The gates of the city loomed over the horizon, casting long shadows as the sun dipped low in the sky. Orion, a six-year-old boy with dark brown skin and white dreadlocked hair, stood frozen in the distance. His eyes, a striking gold, reflected a mixture of fear and wonder as he gazed at the towering walls and the crowds milling about the entrance. He had been living like a wild animal for months, surviving on his instincts alone in the forest. His small frame was lean from hunger, his clothes torn and dirtied from the rough wilderness.


    He had never been to a place like this before. The walls of the city seemed impossibly high, and the throngs of people moving in and out of the gates stirred something unfamiliar inside him—a mixture of awe and dread. He had no idea what to expect inside, but he had no choice. He needed food, shelter, and a chance to escape the nightmare of his past.


    Orion took a deep breath, his stomach growling with hunger. He had no way of entering the city openly; the guards at the gate would surely question a ragged, dirty child like him. Instead, he crouched low, watching as a merchant’s carriage rolled past. It was piled high with crates of fruit and goods, the perfect cover. Without hesitation, Orion darted toward the cart, slipping beneath it just as it passed through the gates.


    The ride into the city was rough, the wooden planks of the cart pressing into his back as it bumped over the uneven road. Orion held his breath, trying to stay as quiet as possible, his heart pounding in his chest. The city unfolded around him as they passed through narrow streets, teeming with life. The noise was overwhelming—shouts from merchants, the clatter of hooves on cobblestone, the murmur of a thousand voices blending together. It was a far cry from the silence of the forest.


    The cart came to a stop in a bustling marketplace. Orion peeked out from his hiding place and, seeing no one paying attention, slipped out and ducked into the shadows of a nearby alley. His gold eyes darted around, scanning the crowded square. The market was alive with activity—stalls filled with fresh bread, fruits, and meats. The scent of food made his stomach twist painfully with hunger. He hadn’t eaten in days.


    He crept along the edge of the market, staying out of sight as best he could. He spotted a fruit vendor distracted by a group of customers and seized the moment. Quick as a flash, he snatched two apples from the stand and slipped back into the alley before anyone noticed.


    Panting from the effort, Orion sank to the ground, his back pressed against the cool stone wall. He bit into the first apple ravenously, the sweet juice running down his chin as he devoured it in seconds. The second apple he held onto, savoring its weight in his hand as he tried to calm his racing heart.


    But as the hunger began to fade, exhaustion set in. The weeks of living in the wild, fending for himself, had taken their toll. His body was weak, and the weight of his memories pressed heavily on his small shoulders. He had tried so hard not to think about it—the day everything changed, the day he lost her.


    As sleep overtook him, the nightmare began to unfold once again.


    In his dream, Orion was home. The small cottage he had shared with his mother was warm and inviting, the fire in the hearth casting a gentle glow across the room. His mother, a beautiful woman with dark brown skin and white dreadlocks like his own, was humming softly as she worked by the window. Her golden eyes sparkled as she glanced over at him, a smile tugging at her lips.


    But the warmth of the scene shattered with the sound of splintering wood. The front door burst open, and armed men stormed into the room. Orion’s mother screamed, her hands flying to protect him as the men dragged her away. Orion stood frozen, his heart hammering in his chest as he watched, helpless. He wanted to move, to fight, but his body wouldn’t obey. He could only watch as they tore her from him.


    “Run, Orion!” she screamed, her voice filled with desperation.


    But he couldn’t run. He couldn’t move. He watched in horror as the blade came down, his mother’s final scream echoing in his ears.


    Orion woke with a start, gasping for breath. The cold stone of the alley pressed against his back, and for a moment, he was disoriented, the nightmare still clinging to him. His mother’s face lingered in his mind, her voice echoing in his ears. His heart ached with a deep, hollow pain, one that no amount of food or sleep could ease.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    He rubbed his eyes, pushing back the tears that threatened to fall. Crying wouldn’t bring her back. It wouldn’t change what had happened. He had to be strong. His mother had always told him that—he had to survive.


    He sat up, grabbing the second apple he had stolen. He bit into it slowly, the sweetness doing little to lift his spirits. The city was vast and unfamiliar, and he felt more alone than ever. He had no one. No family. No home. But he would survive. He had to.


    As the sun began to set, casting long shadows over the marketplace, Orion stood up and wandered through the streets. He didn’t know where he was going, but he needed to find somewhere safe to rest. The city was dangerous—he could feel it in the way people looked at him, the way they avoided his gaze, the suspicion in their eyes. He was an outsider here, a boy with no name, no place, no future.


    As he walked, lost in thought, a sudden noise caught his attention. The sound of scuffling, followed by grunts and the occasional thud of fists hitting flesh, echoed from a nearby alley. Curiosity piqued, Orion moved cautiously toward the sound, peering around the corner.


    What he saw made him freeze.


    In the dim light of the alley, a group of older boys—each much bigger than Orion—were surrounding a lone figure. But something was off. The lone boy in the center wasn’t cowering or running. He was fighting back. Hard.


    Orion’s eyes widened as he watched the scene unfold. The boy in the middle, who couldn’t have been more than a year or two older than Orion himself, was holding his own against the larger group. His movements were quick and fluid, each strike sending one of his attackers stumbling backward with a grunt of pain.


    The boy’s black hair was wild and tousled, his face set in a grim mask of determination. His eyes—dragon-like and glowing a fierce, unnatural green—burned with an intensity that made Orion’s breath catch in his throat. They weren’t just green; they were alive, like twin emerald flames, flickering with a power that seemed to defy the dim light of the alley. He moved with a grace and precision that belied his age, his fists and feet striking with a speed and power that left his attackers reeling.


    The first attacker, a burly boy with a sneer etched across his face, charged forward with a wild swing. The green-eyed boy ducked under the blow with ease, his body twisting like a coiled spring. In one fluid motion, he drove his elbow into the older boy’s ribs, the impact sending him stumbling backward with a grunt of pain. The green-eyed boy didn’t pause. He spun on his heel, his glowing eyes locking onto the next threat.


    The second attacker came from the side, his fist aimed at the boy’s head. But the green-eyed boy was already moving, his body shifting to the side as he grabbed the older boy’s wrist. With a sharp twist, he disarmed the attacker, sending him crashing to the ground with a cry of pain. The boy’s glowing eyes flickered like a predator’s, his movements almost too fast to follow.


    The third attacker, emboldened by the fall of his comrades, lunged forward with a roar. But the green-eyed boy was ready. He sidestepped the charge, his foot lashing out to sweep the older boy’s legs out from under him. The attacker hit the ground hard, the breath knocked out of him as he struggled to rise. The green-eyed boy stood over him, his glowing eyes narrowing as he delivered a swift kick to the boy’s side, ensuring he wouldn’t get up anytime soon.


    The fourth and final attacker hesitated, his confidence wavering as he watched his friends fall one by one. But the green-eyed boy gave him no time to think. He closed the distance between them in an instant, his fist driving into the older boy’s stomach with a force that left him doubled over in pain. The boy’s glowing eyes bore into his attacker, a silent warning that this fight was over.


    The alley fell silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the green-eyed boy as he stood over his fallen opponents. His dragon-like eyes glowed brighter for a moment, as if fueled by the adrenaline of the fight, before dimming slightly. His chest rose and fell as he caught his breath, his wild hair sticking to his forehead with sweat.


    Orion watched in awe, his heart pounding in his chest. The boy’s skill and strength were unlike anything he had ever seen. There was something almost otherworldly about him, something in the way he moved, as if he had done this a hundred times before. And those eyes—those glowing, dragon-like eyes—were unlike anything Orion had ever encountered. They were fierce, primal, and filled with a power that seemed to hum in the air around him.


    As the older boys stumbled to their feet and retreated, the green-eyed boy turned, his eyes meeting Orion’s for the first time. The air between them seemed to hum with tension, as if something monumental had just passed between them. Orion felt his breath catch in his throat, his golden eyes locked onto the boy’s emerald-green ones. For a moment, neither of them moved. They simply stared at each other, the silence heavy with unspoken recognition.


    And then, without a word, the boy turned and walked away, his glowing green eyes disappearing into the shadows of the city, leaving Orion standing alone in the fading light, his heart pounding in his chest.


    TOrion stood in the alley, his mind reeling from the encounter. The image of the boy’s fierce, dragon-like eyes lingers in his thoughts, a reminder that in this strange, dangerous city, he is not alone—but that doesn’t mean he is safe.


    Orion watches the shadows where the boy disappeared, the weight of the moment settling over him. He doesn’t know who the boy is, but he knows one thing for certain: the city is full of more mysteries than he could have ever imagined, and the boy with the dragon eyes is just the beginning