A DRAGON

(in the forest near fire nation)

John was resting near the field that he had grown in a dense forest. Despite the field being surrounded by moss and thick trees, his crops grew abundantly. While resting, a sudden cold breeze hit him. He didn't give much thought to it. The sky then darkened with gloomy clouds. John got up and thought of heading back to home. He checked his field one last time and headed towards his hut.

Walking between the fields, a thunderous sound boomed across it and the entire ground shook wildly. He fell to the ground weakly. Everything looked like it's the end of the world. It feels like the entire ground is moving wildly. He doesn't know what to do, as he is powerless against such natural disasters. When he thought he was going to die if it continued, the entire sky got lightened with a golden glow and the earth slowly stopped shaking. Just when he thought everything was over, it began to rain heavily.

John started running towards his hut. The sky further darkened once again. Along with the pouring rain, the wind blew stronger like a tyrant.

A ferocious storm is upon him, John thought.

"What caused this sudden storm in such pleasant evening weather?

What was that earthquake before?

What's wrong with the weather today?".

With such questions in his mind, John looked up to the heavens. His pupils constricted at what he's witnessing. A shiver ran down his spine. He never felt like this before. Its presence was crushing down on him. An invisible force weighed him down to the ground. With a furious roar, a dragon descended from the sky. He tried running but John got rooted firmly. He doesn't even know whether he was too shocked to move or he just can't move at all. He never thought that he would see such a magnificent creature in his entire life. According to the books he read, dragons were rumoured to have been extinct. But one was right in front of him. It was a black dragon with golden yellow scales, patterned in such grandeur. Detecting a human's presence, the dragon-headed towards him.

Is this the end? John thought.

Trying to hide or run was pointless. As John stood thinking of his final seconds, the dragon fluttered its wings creating strong winds. It was tyrannical. In helplessness, John prepared himself for death. With closed eyes and arms spread, he was ready to depart from this world. In his last moments, John foresaw how he was about to become a dragon's food for dinner. The thought of being devoured at any second was terrifying.

Will the dragon be satisfied with him? John thought."How can it be, considering his stature?" The dragon wouldn't definitely consider him as a snack. As he prepared for his final moments, a gush of air blew on him. John thought the time has finally come for him to depart from this world. Despite the continuous pours of rain, John felt sweat on his head and at the back of his neck. As time has gone by, nothing has happened. Surprised, he slowly opened his eyes. He was still alive. What's more, the dragon was staring at him. It came face-to-face with him staring as if it was waiting for something.

"Are you not starving? Am I not worth eating? Have you spared me? Am I not going to be the dragon's dinner?". He felt a little disappointed yet happy to be alive. These thoughts ran through John's mind. He was still alive but not thankful yet, as far as he knew he was still facing danger. The dragon then stood majestically without shifting it's gaze away from him. The dragon moved it's right-wing as if it was about to hit him. John stood in defence, closing his eyes. With his feeble body, he knew that he would never survive it. To his surprise, no harm came to him. John still stood as the dragon claw moved about in front of him. Then it placed something on the ground and retracted its arm.

John was bewildered by its behaviour. A faint cry was then heard. John looked at the area where the dragon claw previously was. A baby boy, wrapped in a thick and soft white cloth designed with red lines was laid on the ground. Realising what's happening, John began to understand the purpose of the dragon's visit.

As soon as it layed the baby in front of John, the dragon spread it's wings roofing the baby and John from the heavy pour of rain. Not a single drop touched the baby. Under the dragon's wings, John was no longer showered by the torrential rain. As John started to understand its intention, he picked up the baby from the ground. He then carried the child gently as he could since he didn't want to anger the majestic creature before him. With the child in his arms, John had fully grasped the dragon's intentions.

"Do you want me to take care of the baby" said John in a low voice.

The Dragon stood Majestically once more and bowed it's head one last time as an act of showing gratitude. John slowly patted it's head.

he slowly patted the dragons head as lingering fear in his heart dissipates. "I promise to take care of this child as long as I am alive," John said to the Dragon. He understood how important the baby boy is to this Dragon. As is the dragon heard him, it finally came at ease.

as if the heavens were watching, the rain suddenly stopped making the weather stable.

With its majestic and strong wings, the dragon ascended and flew in the same direction where it came from. Carrying the baby in his arms, John watched the dragon soared away to the skies. John will never forget this day forth.