They set off again, running through the forest, searching for any signs of the others. Kael's mind raced, trying to think of any leads they could follow. But every path seemed to lead to a dead end.
As they ran, Kael's thoughts turned to his father. He wondered where he was, what he was doing. He missed him terribly, and he wished that he was here to help them.
Suddenly, Rian came to a stop, her hand on Kael's arm. "Look," she said, pointing ahead.
Kael squinted, trying to see what she was pointing at. And then he saw it. A small trail of smoke, rising up from a nearby hill.
"Let's go," he said, his heart racing with excitement.
They ran towards the smoke, their pace quickening as they drew closer. And then they saw it a small village, engulfed in flames. Kael and Rian skidded to a halt as they took in the destruction before them.
"Oh, no," Kael whispered, his heart sinking in his chest. "This is terrible. We have to help them."
Rian nodded. "Let's go," she said, and they charged towards the village.
As they approached, they could hear the screams of the villagers, the crackling of the fire, and the splintering of wood as the buildings burned. Kael felt a lump form in his throat. He had never seen anything like this before. The destruction was so complete, so absolute, that it was almost overwhelming.
"Kael, we need to focus," Rian said, grabbing his arm. "We have to find survivors."
Kael shook himself out of his shock and nodded. "Right. Let's go."
They split up, running in different directions as they searched for anyone who might have survived the attack. Kael dashed into a burning building, coughing as the smoke filled his lungs. He stumbled through the darkness, calling out for anyone who might be there.
"Hello?" he shouted. "Is anyone here?"
There was no response. Kael coughed again, his eyes watering as the smoke grew thicker. He was about to give up when he heard a faint sound coming from somewhere in the building.
"Hello?" he called again, following the sound. "Is someone there?"
And then he saw her - a small girl, huddled in a corner, tears streaming down her face.
"Come on," Kael said, reaching out to her. "We have to get out of here."
The girl looked up at him, her eyes wide with fear. "Who are you?" she asked.
"I'm Kael," he said. "I'm here to help you."
The girl hesitated for a moment, then took his hand. Together, they stumbled out of the burning building and into the daylight.
Rian was waiting for them, a look of relief on her face. "Thank goodness you're okay," she said, giving Kael a quick hug.
"We have to find more people," Kael said, still catching his breath. "There have to be more survivors."
They split up again, searching through the rubble for any signs of life. Kael's heart was pounding as he ran from building to building, calling out for anyone who might be there.
And then he heard a voice - a weak, raspy voice, calling for help.
"Over here!" he shouted to Rian, and together they rushed towards the sound.
They found an old man, trapped under a pile of debris. He was barely conscious, his face covered in soot and blood.
"We have to get him out of here," Kael said, kneeling down beside the man.
Rian nodded, and together they began to dig him out. It took all of their strength, but finally, they managed to free him from the rubble.
"Thank you," the man gasped, coughing as he struggled to breathe. "Thank you so much."
Kael helped him to his feet, supporting him as they stumbled towards safety. The man leaned heavily on him, his legs shaking as they walked.
"We have to find the others," Kael said, his voice trembling with emotion. "We have to save as many people as we can."
They searched for hours, pulling people from the wreckage, tending to their injuries, and helping them to safety. Kael had never felt so exhausted in his life, but he refused to give up. He knew that they had to keep going, that they had to find every survivor they could.
And then, just as they were about to give up hope, they saw a faint light in the distance. It was flickering and weak, but it was there. Kael and Rian exchanged a look of relief, and then broke into a run once more.
As they drew closer, they could see that the light was coming from a small cottage nestled in the trees. Smoke was pouring out of the chimney, and there were signs of life - a garden, a chicken coop, and a pile of chopped wood by the door.
They slowed down as they approached the cottage, cautious in case the inhabitants were hostile. But as they got closer, they saw an old woman sitting on the porch, rocking back and forth in a chair.
"Excuse us, ma'am," Kael called out, trying to sound as friendly as possible. "We're looking for survivors of the attack. Have you seen anyone else?"
The woman looked up, her eyes narrowed suspiciously. "What attack?" she asked, her voice crackling with age.
"The dragon attack," Rian said, stepping forward. "They destroyed our village, and we're trying to find anyone who survived."
The woman's eyes widened in recognition, and she beckoned them forward. "Come inside," she said, her voice suddenly warm. "I can tell you what I know."
Kael and Rian exchanged a look of relief, and then followed the woman into the cottage. Inside, it was cozy and warm, with a fire burning in the hearth and a kettle of tea on the stove.
The woman introduced herself as Margery, and she listened as Kael and Rian told her about the attack on their village. She nodded along, her face grave.
"I've heard of the dragon," she said finally, pouring them each a cup of tea. "But I haven't seen it. I've been hiding out here for weeks, ever since the first attacks started."
"Do you know of any other survivors?" Kael asked, taking a sip of the tea. It was hot and sweet, and it warmed him to his toes