"Do not fear me!" roared the very fearsome, very horrifying creature.
Needless to say, I was very afraid. but I decided it would be better left unsaid. I'd rather not take any chances in upsetting this thing. It was an impossible creature. One that defied the laws of nature. One that existed only in the minds of particularly imaginative individuals and in legends and stories and the like. Its massive frame would dwarf most houses. And if that were not enough to dissuade any would-be attacker then its thick plate-like scales-- all coloured sunset orange-- would see to it that no harm befell the creature.
And if even that failed to turn away anything foolish enough to attack this terrible creature then its talons which dug small trenches in the stone floor and the arm length teeth that flashed for a brief moment when the great beast spoke would be sure to end their fool's errand. But it wasn't these that drove fear into me. Nor was it the great wings that sprouted from its back or the three pairs of intimidating horns that adorned its head. It was not the long muscular tail that could turn me to a pulp. No, it was the eyes, beautiful intelligent amber eyes that gazed into my own carrying a hint of amusement, interest and...greed? Eyes that gazed through me; that pierced into the depths of my being and laid my secrets bare. Yet those very amber jewels held within them a ferocity, a wildness that if released would see the world turned to smouldering ruins.
Seeing me flinch a smile that could only be described as terrifying appeared on its reptilian face. A flinch became a shudder. You might be wondering: How does one average modern-day man come across a dragon? Let me tell ya...
🐉
Leaves crunched satisfyingly beneath my feet and a gentle breeze caressed my skin. The canopy above swayed slowly in the wind singing a raucous song when leaves touched. I'm not exactly what you'd describe as a 'nature enthusiast' but even I have to admit that this is beautiful. Besides I'd rather be anywhere that wasn't my apartment and since this place was a thirty-minute bus drive away it was affordable enough for a poor college student like me. Though I must admit that the questioning gaze the bus driver gave me when I told him to put me off here was slightly uncomfortable.
'Mind your business old man.'
I took a deep breath. It had been a while since I'd started walking and it was getting late but I wanted to explore a bit more so I picked a random direction and began walking. Before long I came across a small clearing and there it was- an arching, moss-covered staircase carved from stone and marked by the ages and leading to nowhere. The golden-orange rays of the setting sun filtered through the canopy gave it an air of mystery.
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"I've heard o these," I mumbled to myself.
Recently stories were going around about strange staircases found randomly in the middle of wooded areas. Rumour has it that those who climbed the staircases disappear for months sometimes years and when they return swear they'd come back down after a few moments. Now don't get me wrong, I'm sceptical at best but why tempt the fates? Besides, it was getting late so it would be best to get back. yet as soon as I turned to leave something bizarre happened- no bizarre is too light a word to describe it; this was borderline supernatural- I found my foot resting on the first step. There was no delay one moment I was preparing to leave and in the very next I had started to ascend the staircase.
My mind reeled and cold sweat ran soaked my clothes.
My instincts screamed I needed to leave /right after I climb the steps/
An instinctive disgust washed over me.
Something is wrong. This is wrong. /Nothing is wrong. Focus on the stairs/
I should turn back. I need to turn back. /Why would you do that? These stairs are so pretty. So climbable. Climb them./
/Climb!/
/Climb!/
/Climb!/
/Climb!/
/Climb!/
/Climb!/
/CLIMB!/
A chorus of chanting voices echoed in my head and when they stopped my feet created on the last step. The world twisted and everything went dark. And then I was here locking gazes with an impossible beast. So to all you would-be nature enthusiasts unless you wish to find yourself gazing into the serpentine eyes of a winged, fire breathing (yet to be confirmed), death-lizard--do not climb the forest steps.