by Logan Jacobs
“Swim!” George yelled in my head, and his tone of voice reminded me that even if he was a dragon, he was still a baby.
“No, no swim,” I shook my head, “questions first, swim after.”
“Nope, swim first!” Then the dragon took off running and jumped into the water right by where I was standing. He managed to soak me pretty good, which I was sure was definitely the little scoundrel’s intentions.
“Ugh, buddy!” I called out to the dragon as I shook the water droplets off myself.
George surfaced nearby and gave me a dragon smile full of sharp fangs.
“Join!” he shouted before he dove into the lagoon again.
I really wanted to get some answers, but I couldn’t even be that angry. The bond between us was new, but I could feel the dragon’s emotions like they were my own, and his contagious happiness caused a smile to spread across my face.
Besides, that lagoon looked more inviting than anything I’d ever seen, and the more I gazed into the water, the more I longed to be part of it. Plus, if I could run like Usain Bolt now, I wondered if I could swim like Michael Phelps.
“Only one way to find out,” I muttered to myself.
“Join please!” came the little voice in my head again, and that was all it took to convince me.
I stripped out of my clothes and laid them on a nearby rock to dry out. Then I climbed up to a small cliff, and with a bit of a run, I jumped off, pulled myself into a classic cannonball move, and sent a tidal wave to the shores in my wake. I plunged far below the surface and opened my eyes so I could take in my surroundings. With my newly enhanced eyesight, I could make out all the different types of kelp and flowering plants that grew in the lagoon. Some of them looked like a hyacinth in shades of purple and blue, and there were also water lilies in different creamy shades of white and pink.
As I slowly treaded water, I also noticed schools of little rainbow fish swam all around me as they made their way in and out of the vegetation growing up from the bottom of the lagoon. Some of the braver ones swam up and tried to nibble on the scales on my feet and hands, and a few yards in front of me, a turtle with a shiny blue shell swam leisurely to his destination, like he didn’t have a single care in his world. He stopped to nibble a flower bud off one of the plants and then continued on his way.
I looked down to see shells of all sorts and sizes covered the bottom of the lagoon. We were in freshwater, so I didn’t know exactly what could be in them, but I’d heard of freshwater mussels and clams, so maybe that was what they were. I also knew some of them carried pearls, but I’d never seen clams with shells all the colors of the rainbow like these below me had.
“This way!” George called out as he swam rapidly past me.
I didn’t know how long I’d been checking out my surroundings, but I would need to surface and get some air before I could swim anymore.
I relayed the thought to the water dragon through our connection.
“No need,” he replied simply.
No need? What did he mean?
“Lots of air time,” he said, but this just confused me even more.
As I thought about it, though, I had to admit, I didn’t have the burning need in my lungs to surface and take in fresh air. In fact, I didn’t even really feel like I was holding my breath, but I wasn’t breathing, either.
Holy crap, what was happening? This was crazy. Crazy and fucking amazing.
Goodbye, Michael Phelps. I was fucking Aquaman over here. But a thousand times more badass. He communicated with fish, I bonded with a damn water dragon.
I moved to swim toward George, and instead of the standard scissor kick I would normally use, my body moved in a dolphin kick of sorts and propelled me forward faster than I could believe. Instinct told me to hold my arms straight out in front of me, so I did just that and continued to fly through the water.
I grinned with delight and decided to test this new discovery with everything I had in me.
I’d always been drawn to water, my entire life really. My mom had delivered me in a birthing tub, I was born under a water sign, and my parents told stories of water being the only thing that would soothe me sometimes. I could swim before I could crawl, and everything just grew from there. I was on swim teams throughout my school years and always competed well. It was as natural to me as walking.
Now, here I was, practically evolved into a magical sea creature, on a strange island in the middle of who knows where and swimming with a water dragon.
I had reached peak happiness.
It had to be close to twenty minutes before my chest and lungs started the familiar burning to tell me fresh air was needed. So, I made my way to the surface and took in a fresh breath nice and slow. I had every intention of diving again until I saw George climb out of the lagoon, take a seat on the beach, and look at me expectantly.
I smiled and quickly swam over to him. I guessed playtime was over.
I climbed out of the water and used my shirt to dry off before I pulled my pants on and took a seat next to George on the beach. I really didn’t want to have cracks and crevices full of sand, so I took my time to get dressed, much to the water dragon’s amusement.
“Hey,” I told him, “if you ever had a buttcrack full of sand, you would get it.”
The dragon chuffed out loud with what I guessed was a water dragon laugh, and that warmed my soul. I couldn’t believe I was sitting on a beautiful beach with a sentient water dragon that I was somehow bonded to. Maybe I was actually dead and this was my heaven. That made a lot of sense considering what I’d experienced in the past few weeks, to say the least. But there wouldn’t be pain, injuries, and hangovers in heaven, would there?
“You are not dead,” Ladonis intoned in my head, “you are very much alive, more alive than you have ever been.”
“Well, that was vague and mysterious as fuck,” I grumbled back.
The ancient dragon literally snorted with derision inside my brain.
“Nice of you to join us, by the way,” I said sarcastically. “Is it time now to answer my questions?”
“Yes,” the ancient dragon replied.
“Well, why now?” I couldn’t help but ask. “Why now and not earlier this morning?”
“You bonded with George in your old body, but you needed to bond with your dragon as you are now,” Ladonis explained. “What better way to do that than to share joy together? Plus, I wanted you to experience the world in your new form so you can properly appreciate what I am about to tell you.”
“Alright,” I said slowly, “I guess that’s understandable. But can I ask you questions now?”
“You may.”
“Okay, first off, who are you exactly?” I inquired. The question had been at the forefront of my mind since he’d first spoken in it.
“I am the first,” he said simply.
“Yeah,” I chuckled, “I am going to need a little more explanation.”
The ancient dragon chuffed again.
“I am the first sentient water dragon,” he explained, “I was created by our gods and served as their dragon. When my physical body failed after centuries, my consciousness was preserved by Oshun so I could guide other dragons. My gods had the foresight to know there would be a time when the bonding of dragons to their people would fall to the wayside. Because of that, very little knowledge would remain on how the whole process worked. I have been waiting for you so I can pass this wisdom on.”
“Wait,” I wondered, “you were waiting for me specifically?”
“Yes,” he said proudly. “You are the one who brings unity to the land dwellers and water dragons once more.”
“How do you know it’s supposed to be me?” I asked with a frown.
“I awoke at the exact moment you arrived on the island,” he explained, “a moment that just so happened to coincide with the birth of the dragon you call George.”
“Were you part of George when he was born?” I asked as I tried to make sense of all of this.
> “I combined my conscious with him soon after he was born, but his instincts were strong without my presence. George knew his place was beside you, and he left his nest early to find you, with little guidance from me.”
“Oh,” I breathed, “wow, this is all just … incredible. I still have so many questions.”
“And I will do my best to answer them, Ben,” Ladonis replied. “First, I am going to tell you the legend of how we came to be and how we arrived where we are today. A lot of the story has been lost, but you will get the idea. You will have a lot of questions, and you should feel free to ask them. I cannot guarantee that I will have all the answers, but I will do my best.”
I nodded in understanding but didn’t respond out loud since I didn’t want to interrupt. Then I looked at George lying peaceful but attentive on the beach, and I realized he was just along for the ride, too. We both had a lot to learn, starting now.
“Before the creation of our world, there were many gods,” Ladonis began. “Then they made this world and divided it up. Oshun and Olokun crafted this island and both our races to strengthen the other, creating the kinship bond so that where one of us lacks, the other excels. We, the water dragons, became the protectors, and you and your people became the providers. We coexisted and thrived in harmony for many moons. These lands and waters were full of both of our kind, including our children who carried our hope for the future within them. We were the foundation in which the other one grew.”
The thought of seeing this island full of children and baby dragons was so bittersweet. I couldn’t imagine a happier place, but the fact that it was all gone caused physical pain in my chest.
“Neither of us had a natural predator, just the dangers of land and water that we navigated together,” the ancient voice continued. “Old age was primarily what led us to go beyond the veil and enter the next world. But all too soon, a few different races of people decided they were not content with the gifts our gods and goddesses bestowed on us. Greed and rage caused these beings to develop desires for more. They built boats with unbridled speed, fueled by their avarice. They sailed to these new lands under the guise of kinsmanship and then laid waste to everything they touched.”
I thought about the handful of raiders we’d fought off and how they weren’t in possession of any compassion and seemed to only be fueled by power and malevolence. Witnessing these atrocities myself only helped to make the ancient dragon’s words ring that much truer.
“Our people weren’t equipped to fight such things, only defend themselves against the natural beasts of the island. The raiders quickly overpowered us, killing any who got in their way. The males of our species began to decline rapidly, along with the bond between our people. When the last of the male land dwellers were killed, it severed the bond between dragon and man. My kind grew more feral and territorial and withdrew further into the sea to protect their remaining few. The land dwellers were weakened even more by the departure of the dragons. Many things went to the wayside in the name of survival. History, tradition, and culture got lost so room could be made for killing and defending.”
I felt tears spring to my eyes at the thought. What I wouldn’t give to see this island during the years it was bustling and full of life.
“Now, you have come, as it was foretold to me during the last storm season when I was in a deep sleep,” Ladonis went on. “I had been dormant for quite some time, just waiting for my consciousness to give up on the living so I may join my brothers and sisters in the great beyond, but my goddess had other plans for me. I am here to fulfill my final duty to my creators before entering eternal life.”
“Wait, you’re going to leave me?” I blurted out. “Alone?”
“You will not be alone,” the voice mollified, “you will never be alone.”
“Me!” George cheered as he butted his head against my arm.
“Yes, young one,” Ladonis laughed, “you will always be by his side, for your fate is now locked within one another’s.”
“Are you saying that if one of us dies, so does the other one?” I asked with a frown.
“Not exactly,” the ancient dragon replied. “When your physical body ceases to exist, you will survive in the other’s conscious until you are both ready to pass into the great beyond. Your bond is inevitable and cannot be broken.”
“Why me?” I questioned. “Why was I chosen for this?”
“Why not you?” was the reply I got.
I sat there quietly for several minutes and took it all in. I knew there had to be more to this proclamation, since I was the first one to bond with a dragon in over a decade.
“What do I do with this gift?” I asked.
“You are to fortify your home, protect your people, and teach them to thrive again. Life will soon be returning to your village. Work hard, Ben, for after the storm season has gone, it will be time for you to set sail and unite the other islands. Only you have the ability to do this. You are Dragun Ri, Draco Rex.”
“I’m what?” I asked with a frown.
“Dragun Ri, Draco Rex, Dragon King. It is your markings, your bond, your abilities that will bring the people and the dragons together again. Soon, you will possess the full might of the water dragons. There will be more bonds, but yours is the mightiest.”
“But I don’t know how to do this, and George is still so young,” I protested.
“We all age quickly, including water dragons,” Ladonis informed me. “By the end of the storm season, George will have reached his full growth, and he will be formidable. You will know instinctively what to do, as will your dragon. Your children will bond, and so will some of the women on the island, and soon.”
As crazy as all this sounded, it was comforting to know we would soon have more dragons on our side.
“George chose you. It is time for you to choose him in return.”
“I, umm, I-I thought I had,” I stuttered.
A deep chuckle resonated throughout my body.
“Take the sea glass from your pocket, Ben,” Ladonis instructed.
I did what he said and held it in the palm of my hand before me. The sea glass was about the size and shape of a walnut. It had dark swirls of copper and deep green coursing through it and was hotter to the touch than it should be from just being in my pocket all day.
“Put the glass in your mouth, Ben,” the ancient dragon ordered.
“Uhhh … why would I want to do that?” I asked with a furrowed brow.
“Because that is how the bond will be completed,” he said. “There is no need to worry. It will not be painful.”
I placed the glass hesitantly in my mouth, and George started squirming at the sight. He was clearly very excited about this, so it couldn’t be that bad.
I felt the stone heat up, but not to the point where it would burn me. Suddenly, it began to sort of melt and crumble at the same time, a lot like a piece of hard candy would do, only much faster. I felt the heat spread throughout my body, all the way down to my toes, and then come back up and settle right in the middle of my sternum. It was far from unpleasant, much more like a warm cup of hot chocolate on a cold day, or the feeling of coming home after being gone for so long.
George came over to sit next to me and proceeded to sniff all over me, and he was obviously not worried at all about getting up close and personal. The lightheaded feeling of the warmth disappeared at his touch, and all I felt was a sense of belonging and rightness. Then I held the dragon close to me while I just enjoyed the peace he brought to me.
“The bond is complete,” Ladonis intoned. “All you must do now is trust your instincts, both of you.”
“You’re leaving now, aren’t you?” I asked as I realized how sad I was at the news.
“Yes,” he said kindly, “I have done my duty for the two of you, and my family waits for me in the beyond. You have no more need of me. You are the next generation of dragon-kin.”
“Thank you--” I started to say.
“You are the one who
needs to be thanked,” replied that deep and wise voice. “You and the young one take care of one another.”
At that last remark, Ladonis was gone.
I could feel an emptiness within me that he left behind, except it wasn’t a cold feeling, but one of remembrances and joy.
“Come on, George,” I said to my dragon, and I grinned down at my bonded partner, “let’s go find some food.”
“Eat?” he replied as he danced around.
“Yes,” I laughed. “Let’s go eat.”
Ladonis had laid some heavy shit on me just now, and I didn’t know what it meant to be Draco Rex, but George and I could take it one step at a time.
And step one was finding some food.
After George and I had stuffed our faces to a level that satisfied Hali, we finally made our way to the eastern shore. I could see a good half a dozen warriors down there working on something as I approached. Once I got closer, I could see they had made a huge dent in collecting not only lumber for the wall, but plenty of bamboo to use for the bows. This went a long way to take some of the pressure off my shoulders.
“Hey, Zarya,” I called out, “looks like I need to leave you in charge more often. This is great!”
“I am glad you are pleased, Ben.” She smiled. “We are just finishing up the trench and were about to start laying the timber for the fence. We also have several spikes to add to it, just like you instructed.”
“Well, let’s get going!” I laughed.
We immediately fell into a rhythm, the warriors plus me and George, and we worked together like a well-oiled machine. The dragon would help drag the lumber into place, and then the twins and I would set it up and position the post into the designated spot. We would then pour a mix of sand, crushed sea shells, and mud into the holes to cement it in place. We continued this repetitive, but satisfying, work late into midday. Other than stopping for water, everyone worked steadily and mostly in silence, except for the few times the twins broke out into song.
“Ide were were nita Oshun, Ide were were, Ocha kiniba nita Oshun, Cheke Cheke Cheke, nita ya, Ide were were,” Darya sang while Zarya harmonized perfectly.
