Page 2 of Tempest Awakening
My gaze locked onto the homeless man. He cowered against the guardrail, eyes wide with terror. Amid the chaos, no one else seemed to notice him. My heart clenched. I couldn't just leave him there, vulnerable and exposed.
I took a hesitant step toward him, my mind racing. What could I do? Offer him a ride? To where? I had no plan, just an overwhelming need to help.
"Sir?" I called out, my voice barely audible over the cacophony. "Are you—?"
My words died in my throat as an immense shadow suddenly engulfed the highway. What the—?
I looked up, and my heart stopped.
Leathery wings as wide as a city bus blotted out the sun, their rhythmic beats stirring the air into a frenzy. A massive, serpentine body followed, covered in gleaming rust-colored scales that shimmered like a thousand faceted gems.
My knees threatened to buckle as the majestic creature alighted on the asphalt with a thunderous impact, its claws gouging deep furrows in the pavement. I drank in every glorious detail, from the elegant sweep of its horns to the smoldering embers flickering in its maw.
A dragon. An actual, living dragon.
I gaped in stunned silence, unable to fully process the mythical beast before me. My mind raced with half-formed memories—tales of dragons and magic that had been the stuff of fairy tales and fantasy novels... until The Unveiling.
My heart pounded. Of all the supernatural beings revealed during The Unveiling, dragons and their riders had captured my imagination the most. I'd spent countless hours watching videos, reading articles, and daydreaming about these magnificent creatures. But seeing one in person, mere feet away from me, was beyond anything I could have imagined. The sheer power and majesty of the beast before me made every fantasy pale in comparison.
The dragon's head swiveled, its molten gaze locking onto me with unsettling intensity. For a heartbeat, I found myselfparalyzed beneath that smoldering glare. Then the beast let loose an ear-splitting roar, its wings flaring wide as if to shield me with their shadow.
This was everything I'd ever dreamed of, everything I'd lose myself in books to imagine. The very air crackled with ancient power, setting my skin tingling.
The dragon lowered its massive head, bringing one giant eye level with mine. I saw my own awestruck reflection in its pupil, dilated with wonder rather than fear.
"Hello," I whispered, surprising myself with the steadiness of my voice.
To my utter astonishment, the dragon blinked once, slowly. Was that... acknowledgment?
Before I knew what to think, a figure clad in leather armor descended from the creature's back.
A Dragon Rider.
My heart raced. I'd seen them on TV, of course, swooping in to battle wildfires or clean up oil spills. But this close? The Rider's presence radiated power and purpose.
I remembered the heated debates, the controversy surrounding their role. Some hailed them as saviors, bridging the gap between humans and Supes. Others feared their influence, the bond between Rider and dragon that transcended human understanding.
What was it like, I wondered, to soar through the skies on dragonback? To share a connection so profound it defied explanation? For a moment, I let myself imagine it—the freedom, the responsibility, the sheer wonder of it all.
My eyes drank in the sight of him—tall and broad-shouldered, with an aura of command that demanded respect. Raven hair framed chiseled features, his piercing emerald stare seeming to dissect my very soul.
"Stand aside," he commanded, his rich baritone resonating through my core as he strode toward the wreckage. "This area is no longer safe. Get clear, now."
The rider's gaze swept over the crash site, focusing on the pool of chemicals spreading from the ruptured tanker. His expression hardened.
"Yrdren," he called out, voice firm. "Deal with this chemical hazard before it spreads further."
The beast's head dipped low in an unmistakable nod of acknowledgment. Smoke billowed from its nostrils in a steady stream before its jaws parted, the glow of molten fire flickering in its gullet.
With a flick of his armored gauntlet, a shimmering azure barrier—like a force-field—covered the surrounding area, sealing off the hazardous scene. My gaze darted between the dragon, the mysterious knight, and the pooling chemicals as realization slowly dawned.
My heart leapt into my throat.
"No," I whispered, bolting towards the dragon.
A sense of dread settled over me as the dragon drew in a deep breath. His rust-colored chest expanded and his nostrils flared. I knew what was coming next.
"No, wait!" I cried out in a blind surge of panic. The world seemed to warp around me, every sound a dull echo as my pulseroared in my ears. I felt the heat radiating off the dragon’s scales as I skidded to a halt in front of him.
