This is what happens sometimes when your fanfic isn't co-operating, you're
bored and you just start writing. No chapters, no foundation, just an image
in your head . . .

I could be asking for trouble here ;)


     The bleak, grey, stone landscape spread out before the exhausted boy's
eyes. Fat grey-black clouds rolled overhead in turmoil and chaos,
threatening to burst at their seems and deluge the parched tundra with much
needed rain. Windborne sand and dust blew across his cheek, the grit causing
his narrowed eyes to twitch in irritation. Brushing his jet-black hair out
of his face and looking up, a black cliff face filled his vision, the
distant rock appearing flat and shiny, almost slick. Atop the ominous
natural formation a pure white spire pierced the sky, its eminence sheathed
by low, shifting clouds. A single shaft of bright sunlight split the
moisture laden wreath around the tower, and illuminated a single wooden door
at the base.
     The boy stood thoughtfully for a moment longer before continuing his
journey across the lichen encrusted stone under to find a good first hand-hold
on the cliff.
     The  morning passed uneventfully, the rain remaining aloft and allowing
the boy to cross the gap between his previous survey point and the foot of
the massive black stone wall in relative comfort. The dragon had not
appeared for two days now and this gave pleasant thought to the waery
traveler. Besieged by day for many weeks, the boy had finally managed to
elude the pursuing serpent. He knew not why the beast was following him, nor
did he intend to ask it if it found him again.
     It was just before noon when the boy reached the foot of the cliff face
and placed a trembling hand on the cold black rock. The texture was as he
had foreseen, smooth and glistening. Looking up, the cliff appeared to rise
and then bend back over him. Looking left and right at ground level he could
see no solid foothold for him to begin his ascent. Stepping back, the boy
scanned the ebony surface carefully until finally he spotted a tiny piece of
rock jutting out at shoulder height. Grasping the protrusion firmly he
looked upward and picked out a vertical trail of similar protrusions leading
up and to the right, the direction that would take him directly to the east
side of the tower.
     Moving like a tenacious spider, the boy climbed steadily higher, noting
the rising wind speed as he went. The bitterly cold wind whipped his clothes
against his legs and arms causing them to ache and sting. Late in the
afternoon, sweating profusely and out of breath, the boy paused to rest,
then looked down hesitantly to assess his progress.
     Far below he could see the dull patches of grey stone and greenish lichen
strewn across the wide plain that stretched to the horizon. In the west, the
river Katra wound lazily through a shallow valley to empty into a wide delta
and eventually the shining blue-green sea. Far off to the east the sun's
rays broke through the leaden cloud bank and splashed about the tops of a
vast green forest. Along the edge of the treetops a small black spot
suddenly appeared, growing larger by the minute. The boy turned away
suddenly from the panoramic view, and reached up for the next hand-hold.
     The dragon had found him.


To be continued . . .

Panda

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Member of The F.A.A.  - Protectorate of The Anything Goes Martial Band
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"Bubblegum Cross" & "The Dark Traveler"
askuse@execulink.com
BG Crush & Raven's Garage web sites:
http://www.netzone.com/~ozymand/
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