There was a time many many moons ago, when the greatest of winged creatures soared through the skies. They inhabited all of the realms and knew no fear. It was common to hear the names of Glaurung, the fire breather, Ancalagon the black, Apalala of the waters and many more of greatness spoken of by the people who lived in the towns and countrysides and feared these great beast. But as man grew wiser and time progressed fewer and fewer of the great ones survived. The ones that did grew old..and far between them the lands did spread as either they were hunted by man and slain for their hides and heads to be hung on proud warriors walls.
Two great creatures hid in the lands above a ancient realm..far up top the mountain in a cave well hidden. They were old and weathered.Mated for their lifespan, the female had given many a egg, watched over for many moons, but in the end at the hatching, because of their advanced age, the fledgling had been weak and not survived when it had came from the shell. The Female dragon laid yet another egg, knowing that this would be her last. Carefully she mound up the where the egg lay and she and her mate watched over the nest. Dragon eggs take many moons to hatch and as the time grew near for the hatching she and her mate grew more forlorn. Fearing in their hearts this would be the last chance for a heir to come from them. On a dark eve, the old Female dragon felt the egg stir beneath her. Calling her mate, she crept off the nest.
Both aged dragons watched as the tiny fledgling struggled to break forth from the leathery covering of the egg.They could hear the tiny claws trying to rip a opening through the egg case. For many hours they watched growing more desolate as the fledgling’s movements slowed. They feared the worst, that as with the others this fledgling was destined to die as well. In desperation, the old mother dragon reached out with her massive horned foot and with the gentlest of touches, fearing for the it’s life, took her nail and ripped a tiny gap in the egg.
Knowing that to survive the fledgling must make it out of the egg on their own, she knew what she had done was not right. The old male turned in wrath upon her, thinking she was destroying the egg. She turned her anguished eyes to him and lay her head down in sorrow. He realized she was trying to help the fledgling instead of harm it and lay down his head by hers in grief. Slow movements started from the egg as they watched. First a tiny foot came thru the gap rendered.Then with a final rendering the egg fell into two pieces. There stood a tiny Black dragon. Weak and heaving from trying to escape the egg. The two old Dragons looked on with joy as the fledgling they soon named Tiamat, stood and came towards them. Nuzzling up to her mother..she took nourishment, then closed her eyes to sleep.
As the little dragon grew,she retained the black color. Only once before had the old ones heard of a Black Dragon. For one born of this color would hold special powers.
The old dragons kept her close in the hidden cave, fearing for her life. For if a brave knight saw her in flight, they were certain she would be killed for her hide and head.
Tiamat longed to go outside and test her skills. The mountain cave was massive yet, her flying skills were limited there. She would peek out through the entrance and be enthralled with the lands she saw. Her keen eyesight watched the townspeople and villagers as they went about their works and lands.
The old dragons would go out every few moons on a flight to gather food.Hoping they would not be seen. But alas, one fateful day, the old ones were spotted. A cry of alarm went up in the towns and brave warriors gathered to go find the hidden cave.
The old ones pushed Tiamat to the back of the cave, into one of the hidden chambers,and stood ready to guard their child.
Tiamat could hear the people coming up the mountain. Soon a great battle ensued. Sounds of the people yelling, her parents great fire breath.The great roars of pain and rage as they were repeatedly slashed. The sounds of the men screaming as the great horned claws of the old ones ripped at them.The acrid smell of the smoke from their fire breath charring the men’s skins. The battle raged it seemed forever, the sounds of her parents growing weaker and weaker as she shivered in fright hidden in the chamber. Too young to breathe the fire breath and her claws not fully sharp all she could do was listen to the sounds of the battle. The magical skills she possessed but not yet knew she had.All she could do was listen to the sudden sound of silence from behind the walls of the chamber. Then sounds of victory from the great warriors as her parents lay dying by their swords and magic. She heard the warriors searching through the great cave, looking for any other dragons, or the treasures her parents had collected through their lifespan.
“We have done well”, she heard the leader of the group say ” We’ll be taking these heads and hides back to the village now. The treasures are on their way as I speak.”
“Lets get these wounded back down to the village and to the healers. A great victory celebration we shall have tonight!”
"Move out!”
With that the little dragon was left. For moons she stayed inside the chamber, afraid to come out, afraid to see what was left of her once home, afraid of the men coming back. Finally the despair of loneliness drove her out of the chamber. Creeping out she saw that she was truly alone. She had heard her parents speak of others of her kind in unknown lands. Surely they could be found. Looking around her with sadness,she decided then to take flight and risk being seen to go in search of the others. For she must leave this place. Her heart was heavy as she silently crept out of the cave. Spreading her wings..she took tentative flight..headed to other lands..seeking others of her kind, and a new place to dwell…
