They Descended from the Sky

1887 – The Kingdom of Dogon

“There weren’t always dragons in the Valley,” Sia spoke quietly, standing on the edge of a bluff, looking down at the wide-open space below. His hazel eyes were squinting as the sun shone brightly this day; his brown skin glistening with beads of sweat from its immense heat.

Jama and Tai were standing close behind him, holding hands. They watched in awe as two ferocious dragons fought over the meat of an enormous dead elephant. One of the dragons was bright red with large, brown, bat-like wings, and four legs that had paws resembling a jaguar. The other dragon was dark green with wings and two small legs. Yet, this one had a long reptilian snout and sharp piercing teeth larger than any the Wanderers had ever seen. As they observed the green dragon take the red dragon’s neck in its mouth, snapping it with one swift brutal motion, Tai squeezed Jama’s hand firmly.

Jama cringed, “When did the dragons come to Dogon? Why are they here now?” she asked Sia, their guide, who seemed to know everything about this region, even though he had told the women he was not from this area.

Sia looked over at the two women. Jama was dark-skinned with a bald head, tall and muscular, with striking features. She had been taken from Dogon as a child and grew up her entire life in slave camps until she was freed a few years ago. Tai, on the contrary, was small and robust, with clay-coloured skin, round features, and long-straight dark hair, with bangs that covered her forehead. Her entire body was adorned with piercings and tattoos of geometric patterns.

“They came here long before I was born,” Sia explained. “The old sages speak of their migration often... and as to why: well, that depends on who you ask.” Sia took his left foot down from the rock it was perched on. He fixed his belt, fiddling with his slender sword; looking on as the emerald green dragon devoured its prize.

Tai moved closer to Jama; the top of her head only reaching Jama’s shoulder. She rubbed Jama’s arm in comfort, grimacing at the sight before them. “Their migration... so they came from somewhere else originally?” she asked.

Sia nodded, “From the south, they say. They came in great hoards – from the mountains, from the forests, from deep inside the earth – from all of their hiding places. They descended from the sky in every direction. Now, they dominate Dogon. They have displaced all the humans who used to live here, and they will continue pressing onward. Humankind does not stand a chance.” Sia turned his back on the women, following the path down the hill, which would lead them toward a pristine white sandy beach.

Tai seemed to be glued into position, intently watching the display in the valley below. Jama let go of her hand and jogged ahead to catch up to Sia, who was walking swiftly ahead. “So, why did you bring us to this place?”, she inquired.

Sia stopped walking for a moment, turning to look at her face. “I brought you here to show you the reality of our world. I brought you here because we need to pass through this region in order to get to your homeland. I brought you here to try and make you understand that this will not be an easy journey for you or your lover.” Sia gazed passed Jama, at the small but mighty Tai. He looked again upon Jama’s face – it was covered with scars and lines, from the numerous years of hard labour, from many years of being whipped and beaten.

He remembered why it was that he had agreed to help her in the first place.

Sia placed his hand on Jama’s shoulder. She looked into his eyes – the blackness of her pupils blending seamlessly with her irises. “Do not worry. That is why I am here: to assist you on this adventure. I promised you I would not abandon you, and I do not intend to.” He smiled at her, that same reassuring smile she remembered from the first time they met.

Tai caught up to her companions. “Apologies,” she smiled widely at Jama, kissing her on the cheek. “I turned back to study the dragon once more before following you. I’ve never seen one with such an appearance. Amazing creatures.”

Sia looked down at Tai apprehensively, “Amazing, yes, maybe, but they will rip you apart if they have a chance.”

Tai frowned. “How do you know that?” she asked aggressively, “Have you ever met one?”

Sia chuckled, “Met one? No. However, I do not have to. Did you not see what I saw a moment ago?”

Tai paused for a moment, looking behind her, then back at Sia. “I guarantee that if you watch most humans for some time, you will no doubt see the same level of barbarity as we saw in that valley.”

Sia nodded, “You are probably correct about that, but most humans are not large enough to devour me in one bite.” He looked directly into Tai’s eyes with a stoic look on his face.

Jama smiled, she placed her hand on Tai’s back, rubbing it lovingly. “We came across several dragons in Tai’s homeland before we met you. One of them was very helpful to us.” She explained to Sia.

Sia looked suspiciously upon the women, then just beyond them to the path they had just walked down. “What type of dragon was it?” he inquired curiously.

“Why does that matter?” Tai responded immediately, a little defensively.

“It was feathered, with large wings, no claws – serpentine.” Jama described.

“Interesting.” Sia rubbed his chin with his right hand, feeling the sharp pricks of his stubble as he ran his fingers gently along the skin.

As Sia was about to turn down the path, he saw an immense shadow soaring overhead. First, he saw a long snout with crocodile-like teeth, then two massive wings, and two sharp, reptilian claws. Sia’s eyes widened as the dragon glided down to the ground gracefully, landing on the path with a loud thud just behind the two women.

Jama and Tai turned around at the booming sound to see a long greenish-brown snout and two dark oval nostrils protruding in front of them. The same fierce dragon that they had watched defeat the red dragon, and tear apart the elephant in the valley, was now staring straight at the three Wanderers.

Jama placed her arm in front of Tai’s chest, pushing her lover back, behind her. Sia took his long sword out of its sheath and stepped forward. The emerald dragon lowered its head to the humans’ level with what appeared to be a smile plastered across its gnarly crocodile mouth. Suddenly, the dragon opened its jaw wide and thick blue smoke was ejected from the creature’s mouth – a noxious gas that filled the air, surrounding the humans’ forms whole.

Jama, Tai, and Sia slowly began to slip out of consciousness. The last thing Jama remembered seeing was rows of rotten teeth drawing closer and closer...