Far, far away,
to the east of the sun and the south of the moon,
lies a land,
where a fine story took place long ago,
a true legend
impressive and grand.
Little red Drago lived deep down a cave
in a mountain as tall as the sky,
spending his days growing big,
growing brave,
and preparing to learn how to fly.
with a flap and a float in the air,
tripping all over the gold as it tumbled right down
from his Mother’s great lair.
Gemstones and gold nuggets, riches untold,
she had hoarded
and made for her bed
- even her color was drawn from the gold,
for she shimmered in yellow and red.
Father hot brimstone and fire did like
when he chose to have something for lunch-
blistering flames in his nose could be seen
as he swallowed them down
with a crunch!
Fast at his work further down in the cave,
Father stoked the inferno up high;
crimson and black shadows danced
on the walls
deep within the volcano nearby.
Little red Drago loved spending his time
near the blistering hot lava-flows,
eating small coals
that would cause him to
hiccup
and fire to come through his nose.
Being a dragon like Dad was his dream,
and he longed for the day he could fly,
following Father
to faraway places,
while soaring high up in the sky.
One day
when Father went out on hunt,
little Drago felt lonely and sad.
Climbing high up to a ledge on the mountain,
he sat down
to wait
for his Dad.
He kept a vigil for Father’s return,
singing sad dragon-songs
out of tune,
until the sun disappeared from the heavens,
replaced
by the stars
and the moon.
Never before had the little red dragon experienced such a delight!
Radiant moonlight
and soft shiny sprinkles of stardust
lit up the dark night.
Sitting for hours,
forgetting all else
while he gazed at the landscape below,
he never noticed the bright icy frost-roses bloom with a silvery glow.
Quite unaware of the imminent danger,
the little red dragon sat still,
until the frost-roses covered his feet,
and his tiny red wings caught a chill.
Cold shivers ran down his back
quick as lightning
and right to the tip of his tail;
Clear sounding crystal-bells
tinkled
and chimed
at the shake of each rime-covered scale.
Little red Drago drew in a deep breath
as an icy wind started to blast,
causing the fire deep down in his belly to flutter
and splutter quite fast.
Out through his nose came a puff of black smoke,
for he sneezed as it tickled inside.
Quick as a flash
his red color turned purple,
as each little flame in there died.
Poor little Drago
was now in deep trouble
and opened his mouth wide to shout,
calling for mother to come to the rescue
-not one tiny sound would come out!
Hoarse little Drago grew steadily colder
and pondered about what to do
- his purple color changed hue even further,
until he had turned icy blue!
Now it was snowing,
the howling wind blowing
white snowflakes
right into his eyes.
Slippery ice
made his feet dance and slide,
so he nearly fell down
at least twice!
Keeping his balance,
the little blue dragon extended his tiny wings wide.
Then
without warning
the wind found his wings
and it lifted him up for a ride!
Tumbling and turning,
first this way
then that,
little Drago was scared at the start
-white clouds of snow-flurry blew all around,
as he raced to the beat of his heart.
Suddenly
caught in an updraft,
the little one sailed with the storm way up high;
finding himself far above his great mountain,
he flew right up into the sky!
Higher and higher,
and further and faster,
he soared on his tiny blue wings,
leaving a trail of white snow dust
that glittered
like thousands of clear crystal rings.
Moonbeam and starlight
and bright northern lights
all around him in harmony played
-moving in tune with celestial music,
enthralled little ice-dragon stayed.
Finally
flying up high
like his dad,
little Drago was filled with delight.
He began thinking
about how his parents
would follow his progress
with pride.
All of a sudden
his little heart sank
deep within,
as he thought of his home
-and of the warmth of the deep mountain cave,
far below the great volcanic dome.
Filled with deep longing to see Mum and Dad,
little Drago began his descent.
He looked beneath him in hope
to see light
shining from the large volcanic vent.
To his dismay
there was nothing but darkness
-below not a light was in sight!
Then he remembered
that Father had gone
on a hunt
and that gave him a fright.
For,
without Father
the fire beneath the tall mountain would not last for long:
Gone was the glow
from the blistering lava-flow
normally running so strong.
Little blue dragon was lost
in the night,
far below
all the peaks looked the same;
snow-covered mountaintops gave no suggestion to indicate from which he came.
Tears filled his eyes as his feet touched the top
of the nearest tall mountain he found.
Poor little ice-dragon sobbed
as he lowered his tiny blue wings
to the ground.
All of a sudden
the ground began shaking,
and up from the peak rose a plume;
hot ashes fell,
closely followed by lava
that flowed
with a resounding
boom.
Little blue ice-dragon’s eyes opened wide
in surprise
as he took a step back.
Rose from crater,
with brimstone
and fire,
a frightening figure in black!
Thunderous roars followed one on another,
tremendous red wings opened out.
Into the sky shot a terrible dragon,
while trailing a red cinder-cloud.
Quick as a dash
little Drago took flight
down the ice-covered, steep mountainside!
Plummeting,
tumbling,
he finally stopped
with his heart pounding hard deep inside.
Great was his terror
when all of a sudden
his feet left the ground in a flash
-little ice-dragon was clasped by two claws
that were covered with black soot
and ash!
Just as he thought that his short life was through,
little Drago received a surprise.
Ever so carefully,
down he was lowered
until
he was safe on the ice.
Slowly he turned,
looking straight at his captor,
defiant
and brave
to the last,
holding his breath as he gazed for a long time
-then breathing in ever so fast!
There,
looking at him with love in his eyes
and a smile on his face,
stood his Dad
-crying and laughing both at the same time,
little Drago was ever so glad!
Tenderly Father reached down to the little one,
comfort and care to impart,
Shivering ice-dragon snuggled in tight,
drawing warmth from the great dragon’s heart.
Red dragon wings beat the air
as the pair flew to where the hot volcano roared,
Swiftly they rose
to the top of the crater
-then down
through its center
they floored.
For,
without knowing,
the little ice-dragon had landed on top of the dome
of the great mountain as tall as the sky
with the deep cozy cave he called home.
Mother’s grand chamber resounded with joy,
gold and gems flew around as she danced!
Father the fire stoked high
and he roared
with delight
as around it he pranced.
Little blue dragon’s red color returned,
as the fire resumed deep within
-hot burning coals and some sizzling cinders he gobbled right up with a grin!
From that time on
little Drago stayed home,
safe and sound in his warm cozy cave.
Mother and Father were ever so proud,
as he grew to be both strong and brave.
Soon his adventure was known through the land,
as a dragon of legend he grew
- mighty red dragon like Dad he became,
but his great wings
remained
icy blue.
Drawing by Lisa Parker
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