Dogs, Dragons, and Damsels in Distress

There weren't always dragons in the Valley. They started patrolling these parts After. You know, like the cliche “protecting the peace” dragon duty. Or maybe you don’t know how those fire-breathers roll… in which case I won’t skip the details. They’re actually incredibly sweet beasts. They just have no space for lawlessness. Where I’d bark to say something was off, they may end up burning an entire village to dust. True deliverers of justice.

They had a bad rep Before, because people didn’t fully understand them. They just love hard. If there's a problem; when something they protect is in danger, a dragon will not hesitate to right the wrong. Emotions as big as their bodies, it's the kinda passion that ignites into flames. My human has seen a few… but I’ve only heard the stories.

The Mountain Woods used to be devoid of unicorns, fairies, and all the other flighty, pure-hearted creatures. That was back in the Before, though, when integrity was nowhere to be found in the forest. Darkness suffocating every spark before it could even ignite. When magic wasn’t able to work in this realm.

Most people, and domestic animals like myself, alive today have only known the After. We grew up without the hardships that Before brought with it. We like to celebrate by spending our days in the woods. Me, finding as many sticks as I can, my human, gathering herbs and berries for her medicine. We're always adding new tools to her cupboards.

My girl is the town’s healing woman. She always has strangers coming in and out. Sometimes for a quick visit.. but some of the people get taken into the back room. Where I’m not allowed. I usually leave when that happens. I can’t sprint away quick enough to miss that sorrow symphony of screams. When I find my way back, except for a paw-full of occasions, the person is sound asleep. Fully on the mend.

“Lorelei!” the man sings as he walks through the door.

“Henry,” she grins and whips her brunette plaits around. They find rest at her waist, but my blonde tail keeps carving a smile in the air. He’s been with us awhile now. We like him, even though he has a smell I can't place.

“I found the echinacea,” he reveals some dainty flowers for her medicine cabinet. She grabs the bouquet. Carefully, she strings them up next to the others.

I see blue, but I know these ones are called ‘purple.’ Human’s see things different than dogs. I’m not sure if dragons see what we see… I bet they do. I met a unicorn the other day. He said he could see more things than people. That I definitely believe.. they are so good at hiding from humans. But my snout can pick up their floral, earthy scent from a mile away.

She stands and admires them. “Oh, honey, they’re lovely. Thank you!” I get so confused when she uses my name for someone else. I’m her Honey. “I want to be prepped and ready when the royal party marches through the Valley. The town talk says they’re a few days out.”

“Do you think it’s the whole family? Or just King Charles and Prince Nicholas?” his eyes blank as his mind searches for an answer.

“I do hope they are bringing the ladies. I live for their fashion. I also hear the men in that line lack the ‘gentle’ prefix.”

“Why are they on this march?” He chuckles at her judgement, quickly redirecting the discussion, “Looking for something?”


“I hope that’s what it is, and not something like Before.”

“The tyrants of Before would never let their movements be tracked…” he stumbles on the words but recovers with a, “or so I heard.”

“Hmm.. so maybe they are on the hunt for something.. or someone. If only I knew more magic than medicine.” My girl murmurs as her mind gets lost in a world I can't see.

I don’t know much about the royal family, but I do know they have heavy influence. They’ve come through the Mountain Woods only a handful of times. Always bringing a celebration and novel ideas with them. Before, it was a force. In the After, the people choose them. That’s one of the reasons magic came back to the land.

Only a pure heart can create that kind of energy. When enough people chose love over fear, the realm was rocked. Ancient ways and eternal beings were brought back into reality. The people had to work together like we do. Their pack had to be formed from the ground up. No more lonely living and being out of touch with neighbors. They had to rely on each other again. Form community.

Just then, a blast of wind rattled the windows. I could smell the rain forming in the clouds above. Weather was coming from the other side of the Mountain Woods. A storm from the west. Announcing the arrival of our greatest adventure yet.

“Oh,” Lorelei gasped with the next gust, “I need to beat this storm to the square. And back. I'm super low on a few of my elixirs.” Scurrying around, she gathered her bag, coat, and shoes. I love walks. Planting my butt next to the door, like the good girl I am, I waited. “Is there anything you need, Henry?”

His ear to ear grin replies with a chuckle, “no.” He’s hiding something. Hiding might be the wrong word… waiting to reveal? Whatever it is, it ain’t bad. But it’s definitely a secret. He knows something she don't. I trot out the door behind my girl.

Our cottage is just on the outskirts of town. We march down. The path through the Mountain Woods is well-worn by now. From guests and patients to our daily walks; the sculptors of this path are innumerable. The trickle of the creek guides our way. Carving down the ridge with it’s melody of movement. It makes the perfect healing hideaway, according to my girl, because we get the freshest water.

“You know, Honey, I can’t help but get frustrated sometimes,” she finally vocalizes. Her mind had been racing, I could see that. I just like when she ropes me into it. “If only I could just cast a damn spell. Whip up a potion. Some sort of wizardry. I don’t think I’m a bad person… what is blocking my heart?”

I can only look up at her with love while I smile and wag my tail. She is pure. I don’t get it either. Maybe we’ll run into a unicorn and I can ask him.

The wind continued to pick up as we hurried our way down the hill. The square was closing up for the day, but my girl was able to grab what she came for. With a bag full of clinking vials, we took off for home. The sky started drizzling as we set out. Starting our clock, the countdown was on. The creek can turn into white water in the blink of an eye during a storm like the one coming. Catching any unassuming passer-by completely off guard, but luckily we knew the way.

Our home was filled with the savory aroma of supper. The daily clutter had been organized, and Henry sat waiting at the table for us. He was so considerate of her, but I did wonder how he got it all done. Or what his reason behind it was. I couldn’t get a grasp on his motives. Though, they seemed pure.

Lorelei’s laughter warmed the cottage as much as the flames in the fireplace. The tempest increased in tempo steadily outside. A stark contrast to the yellow glow of our home. I curled up at her feet on the stone floor. Sleep slowly lured me in. A lullaby of crackling tinder and rain drops on the roof. Peace.

Jolted awake by a distant commotion, my ear twitched to catch the disturbance. Before I could place it, Henry’s feet hit the floor. Seconds after, I heard Lorelei’s light steps joining him. The drizzle had ramped up to a torrential downpour. Occasional gusts had developed into a continual gale. Drowning out the distant yells. Splashes and thrashes dampening the sound. Someone was caught in the creek.

I jump into their flurry of activity. She stuffs supplies into her bag. He gathers the ropes and lamps. I want to help, but I can’t. During storms, my girl is afraid I’ll get lost. She might be right… even the dragons stay hidden in this weather. I assume my position at the window as they slam the door behind them. Disappearing into the whistling woods, on a midnight mission to save a damsel in distress.