Tierra: The Dragon Uprise [Book Three]

Chapter II

Serena opened the door and stepped in. She noticed the lack of windows and light in general. She summon a small fire ball in her palm to help her find her way through the small hut.

She looked around the place. It differently made her think 'witch'. There were potions everywhere and old tattered books. The smell made Serena want to gag. It smelled like everything was rotting or already rotten.

She finally found an old lady sitting at a table with a glass ball. Serena started to think she came to get her palm read or something like that. The old lady opened her eyes and looked at Serena. "Finally. I sent that message centuries ago."

Serena frowned. "Then why have we just got it today?" She asked. "Why now come to see you?"

The witch returned the frown. "Just like your fire, you're feisty."

Serena sat down. "What's this about any ways?"

The witch smiled and chuckled. "You mean your oh so beloved queen didn't tell you? didn't tell you the prophecy?"

"Prophecy? What?" Serena asked then saw the witch's eyes turn white and begun to recite.

"When Moon turn red,

And the fire goes seeking for the witch,

The fire shall be changed,

And can only become what it once was,

When it gives itself to Earth,

Before Moon turns blue."

Serena blinked as the witch's eyes turned back to normal. "Tonight the moon turns red like blood and you came to see me." The witch explained.

Serena looked at the Dragon Lady. "It said 'goes seeking'. I wasn't seeking you out."

The witch laughed again. "Oh yes you did. I'm a lady with answers to why you are the alternative Rena but have no similarities to her."

Serena was taken back by this. She had never said that she was questioning what Soran said back in the arena that day. The doubt was something she wanted to keep to herself and not have others trying to tell her to forget about it. "How did you know that?"

The Dragon Lady started laughing again. "Goodness child! I'm a WITCH of course I know you better then you do." She lowered her voice. "I helped design your fate. I was the one who brought you here."

Serena took in this new information. This witch lady was very powerful. But something clicked inside. Did this witch come from the same place Soran came from? Did they know each other? The Dragon Lady groaned. "You ask a lot of questions."

Serena blinked. "Can you like...not read my mind? That's creepy." She said. "But are you and Soran from the same place?"

The witch nods. "We rarely go into other worlds unless we need to make a prophecy happen. Soran rebelled and he has been punished harshly. But I can't answer everything for you fire."

The Dragon Lady stood up and started waving her hands around. Serena stepped away from her but a magic had started wrapping itself around her body. She started fighting back against it but it only continued.

Then the changes started.

Serena let out an ear piecing scream, half hoping that Howkin would hear and come to her rescue. The witch only laughed. "He can't hear you fire."

Serena felt her spine change and she fell to the ground as her legs changed and shifted. Bones left and changed. New ones grew and pain filled her body. Her arms changed and her hands changed into large talons.

Her eyes became to watery and couldn't see her body change, only felt them. After what felt like forever, the changes stopped. Pain was still present but became faint.

Serena opened her eyes and first thing she noticed was her vision changed. Colours were more vibrant and images were clear. Smells grew stronger and sounds that she couldn't hear before, she could.

She noticed she was on her side and rolled over, which hurt. She tried standing, but then saw her arms were now dragon legs. Red scales covered her body now. She fell backwards and tried to scream but only fire came out.

She heard a laugh and saw the witch. Serena glared at her. She had done this to her and she needed to change back. The witch looked at her. "It's all part of the plan. You got a month before the blue moon rises to the sky. Find the moonlit pool and dig up a red jewel. Let your blood cover the jewel then bury it in the same place. Once Moon's light hits the pool you'll be changed back. If you fail to so this, you will be a dragon forever!" She laughed then disappeared.

Serena tried her best to remember what the witch said to do. She had to find this pool quickly. She needed Howkin's help.

She turned to find you but then caught her reflection in a mirror. She looked at herself. The red scales looked like blood in the dark house. Her blue eyes hadn't change but her eyes were larger. She was only two meters tall and two meters long. She was a very small dragon.

Serena noticed she even had to wings. That would make things go quicker. If she knew how to fly. She stumble to the door, trying to get her front and back legs to work together. But the tail kept tripping her.

After making it to the door and pushed on it, trying to open it. She wrapped her claws around the handle and pulled. Light from a lamp came in and it took awhile before Serena could see. She pushed herself out of the hut to the sounds of panic.

"A dragon!"

Howkin silenced the other guard and then drew his sword. Serena started to panic. She tried to talk but it came out differently. To her she sounded like a bear cub. "Where's Serena?" Howkin asked.

Serena let out a soft roar. Howkin frowned, "It's not one of Naloth's." He said. "It's a wild dragon." He swung his sword at her.

Serena ducked then stumbled away in panic. She heard Howkin yelling behind her. She tripped over every stick and rock as she tried to escape her friend's sword. She hadn't noticed that it was night and the only light was the red moon above. But with her new vision she could see better the Howkin could.

She used that her advantage and took a sharp turn to the left. Stumbling still, she continued. She could hear that Howkin was lost. She kept going for what she thought was an hour.

She found a log and crawled underneath it. She wrapped her tail around herself and closed her eyes. Serena decided she would have to continue looking tomorrow as she feel asleep.

[2 meters = 6 feet and about 6 inches.]