The Sky Walking Dragon of the Ship Destiny's Dreams

Before I grew into a blue, partly furry, partly scaley, four legged, flying, walking, and swimming being, with ears that can rotate and spin, descended from ancient creatures, my life began near the ocean.

After I was born, I cuddled up to my mama most of the time. Then one day, someone picked me up. My heart gave a leap, and started pounding fast.

I slipped and bounced in their arms, and opened my eyes wide.

"Where was my mama? What was happening?"

My thoughts whirled, my body twitched, and sharp, strange emotions filled me. Panic grew, and I began fighting with my legs to get away. Something bad was happening. I could not get enough air.

"Squeak. Squeak. Squeeeeeek." I screamed to mama for help.

Someone put me into a dark sack. I was swung around and lifted.

Then, I was getting bounced around. There were sounds of something hitting the ground with a rhythm.

My heart pounded. I panted and tried to get enough air. What should I do?

I started to cry and whine.

"aaaeeeeeooooooo. AAAEEEEEOOOOO."

Then I got a little angry, and I made more sounds.

“rrrrrraaaaaeeee.”

I was separated from mama. Alone now.

Such a long time went by. I could not breathe well inside this thing, and with all the bouncing.

A sound came to me. My ears pricked up. "What was that?"

Then I was flying through the air, still inside the dark place. There was a hard bump, and pain hit my body and head.

Time passed. I seemed to wake from sleeping.

A little bit of light came through one end of the soft thing that was around me. My body, legs, and head were all hurting. I was weak and I moved slowly, and crawled toward that little bit of light.

The soft thing fell off my body, and a bright light hurt my eyes. My head pounded and pulsed with an ache. I tried to get some air into myself, my chest was sore. But I could breathe better. The fresh air was cool and salty.

I was tired, and I hurt so much all over. Little squeaks came from me when I tried to move more. I closed my eyes, and soon I was dreaming of being near my mama's warmth and closeness instead of being alone.

__________________________

The brown lump with blue accents was on the ground, and it blended with the dirt. There was a sound of ocean waves in the background. In the distance, a sandy beach stretched.

A wooden sailing ship floated in ocean nearby. It’s white wings of canvas above the deck made it look like bird about to soar away.

The afternoon light faded, and the sunset sent the golden hour glow over the coast. Then the sun began to go down.

A light bobbed over the dunes and moved toward the ocean. Two human figures appeared. One was carrying a brass lantern with etched blue glass. The lantern cast a wavering indigo light.

A dog with pointed ears ran out ahead of the two figures.

"Feliz, come back," a voice called.

But the dog ran off the path and sniffed at something on the ground. He raised his head and looked back at Anya and Guapo.

“What did Feliz find ahead on the dirt? A small animal?” The voice came from a petite woman with long dark hair, wearing draped clothing. She carried the lantern with the blue light.

Her name was Anya. She was the Storyteller of the Blue Light and a Wisdom Keeper on the mythological sailing vessel known as Destiny’s Dreams.

“It is not moving. Must be dead.” The voice came from a young boy. A hairless dog with pointed ears and bright eyes walked at his side. The boy was Guapo from the Peruvian Andes.

They were from the big lake in the mountains of Peru, where people lived on islands made of reeds, and they made houses and boats of lake reeds.

Feliz ran up to the little brown bump on the dirt path.

“Yip. Yiiiiiip.” His voice echoed in the evening air.

The little bump moved.

“It is alive.” Guapo’s eyes lit up and he sprinted forward.

Anya followed. “Ooooh. A baby. So tiny. Where is your mother, little one?” Her voice was like a soft, whispering song.

"Someone tried to get rid of you. But now things will be better, little baby."

______________________

I woke up when I heard something. Then I responded. It might be mama looking for me.

“Squeak. EEEEEiiiiiiooooo. Squeeeeaaak.” It came from me. "AAaaeeee. Here I am."

"Eeeeooooo." I made another sound.

Then I did some more with "ooooeeee. ooooeeee.ooooeeee."

My heart started pounding fast again, and I was breathing in short, fast spurts.

The sound was not mama. It was similar but different. My body could barely move and I struggled to wiggle. I tried to look around. My eyes were only half open.

Something touched me but, it was different from the rough touches earlier in the day.

A gentle, circular caress massaged me behind the base of my ears and on my neck, then down to the base of my neck and slowly along my spine.

“That is nice,” I thought. “I’m feeling better. What is that?”

The gentle touch reached underneath me. I was being lifted.

“Squeak. Squeeeeak. EEEEiiiiooooooaaaa. Squeeeeek.” I whimpered with fear.

Then I relaxed. The circular massaging continued. I began to feel good.

I was close to someone, but it was not mama. Now I can snuggle against someone warm. This feels cozy. I am not breathing so fast. I am so tired. Squeak.”

_____________________________________________

Anya held the little animal close to her. The little chest was rising and falling and squeaks came out of the animal sometimes.

She closed her eyes and paused, whispering to herself.

Guapo waited with a faint smile and thought, “I am glad she knows what to do. The ancient ways of healing.”

The ocean air smelled like salt and fresh breezes. Anya’s whispering mingled with these fragrances and with the shushing of the quiet waves lapping at the tidepools on the beach.

“Beautiful ancient healing ones, flow through me with your wisdom, love, and healing for this precious little animal. Heal and comfort him and soothe his pain. Flow through my fingertips and guide me while I massage him with the ancient healing touch.”

There was a pause. It seemed that a pale light surrounded the little animal under Anya’s fingers.

Guido’s voice was low. “I see it now. The ancient touch. The aura glow and warmth.”

The tiny animal’s head bobbed and wobbled. Then the animal held his head up. The eyes slowly gazed around. Ripples in the fur showed his eyebrows were lifting. Somne of the fur seemed to mingle with some other texture that was blueish and more like scales. The mouth was drooping, but it opened and closed several times.

“I see his breathing is more regular.” Guapo kept his voice at a whisper.

Then he paused with the wide eyes of shock.

"It has more than one tail," he said. "Three tails. Four legs. Brown fur. Some odd blueish scales on patches. What creature is this?"

Anya shrugged, "I don't know, but it is a baby who needs me."

“Hello little baby. You’re ok. I’ll be your new mama. You are not alone.” Anya spoke to the tiny animal. Little ear flaps moved slightly. They seemed to rotate a little.

“I think he hears you,” said Guapo.

“Aaaaiiiiiii. Squeeeek.” The animal made a sound.

“OOOOoooooo. Yip.” Feliz, the Peruvian Hairless Dog spoke. He was almost always very quiet so this was a special moment.

Guapo, Anya, and Feliz took the surfboat that was waiting on the beach back to the wooden sailing vessel.

“I can use my long scarf to make a sling to hold this little baby animal next to me. Here, would you please wrap this around my back and pull it to the front again.”

Anya spoke to Guapo and they made a type of bed where the baby animal could rest against Anya.

"What are these little bumps on the sides of this animal and these rough patches?" Guapo pulled his eyebrows together, kept his voice to a whisper, and squinted.

"I think I know what it is," Anya said in a low voice.

"Hello, baby Sky Walking Dragon. I'm going to name you Sweet Kaimai. You carry life-giving inspiration."

Then Anya breathed deeply and whispered low. Guapo leaned close to hear her words.

"Thank you, All-Embracing Spirit for sending me this creature of my inner visions. I did not know if I would meet one in this life."

"Welcome to this life, Sweet Kaimai."

"Here is a special brew I made for you to eat. It has kelp, herbs, shellfish, and bits of spices all warmed up by the ship's cook on the stove."

The creature opened his mouth, and his eyes gleamed when the smooth liquid and delicious morsels touched his tongue.

__________________________

“Squeak. Squeak.” I felt warm, and it was like being with mama again, although different too.

"Aaaeeeeoooo." I tried to tell the lady how much I appreciated the tasty treat she fed me. The food filled me with warmth and the liquid refreshed my dry mouth.

A feeling spread over me. I tucked my little fuzzy wings that could barely be seen close to my body. Then I relaxed and went to sleep.

Images of white sails beneath a body flying over the sea - a body that was made of fur and wings made of blueish scales - floated through my mind.

______________________________________________

Back at the Destiny's Dreams, Anya saw the new being curled up and cozy on a blanket. She got out her journal and began to record the day's events.

She wrote, "I am empathizing and communicating with someone new. I call him Sweet Kaimai. He is a dragon. I want to write his story in his own words. I am channeling his spirit and energy to tell Kaimai's story."

________________________________________________

Over a hundred and fifty years later, Anya's journals were found and read in the attic of the keeper's house for the Mystical Lighthouse. The finders were a group of kids who liked to play hide and seek in the upper parts of the old house that was built in the 1800s.

"Read to us, Emily, pleeeeeese." One voice spoke and the other children nodded.

Emily said, "OK, this journal entry starts like this."

"Before I grew into a blue, partly furry, partly scaley, four-legged, flying, walking, and swimming being..."