Divergence: Here Were Dragons Part 1

Warning! The following content includes: Graphic Violence, Gore/Blood, Fantasy Animal Death/Cruelty

I pushed through the dense foliage, making my way to the center of the hidden grove. The cold wasteland outside began to fade away. A soft, warm feeling started to spread through my form, a comfort I hadn't felt for the longest time.

Making my way into the grove proper, I stopped in my tracks. In my travels, I have seen impossible beauty, creations that defied reality itself, and yet... The grove's effect on me still lingers with me to this day.

The grove itself was a paradise. A vibrant grass field with colorful flora that grew up the walls of the haven, vines and trees that connected together in makeshift bridges that led to tiny caverns with glowing crystals, as if tempting me to explore and reveal their secrets.

Then there were the dragons. They were children, only a couple of feet in size. They were everywhere. They danced together through the flora, played together in the soft grass. Some walked across the bridges, nipping at each other to go faster or to play. Some even shakily flew across the grove, gliding to a stop in triumph.

A few of them popped out of the caves, holding crystals or rocks in their mouths, eager to show off their spoils to their friends. Others, wanting to show off their own, bravely ventured into the shallow caves.

These acts only drew a fleeting glance from me. My focus was on her. The Mother.

She lay at the center of the grove, her form massive and imposing compared to me and the child dragons. Yet, I felt no fear of her. In fact, I felt safe. I felt secure. With her here, I had nothing to worry about.

I could sense a powerful energy radiating off of her, a Divine Light that poured over the grove. The flora seemed to almost lean in toward her, using her Light as food. Her pure white fur, in addition to her Light, made her seem godly in appearance. No doubt this Light was what protected the children, keeping the grove alive and the barbarians that roamed the lands from finding them.

A few of the dragons played around her. Some of them napped in her white fur. The Mother didn't seem to mind. She laid there, perfectly still, letting her children do as they wished. She would gently nudge one periodically, causing the dragon to get excited and nuzzling her back. Her eyes, piercing bright blue, were filled with warmth and affection for them.

They didn't notice me. Few ever did. I had come here for a reason, to learn more. To try and fix what I've done. As I stood in the grove, the love and childlike wonder heavy in the air, I couldn't help but relax. It was nice, for even a brief moment, to have a respite from the countless days of terror and worry.

That brief moment passed.

I could feel it, the burning pain. I didn't have to take off my gloves to know what was happening. The white hot cracks in my vessel pulsed with hot pain. I braced myself for what would come next. I was never ready.

The grove burned, white hot fire greedily devouring the plants that had defined the beauty of the grove. The child dragons were nowhere to be seen, likely cowering in the caverns.

In the middle of the grotto, The Mother thrashed, her maw open wide with a torrent of fire and flame coming out of her body. She was hurt, crimson blood staining the plants below her. Her once beautiful fur was matted or torn off entirely.

A mass of tendrils from a malformed and unrecognizable body wrapped and pierced her fur and skin, digging into her body to tear her apart. The Mother was desperately trying to fight back, to stop him, but it was no use. He had killed warriors, champions, gods. She was nothing compared to The Architect.

As the battle raged on, I could see her tire. The injuries were too much, blood spilling freely from her. The tendrils of the void that had dug into her began to absorb her. Her Light dwindled, her heartbeat started to slow. The plants started to wither away, the gems left on the floor grew dull.

The void mass began to congeal together, wrapping into a semi-distinct shape. A humanoid figure took form, entirely encased in the void, seemingly phasing in and out of reality. His Halo's profane light grew bright as it took in her Divine Light, the cracks in the halo starting to seal, every so slightly. As The Architect took shape, in one last desperate attempt, she opened her maw and snapped it down upon his body.

As she did, his form dissipated into a thick fog, reforming around her head. With clawed hands, he dug into her face, tearing through her skin and bone. With each swipe, he dug deeper and deeper, blood spewing everywhere as her agonizing screams echoed across the grotto.

USELESS. PATHETIC.

The Architect's words boomed, as he finally crushed The Mother's Skull, her body going limp in the blood-stained grass. Her Divine Light was no more. A cold breeze swept through the grotto, rustling the dead or burned plants that remained.

The Architect was gone, leaving only The Mother's corpse to rot. He had gotten what he wanted. He cared about nothing else.

The children dragons didn't come out for a while. When they did, they looked around. Some were scared, others confused, some too afraid to go out at all. One dragon, with crimson red fur, slowly approached The Mother.

He staggered over the burnt grass to her, whimpering, wanting her familiar warmth, her Divine Light. As he snuggled her lifeless corpse, all he felt was the bitter cold.

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Pub: 26 Sep 2025 23:04 UTC

Edit: 27 Sep 2025 04:47 UTC

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