The Land of Fire <Wattys 2016>

A land torn by flames, people struggle to make a living. Two hundred years ago, a young wizard brought forth Flame Birds, birds that would set the land on fire, burning hard grown crops. As the did, the dragons followed their example, becoming terrors as well.

People adapted, living under the fear of the Flame Birds. And yet they feared still more. Years ago, a prophecy had been given, a prophecy that filled them with dread.

You wait in fear,
The end may be near.
watch out for one,
he will come,
Unmarried, untamed, empty of fear.

With hair of brown,
and eyes for green,
Through he alone peace will be seen.

The prophecy was translated by those who benefited from the fear the dragons and flamebirds brought. They told the people it meant that one would come who instead of saving them, would bring peace by destroy all humans.

So they did all they could to stop this. They married every young man at a young age, especially those with brown hair and green eyes. But people began to ask questions, to wonder if the prophecy really meant what they had been taught.

And so the world waited, watching and holding their breath. Waiting for one to come, the one who might save them, or kill them. The one who would determine whether or not their land would become a land of fire.