THUMP... THUMP... THUMP!
The sound of the dragon's massive steps reverberated through the cavern and grew louder as it drew closer. The creature's low growl echoed off the walls as its colossal head paused, turning slightly to peer into a shadowy alcove. It sniffed the air but found nothing; no scent and no sign of humans nearby. Satisfied, the beast let out another soft rumble, lifted its head, and lumbered away.
Underneath a jagged rock, Aria lay low, hiding with her younger sister, Livia. The moment the dragon's presence faded, the girls exchanged glances, and their suppressed giggles erupted into a peal of mischievous laughter.
"I can't believe that creature didn't see or sense our presence..." With a giggle, fifteen-year-old Livia said. "Stupid dragon..."
The girls laughed so hard that their sides hurt. Quickly, they crawled out from their hiding spot and began brushing dirt off their dresses.
"Alright, Livie," Aria said, straightening up. "Time to head back to the palace. Father's probably worried sick—"
The duo stopped when a low, guttural growl suddenly cut through the air like a blade, freezing them in place. An icy breeze swept through the cave, making their skin crawl. Slowly, the sisters turned to find themselves face-to-face with the dragon's enormous bloody red eye. It pulsed with a terrifying intensity, and the beast's breath heaved with growing fury.
"Aria...?" Livia whispered, fear lodged in her throat as she clung to her sister.
Slowly, the girls began to back away.
"Livia... Run," Aria's voice trembled as she whispered. "...Run!"
The sisters bolted, their dresses gathered in their hands as they raced toward the cave's opposite exit. The dragon roared with anger and leaped over the cavern's entrance, its massive wings unfurling as it began chasing them.
They dashed into the forest, desperately weaving through the trees as they fled for dear lives. Branches snagged at their skirts, but they didn't dare slow down or else they would be roasted alive. Behind them, the dragon stopped at the forest's edge, letting out an earsplitting roar before inhaling deeply. With a fiery exhalation, it unleashed a torrent of flame, setting the trees ablaze.
The creature took on its wings again, intending to fly around the forest and catch the girls on the other side.
Meanwhile, Aria and Livia sprinted desperately, seeing that the fire was spreading rapidly.
"Aria, it's everywhere! The fire's too fast!" Livia panted as they ran.
"It's dragonfire, Livia! It burns hotter than anything and spreads like the wind!"
"We won't make it in time!" Livia cried out, almost out of breath.
The flames licked at their heels as panic set in. Just then, two horses burst through the forest, their riders pushing through the dense shrubs. Relief flooded Aria as she recognized one of them, Samuel, the palace stable boy who was also a good friend of theirs.
"Aria, Livia! Hop on!" he uttered aloud and Aria hoisted her sister onto Samuel's horse before mounting the other.
Livia had initially informed Samuel about their intentions to sneak across the border. Despite his disapproval, Samuel sensed deep down that they might be in danger, and he left to search for them. He was right all along.
The girls clung to the riders as the horses galloped through the forest, dodging falling branches and blazing embers.
"Thanks for coming, Samuel. You're a lifesaver. I owe you one...!" Aria shouted breathlessly.
"Save the gratitude for later," Samuel replied, steering his horse. "Right now, you're in serious trouble!"
Meanwhile, the dragon soared above them, its massive form eclipsing the sun as it searched for an opening to attack them. The group looked up in dread, watching as it veered ahead, positioning itself at the forest's far edge.
"That dragon will roast us alive if we make it to the other side...!" Livia panicked.
Samuel's eyes darted to the bow and arrows strapped to Aria's back, and an idea struck him."
"Aria! Throw me your bow and arrows!" he shouted.
"W-what?!" Aria turned to her side, shouting back in confusion.
"Your bow and arrows! Throw it to me!"
Aria unstrapped her bow and tossed it to Samuel, who caught it deftly.
"Do you have a plan, Samuel?" Livia asked aloud.
"Yes, I do. You're going to get behind me with Thorsten and your sister, I'll move forward and deal with the dragon!"
Livia thought for a moment.
"Are you...going to take on such a massive creature with just an arrow? That won't work!" she uttered incredulously.
"Just trust me, Livia..."
With no other option, they decided to go with his plan. While he was skilled in archery, they doubted how effective it would be against a dragon.
Thorsten, Samuel's friend, brought his horse to a halt by pulling on its reins. Livia dismounted Samuel's horse to join her sister on Thorsten's. While they looked on, Samuel took the lead a short distance away.
They soon arrived at the edge of the forest. As expected, the dragon was waiting in the clearing, its fiery gaze fixed on Samuel.
The dragon took a deep breath, its ribcage expanding like a bellows. Heat poured from its mouth, and the air was thick with the stench of sulfur. Samuel pulled back the bowstring, his arms quaking with the strain.
This shot had to be perfect. With a sharp twang, the arrow soared, hitting its mark. The dragon staggered, its roar shaking the heavens as it thrashed wildly, flames erupting from its jaws. Without a moment's pause, Samuel released the second arrow, driving it deep into the creature's other eye.
The beast let out an agonized roar, shaking the ground beneath them. It thrashed wildly, spitting fire everywhere.
"Go!" Aria ordered aloud, and Thorsten urged the horse forward.
They charged as fast as they could until they were safe across the border into Eldoria, the flaming Scalethorne forest and blinded dragon fading behind them. Once they crossed this border, they slowed to a stop, panting and heaving a sigh of relief.
Tears welled in Livia's eyes as she clung tightly to Samuel, her breath shaky with relief.
"I thought we wouldn't make it," she whispered. "Thank goodness you came. I thought we were going to die back there!"
Aria watched the duo with a thin smile on her lips.
"Alright, you two lovebirds. It's time to head home."
"Home...? Father will be furious with us if he finds out about this," Livia uttered with a worried look on her face, pointing at the smoke rising to the skies in the distance.
Aria exhaled deeply.
"We'll figure something out when we get back to the palace. Hopefully, no one finds out that we snuck out to cross the border..." Aria assured her and Livia felt a bit better.
"Samuel, take my sister back. I'll join you both shortly."
With a single nod, Samuel mounted his horse and helped Livia up behind him.
Aria watched the duo leave and petted the mane of Thorsten's horse for a few moments while he waited.
Then, Aria's gaze fell on something glinting in the grass. It was a dragon's tooth, larger than any she had ever seen.
"A dragon's tooth..." she muttered, her eyes wide in amazement.
"That's a big one, my princess," Thorsten remarked with a knowing smile.
Aria felt a shiver down her spine as she picked up the dragon's tooth. It was heavier than she expected. Her fingers brushed over strange carvings etched into the tooth's surface. No doubt, this was a powerful dragon.
She tucked the tooth into her pocket and mounted behind Thorsten, then he urged the horse forward. Aria looked back at the darkening sky, where smoke from the burning forest continued to rise. The roar of the dragon was heard in the distance.
"We need to move fast, my princess. It's been hurt badly, but we have to stay ahead while it's blind."
"Why?" Aria questioned curiously.
"Dragons heal, my princess. It will take time, but its sight will return. When it does, it will remember us."