There was once a tale that predicted the future, and a creature that most people thought were evil and only a fairytale; however, I know without question exactly what happened. I was there, and so were three great friends. A businessman named Frank Windell, a woman named Jesse Mclintoc, and myself, John Bridel.
I worked on a small range in the Appalachian Mountains; I was a mountain guide, and an animal caretaker. I took no chances at going different paths along the mountain by myself. But when I was in my teens I climbed up a section of the mountain that was covered in sharp rocks. The sacred place that I found and the creature within it was the beginning of my long and what you might call magical adventure of my life.
I finally reached a point at which I was standing on a cliff that was twelve feet long, reaching out to the ocean; and turning to my left there was a cave. It was dark, and damp. Mold had taken to the outer walls of the cave, and so it reeked of a terrible smell.
‘No wonder nobody comes up here anymore.’ I said to myself holding my hand against my mouth and nose.
I looked at the ground for a moment and noticed a print not made by any animal I had seen. The footprint was about three feet long! I followed the scratch and paw marks into the dark cave.
There I came face to face the most amazing creature alive; I ran out of the cave half scared to death. It did not follow me so I regained composure and walked cautiously back into the cave. I stood there in front of the creature with my eyes wide open and waiting for it to gobble me whole. I had heard of these creatures before as terrible monsters that shining knights in armor kill, to rescue a beautiful maiden, and that they would usually wed the maiden.
It was snoring and that established the fact that it was asleep. I looked around at the sight to behold; there was bones lying in certain areas, as though this creature sorted them into animal types. Like what I usually do with M&Ms. There lie the bones of cows in one corner, goats in another, and dogs which was nearest me.
My father had a farm before he died and after he passed I looked after his animals, in which he had cows, dogs, goats and chickens. I had always wondered why almost half of the animals were disappearing. I guess the scene that I had encroached upon answered my question. There weren’t many bones but only a few; there seemed to be more dogs and goats bones than cows, as the piles were almost as tall as me. I reached down to pick up the leg bone of a cow, and held it like a baseball bat as I searched the room for any danger other than the large creature in front of me. I saw nothing but limestone, and my hair was soaked from the water dripping from the ceiling. Then noticing there was no danger and was bored with standing around waiting for the creature to wake, I stood on the perilous ledge that reached out to the land. Suddenly, there was a loud sound from behind me. I took the cow bone in both hands ready to swing at the creature approaching. Slowly out came the head, then the twelve-foot long neck, then the long legs that stood at about five foot four, my height. It edged closer to me………………and yawned.
“Do you really think you can kill me with a bone?” it said. Its voice was calm and soothing, it moved gracefully as though it was a synchronized swimmer. I slowly lowered the useless weapon and dropped it onto the cliff.
“What is your name young one?” it asked. The color of its’ scales was a shining silver in the moonlight.
“J-John, John Bridel. W-who are you?” I studdered scared it might eat me.
“I am Sterling Silver. Sacred spirit of all of the elements of the Earth.”
“Are you a girl or boy?” I had no idea why I asked such a question at a dangerous moment such as this. But at that question it frowned at me in a most unpleasant way.
“I am a girl, can you not tell?” she asked. I shook my head, as its’ head loomed closer to my face.
“I forgot that your kind has nearly forgotten about us. Come.” It walked to the edge of the cliff and lowered its’ back so to allow me to climb onto its’ shoulders, which were curved inward due to age. I had no idea what she was planning to do but somehow her presence soothed me and all my fears of being eaten had suddenly washed away. Once I was securely onto her back, holding her long sheen mane, she put all of her power onto her back legs. She spread her wings out so far that it made her look ten times as big as before. And with one almighty shove we were soaring into the sky and over the clouds. The smell of fresh air and the speed of the wind flowing through my hair was exhilarating, and I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand on edge.
When we were high enough that nobody would be able to see us, she craned her neck over her shoulder.
“Here I shall tell you the history of my kind. Some history that you shall not hear in history books, or from fictional books.” I inched closer to her head so that I would be able to understand. She craned her neck back to her flying position, when I suddenly heard her voice. Inside my mind I saw everything she described and things she didn’t. During the long tale I had not needed to ask questions because she showed me everything.
“Long ago in the years of the dinosaur, my kind was the dominant and was much like what your kind is today. But something bad was about to happen, when I was the ruler of a small city called Lemeth City. One day when all of the existing rulers of cities and countries were gathered at a meeting, I told them what I had seen. A giant meteor was going to hit the Earth so hard that all main animal life was going to die a terrible death. They of course did not believe me and continued with the non-important issues about thieves. After the meeting was over, a small group of well-paid murderers attacked me as I was exiting the building. They took me to a cave and buried me in it by causing the cave entrance to collapse. For ten years I was in that cave, starving to death; and each day I would try to remove some of the stones and boulders that were blocking the entrance. My friend Shultz found me on the tenth day, he was a yellow dragon, and had a bit of an attitude. He dug me out and took me to a cave east of Lemeth in a mountain called Mt. Akelick. There I hid until I was presumed dead, but Shultz was looking after me. A month later my prediction came true, but before the large meteor hit earth I gathered as many trustworthy people as I saw fit. I was only able to rescue five dragons including Shultz and one of the Council members that had believed in my premonition.”
She paused and took a deep breath as I opened my eyes and noticed that we were back at the cave and had landed on the ledge without me even noticing it. I slid down from her back and stood in front of her as I suddenly noticed that she was crying.
“Then what?” I asked shaken from her magnificent appearance. So now if anybody said that she was as old as dirt, I will actually believe them.
“In the medieval ages it became a sport” she continued, “to kill dragons. So now for all that I know I could be the very last dragon alive.” She lowered her head and for some reason I pitied her. I walked casually to her lowered head and embraced her neck.
‘What can I do? What can anybody do?’ I thought.
“Did you ever wonder why I didn’t eat you when I first saw you?” She asked now with her voice instead of her thoughts.
I released her throat and stepped back for a full view of her.
“I thought you had recognized me from somewhere.” I shrugged.
“I knew your father.”
I stared at her in disbelief.
“You couldn’t have.” I stepped back in shock.
“Did you ever wonder why he had goats, cows, dogs, and chickens in a mountain range so close to here?” She questioned smiling, or what looked like she was smiling. It looked as if she was showing her teeth for display. They were as long as a grown mans forearm!
“I-didn’t think….” I just stared in shock as I racked through my brain all of the memories of him taking a goat or a cow up the mountain and then coming back with just the halter or leash. I once asked him what he did with them up there and he always answered the same way, “It was getting too old and was suffering so I found a nice place to put them to rest in peace.” But now I know the truth. The animals where to keep this creature, this dragon alive, but for what reason?
“Why did your father keep me alive?” She repeated the question I thought of. Obviously she was able to read minds.
“You, John Bridel, are the future.” She answered in her laying down position, flicking her tail like a cat.
“I told your father of your purpose in the future.”
“And what is my purpose for the future?” I wondered. This was a question that everyone has but hardly any know.
“You are to help me heal this world of a terrible scar. A man who has corrupted the minds of thousands, Manan Kroger.”
“MANAN KROGER!” I shouted. “Are you out of your mind? He’s a murderer, a dictator who will smite anyone who opposes him. He killed his wife for arguing to him about the living room décor. He bombed the US and got away with it. We’re about to have WWIII here, and you’re talking about waltzing in there and saying ‘Excuse me Mr. Kroger but you’re kind of killing us here would you mind lightening up?’ You’re talking suicide!” I finished shouting all of my warnings in her face and she didn’t even flinch, she didn’t even look at me funny.
“I know what he is and more and that’s why we need to join the US and get rid of him.” She blinked her eyes calmly as if we were talking about flowers and daises.
“But first we must find any of the dragons that have survived all of these years.” She got up and walked toward her cave.
“How are we supposed to do that?” I asked frustrated at how difficult my life was to become.
“Close your ears.” She ordered. I did as commanded. Instantly she let out a roar that was so loud that in the distance you could see lights turn on in houses. The roar lasted for a good two minutes and then she shot fire from out of her nose and mouth lighting up the entire mountainside. I slowly removed my ears in case she was to roar again.
When she didn’t I asked, “That it?”
“Yep. All there is left is to wait.” She went back in her cave and lay down in the same spot she was in earlier.
“Wait for what?” I asked impatient for the answer.
“Patience young fighter. We must wait for the dragons to regroup and meet here. Which reminds me.” She reached forward with one claw and gently touched the middle of my brow. A burning sensation intensified as she drove her claw deeper into my forehead allowing crimson liquid to run down my face and onto my shirt. I screamed at the pain and then suddenly everything went black.

I awoke to find myself in my bed; the blue cotton sheets were tangled in a large mess. I threw the large red comforter away from my head, and jumped off of the bed and skulked into the bathroom. ‘It was only a dream.’ I told myself reluctantly. ‘Yet everything that I experienced seemed so real. It couldn’t have been a dream.’ I looked into the bathroom mirror to see not me, but an older version of me with a seven o’clock shadow across my face. I screamed at the strange person looking at me and ran out of the room pausing in the bedroom to feel the short hair on my face.  I had somehow gained bony cheeks in the night, and long muscular arms that were connected with strong pecks. Sadly I didn’t receive a six-pack, but good buns and legs to make up for it. I went back into the bathroom to get a better, less frightening look at myself.
After complimenting to myself of my beautiful new appearance I hurriedly got dressed and ran toward the cave Sterling Silver lived in. The climb didn’t seem as grueling as it did before, considering I had gained about forty pounds of muscle in one night. As I reached the ledge that protruded out of the mountain I stared in shock as to where the cave used to be, but was now a smooth limestone wall showing no existence of a cave. I looked to the floor for answers but found none, as the footprints that I had seen were no longer there. I sat at the edge of the ledge confused and befuddled at this disappointment. I looked back at the small one bedroom house below me and noticed that somebody was waiting at my door. I cursed myself at my negligence to put up a sign and quickly but safely ran down the mountain.
The path I took was steep and fell sharply to my home below. Of course having been climbing this mountain since I was a boy gave me experience.
Once I reached the bottom I took a quick glance at the animals and found them all huddled in the farthest corner away from the house.
‘Strange.’ I thought ‘They’ve never done that to a visitor before.’ Taking note of the animals’ behavior I ran around the last corner of the house to come face to face with a woman.
She had long flowing silver hair, but had a black scarf over the top of her head to conceal her face. Her face was young and inspiring, as was her slim body. She wore a black overcoat and long jeans, which followed with worn boots. She gave me a look of great urgency, and took me by the arm and led me inside my house.
“Wait miss you can’t…” I stumbled over the front doorstep nearly falling flat on my face. A pair of hands grabbed me just before my nose hit the pavement.
“Really John Bridel you have to look before you step.” Came a voice so familiar that I nearly fell again out of her hands. I arose to look straight into her eyes they were shimmering silver.
“S-Sterling?” I asked hesitantly.
“I am she.” She smiled and closed the door behind me.
“But you were….how did….wha…” I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Sterling Silver, a dragon bigger than the house I was living in, turned somehow into a woman. I scratched the top of my head trying to find a solution to all of this madness.
“The dragons will arrive momentarily.” She informed taking a seat in a chair at the kitchen table. She acted as if she lived in this house before, for she knew where everything was.
“How did you…” I couldn’t finish the question; I didn’t want to be made out a pervert.
“I took this form by way of magic. Something that your kind has all but forgotten. How do you like your new look?” She asked smiling. I loved it when she smiled, it seemed to wash all of my cares away along with the thousands of questions I had.
“I feel great.” I said truthfully in both voice and mind.
“But you wish you had a six-pack?” She chuckled.
“Yes.” I smiled back. She was so beautiful in human form, even if her eyes were a little creepy.
Suddenly a knock came at the door and Sterling rose from her seat to answer it. I sat up in my seat to better present myself to the last remaining dragons. Sterling seemed happy that she found she wasn’t the last dragon left.
Sterling greeted the visitors with a puff of smoke from her nostrils, and they repeated the action. One by one they walked in shaking Sterling’s hand with a cheerful greeting.
A man with strange yellow hair walked in first wearing a brown overcoat.
“My Gods Sterling you look absolutely ravishing after all of these years.”
“Thank you Shultz.” Sterling smiled back.
He looked as young as I was but a bit taller and more brawn and muscular.
Next came another woman with dark blue hair, which looked like the darkest parts of the ocean.
“Hello Sterling it’s wonderful to see you again. I missed you so much.” The two of them shared a hug.
“It’s wonderful to see you again Sophie. I have much to talk about.” She released her from her hug.
“As do I.” Sophie winked and looked back at a man in his thirties, he was next in line.
“My goodness has time flown. I expected you to look much older Sterling.” He chuckled. He was tall and had fire red hair and, like everyone so far, was wearing a brown overcoat.
“Oh stop it Blaze.” She chuckled back and looked at his hand she was shaking.
“I didn’t know you two got married?! How wonderful! Who said Fire and Water can’t get along?” She chuckled, as did everybody.
The last person walked through the door; he was much older than any who had walked in. He had dark green hair and instead of brown he wore a black overcoat and he carried an umbrella.
“Well, well, well, Sterling. I hope you’re doing well.” He took her hand and gave it a small kiss.
“Well David I’m doing fine.” She smiled and gave him a peck on the cheek. “That has been overdue, hasn’t it?” She joked.
“Indeed.” He replied still in his position. She took back her hand and looked back out the door as if she were expecting someone. She closed the door slowly seeming as if she was confused and walked over to me placing a hand on my shoulder.
“This, fellow council members is John Bridel. He is the boy I have told you about.” She informed now turning serious.
“He doesn’t look like the big hero to me.” Scoffed Shultz.
“That’s because he has not been trained yet, Shultz.” She gave him a pair of angry eyes causing him to look away from her gaze.
“How did you know this Sterling?” asked Blaze.
“I looked into his future and found that he was soon to rebel against Manan Kroger. So I decided to have a bigger and better purpose for him.” She took a seat next to me as the others followed suit without being offered.
“Did you say Manan Kroger? But Sterling, that’s impossible. Nobody can stand up to him and live.” Sophie warned.
“Did it seem impossible to live when the meteor hit and everything died?” her voice strained as she got angry at everyone’s ignorance.
“He needs to be dealt with quickly.” She calmed down trying to show her patience with them.
“Why should we do this anyway? I was fine where I was.” Argued Shultz.
“Do you wish to live as only a dragon for the rest of your life? The only way to allow us to become human without being taken in for questioning is to kick Kroger off of his royal throne.” She informed
“How do you plan on doing this with John Bridel?” asked David curiously.
“First we must wait for the US to make their decision on fighting him or not, which we will. Then we must wait until people are being drafted to make our move.” She waved her hand over my head.
“How will we know that happens?” asked Sophie.
“I will have a dream the day before they say so on the news and radio.” She ran her fingers through her straight silky hair.
“So all we have to do is wait?” I asked cheerfully.
“We do,” said Blaze, “But you don’t.”
“You must learn our ways so that later you may use our abilities against our enemy.” Instructed David.
“I volunteer to teach him first!” shouted Shultz.
Sterling looked at Shultz unexpectedly and gave him a look of understanding.
“Fine. Tomorrow the teaching will begin.” She declared.
I just looked at everyone shocked that all of these people, these dragons, had made the decision of my future without my say. Who said I wanted to do this anyway? I did want to oppose Kroger later but come on! It’s almost like they know I’m about to die, or something.
Sterling suddenly looked at me and then I knew that she had heard what I thought.
“What say you John Bridel, keeper of the ways of dragons?” She smiled. I hate that smile.
“I know we’re just pushing this on you without your say but before we do anything, you may choose your path. You can back out anytime you want during your training. And when I receive the dream you may choose to go through with this or leave. Either way I can find a more suitable speaker. I chose you because you had more stamina than most and you instinctively know how to motivate people.”
As she told me all of the reasons she chose me for the job I came to realize that whenever I took someone on a hike halfway down they would want to give up. Without even thinking before I say something I would always find something to say that gets them moving. Maybe I was destined for this! I guess only Sterling would know seeing that she can predict the future.
“I choose to join you against Manan Kroger.” I finally declared. Everyone smiled with expectation, and delight.
Sterling whispered in my ear, “You chose wisely.”
She stood up straight and looked at everyone before her smiling and talking about what a wonderful future everyone will have after Kroger is gone. Sterling’s voice disrupted the giggling and pleasantries with the most troublesome question all night.
“So, where is Rellik?”

The room became deathly quiet. Everyone was now instead of looking at each other, staring at their feet, probably hoping their eyes would bore a hole in the floor big enough for them to escape through.
David was the first one to speak.
“Rellik has departed from the Council to join another.” He informed shakily.
“What other council?” Sterling asked afraid of the answer.
“The um…government of…Manan Kroger.” Shultz declared reluctantly.
Sterling didn’t answer but stared at her own pair of feet. For a moment I thought she was about to cry but instead her eyes turned blood red and her pupils disappeared. I jumped off of my seat as if I had sat on a spring and cautiously walked to the line of other freaked-out people.
Her hair spiked out in all different directions and her face turned yellow. She seemed to levitate off of the floor and stand in midair. I looked down the line of people to find them all with their eyes closed and their hands over their ears. I soon found out why they covered their ears as a high-pitch screech came from the black vortex in Sterling’s face. I quickly covered my ears to find that they had started bleeding. Suddenly she returned to her original state, and everyone had begun to uncover their ears and eyes. She raised her head and I found that her eyes were still the blood-red color from the beginning, and a voice so deep that it was hard to make out what she said.
“I will kill that son-of-a-bitch even if I am the last dragon left. I swear under pain of death that his blood shall be spilt and his head will be severed from his proud shoulders and placed on a silver platter!”
She hovered out of the room and out the door. Everyone ran to catch up with her but she had disappeared. I looked up to find her in dragon form flying up to the ledge I had first met her at. I started to climb up there, but a hand grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back. I looked to find Shultz pulling me up from the dirt but still watching Sterling on the ledge.
He shook his head, “You should let her be for a while until she comes back down.” He warned.
“Who’s Rellik?” I asked pissed that Rellik’s switch would make Sterling so upset.
“One of the five she rescued. I guess even Sterling cannot see everything in the future. I think no one can.” He patted my shoulder and wiped off a few blobs of dirt.
“The future is undecided. Anybody can change it in a heartbeat.” Informed David.
“Sterling knows this. As does everybody.” Included Blaze.
But what had made her so upset about Rellik? I had to find out, but I would rather let a dragon cool down to ask the question than to anger her more when she is already steaming. I led everyone back into the house to prepare them meals for the evening, with some help from Sophie, for every time I placed something in the pan it would catch fire. So I winded up sitting at the table with the men playing cards, and Sophie doing all of the cooking.

After dinner I stood outside in the chilly air as snow fell softly all around me. I stood in the freezing snow and stared at the ledge where the cave should be. A door creaked behind me and I looked to find Shultz coming outside with his hands crossed across his bulky chest. He said nothing but gazed off into the distance not really focusing on anything. I looked to find that Sterling was not on the ledge like before but was coming down the mountain in her human form. She seemed less tense than her outburst but I guess with her you can’t predict what her emotions are going to be. She came down the mountain with ease and grace as if she were hovering over the deadly rocks. Her black scarf over her soft flowing hair she caught snowflakes in her hand as they fell. As she arrived at the back gate to the mountain I cautiously walked over and opened the tarnished wood gate to allow her in the backyard. Her eyes looked as though she had been crying and her cheeks where red from the cold. On her hands she wore black leather gloves as she held out snowflakes in front of me.
“Look at the little darlings; they remind me of my favorite place, New Zealand. I used to go there every winter because the snow made the landscape look like it was heaven.” She chuckled. The snowflakes had not melted in her hands, and you could see every detail in them. They looked so fragile, if you touched one they would shatter into a million pieces.
She threw them into the air to join with their fellow snowflakes. She stood there for what seemed like an eternity before I suddenly noticed a small drop of liquid roll down her cheek. Burying his hands in his pockets, Shultz waddled over to Sterling stood beside her and, still keeping his hands in his pockets extended his elbow. She eased her arm through his and they walked inside, she turned her head and called, “Come on John. I hear Sophie made some pie.” She smiled that sweet innocent smile that can delude a man so fast he couldn’t even stand up straight, for I nearly tripped over a protruding log. As we entered my small house the warm air from inside rushed over my face like the current of a river. Before I went through the door I found myself feeling as if someone was watching. As anyone else would do, I looked around me. I could have sworn I saw the tail of a black dragon disappear behind the barn.

“No John! You’re not ready!” I woke to find myself lying on a sponge filled with sweat rather than a dry bed. Sterling carefully opened the door to find that I was on the floor.
“John are you ok?” she shouted in shock. I looked up and nodded. ‘Why can’t I answer?’ I wondered. Suddenly she began to sniff the air as if it was filled with a vile smell.
“Come.” She dragged me off my feet and to the door with ease.
Making a low rumble in her throat, she sounded an alarm. Soon everyone who so quickly entered my life, left the building. Coming out of the house we were met by a dark creature looming over the house. Placing its claw delicately on the roof, it spoke in a low rumble.
“Well hello Sterling. It’s good to see you again.” It chuckled.
“What do you want Rellik?”Sterling roared. She was defiant to give in to such a traitor. As I looked into her eyes I saw the blood-red begin to consume the whites of her eyes. Slowly I loosened her grip on her hand until she let go.
“Temper, temper. You were always terrible at receiving bad news. What I want is the boy.” He stared at me and I stared right back in the same defiance as Sterling.
“He’s got that same look in his eyes as you.” He chuckled. Removing his claw from the roof of my house, he took two large steps closer to Sterling. The sounds of swords being removed from their sheaths rang loud and clear behind me. Rellik reluctantly backed off.
“I am not in the mood to fight but hear this Sterling. I will get that boy if it means to kill you.” He warned lowering his head closer to Starlings.
“So be it.” She whispered loud enough for him to hear. He grinned, and took to the sky as a black, evil, dragon. I looked to find Sterling still looking at the empty space where his head used to be, with tears running down her face. I laid my hand on her shoulder gently. She turned to look at me and began to really bawl. We lowered to the snow covered ground and I, a blanket, covered her with all of my arms length. Then I noticed I wasn’t alone, for everyone else joined me. I looked to find Sophie hugging me in tears also. That’s when we knew we had to kill Rellik.
After lying on the ground for two hours we eventually moved into the house where Sterling sat next to the fire fast asleep in my favorite chair. Sophie was in the kitchen slowly and droopily cleaning a pot with the remnants of tomato sauce. The men gloomily played a game of sad poker. Tired of all the sadness in the air I went outside to put the animals in the barn for the remainder of the winter. Herding the goats and sheep seemed to be harder, they wouldn’t go anywhere near the house or the barn. Sensing a presence in the barn I opened the door slightly to peek inside. I broke the door off its hinges as I found the body of a black and white dragon lying in a large pool of blood. I looked from the dragon to the roof to find it had crash landed into the barn.
I ran to its head feeling for anything, a pulse, breathing, yet I found nothing. I looked at my hands covered in the dragons’ blood. His neck was sliced in four different places, some deeper than others. I sat in next to the dragon thinking back to the images Sterling sent through my mind on my first flight and remembered the sight of dead dragons; strewn on the ground like rag dolls. I suddenly felt cold drops fall from my eyes. I looked at the dragon to find its’ eyes were slowly opening. I began to shout in its’ face.
“Wait, I can save you! Stay there!” I ran to the house. Blood dripping from my hands I kicked the door down in the kitchen, scaring the daylights out of Sophie.
“Come hurry! There’s a dragon in my barn! It’s hurt!” I panted. Sterling was the first one out the door, as I ran with her into the barn. The dragons’ head had moved but everything else had remained the way it was.
“Good Gods.” Sterling whispered. She carefully walked toward the dragons’ head reciting an incantation. Placing her hand over his eyes a blue light laminated her hand, as the holes in the dragons’ neck began to close. Everyone else pitched in placing a had on wounds all over the dragons’ body.
“Sleep darling. When you wake, find me.” She whispered in his ear, and he immediately fell into a deep sleep.
“Let’s go.” She shooed everyone out of the barn and closed the door behind her as we went back into the house. Everyone sat around the dinner table, and I next to Sterling.
“So, who was it Sterling?” asked Blaze.
“His name his Minoru. I never learned as to where he came from but I found his memories and briefly watched how he got the way he is.”She informed.
“Well, how?” Shultz ordered impatiently.
“He had fought Rellik a few hours ago and crashed into our barn trying to escape him.” She shuddered. I could’ve sworn I saw the blood red color flicker in her eyes.
“How far had he flown?” asked David.
“I don’t really know. He would’ve died if you hadn’t found him John.” She gave me a pleasant smile of gratitude. I blushed at the sight of her smile, and looked back at the barn through the window.
“It’s ok John. He’ll be fine.” She patted my hand. I felt comfortable around her, as if I could do anything and get away with it. Shultz must’ve noticed my feelings for her because he shot out of his seat and slammed the front door as he exited the cabin. I grabbed my coat from the hall tree and scuffled out the door, but to have suddenly meet a fist in my face. I dodged it as quickly as humanly possible, but it scrapped my cheek leaving a red spot close to my eye.
“That one was to wake you up. We’re going to start your training right now.” He growled. I zipped up my jacket, ready for anything else he might throw at me. He tossed a rather large stick into the air.
“Catch it!” he ordered. As requested I caught it with both hands.
“Toss it into the air as high as you can.” He ordered gruffly.  I bent my legs to give it an extra boost as I threw it into the sky with all my might.
“Catch it with one hand this time.” He grinned. I caught it and it felt like someone had dropped a brick on my hand from a twenty story building. I dropped the heavy stick on the ground and stuck my hand in the snow to cool it off. Behind me I heard Shultz laugh as hard as he could. He bent down beside me picking up the stick.
“Watch and learn.” He smiled. I wanted to give him a knuckle sandwich.
He tossed the stick farther then I had. Lets say father than the height of the Empire State building. You could hear it coming down with a high-pitch whistling noise. Shultz wasn’t even looking up but was tying his shoe. I saw it pass through the clouds like a bullet in water, and quickly made its way toward Shultz’s head.
“Uh…!” I couldn’t speak. He was showing off but all I could think about was what would happen if he didn’t notice it coming at him. I began to make my way toward him, but he stopped me with the raising of his hand. I felt as if I was watching everything in slow motion. He raised his right hand catching the stick on one finger, twirled it around in his hand and plunged one end of it into the white ground.

“I’ll show you how to catch anything no matter where it comes from, or what size.” He suddenly became serious. “Soon you’ll be able to toss around a nuke in your hand with ease.” He looked blankly at the stick, then at me. “I will teach you to be aware of your surroundings.” He grinned. I gave him my I-will-do-anything face.
“Show me.” I asked politely.

After our practice I felt as if my hands had been burnt, frozen, chopped off, and hung by their thumbs. What a wonderful feeling. There were so many bruises on my hands that I lost count somewhere around 50, but all I could think about was what would happen if I didn’t do as Sterling wished. We went inside the cozy cabin to warm up, the sudden change of temperature made my hands tingle. Shultz held out a hand with a pair of gloves.
“Make sure you wear these next time.” He patted me on the shoulder. Of course! That’s why it didn’t hurt him when he caught it, he was wearing gloves. Show off. In the kitchen I learned how to prepare a meal, seeing as how all I’ve been eating was ramen noodles. The make-at-home-in-three-minutes kind. With the help of Sophie’s ability to mold water into any shape she pleases, we were able to cook anything in record time.
It became a routine to play a game of poker after the food, because that’s what we would bet with.
“I bet this steak…” or “I bet these peas…” that’s what our bargaining chips became. Of course nobody really went hungry, because everyone cheated their way to get food. How did I know? Sterling would give a strange look to everyone around the table at a time, and then shuffle in her seat.
Afterward we would play a game where anybody willing to talk about their most embarrassing moments in their lives, and make everybody laugh the most would win the game. I was the winner every night. I at one point admitted having forgotten to shut both the animal’s gate and the back door and overnight the animals made themselves at home on the couch and ate everything in the kitchen.
After all of the festivities we would fall asleep in whatever chair we were in.
I woke up one night to find Sterling sitting in my favorite chair staring off into the window. She wasn’t really focusing on anything, but I knew that she must not be able to sleep because of everybody’s dreams. I wonder if they ever bothered her.
Morning came and so did a bright light coming from the barn. I hopped out of bed and ran out the back door in my pajamas. The barn was on fire. I woke Sophie in the hopes she might help me put out the fire.
“What….What is it John?”she groaned.
“My barn is on fire!” I shouted. She hopped out of the chair as if she had sat on a needle, and ran out the back door with me.
“Where’s the dragon?” she shouted above the roar of the fire.
“I don’t know.” I looked up in hopes of finding him in the air. A roar came from inside the barn.
“He’s still inside!”I yelled.
Suddenly Sterling busted through the back door breaking it off its hinges. I watched her in slow motion turn into her original form. She broke through the barn wall causing the roof to collapse. We waited, and waited for anything to appear from the black smoke that was once my barn. Then she came, with the black and white dragon across her back. Deep wounds where in her neck and legs, as she proudly carried the dragons weight as if he was made of feathers. Her eyes were the blood red color, that meant either she was too late, or she was really, really angry. Sterling gave out a mighty roar, and carefully laid the dragon at her feet.
“He is dead.” She grumbled.
“No. He can’t be. Who did such a thing?” I denied the fact he was dead by hugging his neck, as tears ran down my face.
I looked up to see that the blood red in her eyes was gone; she looked away from the carcass. Suddenly she grabbed me, pulled me to my feet and slapped me. All I could do was stare at her in shock.
“I made a vow to never shed another tear so long as I live, and so should you! You didn’t even know him! Stop whinnying you baby!” She commanded.
After a few tense moments she let me fall to the ground. Dried tears clung to my face like old crusty glue. She bent down to the dragons eyes and laid her hand on his brow.
“I’m sorry you were in this.” She whispered silently.
Instantly his body became engulfed in flames as Sterling stumbled into the cabin. All the others remained around me giving me excuses for her behavior, it wasn’t until after the body was gone did they tell me that he was Sterling’s and Relliks’ son.
After doing the stupid catch-the-stick-as-it-falls game for over a month, I was able to catch it at practically any height. Then after he got sick and tired of watching me strain for a month he brought, not a stick, not even a larger piece of wood; but a rock the size of his head. He tossed it to me with ease.
“Now throw and catch this.” He ordered.
As told I threw it up into the air and caught it with both hands with ease. He gave me his angry look as a vein began to emerge from his neck like a snake squirming down a tree trunk.
“With one hand you dolt!” he barked.
Reluctantly I threw the rock in the air and awaited for it’s descent. I looked at Shultz for a second and found a rather scared look on his face. He drew his sword from his pocket and instantly it grew twice his size.
“What are you doing?” I stammered.
“Get back, I thought I saw someone.”
He stared in the direction where I threw the rock. That’s when I noticed the whites of his eyes where yellow. I looked back up to find a snake-like object floating above our heads. He raised his sword in defense mode. Then suddenly the head of the object broke through the clouds and plunged toward Shultz. It roared the most horrible sound I had ever heard, and as it drew closer I noticed it wasn’t even a living creature. I ran inside to fetch Sterling when suddenly the roar sounded as if it was coming right at me, I turned to find that is was heading for me. Its head was made of steal and steam shot from the sides of his head, its mouth looked like an endless dark pit of despair.
I raised my hands in defense and shut my eyes as tight as I could, awaiting the moment where I would be chomped in half, or sliced into pieces.
After a few minutes I realized that nothing had happened, I wasn’t eaten, or dead for that matter. I looked to find the steal dragon lying on the ground looking as if a can-opener had gone nuts on the thing. Shultz was on his knees in the same place where he stood before. His eyes looked like saucers; his sword had fallen from his hand in front of him. I looked at my hands and saw that they were emitting a yellow light, which slowly died away as I stood in shock.
Sterling and the others filed out of the cabin to see the large steal dragon that now had become scrap metal. Sophie let out a shriek, and David clutched his shirt in astonishment.
“I-I don’t…I didn’t mean to…I” I quibbled.
There was nothing I could say to explain the scene which had occurred on my front lawn. Sterling smiled a pleased smile and applauded. I gave her a confused look and she let out a laugh.
“Shultz, it seems someone here has defeated you in your little game again.” She bragged.
“Shut up! I had no idea that was up there!” he boomed in anger.
I had known for about two days now, took it forever to finally realize where we were. She walked over to it and inspected its jaw, which had unhinged in my defensive attack.
“Look here, a dint from your rock John.” She presented the jaw for all to see. There was a dint so large I was amazed it didn’t break through. She tossed it back into the pile of scrap looked to Sophie and nodded.
Sophie in return drew water from the air and engulfed the scraps and David brought up enormous mounds of earth to cover the water; to join in Shultz shot a form of blue lightning out of his sword and jolted the large oval mound and in an instant it disappeared.
Sterling looked at my face and touched the middle of my temple.
“The mark I gave you allows you to use any form of earths’ power that you gain from us.” She implied.
“But, what did I gain from catching a stick?”
“You gained the power of the sky, lightning and wind.” She clarified.
I looked at my hands and felt my forehead and felt a indentation of where Sterling first made her mark. I dashed into the cabin and swerved into the first bathroom I could find. There on my forehead sat a small tattoo looking dragon upon my brow, I noticed it only had one wing, but dismissed the minor imperfection. It was a mixture of all kinds of colors, and looked like a rainbow. I stretched my forehead in different directions to see if it was real or a fake non-permanent tattoo.
“Hey stop that, I’ll get stretch marks!” came a voice from above.
I looked up to see that there was nothing there but the ceiling, when the voice came out again.
“Be careful of how you handle me you dolt!” I looked in the mirror to find the dragon on my forehead emerging from my skin, its claws dug deep into my skin. I screamed in terror and swatted the creature from my skull. I tried to run out the door but it was locked.
“Ow! That hurt, you meanie. Oh stop fretting you whinny baby!”
I turned slowly allowing the shock to come at me slowly. My tattoo had become a rather small dragon, and I was right about one thing; it did only have one wing.
“Wh-who are you?” I stuttered.
“I am your guardian of the elements. I am also your conscience now that you have the ability to use lightning and wind. But as you can see we still have a long way to go.” It flapped its’ only wing around with difficulty.
“So you’re me?”
“In a matter, yes. I am you, emotionally and mentally. I also can read thoughts.” It informed.
“So, what’s your name?” I questioned. I drew closer to him, now that I wasn’t freighted anymore.
It gasped in shock, “I haven’t got a name. Will you give me one?”.
“We’ll call you…Sparky.”
“Sparky?” he echoed.
“That’s how I met you, when I learned how to use lightning.” I smiled.
“That’s so cliché.” He informed.
“I know but that’s all I can think of.” I chuckled.
“Right then, my name will now be Sparky. Well John, I must return from where I came.”
“Will it hurt?” I winced.
“I guess we’ll find out.” He jumped up onto my shoulder and crawled up to the middle of my scalp and a flash of light and he had become a tattoo once more.
“Can you hear me?” I called silently.
“Yep I’m in your conscience, so I can read your thoughts and others as well.” Sparky replied.
I left the bathroom to join the others in the living room, they were awaiting my arrival. Shultz stood up and greeted me with his arms across his chest.
“My training with you is nearly complete, you have one more lesson with me and then you will be taught by Sophie. We’ll finish tomorrow at dawn, on the cliff. I assume you know which one I am talking about?” He inquired.
I nodded, “Yes sir.”.
David walked up to me and placed his hand on my forehead where my dragon had slithered out.
“I see you’ve met your spirit dragon.” He smiled.
“Spirit dragon?” I frowned; he had failed to mention that.
Sterling waved a hand at David to tell me, “I told him not to forget.”
“Your spirit dragon obviously has your soul within him or her. It is a he right?” he assumed.
“Yes, I named him Sparky.” I giggled.
David smiled, “That’s a good name for your spirit, and you are always full of life.”
“What is my spirit dragon supposed to help me do?”
“Well now that you have been in contact with several dragons and have taken upon that mark your dragon takes any power that it comes in contact with; much like a sponge that absorbs water, your dragon holds all the information your brain would not be able to handle.”
“Oh I see, he’s like my second brain?” I caught on.
“Yes, perfect description. Although he would not be able to help you an any physical activity, he’s just not built for that.” He ended.
“What he says is true.” Sparky echoed.
“All brains and no brawn.” Commented Shultz. “Enough of this business lets play poker. I’ve been waiting all evening.” Shultz demanded.
Now that I had Sparky and his ability to read minds, I won just about every game. Of course Sterling knew this but allowed me to exercise the ability. I do need to practice communicating with Sparky.
The next day began with me waking up one hour late, I rushed up the mountain as fast as I could.
“Sparky why didn’t you wake me up!?” I screamed in my head.
“I was tired last night, sorry.”
“Urgh, Shultz is going to kill me.” I replied to Sparky’s sad apology.
Once I reached the cliff I noticed that the cave that had once disappeared now reappeared before my eyes. I panted as I walked cautiously into the cave to find Blaze and Shultz sitting on the ground in front of a campfire. Blaze noticed I had finally arrived and waltzed over to greet me.
“Well, well, look who finally decided to show up.” He chuckled.
“Did you sleep well?” Blazed smirked.
I looked at him angrily, he was making fun of me being late for the first time. I felt a rage inside me swell up.
“Control that anger of yours boy!” shouted Shultz.
I glanced at him, “Are we going to continue with the lesson?” I growled.
“Yes.” He stood up and strolled over toward me.
“Outside.” He pointed a bony finger out toward the cliff.
I marched over to the edge of the cliff and looked to the bottom that was covered with sharp rocks at the bottom; it looked almost like the back of a porcupine. Shultz pulled out his sword and it immediately expanded to twice his size. He tossed the sword to me I was afraid that if I caught it I would fall through the floor. Involuntarily I grabbed its hilt and swung it around my head with ease, and stood in Shultz’s fighting stance. He looked at me with sheer astonishment. I wouldn’t blame him; all I could do was stare at my arms in my own amazement.
“Point the end of it to the sky and think about lightning. That’s all I want you to think about.” He ordered.
I did as he told, I imagined lightning, I felt its sudden burst of heat coming from the sky, I smelt the smell of burnt grass. I looked up to see that the once clear blue sky had turned into a dangerous storm right above my head. Suddenly a lightning bolt reached down and struck the sword. I suppressed the force from entering my body, I didn’t want to get shocked!
“Let it come to you John!” shouted Shultz.
I calmed myself and yellow light blinded my vision, I suddenly felt the urge to blow up anything that stood before me. I pointed my sword in the direction where I believed to be the top of the mountain. Screaming, no, it wasn’t screaming I heard but roaring coming from my mouth that sounded similar to what Sterling sounded like. After a few short seconds the lightning that struck me disappeared and I stood there with my sword pointed exactly where I thought it was. Shultz and Blaze were to the right of me covered in dirt. I tried to say something but I was so tired. I dropped my sword where I stood and collapsed into unconsciousness.