Embers of Revenge

In the dead of night, beneath the blood red moon, Mordecai mind was ablaze with memories of flames and death. A single image replayed in his mind like a broken record: the burning ruins of his family home, the charred corpses of his loved ones strewn across the floor, and the empty promises of a broken kingdom to bring justice.

Those were the same thoughts that plague his mind every night before he goes to sleep. He had left his past behind him, but the pain of his loss still burned like the coals of a forge.

As the sun rose he awoke form the nightmare, gathered his belongs and left the inn he spent the night in. As he stared at the path before him he knew that his life would change forever, as the road for revenge is always painted with blood.

By noon Mordecai stood before a forest, it's trees stood so high the can be said to touch the skies. As he stood there he could feel an aura of magic that surrounds the forest because this was no ordinary forest it was the forest of Solsticea, it was home to hundreds of mystical creatures, but even as beautiful and peaceful it may seem within it dwell monsters so gruesome that the imagination of men can't comprehend. And some of these monsters were dragons, which is the reason Mordecai stands before this beautiful nightmare, it is said that in the Den of Dragons rest the soul of the great dragon "Veldion" which can grant a human the power to control flames so hot it could melt metal in a blink of an eye and this mystical flame was know throughout the land as "Hell Flames" .

It is said that all who have ever gone in pursuit of this power has never made it out of the forest so after hundreds of trials, humanity stopped the chase for the Hell Flames.

But now after hundreds of years, Mordecai stands before this forest, takes a breath an began to enter Solsticea. As Mordecai entered the Solsticea, he was immediately struck by the enveloping silence of the dense foliage that loomed overhead. The trees were so tall and close together, they created a dark, foreboding atmosphere that made him feel as if he were walking into a mysterious world. The air was still and heavy with the scent of damp earth and decomposing leaves, and the soft crunching of fallen leaves underfoot was the only sound that broke the eerie silence. As Mordecai trekked deeper into the Solsticea, his thoughts turned inward. He knew that his quest was dangerous, but it was a risk he was willing to take. The memory of his family's death still burned fresh in his mind, and he had vowed to avenge their loss, no matter the cost. He knew that the power of Hell Flames could help him achieve his goal, but the price might be his own life. The tree were so tall they seemed to touch the sky and Dracan could not tell if it were night or day, as he had been walking without a path for what seemed to be hours it was then that he heard a sound like that of thunder, as he lifted his head to see what could make such a roar, he was nothing, but then a sound from above and leaping from the trees was a giant "Saber Tooth Tiger". As the Saber Tooth Tiger sprung into action, its razor-sharp claws glinted in the dappled sunlight that filtered through the dense canopy of trees. It moved with a swiftness and agility that defied its size, and in a blur of motion, it was upon Mordecai.

Quick as lightning, Mordecai dropped to the ground, rolling out of the way just in time to avoid the deadly swipe of the creature's claws. The Tiger, unfazed, charged again, a low growl rumbling from its throat. Mordecai rose to his feet, dagger in hand, and faced the beast with a fierce determination burning in his eyes. He knew that a single mistake could mean his demise, but he was prepared to fight to the death if that's what it took.

The Tiger lunged again, but this time Mordecai was ready. He sidestepped the attack and darted in, plunging his dagger into the creature's exposed flank with a satisfying thud. The Tiger let out a yowl of pain and whirled around, its powerful tail whipping through the underbrush. As the Saber Tooth Tiger lay slain before him, Mordecai stood for a moment, his breathing heavy and ragged. The metallic tang of blood hung heavy in the air, and he could feel a cold sweat running down his back. The rustling of leaves and the chirping of birds seemed strangely loud in the silence that followed the battle, and he took a moment to compose himself before continuing on his journey.

As Mordecai trekked through the forest, he noticed a shimmering figure in the distance. It seemed to be a small, humanoid creature, and as he approached, he saw that it was a pixie. The pixie appeared to be injured, and when she noticed Mordecai, she fluttered closer. 'I beg of you, human,' she said in a voice that sounded like the tinkling of bells, 'I need your help.' Her plea tugged at Mordecai's heartstrings, and he found himself inclined to aid her.

Mordecai knelt down and extended a gentle hand. 'What has happened to you?' he asked. 'I was attacked by a group of ogres,' the pixie replied. 'They stole a precious gem that was entrusted to me. Please, I must retrieve it.' Mordecai frowned at the thought of ogres prowling through the forest, but he knew that he could not leave the pixie to fend for herself. 'I will help you,' he said. Mordecai's expression remained stony and cold, despite his words. 'But make no mistake,' he said, 'I am not here for altruistic reasons. If I recover your gem, I expect you to help me in my quest to find the Den of Dragons.' The pixie looked at him with a mix of fear and gratitude. The pixie nodded solemnly, and led Mordecai deeper into the forest. They traveled in silence, their footsteps muffled by the thick foliage beneath their feet. As they drew closer to the ogre's lair, the pixie cautioned, 'The ogres are brutish and fierce. They will not hesitate to kill us both if we are detected.'

Mordecai gave a grim smile. 'Do not worry,' he said, drawing his dagger.

The pixie watched as Mordecai prowled through the underbrush with the stealth of a predator, his eyes scanning for any sign of the ogres. The creature's faith in him seemed unwavering, though Mordecia could not be certain whether it was her trust in his skills or her desperation that fueled her confidence.

Suddenly, a low grunt broke the silence. Mordecai dropped to the ground, his movements nearly imperceptible as he crept forward. Before him, hidden behind a tree, was a massive ogre, snoring loudly.

Mordecai eased himself into a position behind the ogre, dagger poised and ready. As he was about to strike, he paused, a thought crossing his mind. He knew that in order to find the Den of Dragons, he would need more information about the forest and its inhabitants.

With a swift hand, he covered the ogre's mouth, stifling its grunt of surprise. Holding the dagger to its throat, he whispered, 'Tell me where the Den of Dragons is, and I might let you live.'

The ogre let out a gargled sound that could have been a laugh or a cry of fear. Its beady eyes stared at Mordecai, sizing him up. Finally, it grunted, 'The Den…in the heart of Solsticea…on the highest peak. But…why do you seek it?'

Mordecai applied more pressure to the dagger, drawing a trickle of blood. 'That is my concern, not yours. Now, you will lead me to the Den.'

The ogre nodded, its body quivering with fear and anger. But it knew it had no choice.

Slowly, Mordecai released his grip on the ogre's mouth and moved the dagger away. The ogre rose to its full height, its back almost brushing the treetops. It turned and began to lope through the forest, the sound of its heavy footsteps like thunder on the forest floor.

Mordecai followed, keeping a wary eye on the ogre's back. If the creature decided to betray him, it would be a deadly battle. But as the hours passed and they traveled deeper into the forest, he began to relax, trusting the ogre's knowledge of the land.

Trusting the ogre's knowledge of the land, Mordecai followed its hulking form as it led him deeper into the forest. The underbrush grew denser and the canopy thicker, blocking out most of the sun's light. The air was heavy with the scent of decay, and Mordecai could hear the rustling of unseen creatures in the undergrowth.

Despite his caution, he was glad to have the ogre's size and strength on his side. It might have been a brute, but it knew this part of the forest better than he did.

As they walked, Mordecai became aware of a low, guttural sound coming from ahead. The ogre's pace quickened, its movements more urgent now, and Mordecai knew that they were getting close to their destination.

The sound grew louder, and Mordecai could make out the faint grunts and snarls of a battle in progress. He drew his dagger and moved silently through the underbrush, searching for an opening.

Suddenly, a roar erupted from ahead, and Mordecai caught sight of a flash of fur and a powerful tail.

Mordecai watched as the ogre engaged in a fierce battle with a massive saber tooth tiger, its jaws snapping and its claws raking at the ogre's thick hide. The creature's attention was fully engaged, and Mordecai seized the opportunity.

Sliding through the underbrush, he made his way towards the entrance to the Den of Dragons. The sounds of battle grew distant, and Mordecai knew that the ogre would be dead soon, but he had more important matters to attend to.

As he approached the cave, he could feel the heat of dragon fire radiating from within.

Mordecai gave a grim smile. 'Do not worry,' he said, drawing his dagger.

Mordecai stood before the entrance to the Den of Dragons, his heart pounding in his chest. The air around him seemed to pulsate with an energy that was both terrifying and electrifying. With a deep breath, he stepped across the threshold into the dark, musty interior. What awaited him within the den, he could not know, but he knew he must face whatever challenges lay ahead to obtain the power he so desperately sought. And with that, he disappeared into the darkness.