Callum jolted upright in his bed. He was drenched in sweat from head to toe despite the cool autumn air that filled his room.
"That dream again?" He thought. "I haven't had it in years, why today?"
He quickly pushed the thoughts from his head, he didn't want to worry about something so silly today. It was his sixteenth birthday after all, an exciting time for anyone of course, but it was especially exciting for Callum as he would finally be able to participate in The Hatching.
The Hatching was the ceremony in which dragon riders were chosen. Each year representatives from the order would travel to all of the different settlements of Starfall. From the largest city of Delcia to even the smallest villages, like his, Oakhaven. With them they carried a number of dragon eggs that were deemed ready to choose their riders and hatch. The chosen people would then leave to begin their training at Scaleforge, a massive training ground located on a peninsula that jutted out from the mainland to the northwest of the continent.
The odds were small that a rider would be chosen from this village. Oakhaven was always one of the last village the riders stopped at before heading back to Scaleforge, due to it being on the exact opposite side of the land from where the riders called home. Because of this there were never many eggs that made it without hatching.
This year there were only four people of age to participate including Callum, and the village was known to only ever have one person chosen from it. That was five years ago, and part of the reason why Callum was ready to leave. The timing of his birthday couldn't be any better, it was late autumn, the same time the riders typically arrived.
No longer able to contain his excitement he jumped out of his shabby bed, threw on his tough leather boots, some simple hide breeches, and his nicest white linen tunic, a gift given to him not long ago to be worn on special occasions. He then splashed some water on his face and attempted to fix his dark brown messy hair.
Now dressed, he walked out of the small wooden house that he lived in alone, ready to start his day.
Oakhaven was a quiet farming village. It didn't have much for trading but was totally self sufficient. Each villager had a roll to play, from tending crops to making clothes. There were cattle farmers and fisherman, and even now, just after sunrise there were people moving about starting their busy day.
"Good morning, Callum!" Shouted a booming voice.
Callum looked and saw that the voice was coming from the hut belonging to to the village butcher.
"Good morning Orin, how are you today?"
"I've been better to tell you the truth. Someone opened the gates to the fields up over the ridge last night. By my count we lost eight heifers and three sheep, damn shame." He replied.
Orin was a large man. Not fat by any means, but one could certainly tell that he had access to all the best meats in the village. He was a full head taller than Callum, who was himself taller then most boys in the village. He had a shaved head and a thick reddish blonde beard. By all accounts he would be considered intimidating if not for his red cheeks and welcoming smile.
"I'm sorry to hear that, any idea who might've done it?"
"I have my suspicions, and Wenrys went up to check it out shortly before you walked out. I figured that would be your next question." Orin said, glancing up with a knowing smile.
Callum laughed. "Yes sir, you know me well. I hope your day gets better. See ya later."
As Callum begin to walk away from the butcher he heard him shout, "Oh! I almost forgot. Today is your birthday, and your sixteenth. Strange to think that both you and Wenrys will be participating in The Hatching this year. Come by tonight, I have a gift for the both of you, I was going to give Wenrys his on his birthday but he insisted on waiting for you so that you could get them together. I know you're not my son by blood but I am glad that you two can be like brothers."
"You two are the only family that I have left, Orin. As far as I'm concerned he is my brother."
With that said, Callum headed off through the village, and past the ridge to the line of trees that separated the larger cattle fields from the rest of the village.
As he cleared the trees he began to hear voices that seemed to be shouting.
"I know it was you Firrol! Grow a pair already and just admit it!" Wenrys yelled.
"Piss off little boy, what would I gain by letting the animals out? I have to eat too, you moron!" Firrol shouted in reply.
The two boys were now so close that their foreheads were touching and they were taking turns shoving each other.
"Would you two children give it a rest already? All of this drama is giving me a headache."
Callum looked to his left to see Raela, Firrol's twin sister. They were both the children of the village blacksmith but they couldn't have been more different. Firrol was tall and muscular, the only other teen in the village bigger than Callum, even the ones older than him. He had Jet black hair and icy blue eyes. He was loud, arrogant, and loved being the center of attention.
Raela however, was quiet and intense. She was athletic herself but in a softer, more subtle way. Her ferocity was apparent in her fiery red hair and piercing green eyes. While Firrol would be considered handsome himself, Raela was a true, natural beauty. The kind of beauty that made Callum freeze in his tracks when he looked at her.
"Not this shit again! Hey orphan boy, quit staring at my sister. She's not going to kiss you just because it's your birthday." Firrol said, even though laughing, his anger was apparent.
Quickly snapping out of his trance, Callum turned to face Firrol once again. "You know Firrol, it just occurred to me that maybe you didn't leave gate open on purpose. I suppose you could have forgot about closing it when you snuck in to look for a companion for the night. What's the matter, your hands not enough for ya anymore?"
Wenrys' jaw dropped. His eyes opened wide and for a moment all was quiet. Then the small blond headed boy could be seen falling to the ground clutching his stomach and laughing hysterically. Even Raela had to turn her head so her brother would not notice her stifling her laughter.
Firrols face flashed red with rage and embarrassment. He clenched both of his fists as he began walking towards Callum, arm muscles bulging.
"I guess it is your lucky day, bastard."