Song of the fireborn

nst my skin. The sky above was impossibly vast, painted in shades o

I s

ian as it moved. Its wings were vast, like woven silk spun from the stars, and its

have be

I wa

s bea

watching me curiously, as if it, too, was unsure of what to make of me. For a l

t pou

e jaws opening wide. Heat blasted my face as fire r

cre

en I w

till feel the warmth of the dragon's fire against my skin. My breath c

felt

had always painted dragons as monsters, creatures of destruction and death.

m, casting golden light across the wooden floor. I sat up slowly, my heart still steadying itself after the strange dream. I had never dreamt o

to the small mirror against the wall. My long black hair was wild from sleep, so I re

rmally as dark as nigh

an my fingers through the ends, but the color remained. It

g my head. My brother had brought home a strange-smelling soap

to be the

k and slipped into my brown gown-a simple but sturdy piece, perfect for a d

ifting through the air. The marketplace was alive with movement, vendors calling

aphi

ith a small smile. Dain, the chief's son, was the most admired young man in the village. With his brown hair, sharp feat

ou today," he said, fl

week, Dain," I replied, adju

myself looking forward

ion polite. Dain was many things-handsome, skilled in

ok a step closer. "Seraphina, you know I care

tening around the basket. "I

tly. "You don't have to decide

rom thoughts of marriage. I wasn't ready to abandon my father when he was sick. I needed to become a trad

tonight?" he

maze me. I had lost count of the

a little pity for

d his fist in the a

"See you

walking backwar

for father as they helped to restore his color and appetite h

sells it in the village, there

" I cal

old woman opened th

Please I just want to

t, girl! And we've run o

l you res

wander off into the bushes to find it!" At that,

I shouted a

haunted my mind, his breath sh

today, he may not

s the woman's las

y, then wander off int

at!" I said as I wal