Destiny and Dystopia: A Tale of Dragons and Humans Book One: The Red Eyes

Aloof

Smokefire is in the muddy graveyard that was once the home of the Tunnelers. The dragons that lived there are all dead now. Why is Smokefire here? There is nothing. Just dirt and skeletons.

Something moves. Smokefire turns, and he sees a flash of purple. Tunneler purple. He moves towards it, and then he

Woke up. He woke up before he could see what was there. He dug his claws into the stone in frustration. This always seemed to happen, him being woken up just before something interesting happened.

It had been another one of those 'I swear it could be real' dreams. Those always bothered Smokefire. What if his dreams really were trying to tell him something?

Well, maybe he could find out. Smokefire got to his talons and shook himself out. He crept to the edge of the cave and leaned forwards. It was still dark. Good, he wouldn't likely encounter anyone else and have to endure an awkward conversation.

He spread his wings and launched himself out of the cave, feeling the wind lift his wings. He soared through the sky, nothing but a light blue mark against the dark. He saw no one. The night was empty.

He flew over the forest, glancing down. It appeared darker than ever. The emerald green of the trees didn't show through in the lack of light. Wait, what was that?

Smokefire had seen a glint of red. Like the eyes of the dragon who'd taunted him... The awful, mocking eyes... He shivered and flew faster, quickly moving past the forest. He landed on the ground beyond, heart racing. He wasn't actually sure where he was...

There was sand under his talons, soft and cool. Oh, of course. The desert. Smokefire had never much liked the desert. Sand dragons were, in his experience, typically rather snooty. He made a point of avoiding the desert. Damn those scary red eyes, he wouldn't have come here if he'd been in a state of calm. Well, at least he wouldn't encounter any sand dragons at THIS time of-

"What in the name of Soarath is Smokefire Windscales doing in the desert in the middle of the night?"

That was a sand dragon. Of course it was. She hovered in midair, dusty yellow scales much the same colour as the sand. She appeared unimpressed by Smokefire's very existence. Typical snooty sand dragon.

"Smokefire Windscales is wondering the same thing," he said tiredly. "I certainly did not intend to be talking to a sand dragon, well, ever- did I say that out loud?"

The sand dragon snorted. Smokefire supposed it didn't really matter, he didn't think she'd respected him in the first place.

"You're about what I expected. I doubt you were even close to completing your training."

That remark hit home. Of course he hadn't been... Smokefire was trying and trying but it was all futile and everything was terrible and- hey! Why should he let this sand dragon get under his scales?

Because she's RIGHT.

"I completed it AGES ago." Smokefire had never had an affinity for lying. This moment was no exception.

"Right. If you don't want to be here, why are you here?" She landed in the sand beside him.

"I was trying to get to the Tunneler Village...?" Smokefire's wings twitched. To a human, this would be called a shrug. Why was he so awkward around this dragon.

"You missed."

"Yes, I know." How had this happened? Why was he forced to suffer this way? "Question: What are YOU doing on the edge of the desert in the middle of the night?"

"I couldn't sleep." She rolled her eyes. "So I came out here to clear my head."

"Can that be my reason?"

"No."

Smokefire hissed to avoid responding. This conversation was getting ridiculous. He didn't have to put up with this. He drew himself up, squaring his shoulders, trying to look important.

"I don't have to tell you my reasons anyway. Important Guardian business. That I really must be going to do."

"I'm calling your bluff." She remained as unimpressed as ever. "You don't have any business to attend to."

"Yes I do!" He exclaimed indignantly. He couldn't believe she was being this rude to him! Well. He was kinda letting her, so it was partly his fault. But he was scared to tell her off.

"In the Tunneler Village? Essentially a graveyard at this point?"

"I had a dream about it!" Smokefire was very aware of how stupid that sounded even before it left his mouth and hung in the cold air for a moment.

"Alright then, I kinda want to see this." She smirked smugly. "I would like to help you investigate your weird dream, then." She appeared to be holding back a laugh, Smokefire could tell.

"Fine, you can come with me..." Smokefire sighed and resigned himself to this. Hopefully this wouldn't take long and he could go back to pretending he was someone wise and brave. "I'm Smokefire."

"I know," she said, exasperation in her tone. Smokefire had momentarily forgotten who he was. "I'm Athian."

There was something endearing about Athian's disdain. Smokefire didn't have to pretend around someone who already didn't believe he was any bit impressive. Maybe that was the real reason he agreed to let her come.

Or maybe he was afraid of what he'd find at the site of the long lost Tunneler Village.