Chapter Text
(Cindy [Tobin's Mom] voice) "Most people classify dragons as these blood thirsty creatures that only kill for fun. Truth is, people tend to create all sorts of crazy stories about them and their existence, because they don't fully understand it. It is in our nature, we humans are afraid of things we do not know. We end up asking ourselves a lot of questions in our lifetime. We all have a purpose, even dragons, but humanity has made sure to try and eliminate them out of existence. We have chased them out of their homes and forced them into hiding. For those who are still alive, they have faced terrible hardships. Which is why you need to prepare yourself for this cruel world. Whatever the reason may be, we have to protect them, Tobin. Promise me."
"I promise, mom." 6 year old Tobin said sitting in her bed. She couldn't really comprehend exactly what her mom said, but she wanted to make her mother proud. "I love you."
"I love you so much." Cindy wrapped her hands around her daughter as she tucked her in for a good night sleep. Ever since her daughter was born, she had always been different. She took it as a good sign, maybe Tobin would be able to break the family tradition of dragon killing. "Goodnight. Sweet dreams, my little hero."
"Goodnight mom. You too."
Little Tobin was good for a lot of things, but laying still was not one of them. She twisted and turned in her bed for what seemed like forever, until a sound outside snapped her out of her thoughts.
Clink.
Tobin's head moved around her room to find the source of the noice.
Clink.
There is was again. Tobin got out of bed and noticed the sound came from outside of her window. She carefully approached it, trying to not make any noice to wake up her parents. As Tobin was about to open the window, a shadow came out of nowhere from below. As fast as it came, it was gone.
Tobin now fully scared tripped over herself. She began to shake uncontrollably with her eyes wide open. She could hear her heart beating faster and faster as time went on. Tobin grabbed the first object she could find to protect herself, which happened to be a sword, and pointed it at the window as she quietly approached it again.
"RAWR!"
A creature popped out of the window, making Tobin scream in panic and close her eyes. It wasn't until she heard laughter that she decided to open them.
"Hahaha... gotcha." Ashlyn Harris, Tobin's best fried, pulled her mask out of her face with a smug smile.
"Dude! What gives?"
"Just helping you prepare when you get older. How are you supposed to compete with real dragon killers if you are afraid of your friend in a dragon mask?"
"Not funny." Tobin muttered.
"It wasn't supposed to be funny. You were supposed to defend yourself. Tell me, when in those screams were you going to attack me?"
Ashlyn did have a point. There were children her age that were already going out into the woods in search of dragons with their fathers. Tobin's father thought she wasn't ready enough, so he took her brother instead.
"You just caught me off guard with the window rock throwing and the big shadow." Tobin admitted.
"What big shadow? I didn't create a shadow through your window." Ashlyn said, confused.
"Tobin? Is that you?" Tobin's older brother, Jeff, shouted from his room. "Why are you making so much noice?"
"I'm fine, Jeff. Just had a nightmare. That's all." Tobin shouted back. She turned back to Ashlyn. "Why are you really here, Ash?"
"You never gone out to the woods before. How about we take a little trip?"
"You mean... sneak out? No, I can't. My parent's would kill me."
"Come on, just for a little bit. No one would ever suspect we are gone. Please." Ashlyn persuaded. "Don't you want to find out what's out there?"
Tobin thought for a moment until she finally gave in.
Tobin and Ashlyn climbed out of the building through the window and into the grassy floor. Tobin couldn't help herself from thinking of that shadow from before. Ashlyn could be lying to her, but Tobin figured this wouldn't be something Ashlyn would lie about. Would it? But, if Ashlyn didn't caused it, what did? She kept questioning this things even when Ashlyn pointed the direction towards the woods. They both sprinted that direction, unaware of what was about to happen in their village.
Little did little Tobin know, that night was going to change her life forever.