//------------------------------// // The Garden // Story: A Dragon's Tale // by Peewee the Dragon //------------------------------// Chapter 3 Over the next few days I was tended to by the mysterious being who had brought me to a secluded area of the forest, it tend to my wounds, brought food and water and kept my fever down and after what seemed a few days my strength had begun to return. I slowly struggled to my feet, trying my best not to fall back down but luckily I managed to stand and began to take in the surrounding smells of this unknown area as my nostrils were invaded by the scent of trees and flowers. I looked at my surroundings and saw I was in some kind of garden as I looked below and saw I had slept upon a bed of flowers, it was then that I heard something… Something was coming towards me. ‘Who’s there?’ I said as my eyes open wide and looked in every direction, adrenaline pumped through my body as I saw its shadow loom across the ground and it was then… I saw her. Eyes as yellow as the sun, legs entwined with the roots of the forest and a downy coat made of entirely of moss which ends at a leaf-like tail there was no doubt in mind she was a dryad. My grandfather had told me about them in his stories, he said ‘dryads are strange and mysterious creatures, they help bring life to the forests and tend to those who are ill but you must be cautious for they can be rather mischievous…’ But what did he mean by mischievous by looking at her she didn’t to be mischievous, she was actually very sweet. No more than a few seconds later she walked towards me and placed a cylinder on the ground filled with water and next to it a leaf-like plate with what appeared to be some berries. ‘Here, these will help you regain your strength.’ the dryad said as she moved the berries closer to me and without hesitation I began to eat them, in within a matter of moments I could feel my strength return to me. The sores and marks I had received from the net had vanished, it was incredible and without thinking I opened my wings and flew up into the sky to celebrate. It felt so good to feel the wind on my face again, so good in fact I started doing barrel rolls in the sky to show how happy I was, but as I saw the sprite standing there I realised I didn’t thank her properly so I immediately stopped my celebrations and landed back onto the ground. I stood before the dryad and lowered my head as a sign of respect, ‘Thank you for looking after me, I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t have appeared.’ I said as I raised my head up and saw that she had began to slowly walk towards me as she began to investigate her new guest. ‘Oh, it’s quite alright, it was the least I could do.’ She said as she stood closer to me and began to sniff, ‘Besides… It’s not everyday I get to meet a dragon.’ This was a rather strange moment that was occuring, my heart began to pound as I felt her sniff me, why was she so interested me? In that moment I stepped back but without even realising a tree right behind as it stopped me in my tracks. The dryad giggled as she sat down onto the flower bed and smiled, ‘There’s no need to be afraid, I was just curious.’ With a confused look on my face I slowly sat down and responded, ‘Curious? Curious about what?’ And in that moment she looked into the distance and said with a cheeky smile on her face, ‘I was curious if a pink dragon could blush.’ Suddenly she jumped up and began to jump in and out of the bushes, I couldn’t understand it a few minutes ago she was as calm as a stream but now she was prancing about like a newborn hatchling, I guess what grandfather said was true they are mischievous. In that moment I decided to take a small nap in order to process everything that had happened so without hesitation I laid back down onto the flower bed and close my eyes, but I was disturbed as I felt something poke me. Quickly I lifted up my head and turned around to see… The sprite, she was actually sitting next to me and waving as she spoke, ‘I’m Meadow by the way.’ With an irritated look, I shifted from my spot and covered my face with my tail. Suddenly I felt her snuggle up close to me as she whispered, ‘What’s your name?’ I sighed heavily as I looked at her as she looked back with her big yellow eyes, in the end I gave in and said, ‘My name is… I don’t have one…’  As I explained my heart began to sink as I remembered that when I left my home I left my name also. ‘No name? Well we can’t have that, now let’s see…’ She tapped her head as she tried to think of name to call me, suddenly she jumped and squeed as she came up with one. ‘I know, I’ll call you… Peewee!’ I tilted my head in curiosity as to why she picked that name, ‘Why Peewee?’ I asked when she pat my head, ‘Because it’s such a nice name and you are a very nice dragon.’ ‘But you hardly know me.’ I said, ‘Yes I do, because of this,’ she said as she touched my heart ‘You have a kind heart, full of joy but there is also sadness…’ And just as I was about to lower my head she raised it and whispered, ‘sadness is just a temporary thing.’ Over the next few days I stayed in Meadow’s garden, watching and learning the ways of the forest. Meadow was always so kind to me, showing me so many wondrous things, okay I admit it she was… Charming, in a cheeky irritating kind of way but she was growing on me and I could tell she liked me too. As the days past Meadow and I became the most unlikely friends and for a time I thought I had found the place that I belonged I was so happy, I thought I had found a home… But it was not to be. As we sat under stars she looked at me and said, ‘Peewee I have something I want to give you.’ cautiously I sat waiting for this gift as I thought this was one of her little pranks when suddenly she placed one of her cloven hooves upon my chest, it was then she began to glow as the flowers and the leaves began to swirl around us ever so quickly, I didn’t know what to do but before I could react it ended just as quickly as it started. Meadow shuck her mossy coat as she sighed whilst I sat their confused, waiting for an answer, ‘Oh, that was the gift! You may not think it now, but this will help you on your journey, just follow your heart and it will never fail you.’ She smiled as she let out a giggle, but this smile was different it was… Sad like she was hiding something and then I saw it, she was beginning to fade away. ‘Meadow? What’s wrong? What’s happening to you?’ I said as I looked at her with worried look on my face as she caressed my cheek and whispered, ‘It would seem my gift took much of my strength, I must now rest in order to regain it, I'm afraid we will have to say goodbye for now.’ As I heard her say this I was beside myself as I tried to hold her, ‘Meadow, no… Y-You can’t leave me, I don’t know to do, I don’t know where to go.’ I said as I closed my eyes, trying my best not to cry and suddenly I felt Meadow kiss my forehead as she said, ‘Oh Peewee… I'll always be with you,’ and as she slowly faded away she whispered something which will stay with me forever, ‘Promise me you'll keep your heart open.’ And then she was gone, she had returned to the garden to sleep and once again, I was alone… Slowly as the sun began to rise I left the garden, but not without keeping my promise, to remember you Meadow… My friend.