Hidden Within

There weren’t always dragons in the valley, or at least that’s what the elders say. I have no memories of the valley without them. I can recall memories of their silhouettes blocking out the sun on occasion and memories of chasing their shadows across the field as they flew high overhead. I have always been fascinated by them, more than my mother liked. I got in trouble many times for being far too curious. Most people avoided dragons, even feared them to a point. This was not so with me, I thought they were magnificent creatures, they appeared so noble and graceful to me. People thought I was strange that I held no fear of the dragons, and yet my respect for them was far greater than other peoples. It’s hard to fear something or someone who has saved your life. It’s something I have spoken to no one of, the day that I was given the gift of a second chance. It was a foraging day for us. Mother and I woke early as was normal on foraging days. This way we could complete all the morning chores and pack food to take with us for a midday meal. I loved foraging days. It meant we were outside in the woods all day, and sometimes we would even meet up with other women and children. I had been sent near the river to the section of pecan trees to gather fallen pecans. My mother knows I love to watch the river flowing and listen to the water as it goes on its journey, so she always directs me to somewhere near the water on foraging day.

It was there near the river that my life was so altered. I was working on my second sack when I heard a dog barking nearby, the village dogs are not usually this far from home, so I went to investigate as any curious child would. I found a speckled puppy struggling in the mud near the river, with its mom frantically bounding near the river bank trying to find a way to her puppy. I know I am not supposed to go close to the river, all the children are taught this from a very young age. Those who fall in do not make it out, the water is too swift and too deep even for a grown man. I still felt compelled to help the young puppy, if I was extra careful I should be able to reach him, without even getting my feet wet. As I drew near the mom crouched and bared her teeth to me, not moving from where she was, I spoke gently to her letting her know I was only here to help. I made my way inch by inch towards her young one, and as if she sensed I was there to help she backed off a smidge, letting me clearly see the puppy. I laid down on my stomach and reached my hands out to him, speaking softly to him. I could almost touch him from here. I chanced wiggling out enough to be able to grab him by the scruff. He whined as I grabbed him, but he stayed still for me. As I got him to my chest I sat up on my knees with the puppy in my arms. As I went to set him down to go to his mother, she pounced on him,tail wagging, yipping in excitement, she bumped into me causing me to lose my balance, and I dropped the puppy as I flailed my arms to try and correct my balance. It was no use, I tumbled over and fell into the river.

As soon as I hit the water, I felt the current grab me and immediately pull me down. I struggled with all my might to surface for a breath as I sped down the river, it was like an icy weight was pressing on my chest as I was tossed to and fro. I finally surfaced for a moment, I frantically gulped in air, off in the distance I could see a dragon flying towards the river. I remember thinking, please help me, and that was when I heard it, a deep soothing voice in my head, saying “I’m coming”. It stunned me so much that for a moment I quit struggling in the water and just let it carry me. I was taken under again, and I fought with all my strength to get my head above water again. I just needed to keep breathing and somehow I knew I would be rescued. As I finally broke the surface again, I looked to the sky in hopes I could catch a glimpse of the dragon one more time. As I gulped in a breath, and looked up I saw that it was a magnificent blue and gold dragon, and he was much closer than he was before. Was he the voice I heard in my head? I flung back under the water, toss and turned, bumping into logs and debris, I felt myself growing light headed and I was not sure I would surface again, or just sink into the murky depths of the Emerald river never to be seen again. Would my mother ever know what happened to me? Would my family miss me? Would they spend years searching for me, only to be disappointed time and time again? After what seemed like an eternity in the dark abyss, I was able to get my head above water once more, I coughed and gagged trying to take in air, when I realized that directly above me was the dragon I had seen flying towards me earlier. He had his front talons reaching out to me, he was being super careful not to hurt me, and I heard the voice in my head again “Grab ahold” and though I probably should have been scared of this enormous creature I felt nothing but calm having him near. I reached up as he dipped lower and I flung my arms over one of his fingers, I suppose is the best way to describe it, he then slid his other talon underneath me and off we flew. I was amazed at how quickly we were going, I had never gone so fast in my whole life. It was an amazing feeling soaring through the sky. I had no idea where this gentle giant was taking me, I knew I was safe with him though. I had just been about to open my mouth to ask where he was taking me when I saw the pecan patch up ahead. He slowed and gracefully landed on the edge of the river bank. He carefully set me on the ground and then we just stood there looking at each other. He was beautiful, with blues and golds intermingling together, His eyes were swirling blue and golds, and they were looking directly into mine. I was not afraid, even though my heart was pounding in my chest.

Once again he spoke in my head, “Are you uninjured?”.

I nodded my head confirming I was not injured, and it felt natural to answer him with my mind stating “I am shaken up but no serious injuries.”

He looked shocked when I answered him in the same way he spoke to me instead of verbally. He didn’t say anything else, just nodded his massive head and lifted off. I watched as he flew back the way he had come from, until he was on a spec in the midday sky.

Present Day

“Please Help”

I shot up out of bed with my heart racing, it had been years since I had heard his voice in my head, not since the day he saved me from drowning. I had often dreamed of that day but this seemed too real to be a dream. I sat there letting my heart rate slow and my breath calm. I felt such an urgency but for what I did not know. I took a moment to think and decided if he really was talking to me maybe I should take back.

“Hello? Are you there?” I was not really sure what to say, as this whole situation was new for me. I sat in the silence of the early morning hour and waited. I didn't know what I expected to happen, I wasn't even sure this moment was real. Did he actually speak to me?

“ Help me. River.” he spoke again.

I was up in an instant. I quietly threw on my dress and my shoes, not even bothering with my hair. I listened to make sure the house was all quiet, before I quietly opened the front door, squeezed through the small space that I could before it would squeak and quietly closed it behind me. The moon was bright tonight and I hoped it would be bright enough once I got in the woods.

“I’m coming” I spoke to him in hopes that he could hear me. Maybe he was not even talking to me. I mean how could I possibly help a dragon. I dashed across the yard and headed down the lane towards the woods and the river. I hoped I could get there fast enough, it never seemed so far away before. Once I had made it to the open field before the woods I started running, in hopes of cutting down on the time it would take me to get there. It would be slower going in the woods, as the light would be less.

“Hang on, I’m on my way.” I spoke to him once again, as I had not heard a response from him the first time. I was getting more and more worried as time went on. I am not sure what happened to him but it had to be bad if he was asking for my help.

“I’m here. Hurry please.” he breathed.

I felt relief pour through me as I heard his voice in my head. It sounded weaker than before making me pick up my pace. I was really feeling the urgency to get there quickly. I had finally made it to the woods and veered left towards the river. After a few minutes of walking I could hear the river.

“Where are you?” I asked hoping he could tell me, since this river went on for miles. Out of instinct I had headed towards the pecan patch as that's the only place I could think of.

“The pecan patch,” he responded.

I finally could see the pecan trees ahead so I picked up my pace. As I broke through the tree line, our eyes locked, and I came to a sudden stop, shocked at what I saw.