Cathedral

The morning sun filtered through the windows high in the domed roof of the cathedral, illuminating the smoky interior with yellow gold stripes of light. Tendrils of smoke emanated from two creatures seated directly under the high arched roof of the dome and curled rhythmically towards the light in time with their breathing. They were dragons, and this was their home.

The rhythm of the puffs of smoke was momentarily interrupted when one of the creatures caught the scent of an intruder and turned his massive head to watch her approach. She was a small woman, made smaller by the huge space inside this cathedral of Wyrms. The soft leather boots on her feet made hardly a sound as she walked slowly down the long aisle. She looked about as she walked and a faint smile played on her lips, for this was her home too and the cathedral had many fond memories.

Here, behind those columns, was where she would play hide and seek with the hatchlings, that doorway led to where she had taken her lessons in dragon lore, behind that archway was the balcony where she had had her first dragon flight, and there, right there on that exact spot was where she had said goodbye to her sister.

Her sister had stood there with tears in her eyes as she told her that this Dragon keeper life was not for her, she wanted to study the stars and travel to other worlds. It was no surprise, they had hugged and she knew she had to let her go. But before they were parted the dragons had gathered around and given them one last gift. With words and breath and knowledge older than time they had bound the two together so they would always know that the other was safe and they could always find the other if they were in need.

Now she approached the two dragons curled around a large glowing fire pit and bowed her head. She waited until she felt their voices inside her head.

“Miki,” she felt one rumble. “It is time.”

“They are coming for you,” breathed the second voice.

“I know,” said Miki inside her own head. “I have felt it too.”

“Find her,” said the first voice.

“Find her,” repeated the second. Then the dragon turned its head and fixed her with a glare from its huge yellow eyes. “And stop him.”