Life can be cruel as a Dragon | Rio's Story

Chapter 5. life and death

in the afternoon Rio woke up and gathered his strength to stand. he looked around to make sure no one was there. then he dragged himself away. no matter where, just away from this place. He saw a small forest where he hoped to be safe until he healed. he had to stop every few steps, his whole body was throbbing with pain. but he had to go on, he couldn't stay here. meanwhile it was evening, and he was very hungry. he collapsed. in his weak voice he called to the little wind spirit: "Gale...if you're here....and if you can hear me...*pained groan* please...help...me...". he fell unconscious again from the unbearable pain.

A gentle wind flew through the branches, it carefully lifted Rio and carried him away. at night he woke up again, next to him was a bunch of fresh bugs. he looked around and didn't recognize the place. A stream seemed to end here in a small pond. There was a huge rock near the water. he was in a small clearing. it's very quiet here. only an owl and crickets could be heard. He ate the bugs slowly. his wound on his eye pulsated with every bite. he went to the water, drank, and then he laid down again and slept.

Rio had a kind of vision that night. it wasn't like a dream, it felt more real. he saw his mother for the first time in his life. Rio could hardly see her; everything was so bright. he only saw her silhouette and a little bit of her eyes, her beautiful ocean blue eyes. In an angelic voice she said: "my baby, my darling, what have they done to you? "With concerned eyes. "My beautiful boy, you should regain your strength! Come here." she hugged him tight. "Mother? Is that you? I recognize your voice! Oh, mother what should I do? no matter where I go, there is danger! How am I supposed to survive in a world like this? Mother, please help me, everything hurts, and I have no more strength." He said with tears in his eyes. "can't I come with u instead? It looks so peaceful where you are." Rio asked beggingly. "No, my boy, it's not your time to go yet. You still have so much ahead of you. but you can't lie here for weeks and waiting for your wounds to heal. I will tell the guardian, the water spirit. He will make you a salve that will heal you in no time. at least the minor injuries. Unfortunately, I can't help you with your eye... but son, listen, you must be more careful. don't be so naive! trust no one and stay hidden. Here, you are the safest. this forest is very remote. no one has been here before. never reveal yourself and don't just walk out into the world like that." She looks away for a second and pauses. Then she looks at him again, worried but loving she said: "I'm so sorry my love but I must go. I love you so much, don't forget that." She smiled at him and vanished. Tears ran down his cheeks and he slept for days.

When he felt something wet, cold, and windy on his body. it was gale, he smeared something on Rio's body. he lifted his head and opened his healthy eye. "Gale? what are you doing there?" he asked confused. The little playful wind spirit giggled and continued while he sang: "you will feel better, you will feel better. better than before. You will feel better, much better. No hurt anymore." Rio closed his eyes and enjoyed that his wounds were treated. that felt great! it hurt less and less. and it felt like his scratches and bite marks magically healed and disappeared.

When the wind spirit was done, he sat down on the grass with him. he said: "you be more careful! yes, yes." Rio looked at him and said: "and where were you? you could have helped me for sure! you could have blown them away with a hurricane or something...but no, you let me down. I almost died!" he said upset. Gale sat down calmly, with his paws behind his head: "Well, Me carried Rio all the way. Home to here. I don't have power infinite and I no recharge power by sleeping, no, no, I get strength from holy lake, no normal water, no, no. Master Pho made it magical, so me can recharge, yes, yes, he did." said the little dragon with a smile on his face. Rio was confused. magic water? that made no sense to him. but at that moment he didn't care. he was mad at gale and thought it was a stupid excuse. "But me has enough strength and extra water magic to stay with Rio, for now. if Rio want." offered Gale. "Do what you want" Rio said emotionless and buried his face in his paws. He remembered what his mother said to him. Gale tilted his head. He crawled on top of Rio's head and looked him upside down in the face and asked: "Wrong what? you no glad be healed? you no glad be safe? time with me, Rio can spend, his friend?". A long period of silence followed. Gale asked repeatedly. But then... Rio made a decision. He opened his eyes which seemed to have gotten darker. something was different about him. his eyes...were blank. he was mad at himself, his life, at the world and at all dragons out there! He's had enough. he snarled: "Listen Breezy, you're not my friend! I just want to be alone! I need no one! I'm better alone, even if I may die. So just go! Fly home! I never want to see you again!" he sighed loudly and went away into the forest.

Gale began to cry bitterly. Big tears ran down his face like a small stream. Through his tears he cried: "But Rio me only friend! Gale has no one! Wait me Rio!" he flew sobbing after him. he stopped in front of the shadow-drenched forest. Suddenly he saw a glowing blue eye looking at him angrily out of the dark. Gale heard Rio's voice, it sounded darker and much angrier: "I'll count to 3, then you're gone! Do you understand me?! It's better for the both of us..." It was quiet for a long time until he said with an eerily calm voice: "One... Two...Three..." Gale was startled and looked at him, shook his head in disbelief.

Rio looked angry, he opened his mouth, which was bubbling with plasma. the little wind knew that this wasn't anything good, and he would be in great danger if he stayed any longer. So, he flew away and left Rio. "If that's wish, so be it. be alone again, Rio!" thought Gale sobbing while he headed home.