The Horn Takers

PROLOGUE

2:14 AM : DECEMBER 22, 1802 : GROUND WING VILLAGE : 4 FLIGHTENS EAST OF TRYNDROK
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"you can't hide the truth forever."
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Smoke and ash covered the vivid stars in the night sky as the air grew thick with fear and tension. Overhead, the flapping of wings grew distant until all that could be heard was the crackling of flames and the cries of fleeing animals.

A couple flames still clung to some houses when a crowd of people walked between the fallen debris. Their faces full of dismay and their eyes clouded with dread.

"This is what we get for not asking for help." A tall man with a long beard mumbled, half to himself.

His words caught the attention of a blond woman next to him. Her yellow and black dress was torn at the bottom and stained while her blond hair was messily tied up. In her arms was a child, no more than 4 years old. He had many scratches. His blond hair was dusty and clotted with ash. His blue eyes that once shown as bright as crystals were now as dull as a rusty old penny. 

"I agree." The woman spoke confidently and loudly, clearly wanting everyone to hear what she had to say. "We should have asked Tryndrok for aid when we had the chance. Then maybe none of this would have happened.". Tears threatened to fall as she spoke and looked around the village that was once her home. Her grasp on her child tightened. "Then maybe.. our children would have a home.".

"You do realize that if Tryndrok got involved this attack would have been worse right?" A strong voice arose from the crowd. The woman turned to see a dark haired man shorter than her.

He continued "The Horn Takers would have had a bone to pick with us if we searched for help. They would done worse than this. They would have slaughtered us all but who says they aren't going to do that."

His words left a chilling silence more painful than a Curling Demise's bite. Many glances were exchanged and mothers among the crowd covered their children's ears at the last sentence.

The blond woman stomped up to the man until her face was inches away from his.

"Could you be anymore insensitive!" She hissed "There are children listening! You're going to scare them plus who says that Tryndrok would have made our problem worse? If anything I believe they would have prevented this easily."

The man didn't answer her question. "You cant hide the truth forever, miss- what is your name?"

"Annabelle. Annabelle Raindd."

"Well Annabelle, I'm Henry Fajrin. A former Tryndrokian citizen and I'm telling you that Tryndrok is too proud. They would have put our problem off until the last minute thinking they could handle it and when The Horn Takers did attack, they couldn't have saved us from it. Now I don't want to dwell on this anymore, good day." He finished as he walked away through the crowd and towards a fallen house.

The crowd watched him go and quickly erupted into a frenzy of stress, questions and fearful comments.

"Alright, everybody listen!" The bearded man from earlier yelled. Everybody immediately quieted down and looked over at him.

"The Horn Takers may have taken all our dragons but we still need to get out of here. We go by horseback" He addressed the crowd as he fetched a horse tied to a post. "There are only a few horses left meaning we must leave them to the ones who need them most. The kids and mothers with small children get the horses, everyone else can walk!"

The women and children hurried and jumped onto the last of the horses. Slowly, the townspeople had prepared for their journey.
Annabelle and her child jumped onto a horse and followed the rest of the crowd.

"Mom?"

"Yes, Arthur?"

"Are we going to be ok?"

Annabelle hesitated. She didn't want to scare him but at the same time, she didn't want to lie to him. That's when Henry's words echoed through her mind: You can't hide the truth forever.

As much as she hated to admit it, he was right.

"I don't know."

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2:45AM

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705 words

LONG LIVE THE DRAGONS