The Dragon

Thousands of years ago, so many that the world was still bare and empty. So long ago that the echo of creation could still be heard resounding against the rocks. Dust was just starting to settle across the land and the waters were still shaken. At that moment, before any evidence of the passing of time could be found, the Creator, alone in the world, saw it empty. He extended his arm to the world and touched it five times, once with each finger. The first four fingers created all the species and creatures that prowl the land. The last finger, that one he inserted into the deepest possible abyss, passing through fire and lava and going deeper until reaching the very heart of the world. With that touch a creature so great and powerful was born that it reigned over all the others. And all the others worshipped and called it god. Civilizations grew and customs were passed generation to generation and with time, the same Creator that gave life to all that was living was forgotten. He allowed it as there was peace in the world but then, the great creature that had been born last but was first among all went to sleep and people were without a leader. Civilization, united until then, started to divide and scatter, and soon, war was born. With war came death and hunger, and such a great sadness covered what once was blissful.

The creator was angry at men for destroying his world, as it was then who had brought such a big evil into all the other creatures, so the creator touched the world again, but this time he touched the night sky, and the darkness was torn apart, and new evils came into the world to challenge and destroy the world of men. Against this new evil, they reunited and fought together but as soon as a moment of peace was found they turned into each other so evil only grew until the Creator could not even touch his own creation. But before he was completely shunned out of the world, he stirred the great creature that had been born last and from its sleeping body many new creatures flew. Many of them from different sizes and colors as many would be needed to once again unite the world.

War was raging, death was like a plague in the world as evil was spreading its roots in the world of men. Cities were built and destroyed in the time a man grew to adulthood. The creator was forgotten, and the dragons had long ago forsaken the task they were brought to complete. Evil had already corrupted every aware mind and its stain could be found everywhere.

In their perversion, humans had turned to ancient creatures that had come from the sky many ages ago. Dark creatures that were only present in legends and myths. They turned to them as an edge on their wars. They built altars and temples. Priests were chosen and prayers were said. But the long dead creatures were not listening. So, they offered sacrifices, and killed their own to kill everyone else.

On a dark night, no moons or stars in the sky, a priest called to all faithful to offer their most sacred possessions in an attempt to please their false gods. Long ago was forgotten the time where this was just a lie and real belief had grown on the darkened hearts of people.

Many pieces of gold and silver, lots of grain and wine were offered. “So my loved son comes back", sound a whisper, "for our enemies to die" a prayer was raised. Many voices started joining and slowly turned into a chorus, a prayer to the evil to hear. In the middle of that, a young woman walked to the pile in the middle and made her offer, her prayer was lost among the rest.

As she walked back to the circle, a small moving bundle stirred among coins and jewels. Its crying ignored and its love forsaken.

Flying is an essential part of being a dragon. The smaller the dragon the more important flying is for its survival. As humans learn to walk, when young, they must learn to fly or be left behind. Two years ago, three eggs hatched deep into a dark cave and today, the young dragons are old enough to leave the cave and fly for the first time.

In the morning, as soon as the first rays of sun shone on the land and started melting the ice of the cold night the younglings came out for their first introduction to the world. Small compared to most dragons but more beautiful and gracious. Three white beasts with a body just as big as a bear’s, walking on four thin legs ended on three toed claws, their scales reflecting the sun and making them look like walking mirrors. Their heads were slender but sharp, eyes marked by a black outline and a jaw filled with jaws that rely on sharpness rather than strength. Once out they finally spread their wings, each almost twice the length of their bodies and covered with shining white feathers, feathers that, when struck by sunlight, look almost as if made of light. Three young dragons came out to meet their mother outside of the cave, almost twice their size and older than what most ancient cities could boast. Three came out, proud and powerful and behind them, one was left, one who hatched later than the rest, so he breathed last, ate last and grew last. Smaller than his brothers and his wings still featherless, he came out and stood with them, but he was alone.

Three dragons stood on the edge, and following their mother, the jumped down. And shortly, three younglings and their mother were riding the wind and soon were lost among the lights and colors of the sky.

The younger brother afraid, walked to the edge and looked down. From the tall mountain he could see the river flowing down and beyond, the world of men. He looked up and saw the clear sky, his world. He jumped down and opened his wings, flapping as hard as he could and was not surprised, still disappointed, when he started going down. But, he didn't care, he was not a dragon if he could not fly, he had no place in this world.

Night was at its peak when a four-legged creature staggered through a group of trees into a clear. He was hungry and sad, loneliness as deadly to a dragon as an empty stomach. He walked with a broken leg, dark blue blood covering his white body on many different parts. He was walking without a route or destiny.

After some minutes there his ears picked something in the wind, a low weep far ahead. As bored as he was hungry, he stood up on its four legs, wings folded on his back and scales looking almost grey in the darkness and he started following the sound. It wasn’t long before he found a pile of hard shiny rocks. Some of them were gold and some of them silver. The resemblance to the wings of his brothers was evident, at least now he could die pretending he was not alone. Then he heard the sound again, but now, it was not a weep but a cry. He saw a little bundle on top of the pile and walked around it to have a closer look. A small human face covered in tears looked back at him from between some fur cover. For a second the little baby stopped crying and looked into his eyes, that unlike its body had not lost its blue shine. And somehow he knew that baby was alone and scared.

Carefully he wrapped his body around the little one and put his featherless wing above it to cover him from the drizzle. The white dragon closed his eyes and dreamed about flying, about going through clouds and hunting. He dreamed about reigning above all creatures and dreamed about power and magic. And then, he dreamed no more.

The war was won and people rejoiced, in their cheerfulness they forgot about their made up gods. Years went by and decades made people forgot about the clearing in the forest. It was until many years later that a young woman, running away from home found a tree. Tall and powerful, white leaves shining with a light of their own. She sat under the tree and shivered as the magic ran through her body. The place was magic, it was good. She ran away no more and felt alone and powerless no more. Sitting under the tree she closed her eyes and fell asleep and she dreamed. She dreamed she was a dragon, a white and beautiful dragon with long wings full of feathers riding the clouds, she dreamed of hunting and power, and she was happy.