by her depressed mood.

Yes, she was relieved that she had safely returned home. But, with her palm nuzzled in the rusted handle, why did she gaze back towards the direction she came from, joyful but sad?

Ella pushed open the door, letting go of any nagging worries in the back of her mind and soaking her skin in the comfortable warmth of her home. She entered with a now-half-filled basked at her side, half of which had been emptied due to her tripping in the forest.
Why was the cold she felt outside more pleasant than her home's snug fresh aroma of rosemary and thyme?

She hesitated as she placed the basket near the chimney. She didn't realise she was looking at the charred remains within the fireplace until an old familiar voice came from behind her.

"You are late. What were you doing ?"

Ella turned around, but felt a heavy weight under her chest when she saw the teary eyes of her grandmother.

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