Heart of the Dragon

Rays of sunshine cut through the dense canopy of trees, lighting up the lush emerald undergrowth. A warm breeze snaked its way around the trees creating a crescendo through the forest.

"I know, Onca. We're lost. I thought home was this way." A small black jaguar purred around the little girl's legs. The girl stopped short giving the cub an inquisitive glance. Her reddish eyebrows scrunched together, and she pursed her lips, exhaling loudly. "There is not. You're just playing tricks on me, aren't you." Stamping her little leather-clad foot, she fidgeted, shifting her weight from left to right. "Oh all right then." She whirled around, her strawberry blond braid whipping around after her and smacking her in the face. She planted her hands on her hips, and she puffed up, as big as a little girl of three could, trying to appear intimidating. "I know you're there, lady. So stop hiding. Can't you tell I'm lost? What kind of meanie are you hiding in the trees?" Her lip began to quiver, her tough facade faltering.

Delicate laughter floated out from the trees. A shadow cast on the closest tree seemed to shimmer and a young woman stepped out of it as if she'd stepped out of the tree itself, taking a few steps to close the gap. "I wasn't hiding, dear child. I was watching over you to make sure nothing troublesome happened." Her chartreuse eyes lit up with amusement. "How pray tell, did you know I was there? I was very quiet." She brushed her tawny hair off her shoulders, the long strands falling midway down her back.

"Onca told me, of course." Squatting down, she stroked the cub from ears to tail. "He said his kind doesn't have names as we do, so I have been calling him Onca. I liked Gwendolyn but that's a girl's name. He also said you're a dragon, but... that's just silly. You don't look like you breathe fire." She stated standing up and smoothing down her navy night dress.

"My name is Aranya. I have walked these woods for many moons, and I happen to know a lot of things about dragons. Did you know that not all dragons breathe fire?" She said as she picked up the cub and gently rubbed him under his chin.

"My name is Bianca," the girl replied, extending a little hand. Her snow-white skin looked even paler in contrast to Aranya's olive skin. "What other kind of dragon is there?" She asked scrunching her nose.

"Well, there are all kinds of dragons. Some of them use lava or snow and water. Some use wind and even mud. Of course, there are fire breathers as well." Aranya answered. A brilliant smile lit up her face as she stared down at the girl.

Bianca looked her up and down, different emotions playing across her face. "What kind of dragon are you?" She asked disbelief heavy in her voice.

"Do you promise not to be scared?" Aranya inquired seriously.

"I can't promise not to be scared. I won't know I'm scared until I am. You're very silly for a dragon." She giggled.

"I suppose I hadn't thought of that before. How about just a touch of magic then?" Booping her on the nose, Aranya stepped back, placing Onca back on his little feet. The cub skittered over to Bianca. Aranya's glamour became hazy and the mirage began to fade. Scales were spreading over her exposed arms ranging from golden, russet, and deep evergreen. Golden orbs danced around her hands like fireflies as she waved her hands, pulling dirt from the forest floor and building it up in front of Bianca to form a perfect replica of her and the tiny cub. The energy in the air thinned back out and her scales rippled back into smooth olive skin.

Bianca's eyes were as wide as saucers. Surprise and wonder shone in every facet of her being. "That was simply brilliant! Did you see that Onca?" She exclaimed as she circled the figures, awestruck.

"I am a Terra Firma Dragon. There are many other kinds of land dragons too. We're close to my village. I could show them to you, and we could help you find your way home."

"That would be lovely. I'm sure momma is worried. She always said that once I started walking my feet tried to lead me away in my sleep. I don't think I've ever wondered this far before though." The wonder in her eyes grew sad.

"How about I tell you a marvelous story I heard as a bairn?"

"I would like that very much! I haven't heard a dragon story before." Reaching out she grasped Aranya's hand in hers. "Come along Onca, I'm sure the other kitties will be impressed when they hear this tale." Squeezing her hand gently, they set out. Aranya veered east as they came upon a fork in the road.

"A long time ago, people and dragons lived side by side in beautiful towns. However, the Knights of Castor wanted to harness the power of dragons for themselves and use them to control the lands."

"I know about the Knights of Castor," the girl chimed in, bouncing with excitement. That's my name! Did you know? It's true, Bianca Castor!"

"Many moons ago Lucia Castor was at the helm of the order. He offered to have a meeting with the leader of the dragons, Admani. He was a herculean Inferno Dragon, with a wit sharper than his claws. However, Admani was very prideful, and when his wife, Marlena urged him not to go, he silenced her and went anyways. He was convinced that he alone could save his people from ruin." As Aranya told her story, she snuck peeks at Bianca, who was hanging on to every word. The dense forest became more sparse, leading out to the sandy river bank, the ground crunching under their leather soles. Sea shells dotted the sands reflecting a rainbow sheen over the onyx sands. The river raced by, crystal water crashing against the banks.

"Oh Onca, we must have been far from home! I have never seen something so wonderful. All the beaches around my home are soft and white. What makes this sand so dark?" She inquired picking up the sand and letting it run through her fingers.

"Ah, yes. The lava makes the sand appear like black silk, but we will get to that later in my story. Come along Bianca." She said holding her hand out.

"Momma says I shouldn't go near the water since I can't swim yet," Bianca said toeing the sand bashfully.

"Well, your mother is very right about that. Water going this fast you could get hurt. However, I have a little something that will help you pass safely." Aranya said beckoning her to the shore. The air became charged with energy as the scales wrapped around her body again. Specks of gold and copper danced around her hands, and stepping stones floated up to the top of the water, each stone shaped like a fish, frog, and flower. Gasping in awe, Bianca took her hand as they made their way across the river. The stones dissolved into the mud and sank as they passed by them.

"The air tingles my skin when you do that, look at all my goosebumps!" She exclaimed holding up her small arm to be inspected.

"That's my magic you feel dear child." She laughed. Her scales absorbed once more, putting her magic to rest once they were safely on the other side of the river. "As I was saying, Admani went to the meeting hoping to work out a treaty that both sides could benefit from. After all, spreading darkness and destruction was not the dragon's way. When Admani entered the chamber hall," Looking over at the small child, whose returning gaze was full of wonder, Aranya cleared her throat and shook her head from side to side. "Well, the story goes he never came back out."

"Wait! What happened to him?" She pleaded

"You wanted to know about the black sands, right?" She responded carefully guiding the story away from the gruesome facts.

"Yeah, I did. What makes them black? Did Lucia do something to paint the sand?" Bianca queried

"When Admani didn't return from the meeting, Marlena demanded an audience with Lucia. In response, he sent her two of Admani's rings in a box with no note and no explanation. In her grief, she sent Lucia a box in return, a raven on a bed of Chrysanthemum. She pinned a note to the bird's chest."

"What a wicked thing to do, hurting a poor bird like that." Bianca's voice shrill with horror. "What did the note say?"

The note simply said, "'One day the heart of the dragon will walk again, under a vast sea of stars the dragon will return home.' Marlena gathered all the dragons in the still of the night and took them away to safety. After they crossed the Naxos River, she unleashed a torrent of lava that turned the path into ash. That act of defiance would serve as the proverbial line in the sand, between the human world and the dragon world."

"How do we get to the dragon world, is it magic?" Bianca asked face scrunched up in thought.

"There is only one physical world, but there are many layers inside of it. Legend says that a child will carry the heart of the dragon home reuniting the two worlds peacefully into one. The Harbinger of Peace will be a chimera of both man and dragon, exhibiting one brown eye and one of amethyst."

"Hey! Just like me!"

"Yes, dear heart, you are the herald we have been waiting for. I have brought you to Stoneham to meet Marlena to confirm you are the child the soothsayer spoke of." Kneeling, Aranya tucked the loose strands of hair behind Bianca's ear. "You're a very special girl, you're going to heal the world." Tears glistened in her green eyes "So, Bianca, are you ready to see the beauty that your world is missing?" The air hummed with electric charge, as her glamour dropped. The dense forest that was sprawled before them shimmered and a wall appeared before the trio. Bianca gasped and jumped back, narrowly missing Onca's tail.

"Wow! How is this possible? The trees were just there, far as my eyes could see!" Astonished, her mouth gaping like a fish.

Aranya pushed her hands forward and the wall opened up, making an archway that revealed a sprawling city built into the trees on both sides of a colossal waterfall. They walked through the gates and could see the streets were busy with hustle and bustle. The passerby slowed their pace looking at the motley trio before scampering off in hushed whispers. Taking Bianca by the shoulder, she steered her to the west. Pointing high above the trees, a lonesome volcano stood out against the bright blue sky. "That is Marlena's home. I'm sure she is eager to meet you, Bianca." Scooping the little girl into her arms, Aranya balanced her on her hip before taking off down the street.

"Look over there Onca!" She pointed excitedly over Aranya's shoulder bouncing. "Have you ever seen such a thing?"

A Zephyr Dragon floated down toward the stage. His ebony harem pants billowed around his body. Gold paint streaked across his snow-kissed torso and his face, glittering in the evening sun. The opal in his eyes shone ethereally against it. He spun around in a grand bowing display and the golden bells tied in his white locks rang delicately as he touched down on the stage. A chorus of drums sprang to life, a thunderous boom erupting as a massive golden owl kite flew over the stage. Its mighty wings flapped gracefully as the wind blew it over the crowd. Soft chiming rose from the drums and a smaller green moth kite soared around the stage.

"You're in luck, little dove! The Genesis Festival is today! You'll see so many displays of creation! " She laughed and walked closer to the Zephyr dancer, finding a seat and placing Bianca down on the seat next to her. The golden owl swooped down engulfing the green moth. The Zephyr let out a howl as the barn owl dived into the crowd, its mighty wings blanketing the crowd in darkness.

"Watch out!" Bianca shrieked and hid her face in Aranya's arms. Having the courage to peak at the stage again she found the Zephyr dragon floating in the air now. The owl kite acted as his wings as he danced in rhythm to the drums. Then the music faded to silence, and he softly touched back down on the stage. He bowed deeply and left the stage.

Three women entered the stage behind him. The golden coins on their hip scarves were highlighted by the crimson bedlah they wore. Their golden anklets jingled with each step. They stomped their feet twice and fire kicked up from the ground sending smoke above their headdresses. The dancers began an upbeat tempo on their lutes and fire spun to life around them as they started dancing. Their amethyst eyes were ablaze in a fire of their own. The smallest of the three shivered as a flame rolled down her spine where magnificent wings erupted from her back. She lifted off the stage, flying in a figure-eight pattern as she sprayed flames above the canopy that engulfed the sky.

"What is this dance?" Bianca asked engrossed in their tale, the firelight reflecting in her mismatched eyes.

"It's a tribute to when the Inferno Mother came down from the sky and gave her gifts to the people." She responded. The crowd exploded into applause as the flames transformed into living fireworks. The heat from the flames warmed their faces. "We had better be on our way, Bianca. We can watch more performances later if you would like."

"Oh, I would like that very very much! It's so beautiful! Are you going to dance too?"

"I'm afraid not, I have two left feet," Aranya explained wiggling her feet.

"Oh, my," Bianca exclaimed looking at Aranya's dusty boots. She smiled and hoisted the little girl back up onto her hip as they walked away from the stage. A giant wave arched up from the river. A Loch Dragon rode it onto the stage as they walked. Her duel turquoise-colored tails wriggled beneath the clear water. Bianca craned her neck to watch the Loch Dragon's bubble show. The multicolored orbs followed them away from town. The houses on the riverbank appeared to be made out of the water, swirling water mixed with black sand. A bright orange koi fish swam up into the house exterior. Gasping loudly, Bianca pointed at it with all her might. "Aranya, stop! The fish is trapped! He swam into the house!"

Laughing softly, she followed her finger with her vivid green gaze. "He isn't stuck, dear heart. The houses of Loch Dragons are an extension of the river. See there? He just swam back out." They watched it swim back out and sink into the depths of the river.

"I see. How does the water stand up like that? To make houses, I mean. My bath water always falls into the floor. Momma says I flood the bathroom."

"It's part of their gift from the Loch King. They can use water or ice, just like I can use earth or the inferno flames."

"They are beautiful. Do you think I could have a room like that?" She asked pursing her lips

"Of course. Well, we will have to ask your momma first, eh?" The volcano grew taller and more menacing as they approached the foothill. The path was like a caramel serpent winding through the lush green grass.

"We have to go all the way up there?" She asked, flabbergasted. "It's such a long walk and I'm getting hungry." She pouted and clung to Aranya's neck.

"How about a little more magic, hmmm?" She placed her gently on the ground and the glimmer around Aranya fell. Now, about the size of a brown bear, evergreen scales covered her body while copper scales covered her belly. She stretched back like a feline and gave a gentle shake, her scales rippling. "Don't be scared child," Bianca heard that soothing voice in her head. Ivy and moss slithered out of nowhere and wove together into a carriage with sizable red flowers dotting the sides. Thick vines grew out of the end of it wrapping around Aranya's trunk like a harness. Rocks tumbled atop one another to form a staircase for her to climb inside. "Don't be scared, child." She said aloud this time. "Climb aboard." Slowly, Bianca and the little panther climbed into the carriage and sat huddled together on a throne of flowers. She looked out the window mesmerized.

"You're beautiful, Aranya! I can't believe you made a carriage out of nothing!"

A soft chuckle floated through her mind, "Away we go, dear heart," The dragon hovered into the air. They rose higher as she ran upwards on an invisible path toward the volcano. Bianca let out a howl of joy the hills echoing with her giggles as they soared into the sky. The trees became a sea of green passing by, streaks of purple and orange painting the sky as the sun sank behind the mountains.

The trees began to fade from view the closer to the volcano they flew. The caramel path below blended into carmine-colored stone that led to a grand vermilion staircase. Steps stood a foot high each and stretched up to the entrance of the temple. The temple had two enormous double doors looming twenty feet tall with onyx carvings on them depicting dragons flying over the earth. They came to a soft landing and Aranya took human form once more. Standing tall, she smoothed down her ash-colored dress. Helping Bianca from the carriage the little girl looked up in astonishment, behind her the carriage crumbled into a pile of vines and moss. The vermilion tiles flipped on end pushing the foliage off the path, before settling back into place.

"Are you ready to meet, Marlena? She has waited longer than you know to meet you, dear child." She took the little girl's hand as the grand double doors swung open, allowing them passage.

Inside, tremendous pillars lined a pathway in the center of the room. Dancing fire wove around the pillars illuminating the cave. The firelight flickered and reflected off of the steps as they climbed their way up through the temple. At the landing, atop the long staircase, laying in a pile of black sand was a mighty Inferno Dragon. She lifted her head as they approached. Crimson scales wrapped around her frame and her massive black wings lay nestled against her body, the ore-colored scales circled her eyes and snout ran down under her belly. She blinked twice before her amethyst eyes locked on the trio. Standing to her full height, she towered over them at sixteen feet high and stretched out her wings to their full span. She was a terrifying sight to behold. Gracefully bowing down, she lowered her head to the child.

"Hello Bianca, I'm very pleased to meet you. It looks like Edur Stromlake was correct, the heart of the dragon has indeed returned home. A very large task rests upon your very small shoulders. You, Bianca Castor, are the healer of our worlds." A soft voice rumbled through Bianca's mind. She breathed a dense cloud of smoke the dragon disappeared into the black, eyes shining like a beacon from the darkness. As it cleared, a young woman stepped out, her raven hair falling around her shoulders in a mess of curls. She knelt in front of Bianca she smoothed down the hair of the child's brow. She took the girl's hand in her own and led them out of the grand entryway. "Are you ready to don the crown and unite our people?"