Silver City

Sanna Briar was balanced on a thick branch in an abandoned orchard. His pale blue, lion-like body tensed and alert, his yellow cat eyes scanning the area for prey. Sanna could smell a few rabbits, some squirrels, and a cougar nearby.

That's odd, he thought to himself. Cougars weren't common on this side of the mountains, but even so, Sanna wouldn't ever consider going for it.

He shook the memories of the past from his mind as a rabbit hopped into view a few yards away. Sanna stayed perfectly still, waiting for the perfect moment to pounce.

Sanna! A voice called in his head, a familiar, obnoxious voice.

Sanna twitched and lost his balance, falling off the branch and landing on his paws with a thud. The rabbit fled at the noise and Sanna let out an irritated snarl, Why can't anyone understand that I just want to hunt alone!

Sanna glared up at the two dragons flying down to him. The first was a golden phoenix, she swooped in and landed gracefully on a sturdy tree branch. The other was a bronze wyrm, she landed with a cat-like jump on the grassy floor, her sharp teeth bared in a grin.

Sanna narrowed his yellow eyes, What do you want?

The bronze wyrm’s ears perked up, Suruli and I were bored, so we thought we would join your hunt.

Suruli, the phoenix, rolled her brown eyes and gave her friend a disapproving look, Śarat Stone, you liar! She looked back at Sanna apologetically, Nisvārtha told us to come get you.

Sanna’s tail lashed in irritation, Why in Kallu’s name would he do that? He sunk his claws into the soil of the orchard they stood in,  He knows I can handle myself.

Suruli sighed, shifting her talons on the branch, He thinks you spend too much time alone, especially for a wyvern.

Sanna growled, You mean he does not trust me.

That is a lie and you know it! Śarat snapped, her green eyes hard. Out of all of us, he trusts you the most. You are his best friend!

Sanna sighed, Fine, you can hunt with me, but�"

A high pitched ringing struck the sensitive ears of the three dragons. They all looked up toward the abandoned capital and saw a beam of golden light fading from the top of the Silver Tower.

What was that? Sanna asked, the fur on the back of his neck prickling.

I have no idea, Śarat replied. We should check it out.

Suruli’s feathers ruffled, Why not leave it alone? she suggested nervously. Nisvārtha wanted us to come back, and it could be dangerous…

Or it could be fun! Śarat cheered, her wings twitching with anticipation. She glanced at Sanna, How about a race? Runner against flyer?

Sanna considered a moment before giving a feline grin, You are on, wyrm. Then was off like a streak of blue lightning, relishing the feel of the wind in his mane.

The trio of dragons left the abandoned orchards and made their way over the river and into the old city. No one had lived there since the war ended, but the stone and brick buildings had held firm through the centuries. One step on those quiet roads though, was all it took for a dragon to know why the city had remained empty. A ghostly chill hung in the air, and Sanna, even in the excitement and thrill of the race, couldn't ignore the feeling of death and suffering that lingered in the earth and stone of the roads.

The race ended in a tie at the gates of the castle. A stone wall had once surrounded the Silver Tower, but events from the past had broken down sections of the barrier, making the rest of the wall obsolete.

The Silver Tower was a grand castle, so named because it was made of a special silverstone. Once past the gate, Sanna and the others were shown the shining walls, the gleaming bridges, and the dozens of smaller towers surrounding the largest tower. The tower was tapered, being wide at the base and growing thinner as it grew taller, ending in a rounded top that reflected the sun like glass.

This tower was where the light had come from.

I think I had better shift, Suruli said as they came closer to the great doors of the castle.

Sanna stopped and helped Śarat get Suruli’s simple dress from the pack secured between her shoulder blades. Meanwhile, Suruli landed on the ground. Her wings stayed open and with a whoosh, the phoenix caught fire, and when the flames died a moment later, there stood a small, brown skinned woman. Her eyes remained the large, brown eyes of an eagle, and her brown hair was pixie short, matching her dainty physic.

She slipped on the simple dress and they continued into the castle. They walked through the doors and into a smaller, inner courtyard, then came through a magnificent hall. All wooden doors they passed had rotted away and the only stairs standing were made of marble or another stone. Spires of silver and crystal still decorated the halls but much of it had been looted a long time ago.

Sanna looked upward toward the grand staircase, his nostrils flaring.

“What is it?” Suruli asked in a whisper.

Not sure. He said, It is something I have never smelled before.

I can smell it too. Said Śarat.

They all followed the scent through the castle, looking for the main tower. Sanna led the way with his stronger nose and other two followed behind.

“I do not like this,” Suruli whispered again, her hand going to the small knife that hung around her neck. “We should not be here.”

You are too careful, Suruli, Śarat teased. What could possibly happen that we would be incapable of handling?

Suruli just sighed and shook her head, “Why am I friends with you again?”

Śarat grinned, Because I bring adventure and excitement to your timid and boring existence.

Finally they found the staircase, a tight space that was not made for the bulk of Śarat’s dragon form.

Sanna looked back at her. The scent seems harmless, but I still want to stay shifted just in case. You should shift and follow behind.

The bronze wyrm huffed and smoke trailed from her nostrils. What are you saying, wyvern?

“You are too big to go up the stairs, Śarat.” Suruli snapped, digging into the pack with her clothes in it. “Relax and shift back, unless you want to stay down here and wait for us.”

Śarat lowered her head. Fine.

Sanna turned away as Śarat’s pack was removed and she started to shift. Her body became smaller, bronze scales turned to dark coco skin, black hair grew from her head, and her wings and tail melted into her new body. The only detail of the other form that remained were those green reptilian eyes.

She took odd clothing out of the pack; loose billowing pants with tight bands around the ankles and waist, a loose shirt that tucked into the waistband, and a hood that covered her shoulders and chest. Like Suruli, hanging from her neck was a necklace that held a small knife in a sheath. The knives were no longer than the width of a clenched fist.

Leaving the empty pack at the bottom, the two women followed their wyvern companion up the stairs. Sanna felt his fur prickling as the scent grew closer. He had no idea what it was or what dangers it could pose to him and his friends.

The stairs finally ended in a grand doorway, only one wooden door standing. In the room there was a large table and the whole ceiling was domed with glass that looked like it could retract. One of the panels was missing and the part of the room underneath the opening was cracked and ruined with water damage.

Across from the doors by the wall was a small form. Whatever it was lay in a crumpled heap near a pile of sick, covered in sand-colored cloth with a mess of golden hair obscuring their features.

"What is it Sanna?" Suruli asked in a whisper from behind him.

Not sure. He said, creeping forward. I'm going to get closer.

Avoiding the sick, Sanna got very close to the creature, sniffing the strange scent. It reminded him of sunshine, a warm, comforting smell like chocolate and roses.

Then the thing moved, stretching out its limbs and revealing two pale legs with dainty feet covered by sparkling slippers. The long hair and body shape defined it as female. She was wearing a sandy coat that reached her knees over a pale blue dress. Her face was soft and clear, framed by that thick golden hair, eyes closed, and her breathing steady.

She was beautiful, or she would have been were it not for her pale complexion. The lack of sun in her skin contradicted her sunshine scent, and made her look kind of sick. She looked like any other unshifted dragon, but she didn't smell like one.

Sanna looked back at Śarat and Suruli. It is a woman, but I can't tell what kind of dragon she is.

Suruli came forward. "What do you mean you can't tell?"

I mean she does not smell like a dragon. Sanna said.

Suruli came around and looked at the girl. "Oh, she looks so peaceful! Śarat come look!"

Her twin came over and groaned. "Oh Benki, I want her hair! So soft and pretty looking."

"Do you think she is alright?" Suruli asked gently, her eyes soft and concerned as she looked at the poor girl.

Then the girl gasped, her eyes flying open. She sat up so quickly that she smacked her head into Sanna. She cried out in pain and started rubbing her forehead.

Oh, Kallu, I am so sorry! Sanna said. Are you alright?

Her whole body froze and her head snapped up to stare at Sanna with wide golden eyes, then she opened her mouth and let out a blood curdling scream.