Twisted Roots: A Collection of Short Stories

Ghost Dragon

Author's Note:
I guess I don't really need to introduce this story at all. It's a typical fantasy with dragons and sadness(because I just can't seem to create a happy universe in my stories).
So yeah. Enjoy!
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The Story
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I rested my gaze upon the brilliant glow of the sunset. The hues of pink and orange flowed together so nicely, I almost wished it could stay that way forever.
With a final stroke, the image was captured. Though it was simply berry dyes on a small canvas, it was more than enough to keep me happy. With this done, I put away my bowls of paint and brush and began the short walk back to camp. Once there, I would be certain that my painting would be safe.
I reached the camp in a few short minutes. It wasn't much, a series of tents built into small caverns on the sides of the valley, but it was more than enough to call home. During the day, the others in our tribe were out and about getting ready to hunt or gather or just having conversations. I didn't participate much. I was too young and weak to hunt and was too shy to talk to anyone. As if they ever wanted to talk anyway. Still, I didn't mind. I dwelled in the world of paint and canvas, my life made simply of brush strokes.
At night, though, the camp was empty. Everyone was asleep, knowing they'd have to wake up early the next day. Most days, I liked it. I could walk back to my home in peace, knowing my paintings were safe. However, not all painting could be done at night, so I did have to return in daylight every so often. In the end, it was worth it to capture the beauty of nature. No chattering crowd would stop me from painting.
I pulled back the skin cover of the entrance to my family's cave. Three bodies lay asleep already, which came as no surprise. My mother, father, and older brother had no business being awake at night. I crept past them to the gallery of paintings in the back corner where I slept. Once there, I placed my paints and brush in their places and lay down to rest.
Just before my eyes could close, I caught a flash of silver from outside. At first, I thought it was nothing, perhaps the light reflecting off the mountain. Alas, it was not, for the fleeting image of silver scales once again flashed through the tiny opening in the skin cover.
There was a dragon outside.
Terror flooded my veins. Dragons, the rarest and greatest predators of the mountains, undefeated by any man or woman. Though they were rarely seen, when they were, it never meant anything good.
I reached toward my mother and shook her awake. She opened her mouth to speak and I pointed to the cover. Without a word, my mother glanced outside.
"What is it, Dawn?" She asked
"Shh" I said "The dragon might hear us"
"There's no dragon outside" My mother went back to sleep
I looked out of the opening. The silver light from the scales still shone clear as day.
I tried to get back to sleep. Perhaps it would pass us by and nothing would happen. No matter how hard I tried, though, my eyes wouldn't close.
I kept trying for awhile with no luck. It didn't matter which way I faced, how long I lay still, my eyes remained open. What was going on, I wasn't sure, but within a few seconds of sitting up, I knew why I couldn't sleep. I was curious.
I crept over to the cover and looked through the opening. There stood the mighty dragon, silver scales glowing in the moonlight. Before, I had felt terror at the sight of those scales. Now, I felt awe.
I brought my paints and canvas to the opening. It wasn't the best view, but through the tiny hole in the skin cover, I studied the dragon. Then, in swift strokes, I began to paint. I expected drawing a living thing to be near impossible, that the subject would move around and not keep a clear position. However, I was surprised to find that the dragon remained completely still throughout my painting of it. Not a twitch of a scale until I had finished.
I looked at my work. It was hard to see in the dim light, but it was beautiful. I had captured every detail down to the individual scales.
Weary at last, I replaced my brush and paint bowls and curled up in my corner once again. This time, sleep came easy.
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"Dawn!"
My mother was calling me. I sat up and looked in the direction of the sound.
"I'm coming!" I replied once my mind settled into reality.
I hurried outside to where my mother sat with the other women preparing breakfast for the hunters. She paused her task to give me my task for the morning.
"Could you gather herbs from the wood?" My mother asked "The morning hunters will be out, so they can protect you if need be"
"Of course" I said
I walked down the path out of camp and into the wood. This was one of my favourite places as it held all the ingredients for my paints. While I gathered the herbs for my mother, I could also gather some berries to make fresh paint.
After I had the herbs I needed, I stopped by what I liked to call the Berry Garden. The Berry Garden was a clearing in the wood where berries grew in all shapes and sizes. It was where I got my materials for paint as well as a bit of a snack.
In the midst of my berry picking, I heard a rustle in the trees. I turned around and was shocked at first at what I saw.
The dragon had returned.
I froze, unsure of what to do. With one swipe, the dragon's claws could chop off my head, or it could choose to burn me alive with the fire in its belly. It didn't matter much to me, both ended in death.
The dragon stayed still.
Slowly but surely, my terror was replaced by wonder. Somehow, I knew this dragon wouldn't attack or kill me.
I took a step forward. The dragon extended a clawed hand toward me as if to shake hands. I gently stroked the smooth silver scales, letting their feeling be etched into my memory.
The dragon withdrew its hand and lowered its head toward me. Then, in a smooth curving motion, its tail curled around my waist and lifted me onto its back.
Hold on tight.
I heard the voice clear as day, though not from any audible source. Still, I had little time to ponder it before the dragon spread its wings and launched into the air. I frantically grasped the dragon's neck, trying to keep a hold on it as we flew. The air felt cool and fresh against my skin, blowing my hair behind me. It felt liberating, as if I was no longer on Earth, but on another world.
The dragon landed smoothly back in the Berry Garden. He lowered himself and I climbed carefully down.
"Thank you" I said "That was amazing"
I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I heard once again the inaudible voice. It seemed to be speaking only in my mind like some sort of telepathy.
It is I, the dragon before you, who is speaking.
I looked up at the dragon. He flicked his tail as if to confirm what he had said.
"Wow" I said "Do you have a name?"
No.
"Why not?" I asked
Because, until now, there has been no one to name me. No one has seen me in many years.
"Why didn't you name yourself?" I asked
I don't know. I've never really thought about it.
"Well I think you should have a name" I said "What name would you like?"
I'm not sure. I think you should decide.
"Oh" I said "Well I suppose I should ask, are you male or female?"
Female.
"That's nice" I said "I think the name Luna might suit you then"
Luna. I like it.
"Well then Luna it is" I said "Say, what do you mean about not being seen?"
Not everyone can see me. Only a select few.
"Does that mean not everyone can see dragons?" I asked
No. I am no ordinary dragon. I am a ghost dragon.
"A ghost dragon" I said
Yes. That is correct.
"A beautiful ghost dragon" I said
Thank you.
"Right, I should probably get back to camp" I said "I'll come back as soon as I can"
Wait.
"What is it?" I asked
I want you to have this.
Luna held out a small silver gem in her hand. I carefully picked it up and examined its beauty.
This gem will grant you one wish. Use it wisely.
"Thank you, I appreciate this very much" I said "But I already have everything I need. Is there something you would wish for?"
Are you sure about this?
"Yes" I said "If there's something you want, you should have it. I live a good life with a nice family, food to eat, and canvas to paint on. You need this more than I do"
I want to be a human.
"Why is that?" I asked "Not to be rude, or anything. I'm just curious"
I want to get along with people. If I were a human, the other humans wouldn't be terrified of me. As much as I love being a ghost dragon, it isn't fun being alone.
"I see" I said "I have an idea"
I clasped my hands around the gem and made a wish. In a flash of light, the gem appeared on a gold chain around Luna's neck.
"With this gem, you can turn from a human to a dragon and back again" I said "Then you can be both"
There was another flash. The mighty silver dragon disappeared and was replaced by a young woman in a silver robe.
"Thank you" She said "You are so kind"
"You're welcome" I replied "Now let me show you my tribe"
Luna and I walked back to camp. When we arrived, there were several gasps.
"Dawn, who's this?" My father asked
"This is Luna" I replied "She's been very lonely and wants to be friends with us"
My father let out a grunt and looked Luna over. The look of annoyance on his face wasn't a good sign.
"I'll talk to the chief" My father said
Luna and I waited patiently for my father to return. As we waited, people gathered around us, anxious as to what the decision would be.
My father returned with the chief's response. I shivered with excitement. Soon, Luna could be a part of our tribe, she and I could paint together, it would be glorious!
"One night"
I snapped back to reality as my father spoke the words.
"She can stay for one night" My father said "Then she leaves"
"But father--"
"One night" My father's tone was serious "That is the chief's decision"
And in that instant, no amount of brush strokes could have repaired the stain on my happiness.
----
That evening, Luna and I walked out to my favourite painting spot on the hill. There, I took out my paints and canvas and began to paint the scene.
"I like this spot because it gets a cool light contrast at sunset" I said
"That's amazing" Luna said
We sat in silence for a few minutes, watching the scene develop on the skin canvas. While I painted, Luna sat and watched in awe.
"Thank you" Luna said
"For what?" I asked
"For this" Luna replied "For giving me the gift of humanity, for inviting me to stay with your tribe"
"You're welcome" I said
"However, I have discovered an important truth today" Luna said "Which makes certain the fact that I have long believed"
Luna stood up and walked out toward the edge of the hilltop. I put down my canvas and stood with her.
"What is it?" I asked
"I can't stay" Luna said "If your chief finds out that I remain in the nearby forest, human or dragon, he will surely force me to leave anyway"
"Can't you just not tell him?" I asked "Please stay, I don't want you to go"
"I must" Luna said "I'm sorry, but I have found the truth now. There is a duty I must carry out, and it is one that I must do alone"
Luna changed into a dragon. Before she could fly off, I grabbed hold of her tail.
"Please don't go!" I said "Whatever you have to do, I can come too!"
No.
Images began to flash through my head. There was a little boy laughing, playing with Luna's sleek silver tail. His eyes gleamed and I sensed a strong emotional bond in the image. It was as if Luna was sharing her own memories with me.
The next scene showed the boy talking to who I assumed to be his father. They were having an argument, which ended with the boy running away into the forest. Luna followed him, but he had veered off in an odd direction and she lost him. Luna ran through the forest trying to find the boy, only to hear a high pitched scream from nearby. She turned toward the sound, frantically trying to get to it, when she burst into a clearing. As the light shone down from the gap in the trees, it pointed Luna's eyes to the boy's body, covered in claw marks.
The memory cut off.
That was just the first. There have been others.
I was shocked. Tears flowed down my cheeks and I sat down again.
"I-I'm sorry" I said "That's terrible"
Every time I tried to bond with a human, it ended in their death. I wanted to try becoming a human to see if it would stop it from happening, but it didn't work. Thus, I must go before...
Luna's voice trailed off. I knew what she meant.
"I'm sorry" I said "I really am"
You have nothing to be sorry for.
Luna spread her wings and prepared to fly. As she took to the air, six words of farewell echoed in my mind.
I hope it's not too late.
I picked up my canvas and paints and walked back to the camp. I didn't feel like painting anymore.
As I turned the corner into the valley, I heard a sharp scream. I hurried in to see what was happening.
My mother was standing in the center of the camp, staring up at a glaring red dragon. His fangs were bared, readying a breath of fire.
"No! Stop!" I called out to the dragon, hoping that he would understand me as Luna had.
Ah, there you are.
This time, the voice was coming from the red dragon. He turned his head to look at me.
"Dawn, no!" My mother called. She kept screaming, but I didn't hear her.
"What are you doing?" I asked
I am destroying the friend of the ghost dragon.
"Why?" I asked
Because she is my enemy. The prophecy has stated so.
"What prophecy?" I asked
The prophecy that started it all. That is none of your concern.
"What did it say?" I asked
It said that a friend of the ghost dragon would be my demise.
The dragon bared his fangs again. The tribe warriors surrounded him.
"So you're doing this for your own good" I said "What about Luna? Doesn't she matter?"
The ghost dragon is none of my concern. Her friends must die, that is all.
I couldn't take this. I had had enough.
"Give me a spear" I told one of the warriors
"Dawn, you should--"
"I said give me a spear" I wrenched the guard's spear out of his hands. He opened his mouth to protest, but I had already advanced.
Your weapons are useless. Prepare to die.
The dragon breathed fire. I sprinted around and stabbed his ankle.
The warriors began to follow my lead. The dragon turned in circles, furiously trying to shake us off.
I grabbed the dragon's tail and began to climb. Fortunately, there were small spikes going up his back that I could grab on to.
I managed to get up to his head, where I stabbed him in the eye. He howled in pain.
"Go away" I said "Or I'll kill you"
You cannot kill me.
The dragon thrashed his head around, trying to get me off of him. I saw a break in his neck scales and stabbed the spear into it. Immediately, his neck stiffened and he collapsed onto the ground.
No...how dare you.
"I dared to fight for Luna" I said
I turned to the sky where Luna had flown off "You hear that, Luna! Your friends won't be killed anymore!"
I turned back to the red dragon's corpse. The area around him had begun to blaze.
Oh lord no.
I searched frantically for any sign of my mother. She was nowhere to be seen.
"Mother!" I called "Mother, where are you?!"
I snuck past the flames and into my family's cave. The room was in tatters, smoke and fire everywhere.
I hurried over to the corner, where I saw my mother, barely breathing.
"Mother!" I said
"Can't...breathe" She replied
I looked around for anything that could help. The flames had completely blocked the exit now.
There was no way out.
With a final convulsion, my mother's lungs became filled with smoke and her body became lifeless. I tried to scream, but my vocal cords wouldn't make a sound.
I looked at the burning pile of canvases in the corner. They were all in ruin except one.
The painting of Luna.
I held the painting tight to my chest. If I had to die today, I would die with her.
It might have been a delusion, but I heard a faint voice inside my head as I began to lose consciousness. Luna's voice.
I'm sorry.
I caught a flash of silver scales. Though I could not speak, I reached out to her with my thoughts.
I'm glad you can be happy again.
And as my vision went black and I began the journey to the afterlife, I heard four last words from her.
I'll never forget this.
And that was the end of the curse of the ghost dragon.