Dragon Without Direction

Ear piercing sirens blared in our shared room. Adrenalin rushed through my body. I jumped out of bed and called my dragon. My eyes scan the room in search of my best friend. Aliysah jumped out of bed and landed straight on her knees. I couldn’t stop the snicker that left my lips.

A second later our dragons burst through our large dragon sized doorway. A medium sized, black dragon approached me. His black feathers shimmered, the feathers on his feet, wings and underbelly are a deep blue. Two thin jet-black horns mounted at the base of his skull. His long-feathered ears flickering in different directions, listening for any dangers. The black dragon’s electric blue eyes met my brown ones.

My eyes were directed to another dragon who approached with Aliysah on her back. Her light blue and purple ice scales flickering flecks of light on the walls. Her long thin wings were made of ice slivers. My attention was brought back to Fralon, who was rubbing his head on my arm.

We should see what happened he said with caution and curiosity in his usual silvery voice.

I swing my leg over his back and held on to his neck. He pounced outside of our shared room, in direction of where the fire came from. Outside there was a small group of human magicians attacking inside the border of our lands. Fralon leaped into the air, with Aliysah and Frost-fang not far behind. Frost-fang had her simple day saddle on to prevent scraping the skin off her rider’s legs. I, on the other hand forgot to put Fralon’s saddle on. However, Fralon is covered in feathers, so my legs are safe. We neared towards the group of magicians, who were already surrounded by a few dragons. I raised my hand above my head and curled my fingers into a fist.

“Blazing fire!” I roared.

With my command Fralon covered himself and I in blue hot flames. Fralon is a rare breed of dragon called a Phoenix dragon, this gives him the ability to cover his whole body and his rider in his blue flames. He pulled his wings in close to his body and with a deafening roar, started a sharp dive towards the enemy. The wind slammed against me as we plunged towards the scrambling magicians. Once the magicians were in range, I gathered a ball of fire in my hand and threw it towards the black and red coated men. The fire ball hit one of them square in the chest and the man fell backwards with a searing hot mark on his mid-section, my dragon pulled up out of the dive, a jet of blue flames erupting from his jaws, lighting most of the magicians on fire. Frost-fang swooped below us, a torrent of ice flowed from her mouth. However, the head magician was casting spells to protect himself from our elemental attacks. One of the surrounding dragons managed to land behind him as Aliysah and I were keeping him busy. The older dragon pounced on him and held him under his massive paw before slowly crushing him. Once the head magician was dead, the rest were easy picking. Within a few moments all the enemy’s where dead.

We all landed and dismounted. The rider of the massive dragon was none other than our queen’s head guard.

“Surprised to see you here instead of with the queen” I mocked

“I’m surprised to see you in battle still in your pyjamas and still covered in Fralon’s blue flames” retorted Jorn

I look myself over and I’m still in my pyjamas, a singlet, and some shorts. Clearly out of place with everyone else at least in long pants if not armour. I turn on my heel and march to Fralon who mutters an apology to Jorn and his gold dragon Valcor. I mount Fralon and take off towards my home.

When we landed in the town square people jumped away and avoided us, which was unusual because we were the rising stars in the academy.

“Extinguish your flames, they are much too hot” declared Jorn. I look at my hand which was still on fire

“Oh, sorry we forgot again” I’m motioned back at Fralon who, was a step behind me.

Fralon and I have been together since I was born. A destined rider will always be born at the same time as their dragon hatches, it creates an unbreakable bond. Because of this I have been a fire wielder all my life, fire isn’t a destructive force as many would think. It can give life, sustain life. However most don’t see it that way. Even in a village full of dragon riders I have always been shunned because of my unnatural blue flames. Aliysah was the same. Her abnormal ability to create ice, and tolerate freezing cold temperatures made her be in the bullies’ spotlight. ‘Be as gentle as the morning snow and as cold as the winters ice’. Just as Aliysah’s favourite quote both fire and ice are beautiful but are also merciless.

You don’t need to think about that, it’s okay, I’m here with you Fralon comforted

I know Fralon, I have accepted my abilities. I accept you.

“And you are must certainly not going to visit the queen while you’re still in your pyjamas!” he yelled, snapping me back from my thoughts

“Yeah, yeah sorry” I said sarcastically, waving my hand at him.

I walked the next dozen or so yards to our room. I changed into my training uniform, a simple grey t-shirt, and loose pants. I jogged out the door to meet Fralon, Frost-fang and Aliysah. I mounted Fralon, but instead of flying we all decided to walk to the queen’s study. We walked through the enormous arch-way that led into the queen’s court yard, as she wasn’t in her study. The giant gold and white sky-dragon was lying under our sacred redwood, her head resting atop her crossed forearms. Cuddled into the side of her immense wings was none other than our vehement queen. She wore a simple flowing silver dress with her renowned blood red cape, which was previously her husband’s- our fallen king. The cape was held in place by a silver braided chain which was attached to the cape by our nations emblem, two wings crossed over. Golden eyes met mine and the dragon gently woke the sleeping queen.

“I’m sorry milady, do you want us to come back another time?” I asked respectively.

“No, no ’tis fine. I needed to talk to all four of you.” All four of us nodded.

“Now that I have all your attention” she said as she stood up and walked over to the balcony overlooking her kingdom, her dragon Neirgyn close behind her. Then she continued

“As you have probably noticed, the fighting is getting worse…” she said sombrely.

Aliysah and I joined her leaning on the rail, looking out to the kingdom. Fralon and Frost-fang listening intently from behind us.

With a deep sigh she carried on. “What I’m going to ask of you is more then I should ever ask of someone so young as you.” She rubbed her hands up and down her face

“I’m going to ask you to train for war, but you don’t need to give me an answer now as you should talk to your parents.” She added

After the queen finished I conversed privately with Fralon, whether to take or to decline her offer.

“It would be my-no Fralon and I’s honour to serve you,” Fralon and I bowed to the queen and her dragon.

“Aye it would be an honour to all of us to fight for our nation” Aliysah added, and with that we all bowed together.

The queen smiled. She knew we were all stubborn beyond belief, there was no talking us out of our quick decision. She nodded. Queen Selena invited us for dinner that night and we were happy to oblige. The rest of the night was full of laughter, from both dragons and riders.

The next day was full of training. Aliysah and I, were no longer in the academy but now full-fledged warriors. The first half of the day our dragons were sent off to train with the guards’ dragons and we trained with their riders. The second half of the day we spent sparing with the guards, first on foot then on dragon-back. Aliysah and I bested many of the guards and quickly earned their respect. However, the match with Jorn and his gold dragon was hard fought. Both Aliysah and I lost our matches agenized the unrelenting pair. The next few weeks were long and hard. Each day constant training, making us stronger and stronger.