Little Black Dots

One hundred Anti-magic Task Force special agents held at attention in their gleaming black armor in the pre-dawn darkness. Captain Octavious placed the length of the formation, his polished boots reflected the lights surrounding the yard as the first red crack of dawn appeared along the horizon. At the end of the line he paused, his eyes scanning his waiting soldiers.

Tapping his helmet, he reported into the comm. “ATF prepared for mission.” The soldiers stood motionless as the orange fingers of light reached across the waking desert.

Static broke the silence as his commanding officer’s voice emerged in his ear, “Your directive is headed your way. Good luck, Captain. Don't let the Empress down.”

“Yes, sir.”

Octavious scanned the green letters glowing against the black of his visor: Kill the original witch, Sola, and her dragon consort, Smok. Octavious hesitated briefly before he resumed his walk along the edge of his company’s silent formation until he reached the front.

With a nod, his lieutenant stepped forward. “When we arrive, take the men and kill the dragon.”

“Yes, sir, Captain!” he confirmed just as the red ball of the sun clawed into the sky.

Staring once more at his waiting men in the dawn light, Octavious raised his flat palm high in the air, then dropped his hand sideways, as if slicing through time.

…..

The sun-cracked red clay plateaus swirled with angry dirt tornados across the horizon. Wisps of white clouds scattered high above the scorched earth offered no mercy against the relentlessly blue sky. An occasional animal scurried across the exposed plains, choosing the risk of predators over death in the burning emptiness for the hope of reaching the Valley of Smok.

The gash split the desert; a narrow wound that opened into a lush, green valley. Jagged rock walls of orange and red clawed upwards like ancient guardians, their shadows bleeding into the gorge below. A waterfall pounded in white foam along the edge of the cliff face into a silver river that snaked along the floor of the ravine.

Caves dotted the canyon’s steep walls, hidden behind dripping vines with large purple and pink flowers. Small animals, humans, and winged creatures scurried into the crevices, drawn by the sweetness of the valley’s blooms and the coolness of the cliff’s interior. Blackened rock circles surrounded orange coals as they glowed in anticipation under gray ash.

Smok coiled high above the valley on his ledge, tracking her movements on the grassy bank of the river beneath him. The River of the Moon glimmered beneath him, carving silver paths through his lush gash in the desert.

Leaning on one arm, Sola glided her fingertips across the river's surface, the breeze playing with her long curls. The cool water hypnotized her as the ripples flickered gold beneath her touch. On the surface of the quivering water, Smok’s reflection watched her from his perch, his gold eyes glittering.

She twisted to peer up at the shimmering grey dragon and smiled, her eyes soft with love.

Smok peered down at her, his grey scales shimmering with threads of gold, silver, and red pulsing light. His black wings arched wide above him, streams of light racing through them as he beat them once before he tucked them neatly along his spine. He smoothed his ruffled scales into a soft glow and laid his charcoal head at his clawed feet on the ledge and returned Sola’s soft gaze.

Relieved, Sola returned her focus to the river and pulled a glowing blade from her tunic. As the bone knife pulsed in a translucent glow in her hand, its hum calmed her heart. Overhead, winged creatures flew from the trees, dipping their beaks into the river, and then swooping back into the sky once more.

She pulled the knife against her chest, the pulsing blade beating in time with her heart.

A pterodactyl’s panicked cry from high above the valley pierced through the silence and echoed along the valley walls. Grabbing the blade tightly in her fist, she leapt to her feet.

Like an infestation, little black dots erupted along the cliff walls. Small at first, then swelling into black streaks that rained down into Smok’s Valley. Their unified pulse manifested into arms, legs, and torsos as black uniforms snapped into focus on every rock shelf and dirt path.

Across the valley, the sudden and unexpected danger vibrated in the roots of trees. Flocks of winged creatures erupted directionless, screaming in fear. Low thunder rumbled against the canyon walls as danger drummed against the valley floor.

Smok’s angry warning roar tore through the valley, causing the river to churn violently, deafening as it ricocheted between the valley walls and across the plains.

Grasping the handle of her knife tighter, Sola joined Smok’s rage, their shared roar piercing the corners of the world.

…..

The lush valley came quickly into view as Octavious arrived first on the canyon ledge. He scanned the quiet terrain. With a glance behind him, Octavious confirmed his lieutenant had landed and mobilized the troops into two groups. The first unit climbed higher, the second unit approached the dragon’s den from below. The deafening roar of the valley’s response to their invasion shook the ground under their feet.

Within moments, black smoke snaked from the ledge into the sky in billowing black clouds and Octavious began his own trek down the cliff ledge, the familiar green timer reassuring, as the echoing rage faded against the canyon walls.

An eerie calm spread throughout the valley, as Sola’s golden glow drew Octavious to her.

Scanning the darkening sky, Octavious stopped directly in front of where Sola stood in the lush green grass, the blade in her hand glowing against the darkening sky behind her. She squared her shoulders, her eyes sad and her smile luminous. Inside his helmet the countdown blurred as he braced in front of her.

“Hello, Octavious.” Sola greeted him by name.

As if in a haze, Octavious drew his weapon from habit and pointed it at her. The flashing countdown shifted to red as Octavious paused, unnerved by her familiarity.

“Do not waver, Captain. Now the myths can be retold, the cracks will widen, and the Wild Ones will remember,” Sola promised.

Transfixed, he studied her small hands as she spun the knife in a circle, gold traces following each toss of the curved blade.

Sola held Octavious’s gaze as she let the pulsing knife drop to the ground at her feet with a soft thud.

“You already carry the light within you, Octavious.” Tilting her chin to Smok’s empty throne, Sola vowed, “Our silence will be remembered, and our voices will be restored.”

Before Octavious could pull the trigger, she exploded into gold fragments.

Through his visor he watched, transfixed. The valley fractured into dissolving yellow light as her body exploded into raw magic glittering into a million sparks that illuminated the entire valley. Vibrant gold specks swirled around Octavious’ body, encasing him in light before releasing him to rise into the sky, blending with the billowing waves of smoke ascending from Smok’s burning cave.

Octavious stared at the weapon in his hand, still aimed where she had stood. The familiar green countdown flashed: Mission Complete.

Jolted back to reality, Octavious jerked his attention to where his soldiers lined the cliff walls. With an uneasy glance around the now dying valley, he signaled for their return to base through the darkening sky.

Octavious lingered as the gold embers extinguished into grey flakes of ash that rained down from the sky, shielding the valley from what was left of the sun’s rays. He stood unmoving as panic ripped through the canyon like wildfire, human and animal screams feeding the fear, as confusion spilled out onto the plateau.

Larger predators stampeded as ash dropped steadily from the sky, suffocating the valley under an ashen blanket. The silver water slowed to a gurgle as the frightened animals dashed in every direction through the black undergrowth.

In the distance, the mournful response of grieving dragons’ and their witches reverberated like thunder from across the world. Their answering roars escalated into a crescendo of shared pain and sorrow, filling the void left by Smok’s silence.

The valley’s sorrow poured down with tears of ash from the heavens, landing on his exposed lips as he stared up at the shrouded sun. On the ground, Sola’s small blade grew steadily brighter under the deepening ash.

Octavious bent to retrieve the small knife, its warmth penetrating his gloved hand. The blade swirled like moonlight in his grip before settling into a quiet hum in his palm. With one last glance around him, he hid Sola’s knife inside his chest plate.

Turning his attention to the sky, he contemplated the retreating forms of his unit as the sky swallowed them back. Breathing deeply, he pressed his gloved hand to his chest where the knife rested warm against his body. The valley that had once thrived with life and magic was now a gaping rupture in the earth, devoid of life.

The blurred green message inside his visor caught his attention once more.

With a shake of his head, he shook the ash from his boots. Rising his hand above his head, he began the long ascent home through the grief-choked sky.