Drake and His Long Lost Friend

Drake lumbered from his sleeping place in the corner of his cave to the warmth of the morning sunlight. He stretched his large, leathery wings to gather as much sunlight possible. Sunlight gave him energy...the warmth made his reptilian blood flow within his scaly body.

His red-hued eyes looked down to his new visitor. The tall, brown dragon smiled a wide toothy grin. "Welcome," Drake greeted kindly. "Who do I thank for this visit?" The orange frills on his head top and jaw wiggled in excitement.

The young, brown-haired boy bowed to the thirty-foot tall dragon and replied, "Mikhal. I've come to talk with you...perhaps learn more about you."

Drake lowered his head, his long neck extended to get low enough to see the boy's eyes. Mikhal's brown eyes showed nothing but sincerity. The boy was only about five feet tall, probably only twelve years old, and his figure was of a thin frame. His white skin contrasted Drake's dark brown colour to almost opposites. He placed a large clawed paw on Mikhal's shoulder and gently lead him to a sitting spot, a small boulder to the side of the cave. Mikhal sat down with a wiggle and looked up intently.

Drake sat down and leaned back to get comfortable. His chest scales glimmered in orange, green, red, and yellow colours in the sun. His long tail swished back and back forth, his large orange tail blade creating a slight trech as it moved. Drake took a deep breath and began.

"I was born in a stable...in a small village. I never knew my parents...they'd been killed by knights long before I hatched. A kind maiden found me before the stable caretaker did. She took me into her family...she cared for me. She loved me dearly...and I loved her. She fed me well..." Drake closed his eyes, lost in the memory of his friend. He sighed. After a moment, he shook his head and blinked. "Oops! Sorry...I must've lost myself, there," he sheepishly said with an equally sheepish smile. He blushed.

"Anyway...as I was saying...I started to grow...too big to live with her anymore. She brought me out here to live, and she always visited me everyday. I soon learned how to catch fish, and we ate together. One day, she stopped coming. I've been waiting for her to come...but she's never returned."

Mikhal raised a brow. "Kind dragon...what was her name?"

"Lady Mary-Ann."

"I thought so! You must be Drake, then!"

Drake looked down at Mikhal with wide eyes. "How do you know my name?"

Mikhal grinned widely. "Because, she's my mother!"

Drake's eyes watered, and a small smiled came to him. "You mean...you mean...?"

"She's still alive and healthy! She told me to tell you she only stopped when her family arranged a marriage! She sent me here to talk to you!"

Drake's smile increased to a full-out grin.

Mikhal whistled out a loud tune. In a second, a beautiful middle-aged woman came gliding from the bushes nearby. Her long, wavy, golden hair flowed like an ocean. Her beautiful blue eyes entranced Drake as she gazed up at him. Her peach dress slid across the dirt path.

Drake stumbled slightly as he got up for her. "M-M-Mary-Ann!" When she got close, he picked her up gently in his arms and held her close. "I missed you!" he whispered with a tear.

Mary-Ann returned the embrace and replied, "I missed you, too."