Dragon's Kiss

[Nummy 413]

(This is just a little story to give my new character some development whilst the server is down)

The cold snow blew across the mountains; the sound of the fierce wind pierced the air as the storm progressed. Against the blinding white of the mountain side a small speck of red could be seen, gripping onto the hilltop as it moved slowly against the dreary landscape. For weeks Ryder Crownlance had journeyed, never stopping for a moment to look behind her, but keeping her eyes forward towards this place, her mountain paradise of snow and ice, the place she once called home.

Ryder’s bright emerald eyes peered through the snow as the familiar shape of a small log cabin came into view. Trudging step by step through the heavy tundra, the girl made it to the cabin, her fiery red hair covered in light snowflakes, white flecks blending in with the freckles that painted her face. Ryder pushed open the door, the familiar scents of home overwhelming her. The smell of a fire lingered in the air, the sweet smell of pine upon the walls, and most of all, she could still smell the scent of her mother, of summer rose pedals on a warm day. She closed her eyes, breathing in the sweet memories she had left behind, she runs her small hands over the rough wood of the walls, walking from room to room.

“What am I doing back here?” she thought to herself as she walked from room to room, almost as if entranced in a dream. Truthfully she had no idea as to why she had come back to her mountain home. The last clear thought she had was of her sitting in Alras amongst the rose gardens, her feet had carried her, and she left no note, no message as to where she was going and when she would be back. The girl with the fiery hair stared into the fireplace, tossing a log into it and watching the flames spur up and dance in her eyes. The heat of the fire only made her warmer, as if she burned with a fire on the inside that pulsed from within her. Anyone that touched her skin would see that it was warmer than others, a trait passed down from her mother.

The girl sighed, laying down on the fur rug by the fire she closed her eyes, not willing to go to sleep she let her thoughts overcome her. She imagined herself back in Oren, curled up in Eze’kiel’s arms, the only place she felt safe besides her mountain home. The smile on her face quickly disappeared; would they miss her? Would he even notice she was missing? She suddenly felt this overwhelming sense of loneliness, a sense of uncontrollable fear that she would never see the ones she left behind again. A tear formed in her eye, her long lashes fluttering and causing it to slowly roll down her cheek and onto her full crimson lips.

It was then she heard it, the sweet melody that filled the log cabin. Her eyes flashed open, her body bolting upright as she looked around the house. Ryder got to her feet, calling out to whoever was there. She got no response and yet the melody still persisted. She closed her eyes, letting the sweet melody fill her mind when she recognized it as the lullaby her mother used to sing her before she went to bed at night. Ryder instantly ran up the stairs, leaving the warmth of the fire behind her. She skipped steps, tripping once or twice before she made it to the heavy oak door, swinging it open with force.

The melody stopped. Ryder stood there staring into the cold, dark empty room. Dust covered her mother’s bed, her dress still hung against the wall as if she had laid it there the night before. Nothing in the room had moved since her mother had passed, was taken from her that winter in the cold. She started to turn back towards the stairs, when the house began to shake as the furious northern winds blew against it. It felt as if the world fell apart when a free came crashing through the roof, knocking Ryder to the floor and throwing glass and wood at her. She cursed, a sharp piece of glass cutting deep into her cheek, the blood running against her smooth freckled skin. Ryder picked herself up off the floor, staying low as she storm ravaged the room, blowing snow within. She turned, when a gust of wind shook the house once more, sending her headfirst tumbling down the stairs.

“Once upon a time, there was a bright young lady with hair the color of fire, and eyes of brown. She had freckles painted all over, especially on her nose.”

The woman smiled, gently tapping her daughter on the nose, holding her close as they lay beside the dying fire.

“Was she as pretty as you Mama?”

the little girl asked, her emerald eyes staring at her mother in awe and admiration. The mother smiled lovingly,

“She was prettier, but not as beautiful as you Daniella”. The little girl beamed, holding a small stuffed wolf in her arms.

“The woman’s name was Mirabelle, and she had a hard time fitting in. One day she made her way to the city of Salvus to sell her sister’s wares in the market”.

The mother laughed and made her voice a little lower

“When suddenly... She was attacked by two great orcs!”

The little girl gasped and held her wolf tight.

“They hurt her, and left her to die in the muddy fields outside the city. Yet, the woman was strong; she had a fire that burned within her that couldn’t be put out. With the remaining strength she had, she pulled her body to the gates of the city where she found a great dragon with eyes like rubies”.

Little Daniella closed her eyes, listening to the soothing voice of her loving mother.

“The Dragon felt pity for the woman, and with the magic inside him, he breathed fire onto her and healed her wounds. The woman fell in love with the Dragon, and swore to always protect him from the people that wanted to hurt him, and in return the dragon fell in love with the woman. The dragons red eyes turned to Blue, and he chose to marry the woman”.

“Did they live happily ever after Mama?” Daniella asked, her eyes open.

“They did, for a bit”

The mother responded.

“The lived happily together, they ran away from the world that had hurt them and chose to live in the mountains, building a beautiful little house in a valley. Yet it didn’t last, my dear. One day, the woman woke up, and her dragon had flown away”.

It was then that Daniella always grew worried.

“Why did he go Mama?”

She said, pouting.

“I’m not sure, my love, but the woman never gave up looking for him. She traveled all over the lands searching for her blue eyed dragon, but she never saw him again”.

Little Daniella wrapped her arms around her mother’s waist, holding her close, “This story doesn’t have a happy ending..”.

“You don’t know that” The mother said, lightly squeezing her daughter. “The woman returned to her valley, and years later, she had a beautiful baby girl, who she named after her sister”.

Mirabelle smiled, getting up and tucking her daughter in bed.

“Goodnight Ryder Daniella”.

Ryder’s eyes opened suddenly, she let out a groan as she rubbed the back of her head. Slowly getting to her feet, her ears twitched. The storm outside had stop, instead of the raging winds, the gentle sounds of chirping birds filled the world outside. Ryder made her way back up the stairs, wiping the blood off her cheek. She looked into what was left of her mother’s room. Snow covered the bed and the covers had blown off. A ray of light shone through the broken window, causing something to reflect from within the rubble of snow and tree limbs.

Ryder started to kick at the snow, getting on her knees as she dug away at it with her hands. She yelped, pulling her hand back suddenly in a jolt of pain. Blood started to drip from her hand and into the snow. Her emerald eyes caught a glimpse of something sharp beneath the tree, hidden within a broken chest. Ryder pulled at the chest, hauling it out of the snow before falling back on the floor. She carefully opened the lid of the chest, her eyes scanning its contents. Atop a pile of red silk, she found a letter, her name written in fine cursive. The red haired lady sat against the wall, reading the letter silently to herself.

“My Dear Daniella,

I know that as much as I’d love to, I cannot be with you forever. When that time comes, I know that you will be ready to be the girl you were meant to be. Everything I have, everything that I am is yours, including what is in this chest. I’ll always love you my dear, and I know you’ll find happiness in life“

Ryder looked down into the chest at the shining metal beneath the cloth. Tears fell down her freckled cheeks and onto the paper. She folds the paper gently, placing it down beside her before pulling the red cloth out of the chest. Lying at the bottom of the broken wooden chest lay a blade of fine steel; she smiled lightly, and picked it up in her hand. The steel shone in the morning light, its balance and weight perfect in her hands, as if it was made perfectly for her. “All great blades need great names...” she says to herself, looking in awe at the hilt of the sword. Her eyes catch the pommel of the sword, the head of an ebony dragon with pure blue diamonds for eyes. “And yours... will be Dragon’s kiss”.

Ryder looked out the broken window and to the south, her hair blowing around her. “I think it’s time to go home mother” she says to herself, getting to her feet. “We have a dragon to find”.

[Kickstarted and Running 965]

((Loved it. Very well written and I hope you write more in the future.))

[KidKrinkles 2044]

(( Its a little more of the story then I was told~ at least the thoughts. Very well written. :D

[Hunter (sckolar) 50]

I can tell you put a lot of thought into the story! creative, interesting, and well written. Very well done!

[Nummy 413]

(Loves you all. Thank you. And it's basically what she is doing while the server is down)

[Timmeh! 154]

( Great story, well written and I agree with Tarus ^_^ )

[SkyyoBee 249]

Moved to the Great Library. It shall be sorted into appropriate category shortly.