Writing and illustrating a children's book has always been on my bucket list. I've been playing around with an idea of young dragons. I used this skillshare class to help get the ball rolling on my idea. This is a rough draft of the beginning to the story.

The Grand Crater, a lush and bountiful region, was enclosed by a circular mountain range, the ideal place for young dragons to safely learn and grow. Many years ago, the wandering dragon colony came upon this valley and decided to settle in. Other creatures wouldn’t dare to threaten a full-grown dragon, but dragon youths were vulnerable to vicious predators. Typically, dragons use a claws-off approach to raising their young for it’s the truest way to learn and grow. Safe within The Grand Valley, the young dragons could explore freely.

The sun awoke and lifted itself over the horizon of The Grand Crater. A soft orange glow illuminated the land. Atheelia opened her eyes to find the orange glow leaking through the cave entrance. She didn’t like to sleep in. An athletic young dragon, Atheelia enjoyed a brisk morning flight. Feeling more and more awake with the cool crisp morning air on her face, she flew in circles around her favorite tree. Atheelia felt the calmest when she was flying.

After a few laps around the tree, Atheelia’s eye caught the sight of a flash of red. Emeck didn’t like to sleep in either. He was much too impatient to postpone the start of his day. Zooming towards her and almost knocking her off balance, Emeck came to a quick stop. He wasn’t being rude, at least not on purpose. Emeck typically acted a lot faster than he could think.

“Morning, Atheelia,” Emeck greeted his friend.

Posie’s family had recent hatchlings. She often helped her parents care for them. Posie always had a caring and nurturing nature. When her friends invited her to play Pebble Pass by the brooke on the outskirts of the crater, Posie happily accepted after helping her family with breakfast. She gave her baby sister a kiss before leaving her cave.

The last and fourth friend to join the group was Storn. Yawning as he left his cave, Storn was happy to see his friends.

The young dragons made their way across the stone bridge and the grassy fields to the babbling brooke. Here, plentiful on the ground, were small round pebbles. Not wasting time, Emeck picked up one of the pebbles and flew a short distance off the ground. Posie and Atheelia followed Emeck into the air, ready to play. Storn remained on the ground. Emeck started the game by tossing the stone to Atheelia who hit it with her nose, sending it in Storn’s direction. He was a weak flier because of his small wings, but he was very strong. Storn hit the pebble with his muscular tail in Posie’s direction.

The pebble went around the circle several times. That was when something caught Posie’s eye. She saw something moving quickly through some nearby brush. Posie was easily distracted. Storn passed the pebble to Posie, but it landed on the ground. Emeck looked where Posie was looking and saw a reptilian creature running towards The Dark Valley carrying an egg. It was a dragon egg!

Emeck reacted quickly, as he usually does, and still in the air, darted towards the reptile. The reptile was moving very quickly on long nimble legs. Atheelia noticed that if Emeck were to continue following the reptile, it would lead him into The Dark Valley. Dragon youths were not allowed there for it was said by the adults to be a dangerous place for dragons still growing their horns and talons. Atheelia was more cautious than her friends. Atheelia cried out, “Emeck! The Dark Valley is that way!”

“That’s a dragon egg! It must be stolen. I can’t let it get away!” Emeck replied.

Emeck followed the reptile into The Dark Valley. Posie and Storn quickly followed. Atheelia was deeply afraid of what would happen to her friends there. Instinct told the young dragon to run and tell the adults what happened. Atheelia was on the outskirts of the crater and it would take too long to alert the adults. By the time the adults got to The Dark Valley… What tragic fate would befall her best friends? Atheelia decided that she was more worried about her friends being in danger than anything else. Reluctantly, Atheelia ran after her friends into The Dark Valley.

Melanie Chauvin

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