I noticed I was inside the hull of a ship, once I calmed down and realized I was not alone. The hull was filled with many young women, some even young enough to be called girls, as I. I was suddenly surrounded by many of them. I was wrapped into somebody's arms and had my back rubbed.
"Shh, it's okay. We can't have those pretty blue eyes cry, now. They might turn red. Shh, it's okay. Try to sleep some more," a nice young women told me. She had a kind smile. I liked her.
Weeks passed. Maybe even a month. I learned that we captured by the men in black robes, and headed to some other country for something called a slave trade. But, because slavery was illegal in that country, they were only stopping their to 'collect more supplies', otherwise they would trade all of us who were already captured.
We were barely fed, but well clothed, for it was December, and the winter nights could do a number of harsh things to an unprotected body.
One more week till the ship would reach Fiore. In that last remaining week, I had grown to like all of the nice ladies. I new everyone. All the ladies from my village were here, and the rest were from neighboring towns. I was only slightly excited. The ship were to land at a Fiore harbor. The country that held my favorite guild. Fairy Tail.
The day we were to arrive, a storm hit us. The cries and sounds of distress from the men above were heard clearly, as well as the giant waves that splashed onto the deck. The boat violently rocked back and forth. One time, the boat felt as though it almost tipped over.
Something hit the boat. Something splintered and cracked on the deck above. Someone fell overboard. The Lantern fell down and broke. More fire. I was frozen to the spot. I was again trapped by flames, surrounded by shark-infested waters. Another wave hit, and a large and sickening crack came above. The mast had fell and broke the floor of the deck. They all sat huddled in a corner, away from the fire and broken roof, where gallons of sea-water were pouring in. The fire scarred me even more than before, and I was rooted to the spot. I felt like I was melting and drowning at the same time. And burning and suffocating sensation all at the same time. I shivered from the freezing rain water, but I welcomed the cold wind that blew by. The men were shouting commands at one another, but not one command was to make sure their 'cargo' was okay.
Part of me is grateful that the men were to busy to check on the women. I don't think I could have made it out alive.
The water quickly put out the fire, and continued to endlessly flow through the crack in the deck. By then I had quickly regained my senses, and climbed back towards the others. Many of them looked as if they had never worked a day in their lives, but I still liked them. They were kind people.
I had climbed up the stairs and tried opening the small, cramped doors that led to the deck. Well enough, it swung open with ease. The locks that held it shut those previous weeks had been smashed to pieces when the mast fell. My feet quickly moved me behind a barrel. As my eyes scanned the deck, my brain set a plan into motion. Although my family never could afford to send my sister and I to school, I was still exceptionally smart without the proper education. After the plan was finished, I had ran back to the hull. I quickly told the plan to all of the girls, and led them up the stairs. The plan was simple. With one of us watching guard, the girls would head to the small row boats, group by group. Until the last group. They would untie the ropes and the boats would drops down into the water. From there they could row away. The storm was much easier to handle in a row boat, if they held on.
The plan had worked, I remember. I had fallen into an uneasy slumber on the small rowboats, thanks to the fever I received.
I do not remember how we made it to shore, I assume the boat I was in crashed, considering I had woken up on a cold, sunless beach. My lips were cracked and dry, and the sand was stuck to the side of my face. I do not know how much time I spent wandering the lifeless beach, but the was no sign of another being. I could see the remnants of the small rowboat, but none of the passengers who used to reside in there. I wandered further away from the beach, and somehow ended on top of a snowy mountain after falling in and out of consciousness. I welcomed the cold though. My fever was making my breathing short and ragged and gave me dizzy spells from time to time. I walked further and further, past tall, ancient pines, and into a clearing. This was a nice place. I had decided I liked that place.
I had no hope for anything by that point. My family was gone, as was my home. I was stranded on a snowy mountain with a fever. I collapsed onto me knees, and looked to the sky, before I fell into the soft snow.
I was numb everywhere. All I felt was cold. It's all I've felt since then. Before my eyes completely shut, I saw something blue. It was big. It seemed colder than the winter air.
When I came to, I was in a cave, covered in what seemed like animal pelts. They helped the cold lessen, into what seemed to be comfortable. Once my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I found myself staring at the blue snout of a large face. It seemed to be a staring contest. I remember just sitting under the pelts, emotionlessly staring back at the creature.
"What are you?" My voice was barely a whisper. The creature seemed grand, powerful.
"Me? Why I am the queen of snow, little one. I am a Snow Dragon." My eyes grew wide as saucers. I had heard of old tales about dragons from others, but they all said dragons were just a myth.
I nodded and took in the information. I had been staring at the floor, but once again raised my eyes to meet the gaze of the magnificent beast. She had a soothing, motherly voice that also had it's strictness sprinkled on the edge. Her scales reflected the small amount of light that managed to filter into the cave. "You may call me Saphira. What may I call you by?" Saphira asked. Her eyes had a gentleness that I had missed.
"Moon."
