The flight back from the Hollow Earth to Skull Island was long—hours passing like wind over stone—but I didn't rest. Not even for a moment. The weight of the discovery pulsed in my chest like fire. That portal... it was more than a gate. It was freedom. It was future.
When I arrived, the sky was dim—clouds rolling in over the jungle. My wings beat hard against the wind as I descended toward the central territory of the Dragon Clan. The smell of smoke and fresh soil greeted me as I landed beside our massive pond—now calm again, as if it hadn't just swallowed a part of itself and dropped it into another world.
I saw my mate by the water, watching the younger dragons play nearby.
She turned as I approached. "You're back," she said softly, walking to my side. "You look... different."
I nuzzled her briefly and whispered low so only she would hear, "We found the path."
Her eyes widened, but I said nothing more. I would explain later, but first—I had to act.
I let out a powerful roar—long and deep, one that echoed across the jungle and stirred every dragon heart on the island. Birds took to the sky, and trees shook with the force of it. I repeated it once more—then a third time.
All adult dragons, no matter their age or role, knew what that call meant.
Within minutes, dozens began arriving. Elders returned from their patrols, hunters emerged from the trees, and even the strongest builders came from their dens.
By the time they had all gathered near the pond, there were nearly a hundred dragons—scaled in reds, blacks, golds, and stormy silvers. My children, grandchildren, adopted strays, and bonded kin. A massive force of strength and loyalty.
I climbed atop a tall rock overlooking the pond and raised my voice.
"We begin now."
They fell silent.
"Our clan will move soon. The Hollow Earth will become our home. Not tomorrow, not next moon, but soon. And before we go—we must prepare it."
I let that sit for a moment before continuing.
"We have found a portal. A path that leads from this pond... directly to the valley in the Hollow Earth. The fish and water that vanished? They now fill the great sea where our future lies."
A quiet murmur passed among the dragons. Shock. Curiosity. Hope.
"Today," I roared, "we begin the first step of the Great Migration."
I pointed toward the herds on the eastern hills, where cattle, boar, deer, and horses grazed—animals we had raised and protected for generations.
"Half of you will begin guiding the prey to the pond. Push them in. Let the water carry them through the gate. They will feed the future."
Heads nodded. Wings stretched. Tail slaps of agreement echoed through the clearing.
"The other third, the strongest among you, will dig."
They turned to look at the pond.
"We will make it wider. Deeper. A true river to the Hollow Earth. So that prey—many at once—can pass. Even young dragons can swim through without fear."
A great rumble of approval rose up.
I turned to the remaining dragons. "The rest of you—guards. Keep the skies and jungle clear. We move prey today. We dig today. And we do it fast."
Without hesitation, they began to move.
Dragons lifted into the sky in squadrons, flying toward the fields. Others rushed through the trees on all fours, fast and determined. The digging team—massive earth dragons, lava-scaled beasts, and iron-backed drakes—stepped forward.
I joined them.
At the pond's edge, we began digging. Claws raked through the earth, fire melted rock, and tails shattered roots. We worked with rhythm—an ancient, unspoken understanding flowing between us. Dirt flew into the sky, steam rose where heat met mud, and the scent of wet stone filled the air.
Hours passed.
From the hilltops, the sound of crashing hooves echoed. I saw dragons herding prey into the clearing. The first wave of deer were coaxed into the pond, some panicking and splashing, but eventually diving deep enough to vanish into the swirling water.
Success.
Soon, cattle followed, then boars, then wild elk. Each group disappearing beneath the water, pulled safely into the Hollow Earth.
The digging continued.
We tore a massive channel from the jungle into the pond, letting water flow faster. We removed the pond's edges, creating shallow ramps for the animals to walk down without slipping. We lined the banks with hardened stone, fired by our own flame.
The sun began to set.
The air shimmered with heat and power. Young dragons watched from the trees, wide-eyed and inspired.
By nightfall, we had nearly doubled the pond's size. Hundreds of animals had been sent through. The pond boiled with movement, swirling slowly into the hidden gate that waited below.
And still, we dug.
Because the future was almost here.