The Girl Under the Mountain

Chapter 1 (Prison Break)

When I was a baby I had parents like any other child, but I didn't know them like everyone else knows theirs. I lost mine a long time ago. There was a ship with a group of people including me, my mother, and my father. I don't know if I had any siblings but I'm guessing they weren't as lucky as me. A hurricane hit the ship out of nowhere and it sunk. Panels of chipped wood drifting to sea, barrels, and boxes sinking to the depths of the unknown. I don't remember what happened after that, I was only 10 months old after all. I know one thing: I'm on a ship one moment then on a beach in the middle of nowhere in a basket crying the next. That's when a large shadow appeared over me, the shadow had eyes! Huge amber eyes that radiated fresh sap out of a maple tree. It was a Mainecoon.
The rarest of all dragon species with only one or two thought to still be alive if not extinct. The silvery orange cat took my basket bringing me to this cave-like colony with about a hundred more of its kind. The Mainecoon species had been surviving in this colony for a thousand years! I was now living with them as one of their own! Here I am seventeen years later.
The Mainecoon with amber eyes and silver fur who picked me up and saved my life might I add, that's Mama. She's the "leader" of this colony and I say "leader" because the real leader is the elder, Elder Firelily. Although she's too old to fly or walk, she sits on the spirit rock where all the ancestors before her speak and share knowledge with anyone brave enough to seek it. Mama had a kitten of her own. Rowan. She's basically like my sister since I grew up with her.
During one of our nightly flights, we strayed too close to the village walls, walls designed to keep dangers out. There was a brief, almost imperceptible clicking sound, and then a net shot up with the silence of a mouse. The net missed its mark but tangled around Rowan's wing, causing a surge of panic as she fought to keep us aloft, away from the village.
I reached for my knife, sawing frantically at the net. Each second felt like an eternity, but I managed to free her wing just in time. Yet, the chainmail-like net had blinded her, and she struggled to gain altitude. The weight of the net dragged us down, slowing our escape. Before we could gain any distance, a dragon swooped down from the shadows, its talons closing around me with a vice-like grip. I was ripped from her back, and she, now free of the net, bolted towards the forest's edge. My heart pounded with fear, but I couldn't blame her. She needed to get help and away from the human village. The dragon's hold was unyielding, and no matter how much I struggled, I couldn't break free. The village below was getting closer, the walls loomed ominously.
The village was unaware of who I was, and now, in the grasp of this beast, I had no idea what awaited me. Every moment filled with dread and the desperate hope that I could somehow escape this impending fate. The dragon dropped me in a small clearing, who I assumed was where guards in silvery armor rushed towards me, their spears forming an impenetrable circle that forced me to stand down. My heart pounded in my chest as I scanned the faces around me. Then, as the moonlight revealed the dragon's true form, I realized it was a mainecoon! But I'd never seen this one before and I knew every Mainecoon in our colony. Tension crackled in the air as a girl leapt gracefully off the dragon's back and strode toward me. She waved the guards away with a single, yet commanding hand movement, her eyes never leaving mine.
"What do you think you're doing so close to my village, outsider?" she demanded, her voice sharp and accusatory.
"I'm not here to cause trouble," I retorted, my voice a mix of defiance. "I was just looking."
"Looking?" she scoffed, stepping closer until we were nearly nose-to-nose. "Looking at what? Our defenses? How to get in unnoticed?"
"I don't owe you any explanations!" I shot back, anger flaring up inside me. "I have every right to fly around, just as much as you do."
Her eyes narrowed, and she took a step back, crossing her arms. "Guards, take her."
The guards advanced, their spears glinting menacingly in the moonlight. Panic surged through me, and I made a desperate lunge to break free, but the spears pressed closer, forcing me to halt.
"This is a mistake!" I shouted, my voice echoing in the clearing. "I'm not your enemy!"
The girl laughed coldly.
"Your defiance only proves your guilt. We'll see how tough you are in a cell. Maybe then you'll start talking."
The guards seized my arms roughly, dragging me toward the village as I struggled and shouted. "Hey let me go!"
"This is my village, and I will protect it at all costs. Enjoy your stay in our jail, outsider."
The cell was cold and damp, the walls closing in on me as the heavy door slammed shut. I leaned against the bars, my heart still racing. All night I tried to find a way to escape, but my efforts were futile. The bars where made of steel, the only hinges where melted shut so the bolts couldent be pulled out. The guards took great delight in mocking my appearance, having never seen someone with red hair and freckles before apparently. Their laughter echoed off the stone walls, their taunts a cruel chorus that chipped away at my resolve. Finally giving up, I slumped into a corner, wrapping my arms around my knees and listening to their conversations. The guards' banter was a mixture of boredom and bravado, but gradually, their tone shifted.
Whispered exchanges became more urgent, and then one guard started running toward the exit, followed by another. Their voices grew louder, more frantic.
"A black cat! It's terrorizing the village!"
"We have to get out there!" one guard shouted, his face pale with fear.
"Leave the prisoner! We need all hands on deck!" another barked, already halfway out the door. The guards abandoned their posts in a chaotic rush, their footsteps echoing down the corridor. They left the cell door unattended, and for a moment, I was frozen in disbelief. Could this be the break I needed? I scrambled to my feet. The village was in chaos, a dragon wreaking havoc outside. This was my chance to escape and find my sister. As the sounds of panic and destruction filled the air, I knew I had to move quickly.
I yanked on the door, rattling the bars, but the lock held fast. Frustration clawed at me as I pounded on the iron, but it was no use. Hushed voices approached, echoing through the dim corridor. I backed away, pressing myself against the cold stone wall, trying to blend into the shadows.
A dark haired boy, who appeared only a foot taller than me appeared, accompanied by another Mainecoon, their eyes scanning the cells stopping at each one down the hall until they stopped in front of mine.
"Hey, are you the prisoner Estelle caught today?" he asked, his voice a hurried whisper.
I raised an annoyed brow at him "No, she's up your ass to and to the left. I'm someone else, and who's Estelle?" I replied, stepping forward to face him at the bars.
"The chiefess. She was ranting about a red-haired freak," he explained, then quickly added, "Her words not mine."
"Excuse me?" I snapped, my indignation flaring.
"Look, I didn't call you a freak, she did. But we don't have time for this!" he urged, pulling out a set of keys. His hands shook slightly as he fumbled with the lock, finally managing to spring it open. "Come on, we have to go!"
I hesitated, distrust flickering in my eyes, he didn't give me much of a choice. We dashed around the back corner, my heart pounding in my chest as I followed him out a hidden passage. Every sound seemed amplified, every shadow a potential threat.
"Okay, hop on! We can't afford to get caught," he instructed, mounting his dragon in one fluid motion. I hesitated for only a moment before climbing up behind him. The dragon's fur was smooth and clean under my hands as I settled into place on a hard leather saddle. With a powerful thrust of its wings, we leaped through an open window, soaring into the night sky. The village shrank below us, its chaos replaced by the cold, serene expanse of clouds. The wind whipped past us, and I clung tightly to the boy, my mind racing.
"What's your name?" I shouted over the rush of air.
"I'm Ajax," he called back. "And you?"
"I don't have a name." I replied.
Ajax maneuvered the dragon into the thick clouds, concealing us from view. The village's distant shouts and clanging alarms faded away, replaced by the steady beat of dragon wings and the whisper of the night air.
"We should be safe up here," he said, his voice softer now, almost reassuring. "At least for a little while."
I nodded, still gripping tightly to him. As the adrenaline began to subside, a new determination took root. I had to find my sister and figure out what was happening. But for now, I had to trust Ajax and hope that this unexpected alliance would lead us to safety. After a few minutes of small talk, a German Shepherd suddenly appeared out of the sky.
"Ajax, down here!" his rider shouted before diving back down. Ajax's Mainecoon followed, spiraling gracefully to a small clearing below where a group of people was waiting for us. As we landed, I stayed on the Mainecoon, watching these new faces warily while Ajax jumped down to greet them.
"Where's Jasper?" he asked a dirty blonde girl with a very unimpressed look.
"He was supposed to meet us, but I'm guessing he's off smoking weed again and forgot," she replied with a roll of her eyes. Ajax turned back to me, gesturing toward the group.
"Uh, these are my friends," he said, pointing to each one. "This is Abrielle, Bryce, and Orius." They all smiled and waved, but I remained still, uncertain of their intentions.
Abrielle was the first to step forward.
"Okay, I know this is all probably weird, but Ajax's sister Estelle has been going psycho lately-" Ajax cut her off.
"She's not going psycho; she's just... overprotective and a slight control freak," Ajax interjected.
"So, like I said, psycho," Abrielle repeated, rolling her eyes, again.
"Anyway," Ajax cleared his throat, trying to steer the conversation back.
"I didn't think it was fair to capture you like that." His words were surprisingly sweet, but the revelation that Estelle was his sister left me with mixed feelings.
"By the way, nice distraction with the black cat, where did you even find it?," Ajax nodded appreciatively to his friends.
"Wait, us? We didn't send in the cat," Orius spoke up, confusion evident in his voice.
"Happy coincidence?" Bryce shrugged, smiling but equally perplexed.
If it wasn't them, then who or what had sent the black cat? It must have just been a coincidence. Before I could voice my concerns, Abrielle spoke up again, her tone more serious.
"We need to figure this out quickly. Estelle's not going to stop looking for you until she knows your away from the village" Ajax nodded, his expression determined. Finally, I spoke up.
"I'll be fine on my own. I can go from here."
"Are you sure? Out in the forest?" Orius questioned, his concern evident.
"Yes, I'm sure. I've lived in forests my whole life."
Orius looked like he wanted to argue further, but Abrielle placed a hand on his arm, stopping him. I already liked her. Bryce spoke up as he saddled onto his dragon.
"We tried to find your dragon, but we couldn't locate it."
"Oh, uh, that's fine. We have a...meeting spot in case we get separated. I'll just go there," I said with a fake smile, hoping it was enough to convince them to leave.
Ajax lingered, still looking in my direction as he mounted his dragon. The rest followed suit, each climbing onto their dragons. I waved and gave a small smile as they took off. Ajax's gaze held mine for a moment longer before he finally turned away to join his friends. Maybe people aren't like what they used to be, like what Elder Firelily said. I watched them disappear into the starry night sky, feeling a mix of hope and uncertainty. Once they were out of sight, I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Alone again, but maybe not as alone as I once thought.