Thanks to Bradley Ramsey and The Circus Dragon for this incredible start to Smogust’s Story Hoard.
The star fell in a glistening arch across the skies–a cut through the black heavens like the strike of a sword. The dragons of D’veen watched it soar over the lands. Deep in their ancient bones, they felt drawn to the sparkling, falling star. They were nothing more than moths drawn to a flame as the star grew closer to the ground.
Across the sea, the ruins of a temple stood as solid as they had been centuries ago. They were weary–with aching bones and columns covered in ivy–but they were strong. Unknown to Man and dragons alike, the temple was waiting. It was waiting for this exact moment when the star fell.
The impact was deafening.
By all accounts, the star should have destroyed the old temple. It should have obliterated the structure, sending it into a cloud of dust. Instead, the star landed atop the weathered stone and the temple came to life.
Crystalline petals rose from the top of the temple, enveloping the space where the star had fallen. Pure, brilliant, white light illuminated the glassy display. The luminescence could be seen for miles in every direction.
Then the dragons arrived. They appeared in droves, pulled to the blinding light by an ancient, unseen magic. They wove through the skies, flying in circles around the great column that rose from the temple.
At the center of everything was not a star as most know a star to be. This thing–this being–was not made of light and dust. It was not rock or molten metals. The star was a living being that had taken the form of a young man. He lay atop the temple, gazing up at the skies–at his home. All around him were walls of crystal.
The light that had been emitted from his chest subsided. Darkness fell upon him in a way he had never felt before. Space was dark, but there were others. There were other stars and bodies of light. Here, on this strange alien planet, there was no light at all.
Stiffly, he stood. Through the crystal walls, he gazed out at the lands. A vast sea, a close cropping of trees, and dragons. Hundreds of dragons. One dragon in particular flew close to the temple. Her wings reflected the glow of the moon above.
“Where am I?” The starman asked the dragon.
“In the great lands of D’veen,” She replied.
He didn’t know what that meant, but he knew he was in trouble. “I don’t belong here,” he told her.
“I’m not sure that’s up for you to decide.” With strong, sure grace, she continued to fly around the temple.
“I’m not one of you,” he explained. “It’s…a mistake. I shouldn’t be here.”
“And where should you be?”
“With the other stars–back in the cosmos. Do you know how to get there?”
“Sorry,” she relented. “I don’t.”
“But you can fly.”
A gentle sound of laughter poured from her. “Yes, but not high enough for that. I’m sorry.”
A moment of quiet fell upon the two. The starman didn’t know what to think of the new lands he found himself a part of.
“I think you’re supposed to be here,” the dragon began.
“Why do you say that?”
“My grandmother used to tell me stories–stories from before her time. She spoke of many things. I don’t remember all her stories now, but I remember there was one about Starfall.”
“Starfall.”
“The man who fell from the stars.”
“What happened to him?”
“I don’t remember,” she admitted. “But I think it was something important.”
The starman liked that. He enjoyed the idea of his own importance. However, as he gazed back up at the cosmos, a sense of homesickness curled in his gut. “Do you think I’m Starfall?”
“I believe so.”
“What about the others?” He watched as some of the dragons began to leave. It was as though they came here just to fly around the temple and then vanish into the night.
“They have been drawn here just as I have been. Your light pulled us here. Now that the light is gone…I don’t feel the pull.”
The starman wasn’t sure what to say to that. “But you’re still here.”
“I am.”
“Why?”
“Well,” she hesitated. “You’re alone out here, aren’t you? Away from your home. I know that feeling.”
“You do?”
“I lost my home when I was just learning to fly. It was years ago, but I feel it every day.” The dragon let out a sigh. “And I don’t want you to feel…alone.”
The starman blinked. Once again, he was at a loss for what to say.
“I don’t know if you’re Starfall,” she continued. “But I know someone who might. If you want, I can take you to her.”
What a sweet story
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