Where Courage Lies: The Lone Dragon
Where Courage Lies:
The Lone Dragon
By: Kar Lupus
"Cowards die many times before their deaths;
The valiant never taste death but once."
-William Shakespeare
The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, Act II, Scene 2
The rain poured down. All across the land dirt turned to mud and the tree branches hung heavily from the weight of the water. However, somewhere deep in the forests of Ayla Valley, a lone figure made its way amongst the trees and drops of rain. Lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the forest around the lone figure.
With a refreshed view of its surroundings, the creature pushed on, making its way through the trees. From somewhere above, the sound of thunder came crashing down on its ears. The creature continued to press on, refusing to be deterred by the storm.
The figure looked up just as another bolt of lightning struck out across the sky, bathing the creature and the forest surrounding it with its light. The creature was small, probably no bigger than a common house cat. Its scales shone the color of the night, speckled with blue spots like that of a Leopard. Its snout was short and pointed, while two slightly twisting horns sprouted from atop its head. Two leathery wings sprouted from its back, while a strip of short fur ran down its spine from the base of its neck down to the tip of its tail.
It made a chirping sound, the dragon's main mode of communication, to show its frustration. Never before had it seen a storm like this, where it was almost impossible for it to see the tip of his own muzzle.
What fury drives such a powerful storm? The tiny dragon asked itself.
Another bolt of lightning flashed across the sky. Almost an instant later, it was followed by a loud crack! The little dragon looked up just in time to see a large part of the tree above him split from its base, falling right toward the creature. It tried to jump out of the way, but a rather large branch caught it on the side of the head, effectively knocking the dragon unconscious. The rain continued to fall as the storm proved its might once more.
Rathian woke with a major headache. The moment he opened his eyes he had to close them. The brightness of the sun was so intense he could feel it behind his closed lids. He tried to move, but found that he couldn't. His body was effectively pinned to the ground by something.
He opened an eye, trying to fight back against his splitting headache and the brightness of the sun. A rather large branch was lying across his chest and legs, keeping him from moving.
He groaned and chirped in frustration. How was he going to get out of this mess? He was way too small to move the branch on his own, and there couldn't be another living creature for miles around.
The small dragon grunted with effort as he tried to move the branch. Just as he suspected, it didn't budge. After a few more tries, he finally gave up. There was just no way, that someone of his stature was going to move such as large branch. He sighed in frustration and prepared himself to wait until someone passed by.
Five hours had passed since Rathian awoke to find himself trapped underneath the tree. He had completely given up any hope that he was going to be rescued.
Just then, a faint whistling sound reached his ears. Looking up Rathian could see a short figure walking not to far off. The dragon began chirping as loud as he could. Doing anything, he could to get the creature's attention.
Alex suddenly stopped. Someone or something was making quite a ruckus. It sounded like a loud chirping, but he couldn't really be sure. Deciding to see what could be causing such a stir, he stepped off his normal path and walked toward whatever was making such a racket.
When Alex reached the source of all the noise, he was surprised by what he saw. A small dragon, no larger then a housecat, was trapped underneath a fallen tree. The poor creature was chirping pitifully at him and it looked up with pleading eyes. It had obviously suffered a great deal, and Alex wasn't about to let it suffer anymore.
With much effort and many failed attempts, he finally managed to lift the log long enough for the dragon to escape, and within an instant, the creature was free.
It smiled up gratefully at Alex, rubbing up against his leg and purring much like a cat does. He thought this strange, but decided it wasn't worth questioning. The little creature was just grateful that it had been rescued.
Rathian stared up at the mouse who had freed him. At first, he had been skeptical about his intentions, but not anymore. It was clear to him that whoever this mouse was the he meant him no harm.
The mouse's fur was a nice white color, which faded to brown as it reached the tip of his large ears and long tail. He wore a simple brown robe, which covered him from his neck all the way down to his ankles.
Rathian was going to chirp his thanks towards the creature that freed him, but he suddenly realized that the mouse probably didn't even speak the same language. He cleared his throat a couple of times, and when he finally spoke, his voice was squeaky and girlish.
"Th-thank you kind sir. Is there anything I can do to repay you?"
The mouse held up a paw and shook his head. And when he spoke, his voice was kind. "No, no. It was my pleasure. I'm always willing to help those in need." A smile spread across the mouse's face as he looked down at the dragon.
Forgetting that the mouse wouldn't understand, the dragon chirped his thanks and held out a taloned hand. "My name is Rathian. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Smiling, the mouse took the offered hand in his paw, giving it a shake. "It's a pleasure to meet you Rathian. I go by Alex."
Rathian smiled up at the mouse, saying in his high-pitched voice, "Likewise."
Eventually they both released the other, smiling a bit awkwardly.
After a moment or two, Alex spoke up. "So, Rathian, would you care to join me for a stroll? It's a wonderful such a wonderful afternoon and I would much enjoy your company."
The dragon nodded, "It would be my pleasure."
With that, the two acquaintances set off down the path that Alex had been walking along earlier. The path was narrow and it wound its way around trees and branches, through clearings and even across a small stream.
As they walked, Alex began to question him. He asked such things as where he came from, what he was doing in the Ayla Valley, did he have family, and if so, what had become of them.
To the first, he answered that he came from the city of Surion. To the second he answered that he was traveling, trying to better his knowledge of the world. To the last he answered that yes, he did have a family, and they were safely back at his home back in Surion. With each answer, Alex nodded, as if he was truly intrigued by the small dragon. And in truth, he really was. Rathian seemed to be ambitious, good-natured, and so full of life. He was grateful that he had been the one to rescue the dragon.
After an hour, Rathian could here his stomach rumbling. He tried to ignore it but it soon became so audible that he was sure that Alex would here it. When he looked up to see if the mouse had noticed, Alex just seemed to stare straight ahead, either failing to notice the loud protests of his empty stomach, or just politely ignoring it. After another fifteen minuets or so of this, Alex finally seemed to take notice. He stopped and turned to face the dragon.
"Would you care to join me at my home for some dinner?"
Rathian nodded eagerly, "I'd love to!"
Alex smiled at the response and nodded once. "Fallow me then."
It was another hour before the reached the mouse's abode. It was a small, ones story cottage located in a clearing within the forest. Rathian notice the mouse smile and breathe in heavily through his nose. "Aaah," he said. "Smells like home."
Rathian couldn't help but smile. He took a deep intake of breath to find out that the mouse was right; it really did smell like home. The little cottage seemed very quaint, and peaceful.
Alex walked ahead of the dragon, only to stop by the door and look back, "Are you coming?" he asked smiling.
Rathian suddenly snapped out of his daze and looked up at the mouse with a nod. He walked up to his new friend and they both walked into the house together.
Rathian's breath caught the moment he entered. It was a one-room building, but it was very humble, and it had a good feel to it. To his left was a kitchen and dining area with a small stove set in the corner, and to his right there was a small living space, complete with chairs, a fireplace, and a cot large enough for two.
It was at this time that he noticed that one of the chairs was occupied, though he could only see the head of the chair's occupant. The sound of a book closing resonated throughout small living space and a tall wolf stood, placing a leather-bound volume on the table beside the chair. "There you are love, I was starting to get worried." The wolf turned to face them. For a second, Rathian thought he heard something familiar in the wolf's voice, but he couldn't be sure.
That's when Alex motioned toward the dragon. "Kar, this is Rathian. He's going to be joining up for dinner." A look up surprise came across the wolf's face; he squinted through the class that rested atop his nose down at the dragon. "No..." he said, "it can't be..."
Rathian's head was tilted in confusion. He wasn't exactly sure what the wolf meant. And that's when sudden recognition had come across his face. "By god it's you. It's really you! It's been so long!" The wolf rushed forward and picked up the dragon, pulling him into a tight hug. The dragon chirped in surprise and squirmed in the wolf's grasp, trying to free himself. That's when the wolf set him back down, smiling down at him.
He must have seen the look of confusion and discomfort on the dragon's face because he then said, "Why don't you remember me? It's me! Kar! Don't you remember we were neighbors back in Surion."
The moment that was said, Rathian suddenly remembered. He knew the wolf, but only as a neighbor. He never let himself become too familiar with anyone. In the city, you never knew whom to trust. Rathian smiled up at him, glad to see a familiar face.
The sound of clanging pots and pans came from behind him, and he looked back to see Alex starting to make dinner. He turned back to look at the wolf, but his look was soon one of confusion.
"Why are you not still in Surion? What about your family?" he asked in his squeaky voice.
The wolf chuckled. "Cleary we where not familiar back in Surion. I didn't have any family. But to answer your first question, I left after the mutiny started."
Rathian tilted his head in question, "Mutiny?"
Kar nodded. "Yes, I had almost forgotten you've been gone for over a year. Anyhow, shortly after you left, the government of Surion raised taxes, and then again soon after. They became increasingly steep, until the common man couldn't afford to live anymore.
"That's when the mutiny began. All of those who couldn't make ends meet banded together and marched on the capitol building." Kar was shaking his head. "Many died that night. The military was ordered to shoot anyone who dare rise in arms against the city. The blood flowed like a river through the streets. And it is a day that shall forever live in infamy."
Rathian was looking quite worried now. Had he really been gone long enough for things to come to terrible ends in his very own city? The one in which his own family lived.
He looked up at the wolf with pleading eyes, "Please, you must tell me. Is my family alright?"
Kar suddenly looked very sullen indeed. And he then gave Rathian the news he dreaded most. "No my friend, I am sorry to say that they were killed that bloody night, trying to escape the city."
Rathian fell to his knees. He was paralyzed as he looked down at the floor. His very own family, dead. How could this have happened? His wife, his children, they were dead. Why had he never found out about this? In all the places he had been, shouldn't he have heard of a great mutiny in his own city?
After several long minutes, he finally found his voice, "How long..." he said softly. "How long ago was this?"
The wolf's own voice sounded subdued, "About two months after you had departed."
Tears were streaming freely down the side of the dragons face. He sat there, on his knees, weeping for his family. Realization crept into him that he would never touch his love's face again, he would never get to see his two daughters smile, or even utter there first words. The tiny being was soon overcome with anger as all these thoughts made their way through his mind.
Slowly he stood, and he took one last look around the humble cottage. All of a sudden, it seemed a lot less welcoming. It was if some one and taken a knife and cut him, and now he was bleeding for the entire world to see.
He tried to take a deep breath and calm his thoughts. His small body was still trembling, but he was at least able to make his voice sound calm. He turned to the mouse that was behind him, who throughout the whole thing had stopped what he was doing.
"I'm sorry," he said as calmly as he could manage. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I'll be able to join you for dinner tonight."
Alex nodded. "Fair well my friend. I hope your journeys aren't plagued by misfortune."
"It would seem a little late for that."
"Don't say that. Their deaths should strengthen your resolve to keep pressing forward. You should keep living, for their sakes."
Rathian just shook his head, "Without my family, my life is pointless." And before Alex could say more, he walked toward the door, stopped and looked once more around the humble home. "Thank you Alex, for your hospitality, but I'm afraid that I must go. There is much for me to think about."
The mouse nodded, "Of course. Be well, Rathian."
But the dragon was already out the door.
END