I walked into my Animal Science class getting glares from the girls in the 'in' crowd. I rolled my eyes getting a snarky comment in return. I sat in back and got out my Knowbook for the notes that day. The solo I had just gotten in band weighed on my shoulders knowing it was a separate part than the other 1st Clarinets.
"Afternoon Arya. How are you?" The teacher asked. I looked her with a small smile. The teacher had bright, brown eyes, voluminous blonde hair and a sarcastic comment to almost everything.
"Good. Got a solo today." I said raising my eyebrows.
"You don't sound impressed." She stated.
"I don't do well playing alone." I explained. She nodded.
"Maybe you can play it during class for practice." She queried.
"Maybe." I said. She patted my back reassuringly feeling the silkiness of my raven tresses. One reason I was considered the outsider, I had black hair and purple eyes. The other reasons were just because I was weird, talked with a Northern accent since I was from Wisconsin and was a Band Nerd. After class was marching band practice and then I went home hearing the constant belittling of my dad which I usually tuned out knowing it was the same rant as always.
I was sitting on my bed waiting for a text from a friend when a bright flash of piercing white light filled my room. After my eyes readjusted and crawled to the end of my bed taking a ruler from my nightstand. At the foot of my bed was a black stone with light purple veins sprawled across the surface. My mom started yelling at me downstairs wondering what I was doing.
"Nothing! A book fell!" I shouted. I shook my head as I knelt to examine the stone. A dark ring of ash or some other black powder surrounded it. I reached out and touched the egg and pulled back swearing when it was freezing to the touch. I grabbed a blanket to pick it up. From what I felt, it was smooth as if someone spent many years polishing it and shaping it. A thin stream of smoke rose from the surface. I thought I heard a language I didn't recognize fill the room, shouts from people at war and roars of great beasts. I looked up and around my room but found not. I frowned and went back to gazing at the egg. By looking at it I knew a few things; it was old, it was sent here by some supernatural means, and the history could disrupt life in general. I heard my sister start banging on the door yelling at me for god knows what. I quickly hid the stone in my closet under a few comforters leaving the door open a crack and went to see what my sister was babbling about.
That night as I lay in bed I heard squeaking, rattling and shaking in the closet. I had moved it on a shelf laying extra pillows on the ground in case it fell.
"What the hell?" I asked standing. I opened the door and saw the stone shaking violently. Then a crack appeared on the surface and I gasped. This was no stone. It was an egg. But to what? The squeaking increased until the shaking stopped all together. I went to touch the surface when a part of the shell the size of my fist flew off. A moment passed before anything happened. A black figure appeared at the whole in the egg. The creature had a triangular head with brilliant light purple eyes. At the top of the head were to ivory spikes no bigger than my thumbnail, the nose looked like a sail of a ship; curved at the front and curving inward at the back. Pine needle like spines started at the base of the head and I assumed further down the neck. Suddenly the egg broke and I fell back with the shock of the discovery. This wasn't just an egg. It was a dragon's egg. The wings were thin and looked leathery with thin lines passing through them and a hook in the middle. The spines as I predicted went down her neck, ending at the base and resuming in the middle of the back. A hollow spot on her shoulders where someone could sit. I knew what that meant. I had heard of a strange world that was thought to have burned and disappeared. An organization that kept the peace before it all disappeared called the Dragon Riders fell sending the world of theirs into chaos as a cruel king destroyed the land. The dragon looked at me intently as if they knew who I was. Protecting its ears I now noticed was a frill that reminded me of the fins of a fish.
"What are you? Who are you for?" I asked quietly. The dragon growled. "You hungry?" I got up and grabbed an apple I kept in my lunchbox. I split it in half and split it again with my nails. I walked over and handed the creature the slice. It sniffed it and bit it chewing it thoughtfully. The dragon ate all of the slices and the core. I looked at my alarm clock, it was midnight. I groaned. I went to stroke the dragon who recoiled at first but rubbed it's head against mine. An icy but fiery pain overcame me. I struggled to remain quiet to not wake anyone else. When I woke I looked at my left hand, a silvery mark that looked like an 'e' was there.
"Look what you did!" I exclaimed. The dragon squeaked as if they knew what I was saying. I growled and walked back to my bed leaving the door of the closet open already thinking of what I was going to have to do when I was at school.
"Goodnight. I have to go to sleep." I said to the dragon who gave a small roar in protest a fraction I knew of what it would sound like when it was older. "Quiet!" I got under my covers and a moment later the dragon glided to my bed and snuggled against the crook of my arm. I looked at it and smiled. The dragon was no longer than my forearm.
When I got up the next morning, I made sure I had an extra hour or so I could deal with the dragon. No one was up yet so I went outside with a few old towels, rags and pillowcases with the dragon in tow. There was a wooded strip at the edge of the yard. I picked a tree that was at least a foot taller than me and had at least 4 branches that made a fork. I built a hut with a roof, cloth floor and walls to keep away the cold. I set the dragon in the hut.
"Stay. I'll be back later. I promise." I told it. It tilted it's head and spotted a bird lunging after it. I came down a few moments later eating it.
"At least you can hunt." I muttered. I walked away and the dragon didn't seem to notice.
That day I couldn't keep my mind on my work because of the constant worry with the dragon. I had some many questions but I doubted anyone could answer them. Something in Animal Science was weird. A man garbed in navy blue tunic, blue leggings and worn, black boots with a dark blue cape. A blue sword at his side. When class started Mrs. Donaldson introduced him happily as if he were an old friend. He talked of the lost world; Alagaesia. It was not truly gone, just cut off from us unless you were a Rider. I shifted in my seat. Mrs. Donaldson who had taken a seat next to me gave me a look at the corner of her eye. His name was Brom, the name seemed to ring a bell. I could feel an excited tendril of thought from the dragon.
"If you know anyone who has an egg that has or has not hatched, tell them to meet at the old oak a mile from here at 5 today with the egg or dragon. The time of the Riders has come again, I can feel it. I and your teacher will be there." He said After answering half a dozen questions he finally said he trained them for a time then went to another race to finish it. Afterward, he briskly walked out of the room after saying goodbye. After he said that I had a mental war about meeting him there or ignoring it. I couldn't bear the thought of the dragon being killed, it felt to precious. I decided not too in fear of the dragon's life.
When I got home I said I was going for a walk but I went to see the dragon instead. I sat at the base of the tree while she sat next to me. Whether it was listening or not I didn't know.
"I don't know what to do! I want to get trained but I fear for you more than myself." I exclaimed after telling the dragon. I had tried to figure out gender, tried to find names but none were bold and creative. I finally gathered the dragon in my arms and ran to school saying as I was less than a mile away. I would toss the dragon to get it used to flying but no use. Like Brom had said, he and Mrs. Donaldson were waiting at the old oak. Mrs. Donaldson's eyes nearly popped out of her head while Brom praised some unknown god.
"At first I didn't want to come but I decided the questions were to much." I told them.
"The Riders have indeed risen. I sense strength within you. What is your name?" He said.
"Arya." I replied bowing my head slightly. The dragon squeaked so I set her on the ground. Brom knelt down and greeted the dragon who refused to get closer than a few inches.
"How did you get the dragon egg?"Mrs. Donaldson asked trying to have better luck then Brom to get my dragon to sniff her hand. I explained how I found her.
"So she's less than a day old?" Brom asked.
"Yeah." I replied.
"I guess you should know the truth. I am not a teacher, I am but this is cover to help find new Riders." Mrs. Donaldson began. I looked at her the same way she did me earlier. "I am an elf. I use magic to round out my ears and features to go under disguise."
"So you are not human?" I asked. She nodded.
"Correct." She replied. I paced like a caged wolf unsure who to trust since my Animal Science teacher just revealed she's not human but an elf.
"If it would help you believe it is still I then watch." She said. She whispered a few words a language I didn't recognize and her features started to shift. At first she winced and fell to her knees as if they hurt her but then she took deep breaths and stood once more. This time her eyes and eyebrows were angled and her eyes pointed. I swore and backed up but my dragon roared excitedly.
"Now will you trust us?" Brom asked. I thought and nodded after a moment.
"Yeah. I'll trust you." I replied.
"Now, what about those questions?" Mrs. Donaldson asked.
After about 2 hours of asking questions and being answered, I knew more about the Riders and the people I was to trust. Mrs. Donaldson and Brom would teach me here in Hillsborough until they taught me all they were supposed to then I would travel to the elves where I would finish my training.
"When can dragons breath fire?" I asked.
"Around 6 months, also the time they could mate." Brom supplied.
"When will I be able to ride her, or him?" I questioned.
"A few months time. When she can fly on her own in about a month then she can gain strength." Brom answered.
"How do I know if it's a she or a he?"
"Ask her yourself." He said. I looked at the dragon that was asleep on Mrs. Donaldson's shoulder since the dragon had grown quite content with her company. I felt around in my mind looking for the small tendril that I assumed was the dragon's. When I felt it I pursued it. When I finally reached it, the dragon's thoughts felt so alien. I didn't think she was stupid but I didn't expect a mass mind of it's own like an army. There were ancient memories and thoughts that went back many years.
'What are you?' I asked the dragon. 'Are you male?' The dragon shook her head. 'Female then?' The dragon nodded satisfied.
"What about names?" I asked. Brom went through a whole list of dragon names. All of which my dragon didn't like.
"But there is one that I know is it since it's the last. Onyx." Brom added. The dragon snorted her approval.
'You are Onyx.' I said.
'Yes.' Onyx replied. Her voice reverberated through my mind. I felt happy knowing I now knew my dragon's name.
"Will I get a sword like yours?" I asked Brom as my gaze fell to his sword.
"When your training is finished." He replied.
"When do I start?" I asked feeling extremely determined.
"Whenever you are ready.' Mrs. Donaldson replied with a smile.
I walked home with Onyx hiding in the hood of my sweater to avoid being seen. I was now no longer afraid of the dragon that would grow to be bigger than me or any building. I knew I was her Rider and because she choose me. I hummed a tune we were playing in band on the walk home. I left her in her hut knowing it would need to be moved with her growing. The night before her head went to about mid shin, but now it was up to my knee. Her claws shone in the sunset. When I walked in the door my parents began their usual yelling. I was a disgrace, I was useless and so on. I was used to it but then I heard a small roar. I looked behind me and in the window was my dragon. My sister and mom screamed but my dad got his wrist- sling shot.
"You hurt her I will do serious damage." I threatened. I felt someone touch my mind.
'Hang on, I'm coming.' The person said who I recognized as my Animal Science teacher. I told her the address and stood my ground.
"There is a monster outside!" My dad roared.
"The only monster is you!" I yelled. Next thing I knew Mrs. Donaldson was pulling into the driveway and running to the door. She opened it and stepped between my father and I.
"Arya, go outside." She said meeting eyes with my father who was now backing up slowly.
"What the hell are you?!" He yelled.
"Your worst nightmare." She said. "Go grab a bag of clothes and whatever else you will need. You can stay with Brom." I did as she said and came back with my bookbag and a duffle bag full of clothes and whatever else. We got in her car and drove to Brom's. She made me explain everything that was happening in my house.
"You should have told someone sooner." She muttered as she pulled up to a tree that looked like a house was built in the tree. I looked at it weirdly.
"He and I sang that tree, the house is the tree really." She explained. I nodded.
"He sang an extra in case so you will have your own place to live. I live near here so I can always swing by and get you for school." She said. I shook my head. "What?"
"I don't want people going out of their way for me." I said scratching Onyx under her chin which she liked.
"I'm not, it's because you are a Rider. I would only do it if you were one." She insisted. I sighed.
"Why did I get chosen?" I asked. Mrs. Donaldson looked at me.
"Ask her when she learns more and understands herself." She replied.
I got a tour of my tree which was a few feet away from Brom in case something were to happen. The stairs wrapped around the truck about 10 feet in the air until a small landing. Though the stairs were new, it was designed so the steps were higher than I was used to making my legs tire easily. The door was bark and a thin, light brown membrane was on the inside to help keep away the elements. There were other membranes around where there were doors and windows and where Onyx would sleep. Her bed was a violet cushion a few feet away from my bed which was a full with sheets already on it. There was a small stairway leading to a study complete with quills, ink and paper. In another room downstairs was a closet for bathing with hot and cold water.
"If you need anything let me know. But I'll leave you two to discuss some things. She's part of your training too." Brom said and walked down the stairs. I sat on the bed which was really comfortable and Mrs. Donaldson pulled a chair from upstairs.
"Did they ever hurt you? You know, physically?" She asked worry in her eyes.
"No, just verbally and emotionally." I replied looking my hands twirling a ring a friend from Wisconsin gave me.
"Whatever they said, it's not true. You are very smart, friendly, loving and all around a good person. You are the next Rider, do you know Onyx was presented to thousands of kids your age in Alagaesia and she never hatched. Not for one person." She said.