Silence rolled like a plague through the village, smothering every room, every nook and cranny.

Debris scattered the market square. Chunks of plaster, remnants of peoples houses, crumbled like white bread crumbs on the soiled ground.

Thick, rancid smoke hung low in the air, a heavy fog that clogged the backs of the throat and pulled stinging tears from the eyes.

Fire crackled. Flames spurted from shattered windows.

On either side of the courtyard, the anger of the dragon’s fire burned a violent, vibrant blue. Ash flittered down, drowning the pavements in muted white.

Broken market stalls lined the barren street, their wooden tables scorched, charred a dull, cracked black. The wares, once clean and inviting, now broken or taken, snatched up by fleeing people escaping the terror above.

The torn stall roofs fluttered weakly, filling the square with the eerie sound of the flapping wings of a frantic bird.

The wall of smoke parted as two figures limped down the desolate street, their hand clasped, their faces smeared with soot, their cheeks streaked with tears.

“Nora!” The boy croaked, “I can’t... I can’t—” He stumbled, his sweaty hand slipping from his sister's. Plumes of burnt dust erupted into the air as he crashed to the ground, his tiny body colliding with the hard floor.

Nora twisted, tripping at the loss of her brother’s hand, and her feet tumbled, her knees landing beside him with a crack.

“No! You have to get up!” Nora pleaded, tugging on her little brother’s sleeve. “Fergus! Get up before it—!”

An ear-splitting roar—a stab of a sharp knife puncturing the air.

An earth-shattering tremor rocked through the village, destroying the fleeting silence.

A hunk of brick broke from a building, smashing against the ground.

Particles of dust and gravel blasted into the air. Nora ducked, throwing her body over her brother’s as sharp rocks rained down, slicing the skin on the back of her neck.

She gasped for breath. She tightened her sore, burnt fingers into the folds of Fergus’ clothes and tugged, pulled, dragged him to the side, hiding under the base of a smouldering wooden cart—the stench of sharp smoke overwhelming—the horse and its owner long gone.

Fergus nestled into Nora’s side; his breath laboured, his eyes a blink away from closing into sleep. “I can’t hear it,”

“Quite!” Nora hissed, and she poked her head out from under the cart.

Murky, angry clouds stained the unbroken sky, blotting out any light, any sun.

Nora's heart hammered—a brief relief—as she saw no sign of the shadowy, winged beast.

The moment was now. They had to run.

“On my back, Gus!” Nora looped Fergus’ limp arms around her neck, his tired legs around her waist, and checking the sky once more, Nora scrambled up and out.

She steeled herself and ran.

The slashed, cut soles of Nora's feet thumped over the ash, dusted ground. She swerved around singed benches, over broken cart-wheels and spoiled fruit.

Fergus bounced against her back in a steady, grounding rhythm.

One-step.

Two-step.

One-step.

Two-step.

Her breath shuddered.

She wheezed, coughed, and Fergus buried his face deep into the crook of her neck. Sweat dripped down her forehead, stinging her eyes.

A tightness clawed at her chest, her leg screamed, her body shouting, ordering her to stop.

She couldn't. Not now, not when they were so close.

Beyond the growing, billowing smoke, a warm, red glow pierced through the screen of grey. A lightness bloomed in Nora’s chest, and she pushed harder, faster, the wind whipping at her clothes, tugging at the knots of her hair.

A shadow passed overhead, expanding the width of the street, dowsing the world into darkness.

The air crackled and thickened.

It was here.

Nora didn't stop, didn't think.

She fastened her grip on her brother’s legs and kept going, kept running forwards towards the building, towards safety.

The ground shook as another burst of noise exploded from the beast above. Nora slipped, her bare feet scraping against the rough floor, but she held fast.

A doorway appeared, and Nora breathed and bent her knees. She jumped, and the two siblings dipped, disappearing into the hug of the darkness—protected, for now.

Outside, the dragon roared, and a woman screamed as a blast of blue light erupted from the beast jaws.