Team Up Challenge Short Stories

Team Up Challenge Short Story #1

I am Veda Dayholt. My village was destroyed long ago by a group of wild men; I was the only survivor. I spent many months as a small child wandering around, searching for anywhere to call home. Until the dragon found me. Unlike many, this dragon along with its pride were vegetarians. The dragon had taken pity on me and took me in.

Fifteen years had passed since I was found, and I had recently celebrated my twentieth birthday with my new family. I was reading one of my favourite books, when Lyra, the same dragon who had found me, approached.

"Veda, Abascus wants to see you in the cave." She informed, then left the cave. I put down my book and made my way to the cave.

Once inside the cave, I was met by Abascus, the pride's alpha. He was an extravagant dragon, easily towering over my own small frame as well as many of the dragons on the pride. His scales were a deep scarlet, fading into a rich ebony, his eyes a flaming amber.

Nervously, I tucked a loose strand of my long, strawberry blonde hair behind my ear. I had never been summoned to the cave to speak with the alpha before. Curiosity and unease were building up inside, but I hid it as best as I could.

"Veda Dayholt. I brought you here because the pride is in danger. As you know, a pride of vegetarian dragons is very unusual. I have heard whispers of plots against us arising from both humans and other prides. Plots to wipe us out entirely simply because we don't eat meat," he paused momentarily, as if searching for the right words to use. By now my curiosity had outgrown my unease. "There is one thing that can help us all. The Ancient Scroll was made to be used as a sort of rule book for all dragon kind. I am certain that there is something in the Tomb that will help us." He finished.

I pondered over what he said for a few moments until it clicked, "you need me to get it. You can't send a dragon because they'd be too easy to spot. Where can the tomb be found?" I asked.

"The Scroll is a three day journey east of here. You are correct about why I am sending you rather than one of the dragons. Along your path you will encounter many human villages, some you will need to be wary of. You will see in many of the villages that there are groups against our pride. It would be wise not to speak to them. The Scroll is guarded by a sphinx. Sphinxes are tricky creatures. Their riddles are often difficult. But you have a sting mind, I have complete faith in you." Abascus assured. I nodded and left the cave to pack.

A day had past since I started my journey. In front of me was the beginning of a village. The first one I've encountered. I could hear music blaring from somewhere in the town. As I came closer, I could make out some of the lyrics, which were quite strange.

Sometimes, the feeling is right
You fall in love for the first time
Heartbeat, and kisses so sweet
Summertime love in the moonlight

By now I had entered the village and found a small band surrounded by a big crowd of people. The song was so different from any of the songs normally heard in this century.

A few verses had been sung along with the chorus, before the band put down their instrument for what I assumed was a break. I continued through the town and on my way to the sphinx's den.

The final two days had gone by without anything happening. There were posters about harming my family. I had witnessed some groups talking about attacking the pride within a fortnight. I desperately hope Abascus is right about the Ancient Scroll.

As I neared the sphinx's den, I grew nervous. I've always found riddles easy, but what if the Sphinx asks ones that are exceptionally hard? The Sphinx exited the cave, probably sensing my arrival. It turned its massive head towards me, looking me dead in my sapphire eyes.

"Interesting." it spoke with a voice like thunder. "A human after the Ancient Scroll. What business does a mortal have with the dragons?" It demanded.

"I wish to retrieve the Scroll so that the pride of dragons I was adopted by may be saved." I replied bravely.

"A human helping the dragons? What puts this pride in danger, mortal?"

"They are vegetarians. Other humans and dragons are plotting to destroy them. Their alpha believes that the Scroll ill help protect them."

"Very well. Now, I'm not going to ask you riddles, you are much to bright for them. How about a game of truth or dare?" A sly grin appeared on the sphinx's face. Before I could answer it asked me 'truth or dare?'. Feeling brave, I answered dare.

"I dare you to spoil the ending of your book for yourself." That was its dare. And what a horrible one as well. I complied. The game continued until the Sphinx declared that I could have the Scroll.

I had just returned from my journey back to the pride, and gave  the Scroll to Abascus. After days of searching the Tomb for anything that would help us, he finally found it. A rule was made that any pride had rights to what it wanted to be. We were safe. The humans and other dragons were put in their places, and the Ancient Scroll was returned to the sphinx. Peace was restored at last.