God...What happened? My ears were still ringing after I managed to get on my feet. My legs were a little shaky but I attempted to be steady. I was shaking my head trying to make it stop. After a second the noise finally went away, and everything became clear again.

What's going on here?

It...It sounded like there was an explosion.

Then I spun around, seeing to my shock and surprise that there were some flames on the ground and on a few tree limbs, and a large depression left in the ground. I cried, "What's happening?" That was when I paid mind to those other sort of sounds I heard a second before the explosion happened. The sounds of flapping wings in the sky. I glanced up and gasped in horror. I saw that there are dragons, LOTS of them, flying under the night sky towards the forest and over.

Oh my god!

Dragons! Those are dragons!

I was now hearing a few other eruptions, but this time deeper in the woods that I came from. My eyes were filled with terror when I shot them towards the tree. A pit was formed in my stomach when I realized why they are here.

Oh no...

The village...THE VILLAGE IS UNDER ATTACK!

Everybody is still sleeping, I need to get back!

I looked around the ground, seeing my bag that was filled with clothing and apples at first, and then found my dad's sword that I had dropped upon crashing into the ground. I ran and grabbed hold the handle. I then faced the forest under attack. I was about to run in there, but hesitated. Are you crazy, Dart? You wanna run TOWARDS the danger? They're dragons! You can't possibly fight them and win! You never fought one in your life! You aren't totally trained for this yet!

YOU'LL DIE!

I groaned to myself, fighting mentally against my reluctance. But I have to try! Everyone else needs my help! And dad needs to have his sword back!

But if he gets this weapon, where will you get one?! I put on a brave look. I'll just find one at the blacksmith's! I gotta get back home!

With that resolve, gripping the sword tightly in my hand, I darted over the flames and hole then back through the treeline. I was sprinting past shrubs and bark on the same trail I used to get out of here, using all the strength in my legs to get back as fast as possible.

I was probably halfway back home when something big came crashing through the canopy a few feet beside me off the trail. I skidded to a stop, screaming loudly. I was frozen still, gaping at the dragon that landed. After shaking the debris off him, the dragon turned and caught me in his sights. It uttered a growl as it advanced towards me. I raised my father's sword, readying for a battle, sweat dripping down my forehead. I gulped, trying so hard not to run.

I can do this...I can do this...

Oh what am I thinking?! I can't do this!!!

When the dragon came out on the trail, it stopped in front of me. It was staring down at me with a growl and a flick of its tail. Looking at it, I was noticing it wasn't extremely big, not too gigantic, not as big and tall as a house, or a tall tree. It wasn't as big as I thought up close, not like how I thought of how big dragons can get whenever I thought about them, especially when I mostly thought about it when I was a kid.

That's not saying much, considering it was still bigger and taller than me, and might easily win this fight I'm about to enter.

I was also certain that wasn't the one dragon that was up close facing me years ago. That thing had red scales...Or maroon, I couldn't exactly tell since this part of the woods didn't have the moon shining down on us and was a bit darker here. But I can tell a little that it was not black as the blackest night. And I was expecting that thing to say one word to me before it kills me, just like that black monster from long ago.

But before it would, or literally do anything for that matter, out of nowhere something the same size of that thing barrelled past me, sending a big whoosh of air at me, and ram headfirst right into it!

I sucked in a surprised breath. What the-?!? Two big figures were rolling back into the woods, roaring, biting and clawing at each other. I realized quickly that was another dragon, the colored scales of that one I couldn't really tell right away, fighting the one that was about to kill me. I glanced back where that other dragon came from, then shot my widened gaze back towards the battling giant lizards. Where did that one come from?!

I guess that one's fighting the other one over me...To see which will kill me first!

Good gods, it's like a competition to them!

I gazed off at the trail leading for my village, then placed my attention onto the dragons once more still fighting each other. I shrugged my shoulders. Well, guess that saves me the trouble!

With that, I dashed away from this little quarrel, en route for my village. Hang on, everyone, I'm coming!

*****

"Oof!" I got kicked in the chest by the opposing drake I was fighting. Least I was sure that was a him. I toppled backwards, banging against a weak tree that broke because of my heavy frame. I landed on my side with a little thud. I was feeling a little bit of pain, probably thanks to some cuts I earned so far from this battle, and I was probably going to be a bit sore too thanks to bumping through that tree.

I quickly got back to my fours and bared fangs at him. He did the same, as we both squared off with our wings flared and tails lashing. We were circling around, I dared not to take my gaze off him. I huffed, my heart pounding hard in my scaly chest. I can't believe I'm fighting another dragon...To protect a human!

I never saved a human before!

Well, this may certainly be my first and only crazy thing I'll do!

Dart certainly owes me one for this...

The drake, a few spots having marks that blended in with his crimson scales, spat angrily, "What are you doing?!"

I merely replied with my tail swishing behind me, "Fighting you, what do you think?"

He growled as he eyed me intently. He said, "I don't know you...You're not with my tribe, and I haven't heard of a dragon living here. Who are you?"

I snarled, "Your worst nightmare."

"MY worst nightmare?" The red scaled drake demanded, "Pah, do you have any idea what you're fighting against? You won't be the only living nightmare in the world! My queen will have your head staked on a pole!"

That sounds disgusting. Who's he going on about? I never heard of a dragon that does that to another. And I never heard of a dragon tribe having a queen before. Tribes don't do that sort of thing, bearing human royalty terms. Truthfully I didn't care. I just snorted in reply, "I don't care about that, nor who you work for, you will not be touching that boy! Not on my watch!"

The drake roared, "Then let's finish this you bitch!" His snout fired flames. I sucked in a breath and leaped out of the way. Then the drake charged afterward, trying to catch me off guard. I reared back on my back feet and slammed talons over his face. But no matter how hard I struck him, he actually swung back so fast even for me, and his claws scraped across my chest. I let out an animalistic cry, then felt the collison of his horns.

They hit me hard and I landed on the ground again with a grunt. But while I was on my back, my blue tail slid in time to take his forelegs out from under him. Red scales fell forward with a frustrated oof. I went up and slashed at one of his wings. He snarled, striking in retaliation. I jerked back, watching some blood oozing from the wounds on his wing membrane. My haunches backed into a larger tree that was bigger than the one I broke through.

My opponent roared and slashed again, this time towards my face. But I dodged so I wouldn't have marks there, and his claws missed me by a mile. They only struck the wooden bark of that tree behind me. But then surprisingly, after I moved a bit, the drake grabbed hold of my head and slammed it against that said tree. I cried in pain, then tried to push back, but he slammed it in the same spot again and has now pinned it against the bark.

But I didn't let it happen for long. I quickly twisted my neck in his grasp and my maw let out some flames. He managed to duck low, backing away and setting me free. I was shutting my eyes tightly, shaking my head as the pain there was throbbing. Damn...Goes to show how long I haven't fought with a dragon. I snapped them open, snarling once again, flaring my wings in a threatening way. I demanded, "Give up?"

His response was to charge at me again. When he was on top of me, I thrashed beneath him. Then I bit into the same shoulder I managed to bite at a few seconds ago. The drake roared when the same pain hit him again. I tried pushing off him, but his paws had ahold of me, and our forms were turned into a ball and we were rolling through the forest again. Our bodies brushed against trees and tumbled through bushes, while we tried to see who will escape this tumble.

But this didn't take forever though, cause as we continued to roll, I caught TWO more dragons showing up from somewhere else to help their companion. They stopped us from tumbling further. I tried fighting them all off with a roar, but all three of them had their claws on me. Now I was on my stomach, my head, form and wings pinned against my will. My tail thumped on the ground, my nose snorted in the dirt, and I was glaring fiercely. I squirmed a bit, but it was futile. I was utterly defeated.

Damn it. This isn't a fair fight at all!

I listened to one dragon that asked, "Who is this?"

The red scaled I fought with responded as he gasped for air, "Don't know...But she's an opposer to the queen. This is a mean one."

Then the former said, "Well...She won't stay mean for long..."

That's when I felt this sharp pain at the back of my head. I moaned, my vision beginning to shroud in darkness. My last thoughts were on Dart.

Well...I hope you escaped...Dart.

*****

I came out of the trees, to find Clear Sight already in utter chaos.

Apparently most of the village was on fire. Several pillars of thick black smoke billowed up towards the canopy. I can hear people screaming inside too, with one horse running out of there for its life. It was neighing as it ran over the river in desperation, then rushing for the trees. Looking at everything from a distance, it was like watching Sapwood burn all over again...Only it's within a forest this time around. Memories of that time flowed through my head. I was feeling like I was that frightened child again.

A bunch of questions were running rampant in there too while I still watched everything unfold. I don't understand it. How did they find us? There's no way those things could've found the village! It's supposed to be well hidden!

How?

But I didn't have time to think up any answers. I gotta get back into the village. I held up the sword a bit and looked down on it. My hand gripped the hilt tightly, as I was feeling determined. I tossed my gaze back at the burning village, sighing. Right, it's now or never. Here I go!

I finally moved, heading right for the bridge to cross the river. I went in the village through the same spot I went out earlier, feeling the harsh heat coming off the houses as I got close. I saw a few bodies of the villagers I know lying on the ground, but that's probably the beginning. One person was brave enough to sparr against one giant lizard with their sword. A few dragons were chasing a couple helpless victims as they screamed for their lives. Even the poor apple vendor's wagon was set on fire. Everywhere I went, everything I know was definitely up in smoke. And the further I travelled through my home, I can hear some roars and different people yelling here and there.

"Where the hell did they come from?!"

"We're all going to die!!"

"Back you overgrown gecko!"

"RETREAT!!!"

I didn't totally focus on fighting. Rather I was careful of not rushing in a battle, yet, and just making tracks for my house. I know I wanted to help the village fight the dragons, even though I'm afraid I cannnot beat one with the skills I have, but I wanted to get my father's sword back to him as quick as possible, and try to protect my parents on my own end. That is if they were still alive.

I made a mental plea for my folks. Please be all right, please be ok.

I finally came across my house, but just like everything else, it's in flames too. I rushed towards it with worrying eyes. No, no, no! I was kinda thinking that maybe I can run in there and save them, but I think it was too late. The heat blasted against my form when I got super close. I backed off a bit. I hollered at the crackling house, hoping that maybe at least they were alive, "Mom! Dad! Daaaaad!"

But just as I figured...There was no answer.

No...No! I'm too late! I cursed, "Dammit!" I had eyes that were filled with guilt, as tears were threatening to come out of them, as I was watching my whole life crumble in front of me. What have I done?! I didn't stay with them! I didn't protect them!

If I hadn't took that sword, maybe dad could've protected himself and mom!

Damn!!!

But then in my despair, I thought of something. Wait a minute... I started thinking maybe they aren't actually dead. I whirled around, looking around the village under destruction, breathing heavily and holding down the tears with hope on my face. They must be alive. Maybe they got out of the house in time before it burned to the ground. I know dad especially wouldn't go down like that so easily. I think he could protect mom anyways without his sword. Besides, there are other swords in the village he could grab.

I was hoping so anyway.

Oh guys, please be alive.

My chest let out a gasp when I thought of someone else. Heather! With her face on my mind, I dashed for her house. I wasn't really expecting it to still be fine and still standing, but I guess I wanted to see if she was near the place, crying her eyes out, with her dad lying on the ground, with a dragon coming up to her in a threatening way. And I still had to find my parents too. I wasn't going to find them if I stood around doing nothing.

Oh Heather, I hope you're not dead either!

I hope none of you are dead!

As I expected, her house was on fire too. I tried to search for Heather with my eyes, either alive and well or dead. But I didn't find her, come to think of it I didn't see her father either.

Where are they?

I jogged, thinking about getting closer so I can be more thorough in my search. But when I got too close to the house, a dragon with green colored scales came out from between two houses and blocked my way. Its frame stood tall and its wings flared up, glaring at me. I froze still in place. Shoot!

The dragon spoke to me in a male's voice, "Where do you think you're going?"

Instinctively, I growled through my teeth and raised my dad's sword I still had with me.

That thing laughed in a mocking way, like Gunther would. He taunted, "What are you going to do with that, you weak little wimp?" I just glared despite my fears. I'm not a weak little wimp!

Even though I feel like one right now.

He advanced towards me a bit, I took a couple steps back. But I cried when something took me out from under me. I landed on my back with a grunt. I saw while laying on the ground that there was another dragon, this time with dark blue scales, that had snuck up behind me, and must've used his tail to take me down. Both those vile creatures were laughing at me.

I formed a defiant glare. This really felt like the same crap I had to put up with Gunther...And I was already having enough of it. I yelled, getting up quickly off the ground, "All right, THAT'S IT!!"

I spun for the dragon behind me, and swung that weapon really hard with a loud cry.

The blade cut at his shoulder and the creature hissed.

My eyes went wide at my action. Geez, what did I just do!? Won't dad be proud!

The blue dragon shot me a daggered look. Then I remembered that I was fighting with two dragons, alone. This was worse than fighting just one dragon. There was certainly no way I could fight them like this. I'll be beaten in less than a second. I wanted to help the village, but I don't think I can help anybody when I'm dead. I'm sure dad would think the same way.

I better get outta here.

With that thought I immediately turned back to run. I did know that the green dragon that taunted me before was still there, but I caught him off guard by making a jump and roll forward once on the ground and then started crawling under him. The top of my head and back brushed along his underbelly when I heard him let out a surprised 'hey!'. When I quickly reached his haunches and past the base of his tail, that long weapon of his tried to whip at me to stop me from escaping, but I dodged it and kept running.

One of the dragons roared, "Stop him! He cut my fucking shoulder!" I glanced past mine and saw the two dragons giving chase. I sped up, holding my dad's sword as tight as I could. I ran for several feet when one of Gunther's buddies came out of a corner and almost bumped into me. I dodged to his side, twisting my body a bit, and kept running. I looked back again, seeing that guy screaming his head off and being swiped away by one of the chasing dragons immediately. The impact sent him flying, and his body landed a bit ahead of me with a thud, rolling a bit till he lay on his stomach. Before I darted past him, I didn't see his eyes were open. He must be unconscious.

Probably won't be that way for long.

I still ran across the village till I was almost near the horse stables. Of course that place was on fire too, no surprise there. But there were two more dragons, one black and another green, were standing over a body of another villager. I couldn't tell if he was dead or not from here. But I couldn't look at them long cause the black dragon spotted me and yelled, "There's another one! Get him!"

I yelped and went for the other side of the stables. I ran alongside the burning building, directly heading for the other end of the village. If I could get back into those woods and hide somewhere, I should be all right. I looked back once more, watching all four dragons still after me. My eyes went wide again. They're gaining on me! I pushed myself harder. Even though my legs were feeling tired already, I couldn't slow down.

Before I could reach the exit though, ANOTHER dragon that had orange scales landed right in front of me. I screamed, falling on my butt. Oh no! The dragon hissed. I got back up and twisted my neck and found that the other dragons caught up to me. Now they're all around me, ganging up on me in a circle. I was trapped.

Crap...Now what do I do?

I held up the sword with two hands, my attention darting to one dragon to another, seeing which one will make their move first. There was no way out of this. I may die right here now. But I won't go down without a fight. Yes, I was sorta scared but I won't dare show it. I ain't dying that way.

If my family and Heather have all perished, then I will die trying to fight for them.

But if they're not dead...I'm sorry, guys. I'm sorry, mother and father, that I won't see you guys again.

And I'm sorry, Heather...For not telling you how I felt about you...

One of the green dragons told me, "Nowhere left to run, human." They all chuckled together.

I yelled out defiantly, like I was a wee dragon myself, "I'm not afraid of you all!"

I saw one of the two green dragons roll their eyes. He said, "So what? You can't attack all of us."

I dared, "Wanna bet?" I charged at him with a loud cry. This is for EVERYTHING!!!

I swung down the sword, but he backed up and I missed. That dragon taunted, "Missed me!"

I angrily screamed, swinging it over and over but keep missing a scale. You will not make a fool out of me, MONSTER! Then he finally shoved me away with a paw like I was just a worthless fly. I still held my ground, spotting the black one coming up near me. I went for that one, but he maneuvered to the side to dodge my next swing. I let out a sharp groan of frustration, but it was quickly replaced with a gasp when he attempted to strike me with his forepaw. I jerked away in time, his claws barely leaving a scratch on me. Ok, don't think all of them is in the mood to play around with me.

When I felt another coming up at my rear end, I spun to swing again. But surprisingly, the head of one with the orange scales swooped down and took me off the ground. I yelped in surprise when my chest and stomach fell on his face, my feet barely touching the ground. My only free hand gripped one of his horns to prevent myself from falling, while the other still had ahold of my father's sword. The orange drake plainly announced in his quiet tone, "Okay...Fun's over."

With those words, before I would react, he shot up his head really fast like and tossed it back hard after it was high in the air. My one-handed grip on the drake's horn didn't help matters much. I was thrown off. I screamed as I was sailing over the dragon's back, flipping a couple times in the air, and letting go the sword. I probably flown a bit till I heard the sword land first with a clang, then I came crashing down to the earth. I rolled a couple times till I came to a stop on my stomach.

Ohhhhhhh... My face was buried in the dirt at first, but I slowly lifted it to see the dragons all coming for me. I moaned when I was starting to feel dizzy, my vision becoming a blur. No...Can't let it end like this...

As the dragons were advancing without taking their eyes off me, I heard one of their voices a meer echo, "Gave us quite the trouble, that little fool."

I let out one final moan, then my head finally collasped.

And everything was black.