The Dragon's Blood

Dragon's Blood

Seraphina stood, watching the darkness fill the skies. She knew the black dragon was about to come, make sure everyone was in their homes, doing the kings orders. But, she didn't care. She watched the horizon, waiting, when something caught her eye. It shined in the last drops of sunlight, and seemed to flicker.

"Sera! Be inside before the dragon comes out, girly! Don't wanna get hurt, alright?" A kind voice ordered. She gave the owner a nod, a kind old woman who lived next door. Sera's ma had been killed, while her pa lay, ill, unable to move and speak.

"I'll be inside before he get' out." She said, running down the steep slope of the hill. She rolled over, jumping up before hitting a rock. She sprinted to the flickering object, and knelt next to it minutes before the dragon would rise. "Wait..." She whispered, touching it. "You be a drag'n egg,"

She grabbed it, knowing someone would want it sometime soon. She was slower carrying it, but something more than wanting money propelled her to hold onto it.

"Pa! Pa!" She said softly. "Look what I found. It be a drag'n egg." She whispered, then she heard the far cry of the black dragon. She heard his quick wing beats. She held her breath, wrapping herself around the egg. She held it like a child would hold a teddy bear, or a dog.

"The dragon protects us, the dragon only wants to only help us all." Sera whispered, reciting what the king ordered them to chant when the dragon flew over. She fell asleep holding the white and black egg, and awoke to a quiet house, and a new dawn.

"The Dragon Rider's will save us." She said, quietly feeding her father soup.

"Erp!" A strange noise erupted, small yet loud in the quiet. Sera whipped around, and saw the eggs shattered remains strewn across the floor. Her heart nearly stopped. Dragon's only hatched in the presence of their riders, at least, that's what was the rumor. She slowly moved forward, and knelt done next to the small black dragon. He had a white tipped tail, and his back had a small white patch.

"Oh my, you're cute!" She whispered, sitting next to him. She grabbed the soup, and offered the little dragon a spoon full. He sniffed, and carefully stick his tongue in, getting a taste. His eyes lit up, and he bit the spoon.

"Careful, don't want to hurt yourself." She said, and without thinking, put her hand to his head. A quick shock sent her into sleep, yet again. When she awoke this time, a small pain emitted itself from her hand.

"Oh, my. I... Oh, no." She whispered, frantic. She grabbed a clothe, looking at the Dragon's Mark. Few got the mark, and she was afraid. It was said that the black dragon could since when someone had it.

"Err?" The small star dragon said, curious.

"What?" She whispered, starting at him. He was already double his original size.

"Err!" He said, opening his wings. She looked outside. Dark, but with hints of light in the sky. Dawn or dusk?

She waited a few minutes, and saw that it was getting slowly lighter.

"Stay here!" She said, grabbing the soup bowl, refilling it and leaving it for him to eat. "I'll be back later."

I'm only fourteen winters! How is this happening? She thought, running into town. She went straight to the merchants store, ready to barter for information. However, when she got there, two elves stood, blocking the way. She stopped short, staring.

"May I pass?" She asked, looking them up and down.

"No yo..." One started, automatically cut off by a woman exiting the building.

"Are you sure no ones come to you about the mark?" She was saying, walking out slowly. She noticed Sera, and stopped. "Ah, someone I haven't seen. Do you know anyone with this mark?" She said, looking around quickly. She pulled a glove off with a quick flourish, and there upon her hand sat the Dragon's Mark.