//------------------------------// // Chapter Nine: Tales of Dragon's Rest: Wanda's mental soul.:Arc one // Story: Dragon's sorrow: Tales of Dragon's rest // by Megaskullmon //------------------------------// I look up from the book after reading that part of the story. I could see some little ones were sad for the dog I chuckled weakly. “I told you before I started reading these little ones there are many things in here that will make you all sad.” I come out from behind the stand smirking. “This is again how life was ages ago after humans vanished and some returned. Now I don’t know how many humans are around. I do know there are rumors that some came back. Who knows? I only focus on this area of our lives.” A weak smile forms on my face “We are just a simple out-of-the-way area. An area made by a dragon and many others who wished to just make a community. We should be happy we have what we have and we can at least remember some of our histories. Most of the history of this community is lost or burned.” The little ones go back to not being sad, at least it’s easy to tell them it’s not going to be too bad. But we have just started. The early days are peaceful days for all communities. There are some bad things out there and when it comes down to it. The bad doesn't always destroy the good but it will at times. “Just remember my friends I have told your parents and the elders things get darker in this story. I am going to keep it as tame as I can. Malla is a bit of a potty mouth and it’s words humans used to use. I am sure some of us use these words. I used to in the past but can’t anymore because I grew up well.” Blossom laughs. “Now what I am going to be talking about is one of the founders, Wanda. She is a former mother missing her family and it’s been hard for her as many know to find the will to move on. There will be a lot of topics in this part of the story that may concern many others. It’s also written by her. I want everyone to understand whatever happens in this part of the story. It happened and she is okay but if you start feeling worried and have questions your parents are beside you ask them.” I get back to the book looking at the audience. I have a weak smile forming on my face. I feel bad I am about to explain the private life of one of our founders. Maybe Malla wasn’t the smartest lady but she did what she could for others and those she cared for.  “Before you read on I got a request for you, Glyph.” I look up from the book looking at the lead elder. “When you’re finished telling Wanda’s story to the kids I want you to come to us and tell us what you leave out alright?” A weak smile creeps across my face. It’s all I can do for them and the others. I take a deep breath, blow the hot air out, head back to the podium, put a marker on the part of the story I am at, and head to a part of the book where I wrote about each founder. I will only be telling them about little bits of the first few months of Wanda, not everything. “It’s been at least a few months since the change and I still haven’t seen my family.” _______________ January 20th Home Depot George and I follow Savanah into the store. Looking back at the big truck, I see Malla alone and worry when she is alone. She always gets into trouble. I am stopped by George. He looks down at me putting his claws on my shoulders. “Mind staying out here and standing guard?’ I stare at my friend and I am concerned about why he is asking me to do this. “George? What would come and attack us?” We hear dogs barking and fighting. “Well you can fly and you might be able to scare the dogs off with a cloud. Also, I want you to keep an eye on Malla if you can. Savannah and I will do what we can to get what she wants from this store.” I shake my head. “I thought we were here for Generators or Hydro gardens.” George smirks “Ah yes, that is why we are here. I haven’t been listening to loving this new body and love. I can walk around without the pain in my legs.” I chuckle  “I am not the one that told you to do those drugs during the crazy years.” Geroge laughs. “Hey, at least I had fun.” I snicker loudly. “Hey, George, I need you.” George turns his head to the zebra. “Oh?’ Savannah sighs. “George, I need your claws and strong arms. I could have brought Malla in but she would have complained about working too much and then I would want to talk about our relationship and she wouldn’t listen to me.” George sighs. “You two need to be truthful to each other.” George walks off and I hear the two talking about relationships and my ears pin to the back of my head. My children, my husband why oh why did he have to remind me? I groan pacing around. I don't keep my eyes on what I should and I care too much about my pain. Then I realized Mario's restaurant is close to here. I need to see if he or his wife has returned. I look back at the car seeing Malla still inside asleep. Oh she will be fine I quickly fly into the air or the best I can and fly through the air looking around and I see the small little mom-and-pop food place.  I fly over quickly and land near the old place and when I do I hear screaming and a flash of seeing my husband being killed. No, please don’t remind me of this. I quickly trot to the spot I held my husband while he slowly passed. To be honest I could have handled myself better but this change and my mental mind weren’t all there and to be fully honest the last time I had a good mental mind was during my life with him. I never recovered even after I got remarried. My new husband knew I was always upset about my first and he did everything to help me through it. I head to the doors of the old food joint looking inside. Nothing, no one has broken inside and it hasn’t been picked clean. I see the dust and it looks like a mess inside. Like no one has been here to clean it. I head to the door taking my hoof to break the lock to get inside.  When I break inside there are no awful smells and I cough and sneeze at how dusty it is. I don't know why I do it but I take the chemicals in the back and do my best to ensure I don’t ingest any of the stuff and clean the tables and the floor. It’s only this that keeps me sane. “Oh come on Wanda you don’t need to clean my little ole store. I can take care of it.” I smile and remember a day when everything was still normal and I laugh waving at Mario. “Oh come on Mario you and your wife have done so much for this community and you do so much for us you deserve everything.” Mario chuckles. “Oh, Wanda, thank you. But I think you should get back to standing watch.” I am confused why did he just tell me to get back to standing to stand watch? This is not real, this is me remembering the past and waiting. I need to keep an eye on things. After George told Malla about the two of us being followed by something. I get myself out of the stupor and I quickly get out of the restaurant flying back to the store. I hear wheels screeching and watch a large truck driving off and two other black cars spreading out like they’re searching for something. I quickly fly back to the parking lot. I look around and notice Malla is gone. I see an area on the parking lot where the tarmac has not only melted a bit, the ice is gone as well and I see a syringe on the ground seeing a strange fluid inside it. The needle is a bit bent. I am worried about whoever shot these at Malla. I quickly trot around the store and I finally find George and Savannah. They have two carts full of gardens and when Savannah sees me her ears droop. “What did she do?!” I suddenly stop setting the syringe down. “I am sorry I didn’t stand watch as I should and when I got back I saw this and then saw two black cars and a large truck leaving.” George picks up the syringe sniffing it. “Knock out the juice, it's military grade.” Savannah and Geroge take what we got and I follow close behind feeling I am not welcomed after what happened when they load the car up and there is enough room for the three of us and George gets in the driver's seat. “Wanda..” I gulp hearing Savannah's voice from behind me. I turn around staring at the zebra mare. I feel dread deep in my core. I know she might scream at me for losing Malla, the one who kind of brought us together and from what I learned cares about us but doesn't know how to show it. “You were asked to stand watch. What did you do?” I try to stay calm. “I wanted to see if Mario and his wife returned so I went to their restaurant and cleaned the floor and tables and I had a memory of doing it before and well I thought I was back being human again seeing my children.” George sighs. Savannah’s eyes open wide, staring at me the anger in her eyes is very apparent and I back up when George reaches to stop Savannah from getting too angry at me. He shakes his head. “Savannah please I know..I..” I sniff loudly tears falling from my eyes. “I know I did wrong but what do you expect me to do? I am a mother and I am so worried about my children. I already lost a husband years ago because of my brothers and father. What do you expect me to do? I can't handle this change as you and Malla can. George has taken it to it like nothing and we have moved on from our human lives.” Savannah just stands there as I break down. “I can’t handle this body. I can’t handle these wings. I have learned how to fly.” Savannah sighs pulling me into a hug and all I do is sob loudly. I don’t know how long it is but I just sob and I finally relax after at least thirty minutes of a cry and when I get out of it I finally fully relax. “Wanda I want you to understand my life was already destroyed during my human life. I am now able to change it for the better. Malla I am going, to be honest with you I am in love with her.” I stare at George and I laugh. “Savannah I know I think we all know. But we need to find her I am worried about her she could be somewhere hurt.” George turns on the car and the radio comes on. “Hello everyone I am sorry for cutting the music but I just got a call from an interesting one. Now please say hello.” After a while, another voice comes on the radio. “Hi I am Joe, part of the human community in the bunker under Battle Creek Airport and I wanted to call and let you know we um kind of kidnapped your boss lady. Don’t worry she is fine and we can’t get near her or we humans would melt and die from whatever changed you.” I am confused if there are some humans still around. “So like you told me the government knew something was going to happen and you can’t tell us because you’re scared enough has been said and you feel there might be a riot from whoever is listening?” Joe laughs “Simple yes but Malla is leaving and you will find her coming out of the warehouse.” We get to where we are told to and when we do we find Malla. I watch the zebra and the dragon get closer and I wish I could learn what it will be like for me when the time comes I look over to George. Maybe he will help me through whatever comes next. The end of Wanda’s story for now.