Heart of Fire

Chapter 1

Long ago there existed a tribe of shapeshifting dragons blessed with the powers of earth, water, forest wind, moon, sun and storm and there was peace among all the different types of dragons. Then man appeared and conflict ensued. Many lives were lost on both sides. The demigod Maui who had served as man’s greatest alley and had become known as the destroyer of monsters, ended the conflict and negotiated peace among the two peoples. As a show of good faith each side presented the other with a ceremonial necklace. The humans presented the chieftain dragon with a necklace made of jade with intricate carvings and dragon teeth while the dragons gave a necklace made of pearls bones carved to harp points and a sparkling blue shell retrieved deep from beneath the ocean waves. For a time, there was peace until the heart of Te Fiti was stolen and darkness began to spread across the land. It slowly suffocated the islands it touched and crept into the hearts of dragons and humans alike. The humans were filled with fear and suspicion and the dragons began to change into fierce monsters with hearts filled with greed and lusted for power. The dragons had also become jealous of Maui’s favoritism towards the humans but the demigod had disappeared. A wedge was once again driven between the peoples and the dragon chieftain necklace was lost. It is said that single dragon will rise up to defeat the darkness and restore the peace.

Makana sat at the highest point on the island looking out over it. The setting sun shimmered against her orange scales. She didn’t want to leave another island but even at her young age she could see the island was dying. The darkness had reached them once again and was slowly suffocating everything. The fish which her people regularly fed on were no longer here and all the dragons were suffering for it. The thought of fish made Makana’s stomach growl with hunger.

“Makana!” Her mother called from below. Makana glided down to the much larger emerald dragon.

“Yes mother?” she asked.

“Everyone else has gone. It’s time for us to go as well.” Her mother informed her.

“Mother how many more times do we have to do this?” Makana sighed.

“Until we find a place where the darkness cannot get to us.” Her mother informed her. “Now come my little sunburst its time I taught you how to navigate by the stars.”

The two dragons spread their wings and took flight. This was the first time Makana would be making one of these journeys on her own power. Her mother didn’t have the strength to carry her this time even in her human form. The lack of food had made sure of that. The ocean rushed past below them as they flew. It wasn’t long before it was dark and the stars became visible and her mother began to describe them but she wasn’t paying attention. Makana could see fires on the horizon of human settlements. She wondered if they knew about the danger slowly approaching them.

“Mother can’t we warn the humans? We could shift into human forma and…” Makana begged.

“It wouldn’t do any good.” Her mother interrupted. “Humans are untrusting of outsiders and they wouldn’t be able to do anything about it anyway. Now pay attention. You are going to need this someday.” Makana grew silent and her mother continued the lesson. “See those three stars?” her mother asked point at three stars in perfect alignment. Makana nodded. “The island we are going to is right under.” Her mother informed her.

“What about those stars?” Makana pointing to a cluster of stars.

“That is Maui’s fish hook. You must never go there. It is where the demigod Maui is. Do you remember the stories I told you?”

Makana nodded. She remembered the stories about the fierce demigod and how he was famous for being a destroyer of monsters. Monsters like her. The young dragon watched the stars as her mother continues to talk. A few clouds began to appear but she didn’t think anything of it until the wind began to pick up. More clouds appeared out of nowhere and lightning cracked across the sky as the rain began to pound down.