Standing in what felt like the mana stream itself, all the powers rushing through me. I open my eyes to see the mana flowing around me like a storm. I have never really been near the mana weave before, but if I had to guess this felt like I was trying to fly though it, with my soul space open. I could feel my body and soul space shudder under the weight of the pressure, and to maintain itself. The torrent of power I stuck in, fighting for control over myself.

It's taking all of my will power to just keep forcing myself to keep working on compacting the mana within my soul space. If I don't, then I could very well die. The fear is making my heart race and pound within my chest. I need to make it alive to mom! I called forth my will power over all the mana around me. The sheer willpower I force upon the mana stream, I had roared loudly in an attempt to fight against everything. Having gotten a grip on the mana, I choked off the flow slowly causing it to stop.

The release of the pressure caused me to collapse where I had once stood. The ground had stopped shaking as well. The world seemed to have become calm again. For a short amount of time. The ground shuddered and began to shake violently. Startled, I forced my tired body outside of the cave and watched the surroundings. I watched as entire mountains started collapsing. Knowing that Hickory would be in trouble by himself I leapt from the cliff, struggling to keep my wings spread open as I glided down toward the ground below where he should be.

I landed with some effort. Lifting my head up high and looking around, I spotted Hickory. I ran my way over to him. Hickory had found some shelter from the trembling ground. I didn't even ask how he was doing, before I scooped him up, and leaped up into the air getting away from the danger.

“Sorry Hickory. I hope you're okay!” I asked him.

Hickory, clinging onto me, while being held in my claws, “It's fine! Glad to see you're okay!”

Getting some height, I looked down at the collapsing mountains. Getting Hickory in a better position as we watched what seemed like the world was collapsing. It was devastating, yet beautiful at the same time. The destruction was on a scale I had never seen before.

“Did you do this Lost?” Hickory asked from my claws.

“Not intentionally. I just found a large amount of mana, but it was so much bigger than I thought. When I opened it, it just poured out. I only barely stopped it, but I guess I took a lot of it.” My voice trailing off, as more mountains collapsed.

I flew us away from the mountain range, where in a nearby grassy field, a solitary patch of flowers rose from, making a wonderful landing place. After a gentle landing and setting Hickory down, all the energy I spent suddenly drained out of me. I felt my legs tremble and struggle before suddenly giving out from me. My eyes followed soon as well. Then darkness swallowed me.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

***

I watched Lost, and quickly and promptly fell asleep. She looked worn out. Though she normally is very friendly, her sleeping or relaxed self, looks much more cold and royal, but the night and day difference between the two appearances she has is enough to take someone by surprise. I looked around and it seems to be safe around here, so maybe I will explore some before it gets dark.

Walking into the grassy field it feels much warmer here, then it does by Lost’s mountain. I thought about how much Lost has changed recently. She seems to not stop. She is always out adventuring lately. She has changed a great deal, even growing bigger as well. When I first saw her she was maybe as big as a house, but now she is so much bigger.

I ventured further when I noticed a possible food source. Spending some time setting small animal traps, I felt that we had most of our problems solved. Working my way back to the large sleeping form, that is Lost, I thought for a moment.

“She really is such a kind creature, I wonder if she is really here by herself. Maybe the last of the dragons.” I thought outloud.

I don't know much about dragons, but often I can see those moments where her joyful mask slips as her gaze seems far away thinking about things. I can't imagine what that can do to a dragon. I don't know if they are as sociable as humans are, but she does seem so alone at times.

***

Waking up, I see the sun is earlier in the day than it was when I went to bed. That must mean I slept for over a whole day. Looking around I spotted Hickory who was tending to his small fire, which had some meat cooking on it. He seemed to smile at me glad I was okay. I wasn't sure why I knew that, but it seems the more time I spend with him the more I seem to understand him. It was an interesting experience, and not sure when this came about.

“Hey, I am going to go check on the cave. I will be right back.” I told him, as I stood up ready to leave.

With as gentle a jump as I could muster I took to the sky and quickly found myself back over to where the mountains were. My mountain still stood tall, but that ast wall of mountains had crumbled, into a valley of small hills. They had lost a great amount of their mass. Maybe the ice here was tied to some of the mana. It was baffling how the disruption in mana can change the landscape so vastly. Like a larger mass of land had been removed from underneath all of the mountains. It was incredible. I took a quick moment to peak within my soul space and found the little serpent trying to stay warm, as most of the soul space had been filled with such heavily condensed ice that it held such a brilliant deep blue. It was breathtaking.