Fangs and Fire

Prologue

It was cold and wet. Raindrops splattered against the ground outside our den. I hunched into a tight ball, using my wings to protect myself from the cold of this winter night. Suddenly, a tail larger than mine encircled me, drawing me closer to a warm figure, while a larger wing enveloped me further. A coarse tongue brushed the top of my head, making me to look up at my mother, Sarai. To my left, I received a gentle nuzzle from my father, Taji.

"You should be asleep, Savirah," Dad said, a soft smile appearing upon his muzzle. "But Daddy..." I began, but he cut me off gently, "No buts, not this time, my sweet." I turned to my mother, hoping for her support. Mum's blue eyes sparkled even in the dim light of the den, and her warm purr rumbled through the air like a calming melody. "Your father is right, darling. The storms outside can be fierce, and rest is important for a growing Night Fury like you," she said, tucking her wing closer around me.

"I can't help it, Mama! The thunder is very well.... loud, and it makes me feel alive," I protested, as another boom shook the ground just outside our cozy sanctuary. I shifted restlessly, the thrill of the storm battling with my need for sleep. Thunderheads rolled darkly above, the clouds looming like giants.

Dad chuckled softly, gazing out beyond the entrance. "I remember being the same way in storms," he mused, his voice rich with nostalgia. "It's what makes us Night Furies, craving the thrill of the dark skies."

"Can I stay up just a little longer? Please?" I implored, my ears flicking with hope as I looked at them both, summoning every bit of cuteness I could muster.

Mum exchanged a knowing glance with Dad, and for a moment, a spirit of mischief flickered in her eyes. "Just a few moments more, my daring little firefly," she said, the nickname wrapping around me like a warm blanket. "But only if you promise to stay close to us."

Yesss! I bobbed my head eagerly, tail swaying with excitement. I nestled deeper into their warmth, enveloped in the delicious scent of my parents. The den felt like a haven, a fortress of safety amidst the storm outside.

Suddenly, however, that sense of peace shattered when a loud crack of thunder echoed so close that the ground trembled beneath us. My heart raced as my instincts spiked-something felt wrong, so wrong. Dad shot to his feet, his pupils turning into slits.

"Stay here!" he commanded; his voice low yet urgent.

"Daddy, what's happening?" I asked, pressing closer to Mama, gazing up at her anxious face. There was a shadow in her eyes that made my heart sink.

Before either of them could reply, a bone-chilling roar erupted through the storm, drowning out the thunder. It was a sound brimming with malice, primal and terrifying. Fear washed over me like a frigid wave, paralyzing my body.

Dad's wings unfurled, his dark scales shining with latent power as he positioned himself protectively in front of us. "Sarai, take Savirah and hide!" he shouted, scanning the entrance with frantic eyes.

But before we could move, the shadows outside shifted ominously, revealing a massive figure against the stormy backdrop. A dragon-one not from our family, but something grotesque and twisted. Its eyes glowed like molten lava in the darkness as it lunged at us, a savage ferocity that sent shivers through my bones.

"Mum!" I screamed in desperation as she rushed forward, her wings unfurling wide in defiance. "Protect our daughter!" she shouted to Dad, who readied himself to confront this menace.

"I will!" he roared back, every muscle coiling with determination. "But what about you!?" He asked. No reply. 

The clash was brutal and deafening, resonating through the rain-soaked night as the air thickened with the tang of ozone and danger. I stood frozen, witnessing my parents battle with everything they had.

But the creature was too powerful, and as my mother dove in for an attack, it lashed out with its formidable tail, striking her directly. A sickening churn rolled in my stomach as she was knocked sprawling to the ground.

"Mum!" I cried, my voice breaking, my heart clenching in terror. The storm swirled around us, obscuring everything but the nightmare playing out before my eyes. Fury igniting in my father's expression, dashed to her side, his own struggle becoming increasingly desperate, but everything felt like it was in slow motion, my little heart pounding like a frantic drum.

Mum attempted to rise, pain etched across her striking features, but darkness clouded her gaze, and I understood-something dreadful was happening.

"Savirah...g-go!" she sputtered, her voice barely above a whisper, the light in her eyes flickering like a candle in a gale.

"No!" I screamed, but the world around me began to dim, her figure shrinking, becoming a wisp in the tempest.

As the last echoes of my mother's voice faded away, the storm's roar enveloped me. The den felt confining, suffocating. I curled against my father, my heart shattered as the weight of sorrow and loss pressed heavily upon us, stealing away any warmth the storm had left. I felt my father's strong claws grasp me firmly, lifting me from the ground despite my struggles to return to where my mother lay. "No! Daddy, I can't leave her!" I sobbed, kicking my tiny legs against the air, but the furious roar of the storm drowned out my cries.

"Savirah, listen to me!" Dad urged, his voice a low rumble filled with urgency and heartbreak. His green eyes glowed. "We have to go! If we stay here, that THING will come for us next!"

As if punctuating his plea, a menacing growl reverberated through the storm, sending chills racing through my body. I looked back one last time, the memory of my mother's fierce spirit etched forever into my heart-her soft purrs, her warm embrace, but now there was only darkness.

...

How was that, seeing as this is the first book I've published?

*Nothing* oh okay

Rosalie: It was a good try I mean 982 words

Me: eh true

Jared: Don't be so hard on yourself

Seth: What does everyone else think?