Because Life Should Be Unruly

AMITY

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Things were never better in the shire. The peaches were ripe, the pigs were fat and happy, and the nymphs had planned a heavenly feast to mark my beginning. Parties in Cheshire were downright ragers. And the bacon...

There was talk of a problem with the musical lineup, however. Sir Justin was set to kick things off, and The Floyds would serenade us until dawn, but The Silver Scarabs were having relationship troubles. This had to be the reason my trusted advisor, Mel, was flying toward me with a look of consternation on his face.

"Johan has locked himself in the bath house," he said as his feathered wings ruffled closed. "The other three are willing to carry on without him."

"Oh, bother. Johan brings so much. Well, leave him. Maybe when the show starts he'll be tempted on stage."

"Your hands are empty. Can I get you a rum punch? Or a right hook?"

Mel deadpanned his joke and I laughed as I always did. "The taps aren't ready yet. I checked. I was looking for Trisha, she's making chana masala."

"She's setting up next to the petting zoo. Speaking of pets, the new dragon is out and about. You should stop by. I think they're expecting you to name her."

"Really? How nice."

I followed the scents of red pepper, ginger, and dragon dung all the way to the petting zoo, where a small group of children had gathered around an ivory-skinned dragon. Luna was the newest mom to join the ranks, and I had my doubts she would be ready to share her baby with others so soon. But something had prompted her out of her cave. Did she just want to share her excitement with everyone? She was a favorite around the shire.

When I walked up to join them, the children crowded at my feet, tugging on my robe and blessing me with silly smiles.

"Have you seen the baby?" Pip asked.

"Are you here to name her?" said Sam.

"How do you know it's a her?" Bella wondered.

"You look between her legs," Maya told them.

I was deciding which child to answer first when I felt Luna's warm breath on my head as she stretched to say hello.

"I was hoping you'd come by," said Luna in her deep vibrato. "Or all of this would have been for naught. It's troublesome carrying a baby in your mouth, especially when you have to sneeze."

"Are you saying you flew here so I could see your baby?"

"Not exactly. I flew here to wish you a happy beginning. And, as my gift, I want you to name her." Luna lifted her wing, and everyone gasped when the newborn blinked her big golden eyes. She was a darling.

"Oh, in that case. What about Amity?"

"Amity, hm? And in your book of words, what does that mean?"

"Friendship. Will that do?"

Luna chuckled. "I'm sure she won't mind sharing a name with you."

This is my entry into the ambassadors Aim To Engage contest (April 2018) sponsored by the Myth and Legend profile. The writing prompt said to describe a world I created in 500 words or less. So, of course, there's a talking dragon.