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Airibells,
the Little Dragon
Once upon a Time... a little dragon hatched out on an island far away. The volcanic island, the Dragon Hatching Place for generations, was picked for it's remoteness and for protection for the hatchling. The little dragon made her way to the ocean to catch fish to slake her ravenous hunger. Then she crawled out on the beach to sleep.
Upon awakening, she found that she had grown and so had her wings! She watched the seagulls and began to mimic their actions. Soon she realized that she was famished again. Only this time it was for the mineral rich white stones of the island. Her diamond teeth made quick work of the softer stones. Her multi-faceted eyes whirled with pleasure as she ground the stones to gravel and swallowed. In no time at all her tummy was rumbling. Before she knew it, her feet were barely touching the ground.
Now she began to flap here strong wings. Up, up, up, and away she flew! High up into the sky her powerful wings carried her. Up through the clouds. Higher than the birds! She flew and flew, soaring and diving through the clouds.
At last she began to tire. As the sun set she turned her nose toward the Dragon Hatching Island. But, she was far from her home. As the moon rose over the horizon, and the stars sparkled brilliantly in the night sky, she grew hungry again and flying seemed to be more difficult by the minute. Finally, she was skimming the waves. Then up ahead she saw flashes and splashes in the moonlight. Quietly, she settled into the water to rest. Soon she was surrounded by frolicking dolphins.
*Oh, look, it's a baby dragon! What's your name?"
*Dragon, I guess. That is what you just called me.*
*Oh, no, you have to have another name. We are dolphins, but we each have a name. I'm Speckles and this is my mate, Splotch.*
*I'm Diver.*
*And I'm Flyer, and this is Jumper.*
They each danced on their tail for introduction. The little dragon touched noses with each one in turn.
The dolphins conversed among themselves, *She flies through the air, so air should be part of her name.*
Just then her stomach rumbled, making a deep chiming sound.
*A-a-a-a-a-eeeeee, she sounds like a bell!*
*I've got it! Airibells!*
*Airibells, yes.*
*Airibells, oh, I like it.*
*I do too,* said the little dragon. *Airibells, shall be my new name! Thank you for giving me a name.*
*Well, Airibells, what brings you to swim with us?*
*I just learned how to fly today, but I got tired and could fly no more.*
*You are lucky you landed near dolphins frolicking and not sharks feasting,* Diver said.
*Oh, sharks are my favorite meal. I ran into some on a feeding frenzy yesterday. They were much tastier than what they were feeding on. What is your favorite meal?*
*Small fish or some shell fish,*sang Jumper.
*We stun 'em with our sonar, then they are easy to catch,* added Splotch.
*What would you like to do, Airibells?* asked Flyer, sensing her fatigue.
*I'd like to rest a while and then swim home. Do you know the way?*
*Oh, yes, we know were the Dragon Hatching Island is,* they all squealed together, *but it is two days swim from here.*
*I'm a good swimmer. I seem to be more at home in the sea than I am in the air. Would you mind guiding me there?*
*We'd be delighted,* sang the dolphins.
*We should rest now, so we can get an early start when the sun rises.
Then the dolphins sang their song to the moon and stars before sleeping. Airibells joined in the chorus.
The dolphins schooled together for protection and to help each other stay afloat. Airibells flapped her wings vigorously, trapping a big bubble of air under each wing for floats, she rested her head on her back to keep her nose out of the water.
Early the next morning they started on their journey. They swam, frolicked and hunted for food fish as they went along. That night they all went to sleep with full bellies. It was a spectacular sunset with the sun shining brilliant rainbow colors on some thunderhead in the distance.
Airibells awoke to an ominous vibration. *What's that?* she squealed to the dolphins.
*That is a hurricane!* said Diver.
*We'd best get a move on,* Speckles said. *We don't want to get caught near a lightning strike! Or we'll all be electrocuted; fried, not fun!*
So the pod started swimming as fast as they could for the Dragon Hatching Island. It was nearly dawn when the storm overtook them. The dolphins taught Airibells how to body surf the waves in order to keep in the air for breathing, then to dive just before the wave crashed over to keep from getting caught in the tumble. That was fun. Another good thing was that the fishing was excellent.
*Listen, underwater, what is that sound?* Diver chimed.
*That is the creaking sound of a ship of humans. Let's go! They may need some help,* Jumper called.
They followed the deep groans through the water, to find that the ship was indeed in trouble. The rudder had broken and now the ship was turned sideways in the trough. The next big wave swamped the ship, dragging it under. Eight humans struggled to swim to the surface. Each dolphin picked up a human to help propel them to air. Speckles, Splotch and Jumper picked up two humans apiece because they were the biggest. Airibells waited at the surface with wings outstretched for them to climb up on.
One of the humans was a young boy. Airibells could hear his thoughts clearly, so she could communicate telepathically with him just as she did with the dolphins. She said, *Hang on tightly and we will swim you to safety. Tell your friends not to be afraid. We are all here to help you.*
The boy just had time to convey the message before she surfed the next wave. Luckily the storm was headed for her island. They could surf the waves faster than they had been swimming.
*Hang on tight and hold your breath, I have to dive!*
One fellow lost his hold, but Diver picked him up. Several others fell off in the next dive. Airibells held steady in the next trough while they climbed back on again.
It was about this time that the men realized that they were riding on a dragon and not a raft! One silly fellow got frightened and jumped off. Airibells simply reached out with her retractable taloned hand, scooped him out of the water and placed him on her outstretched wing again.
*Silly Human. We are trying to help you. Now hang on tight, I have to dive!*
It was hard work for the dolphins and dragon trying to keep the humans in the air. If it weren't for the humans she could have spent much more time underwater with the dolphins where it was safe. The men kept loosing their grip on the front edge of her wings. They were past exhausted, too. The dolphins would have to rescue them and bring them back to climb up on Airibells outstretched wings again.
Just about that time Airibells dove into a kelp bed and came up with the stuff wrapped all over her and the men. *Quick!* cried their leader, *tie it around your waist! Then hand the other end to me!* When he had all the kelp whips he straddled Airibells's neck and tied them around her neck like a collar. Now when one slipped off in a dive, he was able to climb back up his kelp whip to catch hold of the front of her wing.
Airibells, was near exhaustion, when Speckles squealed, *Ahead! The island is just ahead. We will have to swim around to the lea side, where the water will be calmer for climbing out.*
It was still another hour before Airibells surfed the last wave into shore. She thanked her Dolphin friends for their help. Then dragging herself and her precious cargo of eight half drowned, but alive men up onto the beach, she crawled into a cave and collapsed.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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....(c) 2000 by Sharri Lorraine~
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http://www.angelfire.com/weird/lorerainbow2dreamzzz/Airibells.htm
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