Dragon Island Legends, Book 2, Chapter 1

 Today, instead of a Writer's Week post, I thought that I would share the first chapter in my as yet untitled work in progress. It will be book 2 in my Dragon Island Legends series. The series consists of tales that illuminate the history of the Dragon Islands, the world Eric and the Deliverers visit in The Golden Dragon of Ang, the third book in the Deliverers series.

The goal of the series is to tell the story behind one event on each of the five Dragon Islands. The first book, Fire & Ice, takes place on Ang, the Head of the Islands, in the time before the Golden Dragon removes herself from the Islands and (slight spoiler) how that comes to be.

This book takes place even further in the past--500 or so years before Fire & Ice. It is about a teen named Shadra who lives with her clan on the steppes of Jongchin, the Heart of the Islands. So, here is chapter one. I'd love to know what you think. If folks like it, I'll post chapter two in the near future.

Chapter 1

The small, mounted hunting party rode over the grassy steppes of Jongchin. They had been out on the hunt for almost a week but had nothing to show for it. Game had been scarce this cycle, something unheard of among the clans for untold turnings. Shadra rode ahead of the others, looking for antelope sign. A girl of 16, she was unique among the clans of the western steppes. She was the only female to hunt, which made her strange. Moreover, she was highly skilled, which made her intimidating to the men of her clan, and, in some ways, a threat.

The rest of the hunting party laughed and joked among themselves as she rode ahead. One muttered, “When will the ‘Great Huntress’ mark a herd? Where’s she leading us? I think we’re going in circles.”

His companions chuckled. Shadra heard them but took no notice. “If they are getting antsy, why don’t they try tracking for a while?” she thought bitterly. “Instead, they allow themselves to be led across the steppes like a group of pack mules.”

Still, she shared their frustration. Winter was coming, and the clan’s food reserves were dwindling. The hunting had been unusually poor. Game was scarce. If their luck did not change soon, the clan faced starvation once the snows of winter set in.

In normal times, several clans would unite to conduct a nerge—a hunt where hundreds of horsemen would drive an antelope herd across the steppes to a strategic, predetermined spot such as a canyon or valley where archers waited to bring down large amounts of game. However, with the scarcity of game, the clans had to range farther than normal across the steppes in search of it, which prevented them from teaming up.

Shadra shifted the bow that was slung across her shoulders. It was her primary weapon and her pride and joy. The curved bows of the Jongchin steppe clans were legendary. Constructed of a composite of wood, horn, and sinew, they served the clans when hunting and fighting. The clansmen of the Jongchin steppes were skilled at shooting from horseback, and Shadra was better than most. This was grudgingly acknowledged by her clan, but because she was a woman, it was a cause of shame rather than pride. To be outhunted by a woman, much less outfought, was considered dishonorable.

A high-pitched screech from the air caught the hunters’ attention. They pulled up their horses and scanned the sky. Circling high above was the form of a great golden eagle. They watched as it circled lower in ever-shrinking circles until it alighted on Shadra’s outstretched arm.

The large bird dropped the body of a red fox onto the girl’s saddle. Shadra smiled. “Ah, Kreeva. Well done!” Shadra offered Kreeva a piece of dried meat, which the eagle greedily devoured.

Turning in her saddle, Shadra tossed the fox to the hunter who had mocked her. “Here you go, Shai-Phoo. Stow it with the others. It seems Kreeva is the only one having any luck this trip.”

Turning to face forward once more, she said, “All right, my dear. Let’s see if you can find any bigger game.” With a flick of her arm, she launched the giant eagle into the air.

Kreeva rose into the sky, circled once, and flew east. The small hunting party followed, with Shadra still leading.