As Above, So Below

What is the difference between dragon and human? If you were to ask Morrow, a dragon most prideful in his kind- he’d answer that the difference is that of two separate planets. A dragon is a higher being, strong and intelligent. A dragon understands the finer things in life the way they’re meant to, and takes what’s rightfully theirs. A dragon stays calm and collected, unlike the frantic and embarrassing displays of humankind. It was a matter of above and below, and an unshakable worldview.

Morrow laid sunbathing at the bottom of a hill under the light that soaked through the leaves of the tall, tall trees that surrounded him. His belly rose and fell in a slow rhythm while he slept, dreaming of nothing in particular. Maybe he dreamt of warm flames or freshly bloomed flowers. Whatever it was, abruptly came to an end as something came tumbling down the hill. His ears perked up in response to the loud warbling noise that accompanied the tumbling. And his head whipped around to the source of the sound just in time for it to crash into his nose.

Aughhh… he rumbled, his eyes meeting the culprit.

A human infant? No… Child? Not quite a child yet, not quite an infant? No matter. It was a human child that had just come barrelling toward him, screaming all the way down. It looked up at him with wide eyes while it was deciding whether it should resume screaming.

No humans dare set foot in this enclave in the forest, lest they meet their end at the claws of the mighty dragon that occupied. Morrow was in no mood to deal with this. He rose to his feet and stared the little thing down. If other humans came looking for it, that would spell more disturbance for him. He didn’t want to just gobble it up and hide the evidence either. Humans taste awful. What to do? He thought to himself. He had to get the thing out of here. The terrain didn’t lend well to leaving footprints, so it’d be a struggle to find out where it even originated from.

The child stared back at him for a time, seemingly in awe of what stood in front of it. He towered over it considerably, as his height was twice an elephant’s. The child, after taking him in, broke into a giggle. It picked up a stick and wiggled it in front of Morrow, as though he were a dog it wanted to play fetch with.

Morrow sneered at the implication. If anyone was closer to that of a dog, it was the child. Alright, maybe he has the face of a puppy, but his intellect? far superior than dog or human. Nonetheless, it gave him an idea. If he could draw a silly little game of fetch out far enough, perhaps he could gain its trust so it wouldn’t throw a screeching fit if he picked it up. Then he could drop it off away from his territory and be on his merry way.

The human frowned a little bit while he silently churned the idea in his head. Then, he crouched down the way you’d expect from an excited dog, legs bowing out to the side. Ridiculous, sure, but the child got the message. Clapping, It turned to face away and threw the stick. It didn’t make it far. Morrow sighed as he remembered how pathetic humans are at these things, especially the little ones.

Though it would be humiliating if anyone were to catch him, it was sort of fun. Running around in circles, bounding through the trees and back again when the fetch wore off and the child got more entertainment of him running like mad. Every time it giggled or clapped, or haphazardly chased him around, he felt a sort of pride he couldn’t place. Eventually, after tiring and dizzying himself out, he figured that would suffice. After a moment of rest, he motioned with his claws for the child to come closer. It complied and toddled over into his arms. Thus their small journey together began.

The trek through the woods was off to a fine start, until the child started retching. Perhaps he was moving too fast? He came to a stop and set it down. Retching, crying, then vomiting. Indeed, the poor thing was struck with motion sickness.

The child lay down afterward wailing and reaching for familiar comfort it couldn’t find. He resisted the urge to bite it. After all, it was a weak little thing. One nip and it would be done for. When he was young, his mother would nip at him for any disturbance, any time he showed sign of displeasure. Oh, how he would whimper as a little dragonling, cowering from her approach. He hated when she would do it, but told himself it was for his own benefit. His soft tendencies went against their nature as dragons, and needed to be snuffed out. There was no use trying those tactics on a human even if he wouldn’t kill it in the process. They were forever ruled by emotion.

Still, in his heart of hearts, he felt sorry for it. That is just how it is to be a human, and right now it is suffering. Dragons suffer too- it isn’t as though he isn’t familiar with the concept. Hm. A little gear turned in his mind. He knelt down, and nuzzled the top of its head with his. At this the child went from a wail to a whimper, before stopping completely. It threw its arms around his head the best it could, and let out a little sigh. Somehow, the sigh resonated with Morrow quite a bit. Such a personifying action. It can convey so much fatigue. Anyone can be exhausted, scared. Yes, even a dragon. Another gear.

He scooped up the human, and began traveling again, this time a bit more cautious. The child almost instantly fell asleep, snuggled against him. Suddenly he found himself lost in thought. He felt disgusted at himself for such tenderhearted thoughts, such lenient behavior. A voice buried deep inside him felt a sort of longing for himself. What if his mother treated him like this? What would have become of him? His mother must have been right. No. No. No…! An indescribable anger boiled inside of him, and he had to do everything in his power not to explode. Yes! She was right! No! No! No! No. She wasn’t. Was she?

What’s right? Where does weakness lie? What makes someone a higher being?

The sound of shouting and rustling not too far in the distance. Morrow snapped back to his environment. He set the still sleeping child down and gave it one more nuzzle, before slowly backing away. He hid among the trees and waited. Soon enough, a group of humans came into view and took notice of the child. The apparent leader ran toward it, grabbing it up and squeezing it in a tight embrace. After an initial startle, the child beamed and hugged back. The group, now a very happy bunch, turned back and disappeared back from where they came.

Morrow frowned. What now? The questions come back to him.

What's the difference between oneself and another- dragon, human, or otherwise? With whom does weakness lie?