Gabriel and the Dragon

“Obnoxious,” twittered a red jay behind him.

“Hideous,” one fairy whispered to another.

“And it stinks!” said a gnome, which is remarkable since gnomes are rather stinky themselves.

“There, there little one.” The old dragon, Zekacerce, reached up and plucked a fritter apple off a silver-leafed tree and gave it to the little boy. He wiped the tears from his blue eyes and took the apple.

“Thank you,” he croaked meekly.

“Well, it can’t say here!” the dragon’s assistant, Jax the jackrabbit, shouted. He pushed his way through the crowd of magical creatures that gawked at the boy. He adjusted his spectacles, crossed his arms, and thumped his foot in thought.

“Of course not. But he is not to be feared.” Zekacerce smiled down at the little boy who was preoccupied with devouring the delicious fritter apple. His scales shimmered, casting a rainbow of light around the forest.

The fact that he slipped past the elusive Moss Wolves at the forest’s border was impressive. Captain Silent Paws was extremely embarrassed when he informed the dragon of the child lost within their magical forest.

“What is your name?” the dragon asked the boy.

“Gabriel,” he whispered after he wiped the bright purple juices from his mouth.

“Well, little Gabriel. How did you come here? No human ventures into our forest. It is difficult to find and the wolves usually scare them off.”

“I-I got lost. I was hiding. My cousins were being mean. I just wanted to be left alone.”

Zekacerce pitied the little boy. The magic of the forest was ancient and protected those in need. He could see that the boy was kindhearted. The child was chosen by this deep magic to be protected for a reason. The dragon knew this deep in his bones.

“We will take you home now little Gabriel. And you may return whenever you wish.” The forest creatures whispered amongst themselves but did not disagree with the dragon’s decision for he was the guardian of the heart of the forest.

The boy was escorted home by a Moss Wolf, Sir Black Fur. Gabriel thanked the dragon and creatures for their kindness before departing.

In the years that passed, he often ventured into the enchanted forest to explore the magical places and befriend its inhabitants. He liked to spend time with magical creatures or be alone rather than with humans. He came from a small village and was an only child. His father was often busy at his grandfather’s farm and his mother was often ill. His cousins were older and larger than him and enjoyed picking on him often. He sometimes wanted to bring some of his larger friends from the forest to scare his cousins, but no one dared leave the protection of the magical forest. Zekacerce taught him of the deep magic of the forest that protected its inhabitants and how its magic reached everywhere outside the forest to nourish the land and keep the darkness away. Magic was everywhere; light and dark, order and chaos always battling. Gabriel also learned a lot about the plants and animals of the forest. The fairies taught him which food was good or bad, and where to find the sweetest fruit. He often brought back these delicious fruits and berries to share with his mother. The gnomes showed him the best rocks in the pink sparkling river to crack open to find precious gemstones. The unicorns taught him how to race through the narrow jack-rabbit paths and chase the butterflies and flying flowers the fairies rode. The Moss Wolves taught him how to be brave so he could stand up to his cousins. Once when his cousins were especially mean, he brought back berries from the forest that he knew would make them ill. They were sick in bed for days and his aunt feared they would die. He felt terrible and was relieved when they got better, even though they still picked on him.

One evening, before the harvest moon of his fourteenth birthday, a comet flew through the sky. The villagers thought that it was a bad omen for a harsh winter, while others argued that it was just a pretty sight and made a wish. The former premonition posed to be somewhat truthful.

During the next few days, there were rumors of ghouls in the mountains. Ghouls ate any animal they could catch and any food in the night. They were dead men that didn’t know they were dead, so they ate to feel alive. The elders told them not to worry, but they were wrong.

First, the grain and corn in the fields were eaten. Then the livestock. Soon there was nothing left to eat. His family began packing up to leave when he ran to the forest to plead for help from the dragon, the great protector.

The forest was abnormally quiet. The fairies, birds, and nymphs were not singing. The flowers were downcast and some wilted away. A unicorn carried him to the center of the forest where the Zekacerce slumbered within the great heart tree.

Jax greeted him at the entrance and brought him before the dragon. His scales which use to shine like the rainbow were dull. He opened his golden eye with a tired sadness.

“Ahh, little Gabriel. I am so glad you have come.” He spoke slowly and his breath was labored.

“Great dragon, what’s wrong? The forest is quiet. Are you not well?”

“No, I am not. And neither is the forest. I have seen too many years and my heart grows weak. The magic of the forest weakens as well. Only another dragon can replenish it and protect it.”

“Another dragon? Where can we find another dragon?”

“The comet. It struck the ground. Inside you will find an egg. Bring the egg here, and I shall hatch a new guardian for the forest.”

“How will I find it?”

Jax thumped his foot and pulled a compass from his front pouch, like a kangaroo. A small dragon scale spun as he moved it about, the tip pointing in a certain direction.

“It will guide you to the egg.”

“Who shall join our friend?” The dragon asked the crowd of magical beings. They all murmured amongst one another.

“I will, oh great one.” A winged horse walked through the crowd.

“Silverhoof, son of Pegasus. We will be honored for your service,” the winged horse bowed toward Zekacerce. Gabriel saw it had a broken wing. The tips of its feathers dragged lazily behind him.

Silverhoof snorted and pawed the ground.

“I may not be able to fly, but my hooves are swift and I can carry you for the journey may be long.”

“Jax,” the dragon said quietly.

“Yes?”

“You shall join them.”

“Me! Why me? I am your assistant, I must help you! And I’m not brave.” He whispered his last protest, although many could hear and agree with his statement.

“You are my assistant and that is why you must go. Assist Gabriel and bring the egg back to me. For you shall guide the hatchling when I am gone.”

Jax thumped his foot nervously, then grabbed it to stop it. He agreed and replaced the compass in his pouch.

“The dragon must hatch and become the new guardian of the heart of the forest. For his magic will heal the forest and push away the darkness in all the land. He must not be taken by a Dark One, or the ghouls and darkness will spread with the death of the forest.” The dragon gave him a short sword the gnomes forged, made from the meteorite his egg was found in. He also was given leather brigandine made from the dragon’s skin shed from his youth. It would protect him from many things such as fire, but not a dragon’s teeth or talons.

“Heed my wisdom friends. Show caution to who you share kindness, for some take more than they ought. Be careful who you ask for help, for not everyone is trustworthy. Have patience, for good things are for those who wait. Beware agreements made by enemies, for they might be broken.” Zekacerce wished them protection on their journey, bid them farewell, and closed his eyes to rest.

They set out that day. Gabriel made a quick detour to say goodbye to his family. His father was busy loading their belongings to sell in the city at the market. Gabriel snuck into his home and said goodbye to his mother. She did not understand why he had to leave, but he said it was for the dragon. She knew his bond with the forest was special and strong. She kissed his head and cried when he left, praying he would return safely. He did not say goodbye to his father, for fear he would not understand the importance of his quest.

Gabriel rode Silverhoof northwest, away from the magical forest, with Jax on his lap. Silverhoof was a stoic and silent creature, while Jax was a nervous talker. He filled much of the silence with his mutterings and vocalized everything he saw on the road. Silverhoof and Gabriel preferred silence.

“We can see what you see Jax,” Silverhoof snorted. Gabriel laughed. Jax instead fiddled with his fur.

As they traveled farther from the enchanted forest, they found fewer animals and the world became eerily quiet. They were fortunate enough to not come across ghouls for they avoided the dark tendrils on the earth, which marked their presence. At night they lit a fire to ward them off.

One morning, as Silverhoof and Jax were drinking deeply from a creek and Gabriel, was filling his water skins, a small kitten appeared out of the brush. Jax shrieked and jump on top of Silverhoof, who was startled by his reaction.

“It’s just a little kitten,” Gabriel said.

“No! It’s not! Don’t trust it! It’s a cat! A mad catter!” Jax exclaimed. Silverhoof shook his mane and chuckled.

“Harmless,” he whispered.

“Hey, little guy. Are you hungry?” The kitten meowed and approached Gabriel’s outstretched hand. He fed him a little cheese, which he ate greedily. He meowed again when it was gone. His big, round eyes were difficult to resist.

“Don’t feed it! There’s always more! There-“

The kitten ate more cheese and then began to shake violently. It jumped and split into two kittens.

Both kittens began to meow and beg for more. Gabriel didn’t understand what he saw, but those cute eyes made him feel so sorry for them. He fed them more. As they ate they shook again, and each split again. And again, and again until there were so many kittens the chorus of meows became deafening.

“Stop feeding them!” Jax yelled. He broke Gabriel from his trance, who backed away from the kittens. They rushed towards him, meowing louder. One began to growl, then they were all growling. Gabriel jumped onto Silverhoof and hugged Jax as Silverhoof turned and bolted away from the kittens. There was a cacophony of growls behind them that made their hair stand up on end. Gabriel learned that he shared his kindness with the wrong creatures.

They quickly crossed the creek, which didn’t slow the stampede of angry kittens. The grass began to thicken and get taller, which slowed Silverhoof. The soil beneath the grass was sloppy and wet. They sloshed in the mud with the kittens close on their heels. One managed to jump and sink its claws onto Silverhoof flank. He whinnied in pain and Gabriel knocked it off with his elbow.

“Bad cat!” Gabriel exclaimed.

The grass became so tall they could not see the kittens but they heard them. Soon they started hissing and howling. A strange splashing noise was heard and the grass behind them swayed in all directions. Then it was silent. Silverhoof panted heavily and slowed to a walk.

“I wonder what scared them off.”

“Nothing good,” said Jax who was gripping his ears in terror.

Suddenly, a large daisy turned towards them and spit water at them. Silverhoof laughed.

“It’s a spitflower! They’re harmless, just annoyed at the commotion. The mad catters hate being sprayed!” Another flower spit water at him as he spoke.

The trio continued through the grass and the sopping mud, sprayed by a spitflower every few yards. They were protective plants and hated their home being disturbed. Over time they began to ignore the water, but Jax became increasingly irritated. Every time he had neatly combed his fur or wiped off his spectacles he’d be sprayed by water again. He screamed in frustration, only to be sprayed with two more flowers. Gabriel couldn’t help but giggle at their shared misery.

The mud became thicker as they encroached deeper into a swamp. Soon they were under a canopy of trees wrapped in long tendrils of vines. As the trees thickened, the spit flowers receded. They relied on the compass for direction, but their path was often blocked by murky pools of water, dense vegetation, or mud too thick to walk through. Once, Silverhoof’s hoof sank deeper than expected and they all nearly fell into the muck. They zig-zagged all day, back and forth through the swamp without making progress.

“Perhaps we need to ask for directions,” Gabriel said when Silverhoof stopped at another murky pool. He refused to go in the water for fear of leeches, crocodiles, and other unknown creatures.

“Who are we going to ask? The trees or the gnats?!” Jax exclaimed.

“I can help,” a sinister voice responded. A fallen log on the banks of the pool opened a yellow eye and turned towards them. Silverhoof jumped when he realized the log was a crocodile.

“No, no. We’re not lost-“ Jax said, gripping Silverhoof’s mane in terror.

“Do you know the way out of here?” Gabriel asked. He did not trust the crocodile, but their options were limited.

“Sure I do,” said the crocodile. “For a price.”

Gabriel swallowed and tried to ignore Jax frantically shaking his head.

“What price?”

The crocodile smiled hungrily.

“A little snack,” he licked his lips and looked at Jax.

“Nope!” Jax exclaimed. He kicked Silverhoof and pulled his mane to go backward, while Gabriel grabbed his sword. The crocodile was not a trustworthy creature to ask for help.

Suddenly, the pool in front of them exploded. A huge hippopotamus lunged at the crocodile and swallowed him whole. The hippo smiled a big toothy grin.

“Never trust a croc!” she exclaimed. She wiggled her ears dry and belched. As the muddy water dripped off her body, orange skin with blue spots was seen underneath.

“Thank you!” Jax jumped down and hugged her muddy leg.

“You are very welcome, little friend.”

“You can always count on a hippo!” Jax realized his dramatic display and began to adjust his spectacles and wiped the mud from his fur.

“My name is Mirna Bigbottom. I hear you need to find a way out of our swamp. Let me guide you,” Jax jumped back onto Silverhoof and they followed the spotted hippo through the swamp. When they came across a pool, she’d stomp her feet to announce her presence. Either crocodiles scampered from the pool or other hippos popped up their heads. They wiggled their ears to greet her and allowed them to swim across.

At the edge of the swamp, Mirna stopped and bid them farewell. She told them to wait by the shores of the lake to find a way across and not to get too close to the edge.

They waited by the lake all night and still saw no one the following day. Jax watched the compass needle turn as he rotated the compass in a circle. Silverhoof snoozed and occasionally sighed from boredom. Gabriel paced the banks of the lake. The water lapped lazily and birds glided overhead. Nothing in that water moved.

“I can see the other side, I think,” Gabriel said. He was tired of waiting.

“Best wait, like the hippo said to.” Jax scratched his belly, then cleaned his spectacle before returning to staring at the compass.

“But we can’t wait forever! Zekacerce is dying, we need that egg!”

“Patience! You’re irritating me!” Jax snapped. Silverhoof flopped onto his side and groaned. Jax rolled his eyes at the drama.

Gabriel approached the lake shore. He stared intently at the water. Still no sign of life.

“Maybe we should-“

“No! And not so close to the water! Mirna said-“

The water burst in front of them as a giant orange and black fish leaped into the air. A wall of water hit them and rolled them around on the shore. They stood and looked as another fish jumped and another wave hit them. They were disoriented. Soon they realized they were at the edge of the lake.

“We’re too close! We should-“

Jax’s last statement was interrupted by another fish jumping onto the shore and swallowing them whole. Another fish splashed a wave large enough to return the fish to the lake.

“Ugh Koi!” Jax screamed. Gabriel thought that was a strange expression.

“Did that fish swallow us?”

“Koi!” Jax yelled again, shaking the water from his fur.

“We were swallowed by a koi fish. They are rarely seen, and thought to be extinct.” Silverhoof said. He smelled the ground and looked around. “I think we’re just in his mouth, we haven’t been swallowed.”

“Yet! We haven’t been swallowed yet!” Jax thumped his foot on the slimy floor and walls. He shivered at the sloshing sound it made.

“How do we get out of here?” Gabriel did not like the dank, smelly fish mouth. Nor did he like the idea of being swallowed.

“We don’t! We’re dead!”

“Stop it! You’re scaring the boy,” Silverhoof said to Jax.

“He needs to know! We failed! This is the end!” Jax face-planted and moaned.

Gabriel sat down and held his knees to his chest. He wished that he had patience and had waited for a way to safely cross the lake. He never felt so frightened in his life. He began to rock, or was he getting seasick from the fish swimming about? He hated thinking about where he was, how far they had come, and how he could have stayed with his family. His mother and father, who he would never see again. Tears started dripping down his face. He could still see their faces, and hear his mother’s voice. He remembered the song she sang to him at night when he was frightened. He began to hum and sing it to himself:

Although fear has filled my heart, I will not be torn apart.

For I will find hope and light, even if withheld from my sight.

His song was interrupted as the fish lurched forward, slamming them into one another.

“This is it! He’s gonna swallow us!” Jax cried. Even Silverhoof’s resolve began to falter.

The fish lurch again, and they were blinded by a bright light. Then they flew through the air and landed heavily on solid ground.

“We’re alive!” Jax and Gabriel exclaimed together. Silverhoof whined with joy.

The giant koi fish began to jump into the lake, nearly a dozen of them splashing their farewells.

The trio waved farewell, with a paw, hand, and wing. Then they climbed a hill that overlooked the valley below. Or what was left of the valley below. An enormous crater lay at the center, surrounded by ash, stone, and smoldering tree trunks. They cautiously made their way down to the crater where a large stone lay at the center. Gabriel could feel the heat radiate off of it. Gabriel used his sword to pry some pieces of meteorite off to reveal part of the egg underneath. It glowed brightly and pulsed like embers.

From above a great wind wiped at them. Dark clouds descended from nowhere, darkening the valley.

“Not good, not good,” Jax said, thumping his foot anxiously. Gabriel was still unable to pick up the egg without burning himself.

Lightning cracked from above and a horrendous storm was heard above. With a great boom, a black dragon landed a few yards from them, shaking the ground. Its grey and black scales covered its glowing orange skin like armor. He furrowed his great, thorny brow and snapped his razor-sharp teeth at them.

“Tell me why I shouldn’t burn you all?” the Dark One asked.

They froze in fear.

“Because you dare not harm the dragon egg.” Gabriel reasoned out loud. Why else would the dragon speak with them rather than engulfing them in flames in an instant? The dark dragon chuckled.

“Smart boy,” he puffed a plume of smoke from his nostrils. “Tell me, boy. What do you know of dragon’s eggs?”

“Enough to know a Dark One should not possess it.” Gabriel grasped the hilt of his sword and swallowed hard. The dragon growled at them and Jax hid upon Silverhoof’s back under his broken wing, leaving a small pile of scat on the ground.

“Strong words for a little one so full of fear,” he breathed in deeply. “I can almost taste it.” He flicked his tongue at him. Gabriel unsheathed his sword. The dragon laughed.

“Oh, a little knight? What makes you think I won’t take what is rightfully mine?”

“This egg belongs in the enchanted forest, with the Great Dragon, Zekacerce.”

“That old fool!” he puffed more smoke. “Our magic is not meant to be contained. It is chaos that needs to be loosened upon the earth! For us, dragons are gods, sent from the stars. Why should we hide away? We should be free to soar and control these lands. All should bow before us in reverence and fear!”

“Dragons bring peace and order. Their magic heals, creates, and nurtures-“

“Enough foolish talk!” he eyes the blade wearily. He knew what it was made of and how it could gravely injure him. Even in the hands of a young boy. “I challenge you to a game of wits. Whosever riddle stumps the other shall claim the egg.”

Gabriel agreed and offered the Dark One to start. He smiled a devilishly toothy grin.

“What is dead but alive? Eating but never satisfied?”

“A ghoul,” Gabriel replied after some thought. The dark dragon grumbled at his correct answer. “What is beautiful, but fickle? Wet you when tickled?”

The dragon groaned and rolled his eyes.

“A spitflower, obviously. I eat and eat and multiply. Stop feeding me and you’ll die.”

Gabriel’s first guess was going to be a hungry dragon, but then he answered, “A mad catter.” The dragon nodded and puffed smoke from his nostrils.

“I swallow you and spit you out, if you are true you have nothing to worry about.”

The dragon began to pace, stomping in frustration. This he whipped his head around for his answer.

“Koi!” he declared triumphantly. Gabriel nodded in disappointment, hoping that he had won.

“I am here, I am there. I am power everywhere.” The dragon bore his gaze at Gabriel as he thought of the answer.

Again, Gabriel wanted to guess a dragon for he knew dragons were powerful and hidden almost everywhere in the world. But they were not technically everywhere. Jax anxiously thumped his foot, until Gabriel glared at him. Then he remembered what Zekacerce taught him in the forest.

“Magic.” Gabriel finally said. The dragon growled but nodded his head.

“Next time I will not be so patient for an answer.”

Gabriel swallowed nervously. He glanced at the egg. He knew he had to bring it back to Zekacerce to save the enchanted forest and stop the darkness from spreading. He took a deep breath to concentrate and form his next riddle.

“I am warm, I am bright. I bring death or life.”

Once again the dark dragon paced. He mumbled to himself and shook his massive head. Finally, he answered.

“Fire.”

“No,” Gabriel smiled.

“What!?” he gnashed his teeth. “Fire is warm and bright, it can burn to bring death or warmth for life!”

“It’s not fire. It’s the dragon egg.”

The dragon roared in rage.

“How dare you? You are not deserving of the prize!” he lunged toward them. The agreement made with the enemy had been broken. Silverhoof ran with Jax, assuming Gabriel would follow. Instead, Gabriel held his ground and swung his sword as the dragon flew by. He missed, as did the dragon. He was uncertain if the dragon was aiming for him or the egg. He stood over the egg, ready for his next pass. Again, they missed one another. The dragon roared in frustration and lit the sky with flames. Gabriel covered his eyes from the bright blaze and narrowly dodged the dragon’s claws with his next pass. He shouted at his friends for help. Silverhoof trotted as close to Gabriel as he could with the dragon flying towards them and Jax tossed the compass. Gabriel had to run to retrieve it, not knowing how it would help him defeat the dark dragon. The dragon descended on the egg, but the magic from the compass cast a blinding light on the dragon before he could land. The dragon screeched and turned, missing his prize. In rage, the dragon made another pass, and this time Gabriel’s blade found its mark. The dragon’s forelimb was sliced from wrist to elbow. Hot blood flowed from the wound. He roared in rage once more and flew away.

Gabriel retrieved the egg and wrapped in his leather brigandine. He could still feel the warmth, but it did not burn him. Jax jumped and hooted with joy. Silverhoof whinnied and tossed his head. Gabriel smiled and they began their journey back to the enchanted forest.

The journey back was much better since they knew where they were going. The koi fish allowed them to ride on one of their backs, which Jax preferred until he got terribly seasick. The hippos were happy to see their friends again and guided them back through the swamp. They laughed when the spitflowers spat at them as they left. They did not feed any kittens on their way back through the valley. The enchanted forest was eerily quiet when they returned. The trees moaned solemnly and the magical creatures greeted them sadly. The dragon was very weak and had slept for most of their journey. He hadn’t eaten in days. Not even the lollipop lilies, fritter apples, sparkling river water, pudding rocks, or toadstool cakes enticed him to eat or drink.

They entered the heart tree and waited for the dragon to wake. He opened his golden eye and sighed.

“You returned,” he smiled weakly.

Gabriel lay the dragon egg before him and watched a single tear fall from the dragon’s eye.

“Hope has returned.” He lifted his arm and pricked his finger with a claw. Blood dripped onto the egg and sizzled.

“I give my life force to the new guardian of the heart of the forest.” The egg began to wriggle and crack. It exploded, sending shell and rock flying. A tiny, golden dragon rolled out of the shell. It chirped and flapped its little wings, then hungrily ate the lollipop lilies, fritter apples, pudding rocks, and toadstool cakes. The great dragon chuckled and looked at Gabriel.

“Thank you, Gabriel. Knight of the enchanted forest.” He closed his eyes and breathed his last. With his final breath, his body shimmered and faded into glittery dust that rose and stuck to the underside of the tree. The hatchling’s eyes glowed brightly and the tree trunk mirrored their brilliance. The forest began to sparkle as magic returned in full strength. The magical creatures were safe and the darkness in the land receded.

As the baby dragon continued to grow, so did the magic of the forest. The ghouls receded with the darkness. The following spring, Gabriel’s family returned. His father was overjoyed, fearing that he was dead. His mother was also relieved. He grew up and helped restore his village, making sure the enchanted forest was respected. He often visited the forest to meet his old friends and the golden dragon, Aspera. In his old age, he wandered the forest and was laid to rest under the heart tree. Aspera carved his name in a boulder with her claw so that the forest would always remember the bravery of Gabriel. Human, friend, and knight of the enchanted forest.