"Dragon Valley"
Danielle Myre
Chapter 2
“So,” Kelly interrupts my thinking, “What made you come here? Why do you want to see Dragon Village?” I shrug since I'm unable to tell her my reasons.
“Do you know the story or legend or whatever it is about Dragon Village?” She smiles, wanting to tell the story. I shake my head and tell her not really.
“Well,” she pauses and clears her voice, “Once upon a time, 500 years ago to be precise, a wizard named Aiden and a dragon slayer named Adalynn…” Kelly looks at me and I give her a tight smile. Yep, I have the same name as her; probably because we are related, maybe. I’ll be keeping that to myself on this trip.
“That’s pretty cool that you two share the same name. Anyways,” Kelly continues, “Aiden and Adalynn traveled into Dragon Valley to hunt down the creature that had been killing so many of their brethren…”
As Kelly is talking I get lost in the story that I’ve read again and again. Adalynn was ordered by her father and mother to go to Dragon Valley and kill the dragon and destroy the village. She brought two of her friends and the two best fighters beside herself on the journey but both died before reaching Dragon Village. She met Aiden at the village. Both mistook each other as the dragon's helper and tried to kill each other but during their fight they realized that neither had the intent to kill. They realized that they were after the same thing: to kill the dragon.
Aiden and Adalynn partnered up to destroy the dragon but after fighting him for months they only managed to damage themselves. They tried one last attack but that also failed. That’s when they knew that the only way to stop the dragon’s raging destruction was to seal him inside the village and then seal the village itself. For two weeks they made preparations as well as let their magical power build up for one final attempt to stop the dragon.
Their last attack succeeded. They were able to seal away the dragon and the village with all the magic both had. But in doing so they lost all their power and forgave the power for future generations. They waited for several days on the outskirts of the village to make sure their seal held. Before they left they created another barrier and seal with the objects they blessed before the fight. They saved their time.
However, because they gave up their magic to save lives, they were rejected by their families. But that didn’t stop them from starting a family of their own. After they left Dragon Valley they couldn’t seem to part. Their lives were bound together and found no pain or suffering in the rejection of their own family. Even if they didn’t feel pain I still felt sorry for them. The family they grew up with suddenly denied being them. But I guess if they hadn’t done that I wouldn’t be here.
“And that’s the story,” Kelly smiles at me. “How was it?”
“It was good. Thanks for telling me,” I act.
“You’ve really never heard it?”
“Nope,” I say honestly. “I’ve never heard it.” I’ve never heard it because I have read it several times.
I found Adalynn’s journal in my dad’s old safe when I was seven. He didn’t know much about it except that it has been passed down through the family. I’ve been studying it every day since that day. I pretty much know everything about it but I couldn’t stop myself from making photocopies and bringing them with me. I like having the pages near. I believe everything in there is true, but part of me doesn’t believe or maybe I just don’t want to believe. That is why I’m personally going to Dragon Village. I want to see everything with my own eyes. I want to find all the answers to the questions that I’ve had for years.
“Alright,” Kyle speaks up. “We are going to be entering the enclosed portion of the Needle Forest.” He drops his bag and opens it up. “Put on your long leather coat and gloves. I know it will get hot but the leather will reduce the chances of the needles touching your skin as you move through. We have a five minute break before we move again.”
Five minutes seems to drag on continuously. I stand impatiently as I wait for the group to start moving forward. This sudden overwhelming eagerness is eating me. But finally, we start moving and I have to remind myself not to rush or I will hurt myself as well as the others. The last thing I want is to be the cause of someone’s death because I couldn’t remain calm like how I was taught during classes.
The porcupine trees get closer and closer with each step I make in the enclosed. My heart hammers away in my chest as I glance off to the sides to see each of the dead drops on either side of me. I saw pictures when I was taking my preparation classes but those pictures were nothing compared to the real thing. Two dark seas of poisonous needles surround me and that doesn't include the ones that I brush up against or the ones I have duck under.
To avoid all the needles I move gingerly but despite being careful I feel myself start to fall. The ground gives out under my feet and I slide over the edge, screaming at the top of my lungs. I reach for anything and everything to stop me from falling further and slowly I slow down. But more fear creeps over me as my blood bubbles out of my torn glove. I look at my cut hand and the needles producing from wrist and hand. Effects start almost immediately but I feel fine despite the fear coursing through my veins.
"Everyone stop!" I hear Kyle scream. I glance up and he is carefully leaning over the edge with a panicking Kelly. I move my wounded hand out of his view and try to show him that I'm okay. "Adalynn," Kyle yells, "Don't move. You are centimeters away from the needles!" I nod and he turns his back on me.
With Kyle busy talking to the lead guide or doing whatever it is he is doing, I take that opportunity to pull the needles out of my hand and throw them away from me. I slip my glove off and look at the damage. My hand is cut up pretty badly but I can pass it off as an impact wound instead of being stabbed with needles.I have pass it off as just that since I'm just fine even though I should be in complete shock right now and throwing up blood or something along those lines. I guess can add this to my list of why I should believe that I'm the descendant of dragon slayers. I smack my forehead on the soft, cool soil and shake my head.
A heavy rope hits my shoulder and makes me look up. "I'm coming down to get you!" Kyle yells with concern.
Kyle clips the rope onto his waist and gets ready to start his descent but I yell at him to stop. He almost falls with surprise. "I'm fine. Nothings broken. I can climb up by myself." He looks at me, dumbfounded, along with several other people. I grab the rope and position my feet properly so I don't slip down any further I start climbing up to the group, making sure that I don't touch any needles. I'm immune to their effects but I can't exactly explain that to them.
Once I reach the top, Kyle and Jim and everyone start suffocating me. Kyle notices my hand first and snatchers it from my side. "I'm fine," I say quickly. "It was just from the impact." He doesn't buy it.
"I saw you grab a needle bush Lynn," Kelly speaks up.
I sigh and shake my head. "If I touched one they didn't touch my skin. I'm fine. Doesn't the poison coating these needles kick in immediately? Do I look sick?"
"You're extremely pale!" Kyle snaps.
I snap back, "Of course I'm pale! I fell and almost died! But I didn't. I'm fine!"
"I think you should go back," Kyle and the lead guide say in perfect harmony.
I get to my feet and brush off all the dirt off of myself. Kelly hands me a travel pack of baby wipes and I take them to get the mud and dirt off of my face. I take another one and clean the debris out of my hand. It hurts but I don't let it show. "I'm not going back," I tell the instructors. "I'm fine. I really am." They don't look like they are going to budge. "Then I will go by myself," I say, moving forward and passing everyone in the group.
I stop when Kyle grabs my arm and yanks me backwards. "You will get tested at the clinic in Dragon Village as soon as we get there. Now give me your hand so I can bandage it." I give him my hand without hesitating and watch as he puts cream on my hand and gauze over every small scrape. "Tell me if you feel sick. You have no idea how dangerous this poison is." I nod and he lets go of my hand.
Kyle leaves my side but Kelly comes up to me and stands next to me without saying a word. I watch Kyle and Jim rally up the rest of the members and get them back on track. This time Kelly, Kyle and myself are in the lead. I like it better this way.
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