Memoirs of the Moon Dragon

Birth of the Maligrandé With every beat, his chest expanded and contracted, so that it was plain to see his hearts’ rapid pumping on the outer-side of his skin. It left mounds on the outside as it pumped harder and harder. In his last conscious moments, Waldo wished he would die quickly, and his life again flashed before his eyes. The whole time he was screaming in excruciating agony. All went suddenly silent. Waldo’s screams stopped as his body went limp. Every cell in his body had been separated, and was now swirling around in a melting pot of his own hot flesh and blood. It boiled within him, bubbles bubbling everywhere, engulfing his entire body beneath his skin; such was the painful horror that had befallen Waldo. It was the excruciating journey of death that so many before him had followed, and perished. It was a journey no one had ever survived. In the silence, Waldo’s body slowly returned to the ground, and the amulet’s glow began to fade. After a few minutes of waiting, the beast tilted its head back so that it pointed skyward. It let out a huge roar and flames leapt into the air for twenty meters. The forest all around was lit by the glow of its orange light. Journey to the City of Gold As Miadrag (the moon dragon) veered left, and flew broadside to the bloodthirsty hoard, one of the many hundreds of arrows fired into the air, hit Waldo behind his left shoulder. The pain was excruciating. Waldo looked down. There was blood everywhere. The arrows blackened point had pierced straight-through Waldo’s body. It was now sticking out of his chest. Waldo screamed, “I’m hit Miadrag!” Waldo held on as tight as he could, but his body was going into shock. He was feeling weaker and giddier with every breath. Miadrag flew away as fast as he could, to safety. The army let out a great roar at the dragon’s retreat. It resumed its charge. They rode off in the direction of the City of Gold. Miadrag could feel Waldo’s grip loosening, so he hastily found a village. It was some distance, but it was in the opposite direction to the advancing army, so it would be safe enough there. Miadrag landed. The village was in partial ruins. The advancing army was destroying everything within its reach. Fortunately, the villagers received a timely warning of the army’s blood seeking advance. They had just enough time to scramble to their underground hides, where they hid from the oppressors until they were gone. Many of the huts they lived in were on fire. When the dragon landed, the villagers were coming out from hiding, so they could put out the fires. On seeing Waldo struggling to stay on the dragon’s back, they raced to his aid. The Reluctant King Macey in her extreme distress, begged Waldo again, “Please Waldo, please, please don’t leave me.” Macey was utterly distraught. How could he leave her like this? Her tears streamed down her cheeks as she couldn’t believe this was happening. “Waldo must go alone Macey,” soothed the Caretaker. Waldo clasped the band as he said to Macey, “I love you Macey.” He told the Book, that he was ready. He shimmered, and disappeared. The Book transported him back to Earth. Macey’s heart sank. She ran off screaming, “No! No! No!” The Caretaker’s heart sank to, but he knew this was the way it had to be. In Waldo’s absence, the city mourned. The people wept for the return of their king, and they prayed for his safe return every day that passed. The dragon never woke, even though Macey tried and tried to get him to wake, he wouldn’t wake, no matter what she did. The city’s glow dulled, and the dragon’s aura faded with every new day. On the fourth day, the dragon’s aura disappeared completely, and the city’s glow became nothing but a faint dull hue. Macey was in the tower pining for her true love, and hoping Waldo would suddenly return, but in the hours and days and weeks that passed, Waldo never came. Macey’s tears rolled down her cheeks as she sobbed for her lost love. In her distress, she sought solitude. She found that the loneliness of the tower provided her with a place that she could go and pour out her deep sadness without anyone knowing. Macey tried to keep up appearances, but it was so lonely without Waldo. Why hasn’t he returned she questioned herself in her thoughts? Something terrible must have happened, she thought, and she cried out loud in her despair.