Never Truly Lost

Sparks flew into the air as he beat a misshapen sword. A small toddler running around his feet. “Get out of the way.” He pushed the boy aside. A blacksmiths forge warmed the small room. The cool autumn breeze doing little to cut through the heat of it. “This is no place for a child! Move out of the way Malcom,” he said.

“If you and Mary took more time for him, he wouldn’t be a bother.” A young woman stood in the doorway. “Mary is always in the fields looking for herbs or her apothecary. It’s no wonder the boy is always under foot,” she said. Her arms stretched out to Malcom. “Come give auntie Ann a hug.”

He paused his work. “Will you watch him today? I have ten more orders, the dragon has me busier than ever.” He pointed his hammer at Malcom. “I can’t have him under foot, slowing me down.” He frowned as Malcolm ran between his legs to Ann. “See what I mean? He’s going to cause an accident.”

“Henry, your lack of paternal instinct never ceases to amaze me.” She wrapped Malcom in a hug while glaring at Henry. “One day you’ll need this child, when you are old and frail, but he will not be there.” She pulled back wiping soot off his cheek. She poked his nose and smiled.

“Enough of your lecturing, the child is taken care of.” He hammered the sword sending sparks flying in all directions. “Will you, or won’t you, watch him?”

She rustled Malcom’s hair. “Sorry little man, I can’t hang out today.” She pointed at Henry. “You and Mary need to step up, goodbye Henry.” Standing she turned and left.

Malcom ran around the room grabbing tools and dropping them. “Daddy, I help?” He ran around his father’s feet, tripping over metal pieces. Knocking into his father’s leg he toppled the stack of swords.

“Malcom!” He threw the hammer down. “Boy you are getting in the way; I want you to go play outside.” He grabbed the sword and plunged it in a barrel of water. “Now, go.” He pointed at the door.

He froze, staring at his father’s outstretched hand. “Okay,” he whispered. He ran out the door his red hair vibrant in the sunlight.

The village pulsed with life. The florist’s cart overflowed with flowers. The baker walked through the streets, his bread steaming as he went. Entertainers sang and danced in the village square. The school bell rang, and rows of children lined up outside the schoolhouse.

Malcolm walked passed them all on the way to the apothecary. “Mommy?” His steps tapped across the stone floor. He pulled bottles of medicine from the shelves. He grabbed a bottle of perfume, his little fingers losing hold, the bottle slipped from his hands. The smell of lavender and musk filled the room.

“Malcom!” Mary stepped up behind him. “Do you have any idea how long it took mommy to make that?” she said. “Where is your father? Why aren’t you home?” Her voice carried an annoyed tone to it. “I’m very busy today; we have visitors to the village, and I need to remain stocked.” She grabbed his shoulders and pushed him towards the exit. “I need you to go find something to do, okay?”

He sighed and walked out. His mother returned to her work. As he passed the entertainers he danced for a moment, until something shiny caught his eye. He looked into the nearby trees and saw something shimmering in the distance. He ran over to the edge of the woods. Two women passing by him.

“I heard it was huge,” a woman said.

“It’s the first one in nearly two-hundred years,” another said.

“I just hope the men get it before it can do some real damage,” the first said.

He stepped forward, his bare feet soaking in the damp earth. Inching onward he continued deeper into the forest, the glimmer faint and distant. The further he walked the animals became scarcer and the trees thickened. In a clearing lay a small pool of water with a crystalline rock protruding from the center shimmering in the waning sunlight.

“Wow.” He stepped into the shallow water, rainbows dancing across it. He reached out to touch it when something moved in the tree line. He looked around the rock. A large red dragon stepped out from the trees. It bent down to drink from the pool. “Hey!” Malcom splashed the creature.

It shook its head and snorted into the air; its eyes turned a deep red. Twisting about, it looked for the source before it settled on the child below. Its eyes shifted to yellow, and it bent to drink once more.

“Hey!” Malcom kicked water at the creature again. “I’m Malcom.” He stepped out from behind the stone and stridden toward it.

It threw its head in the air and backed away snorting. Twisting its head left and right growling, it flared out its wings. It spun around and went into the woods.

Malcom reached out a hand as it disappeared. He dropped his hand and sat down in the mud. Grabbing a stick, he drew some pictures.

As the time passed the light faded from the woods. The cool fall wind had begun to cause him to shiver. He looked around, but the village was no longer within sight. He walked around the pool. “Mommy!” He looked into the trees. “Mommy?” His voice quaked.

From within the trees, she watched him. Her belly close to the ground and tail swaying. Her eyes a bright orange as she inched closer. Night was falling. The child stood a few feet away. She stepped out of the woods teeth bared.

He turned to see her, towering above him, his face stained with tears. He ran towards her and buried his face in her leg. Sobs rolling out of his small frame.

She snorted, her eyes flashing yellow. She nudged the boy, and he gripped her tighter. She could feel his body quaking, the anxiety he was experiencing. She looked back at the woods. She could have retreated, she could have left him, but as she shifted her eyes between him and the tree line her legs started to buckle on their own. Before she knew it, she was laying on the ground with her neck wrapped around his tiny body.

She kept one eye open, a bright orange glow coming from it. Watching him, steady, she slowly felt the sobs ease to deep breaths. He had calmed. They were both alone, her egg encased in the crystalline stone. She heard no shouts coming from the village. Saw no torches. She stood up and walked away from him she snorted as she went. She plopped herself on the opposite side of the pool. Only for a moment of solitude before he came running to her.

He laid on the ground against her belly. Her nostrils twitched and her body tensed. He snuggled in closer to her, his body shivering from the cold. The wet earth dampening his clothes. A puff of smoke came from her nose. Her eyes watching him. She glanced at her egg before nudging him up her wing.