Riders of Arogoth

The Day Of The Chosen

A horn sounded in the distance as Fira sprung out of a deep sleep, "the day of the chosen!" She nearly screamed to herself before flying herself out of bed. She slipped her red cloak over her and made her way to the cabin door, "boots! I need my boots!" She ran over to the edge of her bed and grabbed her boots, ran back to the door, and put them on as she ran to the middle of town for the annual day. 

"Well, look who decided to show up, Raven." Sakaza mocked as Fira lined up alongside Raven and her. 

"Yeah, yeah. I didn't sleep well last night," Fira replied as she rubbed her half awake eyes.

"None of us slept last night, Fira," Raven said as he fiddled his fingers.

"Yeah. You're right." 

The announcer began his speech before the ceremony. 

"Men and Maidens, we gather here today for the 487th annual Day of the Chosen. Today, three of our natives who have turned of age will set a hand in the eternal flame, lit by the last Flostogen and be chosen to be shipped off to Condor Enclave to be trained in the preliminaries and receive a dragon. From there, they will be judged on how well did in their final training tests. If they score low, they will be sent back here to continue their training and guard Arogoth against mutants and threats. If they score high, they are shipped to more difficult combat areas to help allies or sent to fly cross country with messages or missions."

"I'm so ready for this," Raven said as he stared at the announcer.

"If you get in," Sakaza replied with a slight snap.

"Yeah, well... we'll see if you get in," Raven snapped back.

"Look, we don't know if any of us will get in. Keep in mind that there are 17 of us here. You both forget that Arogoth has a large population." Fira said as she broke the unsettlement.

The announcer called the first few names... 

"Esther Hallek, please proceed forward and set your hand in the flame."

Esther walked up and reached into the flame, only to pull back with a scream. She was not chosen. 

"Herrit Casmlet, proceed forward..."

And another burned hand after another...

"It's been 10 now. Out of 17." Raven said.

"Not that you're counting or anything," Sakaza replied.

"You weren't?"

"You're paranoid." Sakaza snickered.

"You aren't? Our hands could be burned and I--" As Raven was in mid-sentence, the announcer called the next name.

"Raven Briggs, please proceed to the flame."

Raven's stomach twisted with anxiety and anxiousness as he began his way up to the flame. As he did so, he felt a hand grab his arm, "Good luck." Fira told him as she released her hold on his arm.

"Thanks." He continued up to the flame. There it was right in front of him, the clear white flame. He reached out his hand and looked away as it touched the flame. No burning. It felt cold as it drifted through his fingers. "It doesn't burn..." He looked back at the flame once again and it was now black. Silence from the crowd was powerful as he kept his hand in the flame.