Dragon Village Nightmare by Ronesa Aveela

Dragon Village Firebird

by Ronesa Aveela

Imagine waking up to the rumble of falling water, the scent of spring, enveloping you with radiance and caressing your soul with the thrills of an intoxicating melody. You are next to a small pond where the frogs are lying on the green water lilies. Leaves sway from the game of playful fish. Above you rises the crown of a mighty tree, and on top of it shines like a sun the Firebird. Its colors are like Zuna, the rainbow, arching like a dome over your head. You are still sleepy and haven’t yet woken. From the tree emerges the image of the bird’s patroness, drifting like a morning mist with a soft smile on her marble face, holding a crystal ball.

At the same time, a shadow covers the sky. Above you flies a herd of six-winged deer with glittering purple balls between their horns. Seated on them are women like Amazons, brandishing whips of snakes. The warriors descend with a thud onto the green grass. These beautiful and dangerous Samodivi are dressed in white robes, their hair floods their bodies like wild foam. The beast shakes his head furiously and turns his one bloodthirsty eye toward you menacingly.

A screech adds to the clamor as a house on chicken legs approaches. On its chimney perches a purple winged cat. Not far behind, swimming through the air with a broom and a mortar, the famous Baba Yaga orders them about with oath after oath. You try to hide behind the trunk of the tree, encouraged by the smile of the Firebird’s patroness, but something grabs you by the legs. Sharp nails dig into your skin. A bloated, green man with bulging, watery eyes tries to pull you under the water. A Vodnki, a water spirit. You manage to escape. You run, and run, and run. When you think you’ve succeeded, you fall into a dark forest of withered trees, whose bony arms stretch out to grab you.

Amber lights illuminate the trees. Are they fireflies?

Something disturbs the idyllic moment. The clanging of bells. A group of masked men dance madly. The belt of bells around their waists creating a din that chases away a Karakonzhul, a half-man halfhorse creature. No, they’re glass spheres, hundreds of spheres filled with souls.

You close your eyes hoping to wake up from this dream, nightmare. Silence ...