Un6erscore
01-05-2013, 12:07 AM
Hi everyone, I'm pretty new to this site, and this is my first story that I will probably finish, as I really like the idea and also how it's going so far. Basically I'll be releasing a chapter or two every day or so, the chapters are about 5 minutes to read, so i figure it would probaly fit under the catagory of short story, though it's more of a novel.
Here's the first chapter of Modern Dragons (and yes, there are dragons, and they are awesome), I hope you enjoy them.
-----------------------------------------------
01/06/2013
[B]Chapter One[B]
Erik sneaked through the forest, taking time to take in the sights and smells of the plants and wildlife around him as he followed the trail of the small family of rabbits he was stalking. The trail was getting stronger; he could practically smell them. He pushed through a clump of bushes, taking care that he did not crush any dry twigs or leaves between his feet.
Then he finally spotted them. He knew not the name of the species, despite his father's best attempts to drill them into his head. What he did know was that they were definitely edible, and large enough to provide a meal or two for him and his family. He also vaguely remembered his father saying something about the species being introduced to this area, up in the north of Canada, instead of having originated here, sometime before the world fell.
Fortunately his father had purchased land for hunting, as that was his trade before it all happened. It might be rough living up in the Canadian wilderness, but they were able to pull through without starving, thanks to his fathers skills as hunting and trapping, as well as his mothers expertise with medicinal plants.
The rabbits were lounging in a small clearing, near what appeared to be the entrance to a den. Erik had found an animal path about a days walk from his cottage, and followed it until rabbit tracks branched off of it and farther into the wilderness. Now the fruits of the day's labour were hanging in front of him, just begging to be picked and put into a delicious stew.*
Quietly, Erik brought his lever action rifle up to his shoulder, which had been a gift from his father for his sixteenth birthday, nearly three years ago. Aiming down the sights, he targeted the largest of the group, a large brown male, and pulled the trigger.
The first shot made a loud bang, startling the rabbits into action. They rabbits ran around in confusion, desperate to escape the hidden predator that had killed their brother.*
As Erik ejected the empty shell with the lever on his rifle, two of the rabbits crashed into each other in their panic, dazing themselves, giving Erik time to fire at one, reload, and shoot the other.*
All of this had taken place in barely seven seconds, leaving Erik pleased at his marksmanship skills. His father would be proud. He stood up and looked at the dead rabbits.*
They weren't anything large, like a deer or moose, but they would feed his family until tomorrow, when he could go hunting again.
They wouldn't starve.*
This time.
Just then he heard a loud "WHOOSH" over his head, and in a blur some large winged creature picked up one of his rabbits and flew away. Erik cursed, thinking it was probably a hawk or eagle that had spotted an easy meal.*
Not wasting any more time, in case the creature should come back, he gathered the rabbits together, and, deciding to skin and gut them when he got back home, tied them by the necks to his pack.*
As he pulled on his pack, he heard a strange roar in the distance, startling a few sparrows that were resting in a nearby tree. Fearing a pack of wolves or a bear might have caught his scent or the rabbits', he started jogging back to the cottage, the rabbits swinging wildly on his back.
As Erik ran he thought back to the winged creature. It had seemed too big to be a hawk or eagle, and he also didn't think they would have been able to fly so fast with such excellent maneuverability. He would have to ask his father about it when he got back; the man seemed to have an entire encyclopedia of all the animals in this region stuffed in his head, and Erik smiled fondly at the thought.
Just then, he heard the same "WHOOSH" he had heard earlier and a loud thud behind an old and very large oak. Surprising himself at the speed of his reflexes, he pulled his gun up to his shoulder and aimed it at the tree, his heart beating rapidly.
After a few seconds, it didn't seem like the tree would attack him, so he decided to try and see what creature was the culprit of the rabbit thievery. He took a piece of meat that his mother had packed lovingly in his pack should he become hungry, and with the gun still aimed at the tree, tossed it beside the tree. He heard sniffling, and then the creature's head darted out and snapped up the meat, almost so fast he didn't catch it. Erik's eyes widened, he hadn't seen what exactly had taken the meat, but what he did notice was that it had very large, sharp looking teeth.
Erik decided to try the meat again, and tossed another piece at the tree, this time farther away, in an attempt to lure the strange creature farther out of it's hiding spot.*
He heard the sniffling again, and this time was rewarded with a glimpse at a scaly snout before it went back behind the tree. Erik's mouth dropped open. He didn't know what this creature was, but he was starting to have suspicions.*
Having a crazy idea, he set down his pack and untied one of the large rabbits hanging on it. He then tossed it between him and the tree and whistled. The snout came back out again and sniffed.
It apparently liked what it smelled, because slowly, more of the creatures head came out from behind the tree, revealing a light green scaled snout, as well as a large green reptilian eye.*
The eye looked at Erik, and then down at the rabbit, then back at Erik. Watching his actions carefully, the creature slowly stepped out from behind the tree.*
Erik gasped as he realized his suspicions were true; the strange winged creature that had stolen his dinner was a dragon! Albeit a small dragon, but a dragon nonetheless. A mythical creature straight out of one of his grandmother's stories!*
It didn't seem to be too eager to eat him, so Erik decided to put the gun back in it's holster, knowing his father would have disapproved strongly. He also knew his father probably would have shot the creature on the spot.
Apparently it's hunger overrode it's caution, because the dragon slowly walked forward, swinging a long barbed tail, and began to eat the rabbit, still keeping a watchful eye on Erik, in case he should make any move to attack it.
Alas, Erik was finally able to get a closer look at the magnificent creature before him.*
It was easily as tall as a small pony, and about twice the length of one too, including it's long tail, which swung back and forth as it hungrily chewed on the rabbit.*
It had large, leathery wings that were folded against it's body. Long claws stretched out from it's wing bones. Large spikes of bone protruded from it's back and tail, ending with a large barb that was shaped a bit like a spear head. Along it's entire body, green scales glinted in what sunlight was allowed through the trees. The scales were much darker on it's back and the top of it's head, and became a lighter shade of green the nearer it's belly.
Erik had never seen such an amazing creature in his life, the greenish light passing through the leaves of the trees overhead made the sparkling hide on the dragon look even more glamorous. It's long, sharp claws and back spikes made the dragon look even more fierce.
But, even as he admired the creature before him, he noticed that some patches of scales didn't shine as brightly as the rest, and a closer inspection revealed that they were scratched and covered in dirt and filth. The dragon also sagged to the side, as if it were injured. a jagged tear ran through it's right wing, an injury that must surly cause it much pain during flight. The way the dragon devoured it's meal, it seemed like it hadn't eaten in days, and so was on the brink of starvation.
Having finished it's meal, the dragon lifted it's bloody snout and stared at Erik for several seconds, it's eyes filled with an intelligence that surprised Erik, as the legends told by his grandmother depicted them as mindless monsters that brought destruction upon the world with their claws and fiery breath. But, sitting here in front of him, he somehow knew that they were anything but that.
Glancing again at the scratches on it's hide, he couldn't help but wonder what it's story was. He also realized he had unwittingly lost the staring contest.
Here's the first chapter of Modern Dragons (and yes, there are dragons, and they are awesome), I hope you enjoy them.
-----------------------------------------------
01/06/2013
[B]Chapter One[B]
Erik sneaked through the forest, taking time to take in the sights and smells of the plants and wildlife around him as he followed the trail of the small family of rabbits he was stalking. The trail was getting stronger; he could practically smell them. He pushed through a clump of bushes, taking care that he did not crush any dry twigs or leaves between his feet.
Then he finally spotted them. He knew not the name of the species, despite his father's best attempts to drill them into his head. What he did know was that they were definitely edible, and large enough to provide a meal or two for him and his family. He also vaguely remembered his father saying something about the species being introduced to this area, up in the north of Canada, instead of having originated here, sometime before the world fell.
Fortunately his father had purchased land for hunting, as that was his trade before it all happened. It might be rough living up in the Canadian wilderness, but they were able to pull through without starving, thanks to his fathers skills as hunting and trapping, as well as his mothers expertise with medicinal plants.
The rabbits were lounging in a small clearing, near what appeared to be the entrance to a den. Erik had found an animal path about a days walk from his cottage, and followed it until rabbit tracks branched off of it and farther into the wilderness. Now the fruits of the day's labour were hanging in front of him, just begging to be picked and put into a delicious stew.*
Quietly, Erik brought his lever action rifle up to his shoulder, which had been a gift from his father for his sixteenth birthday, nearly three years ago. Aiming down the sights, he targeted the largest of the group, a large brown male, and pulled the trigger.
The first shot made a loud bang, startling the rabbits into action. They rabbits ran around in confusion, desperate to escape the hidden predator that had killed their brother.*
As Erik ejected the empty shell with the lever on his rifle, two of the rabbits crashed into each other in their panic, dazing themselves, giving Erik time to fire at one, reload, and shoot the other.*
All of this had taken place in barely seven seconds, leaving Erik pleased at his marksmanship skills. His father would be proud. He stood up and looked at the dead rabbits.*
They weren't anything large, like a deer or moose, but they would feed his family until tomorrow, when he could go hunting again.
They wouldn't starve.*
This time.
Just then he heard a loud "WHOOSH" over his head, and in a blur some large winged creature picked up one of his rabbits and flew away. Erik cursed, thinking it was probably a hawk or eagle that had spotted an easy meal.*
Not wasting any more time, in case the creature should come back, he gathered the rabbits together, and, deciding to skin and gut them when he got back home, tied them by the necks to his pack.*
As he pulled on his pack, he heard a strange roar in the distance, startling a few sparrows that were resting in a nearby tree. Fearing a pack of wolves or a bear might have caught his scent or the rabbits', he started jogging back to the cottage, the rabbits swinging wildly on his back.
As Erik ran he thought back to the winged creature. It had seemed too big to be a hawk or eagle, and he also didn't think they would have been able to fly so fast with such excellent maneuverability. He would have to ask his father about it when he got back; the man seemed to have an entire encyclopedia of all the animals in this region stuffed in his head, and Erik smiled fondly at the thought.
Just then, he heard the same "WHOOSH" he had heard earlier and a loud thud behind an old and very large oak. Surprising himself at the speed of his reflexes, he pulled his gun up to his shoulder and aimed it at the tree, his heart beating rapidly.
After a few seconds, it didn't seem like the tree would attack him, so he decided to try and see what creature was the culprit of the rabbit thievery. He took a piece of meat that his mother had packed lovingly in his pack should he become hungry, and with the gun still aimed at the tree, tossed it beside the tree. He heard sniffling, and then the creature's head darted out and snapped up the meat, almost so fast he didn't catch it. Erik's eyes widened, he hadn't seen what exactly had taken the meat, but what he did notice was that it had very large, sharp looking teeth.
Erik decided to try the meat again, and tossed another piece at the tree, this time farther away, in an attempt to lure the strange creature farther out of it's hiding spot.*
He heard the sniffling again, and this time was rewarded with a glimpse at a scaly snout before it went back behind the tree. Erik's mouth dropped open. He didn't know what this creature was, but he was starting to have suspicions.*
Having a crazy idea, he set down his pack and untied one of the large rabbits hanging on it. He then tossed it between him and the tree and whistled. The snout came back out again and sniffed.
It apparently liked what it smelled, because slowly, more of the creatures head came out from behind the tree, revealing a light green scaled snout, as well as a large green reptilian eye.*
The eye looked at Erik, and then down at the rabbit, then back at Erik. Watching his actions carefully, the creature slowly stepped out from behind the tree.*
Erik gasped as he realized his suspicions were true; the strange winged creature that had stolen his dinner was a dragon! Albeit a small dragon, but a dragon nonetheless. A mythical creature straight out of one of his grandmother's stories!*
It didn't seem to be too eager to eat him, so Erik decided to put the gun back in it's holster, knowing his father would have disapproved strongly. He also knew his father probably would have shot the creature on the spot.
Apparently it's hunger overrode it's caution, because the dragon slowly walked forward, swinging a long barbed tail, and began to eat the rabbit, still keeping a watchful eye on Erik, in case he should make any move to attack it.
Alas, Erik was finally able to get a closer look at the magnificent creature before him.*
It was easily as tall as a small pony, and about twice the length of one too, including it's long tail, which swung back and forth as it hungrily chewed on the rabbit.*
It had large, leathery wings that were folded against it's body. Long claws stretched out from it's wing bones. Large spikes of bone protruded from it's back and tail, ending with a large barb that was shaped a bit like a spear head. Along it's entire body, green scales glinted in what sunlight was allowed through the trees. The scales were much darker on it's back and the top of it's head, and became a lighter shade of green the nearer it's belly.
Erik had never seen such an amazing creature in his life, the greenish light passing through the leaves of the trees overhead made the sparkling hide on the dragon look even more glamorous. It's long, sharp claws and back spikes made the dragon look even more fierce.
But, even as he admired the creature before him, he noticed that some patches of scales didn't shine as brightly as the rest, and a closer inspection revealed that they were scratched and covered in dirt and filth. The dragon also sagged to the side, as if it were injured. a jagged tear ran through it's right wing, an injury that must surly cause it much pain during flight. The way the dragon devoured it's meal, it seemed like it hadn't eaten in days, and so was on the brink of starvation.
Having finished it's meal, the dragon lifted it's bloody snout and stared at Erik for several seconds, it's eyes filled with an intelligence that surprised Erik, as the legends told by his grandmother depicted them as mindless monsters that brought destruction upon the world with their claws and fiery breath. But, sitting here in front of him, he somehow knew that they were anything but that.
Glancing again at the scratches on it's hide, he couldn't help but wonder what it's story was. He also realized he had unwittingly lost the staring contest.