Tarragon (v1)

Chapter One: The Icehorn Incident

(Writer's note: This story is long, each chapter being anywhere from 3-7 thousand words, and there's probably going to be 60 or more chapters by the time it's done, so there might be some mistakes here and there.  Constructive criticism is welcome, and I will implement it in my future writing.)

-August 2nd, 2023
-Mantis

My name is Mantis.  I'm sixteen years old, and have been learning lightning magic for a year and a half.

Dragons are one of the most unique creatures on earth, with the most diversity.  Some are gargantuan beasts which can crush cities accidentally.  Some are adorable fluffballs.  Some are adorable fluffballs which will shred you given the opportunity.

Though, dragons aren't really all evil.  A huge number of them are completely okay with humans, some being able to use magic to translate to talk to us, some of us being able to translate to talk to them.  They're incredibly useful for the transportation of goods and people, too.

I slouched back in my chair, tired from scrolling through ads, with sometimes even a bit of content I was looking for, just to spice up the experience.

Suddenly, without warning, a siren started blaring, "WARNING: HOSTILE DRAGON ATTACK!  WARNING: HOSTILE DRAGON ATTACK!  SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY!" After, it repeated something in what sounded like the dragons' language.

I tore off my headphones, and bolted downstairs.  My phone blew up with notifications from the group chat as I hit the bottom floor.  I pulled all of my strength together, and pulled open the bunker door.  I saw my two sisters, one brother, and parents emerge from other rooms.  A deafening roar flooded the household, and a sudden warmth was emitted from the front door.  I hopped down the ladder as fast as I could, reaching the bottom, and keeping my hand next to the button labeled 'SHUT DOOR'.

I saw my mom drop to the bunker floor, then my father.  One sister dropped down.  A sickening crack was heard upstairs, as sunlight suddenly permeated the ladder.  I heard voices, but over it all, a hum.  A hum, like you'd hear from a dragon preparing to use its breath.  My family backed away from the ladder, and as I saw flames crawl down to us in a sudden burst, I pressed the button.

They couldn't have survived.

I had lost my brother, and my sister.

There was nothing

There was

I couldn't have done

I couldn't have changed

I took a moment to recover.

I turned to the others.  Their faces were pale.  The ladder shaft was covered in soot.  

A tear dripped down my face. My legs buckled, and I fell to the ground.  I had started to fully realize what had just happened.  I heard a crash from upstairs, accompanied by the sound of ripping metal.

I wiped my tears from my eyes.

"Stand back.  Hide!" I told the others, my voice cold.  I stood up, and with every bit of energy I had, summoned lightning, crackling around my arm, "I've been learning magic for a year now, I should put it to use, shouldn't I?"

I silenced my family when they told me not to, or that it was a stupid idea, or that I would get killed.

Metal snapped.

"GO!" I shouted at them.  They ran off to hide in the bunker.  I turned to the ladder.  My legs were shaking.  I didn't want to do this, but I didn't have any choice.

A dragon, three feet tall, and five feet long dropped down.  It certainly wasn't the one that had attacked my house.

A single hit will kill you.  I reminded myself.  The dragon had flat, sharp, light cyan horns.  Its eyes were an icy cold, and its claws were serrated to rip flesh, meat, and bones apart.  I guessed it was an ice dragon.  We stood still, sizing each other up for a moment.  I decided to make the first move, firing off a bolt of lightning at it.  The dragon dodged out of the way, leaping towards me.  I sidestepped away from it, placing my palm on its back, and injecting electricity straight into it.  The dragon spasmed for a moment, and I followed it up by firing lightning at its neck.  I took a moment to look for something I could use to finish the job.  After a moment, I grabbed its neck, and tore off a horn.