New Dawn Rising

Chapter One

The great beast moved among the shadows, her great eyes looking to the
constellation Draco. How long had it been since she had seen another dragon? Draco
had been the last, they had said, and people like Bowen and Kara regretted their
destruction. She had learnt through her own teachings that they had killed the last
dragons – why shouldn't she fear them? She wanted to be free to move again – but in
her heart, she feared that humans would slaughter the Greats again. She let out a
breathy, smoky sigh, and moved towards the river. A small creature in the bushes
darted away, and her head flicked towards it. She laughed softly when she realised it
was merely a rabbit moving into the protection of the undergrowth.
"I've grown too frightened, too wary," she murmured. Her eyes flickered to the
waterfall-veiled cave, slipping inside it. Draco lived here, once, she thought. Settling
down, she prepared to rest for the night.


Sayna glanced over her shoulder, sighing. She shouldered her pack, pressing
on through the night. She could still hear the argument between her brother and her
hated aunt and uncle. Her parents had faded at the age of five, and her brother had
been twelve. Their Aunt Marianna and Uncle Andrew had taken charge of the two.
At first, they thought it was extremely kind of them, but received no kindness at all.
Now, Sayna's good brother Dylan was creating a distraction while she escaped from
the cruelty. He would follow suit as soon as he could, fleeing to a friend of his. She
promised she would meet him there, but begun to have doubts.

The argument escalated, the twelve-year-old wincing as she caught audible
parts of the shouting.
"…I told you, I worked my backside off for the likes of you! I cleaned out the stables
as you commanded, your highnesses!" Her uncle swore, and there was a crash as he
hurled a table across the room.
"Little whelp! You and your no-good sister do no work at all. If we weren't as kind
as we are, you'd be on the streets by now, begging for coin. Count your lucky stars
that you live in the country and not the city!" She ignored the cries, forcing herself
on.

It was not the greatest life for someone as young as twelve, and she was
unsure of what would happen next. She feared that her cruel relatives would send out
search parties, as they were rich enough to live in the countryside. Her father had
once been a knight, and he had been extremely wealthy. After his death, her uncle
had taken his role and lands. She believed that he had said the Old Code with his
fingers crossed behind his back. She adjusted the long, slim sword she carried and
went on.

The night went on, and frightening sounds began to echo around her. She
pulled her cloak around her as the dampness and cold set in, and she moved through
the forest. She felt thirsty after travelling for so long. She hadn't been able to gather
supplies before she left apart from a loaf of bread, so she would have to save it for
another time. She licked her parched lips and moved on.
"If I work out a way to Bowen's castle," she muttered, "Then I'll get them back and
I'll become a knight."


The creature watched the young girl emerge from the trees. She gasped at the
sight of water, and collapsed by the small river that flowed from the waterfall. She
cupped the water in her hands, scooping it into her mouth. How long had it been
since she had eaten? The creature moved, and, in doing so, stepped on something that
snapped. Loudly. The girl blinked, her head jerking up. Uh-oh…I've been seen…
"Who's there?" Called the girl in her human tongue. There was silence as the beast
moved further into the cave. "Wait…" She whispered, looking around her. "I've
seen this place in my father's books! Oh, the Waterfall of Draco!" She ran her
fingers along the rock, and stared at the waterfall. "If this is the place, then…I must
see the cave!" Oh, shells…

The girl stepped through the waterfall, wincing as she was drenched in
water…and gasped.
"Oh, you're beautiful!" The red-gold dragon cowered into the back of the cave,
holding up a claw.
"Please, don't…don't give me away. I think I'm the last…is it really true that the
knight Bowen killed Draco?" The girl nodded solemnly.
"He was given little choice. It was because Draco shared the heart of a wicked boy
that he was forced to kill him. It wasn't his fault, really." The dragon blinked, her
eyes widening.
"Then it wasn't their fault? All the dragonslayers are gone?" The girl shrugged.
"I don't know. There could be some, there may not be. But…what's your name?
I've never seen a dragon before. I've always wanted to. I'm Sayna." The dragon
smiled nervously, answering slowly.
"My name…my name is Tiamat."
"Wow…all my life I've been stuck with two pigs of relatives, and all I had to do was
come down here and find you! Why didn't I think of running earlier?" She grinned.
"Can you fly?" Tiamat turned away, unsure.
"I…I don't know. I don't think so…I've never tried because I've hidden all my life."
Sayna walked up to her, sitting beside her on the damp floor.
"Well, there's nothing to be afraid of. You're a dragon, right?" The great beast
looked down at her with wide eyes.
"Yes, but…I'm not the strongest. I'll never be as near as good as Draco or Benteline,
or any of them for that matter. I'm the runt of the lot." Sayna put a hand gently on
her scales.
"No you're not! You're the one who lasted in the end." Tiamat snorted.
"What, by hiding and cowering? I don't think so. I was scared of you – a girl no
more than twelve!" She bowed her great head. "Tell me, is Bowen a dragon-lover?"
Sayna nodded. "Well, that he may be, but if he sees an overgrown lizard like me,
he'll die of shame. So will Kara." Sayna got up.
"No they won't! Look, here' s a deal…I'll teach you to fly and breathe flame if you
help me get to Bowen's castle. Okay?" Tiamat looked up.
"Really? You'll do that for me?" The girl nodded. Tiamat got up on all fours.
"Okay, then. I'm happy with it…come back tomorrow? At least you have a family to
go back to." Sayna sighed, and slumped back down.
"I don't. My parents died when I was young and my mean ol' aunt and uncle are – or
should I say, were – 'taking care of me,' and I ran away. My brother Dylan is
probably running as we speak after arguing with 'em for a few hours." She looked up
at Tiamat. "Don't you have family of your own?" The dragon shrugged.
"Wish I did, like you. I wish I had a mother to protect me like yours used to. But I
suppose she's up there…a star." She showed the girl to a hole in the cave wall that
showed the constellation Draco. Sayna grinned.
"Wow…I wish I were a dragon." Tiamat blinked.
"No, you don't. At least you don't have to spend your life hiding." Sayna rolled her
eyes.
"At least you don't get brutally whipped for not doing work hard enough." Tiamat
grinned.
"We're even then. So, we leave tonight?" Sayna beamed.
"This very minute."