The Centenary Dragon Hunt

The Village

It was a beautiful day. As Rayne got herself and her daughter dressed today. Hoping Lightning will take them to the village for a few hours of fresh air. She was trying to think of the right name for her baby again. Sunny, Anny, Fanny She stopped and looked at her baby again. Hmmm what is your name? She asked out loud.

At the firm, knock on the door. She opened it knowing it was Lightning.

Lightning looked at Rayne and her daughter. He was surprised to see them in matching yellow outfits. He had to admit to himself they were cute and a small part of them wish they were his. “Mine” His dragon spoke up for the first time in a while. He ignored him and went to see who was in her room.

“Who were you talking to?” He could easily hear through the door with his dragon hearing.

“No one” she said, confused.

“I heard you ask someone their name.” he said, walking to the balcony to see if anyone was hiding.

“Oh, I was talking to my daughter. I was asking her. Her name.” She said, a little amused at Lightning's actions. He clearly thought she was talking to another male and seemed jealous. The thought of him being jealous gave her heat a little flutter.

“Oh,” was all Lightning could say. He was embarrassed for acting like a jealous i***t. “Are you ready to go to the village?” Lightning asked, running his hand through his hair.

“Yes. We’re ready” she said, as she slung a baby bag over her shoulder and picked up her daughter.

“We will walk. I think it will be safer with the baby.” he said as he left with Rayne following.

Rayne kept forgetting that Lightning was a dragon. Walking most likely wasn’t as normal as it was for her.

As they stepped out the front door, Rayne had the biggest smile on her face as she felt the breeze. She was ready to explore until she looked down. They were higher up than the trees. The steps inside these were bigger. It was like taking two at a time and they were almost straight down. It would be a very steep descent and one mistake could be the end for her and her daughter.

Lightning could smell Raynes' fear. “What's wrong? I thought you wanted to go to the village.”

“I do. It's just the steps are a lot bigger than what I'm used to and it's really steep. If I have one misstep, that'll be the end of us,” She said as she pulled her daughter closer to her.

Lightning was starting to think flying was a better idea after all. “Here” she said, placing her daughter into his arms without giving him time to protest. He had never held a baby before. “You carry her, and I'll hang on to your elbow. I trust you. I know you won't let us fall.” Rayne said with confidence.

Lightning looked down at the baby in his arms and felt a tug at his heart. She looked like her mother. With dark hair, blue-gray eyes, pale skin, red lips. “Mine” his dragon said again. He looked over at Rayne and said “never”, he said like an oath. He knew at that moment he would give his life for them both.

Lightning had no problem walking down the stairs. They were normal for him. But Raynes' legs were starting to burn and they were only half way down. Why are all the roofs of your village blue and the fire kingdoms red? Do all the Kingdoms have different colors?” She was hoping talking would distract her from her burning legs.

“Yes, our colors are sky-blue and gold. My great-grandfather chose sky- blue because we are the highest kingdom in the dragon realm and gold because our dragons are gold. We almost went to war with the water kingdom over the blue roofs”, he said with a chuckle”, Their dragon is blue and they didn’t think any other kingdom had a right to use it.”

“What happened?” Rayne asked curiously.

“Nothing much. As you can see, we used the color any way. We use sky-blue and gold and they use a deeper blue and white. The Fire Kingdom uses Red. Earth kingdom uses Green. And the frost kingdom uses black and white.”

“I would love to see all of their villages. I bet they're beautiful. Why do the Fire and Earth Kingdom only use one color while the others use two?”

“I don’t know you would have to ask them,” he said as they reached the bottom.

The village was busy with people hurrying in every direction. The ground was a white brick with a gold dragon fountain in the middle. That must be the village square, she thought. There were people making things, like baskets, brooms, and people selling things like fish and vegetables. She could hear metal hitting metal. Rayne assumed that it was a black smith. It's like she stepped back in time. It wasn’t until she saw a tall animal built like a horse but bigger and with horns pulling a cart, that she remembered she hadn't gone back in time but to a different dimension or realm rather. She had to remember to ask Lightning about that sometime.

“Are all these people human?” She asked.

“No, some are humans, some are dragons and a lot of them are half.”

“Half?” She asked.

“Yes, half dragon and half human” he said, looking at the baby once again.

“Oh, here I'll take her back. Thank you for carrying her and helping me down the steps.” She said as she reached for the baby.

“I’ve got her. I wouldn’t want you to trip on the uneven ground” he said.

Rayne looked at the ground. It looked quite even to her.

After an hour of walking around, Lighting had introduced her to most of the villagers. Some had small problems he was able to fix there. A few had problems he would have to address at a later time. Luckily, Rayne brought pin and paper and was able to write everything down, so he didn’t have to remember everything. Most everyone was happy enough to just say hi. Rayne seemed to be getting along with everyone and everyone seemed to like her as well.

The more he saw how well she fit in. The more he wanted her, “Mine” his dragon said once again. Ones dragon was supposed to know their mate just by scent. Why has it taken his dragon so long to speak up? Perhaps his dragon had been talking this whole time but he had just been too busy with work to hear him. Apart from the hunt, this is the first time he has taken anytime off since his dad passed away.

“It's about time for her feeding” Rayne said.

“Right this way” he said, putting his hand on the small of her back and leading her to a shaded spot on top of a hill. The hill was far away enough so they had privacy. It was a beautiful spot. They could see the whole village with the castle in the background.

“Thank you for bringing us here, it's beautiful.” Rayne said, taking a seat under a tree and holding her hands out for the baby. “It's one of my favorite places” he said as he carefully placed the baby into her arms and turned around to give her some privacy.

“ OK, you can turn around now. Come have a seat” she said, patting a spot next to her. Lightning took the spot next her. The baby was safely under the scarf eating. It seemed like a good spot to be.

“I really like it here. I wish I could stay”, Rayne said. She didn’t mean to say that out loud, but she meant it. Apart from his family and all the stares. She really liked it here. Lightning took Raynes' free hand into his and looked deeply into her eyes before saying “Rayne I would like...”

“I thought I would find you two here” Thunder said. In his normal playfulness. They were too busy staring at each other that they didn’t even notice him walking up. “Lunch time?” he asked as he pointed to the baby under the scarf as he took a seat on Raynes other side.

Lightning gave Thunder a fierce growl that would make anyone jump. “ Ups my bad, I'll just set” Thunder moved next to Lightning “here, how's this big brother?” Thunder asked with a smile.

Rayne looked confused. She wondered why Lightning was acting that way and what he was about to say. It seemed like they were having a moment.

“I was going to visit the Earth kingdom tomorrow and I was wondering if you would like to join me?” Thunder said as he leaned forward so he could see Rayne around Lightning.

“Why are you going to the Earth kingdom?” Lightning growled, knowing there was only one reason for Thunder to venture underground to the Earth Kingdom. He was going to get a diamond or some other jewel that the Earth Kingdom was famous for and, the only reason he would need a jewel was to say sorry to a girl.

“Just a little light shopping,” said Thunder.

Before, Lightning was able to object to Rayne going anywhere without him. The ground started to shake. Lightning was on his feet and had Rayne and the baby in his arms before she knew what was happening. When she looked at where she was sitting, she saw a large hole like the one she fell through on the day of the hunt.

“ What's happing?” a scared Rayne asked as she hung on to her baby and Lightning even harder.

“It's the horde” Lightning said in a grave tone. He turned to Thunder. “Take them to the castle. Don’t stop until they are safe inside.” he growled.

Without a word, Thunder carefully tucked the baby into his arms like a glass football and threw Rayne over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

Before he took off running, she screamed as six large beastly looking men surrounded them. The men were mixed matched. The only thing they had in common with each other was that their skin was an ashy gray color and very pronounced features. Like big ears, nose, chin, forehead and large fangs. Most were taller than human men, some were built like a spartan with horns coming out of their heads. Others were rounder with tusks coming out of their large noses. The one who seemed to be the leader was the only one with wings.

They were surrounded and outnumbered. “Lightning, I need a door” Thunder said in the most serious tone.

Before Thunder could say anymore, Lightning tackled the leader that was standing between them and the castle.

Thunder took off faster than Rayne could ever imagine possible. They all jumped on Lightning as soon as they ran through the circle except one who was chasing them. A tall spartan looking one who was most likely second in command if they went by size.

“No!” Rayne yelled “We can't leave him!” She was afraid that was the last time she would ever see him again. Until she saw a large golden dragon emerge from the chaos, dwarfing them all. He seemed to be winning. The dragon let out a rower and a ball of fire into the sky.

Thunder didn't say anything, just kept running toward the village. The one chasing them was getting closer. Thunder had his hands full and couldn’t do anything but run. Rayne saw a large dagger on Thunder's hip and grabbed it. If this one got too close, she was going to stab him. There was no way she was letting him anywhere near her daughter.

As the beastly man leaped at them as they crossed the line into town. Rayne raised the dagger and stabbed him in the eye. The man fell to the ground with an agonizing scream. She lost sight of him as he was immediately surrounded by men from the village.

The next thing she knew, she was being put down in the castle and her daughter was being placed in her arms. She didn’t remember going up the stairs. She felt as if she was in a haze.

“Get her to her room”, Thunder yelled fiercely.

Thunder ran out of the castle and leapt into the air, changing into his dragon form, letting out a rower into the air. As he flew back in the direction they came from. Before, the huge double doors were shut. She saw dozens of dragons in the sky of every shade of gold.

Rayne turned to see who was gently pulling on her arm. She didn’t want to go anywhere, she wanted to wait for Lightning. She had to see for herself that he was okay. Somehow, along the way, she came to care for him. She wasn't sure when it started but it probably had to do with him saving her all the time.

“Come on Rayne, we need to get you to your room right away,” Mouse said in a gentle but stern tone.