Wisteria and the Valley of Dragons

There weren't always dragons in the valley. There were tales of about creatures of darkness that plagued the land of Zimm. These creatures were wendigoes, evil wraith-like beasts who stalked the landscape like ravenous wolves. Our ancestors lived in fear of them, as the wendigoes could swarm on anything in their path. They were said to be created from the same stuff nightmares were made of.

But then, Mopania the Queen of Dragons emerged. She was first dragon born, and she was birthed by two elements; fire and earth. And with fire, came light. And with earth, came life. But with only earth, there wasn't anything Mopania can do to sustain life. She saw our ancestors being preyed on the Wendigoes and took pity on them. And with pity, came rage and the hunger to protect. Mopania stepped into the hunting fray and drove the wendigoes back with her firey breath. The wendigoes, who once took delight instilling fear in others, now were the cowering prey. They fled before her... all but one.

The Wendigo King was the biggest, deadliest and most horrifying of all. And he wanted Mopania, a threat and , albeit, a worthy opponent, eliminated. Mopania and the Wendigo King met at a crossing. They fought for three days, and three nights. By the fourth day, Mopania was wounded and exhausted. Butshe wasn't ready to give up, but the toll of the fight made her realize too important Our ancestors saw her beaten but unbroken. Remembering her loyalty since she came and protected them, they gathered together and chanted and danced. She saw them dancing for her and encouraged by their mutual loyalty, she got up for one last harrah. With a stamp of her foot, she summoned a miracle. Water gushed out of the crater she made. It gushed out in a flood and swept away the Wendigo King away. The wendigoes fled and Mopania was triumphant. She marked the battleground her domain, In the start of the river, she breathed on the water and the first water dragons emerged. She breathed on the hills and dragons of the earth leaped from the hills. And for their loyalty, our ancestors were given a home. They build boats and villages along the river formed by Mopania. We also gained the gift of dancing on the water’s surface. That was how our people, the Siogan came to be… We were saved by Mopania and when she was in danger we gave her the strength to continue the fight and she fought for us.

“But the Wendigo King survived the flood. He and his underlinings stayed cowering in the shadow lands, the remnants of their domain. The Wendigo King swore that he will defeat the dragons. And once he does, the land of Zimm will once again be clenched in the boney jaws of inescapable death!”

Siogan Storyteller Nymphorella concluded the story with a foreboding grimace, leaving her seven granddaughters in suspension. She was an elderly woman with long gray hair. Her ears pointed and elvishly smooth, a trait found in all Siogans. Her expressive eyes softened as she added, “ But one day, one of us will leave our village, journey to the Valley of Dragons and help defeat the wendigoes and save us all.” The granddaughters gasped in wonder, the youngest one, named Wisteria was the only one who gave her beloved grandmother standing ovation. “Mother, there’s no such thing as monsters.” It was the girls father, the Siogan chief. “No dragons or wendigoes. They’ve been extinct for

“Grandmother, is it true that there are dragons?” Wisteria asked. She was now tucked into her bed by her grandmother. “I don’t believe what my father says.” Nymphorella smiled thoughtfully, “Your father doesn’t understand most things, but he means well, and he cares about his family. And he cares about you.”

She paused and continued, “ As for the dragons… they are real. The legends are true. As real as the simple but precious stones in the river.”

Wisteria smiled and closed her eyes as her grandmother kissed her cheek and said goodnight. Before drifting off to sleep, Wisteria thought of dragons flying overhead and how simple things as the river rock in Grandmother Nymphorella’s allegory are real and true.