Ariella's Dragon: Summer Beginnings

Six months earlier... Gabriel Hartfelt “Da”

It happened to be a mild summer’s afternoon, that day. The sun coming down the horizon slow

Summer Beginnings

and lazily. Which was almost like a small smack on the wrist after the day’s events. Lil’ Ariella and me were hard at work with repairing a part of the wooden fence. Near the west side of the field.

“We’ll fix the fence then go back to the house for a big dinner,” I told Ariella, tousling her long, light unruly hair.

            She shook me off. But then she sprang back to me to hug my waist with her thin arms. “Ah, yes! Carrot stew.” She released me to jump around in circles.

            I nodded, smiling. “Yes, it is, Lil’.”

            After thinking about this morning’s memory, I grimace at the still unfinished fence. I hadn’t meant to take up the whole day. When I first saw the broken fence, coming back in from town the other day, I assumed it was a small job. After we moved a large tree branch—that must’ve broken the fence in the first place—we found our work had doubled before our eyes.

I looked over at Ariella’s spiral tangled hair, because of course it fell from the makeshift braid, bobbing in the wind. Picking up smaller sticks and collecting a small pile against a nearby tree between her small giggles.

            My eyes still crinkled. I’d hate to disappoint her, though she’s in her own little world.  Satisfied with knowing where she was, I continued to repair what I could of the fence. Before the sun set too low.

Ariella Hartfelt “Lil’”

 

Da’s hammer could be heard echoing across our fields far and wide. That must be why the birds all hide away when we’re nearby.

I giggled as I stacked my pile of sticks in front of the large tree. Imagining the birds covering their ears with their thin wings. I scrunched my nose. But do birds have ears? I shrugged, pushing my hair back behind my shoulders.

There were just so many sticks around our pretty fence. So I had to clear the way around the fence so Da could work. And the sooner we could do this then we’ll be able too…

            “Mhhmm…mhhm,” There was a mumble like sound.

            “Mawaaah….mw-ahm…” From somewhere nearby.

            I lifted my head and turned towards the setting sun. A cat? But the noise, just as soon as it started, stopped. My eyebrows scrunched together, but I dusted some stray bark off my shirt and pants. Just to go right back to collecting the branches.

            For a while Da’s hammer was all I could hear. The wind laid what was left of our pale green field down and the trees sang their usual song for the late afternoon. The gentle warmth of the sun was making me tired, fluttering my eyelids. I crawled next to a big root of the tree. Listening to the crinkling of bugs talk to the animal’s murmurs.

            “Lil,” Da called over, stopping his hammer. “Getting tired?”

            I nodded my head against the toughness of the tree. My wriggly hair tying knots with the bark behind me. “I am. Can we go now?”

            I heard Da move around in the grass. “Sure, Lil’.” Small thuds hit something wooden next to Da. I could hear the familiar swish swish of leaves as the heaviness of the big branch moved back to cover the fence.

“That broken branch out to be of actual use. Nothing should mess with it.” He called out. Then Da’s steady footsteps coming closer to me.

            Only he didn’t say anything or give me his usual kiss on top of my head. My nose twitched and then itched some more. My hand swiped up to grab the bug. And eyes opened wide to catch it by surprise. But there was no bug.

            But a long piece of meadow weed leading to Da’s funny face growing bigger and bigger by the second. “Nose itchin’, Lil’?”

            I tried with all my might to give him my scrunched up face and playfully shoved the stalk out of my face.

Da yanked the weed from me faster.

“No. There’s just a lot of bugs right now…” But a giggle fell from me. As I stretched up from my spot to dust myself off.

            Tsk. “I guess you’re right. They’re just everywhere—” He wriggled the weed to my side. “—it seems!”

            Squeals bubbled up from me as I tried to avoid him. “Da!” But it didn’t matter. Da was so much faster than me he chased me in a circle until we couldn’t run any more and laugh at the same time.

            Tired we fell next to the tree’s big roots our bodies wore out from the day and Da’s funny business. “I thought you were tired, Ariella,” Da huffed out.

            I shook my head ‘yes’. “But I am!” I collapsed into his awaiting arms. As we settled, Da leaned down and gave a quick peck to the back of my head.

            “That you are, Lil’.” His head settled back to the tree. “That you are.”

            Da sounded pretty sleepy too. The crickets must be working on him too. The trees’ leaves above us also seemed to sigh and fall in line with the wind’s subtle demands.

             “Nuuhh… mwaaaah!”

            My eyelids burst open. The noise! I untangled myself from Da’s large arms. And pointed towards the noise. The noise that wasn’t a noise at all—a cry for help. The cries wailed even louder as if to respond.

  “Da, it’s the cat from earlier!” And took off running to the noise.

Gabriel Hartfelt “Da”

“A cat? --Ariella!” I shouted as she sprinted around a nearby haystack. Ariella—she’s never ran from me before. I clambered from my stiff position at the tree’s roots. Taking off after her.

The cries she had pointed out from a ‘cat’ were tearing through the field. It was a wonder we hadn’t heard them till now. Ariella’s always been in a world of her own, but this…

            I caught sight of Ariella’s light tangles from an end row of stacks. My heart skipped a beat. The sun’s pace setting down for the night ever closer. I picked up running.

Ariella Hartfelt “Lil’”

The wind whipped the sides of cheeks. Then my hand caught the end of a haystack. It left a sting that I clutched to my heart. But it didn’t matter. An animal was hurt—and scared.

            “Ariella!”

            “Mhhhhmm!”

            I tried to focus on where the cry was coming from. It sounded more painful than before. Because it was so loud it seemed to echo off the haystacks and nearby trees. I rounded another row of stacks. Da’s voice became a little farther away. I wanted to wait for him, but worried that we might be too late.

            There! Out of the corner of my eye, bushes rustled. I slowed down to creep up next to the fence. It was a bursting Mistleberry bush. Beautiful red berries, encased in the bush’s prickly thorns. The cry was unmistakable now. Something was in there.

            “Ariella! Where—” Da’s usual gentle voice was laced with something I hadn’t heard before. Was Da scared for the animal too? Or me? Or both?

            But my focus was all on the noise.

            “Lil’!” Da popped around from behind me. “Ariella…”

            I was about to stick my hand in the bush, to push away the thin branches.

            “Honey.” Da turned me around at just the right time. He knelt down to my level to bring me in for a tight hug. His slick arms encased my whole body. His voice was very small too. “Ariella, you can’t just run away like that.”

I was dazed, then I realized I wasn’t checking the bush. I squirmed.

Da released me, hesitantly. He peeked around me, his mouth slightly opened. “Ah, you found the noise maker.”

I nodded my head, wordlessly. Suddenly, sleepy after running all that way and today. My beating heartbeat slowed down.

Da nodded his head, resolved. “Okay, Lil’, you did a good job. I’ll take care of it.” Da straightened himself, patting my shoulder.

I stood off to the side, anxious to save what animal was trapped in there.

Da gingerly knelt next to the Mistleberry bush. He doesn’t hesitate to pull back the prickly bracken.

“Da…” I stuck a hand out toward him, my lip suddenly heavy.

He gave me a quick glance back and smiled weakly. “It’s okay, Lil’, I think… I’ve…” He tugged on something, then a little more. With some effort, reaching both hands in, he lifted out a bundle of blue snake scales by its' tail. But the fading light was playing tricks on me.

I blinked again, shaking my head. No. It wasn’t that at all. Da held a small, blue dragon. I gasped, clapping a hand over my mouth. “Da, is that…” But I couldn’t finish.

Even the crickets seemed to still. If not for the dark blue dragon’s cries. Da tried to hold the small being steady. But the poor thing was too distracted with its’ pain to realize we were trying to help it.

“Come now, come now,” Da cooed, patting its’ back, holding her closer.

“Gwah…mhmmm…!” The scaly mouth moved and contorted to make any noise.

“Da…what’s wrong with her? Why are they crying?”

“I’m not sure…” He gave a quick look over the little dragon. “He’s all cut up. I bet they got stuck in there. And when they tried to get out, they cut themselves up.” Da looked around our surroundings, his face unreadable. The light fading didn’t help. He sighed, deeply.

“Let’s take them back to the house—maybe they want a blanket…” I chirped, hurriedly.

The baby’s noises were hurting my ears. They were so loud for something so small and made my heart race.

“Mhm, I’m not sure about taking the baby back home with us just yet.”

My eyes fixed on him. “But why? Something’s wrong with them!”

Da looked down at me, his face softening. “It’s not that I don’t want to help the baby. It’s just that—”

The scaly baby wriggled in his arms and his tail thrashed up and down in a strange way. Da, as gently as he could, adjusted his stance and hold. The baby’s cries seemed to calm down slightly.

“There, there, shuuush,” Da’s voice was low and soothing. “It’s just that.” Da lead his eyes my way. “I’m not sure where their momma is.”

His eyes searched for the horizon again. “I’m not entirely familiar with dragons, but animals I’m sure of. What I can remember when hearing a rumor…”

The baby rustled again.

Da made his voice softer. “A momma dragon wouldn’t just leave their baby here…I’m afraid of what their momma will do when she finds out we have her baby.”

I nodded, soaking in his words. I could imagine a giant dragon come plowing our little house down to get to her baby. Da would be worried if I was gone…suddenly I felt my heart become heavy. Their momma must be worried too.

“The light’s fading, Lil’. And we have to get this little guy’s cuts looked after. We’ll look for their momma tomorrow.” He smiled brightly at me, reaching his free hand out to me. The baby dragon seemed to sense bedtime too; they calmed down a bit.

I smiled back, jogging over to him.

Da squeezed my hand tight. “Did you leave anything important over near the fence?”

I shook my head ‘no’.

“Not even the small flasks we brought?” He chided, raising a playful eyebrow at me.

The little bundle stirred again as Da moved and we both stilled.

My eyes grew wide. “Oh, I forgot,” answering his question with a whisper.

“It’s okay. Do you think you can be big girl and run over there to get them for me? Don’t worry about the tools. I highly doubt those rusty things will go missing. You get lost just holler and I’ll find you.”

I nodded my head and quickly tore off to fetch the flasks.

Gabriel Hartfelt “Da”

Ariella had no trouble finding me again. Though her bright eyes teemed with energy as she grasped my hand once more. I knew it wouldn’t last. I prayed we’d be home before that time came. Attached to the hip we made the steep trek back home.

            Night settled around us, and we were lucky the moon rose full to light our way home. And with Mr. Henderson’s men clearing the pastor’s long grasses earlier this week for hay, we picked our way along the cart rugged path. The mild wind chimed against the tops of the hay bales and pushed us along.

            Ariella swung my free arm back and forth, another energy burst set free within her. A small, tired sigh fell from me. I took a quick peek at the parsol in my arm. Getting a closer look at their features. Dark blue scales, big eyelids, long snout, tiny folded purple wings.

            The bundle of scales moved restlessly in my arms, disturbed by my onlooking. So, I averted my gaze and picked up our pace. We came upon the house not too long afterwards.

            In the moonlight the brown house looked dark and gloomy. With our heavy thatched roof casting a dark shadow over the wooden door. The rock chimney sticking out like an old castle turret. Odd that I’ve never thought about what our homely little brown house would look like at night to someone else.

            The thin, small house for the chickens and barn off to the side seemed to contrast greatly with the house. Worn but still holding onto what the dirt allowed them.

Coming upon the door, I had to break my grasp with Ariella. To which she pouted in response but followed behind me readily.

            My eyes adjusted to the darkened room fairly quickly. Tsk. Still too dark… I balanced the little dragon in my arms, now suddenly awake and fussy.

“Ssshhh…shhh,” I whispered, nervously. I trailed the counter to my left till I came upon the drawer I sought. My fingers grasped the match and swiped it against the counter’s edge. I picked my way over to the fireplace’s shelf, careful not to trip over the worn rug. And lit the thick candles lining it.  

Now I could focus more… Taking up the usual second nature of calming a babe. Out of habit I checked their forehead and was hot to the touch. Tsk.

            “Da…”

            I turned around to Ariella halfway between the door and kitchen. “Yes, hon?”

            She clutched her ears as the dragon wailed some more. Her face scrunched up like she ate a full lemon. “Make it stop.”

            My features softened. Poor Lil’. She’s not used to another child around here. I motioned her over.

She tip-toed over to me, walking with her eyelids closed.

  “I know, love.” I ran gentle fingers over her cheek. Which seemed to comfort her, and she didn’t wriggle from me. “Tell you what…”

            She peaked out from her scrunched up eyelids.

            “I’ve got to get junior here calmed down. Can you fill up the flasks from the waterspout outside?”

            Ariella nodded quickly and burst out of the room.

I turned my attention back to the dragon. The dragon’s forehead slick with sweat. And was trying to climb from my arms. I tried to retain my gentle voice. “Heeey, it’s okaaaay…” I began to combine rubbing circles into their back then slightly move my body up and down.

            ‘Gabriel, what are you doing? This is a baby dragon. I don’t think dragons rock their offspring.’ I ignored my anxious thoughts.

            “Here, Da!” Ariella came back in a mad rush with the full canteens.

            Our little guest didn’t like that too much and he stirred in my arms. Ariella’s voice fell as she gingerly handed me one of the bottles. “Now what, Da?”

            I flicked my head to the dark wooded cabinet near the big table. “Go and fetch me some sturdy cloth.”

            She dashed across the room. Her fingers searching for something for her to grasp. Ariella made a small high pitched squeal. And ran back over to me with a few cloth pieces.

I took them gladly. “Good job, Lil’. Now pour a good amount of water on one of them for me.”

            Ariella gathered the items and sat on the floor. And poured a good deal of water on a small tan cloth. She handed it back to me.

            I shook my head ‘no’. “No, honey. Not yet. Twist it tight next to the door.”

            She wrung it out like I asked.

“You did good. Now go ahead and climb up on the couch for me.”

            Ariella climbed up and made herself comfortable with a light quilt pooled around her. Her eyes drooped mercilessly now.

            I tilted my head in sympathy for her. Poor Lil’. Such a good girl. I hesitantly turned back to the dragon bundle. Gently dabbing the soaked cloth against their forehead.

            Slowly, agonizingly slow, they melted against the coolness of the water. Their noises became softer too. Gingerly dabbing their small cuts.

I sighed, relieved. I turned my head to Ariella. “You think our little visitor would like a lullaby?”

            Tiredness still laced her eyes, but she gave me a smile nonetheless and a nod ‘yes’.

            I shook my head, agreeing. I gingerly picked up a small blanket on the end cushion. “Sssshhh…”

            The baby stirred a little more. “It’s okay…” I placed the blanket lightly around the murmuring dragon.

“What song are you going to sing?” She whispered, excitedly. She perked her head up at me.

            “Listen,” I whispered back, pacing slowly in front of the barren fireplace.

            She snuggled in closer into her covers. Our shadowy forms flickering across her puffy face.

            “Mhhhhmm… I used to sing this to you. To get you to go back to sleep.”

            She nodded her head slightly; to tell me she’s paying attention.

            I started a gentle hum, getting into the rhythm. Though of course when I was singing to

Ariella I wasn’t doing it alone. That yesterday had long past, when we would trade shifts to watch over our tiny Ariella. When things felt like a new beginning to unravel that summer and explore together. But, even then, I knew it was too good to last. My eyes felt heavy all of a sudden.

            I swallowed, collecting myself. And began to sing that old familiar song. “I love yo-u, ba-by. Oh yes, I do-o. I love you, ba-by. It’s true. Oooh ba-by Da loves you.”

            Their eyelids seemed less stressed as I sang a few more times. I let out a tired yawn. And slipped gently next to Ariella. She sluggishly spread the cover over my lap. And leaned against my shoulder.

Summer Beginnings

I looked down at each of them. Though this wasn’t how I thought the day would be. Or end for that matter. But maybe…maybe this could be another Summer beginning for us. Now included a baby dragon. I shook my head slightly.

            The day’s efforts were laced into my muscles. And my lower back ached from bending so much. Tomorrow will come later, then I’ll know what to do then. Through the trickling, flames of the candlelight we fell fast asleep. Though it couldn’t be possible I thought I heard my song playing in my ears. Almost like a fae’s wings in the twilight.

Thank you so much for reading the second chapter of Ariella's Dragon series. I'm very excited to unveil more of this rich and beautiful world to you.

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