Serpents of the Valley

A butterfly danced in the forest from one flower to another. The blue wings soon caught the interest of a very tiny girl. Spirals of yellow hair fell onto her round face as she reached out for the little winged creature as it flew onward. Curiosity encouraged the toddler to continue through the forest, following the butterfly. The forest seemed to grow larger and more fascinating when the afternoon sun shone through the trees. This made the colors of all the plants and animals seem even brighter than before. The tiny girl kept exploring until she tripped over a log, only it was no log.

The dragon Ada stood before the girl, her great red and gold scales glittered in the sun's light as she looked at the tiny being in front of her. Shock overtook them both and for a good minute, the teeny girl and the dragon stood staring at each other wondering what to do. Finally, the toddler looked up at the great dragon without fear, holding up the last flower she picked, smiling. She offered it as a gift.

Ada continued to stare down at this tiny spec on the ground holding up a red flower. How could this have happened, she wondered. How?

There once were terrible wars between dragons and the humans. The great dragon elders would talk about the humans they fought during these wars. She had always pictured them as thick, heavily muscled creatures that were greedy, always wanting to conquer what did not belong to them, they were known for their cruelty to other creatures. Burning other species out of their homes and forcing them into servitude. Humans tried to tame dragons, keeping them for their own uses. But dragons refused a life of bondage fought many years for their freedom. When humans finally agreed to end the fighting a treaty was agreed upon. In the treaty of Ladun it was agreed humans and dragons would live apart in different valleys.

It all seemed strange to her, looking at this tiny, thin human with a mess of gold curls on her head. Humans were terrible violent creatures, how could this one be so small and helpless?

A rustle in the vast trees behind Ada distracted her. She let out a low growl that made vibrations felt by all creatures in the surrounding forest. Ada had enough surprises for today. Then, a huge thundering crash splintered several trees in half as a large dark purple dragon came crashing to the ground. The tiny human girl covered her eyes and pulled her face to her knees in an attempt to protect herself. She sat on the ground, curled into a ball.

Ada struggled to stay upright as the other dragon hit the ground.

Dragons did not often speak with their mouths. When speaking with each other, it was mind to mind.

Ari, why are you trying to hide, Ada stared at the other dragon with what looked like a grimace.

Ari let out a long low breath as she slowly opened her eyes. Her long neck took up almost half the clearing, her head coming to rest in front of the tiny human who sat up and looked at the new dragon with amazement.

Ari took in every detail of the girl creature, she was fascinated.

Ada, what is it?

Ada was confused by her friend's questions, What do you mean? You don't know what it is? Didn't you listen to the elders when they spoke to us as young hatchlings?

I never listened to those old bags of bones. All they do is tell fairy tales about an age no one can remember.

This fairy tale is true, Ari. That’s a human.

Ari laughed, That's not a human, it's too small, and it's not angry or violent.

I thought you didn't listen to the elders.

Well every dragon knows not to go near humans, this one must be just a baby, it couldn't hurt a fly.

Ada looked down at the tiny human thinking over what Ari said.

I do know it can't stay here, what should we do with it?

Ari thought for a while.

We should return it to the Humans.

Ada panicked, We can't go near human land; they'll kill us.

What would you do? Ari asked

I don't know, do we have to do anything? It's just going to grow up and be a mean, violent human. Maybe we should just leave it here to die.

Ari was appalled.

Ada, Just because humans were mean doesn't mean we have to be like them, what if it was a lost newborn dragon? Don't you hope that they would at least send it back home?

This stopped Ada. Ari was right, even if the humans were monsters it was best to return the tiny human. If dragon land were to remain safe the child had to be taken back to its home.

Ok, But we have to tell the elders. Ada thought.

Agreed, but we’ll have to take it to our caves overnight, the sun will be setting soon.

What do we do with it?

Give it somewhere to sleep, come morning we will fly it to the elder caves. They will tell us what else to do.

Ari then gently spoke to the child, “ Come with me little one, we will take you to safety.”

The little blond girl rose from the ground and stumbled over to Ari who stretched out her long neck so the child could wrap her arms around it. Once the child seemed secure she praised her” there you go, good girl.

Ada and Ari took flight with a great thrust of their wings and turned in the direction of the western caves.

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