The sun was blue. At least, that is what I remember, but I do not trust my memories. A glimpse on my body was proof enough of that. The black scales on my body had disappeared, my talons gone, and my wings, my only escape to the solace of the sky, all replaced with flesh unknown to me. It was soft, it felt weak, almost as if I could chew on it. This skin released water when in heat, my flesh glimmered when the yellow sun of this world flared its light upon me, almost blinding me. Of course, it would have been easier to lie to myself and claim that this was a dream, but it wasn't. This was real, I was in an unknown land, in an unknown body, an outsider masked to blend into this strange world.
The sky of this world was blue, something I wish I could have taken a closer glance upon. The land surrounding me was covered with dunes of sand which, from my perspective, went on endlessly. To one this would seem like an isolated land, but to me this actually felt peaceful, isolation always made me feel safe. If I was hidden other dragons wouldn't attack me, wouldn't chase me away while calling me "The Black Dragon of Bad Omen". But I needn't worry about that anymore. This world didn't have the traces of brutality and terror left by dragons. The proof of that was the lack deceased, which consisted of dragons and other beings of Drokna, and the most prominent proof was the absence of flames or land scythed by it. The only one who altered how things appeared was nature itself.
It felt strange walking on two legs, but for some reason I had natural prowess in using this body. This body "felt" many things, the breeze upon my scale-less flesh, the warmth from the sand, slowly creeping upon my feet. I had yet to determine if it was a world I could live in, more importantly, if I could live peacefully in it. So, I walked on. I had a feeling if I did so, I would have answers about this world.
My stream of thoughts was interrupted when I saw a creature I had never seen in my entire lifetime. It walked on four legs, and honestly looked absurd. It was tall, taller then me, covered with thin, small brown fur, on its back was a small hill upon which sat another creature who had similar characteristics with this new body of mine. "Why are you naked!?" it inquired, as it looked down upon my body. In comparison to it there wasn't much difference, though it seemed that it had covered most of its flesh with some smooth textured white material. The moment I looked it in the eyes, it looked terrified. It was a familiar sight I got from the prey before I devoured them. Before I could speak, it hit the tall creature with a stick, which in response immediately began to flee away from me. "DEMON!" it shrieked before it vanished into the dunes. Unfortunately, I did not get to ask what "naked" meant. I do not understand why it fled. I felt what I had felt many a times, the familiar burning hatred towards myself. This feeling took over me whenever my existence caused problems to others. It almost felt as if I would be alone in this world too. Maybe that way others could live peacefully.
After a while I started to wander aimlessly again, still confused as to why that creature fled in fear. In a distance I saw a river. Unlike the rivers of fire which were common in Drokna, this river was clear, transparent and reflected the sky. It had a cool touch to it when I put my finger on it. When looked upon it I saw a face, my face. It was strange, similar to the being I met. I had light brown skin, straight short black fur on the top of my head, and very sharp, angular features. The only remnant of who I used to be, were my eyes, still glowing purple. However, this may as well be the very thing that made that creature run away, since it had eyes which didn't glow. I had an epiphany at that moment. That maybe it was the nature of all beings to hate others who were different from them. But I needed my answers. I can't make assumptions based on my first encounter, I needed to talk to these strange creatures, to understand this world. Maybe I was delusional, thinking a being of this world would even consider to have a conversation with me, but I had to try.
Drifting through this empty land yielded nothing today, so I decided to sit down. I was back to where I was when I first started, or at least that is what it felt like. This strange land tried to deceive me, every place looked the same after a while like a maze without walls. The air slowly grew bitter and cold, the sun vanishing at the edge of this endless barren land as the sky changed colors until it was black. Then the star appeared like I had never seen before, cluttering the emptiness of space with its light. Shortly after, the moon appeared, lighting up the land with its dim yet pleasant shine, turning the sand white. It was hauntingly beautiful, unlike anything I had ever seen. A silence came to be, which was more prominent in comparison than it was during the day. Since I had nothing better to do, I decided to lie down, putting my back against the sand. I looked upon the stars, a ritual, I had followed my entire life. It comforted me, reminded me that world is more than just surviving, to believe that things weren't so petty. A universe so vast, that my problems seemed like a speck of dust in comparison.
My eyes felt heavy, slowly closing. Before I knew it, I was asleep. With the sweet escape of sleep came nightmares of the past.
***
The young hatchings of dragons hunted small prey under the silver sky of Drokna. They hunted for entertainment, a privilege only dragons with parents had. A privilege I could only dream of. I mostly observed, cloaked in the rocky terrain. I couldn't fly then, walking and climbing were my only means of travel, I was just a year old at that time. I envied those hatchlings, wanted to be with them, laugh with them, hunt with them, be a part. At the end of the day, when dusk approached, they'd all go and stand on top of the tallest hill and their mother, a colossal bronze dragon, would come take them back to their caves. After they left I climbed that hill that every day, hoping one day my mother would take me home, but no ever came... One day I decided I would ask their mother if she knew where mine was. It was just like any other day, they all stood looking towards sky, anxiously waiting for their mother to come. Except this time, I decided to make the climb early. I reached shortly after, while they stood awaiting. Suddenly all gazes averted towards me, more with fascination, than fear. I did look very unique after all. "Did you jump into the lava? Is that why your scales are black!?", they inquired as they laughed while looking at me.
"No" I replied, "I t-tried to wash it way, but-t my scales remain the same." I said nervously while stuttering. They laughed even harder. A minute later their laughs turned into silence as a gigantic figure shadowed the setting sun, steadily approaching.
"Mother! Mother! Look! This one jumped into the lava!" said one of the hatchlings, pointing its tiny bronze claw at me. Her gaze turned towards me, her expression changing from happiness of seeing her children, to bitter loathing, her green fiery snakelike eyes pointed right at me. Before I could say anything, she suddenly grabbed me with her gigantic claw, almost crushing me.
"YOU FILTHY ABOMINATION!", she gnarled. "Trying to curse my children with your evil!?" She inquired in a cold tone. I was in absolute terror, this was after all the first time I experienced the hatred other dragons held for me.
"N-n-no I wasn't, I-I just wanted to a-ask if you knew where mother was, I s-swear." I replied fearfully. In response came laughter, cold, sick laughter as loud as lightning striking the earth.
"A Mother! For you!?" she muttered while laughing. Suddenly the laughter died, and was replaced with haunting silence, similar to the calm before a storm of raining fire. "Demons like you have no mothers! You come straight from hell! Spreading chaos upon everything you touch!" A second later her grip become stronger, making it hard for me to breathe. Slowly her left arm started to reach towards the sky. That was the first time I saw the entire land of where I lived, rocky mountains covered the entire land. While even though I was gasping for breath, it was glorious to be this high in the sky. Slowly I began to descend, with the pace descendance increasing. The grip loosening, until her grip released. I was falling, falling straight to the very bottom of the hill. I tried to flap my wings hoping I would fly, but I didn't...
***
A bright light pierced my eyes, before I felt the impact I experienced that day. I was back in my new body, in a cage made of iron, my arms and legs tied to it,the sun violently illuminating upon the top of my head.
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Well, hello. I'm posting this here in hope of some honest feedback.... and also because my sister kind of pestered me into it.
I hope you like it!
-A
ESTÁS LEYENDO
When Butterflies Fall
FantasíaThe story begins in an known land, unknown to him. Where was he? How did he come here? What happened to his body? Thus, began a tale that goes far beyond the boundaries of space, time, and Gods. P.S, I'm currently working on the cover.
