The Waypoint

There weren't always Dragons in the Valley. Not everybody likes them, and I will admit...their presence is a bittersweet homage to all of those who sacrificed their livelihood to bring balance back to my home. Home. It feels very odd saying that now. Everything seems so different, yet familiar at the same time. My apologies for my mumblings. After being alone for so long, you would think an old Tiger had learned a thing or two about keeping their nostalgia and delusions to themselves. These things tend to happen when one is grieving. You see, there is someone who means a lot to me. I miss them dearly. There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about the times we shared, and how they have helped me become the leader that I am today. I am certain that they are my soulmate. No one believes me, because lets face it...Dragons don't bond with beings outside of their race. Honestly, they are so cantankerous, they barely want bond with each other. At least that's how it was until they reached the Valley. Can you imagine a world without Dragons little one? It's shocking to think back on my life prior to meeting Fehu. I feel like I never had a meaningful thought or action before I knew them. How is it, that someone so different could impact your life in such a phenomenal way? How is that their presence makes you forget all of the pain from before, and their absence welcomes the darkest cloud in one's heart? I often wonder if they are thinking of me, or if someone else is in their heart now. Where are they now you ask? I cannot say with certainty , but one of the passages from the Tome of the Legends of the Valley, states that Dragons have the option to return to the Etheric Plains once they get bored of their presence on Earth. Ha! The shocked look on your face lightens my heart! Yes, Dragons are not beings born of this planet, moreover, they are entities born of the planet Jupiter, and have migrated to almost every known planet in our solar system since then. The Etheric Plains is a place founded by Fehu's ancestors, where Dragons can go to reach true enlightenment, and incarnate into a new body to spread the message of their teachings elsewhere in the Universe. That is my understanding of it at least. It is too complex of a concept for me to mull over, especially with my responsibilities nowadays. What's that? You want to know more? Why did Dragons choose Earth? What are their teachings and messages for us? Goodness, you have such an inquisitive mind! Well, since I have your undivided attention, I guess I can introduce you to what I know about the Rapture....What is the Rapture you ask? It is the event that changed the Valley into the most sought after destination of the World. Many a traveler makes a pilgrimage here to seek answers to the questions that haunt their existence. There is so much more to this place than clear waters, fragrant trees, and cultural diversity. Actually, instead of telling you, I'll show you with this Pearl. Pearls are how we communicate events from the past to those in the present. We find that this is a way more accurate method of story telling that by word of mouth or scribing. There is no bias infused into the contents of Pearls. Come close, let the Pearl show you the re-birth of the Valley.

Kalil held up the opaque deep blue pearl in his thick scarred paws. He stared at it intensely knowing that he was about to relive the events that would both remind him of the kindness of the World, and tear him apart. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to become a jigsaw puzzle that had to be pieced back together again. He didn't want to have to answer difficult questions, or figure out if his true self is what stood before little Victoria, or just another fraud waiting to be discovered and banished. "Gandpa Kalil, are you ok?" Kalil's eyes dilated as Victoria's soft tiny voice snapped him out of the void. "Yes, yes my dear I am fine. I'm just making sure the Pearl is set to the right point in time. No need to worry," Kalil said calmly ending his statement with a light curl of this lips. She stared at him intensely, knowing that he was shielding her from his thoughts again. She was very young, but could tell when adults were lying, or hiding the truth from her. This was something they did often around her, and she didn't know why. Regardless, she seated herself on a nearby stump with the points of her elbows on her thighs and palms under both sides of her face, and waited patiently for whatever was about to happen. She watched as her grandfather closed his eyes and slowly released his grip from the orb. It floats?! Her eyes widened as the 'Pearl' floated and began to become more translucent as it started to lose its blue hue. A mist suddenly appeared around it, and she could loosely see figures forming and moving. She shot a look towards Kalil who still hadn't opened his eyes yet. He stood breathing deeply, keeping his emotions calm so as not to overwhelm the Pearl and make it shatter. It was organic matter after all, and a very delicate artifact despite its power. He managed to get to a point about a month before Fehu traveled to Earth. The images in the mist shifted to very unfamiliar forms as colors flashed from shades of oranges, and reds, to calming shades of green and blue. Finally, the images settled on a group of figures. They varied in size, and as the shapes became more clear with distinct boarders, varied in ferociousness as well. Sound began to emit from the images, and to Victoria, it sounded like the participants were growling at each other in a aggressive, guttural manner. Kalil finally opened his eyes, and Victoria could make out their light green hue. "Ah, here we are," he stated while lowering his arm and positioning himself in a seated position beside her. She had so many questions to ask, but was speechless. "Fascinating isn't it?" Victoria looked up at him, then quickly back to the stage laid before them.

"I will not tolerate this any longer Sani! There must be a resolution reached at once!" A steely grey winged Dragon exclaimed, billowing out fire on the last syllable while adjusting their wings. "Earth is failing as we speak, and I am in need of a competent Champion to send down there to help, and none of you will do!" Sani, a smaller yellow Dragon that stood to his left, rolled their eyes at their companion's outburst. "Look, there just isn't anyone ready yet. We live a long time you know, which means it takes a longer time to adjust into maturity. We aren't sprouts, Char, please honor and respect us for the beasties that we are." After Sani expressed their disdain, a very small blue Dragon, finding newfound bravery spoke up. "Ye-ye-yeah, Ch-Char..." Char rapidly slung his enormous head in the direction of the blue reptile, and it squeaked as it covered its front with its wings. "Oh, now you suddenly have something to say Bide? Let me guess, you want to bring a new species of pets to Earth so that the Humans will be distracted enough from destroying each other? Or maybe your thinking introducing a new gadget will bring and 'Advancement' to their societies so that they can focus on other things? Pah!" Char turned away swaying their tail from side to side mumbling as they mocked Bides past ideas. Bide removed their wings from their front, and lowered their head as their eyes stung with tears and their throat filled with bile. They hated when Char got like this! It sickened them to their core, especially when they went out of their way to make respected members of the Court feel dumb. In that moment, bide had many horrible thoughts flow through their mind, yet instead of lashing out, they decided to follow through with their proposal. It took everything in their power to open their maw, and when they finally did, a red-orange Dragon suddenly appeared, landing in the center of the circle of patrons. Char felt the presence, and slowly turned its head. "Well, well, well. If it isn't Newcomer."