Dragon Wisdom

by ilbv & Khael

The town square had been full of people and festivities for the celebration of the month. The sun was setting now and the square was empty and deathly quiet. Litter was strewn about, vendors had packed up and only the tents remained. All of the towns people were down in the park awaiting the annual fireworks display. The glow from the sun gave everything a yellowish brown hue.
ilbv had been frantically packing his bags to head to the fairs, but he had been caught up in work that was long overdue. ilbv wolfed down a sandwich and made a mad dash for the door. He was off down the corridors of the town, trying to get to the park before the sun set and the fireworks began without him. "I wish I had a damn car." he muttered.
High up in the clouds, the great dragon Khael was flying over the town, he knew that everyone was further off in the park and that he would be safe from human sight if he landed down in the square to take a break…as the great brown and yellow dragon came closer to the ground, he picked up the scent of a single human, male, young, innocent. He spied the creature at once and saw that it was running toward the town square. Khael was still hundreds of feet up in the sky, but he saw clearly who the human was…he recognized him.
Smiling, the dragon swooped down and soundless landed in the square. He curled his tail around his side and stood proudly and very still. The sun made him glow and his green eyes glittered. Khael breathed calmly and smiled a little as the human finally reached the square.
ilbv was in such a hurry that he didn't see the enormous dragon that was seated not thirty feet away to his left. Khael noticed the human's lack of attention and it made him chuckle. "You know, some little people are made for eating." he said casually. He was talking to no one in particular, but he knew the human had heard him.
ilbv stopped dead in his tracks and turned around to see Khael licking his lips at him. He dropped his bag and took a wobbly step backwards. ilbv knew who Khael was, he knew very well. And now, the dragon himself was standing before him and had actually spoken to him!
"D-Do you me-mean me?" ilbv managed to stutter, his heart was throbbing and he felt a lump form in his throat.
Khael flashed his razor teeth, "Why yes! You're small, human, and incredibly edible. You're made for eating! Or do you feel like disagreeing with me there?"
ilbv wasn't immediately scared, but he was nervous…extremely. He swallowed hard and said shakily, "N-no...I just never thought that y-you Khael would ever talk to someone like me. You are a hugely famous dragon and you....you're talking to me." ilbv blushed red and felt his ears get hot.

"And more over...you are saying that...I'm edible. I'm kind of terrified and bubbly with excitement." he had been looking at his shoes, but bravely, ilbv looked up at Khael, who had taken a large step closer to the tiny human.

"What made you want to talk to m-me?" ilbv asked, gulping.
Khael was smiling broadly and swishing his tail slowly. He took another step and was right in front of the human. He lowered his long neck down to the human's level so that he could speak to him.
"I don't really consider myself that much of a famous dragon; people know my existence, yes. That doesn't make me famous. I'm still a normal dragon in every other way." Khael moved his large head close and nuzzled the petrified human.
"I read that letter you sent me again, the compliments, yet somehow I never really replied to them. Since that has aged, I thought of popping by and teasing you."
Khael licked his lips and snickered, "you like dragons, and seem particularly fond of me. I bet you're delicious!"
ilbv wanted to reach out and touch Khael's snout, stroke it, and just bask in the kindness the dragon was giving him. ilbv was still blushing as he said, "I think you are famous. You were the very first dragon that I learned about. You made me fall in love with dragons and oh I might cry right now, I'm really excited you are talking to me."
ilbv was shaking a little from the sheer delight of this moment. "I figured if everyone I knew had heard of or seen something left by you, then you must be this big famous Dragon in the community. You are so well known and you are a daily inspiration to me."
Khael was a dragon who had left his wonderful mark in the lands by drawing wondrous things with his claws. He carved out hills and fields into wonderful works of art and beauty.
ilbv scratched his head in embarrassment. "I draw a little, but its chicken scratch compared to you. You are incredible and so regal and powerful and everything important.
And gosh, you are so magical and wondrous." ilbv looked into the shining eyes of the dragon and picked up on what he last said, "T-tease me? Th-that's so m-mean..." But ilbv looked at who he was talking to and just shook his head.

"I don't care, you are just way too awesome. I can't deal with how much that is true right now, how it's always true. I just feel like a babbling fool right now, I'm kind of all mushy inside, please excuse my drooling." ilbv said wiping his sleeve across his lips. He had sputtered nonstop and was frothing at the mouth from excitement and awe.
Khael laughed and it rumbled through ilbv's chest. "Heheh it's fine, don't worry! If anything, please excuse me from drooling, too." The dragon had a long strand of saliva trailing from his jaws, the human was actually making him salivate. With his rich pink tongue, he pulled the strand back in his maw and swallowed it. He smiled gently at ilbv and sighed out his nostrils.

"I think it's awesome you draw and try putting your heart into it. I think I've even glanced over some of your stories that are in the archives. It must be said I thoroughly enjoy reading well written tales, especially when there are about dragons." Khael smiled and beamed at ilbv, "I think creative writing is one of the most underappreciated kinds of art out there, but it's art no less in my opinion."
ilbv blushed so red he thought he would faint. Khael had heard of his stories and his works he had made for the community and the fact that he liked them made ilbv dizzy. He was stuck between wanting to sob, puke, or collapse, but that wouldn't be so nice to do in front of one of the creatures he admired for so many years.
ilbv found his voice and said faintly, "I wish I could be more like you. You are brave and tough and loved. You can draw, and sure I can write, but I wish I could get the images in my head out there for everyone to share in it. I just want to share with everyone and...be appreciated you know? I want to make people happy."
A huge toothy grin stretched Khael's face. "You made me happy. Showing such kinds words in your letter and again right now, speaking so genuinely kind, it brought a smile to my face. And for that I am very grateful!"

The dragon had brought his tail around ilbv and pushed him closer with it. "You may not always feel appreciated," Khael said gently, "but I think you really are. I've seen your name pop up in various places across the lands and see positive feedback when I see them. Also remember that some people find it hard to show appreciation, or simply don't know how to! Sometimes I feel the same way like you do, but it's best to remind yourself that it's not necessary to feel that way.

We all have to start somewhere, and you seem off to a good start for sure." The dragon was so warm with his words; it made ilbv's knees tremble.

Khael stood up and took a step back. He spread his wings and winked at ilbv. "So take care little guy and keep that chin up!" he laughed, "Makes you see charging hungry dragons quicker, too!"
ilbv laughed nervously, "If a dragon was charging me, it already be too late."
Khael winked at ilbv, "I may come crashing into your house sometime looking for food, so don't go hiding." and with a warm guttural sound, he whooshed into the clouds and was gone from sight.
ilbv collapsed onto his bag, quivering from a mix of fear, wonder, and pure thrills. He replayed Khael's words over and over "He…read my stories, and…and liked them." ilbv held his heart; "He talked to me…" ilbv scrambled to his feet and picked up his bag. He grabbed his notebook and feverishly began to write things down. When he recalled what Khael had said about charging dragons, ilbv looked up. The square was as empty as ever and quiet still. "Heh heh, charging dragons…" ilbv said to himself. The quiet was ominous. He gulped and made a quick sprint out of the open square into the shadows of the alleys, heading for the park and the fireworks.

THE END