I covered my eyes to shield them from the blinding light. Cold air was thrown around by the thing in front of me. I coughed as dirt and leaves scored my arms and face. The light dimmed to a gentle glow, and I changed uncovering my eyes. My hair blew into my eyes, drawing tears and obscuring my vision. Even so, I knew what I was seeing wasn’t just a part of my imagination. Everything I knew told me this creature shouldn't exist, but here it was. I felt the panic building inside me nearly reach its threshold.
I started to back towards my bike, my instincts screaming to stay facing the creature. I could barely breathe and could feel the pressure building in my lungs. I managed to take a deep breath, trying to remain calm.
The creature’s head turned towards me and I cursed, stumbling towards my bike, no longer caring if it saw me.
I leapt over several tree roots, fumbling with my keys. My panic caused me to drop them somewhere in the dirt and leaf litter. I dove to the floor, throwing dead leaves and sticks around trying to find the tell-tale glint of metal.
Chink. There. I scrambled towards a nearby rock and, thankfully, saw my keys. I snatched them up and, taking another glance at the hovering creature staring at me, I sprinted to my bike. I managed to get on and I sat there for a few seconds breathing heavily. I pawed at the keys, trying to get them into the ignition. I healed my breath and forced my shaking hands to be steady.
I turned the keys in the ignition and the deep rumbling of the engine echoed through the night. The headlight soon turned on and bathed the road in white light. I sped forwards, engine roaring. I didn’t know what that creature was, but I knew I had to get away, far away.
I raced down the road, trees becoming nothing but a blur. My eyes were watering from the air rushing into them, making the road difficult to see. I knew I should have taken the time to put on my helmet.
As I rounded a hairpin turn, a thunderous sound shook the landscape. The beast, I realised in dread. I hyperventilated, cold air burning my lungs. I skidded to a stop and tumbled off the bike. I felt the whoosh of air rushing from my lungs and gasped. I could see the golden glow moving. Moving very fast, directly to me.
My stomach dropped as I felt the wind its wings kicked up. The tops of the trees bent, the leaves blowing around as if there was a hurricane. I let out a constant stream of words, thinking aloud. I spotted a nearby cave and slithered into it just in time.
The beast flew over where I just was and it landed on the road, creating a horrific crunching sound.
It was gargantuan. It towered over all the hills and I could barely see the whole of the foot in front of me. It had golden scales that were blinding to look at. It radiated heat and I was starting to be extra grateful that the night was cold.
The paw lifted off of the ground and moved backwards. A fantastic head peered down, its chocolate brown eyes bigger than most buildings.
It inhaled, and trees bent towards it, nearly snapping. It opened its gigantic maw and fire erupted.
It moved like liquid and was the same golden colour as its scales. It spewed forwards towards my bike. The road became a bright red where the fire hit and my bike melted within seconds. Many of the trees that lined the road whoofed as they caught fire, simply from the heat in the air. I hid behind the cave wall, feeling the intense heat prickle my skin. Sounds of sizzling, cracking and popping filled the air and gold was replaced by flickering red and orange. I forced myself to not cough as smoke filled the cave. Tears sprung to my eyes but even so, they quickly felt dry.
Within seconds it stopped the flow of fire and the deep sound of its wings filled my ears. A massive rush of air cleared the smoke away. The second rush put out the forest fire. A third rush cooled the area down again. Then the creature was gone.
I stumbled out of the cave, breathing the cold air deeply. It still smelt like burning wood but all the fire and remnants of ash were gone. The clear night was smudged by ash clouds.
I tentatively walked to my bike, the soles of my boots sticking to the road. I came to a halt in front of the rapidly cooling, mangled mess of metal that was my bike.
A dragon. A dragon had melted my bike.
