[ FF ] `` The place where no star gave light ''

`` Do n't let the fire go out, my son''. 
 Oh, I was n't paying attention. Too much on my mind. If the smoke went away, we would be spotted by the dragons. They had all seeing and burning eyes, and would kill us with no hesitation. 
 `` To become a fire-master of our tribe, your fire must burn for at least 100 cycles.'' 
 Pff.. I was nowhere near that time. I could let it burn for 10 cycles, but I was no where near being the fire-master that my father wanted me to become. I wanted to do something else. To explore the land around us, to see other people, maybe other beings that may live around our area. I wanted to see beyond the smoke that the fire-masters were making, I even wanted to see the dragons that were hunting us. I have been here so long, I did n't really care. 
 `` I am wasting my time here!, go to bed now and stay there until I say it is time.'' 
 `` It is not my fault!'' 
 `` Go to bed now!'' 
 I went to the cave of my family and went strait to my corridor. I was never allowed anything. I wanted to go away. I was so angry, and I kicked against the wall of my corridor. 
 The wall broke a bit. I heard something fell behind it. I smelled fresh air. I kicked again and a big hole fell open. Lots of sand and some rocks fell down. I could not see anything behind it, but I knew I would be in big trouble if anyone saw it. I placed my bed before it and let it hang on a old branch I found in the corner. 
 Then I crawled through that hole. 
 
 There was a cave behind it, and it felt cold. After a while the cave opened into a darkness that I had never seen. It was raining a bit. I did n't want to go back. 
 Everything was dark here, because a dust had set on everything. The ground, the trees, everything. A lot of it had been cleaned away by the rain, but it was still everywhere. It all had been covered with black.. ashes. I do n't know what has happened here. I had to see more. 
 It was raining a lot, but I could see the clouds moving. It was becoming light again. A cycle has passed. I could discern some more details between all these trees and ashes. 
 Then I saw them. Skeletons, very big. They were covered by dust and plants. Those skeletons are huge. Those must have been dragons. I felt scared, but I did n't want to go back. 
 I did want to know where I was going, so I decided to climb a tree. With some climbing plants I could get very high. It was a tough climb, but on the way up I managed to get some fruits from the plants as well. 
 I looked back to the place I left and saw a tall mountain, as I knew from the drawings. That was home. We lived in the circular area on the top of the mountain, so no dragon would ever find us. We were the only surviving tribe of our race, and we were still hiding. I could see the smoke coming from the top. Home. 
 
 But not now. I still was n't going back. Something has happened to this place and the only dragons I have seen are skeletons. Maybe we did not need to hide anymore. I moved on. 
 I walked for many, many cycles. The trees became smaller, I saw many different animals that had somehow survived that ash. But none of the dragons had survived. I only found their skeletons. Many of them even eaten by smaller critters. It was also very cold. Maybe the dragons could not stand the cold and the rain? 
 Then it happened. The clouds were too thin and they let through whatever was behind it. A bright light went through it. I ducked and hid away. But it grew bigger and bigger, it was so bright I could not look at it. It felt hot even so far away. A dragon has found me! I panicked, ran, fell and fainted. 
 
 All the eyes of the tribe are now watching me. They look shocked, afraid. 
 `` But I woke up and I felt well. The bright light did not hurt me, it was warm and nice!'' 
 They look it me in awe. 
 `` You can all go out too. When it is dark and there are no clouds you can see small spots of light high above. When it is light you can feel warm because of this big light.'' 
 While some are happy with it, a lot of my tribe look very afraid. They do not believe the danger is over. 
 `` You just want us to stop the fires'' says my father. `` I know you hate it. I do n't believe you. Your are making this up, so you can stop taking care of the fires!'' 
 I feel crushed. What is happening? More of my tribe look relieved. `` Yes, he is just making things up. We are not going outside, it is not safe.'' 
 
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 Oops a bit over 300 words I guess, but enjoy the story.; - ) 

