Beasts to Beings

  Beasts to Beings...           


         She soared down from her home in the mountains into the ravine. Slowly circling, with bugling calls to all drakes willing to come. But, with a glance to the west, the dragoness knew that the sun would set soon. The end of another day was near, and soon it would be too late for laying. The first year on her own had been a rough one. There were already scars left across her body from the older, wiser competition. She was fresh from a recent shedding, but they were still there, set deep between her emerald scales, never letting her forget.

         It was then that he came, with trembling roars in reply to her cries. Both dragons swooped in close for inspection, large eyes moving along each other. Every flaw was caught and remembered, every detail locked in their minds. The male billowed out and arched his winding neck with unmatched pride as they both circled down farther into the ravine. But she brushed it aside, he would have to prove himself soon enough...

         Eventually, he saw her golden eyes brighten slightly, his presence finally accepted. And now he turned, in a headlong charge, and she did the same. They came toward each other at full throttle. Suddenly he flipped over, flying upside down the moment just before they clashed and interlocked their talons. For only a second they held on, and both bodies spun each other around in a half circle feat before letting go, sending both beasts shooting in opposite directions. But they turned around, heading at each other again until they met with outstretched claws and sent each other another way.

         The male pulled away and slowly went up to the sky, throat rumbling a call to her. He climbed higher and higher into the clouds, muscles rippling beneath the copper scales that covered his body. And then he suddenly came down. In loops, arches, and all sorts of tricks, just for her. He passed her on the way down, and soon she drifted down after him into the valley. The river had flooded over its banks when the winter ended, causing the water to surge into the lake that now filled half  the valley. They joined above that lake. Wings skimming the water, they sent sprays of golden water onto each other. Randomly they clashed wings or talons for amusement and taunted one another with growls, whistles, and roars. Once the fun subsided, the female pulled up. She began her climb to the top of the world, the copper male trailing close behind.

         The wind whistled by as they climbed higher and higher to the darkening sky of dusk. Her head never turned to make sure he was there, but he was. Soon the caves sped by, and in a moment the mountain summit was already below them. But they kept going. Their wings beat harder and their lungs heaved, the air being so thin, even they could barely breathe, let alone fly. Finally, they reached the climax of their journey. Both dragons came together, clutching their talons like before. Except this time, they did not let go. Two pairs of wings suddenly collapsed, their hearts about to do the same, and gravity took hold of their immense bodies...

         ...They were falling.

         Everything seemed to rewind. The mountains now came closer and closer, growing larger and larger. They rocketed past the peaks, but both still held on. He had to take this plunge. She had to take this plunge. They had to do it together, all the way to the end. It was a test of trust, and they had to hold on.

         Now they were only feet from the ground. They looked to each other for what seemed a lifetime. But at the last possible moment they pushed each other away to send both twisting and pulling up to safety.The test was done, and neither had failed. Together, they had fallen from the stars, just has they had flown up to those same stars together. And from that fall they gained each other's promise, each other's trust. That's all they needed..trust.