Chapter I
Change in the Wing
We seem to know everything about dragons and the stories that come with them. Some are of dangerous vicious creatures who lurk in the mountains. Others about noble beasts who give guidance and wisdom. But most overall are of myth and mystery. However, what if I told you they weren’t all gone? Better yet what if I told you they once existed and still walk among us? When you look to the stars and trace the constellations; look to the north and that is where you will find it. The truth about dragons. Right next to the little dipper lies the Draco.
Long ago there were Seven Dragons;
Zander of Fire
Luna of Ice
Luke of Water
Victor of Smoke
Marcus of Gold
Tiana of Earth
And Sophia of Beasts.
Everything in the world had its balance until curiosity became the evolution of change.
Sophia understood every single creature on earth and their very nature;
From why every tree grew to it’s unique height and strength, to why the bear slept until the sun was warm enough to heat it’s brown fur. Every living thing had its purpose.
However, the one being she did not understand was possibly the most complex of all beasts; Man.
It was difficult for a dragon to observe humans, to study why their instinct caused their actions and learn of their purpose. She was incapable of blending into stone or dirt like that of her cousin Tiana.
She could not hide while breathing under water like Luke nor could she match the snow on the ground as Luna could.
Years turned into decades until Sophia knew there was only one person whom she could turn to to help quench her thirst for knowledge.
She stepped with one large claw at a time onto the path around the steaming marshes. Bubbles of lava burst before her once or twice as she slowly and carefully made her way through the volcano.
As she approached she could hear Zander bickering with his younger brother
“If you burst smoke from that hole one more time, Victor, so help me I will light your horns like a candle!”
“And as I said before, it is your temper that is making this too much fun!” the purple dragon laughed with a conniving sense of accomplishment.
Zander could see Sophia approaching relaxed and poise.
He leaped from his hot stone and flew down to greet her
“Ah! Sophia! What do we owe the pleasure?” the red beast spoke showing some irritation from the previous conversation.
“Getting along as well as ever I see.” Sophia teased
“He insists on rising smoke from the pits causing a great stench. I may be a reptile but I do not need to smell like a desert gecko!” Zander shouted in the general direction of Victor
“What can I do for you?” he continued.
“Regretfully, dear cousin, I am here to see your brother, Victor.”
Just as she finished saying his name Victor emerged behind her in a puff of swirling smog
“What can I do for you, sweet cousin.”
Sophia would have been startled by his sudden appearance if she hadn’t been used to it. “I was wondering if you might help a curious mind?”
“That depends.” the purple beast snickered
“Please don’t be coy with me, cousin. I know you do nothing without payment. I want you to turn me into a human. Now name your price.”
“You what?” Zander shouted sharply “Impossible! Why would you desire such a thing?”
“They are the only creatures we don’t understand. Maybe if I can just learn about them we maybe able to-”
“I will tell you about them! They are evil, selfish and cowardly monsters who have hunted us for centuries! All for some foolish thing called a 'title' that we don't possess!”
“But if we learn of their true state of being, maybe, we can learn how to coexist!”
Sophia argued. Zander turned his long scaled back to her.
“Alright, I will help. Free of charge even, I wish to see how this plays out.”
Victor replied, massaging his chin with two large claws.
“Really?” Sophia said with excitement. “What?” Zander shouted
“It won’t be easy, mind you. You will have to learn to eat, drink and walk all on your own. You will be much smaller than you are now and it is likely you won’t even find anyone around these mountains.” Victor said as he approached Sophia
“I will go down the mountain to the small place. The one with all of the sheep.” she said with determination.
“There is one hitch to this spell. If you tell anyone of your true form or so much as speak any of our names; You will return to your true self.”
“Agreed.”
Victor flew from his four feet, spreading his bold purple wings out above her head. Twisting and spinning until he became a large cloud surrounding her. She could feel her bones starting to shift and shrink, the pain caused her to shriek and she could hear her own voice become unrecognizable. Then she fell unconscious.
She awoke from the feeling of the cold. So cold she opened her eyes to see her scales had fallen off. She was now pink skinned. Her front legs were now two long thin arms with fingers instead of claws. Her legs stretched out long to reveal two feet. She glanced around to see her cousin must have dropped her out into the forest. She could still see and hear very clearly. It seems Victor's powers changed only her appearance. As she crawled upward to take her first steps in her new body she struggled to place so much weight on only two legs. Using a rock did not help, when she lost her balance she noticed long tresses fall from atop her head. Waving autumn locks fell in front of her face. She laughed in excitement and stroked her new soft hair. Once she obtained her balance she started to walk. Then she began to run. Through the woods she sprinted feeling the cold breeze on her pale bare skin, jumping and laughing until she heard voices. She collapsed roughly into a set of bushes to hide. Walking through the woods bickering were two young men. She was unable to tell how old for she did not know the difference between new and old humans. Though, if you were to look at them you would know the first young man standing at over six foot, cold blue eyes and a soft mature voice was around twenty-two. He carried himself with purpose and had long neat honey brown hair and tan clean skin. The second young man was of around nine-teen and stood of about five-eight and had equally long hair that resembled the colors of a raven. He was not as clean as his fellow person but not messy either. Rough features, blue eyes and a youthful wonder in his character.
“I told you we would get lost. You shouldn’t have chased that rabbit. It was too small anyway!” the first man said with a scolding tone
“I thought maybe it would lead us to a king rabbit or somethin’!” the second man complained
“Rabbits don’t have kings you, nutter!”
Sophie chuckled quietly in agreement. Rabbits were very basic in their intelligence and didn’t care for others much.
“Marcus, slow down! I am sorry, alright?” the second man shouted.
“Why don’t you ever listen to me? You never listen to me, Marduc! And now we are lost!”
The first man revealed to be Marcus shouted in frustration. The second man stopped with his head hung low and his fists clenched to his side. Marcus turned to see Marduc and sighed. He slowly walked up to the distressed and guilty young man and placed his forehead upon his.
Placing his hand on the back of Marduc’s neck he spoke soft and quiet. Sophia inched forward to hear what they were saying
“I’m sorry, little brother. I should not have lost my temper.” Marcus chuckled and messed up his little brother’s hair “Let’s just find our way back, eh?”
Sophia was very intrigued when Marduc simply smiled and moved on from the argument. In the animal kingdom if one lost its temper with the other they would either fight it out or just move on entirely. But these two creatures seemed to have discussed it, showed kind affection and then worked together to solve the issue. Just as she went to follow the two interesting men her foot slipped on a small stone, causing a loud enough ruffling noise to stir up the two men. Marcus placed his hands on his bow while his younger brother was already in position with an arrow aimed at the bush. “Oh! Finally some supper!” Marduc shouted.
Sophia was shaken. What was she going to do? Marcus was walking straight for her and she had no means of escape. Marcus carefully approached the bushes, just then an arrow shot past his head and into the shrubbery. Marcus went to glare at his hasty brother when they heard a loud woman scream from the targeted location.
