Chapter 1

Creedy sat alone, staring out to the horizon. It was dark, cold and bitter, a few sprinkled fires lay around the castle. The only evidence of any surviving life.
Running his fingers through his hair, he leaned back against a rock. Hardly able to believe what his life now entailed. As a child he briefly remembered light, cars, people, food, girlfriends. Only now, years later the only thing he held close from his former life was Quinn. Huddling a few rags closer to him, Creedy pulled his knees to his chest and stared to the skies. If a dragon appeared now there would be chaos, it would be just his luck. Dragons seemed to appear when Creedy was on watch, he was known as a bad omen now. The men downstairs joked that as soon as they snuggled with their partners Creedy's whistle would be heard and everyone would be scrambling to the underground bunkers. Unlucky for other peoples' love was Creedy,
Not that Creedy had much to complain about, sure life wasn't how it was, it was almost unbearable at time, but the community kept him going, Quinn pushed him forward, so did the children. If they just kept going, kept hiding, surely life would get better. It had to at some point.

An hour or so later Meg appeared with some hot water for him. Creedy winked and thanked her while she climbed back down the stairs and into the castle. Water wasn't his preferred drink, in fact he was thinking of calling it a night and helping himself to his special brew, but at least this was warming him up.
Rising to his feet Creedy decided his butt was about to fall off with frostbite and he headed down the steps until he heard the shriek of the bird.
Creedy's eyes scoped the skies, he saw nothing, but on the ground there was a light moving toward them. Creedy grabbed the bell rope and woke the castle, within minutes Quinn was at his side along with several men who were joking about Creedy ruining another night in with the missus for them. Smiling Creedy shoved a few of them, thankful for some human company after the last few dull hours until Quinn's voice silenced them, Quinn's eyes still on the moving light.
"Marauders?" a voice from the men queried.
"No". Quinn's voice was hoarse, "This isn't planned out, whoever they are, they are here for something else."
Creedy's eyes spotted something in the skies, "Well, they better hurry, there's a big bitch headed this way"
Quinn's eyes found the dragon easily, "OK, everyone in the bunker quick, Creedy go"
Creedy looked from his best friend to the group of people headed toward the castle who had picked up their speed "We cant just leave them, Quinn!"
Quinn looked at his friend's resolve face and groaned, "Alright, go get the guns, I swear I'm going to be toast."
Creedy grinned and ran to fetch the weapons.

The castle was chaos, but in a controlled way - the children were safely in the bunker and the men were getting the woman in there before themselves. Creedy smiled, no matter the danger this community stuck together at all times. He felt proud, then remembered why he was here and ran to fetch the weapons.
Running back to Quinn, Creedy waited to hear the plan, the dragon was circling the sky, clearly deciding where to strike, the small group had quickened their pace, a few had stopped and hidden within the rocks and rubble.
Quinn stared through is broken binoculars, "OK, there's a few women and children, 3 or 4 men but many are hiding. Why are they hiding, that dragon can see them! Creedy quick - open the gate let them through!". Creedy ran down toward the gate, other men dived along side him to rip the gates open. Creedy stared, they were too far away, he could hear the children screaming in fear, the woman grabbing them, dragging them along. He knew there was nothing else for it.
"Creedy get back in here!" Quinn's heart leaped as he saw Creedy run toward the strangers, grabbing children under each arm he ran back to the castle, deposited them and ran back. Quinn saw the dragon swoop and the floor suddenly lit up, Quinn watched Creedy hit the floor and tumble, mere yards away from the beast who was busy flaming the cowering men and devouring their ashes. Creedy was screaming something to them, as the remaining cowered behind rocks. Eventually he shook his head and ran back, grabbing another child and taking the hand of a woman. Once the children were safe he made to run back out after the men.
Quinn saw the dragon swoop low once more and grabbed Creedy, "Shut the gate", he screamed, "You guys get everyone inside now!" He dragged Creedy with him. "Creedy there's nothing you can do, that beast will be here soon, hurry!"
Quinn looked at Creedy and suddenly took him in, it seemed the dragon hadn't missed him at all, his entire arm was stripped of its flesh, the ugly red sore glared at him. "Holy fuck, shit you need to get inside, Creedy look at me, stay awake"
Amidst the noise Creedy could hear woman screaming for their lost men, children crying in new surroundings and a dragons roaring in the distance, but he knew it was Quinn holding him, shouting something. Then he blacked out.

Creedy awoke in the castle, his eyes adjusted to the dim light of a candle near his bed. A sharp pain ran down his left arm, causing him to scream out. Looking down he saw his arm covered in bandages.
"Fucking dragon", he muttered, the events of three days ago flew back to him, the agony when he realised his arm was on fire, looking into the beast's eyes as he picked himself back off the floor, defying the beast itself and refusing to die, he had grabbed another child, pain searing through him, and headed back to the castle.
Sitting up he shook his head, he had no idea how many had died out there; he couldn't even remember the faces of those that he had saved. Throwing the blankets off himself he stood up and made for the door, bumping into Tina.
"Oh no you don't", Tina shoved him roughly backwards, "Quinn says you need rest and rest you're getting, back in there please."
"Tina" Creedy groaned, "I can't sleep anymore, I need to breathe."
Tina smiled, this man had saved her many years before from her burning town, saved her and educated her. Now she looked out for him whenever she could, he was like a father to her. Though he was only a few years older than her 28 years, she respected him immensely, so much that he had given her away at her wedding she had had within the castle. Life had to go on, were Quinn's words as he joined her with her husband. True the marriages might not be in the eyes of God but where was their God when the devil let dragons lose on this earth.
"Sorry Creed, doctor's orders"
"Quinn is not a bloody doctor."
"Well he and Ma bandaged up your wee battered arm there, and I've been changing your clothes."
"My clothes?" Creedy's face burned crimson, "I always knew you wanted to get my clothes off, my lovely lass"
"Give over, I'll be telling my Tommy about you wooing me Creedy!"
"I'll be telling him about your stripping of me, when I'm asleep as well, good lord. I feel abused. How long have I been asleep anyway?"
"A few days, Ma put some opium we had left in your tea and that knocked you out."
"Ohh", Creedy shouted, "So I've been drugged and stripped - anything else happened to me while I've been out of it? Oh you think you know some people. I've a good mind to walk you back to that burning mess and leave you there."
"Oh please, you wanted to be awake while your arm was at its worst did you? Unbelievable! Well here's a drink and I'll go inform Quinn that sleeping beauty has woken, he's been lost without his sidekick these last few days."
"Why does he get to be the superhero?"
"He's cuter."
Tina closed the door, and heard muffled shouts as she walked off down toward the kitchens. Laughing to herself, injured or dying Creedy would still be able to put a smile on anyone's face. Tina was glad of that, as the people whom he saved needed a smile more than any group she had met.

25 of them had set out, hearing about this place, and only 5 lived through the night to join their community. 3 of the children Creedy had saved had already severe burns and no hope of overcoming them. Most of the men were wiped out mere feet from the gate. All that remained was one very lucky married couple, who hadn't let go of each others hands while running, 2 small children who had no relations at all, and were bringing tears to everyone asking where their daddy was. Quinn suspected their father must have sent the children on while he left himself as bait, or was simply ruthless and hid. Either way he was very dead. Last of all was Rosie, a sweet young Irish girl of 23 who had joined the group in hope of finding some shelter.

It was Rosie she bumped into as she headed to the kitchen, with the twins trailing her. Rosie held a girl on her hip, fresh tears stained the child's face, and a boy held Rosie's hand tightly. He was clearly holding back tears. The two seemed to have attached themselves to Rosie and it was easy to see why. Rosie was upbeat, optimistic and beautiful. Since she had been there, her laugh had rang through the cold corridors. Her and Tina had made friends immediately.
"Is he awake now?" Rosie enquired, "I need to thank him, he saved me back there, and these little devils."
"He is, yes." Tina smiled at the children, "But I'd leave him to get more strength yet. Have these tinkers told you their names yet?"
"They certainly haven't." Rosie smiled at the two, placing the girl on the floor; they couldn't be any older than 4 or 5. "I've been saying if they don't give me names I'll have to name them A and B. They aren't very pretty names though are they. Oh well, it's time to get A and B to bed anyways, Come on A - you too B"
Tins looked down and saw a rare smile cross the twins' faces, as they clasped Rosie's hands tightly and were lead to their beds.

Upon arriving at the kitchen, Tina saw Ma and Quinn sitting talking, while a few men and women sat on the tables further back eating what little they had for tea.
Ma was a big woman; she had found Creedy and Quinn years before, scrabbling about for food near her town, and had boxed their ears, believing them to be thieves. A few years later as she ran for her life, the memories of her husband's charred body still in her mind she came across this castle. Creedy had immediately taken the woman in his arms and declared he was about to box her ears. After that she had taken control of the kitchen and other motherly duties.
"Creedy's awake"
Quinn smiled, "I'll bet he's in pain is he?"
Tina laughed, "Oh I've been accused of drugging him, stripping him and apparently he's the superhero and you're his sidekick!"
Ma's laugh circled the kitchen.
"Well" Quinn rose to his feet, "I'll not have that, I'd better go and set him straight!"
Quinn struck a manly pose and swanked out of the kitchen.
"Well," said Ma, "it's rice or burnt rice, which ever takes your pick."