Creative Writing Competition Entry 4

This fictional story is the property of (4). Any resemblance it bears to any other person, (living or dead) character, incident or other known literary works, screen play or Television programme World Wide is coincidental.

Dragon

~Flickering, ~ she thought. ~Why would it be doing that? ~

She moved closer to the mystery and realized the light wasn’t flickering but being blocked by something passing by.

A thought penetrated her conscious, ~change, now. ~ She wasn’t sure of the source nor what the message meant by change, so she simply continued floating down.

The thought persisted; ~change or you’ll drown! You must change! ~ Closer still to the light, the figures became clearer. Dragons! Chiara began to panic. All her training hadn’t prepared her for something out of a myth. The unrelenting thought became a chant she thought was just in her mind.

~Change, change, CHANGE! ~

Frantic at the commotion, Chiara had no idea what to change or how. Her training began to pick up on something behind her just as a blow landed on the back of her head.

Almost grateful for the interruption to the continuous chant, she sank back into oblivion.

She was pulled back into consciousness by voices that wouldn’t stop talking.

‘What should we do with her?’

‘Why didn’t she change?’

‘Does the Keeper know?’

‘Of course you dolt, he always knows, anyway the Phoenix would have told him by now.’ A superior voice explained to the younger ones.

‘How would he know, he can’t come down here, can he?’ The younger voice said the uncertainty plain in her voice.

‘He can but he doesn’t like to.’ A voice with aged wisdom explained so quietly that Chiara had to strain to hear.

The brunette lay as still as she could. Although her wet clothing didn’t make shifting any easier, she knew her school uniform would dry quickly once she got moving.

The voices finally began to trail off when someone looked down at her.

‘Wake up young one, you have much to do.’ The wise voice called.

Chiara’s eyes snapped open, ‘how did...’

‘I am called Gliocas.’ The gentleman said.

‘Gliocas?’ Chiara repeated still confused.

‘It is a name given to the eldest of the region. It means wisdom. You are to be a new ruler.’

‘Ruler? No, that can’t be right. I have to get back to school. Dan’s going to beat me this term if I don’t. That badge should be mine.’ The practical mind worked furiously to try making sense of the information.

‘Calm down, you and your friend went through a summoning to become what is needed for the next generation.’

‘Summoned? You mean we’re here on PURPOSE?’ Chiara lost her temper fast enough to make her new hot-headed friend, Karmen, pleased. ‘How could you? I was headed to class one moment and the next stuck in the woods with that infuriating, irritating…’

The white haired man cut her off by gently pulling her to her feet.

‘We had no idea there were to be two. You are to become head of us and the Earth clan. She will look after the others.’

‘Others?’

‘The other clans, come we will see to your test.’

‘Test? What test? How come I don’t get to study?’ the panic was clear in the student’s voice.

‘Once you learn to change, you will need to fetch something from the very floor of the ocean. Its form – well – that depends on you.’ Gliocas lead her into a large building.

‘You are under water in our human homes. There is much reading to do, Facal, will ensure that you have all the books you need.’

Before Chiara could protest, he had left the room.

Facal was a beautiful woman who appeared from around a shelf of books.

‘Here is all you need to know, everyone in this world has two forms, their human one and’ she set the books she was carrying on a table and stepped back. The air around her shimmered, before Chiara could blink in front of her stood a teal and blue dragon.

Reality was the place Chiara liked to live. She knew how almost everything worked and this did not fit.

~Concentrate, you could do this easily, let what you feel shape your physical being. ~ Thoughts began to surface in her mind. These were a very different feeling to the ones before. This one was melodious, much like the thought voice that had told her to change.

Chiara spent the afternoon reading. Book after book flew through her hands. Facal had never heard of anyone going through so many books at such a pace. If she was absorbing the information, this young woman could take her test the next morning.

After many books Gliocas returned, he was to escort Chiara to her room for the night.

‘But, what about Karmen? She’s probably frantic by now.’ The muscular girl questioned her new friend.

A burst of flames appeared in front of her. There in a matter of moments flew the Phoenix that had been leading her and Karmen on this insane journey.

‘Do you have any idea how hard it has been to find you? I came back only to find you missing! Then when I finally find that other one, she’s unconscious and no one wanted to tell me where you were. Oh, hello Gliocas. Do you know what kind of trouble we’d all be in if something happened to you?’

‘Yada yada, yada. Anything new to add to your rant, it’s got old real fast.’ Chiara goaded the figure.

‘Do not tempt me right now young one. I already have enough to deal with. That impulsive brat tried to follow you and almost killed herself. And since I know you can’t change either, you both almost destroyed everything!’ The mythical bird seethed as he flew in front of the girl.

Chiara rolled her eyes but refrained from further comment. Gliocas watched the exchange with fascination. He had never heard of anyone talking to the Great Phoenix that way. He was a figure to be respected and it appeared as though the girl had little for the bird.

The Phoenix glared as best he could then flew in front of Gliocas.

‘Please see that she doesn't do anything stupid… again. And you,’ The orange-red bird said as he flew back to Chiara, ‘Hurry as fast as you can. We need to get to Raon.’

With another burst of flames the Phoenix was gone.

By mid morning a group had assembled to watch the girl attempt her transformations.

~This doesn’t make sense. How could one being have more than one form? Aren’t Dragons supposed to be dangerous? Does that make me dangerous? ~ Chiara’s thoughts were swirling around so fast she was barely paying attention.

Gliocas tired of his newest pupil’s inattention. A younger member of the crowd stepped up and tried what her brother had done to her when she couldn’t transform. She stomped with all her might on Chiara’s toes.

As expected, Chiara cursed loudly and turned to see where the imp had taken off to, only to realize the crowd was cheering and much smaller than they had been a moment ago.

She recognized Gliocas’ voice in her mind, ~well done, young one. Now go out of the city, through the gates back into the ocean, it is time you learned about your other half. Remember also, you can not justly rule what you don’t understand. ~

Chiara spent her time swimming and getting accustomed to being able to breathe under the water.

~That little pain in the toes is going to be in so much trouble when I get back. Help or not that HURT! ~ She continued to move through the water, ~ This is freedom! Moving! Whichever way I choose! ~

Remembering what Gliocas had told her, Chiara began to dive further and further downward.

~What could it be? He said the form depended on me. Big help that was. ~

A creature blocked her path. ‘What do you seek?’

She swallowed, Gliocas hadn’t mentioned any obstacles. ‘Gliocas sent me.’

‘What do you seek?’ the creature repeated.

‘I seek the item that I need to pass the test. I’m to rule the Water Clan.’

‘Your arrival was aforementioned, if indeed you are the ruler we await. First you must finish your decent to the ocean floor. Look for that which does not belong.’

Chiara, puzzled by the message, continued on her way. The floor loomed out of the darkness. Rocks, plants and sea creatures abounded.

~ Something that doesn’t belong, something that doesn’t belong, what in tarnation could it be? ~ She searched with the rigorousness that her drill instructors had engrained in her. They would be proud of their stellar student.

~When did I drop those? ~ She wondered as her claw grabbed a hold of her dog tags. ~ I don’t remember feeling them fall. ~

The creature appeared. ‘Well done, return to the city, Gliocas awaits you.’

Back in the city again, Chiara was greeted exuberantly by the citizens.

Gliocas restrained his pride. ‘Well done, young one, welcome to our family.’

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