Dragon Mind

1

My hands reach intently to the small dagger at my waist. Mom stood behind me crying into dad's shoulder. I could hear her and many other parents begging their children to turn back. "Diana! Please you don't have to do this!" Still I remained facing the gapping bowl in front of me. I knew my brother was watching his bear came up to me. Some of the others around me backed away from the large beast. Twin swords hung from a leather strap in its mouth.

Dear sister,
May these surve you well. The battle master told me twin swords were your favorable weapon of choice. I spent five weeks in the forge to make them for someone so small. See you on the other side little goddess.
Your brother,
Elvin Black Bear

The bear had dropped them at my feet with the note attached to the halt of the left hand blade. I quickly hung the custom made sheaths over my shoulders. Pulling them out and testing the weight with a few well practiced moves. They were fine crafted blades and give me an edge over the others. I nodded his way as I slid them back into place. I was also given a small water skin, some bead, and a thin cloak. Lots of people here had older guard masters giving them an edge, but few had family members in the familiar guard as I did. Over head the sky darkened with flickers of sun flashing. The dragon guard. Their flight cast huge shadows, and the wings of their familiar caused the baren earth around us the cloud with dust. I placed my legs shoulder width apart and planted my arms at my side. Still it was a struggle to stay upright and on the ground. My compacted body weighted little compared to everyone else here, but I knew I was not only one planting their bodies to remain upright.

Every beat of they dragons wings sent dust in my eyes and my body sliding back. If the wing they caused was any stronger I may very well have went flying. Up, up into the air not down to the ground. As they got closer some of the others fell to the ground, the rest went to all fours to cling onto the ground. I was forced to remain standing as they landed. Moving even the slightest bit would send me into the air. The wind stopped all at once and I quickly uncoiled. A sigh escaped my lips as I relaxed. I shook my head and ran my fingers through my hair to rid it of the dust.

Many of the others heaved a sigh and relaxed on the ground. The guards dismounted. All eyes went to them, but their eyes went to me as I looked up at the sky. One of them a tall man, red-brown hair walked up to me. My eyes watched him still blinking every few seconds to get the dust out and failing to do so. He was clad in black leather, jagged green lines (I could barely keep my fare from scrunching up at the muddy color), that matched his rather small sized dragon (at least when you compared to the others.)

"Congratulations! You are the only one to remain standing. What's your name?"

"Diana, sir."

"Rather small for a boy your age are 't ya?"

"Well that's cause I ain't no boy. I am a girl."

He looked shock for a moment as did the others before the all laughed. No one else laughed. It was rare I knew, for females to take part in training, let alone the guard, but it was pretty much unheard of for a girl to choose the Crossing. They soon realized that no one else was laughing. I was a girl, I was the only girl. "Well I'll be!" They thought I was joking when I had only told the truth. "Well come on, let's see how you fly."

I followed him wondering what I was about to do. He placed me in the stale on his dragons back. I was much, much to small for it. "Don' ya worry if ye should fall the others will catch ya." I laid myself flat against his back and took hold of the saddles edge. I tapped the dragon's side with my foot and it shot of the other riders followed close behind. No good I would not be able to hang on long like this. I pulled myself up to the neck and shoulders of the beast. Using the shoulders as foot holds and the neck spines as a handhold. I tighted my left legs lightly and it turned to the left. I smiled. I pushed on the scales it went with. I lessened the pressure of being dealt and the beast slowed down. So that's how you stear. I turned the muddy green dragon around and lead it to the baren land again though the landing was far from graceful or gentle. I slid over one side of the neck and landed on my hands and knees.

"You did a mighty fine job for your first time flying Diana. I hope to see you on the other side." With that he mounted once more and joined the others in the air. The biggest dragon a big blue beast with a very long tail roared to begin the Crossing. I got to feet and walked inside, some ran, others walked in like me, but some were not moving at all, and while some lagged behind going as slow as possible.

Five minutes after I had crossed the threshold, a loud clank, echoed out from behind the group. We had been sealed in. Everything was quiet. To quiet. I ran, this was a seven day track, one that was very deadly.