THE MAGIC WITHIN
Rating: PG
Genre: Adventure
Setting: All over Djinova
Main Characters: read it and you’ll see
It was the first time she had
ridden a dragon. Come to think of it, it was the first time she had seen a
dragon. However, the experience was not one she would have liked to repeat. The
dragon itself was a good flyer, yet the freezing arctic winds swept around the
two
travellers on its back constantly. Catriona spent most of
the journey with her eyes screwed up tightly. While they flew, the dragon spoke
of the strange happenings in the fire kingdom.
It started small; I was flying
one day over the boiling lava of one of our tallest volcanoes. It was then I
noticed coldness in the air. After that, the coldness swept through the
kingdom. It was slow at first, unnoticed by most. However, it grew in its
extremity. Soon ice and snow covered our lands. Many of the dragons died, those
who did not seemed to just vanish. I have not seen another like me for days.
Vyrock spoke shakily, he still
hadn’t got used to the idea of being friends with a dragon.
“P’raps we should check out
this volcano. Seems it’s where the trouble started.” Catriona nodded in
agreement. The dragon altered his course immediately.
If that is where you wish to
go!
Catriona hated the remainder
of the journey. The dragon turned upwards, climbing higher in the sky. She
hoped that he wouldn’t become sluggish again. The coldness became more extreme,
when, just as Catriona felt she could stand it no more, the dragon swooped.
There! The volcano! She opened her eyes
and looked down, expecting to see boiling
lava. But what she saw was a
snow-capped mountain.
“Go lower!” she called to the dragon. Obligingly he descended to land on
top of the
great mountain.
Catriona shivered, and looked around. There were other mountains in a
circle around
them. But none reached the height of the mountain they stood on.
This is the ring of fire. The
mountain you rest on is El Fuego, the king of the mountains. Catriona crept slowly
to the edge and glanced over the rim of the volcano.
As you can see, Human, it has
frozen completely. Only extreme power could do this to an active volcano. It was creepy, looking down at the volcano. The ice was thick over the
lava, yet the fiery orange colour of the molten rock
could be seen through the ice. It seemed that the lava was still molten beneath
the ice. Catriona shuddered. What force could do something like this?
Seviara had given in to a
blind panic. She had sat under a tree, singing softly to it, praying with all
her spirit that she could give it life. But to no avail. She had let her head
drop into her hands, in utter misery. Then, to her horror, she realised she could see the earth through her hands. She had jumped up in terror.
She was disappearing. Terrified she ran. She didn’t know what she was running
from, or even why she was running. Eventually, feeling exhausted, she collapsed
against a blackened rock. Then she saw them. She gazed into the sky, her mouth
open. It was impossible. It couldn’t be happening. She stood slowly, eyes still
fixed on the sky. She had to get away from there. She ran, determined to find Catriona
and the faerie.
Catriona and Vyrock had found
the beginning of a ledge. Carefully, Catriona was picking her way down into the
volcano. The lava looked like it was a long way down. The dragon stood at the
top of the mountain waiting for the duos return. Catriona didn’t know what she
expected to find in the depths of the mountain, but it was the only lead that
they had to why the land had turned so cold. Maybe, just maybe, they would find
something to tell them what was happening in the world. As they journeyed
further down into the mountain, Catriona noticed that it was getting darker.
Eventually she stopped.
“Vyrock, I can’t see any
more!” she felt the faerie clamber up to her shoulder.
“Hold on a bit kid!” Catriona
waited in the darkness. She could hear Vyrock whispering something but she
couldn’t make out the words. Then the faerie clapped his hands. A small light
flew out from them, small at first, but then it floated around Catriona’s head
a couple of time, growing in size. Eventually it was bright enough to show
Catriona a few metres all around her. It floated
lazily around her head. Catriona continued journeying down into the volcano.
END OF PART 8