“When the Old ones lit the eternal forge they used it first to create the lands, bringing the world into existence.”
[The first sentence of the manual of the universe, the holy book that describes how the Dragon’s thought the world was born.]
As we passed the wreaked gate back it the city, the place looked like a complete nightmare. Bodies of Soldiers and… Nuuk’s? (I think there called that) Were all over the ground, with it taking us some effort not to walk over Motor and Nickel city soldiers. As we walked Edwin spoke, with him having a tone that was a bit sad.
"Dewe’s goin’ to be a wot of famiwies that wiww need to be infowmed, heww… We’ww begin cowwectin’ dah bodies tomowwow. "
Thinking of Edwin’s words, I mind came to Reverend. He- He had a wife who was pregnant and a father and a new home, he had his whole life infront of him. Now he will never be with us again, his children will only hear stories of him. And Anu forbid If They made me go out and tell them… I don’t think I will be strong enough. I felt a bit weaker as I walked with me now thinking back to his exited face as he told me what he did over the summer.
As we continued to go along I had noticed a concrete structure on the other side of the road. It was a large square with a staircase that went below, and had a map with multicolored lines. Well a few people had left and after looking around for a few moments and seeing us, one of them gave a waving motion and before we knew it hundreds of Nickel city civilians started flooding out with them all looking mentally scarred and exhausted and there clothing and fur looking dirty and matted. After the initial exit they all began walking in different directions and I heard Charles speaking.
“Whewe am dey going?”
Ix speaks, with her sounding exhausted.
“Isn’t it obvious? There going back to there homes… Or for some what’s left of them.”
Charles didn’t respond.
Edwin decided that for now we would be setting up camp at the docks. With a lucky few, being allowed to sleep in one of bunks on the ships. Our camp was pretty small, with it just being me, my unit and a few Motor soldiers, all resting at the docks. As I started taking off my gear Dar was trying his best to light a fire with him speaking excitedly a few seconds later.
“Daw thinks fwuffy has it! We can finawwy cook something!”
There are a few sparks of fire but it quickly fizzles out, than I can hear Dar say several curses. Charles seeing this speaks as he begins to walk over.
“That’s not how 'ou do it! Hewe wet Chawwes twy.”
Charles and Dar begin to argue a bit over how to start a fire, and If the situation wasn’t as gloomy as it was I maybe would have cracked a smirk. They keep arguing for a bit before, we here something… Loud footsteps
“Who’s There!”
Ix say’s as she grabs her sword. Was it some separated Nuuk or something! The footsteps get closer and closer and I grab Durandal as everyone else grabs there weapon as well. Than finally coming from the darkness we hear a voice.
“Are you in need of Sssome assistance with the fire?”
A dragon starts to come into view with them having dark purple scales and a appearance the looked generally younger and more warm than Valuuk. We all looked in shock and confusion, why was a dragon here? I speak as I put down Durandal.
“Who am 'ou?”
The figure is now fully visible with me seeing the their armor was the reason for the heavy footsteps with the added bonus of a few soldiers going over with there lanterns, illumining the scene even more. They speak.
“Oh, my name is Kri.”
Kri gives an awkward smile and one of the soldiers behind me speaks.
“What am ‘ou doin’ hewe? othah den that yes.”
I notice that when Kri started walking over to the fire just how short dragons were, standing side by side Kri was half as tall as me. As Kri walks to the fire she speaks, answering the question
“Oh our war camp is pretty crowded right now, and I thought nobody would noticed if I left. I want to know more about you’re world you see, I never met any other races before.”
When Kri got to the fire what happened next was incredible, as after a few seconds of waiting they started spewing fire from there mouth! The fire was light instantly and we all looked at them in shock and wonder as Kri went to go sit down.
“That was incredible! Can all Dragons do that!?”
Ix said, looking at Kri in amazement. Kri shakes there head and I hear Dar speak, looking at them.
“What am it wike obah dewe?”
Kri looks up at the night sky, than at Dar and speaks.
"There are lot’s of mountains in Appalachia but don’t go to conclusions it’s not that much of a rocky place. Instead a vast beautiful woodland, that if you get on top of one of the mountains seems to go on forever. And than you have us, most don’t actually live on the surface you Sssee. We live in these underground homes called Ssstrongholds, mine is called Ardor the largest Ssstronghold with the brightest forge.
We are now all listening to Kri and Charles is cooking somethings and speaks as he does.
“Fowge?”
Kri pulls something out and I gasp as I see it, a blade that was so shiny and well crafted it looked like something out of legend. Kri speaks putting the blade away.
“The forge gives us life, the forge is what created everything. Underground forges were left for us by the old ones and with them we are able to craft anything. The finest armor, the finest weapon, the highest quality tools, you name it we can make it.”
“Owd Ones?” Dar say’s with him laying down but still looking at Kri.
“Do you ever think of who inhabited these lands before us? They were the ones who created the earth and gave all of us life.”
I could see a few skeptical and confused soldiers, yes what Kri said sounded interesting. But we all knew who really created everything… (Praise be to you Anu!)
We spent the next hour mostly explaining to Kri our civilizations. I and Charles told them about Motor and all of it’s cities, history, famous buildings, and guilds. Dar spoke next with him explaining his Tribal identity and what it was like living in Maximus, and getting really exited when talking about the games he’d like to play when he was a foal. A Nickel city guard told Kri about what the place was like before all this destruction and the powerful bickering families and the intrigue they used to one up each other. Ix was most hesitant to give information and at first, with her explaining Chicago and puffies to Kri instead, but after some support from me. She gave in and and gave a basic definition of what a changeling was and how there society worked, but in the end she did transform herself into Kri, and we were all clapping with Kri in amazement. Finally after all of that Kri got up saying that they had to return to camp and wished us well, and soon after we waved goodbye to our new friend, we fell asleep.
Thank you for reading my story! I hope to have the next part done in a few day’s to a week and of course constructive criticism is appreciated. May you have a good day!