A child, a cat, an owl and Dragon

The forest was dark, eerie and foreboding. Light and night cast ominous shadows upon the ground, feeding the imagination with thoughts of witches, faeries and innumerable bands of night crawlers just waiting to pounce upon the unsuspecting and innocent passersby. Fear played and danced betwixt and amidst the many limbs, branches and leaves of the trees. The sky above wore it's most portentous orange glow. Evil eyes glowed in every bush and thicket, as creatures great and small scampered hither and thither, cowering in the undergrowth, peeking curiously at the folly of anyone who dared be out on such an eerie and gloomy night as this.

From his perch high atop the weeping willow tree, hidden from sight, sat Fernz the black cat with the red, sad, glowing and inquisitive eyes. On the opposite branch was Hoot, the owl. Both had become great friends who hung out at nights while observing and keeping watch on the world of the forest floor. Tonight, they sat quietly, anxiously awaiting the raucous flock of unruly children who came to poke fun at the animals, while dressed in hideous and dreadful costumes. It was the one night of the year again, when people lost their minds thinking they were something else besides just themselves.

Little Ilyana was almost three years old. Her birthday was only two days away. "I am a big girl now". She told herself. So, she had simply strolled away while everyone was busy. It was Halloween, she had gone tricking and treating with her older brother Vint. The twinkling lights of the forest reminded her of Christmastime, and Vint had been preoccupied with his friends while they chatted about horror stories they wanted to watch. Her fascination and fancy got the better of her, and she entered the forest gingerly tip toeing in her ballerina pointe little shoes. Ilyana's green tutu and gold trimmed layered skirt contrasted beautifully with her silky smooth ebony skin. Her dark brown eyes twinkled mischievously, while a playful smile lingered on her pouty lips, opened in awe of the forested world of wonder.

High above the forest a lone male dragon named Xander circled the sky observing the revelry of the humans as they caroused and made merry on their night of pretend evil and deviltry mixed with fun. He was used to this night of the year, Xander loved to watch the many displays of costumes and dress up that their imagination conjured up. Sometimes they even dressed as dragons, or what looked like dragons, it was fun and a reprieve from the usual monotony of the everyday norm. Hoot the owl suddenly appeared in the sky.

"Hey Xander, there is a little stranger in the woods tonight. I think that she is lost". Hoot did not wait for a reply, she raced back to her perch on the willow tree.

"Where you got to, Hoot"? "The child is straying too far from her people, she is gonna get lost"!

"I know, I just warned Xander, so he can look out for her".

"That big flying lizard can't even find his own shadow. Why you want to bother him about anything"?

"You can't be mad forever because he didn't find Daisy. She lives with a human now, she lives fancy and doesn't want the wild life".

"Harumph". Went Fernz indignantly, knowing that it was all true. Daisy had abandoned him for the good life, as she called it. But the good life was out here, where he could run free and do as he pleased. She was welcome to her silk and satin, tsk, tsk"!

Ilyana in the meantime, had kept walking on and on, the moon was full and bright, and she felt fearless. She was caught up by the many creatures that scurried out to have a peek at this brave little girl all alone in the forest. The dark always held a morbid fascination to this child. While other little ones of her peer feared the dark, she reveled in it. Children her age thought that she was mad to love the darkness. There were ghosts and ghoulies and monsters just waiting to pounce. "That's silly, laughed Ilyana. They are just our friends who want to play". Yes, Ilyana was a needle in a haystack of scared children, unafraid and daring.

The trees held many secrets tonight. Their leaves whispered of danger around every corner for a young one lost in the forest. A loud piercing screech stopped the little one dead in her tracks.

She looked around her as if for the first time and realized that she had come too far into the trees. They all suddenly seemed to be closing in on her. Ilyana started to cry. "I want my brother". She wailed.

Xander, who had been slowly flying above the child, losing sight of her every now and then as she passed beneath the trees, heard the cry. He slowly soared lower, painstakingly avoiding the trees, and landed not far from the crying child. Xander was a fully grown young dragon. His completely green shiny body was shimmering in the moonlight, his friendly slitted amber eyes gave his face a kindly glow.

The little child had stuck her thumb in her mouth for comfort. She stood there for a minute observing the giant beast fearlessly. Finally, she removed her thumb, leaned her head sideways and enquired of Xander who he was.

"You are green just like my tutu. Are you a dinosaur with wings. I see them in my picture books"?

"I am actually a dragon, I guess I am kind of a dinosaur, you know I think that we both are related since we do look much like each other".

"Mr. dragon, can you help me find my brother Vint. I think I walked too far into the trees and he may be worried that he lost me. Mommy and daddy will be mad if he did".

Before Xander could reply, Hoot came flying in and perched upon the dragon's back peering at Ilyana. Fernz was galloping towards them at top speed. He stopped short when he saw Xander.

"Oh, I see the flying rat found the child". He said bitterly.

"Hello to you too, cat. I am obviously not a rat".

"Why are you here, anyway. Don't you have eggs to hatch, careful, someone may steal the last of your kind and you end up all alone".

"Are you still mad about Daisy. Surely she is not the last of her kind. Daisy ran away because you are thick headed and stubborn".

"You are extinct and smelly with fire breath"!

"Ok. ok, you two. Can we focus on the lost child here".

"We can take her home, we do not need the flying monster". Said Fernz.

Ilyana looked from one to the other. "I did not know that all animals can speak to us, how come my cat doesn't speak to me at home. Animals are funny when they talk".

"We can speak only here in the magic forest when the moon is full and the human music plays the 'Monster Mash".

"Dragon, can you do the honors"?

"My pleasure". Xander replied. He spat out a magical piano and a monster ghoul who immediately started playing the music.

"It's time to dance in the forest tonight again. Come one, come all, wherever you are, the Magic forest of Hallowmeet is alive with music for this one night".

Barely were the words spoken when they were joined by every imaginable beast of the land, sea and air. Bears, lions, tigers, hippos, all that swung on vines and trees, all that burrowed beneath the earth, snakes and all slithering creatures, they came in great numbers for one magical night. Xander's mate showed up bearing fruits and fish and berries of every tree possible.

"Ilyana giggled both happily and nervously. "Won't they fight each other or eat me, dragon sir"? She was pulling shyly at his wing.

"No one will hurt you, little one. You have never been safer here. All animals will be kind to each other tonight. But we must get you home soon. For now though, you will dance with us. My name is Xander. Come dance with me". He stooped and she climbed awkwardly onto his back, holding on tight.

"My name is Ilyana. Please don't make me fall".

So they danced in the enchanted forest for many delectable hours. Ilyana had fallen asleep long before the party was over. She had danced with the many animals for a while and was very happy indeed. The giraffe picked her up and deposited her again upon dragon's back. He rose carefully into the sky with his gentle sleeping bundle just in time to see the crowd about to enter the forest. Xander swooped low and landed a safe distance from the crowd.

People started screaming and running. They had not seen a dragon in many, many years, never even dreamed that they were still around.

"Who among you is Vint"? He asked.

"They speak"? Someone questioned.

Vint inched forward one step at a time. "I am vint". He answered nervously.

"The little human called Ilyana is asleep upon my back. If you could be kind enough to fetch her, it would save you all a trip into the enchanted forest tonight. There is great danger afoot in the trees as it is now the witching hours of the night".

Ilyana arose and rubbed her eyes. Seeing her brother standing there, she practically jumped down from the dragon's back. Vint raced to catch her before she hurt herself.

"I had the best time dancing and roaring with the lion. The snake swallowed me and spit me out when dragon yelled at him". "All in good fun". He said, "though I was a bit slippery when he vomited me out". "I rode on the back of the dragon, he says he knows the dinosaurs that you like so much. Maybe he can take you there to meet them sometime. I had the best time". She said again, snuggling into her brother's shoulder, and was soon fast asleep again. Her parents came running over to hug their children.

"I mean you all no harm. I found her wandering in the forest. All the many animals took great care of her. We all danced and sang and had a wonderful time. Ilyana is welcome in the forest anytime she wishes". He rose to go.

"Wait". the child's mother shouted. "Thank you for taking care of our child. How can we repay you"?

"Your daughter is all the payment we needed. It truly was our pleasure to be there for her".

"Will we be seeing more dragons around now"? Someone asked.

"We are always around, we just keep our distance. Someday soon we will again live side by side. That day is fast approaching. Be ready. Goodbye for now". He disappeared into the night sky.

It would still be a long time before the eggs hatched and grew to an acceptable age to interact with the skepticism of another dragon human co-existence.

Meanwhile back in the forest, animals, ghouls and creatures partied until midnight drew near. For at the witching hour all must return from whence they came. Ilyana dreamed and smiled as she partied within her nightmare, safe and sound back at home.

Fernz met a lovely Ragdoll cat named Stomy, wild as the wind and had no wish to be domesticated. He was so happy he even made up with dragon and had a wonderful rest of the night.

The End.

N.A.