"AMORVIDA": Sneak Peak!

AMORVIDA

Dragons exist and they strike fear in the dark reaches of the human mind. There is no explanation, just the reality that fear causes hatred of the beast and the two cannot live together. No more than the Lion can live with the lamb; can dragons live among men. To stay on Earth, would mean that war was inevitable. Human beings had destroyed thousands of the creatures before they made the decision to leave. For the love of mankind, the intellectual giants created a world in another dimension, where they could exist in peace. For two thousand years, they have lived in the realm they called Amorvida.

It was the millennium anniversary of their world. Flags adorning every family’s crest decorated the city. The smell of food permeated the air and the sounds of laughter filled the large streets. Contests and celebrations had been on-going for two weeks. The competitions determined an individual’s stature within the realm, and the most prestigious was about to begin. The finals of the realm’s champion of flight had been narrowed to the last two entries. Not all dragons would enter a competition that spanned ten miles, while engaging in torturous physical combat. For the two finalists, it was a way of life.

Zeus’s wings were extended to full length, as he soared through the open sky. The snow-covered mountains, with their jagged peaks formed a striking canvas for the noble dragon. Perseus flew beside him making them look more like a team, than opponents. They were huge beasts whose mental abilities were greater than their physical force. Individuals could fly at extreme speeds, not because of the size of their frames, but through telekinesis. Both contestants displayed extraordinary abilities. The fierce competitors had met in the finals of the race for the last twenty years.

A trumpet sounded and the two Dragons burst through the clouds inches away from the other. Perseus turned downward, tucking tightly, trying to out maneuver his opponent, but Zeus remained locked on his every move and could not be lost. The facial features of the two-beasts distorted, as they soared through the air at top speeds. The muscles and thick skin shifted and deformed as they turned left, then right, pushing the boundaries of their physical abilities. Clouds consumed the two creatures as they flew through one side of the white mist and then reappeared on the other.

Perseus was leading the battle, but Zeus followed closely behind. He toyed with him by firing short bursts of energy. The protective field which Perseus formed with his mind held fast, but was weakened by the constant hammering. He was in deep concentration, putting his full mental focus into the match, but his competitor was the ultimate fighter in the air. He was known as Zeus, ‘King of the Sky.” No other Dragon matched his skill at aerial combat, but Perseus was a proud warrior and refused to be defeated. He pushed himself beyond his normal limits, reaching for more than he had ever done before.

The Devils Needle approached with both dragons accelerating toward the entrance to the cave. It was the halfway point and they must maneuver through a winding tunnel. It formed at the base of the mountain and exited at the top. The ominous granite range extended high into the air and surrounded the realm like the walls of a fort. Shards of rock extended from the cave, up to the summit.

Perseus slowed, then turned and attacked the huge beast which followed him. He forced his talons into Zeus’s armor. The large beast roared. Pain overwhelmed him as they flipped through the air. Zeus contracted his wings and struggled to break free. He knew the entrance was approaching quickly. In another moment, it would be too late to enter and he would crash into the face of the rocks. With the opening upon them, Perseus kicked away from the larger dragon and entered the Devils needle. Zeus accelerated downward, barely missing the overhanging granite slivers and passed into the cave just behind Perseus.

Zeus shot a stream of fire which penetrated the dark corridor. The burst of flame burned at Perseus’ flesh. The two dragons followed the contours of the cave. They maneuvered with split second timing to miss the sides of the dark tunnel. Sunlight appeared and Perseus accelerated to be first to depart the chamber. From a distance, it looked as if bullets were being fired out of a barrel.

Perseus changed direction and flew toward the great lake they called Orion’s Pool. It was required to pass through the ring of victory. It was a circular rock that extended from the water’s surface.

Perseus force field heated and emitted a red glow as he sped downward. The water below shimmered, as the suns light bore down on the waves. The image of the cool waters provided a mental relief to the intense heat. Zeus followed closely behind. He had been in many battles and was proven in combat, but had never seen speeds of this magnitude.

The lake approached quickly 1000 feet below. In less than a second, it was at 600. Neither Dragon relented. Everything went into slow motion, as their brains turned the seconds into minutes. Now they were at 500 feet, 400, 300, 200, 100 and now the water was upon them. Their minds raced. The surface of the water was an impenetrable barrier at this speed. Twenty feet before Perseus impacted the water, he forced his head up and made the turn, but he lost precious speed. The concussion of his momentum created a vacuum upon the waves and sent water high into the air. Perseus remained above the wake as he flew over Orion’s pool toward the ring of victory a mile away. The cool liquid spewed from the sides of his wings as he strained to push forward.

Zeus took the turn differently. Instead of pulling back, he increased his speed, forced his head down and inverted his torso, never relinquishing any momentum. Scales fell from his body as the force of gravity tore at his flesh. His maneuver left him upside down, flying between Perseus and the surface of the lake.

Perseus didn’t know Zeus’s position. His eyes darted back and forth, desperate to find him. The wise dragon knew he must finish strong to win. He looked upward, then left and right, in a grave attempt to find his foe, but could not see Zeus in his peripheral vision. He assumed that Zeus did not make the turn.

“Victory is Mine”, he thought. In that moment, he lost concentration. A smile came upon Perseus’ face. Finally, he had beaten the king of the skies. He let his shield weaken ever so slightly. Zeus allowed Perseus to find him in his mind. He looked down and there Zeus was beneath him, only inches from the water's surface, looking at him eye to eye. There was no time to react as Zeus pushed firmly on his tail. The force of the wind caught the tips of his wings, changed his direction and pushed him down onto the surface of the lake. The large dragon created a huge splash. His body flipped end over end, until he stopped, now all wet and floating in the deep blue water.

Zeus flew upside down through the Ring of Victory and across the finish four miles away. He made a wide turn and landed in the crowd of dragons, who cheered wildly for the victor. The dragons of the realm gathered as the presentations were made. Scorpio, the leader of their council presented Zeus with the crystal medallion. It was awarded to the greatest combat flyer. Zeus had worn it for the last five hundred years.

Perseus held the red fire medallion given to the dragon that fought with the hottest flame. He was a great competitor, but he had tried many years to win the coveted crystal of flight. Now another year had passed and he had lost once more to the “King of the Skies.”

The victor flew back to the edge of the fair grounds to meet with Perseus. He stood alone against a large boulder and looked out across the tranquil lake. Zeus landed beside him wearing the cherished crystal around his neck. Perseus turned and looked at the large dragon with a huge smile on his face.

"One day my friend that medallion will hang from my neck."

Zeus stepped up to Perseus and pulled him close in a firm embrace and looked into his eyes.

“I have no doubt that it will my friend, and today it was close to being yours.” Perseus looked down at the ground.

"You are a great flyer Perseus and should be proud of your abilities." Perseus nodded.

Zeus’s words were a small consolation. The two sat for hours talking about the festivities of the day and the fate of Amorvida.

“Zeus, will the humans ever accept us.” The answer did not come quickly. Zeus contemplated the the question with deep thought. Perseus tilted his head in anticipation to the answer.

“What the humans have gained in knowledge, they have lost in compassion.” He hesitated for a moment as he thought of the times he watched the human realm in his mind.

“They are also far more dangerous than they used to be.” Zeus spread his wings to their full length and allowed the sun to give him warmth.

Perseus stared at a rock one hundred feet away. The intensity in his eyes was fierce. An explosion sent the stone into a million pieces.

“I’m shaking at the thought of them.” Perseus said coyly. The corners of Zeus’s mouth turned upward.

“I see your point, but while there used to be millions, now there are billions.” Zeus looked out across the lake. Perseus stepped up beside him and spoke very softly.

“Sometimes, I wonder if we made a mistake coming here.” Perseus said.

“Well my friend, we had thousands of years to second guess our decision. We just have to make the return very wisely and have a well-designed plan.” They stopped speaking as a shadow was cast over them by hundreds of their realm flying overhead.

“Looks as if your victory celebration has ended.”

“Maybe.” Zeus said as he stared intently at the horde of dragons.

“She’s not there.” Perseus said and pushed Zeus lightly.

“You know me too well my friend." As they began their flight back, Zeus turned to Perseus with a serious look on his face.

“Had it not been for the maneuver on the lake, you would have beaten me in the race.” Zeus said reliving the sequence of events. Perseus smiled at him with a fiendish grin and his ears folded back, as he remembered the incident.

"Yes, that is True ... very true .... But soon we need to battle with fire. I desperately need some payback for the bath you gave me." The sound of laughter echoed from the mountain walls as they flew to the castle.

The two were the best of friends, but fierce competitors. It was the way of the dragons. It was the way of the realm. It was the way of Amorvida.