The Draconic Balance: The Pendant

An Unexpected Avalanche

     I. Hate. Hiking.
     There is absolutely nothing fun or interesting about a back-breaking climb through the hot sun while your parents randomly shout out the stupid things they see, like: "Look! There's a black-backed woodpecker!" or "Wow! A natural quartz formation!"
     I still don't know how I got dragged into this stupid vacation. Oh wait, I do. Picture this: Victoria "Vicky" Valencia Valquez, adorable, popular and intelligent seventh grader, is sitting innocently at the table eating breakfast, when: Cue Dad. My extremely embarrassing father bursts into the room and yells, "Surprise, everyone! We're going on a week-long trip to Colorado!"
     And of course, my mom and older sister May (lucky her to not get stuck with tri-vs) were absolutely thrilled to hear this "wonderful" news. Yeah sure, climbing a HUGE STINKIN' MOUNTAIN WHEN IT'S A HUNDRED DEGREES OUT IS A BARREL OF LAUGHS?!?!?! Yeah... no. Sorry to keep repeating myself, and to keep stating the obvious, but it sucks. Majorly. So I'm out getting myself boiled while my parents find the Great Googah Bird of Colorado or whatever it is they're shouting about no- "Look at this, girls! Isn't it amazing? And it's naturally formed, too!"
     Sigh. Or a huge stupid cave that looks extremely boring. And Mom and Dad and May are fawning over it like it's the Great Deliverance from All Evils or something. "Hey, Vic! Come and look at this! It's seriously awesome!" May yells.
     I'm just about to shout back at her that she can keep her stupid cave when I remember something. Caves have roofs. And roofs make shade. And shade keeps you out of the sun. So I make a beeline for my family and their Wonder Cave. A proper temperature is worth my dignity.
     "Hello, Vicky," says Dad. "I was beginning to think we lost you somewhere near 5 feet." Yeah, that's my dad. Always the joker.
     I sigh and roll my eyes just to show him I am not over being dragged to Colorado away from all my friends and cell service for a week. "Aw, sweetheart. Come and look at this. It's gotta be just a little bit cool."
     Ugh. No. I do not want to go along with this at all, but I decide to humor my family and take one step into the Wonder Cave. One. Step. That's it.
     Wow.
     It... kinda is a Wonder Cave. There are these crystals all over the walls. They're all sorts of different colors. The black ones are actually really pretty and shiny, not like jet black (I have nothing personally against jet black- it's my hair color- I'm just saying shiny black's a cooler color for gemstones). The green ones seem to be the biggest. I'm pretty sure there used to be a lot of purple ones too, but they seem to mostly have broken off and fallen to the floor. None of the other colors- just the purple ones. Weird.
     Suddenly, I hear a humming noise. Not very loud- in fact, I'd be surprised if anyone else in my family heard it. However, I have really good ears, and I hear it nice and audible. Okay, this is actually getting interesting. I follow the sound. It seems to be coming from... the green crystals? I get closer, and I seem to see a reflection of something inside the biggest crystal. Is it... calling out to me? The world seems to blur, and my family and their voices fade into the background. I feel a physical pull, like something's compelling me to touch the crystal. My boots walk slowly toward the huge glowing crystal.
     I grasp the huge crystal and everything seems to fade again. My family is back in focus, and they all have concerned looks on their faces. "Vicky? Are you okay?" asks my sister. "You got this weird look on your face and you grabbed that crystal."
     I shake off a tingly feeling. "Yeah. I think the heat must be getting to me."
     "We're all getting pretty hot," Mom remarks. "Maybe we'll call it a day."
    Dad and May nod in agreement. YES! My pathetic excuse got me out of more hiking! I happily turn to follow the rest of my family when I hear a rumbling noise. It's getting louder and louder, and it's seriously freaking me out. It loudens to a roar and the ground starts cracking apart. Okay, this is officially scary. I run towards the mouth of the cave like I'm competing in the Olympics. However, I'm not fast enough. As my family screams and reaches out to me, my foot slips on a rock and I fall backwards into blackness.
★★★
      Ow. Ow. Ow. What the heck just happened? Is this real? It can't be. It has to be a nightmare. Maybe I passed out while hiking and I'm really back at the hotel room enjoying air conditioning and ice water. Please let this just be a nightmare. I blink really fast five or six times, usually a surefire way for me to wake up during dreams. I don't. The surroundings don't fade and I don't suddenly feel the warmth of a bed supporting me. So I'm really stuck in a dark, creepy cave with no way to get out and find my parents again. No. Nononononono. No!
     I'm really not the panicking type, or the crying type, but now seems like a really good time to let my tears in reserve flow. I cry silently, but hard. Although I wouldn't admit it to any of my friends, I'm really scared.
     "Why are you crying, little one?"
     A voice startles me and I jump. I look up to see a woman who was definitely not there five seconds ago. She has shoulder-length deep-brown hair and warm forest-green eyes. She wears a light leaf-green dress that is made out of a floaty material that seems to somehow be glowing.
      I know, I know, everyone says not to talk to strangers, but this woman seems like the type I can talk to. Maybe it's her inviting smile, or the friendly aura that seems to be emanating from her, but I spill. "There was an avalanche or an earthquake or something and I fell and now I'm stuck in this cave! I want my parents! And my sister!" I cry.
     "Now, now, you are here for a reason. Believe me, I know. And do not fear, little one, you will see your parents again. I guarantee it."
     She smiles and walks to my side. She offers a hand to help me up and I take it. "What's your name?" I ask, my voice still trembling slightly.
     "I am known by many names," she says with a small grin, "but you can call me Miya. Now, come with me. There are some people you need to meet."