Norfolt

Part I

Prologue

Alton ran as fast as he could. He didn’t know why he was running, or really what he was running from. The young Norfolt dragon crashed through undergrowth and nearly tripped over trees’ roots that were hundreds of years old.

“Get the dragon!” yelled one of the horseman, who was pursuing Alton. Then Alton remembered immediately that he was being chased by humans. A score of cavalry charged through the Arn’Kalzar Forest, darting in and out of the coniferous forest. Alton’s wings were folded, and already they had been torn by getting caught on the forest life. His face was drenched with sweat, and the only thing that kept him running was the abundance of adrenaline that was supercharging his body.

Suddenly Alton took a different route. He somewhat knew the forest well, though he rarely ventured into it. After what seemed like hours of running, the human cavalry were no where to be seen. The young Norfolt dragon collapsed to the ground, a thousand different thoughts running through his mind. Certainly he got the adventure that he wanted, but one that nearly ended his life. Alton’s serpentine eyes darted open, a clear memory coming back to his mind.

Quickly, Alton returned to his home at Longevia Lake.

Chapter 1

Alton quickly returned home. The Norfolt dragon quickly ran to his family. Alton noticed that all the dragons of the Silverian family were gathered in a large crowd. Far up ahead, he could see the 2 parents of the clan; ultimately they were the alpha leaders. He could easily see Cashile, the male, and Artisia, the female. Both alpha leaders were over 6 centuries old, living through hell and abandon. The lake was their only salvation, a place where one of the last dragon families lived. A full 300 members lived in the Silverian family, mostly all of them descended from Cashile and Artisia. The alpha leaders were the only dragons of the family allowed to breed, and all other dragons had of the family had to accept this rule.

Uncle Newark, not descended from the Silverian family but a sister of Artisia, came over to greet the young Alton. Uncle Newark seemed to be excited, from the look he had on his face. Newark was practically Alton’s caregiver, and a best friend at that. Newark was young, less than a century old, but he had lived through harsh times in this part of the world.

“Greetings Alton!” thundered Uncle Newark. “There is good news that Artisia will be expecting soon once again! One of the Silverian shamans concluded that she would lay probably about 6 eggs! Leave it to Cashile and Artisia, keeping our family alive!” Uncle Newark seemed to go on and on, and Alton only pretended to listen.

“I guess-I guess that’s good,” Alton replied nervously. Alton was still trembling from the encounter several hours ago, and he tried keeping it to himself. But Uncle Newark, noticing something was wrong, pressed him with questions.

The dragon uncle’s voice rose in suspicion, and knew that Alton had did something wrong. A grim look came upon Newark’s face, a look that showed treachery and defeat. From that evil smile, Alton knew his life was doomed.

“You little traitor,” roared Newark. “Do you think I cannot see what you have done? Your very eyes tell me that you have broken a law. I think now I shall march you to Artisia and Cashile. Your damnation will only bring me back to my better hierarchy of the family.”

All eyes turned on Alton at the voice of Uncle Newark; it seemed that Newark was clear on making this public.

Chapter 2

“Humans attacked me,” said Alton. He was speaking out loud to the entire Silverian family. “I was in the Arn’Kalzar Forest when the cavalry pursued me.” With that statement done, Alton cowered in fear as he noticed his father approached. Massive not just in age but in strength as well, Cashile’s scales were a shadow purple. His wingspan was nearly 100 feet, and he was by far the biggest male the Silverian family had ever seen. His dark red eyes pierced right into Alton’s feeble unexperienced eyes. Artisia approached as well, her bright white scales gleaming in the sun. She was among one of the most beautiful dragons to ever exist, but she also had a strong temper. Her clear blue eyes looked Alton’s way, but she was staring at Cashile.

“You broke a law!” snarled Cashile, his voice echoing throughout Longevia Lake. All members of the Silverian family seemed to straighten their necks at Cashile’s enormous anger. Alton merely stood as if he were a statue, still and unthinking. He knew if he moved, Cashile would tear him apart. He had seen the alpha male do this before, tearing away at his own sons and daughters who broke several family laws. Protection was important in the world of dragons, and those who couldn’t keep themselves safe, meant that they could put the whole family in danger. So death was necessary in the very few existing dragon families. Alton knew his time had come.

“What is your name, Silverian?” thundered Cashile, growing impatient. “I have had many sons and know little of them. Tell me your name or I kill you here on the stake.” Alton’s words came out in a choke, and he quickly retorted, “Alton, 121st son of the Silverian clan, son of Alpha Cashile and Alpha Artisia.” Artisia was lying on her side, watching the whole confrontation. She wasn’t interested in the males fighting, and decided that Cashile should deal with it. She truly felt sorry for the 121st son, but she also felt a sense of anger for the stupid young Norfolt dragon.

“And Alton, do you know what law you have broken?” Cashile snarled once again. “I hope you do you little ass, otherwise death will come to you quicker than…”

“Enough!” interrupted Artisia. She had noticed that Cashile’s jaws were getting ready to strike, that he would have killed the 121st son by the time he would have finished his sentence. Walking on all fours, Artisia approached Cashile and the cowering Alton. “State the law,” demanded Artisia in an impatient voice, though indeed it was calm.

“I have broken that law that states all members of the family to stay in Longevia Lake; those who don’t have punishment upon death.” Alton continued to sweat, and he quietly began to pant. “And yet you have returned 121st son,” said Artisia. “You should have stayed out there and never have come back. You bring doom upon yourself for returning.”

“Now for punishment,” exclaimed Cashile. “Death it shall…”

“No,” Artisia interrupted once again. “He will be exiled. That is all I feel like dealing with today Cashile. Let him go to his own death. Nature will put an end to him and we’ll leave it at that.” Artisia could see the vile look in Cashile’s eyes; it seemed after all these years he had grown a passion to killing. “Leave now Alton, and no more shall you be known as the 121st son of the Silverian clan, nor the son of Alpha Cashile and Alpha Artisia. Go now or meet a swift death. No more shall you ever walk in Longevia Lake. If you do, the family members will make sure that you are killed.”

Taking one last look at his mother, and not daring to look at his father, Alton left as if he were a fleeing gazelle. He knew from this point and on the world would not be kind to him. Hours passed, and it seemed that Alton was journeying to the ends of the earth. It was only then that Alton knew where he was. A familiar mountain range lay in front of him, at the base of the Arn’Kalzar Forest. The Gransboro Mountains were only 2,500 feet tall, but were still an impressive sight nonetheless. Clumsily, but cautiously, Alton began climbing the mountains.

Chapter 3

Never before had a Norfolt dragon climb the Gransboro Mountains. Certainly this was a new experience for Alton, one that was frightening and exciting at the same time. The climbing exhausted him, and his legs grew sore. Alton could barely hang on to the jutting rocks, and knew that if he lost his footing he would be a goner.

Alton was startled when only several meters away from him, was a pure white, mountain goat. The goat made a long “bahhh” sound and then turned around and began climbing in the other direction. Alton didn’t know how long he was climbing, but was guessing he was already 300 meters off the forest floor.

The little dragon’s wings were folded, and were only beginning to heal. Alton, sooner or later, would have to learn to take flying for granted. He knew that time would be now, in fact. Surely if he could never fly, his survival would be mute. Alton found a flat opening of rock only a few meters above him, and when he reached the surface, he could finally lye down and rest. His head throbbed and his legs ached.

Alton unfolded his wings, stretching out almost 20 feet across. He looked out far into the distance, and could feel an updraft in the wind. Alton’s wings almost seemed to hover at the powerful wind, and he knew Mother Nature was calling to him, telling him to take that suicidal leap off the mountains. Alton folded his wings again, and backed up as far as he could. His heart pumped beyond its own force, adrenaline rushing through his body.

Charging head-first, Alton noticed he was dive bombing in mid air. As soon as he no longer felt any solid surface beneath him, he immediately unfolded his wings. With eyes closed, Alton ducked in his feet, not knowing how to control his own flight. Alton could feel the wind roar past him, and that forced him to open his eyes. Never before had he felt such power, such splendor, slamming against his own body.

Alton was actually flying, and actually guiding his own flight under his own power! The Norfolt dragon was never this excited, and he yelled out in enjoyment as the wind flew past his face. The first challenge of the wild was over, or at least Alton thought. If only he knew the true challenges that would not escape him.

Chapter 4

Weeks and months passed, and so did years. Alton never seemed to keep count anymore, and certainly there was no point of doing so. For years, Alton called the Gransboro Mountains his home, hunting mountain goats and even going down into the forest to hunt animal such as deer. Alton was now 8 years old, but still a drakeling by dragons’ standards. He could live for 10 more centuries if he had to, centuries that would be full of experience, loss, and more isolation than ever before. Alton hated to know that such a long life was granted to him, that he would be alone for 10 more centuries.

Alton missed the Silverian family, his home at Longevia Lake, and he even missed Alpha Artisia. Alton remembered his father Cashile, who was eager to put an end to the 121st son, but Artisia had stepped in, ultimately saving Alton’s life. But still, the pain of when his mother told him he was to be exiled was even more painful than hearing he should be put to death.

Later, Alton woke up with a jolt running through his spine. Something had awoken him, which was odd since he always slept soundly. The sun was just about to go down that near night, and it was quiet throughout the Arn’Kalzar Forest down below. Out in the distance though, Alton could hear human voices, and the sound of thundering hooves. Cavalry? Alton thought. It had been many years since Alton had heard any human activity, and now that they were here several years later, this certainly rose his suspicion of something going on.

As the cavalry came closer, Alton observed that they were chasing after someone or something. There were about 20 men mounted on swift cavalry, dangling rapiers from their hands. One of the cavalry was carrying a flag, pictured with a red mountain lion as the coat-of-arms.

“Get the slave!” roared one of the horsemen. “She has spoken the mountain lion god’s name in vain! For this she shall be raped and beaten! And then she shall be burned at the stake!”

Alton’s eyes bulged at the human’s statement, noticing they were chasing a human child! The girl was about 12 or 13 years old, with long dark brown hair. She wore clothes that were ripped and tattered, showing that she probably lived the life of a beggar. Or more likely she is an escaped slave, Alton thought. “This girl is a criminal?” Alton mused. The child looked nothing like a criminal, more likely a scapegoat. For the first time in Alton’s life, he felt sorry for a human. Something had to be done.

Chapter 5

For tens of centuries, humans had hunted dragons to the brink of extinction. They had never gotten along with humans, and the humans had never gotten along with the dragons. Yet when it came to force and war, the humans were the ones who wanted to taste dragon blood. Alton shook his head, knowing that he would probably regret this in the near future. Alton brought his wings out, now 40 or so feet across. He let out a long, permeating roar, to let the cavalry know that he was coming.

“A dragon!” screamed one of the horsemen. The cavalry tried to form ranks, but their horses were planning on making their own escape. Half of the horsemen decided that this was indeed a surprise, and that they wanted nothing to do with this giant beast.

Two members of the cavalry were arguing with each other. “But the slave!” one pondered. “The emperor wants us to bring her back alive. She has spoken blasphemy!”

“No!” the other argued. “We will tell the emperor that a demon has killed her, in the form of a dragon! Since she has angered the mountain lion god, He sends down a demon from the heavens put this evil slave into damnation!” With the argument over, the last 2 members of the cavalry charged the other way; not looking back to see the “demon” for in fear that they would be caught in its evil glare.

Alton scooped the girl up in his hands, holding on to her. The girl screamed for mercy, knowing that the dragon would finish her off. “Shut your mouth!” Alton roared. That command silenced the teenage girl, who actually seemed quite calm now. Soon, Alton was back on top of the Gransboro Mountains.

“Let go of me!” yelled the girl. Alton dropped the stubborn girl to the ground. Her eyes were wide in wonder and amusement, her mouth agape in awe. The Norfolt stared at the child curiously. He folded his wings, not wanting to show the human that he was a threat. “A dragon!” the girl said. She held out her hand, wanting to touch Alton’s dark purple scales. Alton just stood patiently, ignoring the girl’s sweaty hands. Never before had the girl touched anything that was so magnificent.

“You-you didn’t kill me,” the girl replied. “Why?”

“You look nothing like a criminal,” Alton answered bluntly. “For what have you really done that those men were pursuing you?”

“I am the slave. I am blamed on everything.”

“What is your name?”

“I have no name. My name is Slave.”

“What would you like to be called?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then your name is…Spirita.”

“I am Spirita then.”

“And my name is Alton.”

“You are Alton.”

“Now go. I saved you isn’t that enough?”

“Nooo!” screamed Spirita. “You cannot leave me…Norfolt dragon! If I go back down into the forest I will die! The emperor’s cavalry will come out and…”

“No, they won’t,” Alton interrupted. “Where you not there when those two horsemen were saying that I was a demon, and that I would kill you? So if they think you are dead, you are free to go. I do not need a human to be watching.”

“But you are my friend,” Spirita argued. “You have saved me and I owe you my life.”

“You are no longer a slave,” Alton countered. “You no longer serve. I have given you a name, so use that name to the best of your ability.”

“But I am a woman. I am meant to serve….”

Alton gently slapped the girl across the face with the tip of his tail. “Well, I am no man,” Alton said. “I am an exiled dragon. I serve myself and myself only. The same should be said for you.”

“Then I choose to stay here, as myself,” Spirita said enthusiastically. “And that we may serve ourselves by serving each other.”

Alton knew little of what the girl was talking about, and decided then to just give up. “Fine,” he said, not caring anymore. “You may stay with me, as long as you survive only be yourself. I will not be watching over you, as I have lived alone on these mountains for many years.” Alton went into the story of who he was and of why he was forced to leave Longevia Lake. Spirita seemed to enjoy the story telling, for she thought the dragon to be very interesting.

“Will you ever return home?” Spirita asked one late summer morning. Alton turned his face up into the heavens.

“We shall see.”