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The Radiant Flame

Long ago far to the west of Lumara lived a red dragon by the name of Sheondranta. She lived high in the mountains which was typical for dragons of her type, far away from the pitter patter of the lesser races. She currently swooped over the mountain tops, her teal membranes but a blur. Her blue eyes shone like sapphires as the sun reflected off of them, as they scanned the ground below. She loved flying, probably more than most dragons that already had flown before her. She loved the feel of the wind on her snout, the sun on her crimson scales, and the feeling of being free. She did a spin in the air as she let out a small little roar of happiness.

She reoriented herself, as she spied what she was looking for the entire time. There was a road below her, that was worn with the travel of horses and other beasts of burdened. This road was used by mortals to travel to the other towns and cities that dotted the countryside. Now awhile ago she had made this section of the forest HERS which meant the road that passed through it partially was hers. Along this road now traveled a small caravan of wagons and horses. She wrinkled her snout at the smell of horses, how she hated that smell. They were not even good to eat. The mortals probably just kept them around to travel, that was it. The caravan was moving at a normal pace, for caravans at least. They were not trying to rush through the dragon controlled road, which some people had done. I showed those people that error. She flew around the caravan before tilting her wing membranes and descending towards the caravan.

Sheondranta landed on the earth, letting her paws touch softly. However despite this she still scattered a small cloud of dust and rocks everywhere. She grinned to herself as several of the horses reared up in terror. The riders on them pulled on the reins to try and control the beasts.

“Greeting travelers on my fine road." She said smoothly, letting her wings spread wide so they could get a fine view of her wondrous form.

“Who said it was your road?" came a gravely voice of one of the riders, as his horse finally returned to standing on two legs.

“What a fine question human." Sheondranta gestured with her tail from were they had came. “I made a makeshift sign for you people to understand that this was my portion of the road. It details a toll to me." she grinned wide to show off her many sharp and white teeth, “for keeping it safe from bandits and thieves of course."

“That's extortion!" a woman yelled this time from a horse.

“No it is called a toll my fine man. Is it not customary to pay a toll for your king's roads?"

“I am a woman dragon!"

Really? Sometimes it really was hard to tell with all the clothing they wore.

“Well regardless." she ignored the woman who was giving her glares of what she figured was anger. “This is my road and I demand payment for those riding along it."

“Yea and what happens when we decide to not pay this toll of yours?" the same woman shouted to her.

Sheondranta just gave her the biggest tooth filled grin she could muster. “Oh dear it will not come to that. No one could possibly be as thick as to do that." She started to strut towards the woman. Who now was holding her hand above the hilt of a sword. “I would not draw that weapon if I were you. Than I would have to defend myself you realize."

“Defend yourself." the woman laughed, “You come over here, practically an army yourself. You have the nerve to say your defending yourself?"

“Yes little human, now I would like you to think about your next move. For I am sure of what I will do if you draw that sword against me. Roast you alive.

“Fine!" the woman crossed her arms. “What is your toll dragon?"

“Did you not read the sign? I thought it clearly said the toll was twenty gold pieces per caravan."

“There was a sign but it was in some sort of scratch language!" yelled the voice of another man on a horse, different the one before.

Oh damn they do not read draconic? Sheondranta sighed and shook her head slightly. “Well that sign said the toll was twenty gold pieces. Although I guess I could forgive this little incident if you were willing to part with a crate of food?" She stretched her neck so it was in the shape of an 's".

“You were hungry this entire time?" laughed the woman from before. “We of course would be more than willing to part with a crate of food over gold!" The woman gestured to someone that was within the cart. “Give the dragon a crate of food, before she goes about eating us instead!"

Sheondranta wrinkled her snout as if she were going to sneeze at the thought. Mortals taste stringy, hardly a good meal. “What kind of food is in there?"

“Dried meats, fruit, and vegetables dragon. We have plenty to spare for the journey. The nobles paying us don't care too much about the food, its the coin and other goods they care about."

From the cart came a large wooden crate filled to the brim with little boxes and even smaller wooden crates. It was placed firmly on the ground by two younger looking humans, if they were male or female she did not wonder or care. “Well I hope this does not happen again. I do hope you have a safe travel on my road humans." Sheondranta strode over to the crate, and traced it with one of her white clawed paws.

“Well who should we tell guards this road dragon. We can't just say dragon can we?"

Well you certainly could, it just would not be fitting enough. “You may tell them that The Radiant Flame guards this road. Let them know they will be safe as long as I guard it, and to bring toll money! Sheondranta gave a flap of her mighty wings as she grabbed the crate with her claws. She was lifted high into the air, giving the mortals quite the view of her teal underscales. She envied them of course, to look up and see her radiance. She smiled at the idea that this was probably going to the moment they talked about their entire trip.

“Do you remember the time we saw the beautiful Radiant Fire?" one man would say.

“Oh yes, I will tell my little fat faced humanlings about this!" another would reply back.

Oh yes I like the idea of that. Sheondranta gave another flap and was already starting her way back home on the mountain. It did not take long, she was an excellent flier after all, and the additional weight of the crate did not slow her down in the slightest. She tilted her wings, and descended towards the mouth of the cave she called home. She flapped her wings to slow her descent, before she landed awkwardly on he hind legs. It stung for only a second as she was not used to such a landing, but objective of not damaging the crate was accomplished. She pushed it along with her snout into hr lair.

It was a rather small place, much smaller than her previous lair. Her eyes narrowed as she remembered the place she had called her home. It had been filled with treasure, and would have been the envy of many of dragons. That was before he came. She stopped pushing the crate as she came across a bed of furs she had laid across the barren floor of her lair. There was nothing within this place except a small place she had kept scorched with her flame breath. On this scorched bit of earth sat an offwhite egg, sitting carefully half buried within the dirt. She smiled before opening her maw and letting loose a cone of fire centered on the egg. Got to keep it warm after all. She moved along close to the egg and curled around it's now hot exterior. She touched it slightly with one of her claws, very carefully as to not damage it's shell. Within this egg of course was her offspring, her little dragon growing stronger each day within that egg. She started to humm softly to the egg, knowing the little dragon inside could very well hear her song. If you asked her it was beautiful and majestic and could bring a man to tears. She let it reverberate off of the halls of her cave, and made it sound like a whole choir was singing to her precious offspring.

She tried to not think about how the egg had been made. It was him again. She shuttered as she remembered the black horned, male red dragon that had found her at her previous home. How he had attacked her, slashed at her, slammed her body against her cave until she was crying out in agony. She remembered struggling to stand, defiant to the last if he was going to kill her. However he did something even worse to her. She shivered remembering he had taken her. She barred her teeth at the thought, before instantly regretting it. Its not your fault little one. She caressed the egg as if he could hear her thoughts. No matter what she thought of the dragon that had used her. She still loved this little egg more than anything else on the entire planet. He took my treasure, my cave, and he very well took me. She put her snout close to the egg and cuddled against it. She sighed as she imagined the little dragon that would soon be hatched and joining her. He can not take you from me my little Veledar. Sheondranta closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep, as she imagined the great red dragon her son would be.

Weeks passed on the countryside, as Sheondranta did the same thing day in and day out. She would wake up, bathe little Veledar's egg in fire, go out for a quick flight, return to check on Veledar, hunt, eat, check on Veledar, fly, and than sleep. The entire time she got no more visitors along her road. Which was shame as she had rather enjoyed something called jerked dire rat. It was salty and very tasty to her. She reminded herself that if she ever found another caravan she would have to request the things. Perhaps she would get ONLY paid in that. She ended each day the same way she would start each day. She would lay down beside the egg and watch for sometimes a whole hour, imagining the day a small crack would appear on it. She smiled at the thought of booping his tiny little snout with hers, as he cried out “Momma!"

There was one day however that changed her entire routine. It was when she smelled the smell of humans and horses once again. She tore herself away from Veledar that morning to fly high and go check on this caravan. They seemed to be the same people as before, although this time they had three more wagons with them, all covered in white tarps. Perhaps they have more dire rat that I could want. Or better yet what if they came with the toll! She tilted her wing membranes and landed before the caravan, getting the same reaction from the horses. “Greeting travelers on my fine road!" she exclaimed with a smile.

From the cart came a man wearing dark red leathers. He wore a pack and had many weapons hanging around his belt. He looked with his dark green eyes to the two lead horse riders and gave them a sneer. He was rather bald, but bore many scars on his head. “What do you want dragon?" he snarled in a deep voice.

Well he could have been more polite, but she would have to show him of course. “Is that anyway to talk to a lady, human? I would think you would be more polite when facing down such a beautiful creature as myself." She threw her neck back, spread her wings wide, and wiggled her tail.

“Beautiful?" the man spat a Lougie onto the road. “I suppose ya are, ya don't see many red dragon's with those beautiful teal scales of yours."

Well that was certainly fast. Perhaps I could kidnap him and he would give me more compliments? “Well thank you human!" she cooed, “So you must know about the toll for my road? I think it is quite fair a price for not having monsters roam around on it!"

The man just gave her a quick smile, “Well about that dragon, that's going to change today."

“Oh yea human? How is th-"

Suddenly arrows flew out from the covered wagons towards her. There were so many that she could not deflect them in time. Most bounced off of her scales, but several found their mark in her skin. She let loose a roar of anger as the man pulled out knives and tossed them as well into her. Sheondranta backed away, letting loose fire from her mouth that coated one of the wagons. Screams were heard before at least ten men ran out all covered in her flames. She was glad when they collapsed to the ground and did not rise again. However that was not her biggest concern, the arrows that had struck her were continuing to burn. It felt awful, it made her feel sluggish. Oh no its dragon's bane poison." The one poison dragon's feared. Usually their great resistance would protect them from spells and poison, but not dragon's bane. They could resist some arrows of the stuff, at least several striking then. However they could not resist the poison say if a dozen of the things were currently sticking out of her.

Sheondranta let out an angered roar as she sluggishly took flight into the air. She had to get away, there was no way she could fight off these human's from this surprise attack. Especially if they had their arrows tipped with dragon's bane poison. She winced as her wings strained as she flapped them. There was only one thing on her mind right now as she soared away from the humans. That was getting to Veledar and getting him away from here. She did not know how she managed to do it, but even with the poison burning in her veins she managed to get to her lair in hardly any less time than it typically did. This is a stupid plan! Your going to lead them straight to Veledar, and they are going to kill you both! She shook her snout as she struggled to get through her lair to the egg. Nonsense if they were worth anything as dragon hunters they would be able to find her lair regardless of where she hid it. She managed to get to the room with her egg sitting there still on the floor. Each step was now very hard as her eye lids began to droop. Got to make it to Veledar, have to be there when he hatches. Inch by inch she made her way to the egg and collapsed there. Her eyes looked to the egg to find no cracks on it's surface. You have to hatch little one. I need to see you. She reached out and touched the egg softly, as her head hit the ground, and darkness took her.

Sheondranta woke with a start as she remembered what had happened. She was still holding the egg of Veledar, and was sprawled out on her cavern floor. She focused on the egg's surface, still not finding any cracks. She turned her neck towards the entrance of her lair, still feeling sluggish from the poison. If the humans had been tracking her to her lair they would have no trouble, and she had no idea how long she had been out. Probably long enough for them to be almost here. She looked back to her egg, longing to see the dragon emerge. She sighed, as she preceded to work her magic. With a flow of her claws, and a mutter of draconic, a small translucent wall formed around the section of her cave that held the egg. With any luck the humans that would see this would just see a cavern wall. Hell if they felt it, it would even feel real to them if they could not recognize magic. She let loose another wave of fire on Veledar's egg, hoping that bit of warmth would keep the dragon warm until she returned. It might take awhile to lead the human's away until the poison was out of her system.

She sighed and wobbled out of her cave. However what was outside made her heart sink. There were the human's, a whole damn army by the looks of it. There were at least twenty men, all wearing dark red leathers. The man from before was wearing a dark green tabard with the symbol of a lion holding a shield and sword.

“So this is where you have ran to dragon. Perhaps a whole cavern full of ill gotten gains perhaps?" the man sneered, “Don't worry we will have them back in the right hands shortly. Wont we lads?!" the man shouted to a collection of proud cheers.

Sheondranta tried to let loose her breath onto the collection of men but found only a small black smoke came out. What is this? She spread her wings in terror, as the men fired once again with their dragon bane arrows. Simultaneously she dove at a man, ripping the man in two as her claws found another. She winced in pain as she felt more arrows dig into her hide, followed by the burning sensation of the poison. She clawed, sliced, and tossed men aside with her tail. She was breathing heavy, her breath ragged as she ripped a man in two. She struggled to stand, her wings unable to move on their own. She stared down the man who had led them here. Despite her flailing he had dodged every attack she had thrown at him, and let his underlings take strikes for him. She gave him a look that could kill as her body collapsed under her.

“There we go! I thought it was strange she was still up!" laughed the man, as he sheathed his weapon. “Go check what she had in the lair lads. Must be good if she decided to stay here and fight us!" the man strolled over and flicked a finger against her snout. She gave him a snarl in reply, and weakly thrashed her tail. “Don't feel bad dragon, this is what you get for extorting all those people on the roads after all. Got to keep them safe from the likes of your kind!" he gave her a wicked smile as he looked over her fallen form.

“Nothing in there!" came the shout of a man from behind her after several minutes.

“Well there can't be nothing in there! She put up one hell of a fight! Nearly killed all our men! She can't have zero treasure!"

“Well we checked with all of us, only a small patch of furs for sleeping on. This dragon has no treasure."

Good Veledar, your safe. She blinked her eyes and continued to look at the bald human, who was giving her a look of anger.

“Someone else took it didn't they?" he sneered. “Well I guess the payment from the reward money will have to do nicely." The man drew out a longsword that had the same markings of his tabard. “You do have pretty teal scales dragon. Perhaps I will stuff your head for my study."

Sheondranta closed her eyes as the human pulled back his sword. Her mind went to Veledar, and how he would be a great red dragon, sailing through the sky, roaring his happiness to-.

The man plunged his sword straight through her eye and back towards her brain. In one single stroke the great dragon was extinguished from this plane. The man wiped the blood from his sword and sheathed it. “Well come on men."

Days passed after the dragoness was killed on the mountain, her cave was silent the entire time. Inside the cave the egg that she had died to protect wobbled slightly, as a small crack appeared on it's surface. The crack grew larger with each moment as the tiny dragon hammered against it's surface, until he burst through. “Momma!" he gave a small cry. Looking around with his blue eyes, and tan underscales. “Momma?" the hatchling looked around the cave, finding no one to greet him.