The Hildaria Chronicles: Book 1 Shattered

Dillon

It's now or never. It's either get this kill, or go hungry. I sat there waiting, bow in hand, for any beast that dares to cross my path.

Suddenly, I heard a loud rustling coming directly from my left. I snapped around and knocked an arrow.

It was a small lizard like creature, with gleaming red scales, and leathery, almost bat-like wings. I could tell right away what it was, a little dragon pup, probably less than a year old. I knew I needed to kill it, as we are really low on food, but no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't bring myself to do it.

So, we just sat there studying each other, waiting for the other to make a move. The dragon made a small noise that sounded almost like a kitten. It started taking small steps towards me. For some reason, I didn't move. The dragon was now a mere six inches from me. Now going against every survival instinct I have in my body, I picked the dragon up.

It was a strange feeling, holding the dragon. It was much softer than I expected. It must not have fully developed it's scales yet. It had slightly sharp claws, but they were too dull to do any harm. The dragon seemed to like me, and I liked it right back.

I hugged it close to my body. "Man," I thought, "it's been so long since I have felt true compassion for something." However for some reason, I felt it for this dragon.

I think the dragon fell asleep, because after holding it for a good 5 minutes, I started hearing little sounds. It's chest was moving up and down in short even breaths. Then once again, against every survival instinct I have in my body, I put the dragon into my hunting bag and took off towards home.

The trip home was a long one, so I had plenty of time to think. "What has become of me," I thought to myself. "I have become too kind for my own good." "I can't keep being soft!" I yelled out loud.

But when I thought about the dragon, all of those bad thoughts drifted away. I ran my hand through my short black hair. A bead of sweat dripped from my neck and down my back as the hot summer sun beat down on me.

I finally escaped the dark clutches of the forest and into the duchy of Lower Hildaria. The luscious green realm of Lower Hildaria. Rolling green meadow as far as the eye can see, and not a tree in sight. I distinctly remember a deer at the edge of the forest, drinking from a small stream.

It wasn't a long walk now, I arrived at our shack in under 5 minutes. Our shack was a small little hobble, probably 20 feet by 20 feet, but honestly, that was enough.

As I walked inside, I saw Carmina had started a fire. Carmina walked out of the kitchen and walked into the firelight. I finally saw her beautiful features, her dark brown hair, light blue eyes that dance in the firelight. "Hello, Dillan." said Carmina, and I was broken out of my daze. "Did you get what we needed?" she asked.

"Um..." I replied.

"Seriously," Carmina yelled, startling me, "do you even know how low we are on food right now! I can't even..." She was cut off by a loud grumbling coming from my hunting bag.

"What is that," asked Carmina. She started to walk over to my hunting bag, but I blocked her path.

"Get outta my way!" she yelled.

She blew by me and went directly towards my hunting bag. "Wait..." I tried to say, but it was too late. She opened the hunting bag, and to my complete horror, the dragon was gone.

As Carmina turned towards me, she froze, and her eyes filled with terror. I didn't understand what was going on. Why was she looking at me like that?

"What is that?" Carmina asked, her eyes still filled with terror.

"Uhhhh. A baby dragon." As I said that, I heard the loud sound of horses galloping.