Twistedlemon
The American
- Joined
- Jul 14, 2015
- Messages
- 212
This is my first few pages of the WIP I starred. I'm very nervous about it, I know it's unique and I'm worry it's too unique. I hope you enjoy I may turn this into my very first novel.
FLAMEPUNK
The sun crept above the horizon, the rooster began his pagan worship to the star. Movement caught his eye, he halted mid crow. The grass beside him shifted.
His prey in the grass stopped, sensing it was being watched. The winged hunter circled around the lizard waiting to strike. He leaned in close, a low growl made the rooster rear up in panic.
The hunter was now hunted.
A large brown shape crawled through the grass, claws scratching the similarly colored dirt. The rooster flapped its wings sprinting towards the barn. Maximus erupted from the grass in pursuit. Feathers erupted in the air as his claws scraped the side of the wing. He rolled from the momentum as the chicken ran further away. Maximus’ scales changed to a light green as he resumed the chase. Sudden stops and erratic turns only decreased the distance between the prey and the reptile. Desperately the bird ran back to where the chase began.
A large barn came into view as the rooster scurried through the opening. The pursuer rounded the corner hissing in excitement. Maximus had just cornered the bird when a long slow whistle shrieked through the barn. The beast looked up guiltily.
“We’ve talked about this.”
Daniel looked down on his pet who flicked a forked tongue nervously. He cradled the monster into his arms, fingernails scratching behind his head. The dragon growled happily as his scales flushed with colors, the cold scales felt smooth on his fingertips. The little beast smelt of fresh cut grass and hay.
He set down the bright green Maximus outside as he scurried away to the house. The troublemaker knew he had a bowl of protein pellets by the back door.
The rooster clucked and cautiously peeked out from the stall. He had made it a few feet when a massive head stretched from the stall and snapped at him. The chicken flapped in terror and darted out of the barn nearly crashing into his savior. The massive head looked towards the dragon breeder and made a deep croaking sound that reminded Daniel of an old man’s laugh.
The Colbyn shook impatiently. Daniel brushed his scales with a metal tipped brush as he saddled the dragon. The largest of the land breeds, Colbyns first came to England a few decades ago from Scotland around 1850. Mostly herbivores, they detested small animals and would not hesitate to stomp them to death, or eat them. The occasional Colbyn had been found to grow fond of chickens and rats. Daniel theorized it was to compensate for diet, lack of calcium perhaps.
The rider and his breeder had exited the barn when a voice called out. “Daniel!”
The Colbyn blew air out angrily knowing that tone meant he was going back. A figure left the house heading toward the dragon and his boy. Bax clawed the ground growing irritated. The voice was within a few feet. Daniel ignored her as he walked the dragon back to his stall.
“Daniel!”
He continued to ignore her until he had the steed inside the stall. No use trying to have a conversation around an antsy Colbyn.
“There’s a parcel for Mom.”
Daniel looked back at his sister, a giant box was in her hands.
His hands shook. “Are you ok?” Daniel stared at the box. Their parents died a month ago visiting colleagues in Europe. An avalanche wiped out the entire town they were staying in. They were still clearing the wreckage for survivors. The funeral was done with empty caskets. The odds of survival were nil according to the locals after three days buried in snow, thirty was set in tombstone. Might as well get the funerals over with.
His sister set the box down on the edge of a stall. “I know it’s been difficult but it’s been equally as hard for me. They were my parents too.” Daniel hung his head, he removed the brindle from Bax’s mouth. He could not even look at her when she spoke. She had mom’s face, a cruel trick of biology.
Meg and Daniel have barely spoke since they passed. They’ve been working the family business, but it wasn’t the same without Mom and Dad. Thaddeus and Jessa McFar were some of the most renowned dragon breeders in the world. They have raised and trained hundreds of breeds from the common riders to even their exotic distant cousin the giant sea turtles the Rahabs.
The silence held for another minute.
“Open it.”
Meg’s eyebrow rose. It was the first time in days she heard him say anything. Usually an extrovert, her brother withdrew into his own little world of the dragons after they were orphaned.
The string fell to the ground as she unfurled the brown crinkled paper. She opened the lid hesitantly. Meg stared into it unmoving. Daniel’s curiosity took control. He reached in and pulled out the contents. The object was large, round and warm, he knew immediately what it was.
The sunlight shone on the dragon egg, something struck him as odd. The egg was a light brown with red swirls, most dragon eggs were plain white.
Meg was the first to state the obvious. “What kind of dragon is that?” Daniel held up the egg to the sunlight and squinted. A small quivering head moved in the shelled prison. “I’m more curious as to who sent it.”
FLAMEPUNK
The sun crept above the horizon, the rooster began his pagan worship to the star. Movement caught his eye, he halted mid crow. The grass beside him shifted.
His prey in the grass stopped, sensing it was being watched. The winged hunter circled around the lizard waiting to strike. He leaned in close, a low growl made the rooster rear up in panic.
The hunter was now hunted.
A large brown shape crawled through the grass, claws scratching the similarly colored dirt. The rooster flapped its wings sprinting towards the barn. Maximus erupted from the grass in pursuit. Feathers erupted in the air as his claws scraped the side of the wing. He rolled from the momentum as the chicken ran further away. Maximus’ scales changed to a light green as he resumed the chase. Sudden stops and erratic turns only decreased the distance between the prey and the reptile. Desperately the bird ran back to where the chase began.
A large barn came into view as the rooster scurried through the opening. The pursuer rounded the corner hissing in excitement. Maximus had just cornered the bird when a long slow whistle shrieked through the barn. The beast looked up guiltily.
“We’ve talked about this.”
Daniel looked down on his pet who flicked a forked tongue nervously. He cradled the monster into his arms, fingernails scratching behind his head. The dragon growled happily as his scales flushed with colors, the cold scales felt smooth on his fingertips. The little beast smelt of fresh cut grass and hay.
He set down the bright green Maximus outside as he scurried away to the house. The troublemaker knew he had a bowl of protein pellets by the back door.
The rooster clucked and cautiously peeked out from the stall. He had made it a few feet when a massive head stretched from the stall and snapped at him. The chicken flapped in terror and darted out of the barn nearly crashing into his savior. The massive head looked towards the dragon breeder and made a deep croaking sound that reminded Daniel of an old man’s laugh.
The Colbyn shook impatiently. Daniel brushed his scales with a metal tipped brush as he saddled the dragon. The largest of the land breeds, Colbyns first came to England a few decades ago from Scotland around 1850. Mostly herbivores, they detested small animals and would not hesitate to stomp them to death, or eat them. The occasional Colbyn had been found to grow fond of chickens and rats. Daniel theorized it was to compensate for diet, lack of calcium perhaps.
The rider and his breeder had exited the barn when a voice called out. “Daniel!”
The Colbyn blew air out angrily knowing that tone meant he was going back. A figure left the house heading toward the dragon and his boy. Bax clawed the ground growing irritated. The voice was within a few feet. Daniel ignored her as he walked the dragon back to his stall.
“Daniel!”
He continued to ignore her until he had the steed inside the stall. No use trying to have a conversation around an antsy Colbyn.
“There’s a parcel for Mom.”
Daniel looked back at his sister, a giant box was in her hands.
His hands shook. “Are you ok?” Daniel stared at the box. Their parents died a month ago visiting colleagues in Europe. An avalanche wiped out the entire town they were staying in. They were still clearing the wreckage for survivors. The funeral was done with empty caskets. The odds of survival were nil according to the locals after three days buried in snow, thirty was set in tombstone. Might as well get the funerals over with.
His sister set the box down on the edge of a stall. “I know it’s been difficult but it’s been equally as hard for me. They were my parents too.” Daniel hung his head, he removed the brindle from Bax’s mouth. He could not even look at her when she spoke. She had mom’s face, a cruel trick of biology.
Meg and Daniel have barely spoke since they passed. They’ve been working the family business, but it wasn’t the same without Mom and Dad. Thaddeus and Jessa McFar were some of the most renowned dragon breeders in the world. They have raised and trained hundreds of breeds from the common riders to even their exotic distant cousin the giant sea turtles the Rahabs.
The silence held for another minute.
“Open it.”
Meg’s eyebrow rose. It was the first time in days she heard him say anything. Usually an extrovert, her brother withdrew into his own little world of the dragons after they were orphaned.
The string fell to the ground as she unfurled the brown crinkled paper. She opened the lid hesitantly. Meg stared into it unmoving. Daniel’s curiosity took control. He reached in and pulled out the contents. The object was large, round and warm, he knew immediately what it was.
The sunlight shone on the dragon egg, something struck him as odd. The egg was a light brown with red swirls, most dragon eggs were plain white.
Meg was the first to state the obvious. “What kind of dragon is that?” Daniel held up the egg to the sunlight and squinted. A small quivering head moved in the shelled prison. “I’m more curious as to who sent it.”
. I didn't now how to introduce it without being info dumpy because I tried to lay down a foundation for an alternate history with dragons. Maybe over a longer piece I could lay it in lighter.
