Kaida scanned the tattered map and looked up at the looming cave mouth in front of her. The darkness inside laid a striking contrast to the bright, sunny day around her. She furrowed her brows, and exhaled. “Well... This is it. This is where Idris is supposed to be.” She folded the map up, hands shaking slightly, and shoved it into her pouch attached to her belt. Come on. You got this. She bit her lip, and then reached up to the necklace hanging around her neck. It was smooth and cold to the touch. She looked down and studied it for a second. It looked like a large scale from some sort of giant reptile. It was the most vibrant shades of crimson, amber and onyx, and it was smooth over the top, but had sharp ridges along the sides of its tear drop shape. Her nose crinkled slightly and her amber, slitted eyes welled up. Who…What were you dad? What am I? She took a deep breath and exhaled, dropping the necklace back in its place. “Well, we’ll find out today, won’t we?” she said with a tearful smile, staring up at the cold, pitch black cave that threatened to envelop her. She wiped at her tears. Her hand faltered for a second above it, but with a calming breath she picked up her lantern, and began the descent. Her eyes scanned the darkness rapidly the further she went, and her free hand fingered the dagger at her side. Her legs felt like lead with each step, and her heart fluttered rapidly. Oh calm down you. She thought, as she gave a slight tap on her chest. This is for dad, remember? The air became stale and thick, and the sounds of the birds, animals and streams from outside began to diminish. She looked behind her, and could no longer see the cave mouth. Her throat bobbed, and she grabbed at her necklace again with her free hand. Give me strength, dad. She turned back towards the endless depths in front of her and continued on until the cave walls began to widen. “What is this?” She whispered. She squinted and a dim light cut through the darkness from in front of her. Her eyes widened, and she unsheathed her dagger, wielding it in her unoccupied hand. She went several feet further, until she realized she was standing in a large, glittering cavern room. She looked up, and the ceiling was now higher than any building she had ever seen. Jagged rocks hung from the ceiling and shot up from the floors like swords. Then, a loud scraping sound, like someone dragging a pickaxe across the floor, echoed throughout the room. Kaida’s arm hair stood on end and she gasped, jumping back. Her lantern fell to the floor and shattered, casting sudden shadows around her. The only light that emanated now was the one from the far wall of the room, everything else was covered in darkness. Shit. Dad, help me! She grabbed for her necklace, and held it firmly in one hand, while her dagger remained in the other. Her eyes darted everywhere, but couldn't find a place to settle in the unending darkness. “WHO are you?” A deep, menacing voice demanded. Another loud scraping sound came down the wall, closer than before. Kaida’s throat bobbed and tears played at the corners of her eyes, but she didn’t answer. Couldn’t. It felt like a large fruit was stuck in her throat. Her feet couldn’t move either - in fact, her entire body felt frozen and unusable. “I am too old to play games with you,” said the voice, low and ominous. “Answer me now before I grow tired and consume you in one fell snap.” Come on, voice. I have to…for dad. I can’t have come this far to be killed before I find anything out. “I…Id…Idris. I…I’m lo…looking for I…dris” Then slowly, where the one source of light emanated from the room, an enormous reptilian snout…legs…body…wings came into view, and Kaida realized what was standing before her. A dragon. “I am Idris” it said with a serpentine smile. Her heart about beat out of her chest, and she dropped to her knees. She was going to die. There was no way out of this. “Now tell me who YOU are” “K…Kaida” “Ah, but who ARE you? Why are you here, Kaida?” “I…I’m…” she stuttered. Shit. Come on, words! Idris roared and fire blew in a hurtling inferno above Kaida’s head, lighting up the room for a moment. Kaida fell to the ground flat, her necklace shining brightly in the fire light as she went down. “I told you not to play games…” The dragon stopped. “What is that you carry around your neck?” Kaida’s heart nearly beat out of her chest and her body shook so violently she almost fainted. “P…Please…It was my father’s. It’s…It’s why I’m here”. Idris’ eyes crinkled together, and his look turned to curiosity. “What do you mean it was your fathers?” he said, his tone tinged slightly with inquisitiveness. Kaida steadied her breath as best she could and sat up, taking off the necklace and presenting it in front of her. “It…It’s all I have left of him. I don’t know who or what he was. I was told to find you…I was told you would have the…the answer”. “Come into the light” Kaida’s legs shook vigorously as she stood up to approach the dragon in the light. Her heart sounded so violently in her ears, it was almost deafening. She kept her eyes on the ground as she approached - it was the only way she could do it. She swallowed as she held out the necklace again, closing her eyes as she stood before Idris. “Open your eyes” “But…I…please” “Open your eyes” he growled. Kaida’s lips trembled, and she bit down on them. I’ll be brave for you, dad. She opened her eyes, and slowly lifted them to the dragon. Her eyes followed the height of him - he was enormous. Nothing in this world compared to the sheer size of him, nor of the magnitude of his majestic aura. He was the most terrifying thing this world offered. Her eyes met his and her stomach dropped. Idris’ eyes shifted and then widened. “You have your father’s eyes” Kaida’s face softened, but her body went taut. “You…you knew him?” she shuddered. What could this mean? She thought. “He was my kin,” he said, a somber look crossing his face. “Wha…” “Your father was a dragon, child” Kaida’s heart stopped, and her mouth shot open. She had to throw her arms out to prevent herself from falling over. “What did you think that scale was around your neck?” Kaida grasped the scale necklace in her hands and stared at it. “A…dragon?” “His name was Torgon,” he started. Kaida’s eyes shot up. “Torgon” she repeated, half to herself. “And he was the fiercest dragon of all our kin” Kaida looked down at the necklace again, studying its hues and subtle variances. “But. Well, Torgon fell in love with a human woman and forfeited his place here in the mountains with our kind.” Kaida’s eyes furrowed out of solemness. He gave up his family to be with mom? “His powers therefore diminished too, and he was vulnerable to attacks from dragon hunters”. “Dragon hunters?” Idris nodded. “A powerful race of humans, bred specifically for killing our kind.” Anger flared in his eyes and steam came out of his nostrils at the thought. Kaida gripped the scale in her hand tighter. Her lips pursed and her eyebrows furrowed in anger at the realization of what happened to her father. “They killed him?” He frowned. “Yes.” An anger came over Kaida like she’d never felt before, fierce and vengeful. Her jaw tightened and her teeth ground down. Her golden eyes melted and burned like the sun. “We did not know that you existed, child. But, you are clearly Torgon’s daughter. Those eyes and that scale are proof.” Idris’ words faded into the background as Kaida’s anger boiled over her like lava spilling out of a mountain. All she could see was red.
“They killed him…” she gritted out, gripping the scale tighter. “They hate our kind. It’s what they’re made for - to hate and kill us. It’s why we must live with our kind, hidden in these mountains from humanity. It’s why our numbers are so few.” Kaida’s stomach began to burn - but it felt good. Warm, and comforting in the wake of her anger and grief. “You’re not as timid as you were a few moments ago, are you child?” His eyes danced. Kaida unclenched the dragon scale, and stared at her hands. They were red hot and steam was billowing out of them. Her amber eyes shot up at the dragon again, anger and sadness still filled behind them. “What’s…happening to me?” “Just being in this mountain, with your kin around you - it has awakened the dragon soul inside of you” he smiled slyly. “My…dragon soul?” She looked down at her hands again and clenched and unclenched them. “Your lineage beckons you, child. Stay with us, learn our ways and become strong. Let your dragon soul take over, and become like your kin. Follow in the ways of your father. Become a dragon”. He circled around her now. Become like father? Become a dragon? Stay with my…kin? “Is that possible?” She asked, her eyes shimmering brightly. “Feel that fire in your soul child, it calls to you. You know who you are, who you’re meant to be.” Idris whipped around her faster than an animal that size should be able to. The wind whipped around her, mirroring the whipping of the thoughts inside her head. This is why she came. This is what led her here. This is who her father was. This is who she was. She gripped the scale again and looked down at it. I love you, father. I won’t disappoint you. She looked up at Idris as he made his way back in front of her. Her eyes widened, and a sense of determination, rage, and excitement filled them as she held up the scale above her head. “Become a dragon? I AM a dragon”. “Yes you are,” said Idris with a wicked smile. “Now come meet your kin”.

Warm, wet tears dripped onto my hands as I shoved the last of the few belongings I had into my worn leather pack. “Time’s up, witch!” A strong hand gripped my wrist and pulled me upward, causing a scroll to fall out of my pack. I reached for it, but the guard was already propelling me out of the house, and it landed on the dusty, cracked floor, unrolling to reveal a painting - a tall, handsome man and beautiful woman smiling and embracing their daughters. I looked up, and the same man was staring out of the window, refusing to look at me or show any emotion. He gripped a small paint brush in his hands, his knuckles turning white. The same woman who wore such a beautiful smile in the painting, now looked at me with pain in her eyes and tears flowing freely down her face. She embraced one of the girls from the painting, who was also crying quietly.
My eyes lowered to the ground, my lips quivering, and a few more warm tears rolled down my cheeks. Time seemed to slow and the warmth in my chest blew out from me as I was thrown out of my doorway and fell to the ground. Dust shoved in my eyes as rocks scraped my cheeks. I coughed and dirt blew out from my mouth. A sudden mix of gasps and shouts began around me. I rubbed at my eyes, and the stinging became intense. I couldn’t see who was there, but I could hear a large crowd from all around me. “Witch!” “Demon!” “Freak!” My eyes stung again, the mixture of dirt and fresh warm tears filling them up. My hands ached and burned, but not from the impact of the fall. “I didn’t mean to…” I whispered, clenching a fistful of dirt, as more tears fell to the ground. The brown dirt warmed beneath my hands. “Get up!” shouted the guard. He grabbed me again and forced me to my feet. The crowd went quiet, and I lifted my eyes for a second. Looking through the dirt and tears, I saw so, so many familiar faces. The only people I’d ever known. The only family, the only friends, the only place I’d ever been. My chest felt like it was ripping in two. Searing pain fluttered across my right cheek and I touched at it, leaving glossy, sticky redness all over my hands. My hands warmed again, leaving a molten ache in the veins going up my arms. “Move it, witch!” He said, shoving me forward. I kept my eyes on the familiar dusty road below, my knees aching and burning with every step. My veins turning molten with each step I took. No My heart started to race as the dust turned to rock. I clenched my fists, the heat rising in my body. I couldn’t look. I couldn’t see what I’d done. It hurt too much. “Elowyn” My head shot up, eyes wide at the familiar voice, only to catch a glimpse of flowing blonde hair as something hard smacked me across the face. My body went cold. The crowd backed up, making sure to not get too close to me. My hands softened and I spread my arms wide, and looked at her. The tears in her narrowed blue eyes and tight lips betrayed her expression. “I’m…I’m so sorry, Rayla” I choked out. My lips quivered again and salty tears stung at the fresh wounds on my cheek. I opened my arms wide and bowed as best I could, wincing as my legs buckled slightly. The cherished gesture in our town, my only way of seeking forgiveness. I looked up, and for a second saw her brows start to slightly unfurrow. Mine raised slightly in response, but then her gaze shifted slightly upward, her features becoming tight again, and she held my gaze with ice in her eyes. “Get out of here, you monster” She lowered her eyes and walked into the crowd. My eyes stung again, and the scent of smoke filled my nostrils as the guard once again shoved me forward. I looked to where her gaze had shifted, and there it stood. Wood burnt to ash. A home my dear friend and I had once laughed in. Played in. And now it was gone, and it was all my fault. My hands burned again, but I shoved them down . No, I commanded them. Stop it. Water continued to flow from my eyes and hit the dusty road, like molten lava. With every splatter, they sizzled and popped.
You’ve ruined everything. I clenched my fists harder and harder, but they only became warmer and warmer. A heat of emotions flooded me and I ground my teeth, stopping in my tracks. No. The crowd around me gasped and moved back. The guard behind me drew his sword. “Witch! Stop now!” You won’t control me. You won’t ever do this to anyone again! You won’t ever do this to me again! My nails dug into my hands, and sticky redness started to drip onto the rocks below. Wind started whipping around me, like the rage filling inside my heart. The crowds started to disperse and run, and the guard behind me was now thrown to the ground, like he had done to me moments before. My eyes turned red, and flames erupted from my hands. No! No!
I was losing myself in my powers again and there was nothing I could do. All I could see was red. All I could feel was the heat in my veins. “Elowyn!” Everything stopped. I blinked and it was gone. There, standing in front of me was that tall, handsome man from my painting, holding my painting.
“Please, Elowyn.” He looked at me with tears in his wide eyes. The breath whooshed out from me, and a cool wind blew the fire out of my veins. “Father?” I fell to my knees, but he caught me before I was on the ground. “I love you” he said as he kissed my head, pulling me to my feet. His eyes were lined with tears. “I…I love you too” I blinked. “The past is done with Elowyn. You can’t change it” “But…what am I supposed to do?” My eyes stung. “Change the future” he said, squeezing my hands. We both looked behind me. The guard was still on the ground, eyes wide and mouth gaping. I opened the scroll and looked at the painting of me and my family. My fingers traced the lines of our faces. “You must leave now” his hand caressed my cheek. “But I don’t want to leave you” I choked out. “I don’t want to go anywhere else. My family, my friends, they’re all here.” He put his hand over mine, still on the painting. “Elowyn” he said, with a bittersweet smile. “We’ll always be with you. In here…and in here” he pointed to my heart. “You are never alone”. “Find peace, Elowyn. Only then will you be able to control your powers” I squinted. I was able to stop my powers from overtaking me once I heard my father’s voice, once I saw his face. I studied the painting for another minute, then looked up and around us. Everyone was gone. I could do this, but not here. I could channel my powers, by being at peace with my emotions...but, I needed a fresh start. My heart sank, and I knew what I had to do. I took a deep breath and looked up into my father’s hazel eyes. Tears lined them, but understanding was there too. We both knew what I had to do. I rolled up the scroll and warmly embraced him. “I love you, father.” He gave me one last bittersweet smile, before I walked past him. I hadn’t realized, but I was just a few feet from the town’s gates. They loomed over me, but I gripped the soft scroll in my hand and smiled. I stopped at the threshold and turned around. My father was facing me, smiling, with tears still coating his cheeks. Behind him, the people of this town - my friends, the only people I’d ever known - all peered at me behind windows, doors, trees. One day they’ll see - I’m still me. My cherished blonde friend stared at me from behind a few other townspeople. Her eyes still lined with tears and her features hard. I hoped she would one day forgive me for what I’d done, what grief I’d caused her. I would make it up to her - one day. I gave her a bittersweet smile and turned toward the world beyond. The sun was setting. Setting on my past. Setting on my mistakes. Setting on my heartache. And soon - soon, it would be rising on a new future. My future. I could do this. I smiled again, and walked over the threshold of the gate, loosing a breath. I gripped the scroll in my hands and set out toward the sun. My hands were cool in the night breeze, and my heart was alight with the excitement for what the future would bring.