Dragons of Draegonia (2 page)

Dragon Blue is, of course, head of Draegonia’s Police Force and it his job to keep law and order. This is made quite easy, as no one would dare to do anything to upset Dragon Black, so Dragon Blue has little to do, other than sleep in his cavern that overlooks most of the township of Draegonia, supported by two part-time dragon officers.

Other dragons living within Draegonia include the identical twin Lilac Dragons who are in charge of refuse disposal, Dragon Brown a senior officer of Draegonia’s Army, Dragon Yellow who seems always to disappear when things become frightening and Dragon Grey who is the island’s doctor as well as personal physician to Dragon Black.

There are of course many other dragons each varying in colour matching their mood, character, occupation or disposition, but more on these later.

Apart from the animals, the volcano and of course the dragons, no one else lives on Draegonia or has ever visited, that is until one day when the sea and sky met together to see who was the stronger, resulting in an almighty argument and violent fight, that created one of the worst storms in living memory.

The storm had been brewing for many days as the sea and sky continually met in great anger to discuss who was more powerful. The argument raged, with the sea throwing up most of the contents from its sea bed high into the sky. Crabs, octopuses, whales, shells, bits of ship wrecks and rocks all fired into the sky as the mighty sea swelled up, rolling a series of cascading waves some 70 feet high.

The sky equally responded by hurling lightning bolts, shooting hailstones down from high and together with his friend the wind, caused a gale, the like of which had never been seen before. The wind roared, the thunder clapped, as the sky drew its shutters together blocking out the rays of the ever fading sun. The ocean was soon plunged into a frightening darkness, broken intermittently with flashes of blinding illumination from forked lightening, every high voltage flash highlighting, in sharp black and white contrast, the surf breaking to the tune of thunderous roars.

In amongst this frenzy of rough seas, high winds and pouring rain with sky and sea arguing as to who should own what, a small timber laid craft that looked like a smaller version of a pirate ship, could be seen battling to stay upright.

On board the little sailing boat ‘Princess’ battling the elements, were four children, Joel, George, Zach and Grace.

The four could not believe they were fighting to save their little boat from overturning. None could believe they were in the middle of an ocean and certainly could not understand how they found themselves all together, in a storm of such ferocity.

The last thing they recalled, was boarding their little craft for a trip down the river. They could remember that their parents had said to be careful and not go too far. Yet here they were, out of sight of land, soaking wet, cold and very frightened.

George the eldest, he was twelve and a bit, told the others to be brave and not to worry. “I’ll get us out of this just hold on” he commanded as he lowered the sail to storm position. “Don’t be scared Grace” he shouted again.

Grace, a few months younger than her cousin looked up at George from the safety of the cabin and held tightly onto the hands of her two younger brothers Joel and Zach. “I want to go home” shouted Zach. “I want Mum and Dad” Joel cried out. Grace knew she had to be brave, being older than her two brothers. “Hang on to me; don’t be scared, we will get through this.” She said reassuringly above the chaos and ear splitting noise, although not quite believing it herself.

A huge wave cascaded across the floundering boat, sweeping George off his feet, over the side and into the violent foaming sea. He had attached to his belt earlier, a safety line securing him to the wooden side rail of the boat, but this had inexplicably snapped and swept overboard, he was swimming for his life.

Grace, seeing George disappear into the black and white foaming sea, rushed for the life belt hung on a rail close to the steering wheel. She pulled at it with all her might and as the boat once more propelled itself up a huge wave, managed to lift the life belt off its hook. She quickly threw it over the side, in the direction where she last saw and thought she could hear George, yelling for help.

Joel and Zach, both hearing the commotion, rushed out of the cabin, each grabbing Grace by one hand, their other hand’s clinging on to her waist in fear she too, would be washed overboard. What was she to do? There was no one at the wheel and she certainly could not steer the boat, even in normal waters. Earlier the engine had stopped because they had run out of fuel, so ‘Princess’ was now at the mercy of the pounding seas, being thrown in all directions.

Her first thoughts were for survival. She quickly checked the life vests of her brothers and then tightening her own round her waist she headed for the life raft. On the front of the boat was a small white round container that had a red band round it. This was the life raft and Grace knew that if she could get to it and pull the emergency handle it would open forming a life raft with a canopy. Once inside she, Joel and Zach would be safe.

Then, Grace felt her hands go limp. She realised that the boys no longer were holding onto her! They were gone!

The boat, now at the top of a huge wave was starting to crash down the other side. Spray was coming from all directions and Grace could not see a thing. Then, she felt a tug on her sleeve. It was Joel, he had started to crawl towards the life raft with Zach when he heard a loud cracking noise. Was that another burst of thunder? Was it a gun shot? No sooner had these thoughts rushed through his mind, when he saw the small boat’s mast break mid way and topple towards the steering wheel where Grace was still standing. Zach jumped up and ran past Joel and stretching out his hand, he too tugged at Grace’s other hand in an attempt to protect her. Both boys each holding with one hand onto bits of the boat to steady themselves, tugged and tugged at Grace, finally pulling her away before the mast came crashing down. Grace had no time to think or indeed thank her brothers, as the tiny boat now was in between two more very large waves that were about to engulf them.

With Grace out of danger, Zach took the initiative and headed back to release the ropes holding the life raft container to the bow of the boat. Grace and Joel fought their way back, with Grace shouting to the boys to hold on to her, as she pulled the emergency release handle.

Several things seemed to happen all at once. A loud bang was heard as the gas-filled arming device expanded the life raft in seconds to its full size. The little boat swung first to the right then seemed to point skywards as the seas once more erupted. The toppled mast swung back, pushing the life raft towards the edge of the boat. If action was not taken soon all would be lost. Two huge flashes of lightening followed in swift succession suddenly turning night into day. The little boat finally decided to give up its fruitless battle and began to sink stern first. Just as Grace thought that all was lost she heard a familiar and welcoming voice.

George had not realised how important a life vest was, until now. He had been thrown in all directions, tossed around by the enormous waves each trying to drown him. But, every time one wave pushed him under the frothing sea foam, his bright yellow sea jacket popped him back up. But he knew it would not keep him afloat for long in seas that were becoming more violent by the second.

Then it happened. A large round red and white safety ring, with the name ‘Princess’ in black lettering, hit him on the head. He let out two yells. The first was because the ring was quite heavy and it hurt, the second, a yell of relief, because the life ring would keep him afloat. Two more flashes of lightening and a large thunderous noise - George looked into the blackness, broken only by the greyish white spray of thousands of gallons of water cascading from all directions, to see the little boat ‘Princess’ coming towards him.

He yelled, but it was of little use. The storm, crashing seas and howling winds were no match for his little voice. Another loud crack and this time he saw the mast break in half and fall towards the rear of the boat, the broken spar suspended by a solitary rope. He knew that his cousins were in deep trouble. As the little boat rushed past him, George suddenly let go of the life ring. He had seen dangling from the little boat a trailing line that was tethered to its stern. George realised this was another safety line similar to the one he had been tied to before his had sheared. With an almighty heave he yanked at the rope managing to grab hold of one of the fenders that still remained dangling over the side like a swollen sausage. As he hauled himself once more on board he could see that Grace had armed the life raft was crouching down with her brothers, he let out a yell.

“Quickly,” he shouted, “the boat is sinking, get in the raft and I will join you.” Grace relieved and pleased to hear George’s voice pushed her brothers towards the raft’s welcoming entrance. Joel was first to get in followed by Grace. George had noticed that Zach had grabbed hold of a large bag and was struggling to lift it as the breaking waves were making it heavier. George lifted the bag and grabbing Zach pushed both into the open hole of the raft. There was another flash of lightening making visible the three worried looks as George joined his cousins, telling them to hold on to each other.

How they managed to get inside the raft pulling the canopy entrance tightly shut behind them was lucky, as the boat was now being violently tossed around, but what followed was miraculous. A huge wave picked up the raft and its contents of children, sweeping it high into the air and moments later crashing it down into the black swirling sea. The little boat was swamped, keeled over and finally disappeared.

For what seemed like years the life raft was thrown up and down and from side to side. The four children did not say anything but just held very tightly on to each other and even though it was noisy, cold, wet and very rough, one by one they all fell asleep in each other’s arms.

On the Island of Draegonia Dragon Blue was on patrol at the highest point of the island looking out to sea, admiring the storm that was subsiding. He liked the noise and thought the thunder and lightening seen earlier was great. Also on duty working the northern beach picking up stranded fish and throwing them back into the ocean cauldron was Dragon Cream. Both dragons were peering into the storm and both dragons saw what they thought was a brightly coloured pimple appearing on the blackness of the sea. Dragon Blue exclaimed to himself, “Umh, the sea is starting to break out in spots.” Meanwhile however, Dragon Cream could see that this particular spot was moving around and getting nearer and nearer to the north side of the island.

She ran up and down keeping her eye on the red and yellow rubber life raft that now could be clearly seen. Then all of a sudden, it disappeared from view. The raft was grabbed by a swirling tidal current taking it down towards the southern side of the island. Dragon Cream made a few more runs up and down the beach and then slightly exhausted gave up. Dragon Blue who saw the pimple disappear from his view went back to the police station to enjoy the most important leisure time activity of sleeping as the sun lifted itself out of the sea making the sky slightly friendlier. With that, the ocean also decided to take a rest. Calmness was being restored, but Draegonia was about to receive four visitors that would change the lives of the dragons of Draegonia for evermore.

George woke up with a start. What was that noise? George had been asleep cuddled up with his cousins Grace and Joel with Zach sprawled across their feet. It had been a terrible storm and even though the noise had been frightening George and his best pals had managed, mainly through exhaustion, to fall asleep. The problem now was that all of them were wet and cold caused by the waves pounding on the little rubber life raft, making the reddish orange canopy to leak in several places. Drips of water were still plopping onto his head when he heard that noise again.
Whoosh
it went. It sounded like one of mum’s sighs when George had been somewhat naughty, but a great deal louder.
Whoosh
, there it was again. Grace opened her eyes and seeing George peering out of the opening of the canopy, she whispered. “What’s that George, where is the noise coming from?” George motioned his hand indicating that Grace was to remain quiet, something that she often found very difficult to do. “George” she shouted, her loud screech wakening Joel and Zach, who jumping up with a start, moved either side of George putting their heads also out of the canopy.

The three boys could not believe their eyes. Their little life raft had now washed itself up on the golden sandy beach on the south side of Draegonia and there, a couple of hundred metres to their right and in the middle of the sandy beach, was an enormous white dragon.
Whoosh
it went, spitting out another enormous flame from its huge mouth. The two boys, either side of George, looked at each other and quickly removed their heads from the canopy opening, snatching it shut behind them. Joel looked at Grace and said. “Sis you’re not going to believe this but we have just seen a huge white dragon blowing fire from its mouth.” “Oh you two, you’re always joking, I don’t believe a word of it.” With that, Grace crawled over to where George was kneeling and with one swift movement of her hand, fully opened up the canopy and jumped out of the raft.