The Girl Who Walked Through Fire

by Dana Gricken

  “I don’t like this any more than you do, but we came here to find David - no matter the cost. We have no other choice,” Elara replied, gazing into the forest. “The Beyondlands are huge. Where do we start?”

  After the group thought in silence for a moment, a sudden burst of black smoke could be seen in the distant sky. Elara looked up, fearing the worst. “Black smoke! Could it be from a campfire? What if they’re already cooking David?”

  “It doesn’t seem too far. Let’s get moving!” Hadrian replied as he and Tavia got back on her Tiburon.

  “Hadrian and I will ride in front of you. Fane, stay with Elara on foot and watch over her. We don’t need a big, flaming dragon to draw attention. And make sure she doesn’t get hurt, will you? My mother would kill me if Elara even gets as much as a scratch on her.”

  Fane nodded. “I would give my life before that happens.”

  “I don’t think that’s necessary. Just be extra careful.”

  Tavia and Hadrian rode off up ahead, while Fane and Elara began walking towards the direction of the fog. It was eerily too quiet as they stepped over various branches and pond water.

  “I can’t say I enjoy taking you through the Beyondlands, Bria. Even dragons know when they’re outmatched.”

  Elara sighed. “This isn’t my favorite place either, Fane, but we have to find David.”

  As they turned the corner, nearing closer to the smoke, Elara stepped on a tree branch which cracked underneath her feet.

  “Something doesn’t feel right,” Elara said, as that familiar darkness came over her body. Her na’sana was trying to tell her something.

  Tavia’s scream was heard up ahead, as a branch - which had been set up as a trap - suddenly scooped Elara into a large net and tangled her in the tree.

  “Bria!” Fane called out, releasing his sword from the belt across his hips.

  In the blink of an eye, an entire group of Orkin appeared. They surrounded Fane and Elara in the forest, with their swords and arrows aimed at them. Fane looked up ahead, and he realized they’d located the source of the smoke. It was a fire, warming a small campground of worn-out tents. He could see Tavia and Hadrian also cornered by the Orkin.

  “Please. Drop your weapons,” Vrukang said. “Will not harm you. No danger. Not here.”

  “You first,” Fane retorted, refusing to let go of his blade.

  There were a few moments of silence and tension until David walked out of one of the tents. He saw his two friends, Hadrian and Elara – as well as others he didn’t recognize – and his eyes widened.

  “Hey – it’s all right. Don’t go crazy. They’re with me,” David replied, as he thrust himself into the middle of the scuffle.

  The Orkin lowered their crossbows, but Fane remained uneasy with his sword high in the air. An Orkin walked over to Elara, despite Fane’s deathly stare, and cut the net that held her prisoner. She fell to the ground and picked herself up, brushing off the dirt and mulch.

  “You know these creatures?” Elara asked David, in surprise.

  “These are the Orkin,” David replied, gesturing towards the group. “They’re not dangerous – believe me. If it hadn’t been for Vrukang, I would’ve become dinner for the wildhounds.”

  Vrukang walked in front of the group, drawing all eyes on him.

  “Welcome strangers. Here are Beyondlands. Home of the Orkin. Name is Vrukang. Leader of the tribe. Orkin have been shunned for centuries. Humans have spread rumors. We do not eat you. We are appalled. Saddened by claims.”

  “I’m sorry, Vrukang. Humans have done the same to the dragons and witches,” Elara replied, motioning towards Fane.

  Vrukang nodded. “David told us. Knights very bad. Can’t be trusted.”

  Fane was unmoved. “How do we know this isn’t a trick to lure us here and then attack when we least expect it? I’ve heard gruesome stories.”

  Vrukang shook his head. “Will not hurt you, stranger. Goes against Code of Orc. We take this seriously. Promise.”

  “The Code of Orc?” Tavia asked, puzzled. “Are we supposed to know what that means or something?”

  A female Orkin exited one of the nearby tents. She resembled the species closely, with red skin and horns, except for her long, black hair and slender build.

  “The Code of Orc states that we’ll hurt none, help all, and respect our beloved Earth,” She said, sauntering towards the group. “My name is Noruk. I am the wife of Vrukang and healer of our tribe.”

  “We’re sorry to disturb you, but we came here to find our friend, David,” Elara replied.

  David nodded. “Thanks for your hospitality, Orkin, but I have to leave now. Duty calls.”

  “If you ever need our assistance, please do not hesitate to ask. The Orkin help those who accept us,” Noruk replied, solemnly.

  Suddenly, the ground began to shake violently beneath them. Everyone looked around, puzzled.

  “What was that?” Hadrian asked, fearing the answer.

  A sharp pain shot through Elara’s spine, and she keeled over, groaning. Images flashed through her mind of homes and dragons surrounded by fire. It was the city of Camena, and it was burning.

  “Bria!” Fane rushed to her side, catching her in his arms, but she couldn’t hear him. “Speak to me!”

  Elara gasped a large breath as the visions subsided. It took her a moment to recall what she had seen before she looked around to see a cluster of worried eyeballs.

  “Camena,” Elara blurted out. “Something bad is going to happen. I saw it in fire and ashes.”

  Above them, hundreds of dragons and witches swarmed the scarlet-colored sky, heading towards the city of Camena. Fane cursed silently under his breath, taking a good guess at what was coming. Elara was right.

  “Dragon spit! It looks like The Fallen have been hiding in the Beyondlands. No wonder no one ever found them. They’re going to attack Camena,” Fane snarled. “And I bet Colrek is leading them.”

  “It’s a good thing we were here to see them. Quickly – let’s get back to Camena,” Elara replied, struggling to stand.

  “That isn’t wise, Bria. If Colrek doesn’t like you, The Fallen Ones don’t, either. I have no doubt the main reason they’re attacking my home is to either kill or capture you. They wouldn’t attack the dragons without good reason. Besides, you’re unwell.”

  “I agree with him, Elara. It’s too dangerous,” Hadrian warned.

  Elara shook her head. “That’s why you’ll return to Deniva with Tavia and David, where it’s safer. I’m going to Camena whether you like it or not.”

  “Why are the beautiful ones always so stubborn?” David quipped, which prompted Tavia to roll her eyes in jealousy.

  Elara turned towards the Orkin. “Vrukang, Noruk, you said you’d offer assistance if we needed it. I don’t know what David’s told you, but we can’t fight The Fallen and the Knights alone. Will you help us when the time comes?”

  “You have shown us mercy and compassion by treating the Orkin positively. For that, we will help you,” Noruk replied, bowing her head. “If the need for war arises, we will be waiting for your signal.”

  Vrukang nodded. “We are warriors. Protectors. Defenders of innocents. We will help.”

  “Thank you,” Elara said, before turning towards Fane. “Let’s go.”

  “I see there’s no point in arguing with someone who’s already made up their mind. I’ll take you back, Bria, but we need to be careful,” Fane agreed reluctantly before he transitioned.

  “I’ll be fine. I have you by my side, after all.”

  He smiled at her confidence in him, although he was still worried. Elara got on his back again and they flew away, following the path of The Fallen.

  Tavia, Hadrian, and David got onto her Tiburon, and they darted towards the exit of the Beyondlands to get back to Deniva.

  “Do you think Elara will be okay?” Hadrian asked, nervously.

  “Does someone have a little crush?” Tavia asked, smirking.

 
; Hadrian blushed. “Just answer my question.”

  David nodded. “From what I’ve seen, Elara’s a tough girl. I think she’ll make it.”

  Hadrian hoped he was right.

  Act of War

  The city of Camena was in mourning following the death of Sora. Word had spread quickly about Colrek’s true identity, and the dragons could barely believe it. After the town had cremated Sora’s body, they chanted and said a few prayers to the Eternal Flame at the pit in the town square. In the midst of the funeral, the sky suddenly turned red and the air grew colder. In the blink of an eye, hundreds of dragons and witches flooded the skies.

  “Everyone – we’re under attack! The Fallen have come!” The Emperor cried out, and the townspeople panicked and began running.

  The dragons with children fled to the safety of their homes, while the warriors and guards stayed behind to defend their sacred city. Colrek descended from the sky with Calianna behind him, blocking the Emperor’s path. Emperor Zarian shook his head angrily, baring his fangs.

  “Colrek! Stop this at once!” The Emperor said, withdrawing his sword and shielding his wife.

  “Give us the Dragonwitch and we’ll spare your city, Emperor! We know she’s here somewhere. We don’t want to hurt any of our own!”

  “It’s a little too late for that, Colrek! How could you become a Fallen One? How could you murder your wife and turn against your own dragonkin?” Alona replied, snarling. “We’ll never give you the Dragonwitch!”

  “Then we’ll do this the hard way!” Colrek screeched, before nodding towards his legion. “Attack!”

  Balls of fire began falling from the sky, destroying various homes and landmarks. Witches deployed their spells, causing earthquakes, heavy winds, and lightning strikes to plague the town. Several dragons and witches fought each other in the sky and on the ground, as the Emperor attempted to take his wife to safety. Dead soldiers littered the streets and blood and ashes decorated the sidewalks.

  Colrek paused and sucked in a huge breath. Before the former advisor could release his spray of fire, Fane quickly let Elara off by the Emperor and Alona and attacked him.

  Colrek fell over, with his scales scraping against the hot pavement as Fane dragged him away from the Emperor. They began to pummel each other with their sharp claws and fire breath. Fane wasn’t holding back.

  Calianna noticed Elara and emitted a high-pitched roar, before flapping her wings and heading straight towards her. Alona pushed Elara out of the way, taking the brunt of the attack as she plummeted to the ground.

  “Alona!” The Emperor yelled, rushing to his wife’s side.

  Her body was still and unresponsive. She was gone.

  The Emperor glared at Calianna as his eyes glistened with tears. “What have you done? She was your mother!”

  Calianna turned around, surprised to see who she had hit instead. She finally snapped out of her trance and realized her purpose. Calianna’s eyes brimmed with flames as she prepared to unleash a flurry of fireballs towards Elara.

  Elara realized she was defenseless as Fane fought Colrek and the Emperor sobbed over his wife’s body. All of Elara’s anger, resentment, and sadness came bubbling up to the surface, and she watched as Calianna began her fatal blow.

  Before Calianna’s fire could reach Elara, she felt something inside of her change. Elara’s whole body ignited in flames, but it was not from any dragon. Elara had engulfed herself in fire through her own will. Calianna’s fire bounced off of Elara’s blaze as she stood there, unmoved by the powerful dragon. It was like a shield had formed to protect her.

  “I suppose it’s true,” Calianna mumbled. “You really are immune to fire.”

  Calianna retreated once she realized her powers had no effect on the girl. She looked around the city and saw that The Fallen Ones were losing the battle. She roared towards Colrek, who understood her warning. Calianna and Colrek, along with the surviving Fallen Ones, hovered in the air and began to withdraw.

  “This isn’t over, Emperor! The Dragonwitch must die! You can’t protect her forever!” Colrek yelled before he and his Fallen Ones flew away.

  Fane almost went after them, but he was too exhausted from the fight. He panicked once he saw his mother lying on the ground. His father, Emperor Zarian, roared in anger as he crouched over his wife’s body. Fane knew it was too late.

  The townspeople began to dart their heads out of their homes as silence fell over the city. Camena lay in ruins, unrecognizable after the fight. Some homes were still left intact, and some could even be salvaged, while others were badly scorched and damaged. Fane looked for Elara among the smoke and ashes, fearing the worst before he saw her – fully immersed in her own red blaze.

  He rushed over to her and attempted to put out the fire with his hands. “Dragon spit! You’re on fire, Bria!”

  “No,” Elara replied firmly, as she shook off the fire - and it obeyed her like a loyal dog. “I am the fire.”

  Fane’s eyes widened for a moment, as Elara had no scars or burn marks, except for tattered and singed clothing. It was nothing like before, when she had waded through the fire of the pit or rescued the little boy from the burning home. This time, the flames came from within her.

  The Emperor stood up, composing himself after wiping away his tears. He looked towards his people who had begun crowding the town square, witnessing Elara’s combustion and Alona’s death. They looked to him for guidance, but he could offer them no such thing.

  “This was an act of war!” The Emperor yelled at the crowd. “No place is safe with The Fallen or the Knights around!”

  “Are you all right?” Elara asked Fane, quietly.

  Fane looked towards his mother’s lifeless body, which the Emperor had covered up so the children wouldn’t see. “No, but I will be in time.”

  “What are we going to do?” Elara asked, desperately. “What can we do?”

  “We need allies in a time like this, Bria. The Orkin are a good place to start, but it isn’t enough. We need to attack The Fallen’s hideaway; somewhere in the Beyondlands. The only thing we can do is unite together to defeat The Fallen and the Knights.”

  “We should head back to Deniva. I think the Miracari witches will help us. They need to know what happened - and they could be a target for The Fallen.”

  “Yes, I agree. The Amera and the Lithian dragons can be persuaded. The Kohra may prove to be more... problematic.”

  “This is my fault,” Elara began, sadly. “If I hadn’t come to Camena, Alona would still be alive. Colrek wouldn’t have turned against his own people to try and kill me.”

  “That isn’t true,” Fane replied. “There’s only one person to blame here and it’s Colrek. He made his decision to attack us, and he was a Fallen One long before you came along. You’ve done nothing wrong. I need you to believe that.”

  Elara nodded, even if she didn’t really believe him. “You should speak to the Emperor. He looks devastated.”

  “Father?” Fane asked softly, as he placed a hand on the Emperor’s shoulder.

  “There’s nothing you can say that will fix this, son,” The Emperor said, looking towards his wife’s body. “The damage has been done – and by my own daughter, nonetheless. I suggest you take the Dragonwitch and leave.”

  “I wanted you to know that we’re assembling the dragons and witches. It’s the only way we’ll defeat the Fallen and the Knights.”

  “Do what you think is right, son. It’s been centuries since the dragons have come together. What makes you think they’ll unite now?”

  “Because it must be done, father. Will you join us?”

  The Emperor sighed before he nodded. “The Palarri dragons will join the war effort – if only to avenge Alona. I’ll send out a request for the Amera and Lithian dragons to meet us here, but I refuse to believe the Kohra will help us – even now. This is what the legend of the Dragonwitch tells us will happen, isn’t it?”

  Fane nodded. “It looks like it.”

 
; Elara felt out of place as the crowd stared at her. She couldn’t tell what they were thinking, but she knew they blamed her for everything. No matter what Fane said, Elara would always hold herself responsible for Alona’s death.

  “Father?” Fane called out, before leaving. “Mother lives in The Burning City now with the Eternal Flame. Take comfort in the fact that her soul is at rest with Sora.”

  Zarian scoffed. “Religion is not comforting right now, I’m afraid. Now go, son. You shouldn’t waste time here.”

  Fane nodded and transitioned quickly, and Elara got on his back before they flew away.

  MAYLISS WAS STILL RUNNING from Camena, and she had no intention of returning. Seeing her own father kill her mother changed everything. She had never seen the outer-world before, and quickly became lost in its bright lights and loud noises. This was the first time she’d been all alone, and the world became a little lonelier.

  She found herself approaching an unusual forest, with a glowing shield of light in front of it. In it, she saw her own reflection – and couldn’t resist placing her hand on it. She laughed as it tickled her skin.

  “Well, well – what do we have here?” She heard a voice behind her say, and she gasped and turned around.

  It was a lone man in a well-armored suit, probably one of those evil Grey Knights she had heard of. She remained still and quiet, hoping he would leave her alone – but he didn’t. He approached, taking a good look at her.

  “A little dragon girl? I’ve never seen one of you freaks before. The King will just love to see you.”

  Before the Knight could grab Mayliss, an evil spirit rose up from underneath the ground, surrounded by a red mist. The spirit was frightening, with glowing red eyes and a burning skeleton torso. The spirit grabbed the Knight as he yelled, dragging him below forever.

  A middle-aged blonde woman wearing a red cloak appeared from behind one of the nearby shrubs. She held a pointed staff with a skull atop it that she used to summon the evil spirit. A sweet, crimson smile spread across her face as she looked down at the frightened Mayliss.

  “It’s all right, sweetheart – you’re safe now,” The woman said, patting Mayliss on the head. “What’s your name?”