The Lord of Dragons
Written by Adrian Dunnavant
Dedicated to my friends and family who helped me through the years of my life.
"Aki" his mother's voice broke into his dreams. It was only a few hours until dawn according to the sky. He realized there were only a couple hours left for the Shadow Demon's minions to patrol the village. The Shadow Demon was an evil demon that terrorized the world of Endor. His minions had orders to kill anyone out after sundown. They were to patrol the village in squads of twenty. One squad would patrol the village while the others got sleep. The Shadow Demon feared if they slacked off with patrolling, the villagers would start a rebellion.
Aki quickly got dressed throwing on his cotton tunic made with log sleeves and an embroidered faded red dragon. The dragon started on his right sleeve and then proceeded up to his shoulder and spread out over his heart. After putting on a pair of leggings he put on his cloak. It was a simple cloak made out of cotton. The reason his tunic had long sleeves was to keep his tattoo of a dragon out of sight. It was a multi-colored tattoo. One day the tattoo would be yellow and the next it would be blue. As far as he knew he was born with it. His parents told him to hide it under long sleeves.
His father woke up his brother Lief and his sister Lea. Aki joined his mother by the fire place. She was gathering baskets needed for the trip to the forest. When Aki's father came to the fireplace he stated "I need not to tell you the risk we are all taking, but winter is fast approaching and we need enough supplies to last us all winter. Aki and Lief remember. if you are not ready to kill anyone who gets in your way, be sure they will kill you!" Aki gulped as he imagined himself being killed over something so insignificant such as food. It was something that he definitely didn't want to happen. Suddenly he went from worried to determine. He wouldn't die today or any day soon.
Aki went over strategies to deal with any possible scenarios that might occur as they reached the forest with twelve foot tall evergreen trees. The ice of the cold fall season, merging with the winter, season made the trees sparkles in the moon light. For a minute, Aki forgot his troubles and worries as he walked through the outer rim of the forest, but only for a minute. They made their way to the center of the forest. It contained many fruits and vegetables. Somehow the soil of the forest and the heat of the roots made it possible for the food to grow. This always confused Aki. As a small child his parents said the love of the trees gave the fruits and vegetables strength to grow. The memory was interrupted by his father when he shook Aki by the arm stating "Son lets go! We won't get any food at this rate." He ran off to the fields followed by Lief. The men were the only ones allowed to gather the food. The women were to stay behind and put the food into baskets so it would be easier to watch over. The race for food went on for an hour. After dodging, jumping, and weaving through other men and boys, Aki was exhausted and ready to rest in his bed for a couple more hours till he needed to get ready for school.
Unfortunately, school would have to wait because half way home everyone spotted the minions down the street inspecting each and every house. Aki and the rest of the family hid in the bushes and waited until the minions turned their backs. Aki and his family ran as quickly as their legs could carry them back home.
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