Long ago, humans used to travel and scather through the lands. They killed and ate animals that littered the grassy lands. They feared nothing as they felt like the dominant species of the planet. Nothing could scare a human, who would even challenge such a powerful species? Well, one day while the humans were gathering supplies in the mountains. They uncovered something that would change the way we hunted. A large reptile, a tail that could wrap around a tree and yank it out of the ground, it was dark gray all over, with bright yellow eyes, two pointy and sharp horns on its head. It was a dragon, the first of its kind ever discovered by humanity.
The humans attempted to capture the large beast to study it. However, the dragon protested and killed everyone besides one. He would escape from the mountains and return with the tale of the mysterious dragon in the mountains. People at first didn’t believe him, but they demanded to see the creature. Preparing them with spears, swords and shields with the strongest metals they could find. When they got up to the mountain to face the creature. They were quickly surprised to see that more than one dragon appeared.
This attempted to attack on the dragons, and the now discovered new beast terrified the humans. They would quickly run from their attempted attack, but at the cost of many lives. The humans started to find ways to attack and defeat the large creatures with weapons. However, the creatures had fire breathing, ice breathing, and even venom that made them struggle to fight with ease. Despite the humans continuously learning from the dragons, they never once discovered that they were intelligent creatures that could speak. Nor could any human understand how the dragons spoke, which made them begin to believe that they were nothing but animals.
While the humans started to spread out their cities and civilizations into much safer areas that couldn’t be touched by dragons. Villages and towns that weren’t safe from the large creatures burned down. Not even the dragons believed that the little apes were as intelligent as them. Nor did they ever attempt to learn from the little creatures. Despite neither understanding each other, humans declared war on the dragons. Starting to send out large parties of men with powerful weapons to kill dragons one by one.
This long standing war would only cost the humans lives and territory. Losing many towns and villages, before eventually they were required to hide from the large lizards. They began using tactics to hide their small palaces and cities from the dragons. Allowing any travelers to come in and hide with safety. Dragons didn’t dare attack these places even when they found them. Attempting to attack them or capture any human, only resulting in them getting pummeled by spears and sharp objects and killing them with ease.
Dragons started to notice the threat of these areas, and began avoiding them. Cautioning other dragons from approaching them. This was the slightest bit of proof that humans had similar intelligence to the dragons. However, there were many dragons who didn’t believe this. They continued to swoop down and snatch small humans whenever they could find them at their most vulnerable. Humans only grow smarter and stronger as they find new ways to attack the reptiles. A new war was approaching, but expected to be much different to the ones in the past.
Scientists within the human civilizations experimented with hand based projectile weapons and bombs. Capable of obliterating the entire face of a dragon within seconds of impacting. This sort of technology was revolutionary and could change the world forever. This was the ticket to bringing back their planet and becoming the dominant species once more. The dragons nearly made them extinct all those years ago, now it was time for the humans to do the same. This time, the humans were ready for this new war. This time, they won’t stop until every last dragon is annihilated from the face of the planet.
At least, that was supposed to happen anyway. Unfortunately, the ruler of one of these towns was shocked to see that his own daughter disappeared. The last time he had heard from her, was a fight they both had. He wanted to finally initiate the first attack against the dragons. However, he didn’t want to do it without his daughter. However, the fight occurred when his own daughter protested against fighting the dragons. She always believed something was off about the dragons. Though, her father never paid much attention to her, or listened to what she was mumbling about.
She screamed at him with a serious and frustrated tone, “I will go out there, find a dragon and raise him and bring him back harmless, and I’ll show you who the real monster was.” Worried about his daughter, he decided to guard her with several guards by her door. Consistently checking the peephole on the door to ensure she didn’t disappear. In the middle of the night, she decided to open the window of the room and leave with her blanket tied together to create a rope. Using it to rope down the window of her room and down to the ground. When the guards checked through the peephole again when they heard nothing but silence, they were too late.
She vanished into the night with only her average clothes and a piece of bread. Hoping she could find food somewhere within the forest along the way. As expected, the father was blooming with rage. He wasn’t angry at the guards, but he still acted as though it was their fault. He attempted to send out search parties around the forest, only to come empty handed. They had no idea where she went off to, or if she’ll ever come back. Although, the father and ruler of the town was left with the words of his daughter lingering inside his mind. The words of what she was planning on doing stuck with him.
He was tempted to start the attack against the dragons. He was even more furious than he was previously, believing that his own daughter is now eaten. There was nothing he could do about it, other than to take vengeance. But would that be what his own daughter would’ve wanted? Knowing her, that’s definitely a hard no. What else was he supposed to do? Wait until she comes back? What if she doesn’t and was dead already and he had wasted all that time not attacking? Years would pass without any word from him.
Eventually, he would emerge at the twentieth meeting since he vanished. Despite their expressions of shock, believing that he died. They were relieved to see him finally after so many months. They didn’t want to attack the dragons with the new technology and weapons without him. The meeting would begin with the declarations of starting their war. Finally, after many months of waiting he would raise his hand amongst the other rulers of their own cities. In that meeting, he would officially sworn in his declaration of war against the dragons.
Azie
(Five year prior to the uprising war)
She finally left the palace that her father had kept her in. She knows her father didn’t want her to, and believed that she was being hysterical. Though, that’s not what she believed. She didn’t want her father to do terrible things to these large creatures. Never again will humans run in fear from them. Never again will the humans kill them, thinking that they are just animals. Sure, humans don’t eat dragons because it’s mostly disgusting. Sometimes, humans don’t do it because they have a lingering guilt inside them.
Azie didn’t fear dragons or what they could do to her tiny body. She always speculated that the beasts were different somehow. She had seen it many times in dragons, sometimes it was fear, sometimes it was sadness, and other times it was rage. It usually depended on the dragon tied up and thrown in cages. They usually don’t do that to the poor creatures. Her father, on the other hand, did that whenever he had the chance. He usually only does it to study what powers they can do.
Trapping them wasn’t easy, especially when the fire breathing dragons can just melt through whatever they used. Luckily, after many years of learning about them. The scientists found ways to keep them perfectly locked in cages without them escaping. Azie can tell just on the faces of the dragons how terrified they are that their powers didn’t do anything. She wanted to help them escape and release them back into the wild. Her father always complained how she was “too soft” for the big creatures. Maybe she was! But that wasn’t a bad thing, it meant she knew something that her father refused to see in them.
She was going to prove that she wasn’t wrong. To do that though, required finding a dragon that won’t eat her without hesitation. But how will I be able to do that? She thought to herself idly as she looked into a pond. She saw her own reflection in the pond staring back at her. She wondered if she was wrong about doing this. If this was going to get her killed. The only way she can know for sure is going for it. She doesn’t have a plan right now, but she might eventually think of one. Maybe once she settles down and makes her own little hut to stay inside. Once she found food and reliable water sources, and ways to keep herself cleaned.
It was going to be hard doing that last one. She wasn’t going to give up though. She needed to do this, even if it’ll kill her in the end. As long as she can prove to herself that she was right, that’s all that mattered. If she can’t prove it to her father, then fine. She doesn’t need him, but it wouldn’t hurt her to try and make him stop a war on the dragons. If it could save lives from dying in such a dangerous war, then that’ll definitely change a lot.
She continued her way through the forest, cautiously looking around her to ensure no large creatures would attempt to kill her. She didn’t have any weapons, but why should she? She didn’t want to pose a threat to them. That would ruin her entire goal of trying to make peace with the large beasts. The thing was, she didn’t need a sharp object for the beasts. What she really needed one for, was to cut through the thick leaves and branches in her way. It was really difficult getting through it all, and she feels like she might touch something poisonous. She can problem scrape off a tip of a branch to make it a spear. Even then though, it wouldn’t really be great for cutting through.
Her consciousness returned back to her body as soon as she stepped into a clearing within the forest. This time, it was a long river with very harsh water flowing through. If she wasn’t careful, she could be swept by the stream and drown. She looked around her surroundings, until she found a large and sturdy tree lying across the river. She rushes over to it carefully and cautiously, watching her step. Then, begins to cross the fallen tree slowly, with one foot ahead, and one behind. She balanced herself across the tree, until she reached the other side. Jumping into the tall grass on the other side of the river.
“Aha!” She cheered out loud with excitement and a feeling of achievement. My father was wrong about me not surviving out here. I can do this easily with no problem. That’s when she heard something ahead, instantly making her pause. She instantly regretted making a loud noise. She didn’t even know what else was in this forest. She would have woken up a large dragon somewhere nearby. So stupid! She thought to herself as she began slowly approaching the source of the noise.
That’s when she stumbled up to a nest. Three eggs were inside the nest, they looked peaceful and warm. Azie didn’t see any mother or father dragon nearby. Though, she suspected they were going to return sometime soon. She was about to start crossing the nest to the other side. Until she heard the flapping of wings above. Though, the rhythm appeared to be from two dragons instead of one. She looked up and noticed that it came from two dragons that appeared to be of the same species. Both had green scales, small light blue spots all over their body, and small little gems on their cheeks.
They were facing each other and grunting and growling at each other with expressions of frustration. She couldn’t see much else other than that, but she hid behind a tree. Not wanting to be spotted by either of them. As she heard them continue to growl and grunt, she eventually felt one of them pushed the other down to their back in rage. She turned and crooked her head to see what was happening. That’s when she realized that they were fighting each other. The one on top was using its claws to pierce the others scales and neck.
Azie watched the one on the bottom struggling to get the other off. It didn’t appear that she was trying to fight, but was still using her claws to scratch the other. As Azie observed the two of them, she came to the realization that the one on top was a male and the other was a female. Were they the parents of the children? If so, why were they fighting? Maybe this was a dragon way of parents fighting over their children. Azie knew that her father and mother did that a lot, even since she was a kid. This made Azie feel terrible as her eyes locked onto the three eggs.
Whatever the fighting was about, she didn’t want to be caught in the middle of it. She cautiously approached the three eggs, which weren’t even that large compared to her body. All three were as tall as from her feet to her ankles. Considering she was five foot, eleven inches. It was pretty average size eggs from dragons if she ever saw them. She crouched down behind the eggs and watched the parents fighting each other. Though, even though the mother was desperately trying to get the father up. He was being very forceful and violent, almost like he was trying to kill her. Azie’s parents would never murder one another for their children, even if it was important.
Eventually, the male dragon reached its entire jaw over the mothers neck and bit with extreme force into her scales. That told Azie everything that she needed to leave immediately. However, she looked down at one of the three eggs and felt guilty. The mother didn’t want to fight back against the father. That meant, the father was a terrible father figure for these little dragons. She decided that she was going to take one of them with her. She used all her might to pick one of the eggs up, and begin sprinting from the nest.
Luckily, not far from the nest was a fallen tree. She rushed over to it and hid behind it, clutching the egg in her hands tightly. She placed the egg beside her and turned around back to the nest. Where she noticed that the father dragon hadn’t even turned toward her direction yet. He was still clawing at the mother dragon, poking her corpse in an attempt to see if she was truly dead. When he realized she was, he turned around, facing the nest and approaching it. He lowered his nose down to the eggs and began sniffing them. Until eventually, he roared loudly into the air above. Azie put her hands up to her ears and covered them. She didn’t look away though, but she should’ve once the male dragon did something next.
He opened his mouth out wide with his teeth poking out sharply. His talons lift up into the air and begin to slash at the eggs. Breaking the shell, before killing the little hatchlings inside. The scene made Azie crotch behind the fallen tree and look away, not wanting to watch anymore. What in all that is holy?! Why was he killing his own young? What kind of sick father is he? Silence fell finally, and she heard the father dragon shuffle a little. She finally turned and looked out toward the nest once more. She noticed that he was now sitting and staring down at his eggs.
Although, it wasn’t the look of anger or fear. Instead, it was the face of a dragon who felt guilty and deeply sad. It was like he didn’t want to kill his younglings, but at the same time, it had to. Was he forced to do that? But why? The face of the dragon was enough to make Azie feel weird. She couldn’t explain this weird feeling. The father dragon continued to stare down at the dead children for a long while in silence. That’s when Azie noticed another thing that was off about his face. She saw a tear fall down his cheek. It was easy to miss, but she was able to catch it just in time before he looked up into the air and flew off.
This! She thought to herself in both excitement and also guilt. This scene just by itself proved to her that there were deeper emotions in the dragons. Whether what had happened here was ethical or unethical didn’t matter now. They were already far gone by now. She turned toward the egg beside her. Luckily, she had one of the eggs that was going to be destroyed by their own father. She might’ve not been able to save all of them. But she did save one, and that’s all that mattered. She didn’t know if the father would come back for it. Do they have the ability to trace their scent? If so, was she in danger of keeping the egg?
She wasn’t going to take the chance of leaving a little guy to die. Especially from its own father. She picks up the egg, keeping it close to her chest as she begins to hurry out of the area. She didn’t dare look back, not wanting to see what she was leaving behind, nor remembering the dead little dragons. She just wanted to get out of there before the father dragon decides to come back and kill the little one. She held the egg tightly in her chest. She didn’t dare let it go, and kept it very warm in her grasp.
Her feet and legs were beginning to hurt and cramp as she got to the edge of the forest. She could see far and wide across the field of grass. In the far distance, she noticed dragons flying around. Though, none of them appeared to be approaching her direction. She decided that it wasn’t safe to go any further than here. The trees kept her safe from any predators above that might swoop down and kill her. The sun also appeared to be setting from over a mountain in the distance. It was probably best to get some food and rest before deciding what to do next.
With the egg still in her arms, she marched back into the forest. Just deep that she wasn’t easily spotted from anything outside that might peak in. When she found a good flat spot to rest at. She first begins using nearby leaves, branches and grass to hide the egg. It wasn’t too difficult, as she eventually made a comfortable spot to keep the egg in. Then, she started focusing on her own survival. First was food, then making shelter. She can only think of one kind of shelter that might work for now. It would have to be an old style wood hut.
She caught herself a fish, made a pile of branches and wood, then used rocks to create a fire. Creating a fire wasn’t entirely easy, but she managed to figure it out. Then, she makes a simple contraption to allow herself to roast the food above the fire. This took until the sun finally fell over the horizon. The moon was over her head, hearing the night critters beginning to come out. She was exhausted, and ready to fall asleep. The warmth of the fire from the drop in temperature of the night kept her comfy. Instead of creating a hut due to there not being any straw nearby. She decides to use logs as a way to allow herself to sleep.
It wasn’t a comfy way of sleeping, but it worked for now. She yawned and stretched as she laid on top of the log. Resting her head on one end, and letting her feet rest on the other. It took a bit before her body was just comfortable enough to allow herself to pass out. She closed her eyes, staring at the egg that was hidden in leaves and branches to hide it. As her body relaxed, she felt her mind drift off into dreamworld.
Azie
The next few days were mostly relaxing days, and hoping to watch the egg possibly hatch. It was taking longer than she expected, but she hoped it was soon. She didn’t want to keep carrying the egg everywhere she went. It would be too risky and tiring to do that. Instead of exploring more while taking the egg. She decided that the current spot was good enough for her and the egg. She would always go out and hunt for food, drink from a nearby river not far. Then, return to the camp with relief that the egg was still there unharmed. Ever since she took it from the nest, away from the violent father. She knew that she couldn’t leave it there to be killed.
Those memories still haunt her in her dreams, even though it’s been five days since it happened. She wanted to go back and see if the corpses were still there. Though, she knew it was going to make her sick to see them rotting. She tried to stay away from the nest and focus on her own survival and the safety of the egg. Today was meant to be just that, a regular survival day in the woods alone. That’s when she heard the egg shake and make a CRACK noise. She lifted her head up to the egg and noticed a crack forming on the top.
This was it! She thought to herself, staring at the egg from the log she used to sleep on. She got onto her knees and lowered herself, watching the egg carefully. She didn’t know how big the dragon would be once it was out. Though, she wanted to prepare herself in case it tried to kill her. Even though she didn’t have weapons, she was still sure that it wouldn’t kill her. It will try and search for the nearest thing to call as its parents. That should be me if it notices me. Several minutes passed, before the egg started to make more cracking noises. The crack started to form more down the egg.
Azie noticed little claws poking through the egg shell. It was trying to pull it apart to let itself free. She continued to watch from behind the log, still on her knees. Eventually, within ten minutes of watching the egg break open from the little baby dragon. The egg burst open in half and the baby dragon caught itself on the grass. She saw the wings flutter behind it. The baby dragon was pale green all over its body, small spots of blue here and there, its tail was green and lighter green from the top and bottom. It looked just like the parents, only younger and slightly different.
She watched it look around in an expression of excitement and curiosity. It sniffed the air, its eyes half open. The baby dragon wasn’t ginormous, she could probably let it sit on her shoulders. Though, that heavily depended if the dragon was light enough. In all honesty as she stared and examined the baby dragon, it was the most adorable thing she’s ever seen. Slowly and cautiously, Azie stood up from behind the log. Stepping over it and slowly approaching the little critter. Its eyes noticed her as she slowly approached. It didn’t show its teeth in hostility or fled away from her.
Instead, something unexpected appeared on its face. The facial expression of the dragon was happy or excited to see her in front of it. At first Azie couldn’t tell what gender the dragon was. Though, as she examined the face and the eyes of the dragon. It appeared to be a female dragon, and was returning the look back at Azie with a harmless face. Azie crouched down, one knee in front and reaching out her hand forward. The small dragon approached Azie in curiosity, sniffing into her palm gently, but also a little pushy. Her snout pushed up against her hand several times.
Then, Azie rotated it up right like she was about to touch her snout. She hesitated for a second as I approached it, but eventually gave in. The nose pressed up against the hand and closed her eyes, breathing out a sigh of relief. Oh my goodness! Azie thought to herself in astonishment, her face showing pure excitement and happiness. Does this mean she won’t kill me? Is this a way of her saying that she accepts me? Azie thought to herself as she smiled brightly at the creature. She noticed the baby dragon doing the same, which made Azie feel warm inside. It’s smiling! She cheered in her thoughts. This is honestly the most adorable moment I’ve ever seen.
Finally, Azie pulled her hand away from the dragon's nose. She was still smiling widely at her, which the dragon was doing the same. It opened its eyes and looked into Azie’s, raising an eyebrow at Azie. Then, she finally started to growl and make noises from her lips. Azie couldn’t understand it, but she believed it was the dragon asking for food. Luckily for Azie, she had some cooked fish in a small wooden basket she made the day before. It wasn’t the sturdiest or most stable basket in the world. Though, it worked greatly with keeping her food somewhere.
She takes one of the fish out, still toasted and ready to be eaten. The baby dragon looked down at her hand with the fish. Though, Azie was surprised to notice that she shook her head with a disgusted face. “Oh!” Azie said out loud with a surprise. “No fish?” She put the fish back into the basket and faced her. “Then, what would you like?” The baby dragon titled its head in slight confusion. Oh right, dragons don’t understand us. Well, for this one maybe not yet. Azie then got an idea, “Nom nom.” She tried making pretend food noises, then shrugged. Showing the baby dragon she was wondering what it would like.
Surprisingly to Azie, it understood her and started looking around itself. Then, she pounced over to a bush that had berries on it. It turned to look back to Azie, who now knew that this type of dragon was herbivore. That’s great news to me! She thought to herself in relief. That means I don’t have to worry about being eaten tomorrow. Azie helped pick out the cherries and gave them to the baby dragon. After several minutes of helping to feed it, she eventually yawned with a cute squeak and roar. Before eventually hopping on top of Azie’s shoulder and wrapping its tail around the front of her neck, its nose nuzzling into the side of her neck. Then, she felt the baby dragon beginning to doze off to sleep. Just like any other baby, they only eat and sleep.
Azie patted on top of the little one's head, before beginning to eat fish from the basket. Now that the baby is out of the egg, she can finally start traveling again. She waited long enough for the egg to hatch. Which means, it was time to start exploring out into the world. She didn’t know where she was going exactly, but she wanted to find a place where she could stay peacefully. Maybe, alongside the dragon as well to try and understand it. Once she is done with that, she can return back home with the little critter and show what she found to her father. Which reminded her, what name she should give the little thing.
Since it was a female dragon, living in the forest, that means she should give the little thing a name related to that. After several minutes of thinking to herself, she eventually came up with a brilliant name. She turned her head toward the little critter still wrapped around her neck. She scratched and petted it a little as she whispered down to it. “How about I call you Rosie.” She said with a smile down to it. The small dragon responded with a little dragon noise. She still couldn’t understand it, but maybe she can teach it.
She packed up whatever she needed from the campsite, then started walking away. The little dragon was still fast asleep, so Azie ensured to not wake the little thing. As she approached the wide grassy plain lands. She felt a little worried about going into a risky land. However, what else was she supposed to do? Just sit here and do nothing? No, she needed to find ways to more properly learn about understanding Rosie. Even if she could find a way to teach it and learn it. She wouldn’t be able to write down notes or survive on nothing but a log and a fire. No, she needed to get more supplies to increase her chance of survival.
She hesitated as she stared out into the distance from the outskirts of the forest. Then, she pressed her foot down into the grassy plains and pulled herself into the clearing. Then, she begins to march into the field. She didn’t know where she should go next, but she hoped it was a safe haven to gather supplies. Wherever it was, and whoever was running it at least. She just hoped it wouldn’t take too long to get there. She pats Rosie on the head gently and comfortingly. Don’t worry Rosie, you are safe with me.
Traveling across the land became exhausting, Rosie had to constantly hide Azie under her wings. It's incredible that no dragon swooped down and tried capturing or eating either of them. It's been about a week of traveling and Azie was beginning to teach Azie how to speak her language. She can tell that Rosie was slowly getting the hang of it, but had much to learn. Also apparently the dragon language comes naturally in their species. Which means that once Rosie learns Azie's language, she can return the favor of teaching Azie next. The teacher becomes the student they always say.