The Dream

Let's play, Dragon said happily when she woke up.

Brother didn't answer, he was asleep. He had changed. Not only was he blue, but he had also become much smaller and thinner as if he had been washed in a bath that was too hot and had shrunk like a pair of woolen socks.

What's wrong, Dragon said.

Brother's voice faltered and broke, and he started coughing. Dragon wanted to get something to drink, but what if the water from the waterfall was poisoned? That's what he had said. It was no longer healing, but deadly.

It hurts.

What hurts? It took him a long time to answer.

I gave my soul... it's broken...

Dragon waited. She had time and there was no point in forcing Brother to talk. Lost in thought, she lay down next to him. What would happen to the 3 eggs? When he felt better, she would take a look. After the long search, a bite was welcome. She turned around and observed the waterfall. Everything looked normal. Yesterday she hadn't smelled anything strange either. Was Brother wrong? She stood up and looked at the falling water.

It was the tree...

She turned around in surprise.

The tree? What tree?

The tree in my dream. The tree is life-sized and there was a humanoid creature sitting on a branch and then the world changed...

Before Dragon could ask a question, Brother fell asleep with a deep sigh. His soul was broken and the homeland looked deserted. Most of the trees had lost their leaves. Only a few where they were sitting were still green. In the distance, Vulcan growled, which was a bad sign. If Wolf was here, he could carry Brother, and she could go finally go back to their cave.

I'm sorry, Vulcano, but I can't stay here any longer and I'm taking Brother with me.

She hadn't expected it, but Brother was as light as a feather. She flew away happily with him in her arms. The three steaming eggs she buried were forgotten.

Wolf, I'm coming, Dragon called, goodbye Volcano.

Volcano sent up a few large plumes of smoke as Dragon flew past. Getting away from a poisonous environment would do Brother good, she thought cheerfully, and he would forget about that strange tree trying to absorb him.

The wind rushed past Dragon's head as she flew, carrying Brother in her paws. The world below stretched endlessly but she knew the way back to Wolf, to safety and was no longer hungry. Brother stirred weakly.

The three eggs... he muttered.

I'll get them later, Dragon promised, though she wasn't sure she meant it and wondered how he knew about them. More important was saving the barely alive dragon she had raised from the egg.

The air grew fresher, the land greener, and the forest could be smelled. Wolf will help, she said to B. He always does; it won't take long. You will like your new home.

The cave was empty and messy. Had Paddington come to visit? Brother shivered; she held him closer. His eyes opened briefly as he whispered, The tree... with his eyes fixed on the floor.

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