Tala Drakar

The dragon stood guard above the temple's entrance. It's wings folded back and it's teeth bared, it's long stone tail raised slightly at the end. It is as if that stone dragon knew he shouldn't be there. As if it knew someone was breaking in and he was helping them.

The Severed Head, as they called themselves, were a criminal group trying to collect ancient artifacts and statues of gold. They had broken in to temple's and museums, hotels and houses, and he had helped them every time.

Michael Stephenson was a sixteen year old boy from Odessa, Texas. He has short brown hair, spiked at the end, and large brown eyes, naturally tanned skin and a lean but strong body.

Six years ago, when Michael was 10, The Severed Head was founded, by a man whom people have dubbed, Eagle-eye. He always wears a black mask that covers half of his face, his eye was said to be robotic and as great as an eagle.

For reasons unknown Eagle-eye had founded this organisation, the first member was a large muscular man called Leonardo, he had scars all down his body and it was said he had killed hundreds of people before the age of 35.

After they had lots of people to their name they went after Michael. No-one knows why except Eagle-eye himself. For some reason he had taken a child that was only ten into the organisation. They had kidnapped him as he was on his way home, threatened him and killed his only friend , all so that he would stay with The Severed Heads.

Ever since then Michael had helped them, he never liked it but he had no choice. He was forced to break into places and steal treasures, no matter the cost.

So there he was, staring at a stone dragon as if it could actually come to life. He shook his head and went to the door, gently pushing it open. today he was the diversion, it was his job to enter the area and distract it's inhabitants so the rest of his team could sneak in and steal the 'Dragons heart'.

'Dragons heart' was supposedly that last part of this massive statue that Eagle-eye had in his Office. Michael had only seen it once although at that time they only had the arms, legs, tail and head so it wasn't much of a statue. It was made of stone but there was something about it, it was as if the stone was glowing, red, like a fire, pulsating, like a heartbeat.

If it was the last piece he was excited. What would happen when all of the pieces were fitted together? what would this mean for the Severed Heads?

Most people in the organisation were skeptical about it. they didn't think anything would happen, what could happen? It was just bits of stone put together, right?

"Can I help you?" Asked the kind voice of a monk who happened to live there. Michael nodded and looked around, trying to stick to the plan but it was hard to with all of this cool stuff around him. Sure, he had been around literal mountains of gold but nothing so ancient or so spiritual. It was as if the artifacts were calling out to him, telling him to pick them up.

Then he saw it.

A small stone, about the size of hi fist, glowing red, pulsating, shooting out streams of fire, like a hand reaching out to him. Entranced, Michael walked closer, reaching out to the lump of rock that contained so much power. He was centimeters away from it, the light going crazy, the pulse getting quicker the closer he got.

I Wouldn't touch that if i were you. You would get nasty burns.

Surprised, Michael jumped back frantically looking around for the voice.

"Are you OK?" Asked the man who had shown Michael in.

"What? oh yeah, who said that just now?"

"Said what? I am the only one in this temple. other than the dragons of course." Confused, Michael looked around once again, trying desperately not look back at the heart.

I'm Here!

Michael locked eyes with a small dragon statue in the corner.

Finally.

He rushed forward to the small dragon.

"Who are you?"

I'm G'reth

"Guh-Reth?"

Exactly. I am the great guardian dragon. Filled with strength, and power and soon to be movement.

"Soon to be movement? Your made of stone."

No. I am made from clay.

"Your point? clay can't move either."

You can make me move.

"I can? no, that doesn't make any sense, how could i make you move?"

you just have to pick me up.

"OK then."

Unsure, Michael picked up the clay dragon and held it close to his chest, He could feel a thrumming as if it actually had a pulse, as if it were alive. He fingered the dragons body, what had felt like clay before felt more and more scaly, more like a dragon. Suddenly it started moving. Michael dropped it in shock and backed away quickly completely oblivious to the watching eyes.

The monk looked at the boy from the background, a knowing smile plastered onto his face as he watched him interacting with G'reth, the tiny guardian dragon, given to him by a young girl a few years ago. He had always known that people like that boy existed, the Tala Drakar.