Dawn of The Dragon

Chapter 1: Pendant

"A blue dragon is standing in my neighbor's front yard! Live, I hope you're getting this." the guy next door screams.

Helicopters maneuvering up and down and back and forth hover above Kalera's house. The Army National Guards have now been joined by the Marines, FBI, and the NSA as they evacuate homes and surround at least a three-mile radius.

Kalera and Xavgon stand in front of her house as the police and military have positioned themselves further down, near the corner of her street.

"You may not want to raise your voice toward me. Call them off!" Kalera commands them loudly.

"I have orders," the chief of police yells through a megaphone. "And those are to take you and this thing into custody."

Maintaining the scene proves problematic for them, as people are running through the streets with their cell phones filming. The military warns the media circus to stop, but it is too late. By now, America and the entire world's eyes are fixed on Rocheblave Street in New Orleans.

Staring into the eyes of her dragon, Kalera realizes she must make a move to get Xavgon out of the city. It would be easy to just fly away, but what about her boyfriend, Zaron? She can't just abandon him.

Deep in her thoughts, Xavgon speaks.

"Do you trust me?"

"Of course," she responds.

Xavgon has a plan he is executing while speaking to Kalera.

The ground begins to rumble, but this time it isn't Xavgon's doing. The military has ordered a tank to be brought in. It's clear there will be no peaceful resolution. They are willing to destroy a neighborhood and possibly kill innocent civilians just in order to contain them.

"Do it. Do it now!" Kalera screams out loud.

Xavgon takes a deep breath, holding it for ten seconds.

"You have until the count of five to surrender, or we will be forced to destroy you and your dragon," the chief of police calls out.

He begins to count as Xavgon opens his ferocious mouth, speaking an incantation.

"Five!" the chief hollers.

Whistling sounds suddenly erupt as dark clouds roll in, blocking out the sun. Then there is stillness. Everyone and everything in the vicinity is locked in place.

The chief's mouth is wide open, with his left hand in the air and his right hand holding the megaphone to his face. Officers and soldiers cling to their weapons, which are pointed at Kalera and Xavgon, and neighbors holding cell phones are frozen, with looks of confusion and fear on their faces.

"How long do we have?" she asks.

"I cannot say, but we must get out of here soon."

"Zoran!" Kalera yells as she runs up the stairs onto the porch, reaching for the doorknob.

Turning it, she enters the house to find him staring out the window.

For a couple of seconds, she just gazes at him. Her attraction to this six-feet-tall, medium build man awakens, but only for a moment.

Then she realizes it's Jessup she is longing for when Zoran turns to her.

"Kalera, what the hell just happened?" he yells.

She is relieved that he's not frozen like the others, but his tone worries Xavgon.

"Xavgon wishes for you to lower your voice when speaking to me," Kalera whispers.