Legend of a Creature

The Competitors Are Decided

"Dragons assemble”

            That was Vixen’s call for us to leave the next day. On these rare occasions do the Elders bring the whole clan, so no dragon knows who will be chosen. It is quite a long flight to Great Island. That’s where we gather every new moon. And where the tenders and their ‘in trainings’ meet every full moon. 

            “Almost there.” I heard my father say to my mother. She nodded in return. It’s true. I could see the island, we took a final dive strait down, and landed on the island, and separated so we could talk to our friends. The island look a lot more crowded with full clans. I saw Vixen sitting on the Elder Rock, a huge boulder that is the oldest one on the island, and it’s where the Elders address the Meeting. I had been here many times before, and recognized Dafrio’s leader, Lakelle, of Darkclan, Silverscale, of the Waterclan, and Oaklie, from the Earthclan. I looked around for Dafrio. There! I walked over to her, but crept up from behind, then casually tapped her shoulder with my wing. She spun around, and when she saw me, her face light up.

            “Firis!” she cried, “I’ve missed you.” She wasn’t able to come to the last Meeting due to an injured wing. We touched noses, as friends do.

            “Me too.” I replied. “I wonder who will get chosen for the race. I hope I do.”

            “Same here. How cool would it be if we both did?” she asked.

            “Way cool” I replied. “Oh, the Elder’s are beginning” I hadn’t realized that Airclan appeared.

            Vixen was starting. “Before we announce the dragons that will compete for the titles of Elder Dragons in training, we shall commence with any news. I will begin. Bluewing has completed her 100 years of training and is now a full dragon. We give thanks to Firis for training her so well.” All the dragons, from every clan let out an approving call, a sign to show respect towards us. As the noise died down she continued.

            “Our tender, Famasse, has taken on an ‘in training’. Arquiosse will be our next tender.” Again, more wing flapping.

There was no new news in Earthclan or Waterclan. In Airclan, Blackheart had just laid an egg.  Lakelle stepped forwards.

            “We have a new full dragon as well. Cameltes. Her instructor, Dafrio, is a great value to our clan, and we are grateful that her ‘in training’ has completed to learn everything she needs to.”

            All of the dragons called out, and two or three dragons cheered a bit. Dafrio and Cameltes were very popular within the clans.

She continued. “It is now the time you have all been waiting for!” She announced. “The dragons for the race have been decided throughout the clans. We will now announce them.” During this ceremony, we must remain quiet; bow our heads in respect when one declines. “I shall begin for this, as I am already speaking.” She continued. “Sterelon” A dragon, dark as night stood up on a rock near where he was sitting.

“You are chosen for this task, do you accept?”

He held his head high, looking very confidant. “I accept.” He sat back down again. Lakelle seemed very pleased. She continued.

“Dafrio,” She looked stunned, but hopped up on a tree stump behind us. “You are chosen for this task, do you accept?”

“I accept.” And she leaped down and landed beside me.

Also from Darkclan, Danisse declined, and Saria and Ellana accepted. From Earthclan, Grania, Rokedas, and Verolo accepted, Antend, Brolio, and Freya will represent Airclan, and from Waterclan, Streamheart, Kyris, and Shimmerwing. Finally, it was our turn. Vixen stepped forwards. I wanted to be one of the first two or three to be called, guaranteeing my spot in the race.

“Enfiro.” I don’t know how to react to that. No one knows it, but since we were newborns, we have always competed in everything, and he is Dafrio’s half-brother. Now, I must get called up next. I saw Enfiro glance at me as he flew up on a low branch in a tree beside him.

“You have been chosen for this task. Do you accept?”

There was no hesitation as he replied, “I do.” He flew back down towards a friend of his, whom I didn’t recognize.

“Firis.” Vixen called. I nearly froze with excitement, but I managed to hop up onto the same stump Dafrio did.

“You have been chosen for this task, do you accept?”

I looked at Enfiro, who had stopped talking and looked surprised that she chose me, then at Dafrio who looked proud.

“I accept.” I stood there for a few moments then jumped down beside Dafrio, and she touched her nose to my ear. My gaze was fixed on Vixen. Her eyes were half closed and she was slowly nodding her approval, as if she was pleased that I had accepted. If I were an Elder Dragon, I would be pleased if my daughter followed in my footprints.

“Oris.” Vixen nodded at the orange dragon. He was 650 years old and was quite familiar within all the clans however he was very shy. He was my father’s brother, and Bluewing’s father. “You have been chosen for this task, do you accept?”

He seemed terrified to be the centre of attention within all 5 clans. He bowed his head. “I decline”

Vixen looked at him with a look of surprise and respect. “Very well”

“Vena.” Another wise, shy choice. She is suspiciously white and yellow, a lot like an air dragon. “You have been chosen for this quest. Do you accept?”

She looked down from where she stood, looking as if she owned the world. She lifted her head to she sky and cried, “I do!”

Her voice sounded bitter in the still air.

Everyone cheered for her. She was a very well known dragon. She was the only dragon who was known to have magic, beside myself. Only my clan knew I had magic. I can create fire; resist even the hardest, hottest flames, as most can only withstand the normal, not as life-sucking flames. There is much more I can do, but it is yet to be discovered. All of Fireclan can breath fire, it is one of our methods of battle, but we are weak against WaterClan.

Vixen’s call snapped me out of my thoughts. “If no clan has anything more to report, it is time we go our separate ways, and return when the moon shall once again disappear. Fireclan, depart.”

“Good-bye Dafrio.” I whispered, and we touched wings. “At the next Meeting.” And with that, I shot into the sky.