The Chronicles of Encompassing Shadows: The Ancient Fear(Book 1)

Prologue: The Assembly of The Oracle

The night was near pitch black, with a small ring of large beings, maybe seven in total. They all stood facing a gaping cave entrance in the middle of the valley. Once a luscious and wondrous place, it was now devoid of all native life and sound.

The only sounds breaking the tense silence were the beings breaths, each one having flown such a long way. Their scales glittered beneath the sky, as the stars twinkled, shining a gentle, yet cold light upon the world.

Suddenly, footsteps approached of the eighth, and final member of the circle. The dragons focused on the cave passage, as another Dragon entered the valley.

"My brothers," the newcomer spoke, "the Oracle has made it's declaration." A heavy silence followed this statement, as all the other Dragon's held their breath, each one having tensed up like a bowstring. "The omen's have been watched by the Oracle, and it has been decided..." The speaker stopped, his broad shoulders slumped slightly, as if in defeat. "The Darkness is rising again."

Cries of fear, horror, and anguish came from the ring. Wings fluttered, tails swished, and flames began licking at the mouths of the mighty beasts, each one showing his own reaction to the news brought forth. One dragon, with pale blue scales that looked duller in the starlight, vocalized his own belief, "What if the Oracle is wrong?"

The newcomer spoke once more, this time, his tone tinged with annoyance. "You know better than that, Yetani!"

'Yetani', shrunk back in fear of the larger, black and crimson lizard. "I meant no offense, Melasen", his voice quivered slightly under the larger dragon's amber glare, "I just didn't want the Oracle to be too hasty."

"The Oracle never hastens," a forest green dragon spoke now, his brown horns glimmering in the moonlight. "It says exactly what it should, when it should," he paused briefly, "as it always has."

"I wasn't speaking to you, Bosrain!" Yetani growled, glaring at the forest green dragon. 

"You were speaking nonsense, as you always have."

"Breern-Koshraindin, Henranor" Yetani spat at Bosrain. The other dragon gave off a screech, and the two leapt at each other. The others assembled moved out of the way, arching their backs as the beasts clawed and bit at each other. Fire flew out in the sky, and the flames illuminated the surroundings in a deadly, beautiful way. Yetani's bland, yellow legs were now visible. Bosrain's claws dug into Yetani's shoulder, drawing out a screech from the smaller dragon.

They were broken apart by Melasen, who grabbed Bosrain by the neck, and threw him towards the otherside of the valley, crushing untold numbers of dead oaks. The green dragon screeched in pain as a sickening -CRACK- resounded across the pit, and Bosrain's left wing broke.

Melasen then gripped Yetani in his black talons, gauging wounds in the smaller dragon's neck. Yetani gave a strangled yelp, before Melasen bit his already bloody shoulder.

Once Melasen was positive they would stay down, he roared at the other assembled beasts, "Now, stop this madness! I SWEAR I WILL-" He was interrupted by a blinding light, he nearly flew backwards, screaming as his pupils dilated, for his eyes couldn't handle the brightness.

"What is going on here...?" A soft, gentle voice echoed throughout the valley. "You fight in my home, as my guests, and you dishonor me..." The voice could now be traced to the cavern passageway, even though the voice was also echoing throughout the valley.

"Yetani," the baby-blue scaled dragon looked towards the entrance, his green eyes dilated slits in fear, "so full of hatred and anguish, wishing nothing more than to wipe the Hrungkein from existence for killing your mate."

"Bosrain," the forest dragon whimpered, the scent of shame was tantalizingly obvious, "So ready to fight, even one of your only brothers." Bosrain flinched in pain and craned his neck to look at his damaged wing. "Your battles leave you with nothing but pain, but you enjoy it, don't you?" Bosrain looked befuddled, "You enjoy the feeling fighting gives, for you feel purpose. Because you finally feel emotion, isn't that right?" A gentle, very kindly light enveoped his broken wing, and when it went away, Bosrain could move it again.

"Now, Melasen," The black dragon bowed his head in respect. "So eager to defend me, even if it is against reason." The beast raised his head, looking at the cavern entrance confusedly. "I do not need defending, even though I appreciate your loyalty, never place me above your brother's."

"Ponder for awhile on the things I have said," the voice spoke. After that, silence befell the assembled dragons, and the world seemed a little darker. The quietness that encompassed the beings was far beyond defeaning. It seemed as if the silence filled their very souls. Shame seemed to pass through each of the assembled masters of fire, like a hound that has been scolded by it's master.

"It's not often," A golden dragon spoke now, "that the Oracle itself speaks out." The assembly nodded their heads as the somber mood spread deep within their hearts, resonating within.

"We should consider what he has said, as always." This came from a brown and yellow dragon near the edge.

"This assembly is hearby, adjourned." Melasen spoke now, his deep, gravelly voice echoed throughout the air. Just as he was about to take off, Yetani spoke out once more.

"What of the Chosen One?" The other dragons, on the verge of taking off, snapped their heads back to Melasen. The large dragon's eyes widened, as if in disbelief that e had forgotten something.

"The Chosen One?" He repeated the question quietly, to himself mostly, "The Oracle has said what species it will come from." The others looked to him expectantly.

"Well?" A white dragon spoke now.

Melasen took a deep breath, shut his eyes, and spoke one word. This one word, will shatter bonds, break families, and bring about an end to the way of life the world has grown accustomed to.

"Hrungkein."