The First Step

Dagon shot up from his bedroll. He was breathing heavily, sweat sticking his clothing to his skin. He took a deep breath and gulped, balling up his shirt in his clenched fist. He bowed his head, tears rolling down his cheeks.

He could never shake the nightmares. They always tortured him, consuming him in his sleep. His father being swallowed up by that darkness… it was all he could see for so long. Any time his eyes closed, he could only ever see that ash laden battlefield.

"Dagon?" Came the deep growl of Gena's voice. "Was it another nightmare?"

Dagon sighed, rubbing his eyes. "It's nothing. I'm fine, Gena."

"Really? Then why are you trembling?" The dragon hummed.

"It's nothing, alright? Don't worry about it." Dagon stood, walking over to the small stream beside them.

The place they lived was the place he'd been for the last nine years. It was an expansive system of caverns and tunnels that they had taken residence of. There were three different streams that ran through the caves, as well as a river that ran fast and strong, dotted with whitecaps. The cavern was dusty and dirty, stalagmites and stalactites decorating every corner of it. Glowing vines and stones hung down from the ceiling and jutted out from the walls, casting a bluish glow throughout.

I dipped my hand into the freezing cold water, cupping my palm and scooping up some water of which I drank a few gulps, then splashed the cold water onto my face.

"Well. I am sorry you cannot shake your dreams, but nonetheless, today is the day of your birth. Don't be weighed down with sadness, it is not what your father would want." Gena spoke.

Dagon turned to face her. Her scales had lost their brilliant shine and scars were torn throughout her body. Her wings were ripped and tattered and one of her golden eyes were crossed out by a long jagged scar given to her by the black dragon. She had lost her magnificence, but Dagon still had respect for her. He knew what she had used to be, even if her power had waned now to almost nothing.

"I am sixteen now." Dagon said, "so I'm old enough to make a Kinship."

"Yes, but I do not think you are ready yet." Gena spoke.

"Then when will I be?" He asked in frustration. "If you never let me grow, then how am I to fulfill my father's wishes?"

"The time will come, Dagon, but it is not now. And even if it was time, where will you find another dragon? How would you pact with them? How would you know what dragon suits you?" Gena asked.

"I will just know. That's what father said. The day I find my dragon, I'll know."

"But, again, where will you find one? They are hiding across the land. They do not want to be found, they all rest in slumber, awaiting the day they can return."

"Then let that day be today!" Dagon insisted. "I am the last Dragon Kin! Let me awaken them and bring destruction upon the Four Kingdoms!"

"No. Not yet."

"Why?!"

"Because you are not ready. You need more training."

"I don't. I know how to fight, I know how to ride a dragon, I-"

"You do not know what it is like to kill." Gena growled. "Do you think you could take the life of a living person? Or that of an opposing dragon? Do you think you are ready to stain your hands in blood?"

Dagon was silent now. He looked at his own reflection in the water. His eyes were emerald green and his hair was jet black. A single dark emerald horn pointed up from the right side of his head at about seven inches in length. His jaw was narrow and his features were sharp. His skin was pale and his muscles were toned.

"Yes." He said. "I am ready."

Gena let out a low growl. "Fine. Then go. I will grant you this once to find a dragon, I suggest you travel to the The Forest of Emerald Scales. But if it hits nightfall and you've yet to make a pact with a dragon, then you will return here and you will stay until the day you turn eighteen. Am I understood?"

"Until I turn eighteen?!"

"Am I understood? Is this not fair? If you'd rather, I could simply force you to wait longer." Gena growled.

"Fine. I understand." Dagon spoke.

Gena stood from where she lay and turned, walking towards the back of the cave. She stood at about eleven feet tall on all fours and had to duck her head to avoid stalactites. She reached out her dulled talons and dug them into the stone, pulling away a large slab of rock revealing a hole. She then reached into the hole after dropping the rock and pulled out a necklace.

The necklace was not that special, it was just a leather strip that had a strange emerald gem edged in gold attached to it. She turned to me and held out her talons, suggesting for me to take it.

"This is a Kinship stone. It allows you to put your essence into it and link hearts with a dragon matching your aura. When you successfully make a pact, it will begin to glow and you will feel immense power course through your veins. Every Dragon Kin gets one." Gena spoke.

Dagon took the necklace, observing the gem.

"Your father made it for you. The stone is one of many types of Drakeagen ore. There are a total of nine types of Drakeagen, each holding the power of a different element within them. Yours is the Nature stone. That is your essence type." Gena spoke, "Your father knew this due to the coloring of your horn."

"Father…" Dagon said softly in a sad tone, then placed the necklace about his neck. "Thank you, Gena."

"Don't thank me. I personally do not think you are ready, but I suppose if I hold you back any longer you'll take action and do things of your own accord either way." She growled. "Come."

Gena led Dagon to the opposite end of the cavern where she ducked low and led the way through a smaller tunnel. Dagon followed closely behind, but he wasn't concerned about being lost, since he already knew the caves so well.

Gena exited the tunnel into another cavern, this one only slightly smaller than the one before, and walked over to a massive boulder blocking the exit. Her talons clacked against the stone floor as she moved and she dug her claws into the cracks between the boulder and the wall.

Dagon stood behind her, staring up at the sunlight filtering in through the few small openings in the ceiling above them. The rays of light rained down on him, covering him in a warm golden glow that made his pale skin shine.

The sound of stone grinding on stone came as Gena tore the boulder away from the wall, moss and vines being severed as she rolled it aside.

Dagon stared out at the grassy land outside the cave entrance. The grass was so green and vibrant it almost hurt his eyes.

"Well. There you are, Dagon. Go. Be back by sun down. I will be waiting here. The Forest of Emerald Scales awaits you."