Awakening
It’s very, very dark. I wonder when and how I got here. I’m on the inside of something and it feels like I’m floating. I can see through to the outside, just a little, but it all looks kind of fuzzy. There’s a light out there and things are moving.
I see two huge and scary eyes trying to look in. Because of the darkness here, I don’t think they can see me like I can see them.
And there’s a mouth; a big, big mouth that’s moving. I watch it as it opens, then closes and presses gently against the outside of the barrier. It’s strange, but I feel damp warmth coming through from that mouth. Does it want to bite me? Maybe even eat me?
There’s a nose, too. Not so scary, that nose. Maybe I’ll bite it instead.
No. I’m too afraid. I want to hide, but there’s nowhere to go. There’s only this place and it’s very, very small.
Uh-oh, now I hear noises coming out of the mouth. I tuck my head under my right front leg. The feel of my talons next to my neck is nice. I think I’m safe like this, so I’ll stay very still and I’ll just listen.
Ooooh. Maybe the noises aren’t so scary after all. I think they’re calling to me. I don’t know why, but I want to go to them. They make me want to stretch out, but there isn’t enough room to straighten my body or unfold my wings or uncurl my tail all the way. And, right now, I want to do all those things.
I’m nervous, but I know I need to be brave, so I gather all my courage and reach out and touch the barrier with both of my front feet. I slide them up, down and then side-to-side as far as I can. Still reaching out, I turn and then I turn some more. It all feels the same…cool, a little sticky, mostly smooth.
I open my nostrils for the first time and breathe in. The smell is both sweet and very familiar, like I’ve always known it.
I think I’ve been in here a long time. I try to remember, but I can’t. All I know is that I want out so I can to go to the noises, see the light more clearly, feel more of that moist heat and smell something different and new.
Bracing my front legs against the part of the barrier I feel in front of me, I kick my back legs outward very hard, again and again and again. I’m so tired. I’ve been doing this for such a long, long time. I pant and feel a little dizzy, so I stop to rest for just a little while.
Wait! There’s that sound again…the voice that keeps calling. I feel it deep inside of me. I think it must be giving me lots of energy because I’m not tired at all anymore, so I start kicking at the barrier again with all my might. I won’t give up, no matter what. I HAVE to break through to the other side.
It feels like forever, but I finally hear a little cracking noise from behind me, so I give another hard kick. Suddenly, I feel a glorious rush of air. I think I’ve made a little hole in it! Turning my head so I can see behind me, I whip my tail around and slash at the opening over and over. I watch one side of the barrier crack and then crumble into little pieces.
I’m very, very excited now! I’m shaking, but I push through the opening to the bright light and the fresh air as fast as I can. Finally, I can stretch out my body, uncurl my tail and spread my wings. Triumphant, I take three big breaths and let them out really fast. With the last breath, a wonderful trumpeting noise comes out of my mouth.
And then, at last, I can clearly hear that beautiful sound that’s been calling to me…That young, eager, human voice that’s saying, “Welcome to the world, baby dragon, I’ve been waiting for you forever.”