The Year of the Dragon! The Adventure Starts Here

Do you remember reading choose your own adventure stories as a kid? I LOVED them!  Well, we have, the Choose Your Own Adventure Bloghop. It all started with Rachel Harrie's Platform Building Campaign. The Campaigner's in my group went on an expedition to find the Abominable snowman (Yeti? The Abominable Snowman Expedition). It was such a success, that we did it again, going on a high sea adventure (Ahoy! Sea Serpent?!?).

We're back to bring you, The Year of the Dragon. Nine writers have joined together. We each wrote a piece to the adventure that will send you around Bloggerville. As you follow through the adventure please follow, and leave a comment for these fantastic writers. A special thank you goes out to Crystal and Claire for their support in getting this dragon to take flight!

Meet the fantastic writers of The Year of the Dragon: Choose Your Own Adventure Bloghop

Crystal Collier

Claire Hennessy

Diana Nelson

Aun-Juli

J.C. Martin

Cheryl Reifsnyder

Katharina Gerlach

Saba

Welcome to your adventure, but watch out what flies in the sky.

The Year of the Dragon

You are gazing at distant clouds when the sun becomes shadowed by a dark mass. The clouds darken to grey and you look over your head, expecting to see a passing airplane. You see a dark spec in the sky getting larger, descending downward. As it moves closer sunshine surrounds it, and you shield your eyes. The dark shadow takes the form of a large winged bird. You’re no bird expert, but the largest bird it could be is an eagle—except eagles don’t live in your neighborhood.

You rub your eyes that are watering from looking at the sun. As the bird’s wings go up and down you hear the whoosh of air. It is no eagle. You squint. Red shimmers off the bird’s body.

Clouds cover the sun dulling the day. You can see the bird better now. It looks like a giant red blob dropping from the sky. And. It. Is. No Bird! It is something you have only read about in books. It’s a dragon! Its muscular body has thin wings that spanned over eight feet wide. Its scales are a brilliant red, glittering like sun bathing on snow. And its tail! It sails behind him like a giant propeller. It makes you watch in awe, when you should be running.

Two large paws the size of truck tires are coming at you with outstretched talons. The dragon could easily pick you up. Your heart beats frantic against your rib cage. Your fight or flight instinct kicks in and you swallow hard, realizing this could be the end.

Do you:  Duck!

or

Do you:  Stand there gawping like an idiot!

Run Like the Devil Away from the Effeminate Beast!

You run like the devil away from the effeminate beast!

 “Pleathe will you help me?” The dragon has a tear trickling down its scaly face. The California sun beams on it, making it glow as it slides over his red skin.

    You almost feel sorry for the beast until it starts running toward you, squashing a bonsai tree.  The ground shakes and leaves from other nearby trees shower to the ground.

     You back away and when you do, smoke comes out of its nostrils. It seeps out like fog rolling over water, surrounding you and the dragon. The Japanese tea garden and the building are blocked out of your view from the dragon’s smoke.

    “I can’t help you. Go away!” You back up more, but it only upsets the dragon.

    “I don’th wanth to hurth you. I just want you to talth to my frienths for me.”  He says.
    Your insides vibrate from his booming steps and you turn and run.

     He follows. “Won’th you pleathe stop.”

    You find your way out of the circle of smoke and see the high arched bridge where you could escape. You run with all your might, with the dragon following. He wouldn’t give up.
You pump your arms, attempting to go faster.

    “Waith. Don’th go.”

     You make it to the bridge. You have to keep up your pace if you want to outrun the dragon. You clench your jaw and take long strides once your feet hit the stone of the bridge, ignoring the burn in your thighs.

     Halfway over the bridge, a hot wind blows your hair around.

    The dragon is flapping his wings, hovering in the air. “Fineth be that way. I’ll fineth another humanth to talk to my frienths for me! Humph!”  He snubs his head to the side and proceeds to fly away, leaving you breathless and flabbergasted.

    You collapse on the ground, clutching your stomach. A swooshing sound alerts you the dragon is still above you.

Do you: Do you shout for the dragon to come back

or

Do you:  Do you run out of the Japanese Tea Garden and take cover at the Bison Pavilion

Dragon Bloghop

Come back next Thursday to read another choose your own adventure!

Click here to read past adventures.