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The Rider

4 years ago

The rider knew he would die.

The dragon had razed kingdom after kingdom to the ground, and now the army was in disarray. Word came of reinforcements, including a powerful sorcerer, but they'd never reach the Royal City in time. Not unless the dragon was delayed.

And so the rider volunteered when no one else would

Now, the fateful decision made, the rider mounts his steed. He rides through the empty town as terrified fathers shutter windows and wailing children bury their faces in their mother's breasts. He rides through the city gates, no guards left to defend them. He rides toward the dark clouds of ash roiling on the horizon; toward the fiery inferno that was once the local farms; toward his own imminent death. He watches the ground pass by as his horse gallops, knowing he will never see such precious earth again. He notices the beautiful yellow-orange reflection of the distant fires in the puddles as his horse stomps through them, mindful that, like the images on the water, his own existence is soon to be scattered and lost.

Soon the source of the fires appears through the smoke. The towering monster sits arrogantly across the field, silhouetted against the smokey forest and setting sun behind him. Few sunbeams penetrate the dark shroud, but those that do reveal a face with an intense malevolence, seething with hunger and hatred.

Coming to a stop some three hundred paces before the monster, the rider takes in the terrifying visage before him. He knows he has no chance of defeating the dragon, but that was never his aim in the first place. He meant only to survive long enough for the reinforcements to arrive, and hope that by his death, his people would gain the time they needed to kill the monster.

The man checks his sword and then readies his lance. He pulls down his visor. The time has come. He gently squeezes the neck of his horse, a gesture his long time friend recognizes: a farewell. He kicks his heels.

Man and horse are one as the charge begins, each step an unstoppable drum beat signaling the march to oblivion. Step by terrifying step the horse approaches the dragon, yet neither man nor beast wavers. The dragon waits apathetically, assuming the man will buckle in fear and retreat. But the man and horse refuse to succumb to terror. Insulted that a mere mortal would dare refuse to tremble in its presence, the dragon's face turns from arrogance to rage. The beast takes wing, circling wide to gain speed.

The rider lowers his lance as the dragon peels back and flies directly toward him. He refuses to close his eyes, choosing to meet his fate head on.

The dragon opens its mouth...

The Rider

4 years ago
This is pretty cool, and it even has a fancy picture. Bumping because it looks like it got buried before anyone noticed it. The CC is a happenin place these days. There's some nicely dramatic language and imagery here.

The Rider

4 years ago
Thanks. I might make this a CYS. The story took 5 or 10 minutes, but picture took an hour. Someone better could have done it faster, but sadly my Photoshop license has been taken over by my sister in law and I'm stuck with GIMP. ¯\_(' _' )_/¯