Tears of the Dragons

They hung upside down from the ceiling beams of the windy barn, like liquid stalactites lined up in endless, perfect rows upon the base of nearly every beam in the ceiling . Each and every one matching and resembling gossamer tears suspended by the most of slender of, almost ethereal threads. Occasionally the daylight pierces the cracks in the outer wall of the barn, highlighting a lazy smoke that drifts aimlessly from a nearby chimney. It creeps through the walls of the barn and is reflected through and around the orbs in a thousand crazy directions as diffused colours melt amongst themselves on the surrounding walls. The locals know these delicate orbs as tears of the dragons, each one of these silvery suspended drops are fairie chrysalis’ that are native to this area. Spoken of by both young and old, it is said, more whispered around these parts and some others; that a hatching of would bestow upon the host great luck and fortune, a hatching of this size could very well make a new king. The thunder of an approaching storm speaks to the hatchling fairies, they slowly begin to roll and gyrate in their membranous shells emitting a low resonate hum and the occasional bursts of pure white light. The storm intensifies and the occasional burst of lightning whips them into a fervent fevered frenzy. The fairie cocoons begin to dissolve into the very air around them as the sheer beauty of the occupant inside becomes more and more noticeable. Thin wings, as soft as a summer breath slowly unfold with an almost liquid grace, and then the most tiny, almost perfect female human face appears coyly and is slowly revealed beneath the opening wings. Smiling, she stretches her wings in a ballet of slow delicacy then with an effortless flutter, launches into the air. Her maiden flight becomes a netted swansong. Just outside the barn, near the door but not in the way, a weathered hand written sign sits next to a recently used chopping block. Fresh blood and other loathsome appearing substances threaten to spill down it on one side -

“Fresh Fairie Tails, $4 each or 3 for $10!”