~ Lord of the Lake ~

(A/N: Hi everyone. :-D This is a small one-shot about chinese dragons that has been playing in my head for some time now, for a project of mine for English class. Hope you guys enjoy.)

It had been years, perhaps even decades, since I had last been roused from my slumber. The vast lake that I had claimed in my youth had begun to tremble from the presence of the spit-fire mountain that had begun to spew its liquid flames once again. From deep within the depths of the waters, I began to stir.

Lifting my head to look up towards the surface, I shook off the vegetation that had grown over me in the past years, coral, kelp and the like. I was aware of the finned creatures around me, who started away in their surprise, only to slowly come closer me with hesitant, curious eyes. These were not the same creatures I had known when I had last been awake. It was likely that they came from the same ancestry; the bairns of those I had known. The wide berth they gave me, though not fearful, showed that they indeed realize who I was.

It wouldn't be difficult for one to recognize one of my kind. Humans, some time ago, had revered us in a way that had brought my kindred great pride. They wore our forms on their clothes, captured our physicals selves in their canvasses and used our serpentine frames in their statues as symbols of their imperial influence and power. To them, we had become deities that were beyond their mortal selves... but in truth, we were not very different from them.

A sudden, distant scream roused me from my musings, my hackles rising. It was a sound familiar to me. Glancing up once more, I sharpened my vision, and saw the dark trails of residue that the large rocks, being thrown out of the mount's core, left behind. The other finned creatures that lived closer to the surface began to flee downwards in their fright. I kept my talons close to my body as I swam upwards, slightly hayward from the long years of inactivity.

Breaking through the surface, I barely missed being catapulted back into the water by a large, falling rock, quickly skimming over the water to avoid it. I quickly and carefully weaved myself through the storming hail, around the flaming mountain, towards the source of the cry I had heard earlier. Soon, I could see that which I had been looking for. A young human, dressed in clothes the like of which I had never seen before, was seemingly stuck under a large rock that had fallen onto her leg when the mount erupted, near its foot and directly in the way of the liquid fire that was beginning to seep down. An adolescent face told me that she was still under the age of human adulthood, with tendrils of black hair flowing down her back. She tugged and pulled, frantically trying to free herself from her constraints. I heard her unrestrained sobs as she shouted and pleaded to some higher force for salvation. I wanted to sigh. Despite the fact humans were on equal intellect with my kin, they still had much of themselves to develop.

I hovered quietly near the ground; away from her line is sight, careful not to surprise her. Humans had a tendency of screaming when they see my kindred. Considering how I must have appeared, it was not surprising.

My once-brilliant scales, viridian in color, still shone slightly beneath the grit and the barnacles attached to my external plates. Old battle scars marred my appearance in long, ragged gashes. Twining around my form were my long whiskers, which barely brushed the ground as I swept over its surface. My face, I presumed, was just as hideous. The mane I called my own was littered with stray soot and rocks, dirtying its normally golden hue. My eyes, which I have been told are like pools of molten silver, sorely stood out in such a way that was almost fearsome. However, the one feature I was particularly known for were my antlers. Like the alabaster branches of an elk, they remained just as graceful and powerful as they had been in my youth. Many females had sought me as a mate in an age long past, for I had once been a handsome creature with the power of my royal ancestors. Now, that had all changed.

'Youngling,' I spoke gently, so as not to alarm her. She froze in her confusion, and gasped frightfully when she spotted me. The human opened her mouth, as if to scream, but no sound had been uttered. 'Do not be fearful, I shall not harm you. It is my wish to help you of your plight.' She stared at me, disbelief clouding her features. Slowly, I moved closer towards her, and I saw her black, almond-shaped eyes turn more fearful. 'We must hurry if we are to set you free before the liquid fire reaches you. Cover your head, for the mountain is still spewing stones, while I relocate this rock to a place where it shall do no one any harm.' The human continued to stare at me. After a moment of silence, she gave a shaky nod of her head, and placed her arms over it, just as I had asked. A satisfied fumble resonated through my chest. She was more obedient than I had expected her to be. I coiled my tail around the rock and pulled it off her, careful not to gain her any injuries, and placed it on steady ground at the base of the mountain. When I returned, she was crawling as quickly as her tiny arms could take her, the injured leg trailing uselessly behind. To get away from me or the flames, I did not know. Still, I flew to her, and she let out a small yelp of surprise when she spotted me.

'You will not be able to go anywhere in such an injured state.' I shook my head. 'Will you allow me to carry you in my talons?' The human took one look at my extremities and her face paled. 'I assure you that you will not come to any harm when you are with me. I give you my word, on the honor of my kindred.' Calming slightly, though still wary, she gave another nod.

I gathered her as carefully as I could in my talons, making sure that my grip was tight enough to keep her from falling but ample enough to keep from crushing her. ‘Hold on to me,’ I told her, before launching into the air once more.

I climbed, higher and higher, with the wind flying through my mane and the sun on my back. I relished the feeling. Years of dormancy in the icy cold depths of the lake had given me the silence I had wanted, now the familiar sensation of rushing through the listless clouds was one that I had greatly missed. Flying was, indeed, one of the greatest advantages my kind had, as well as what we truly enjoyed in our longevity.

Turning my attention to my young charge, I asked, ‘Youngling, where are your fellow humans to be found? I shall bring you to them, but you must not speak of me, whatever they ask of you. That is the one favor I ask in return of saving your life.’

She nodded, saying quietly in a voice that tinkled silver bells, “T-to the east, near the Huang He,” It pleased me to know that the river still shared the same name as it did before. One of the few things, perhaps, that had not changed in these long years.

Glancing down to look at the human, I could not help the chuckle that rumbled through my chest. The look on her face was one of marvel and excitement; it appeared that she had never truly flown before.

We arrived near the location she had described after what seemed like hours, and I set her down on the dirt road, far enough that the other humans would not see us but close enough that they would eventually come across her. She sat on the ground, a small smile lingering on her face. “Thank you,” She said softly, gratitude evident on her small, heart-shaped face. “I shall never forget your kindness, for you saved me from a death I would not wish on any living creature. My family will be very happy to know that I am alive and well. I owe you my life, and I have nothing to give to you, but please accept this as a token of my gratitude,” She unfastened a black cord around her neck and pulled it out of her clothing, revealing a jade pendant with the carving of my kindred on it. Reaching down, she tied it around my talon, planting a small kiss upon it. I bowed my head in return. ‘You honor me with such a treasure. Thank you, youngling.’ With that, I began my return to my home, but not before making sure that her kin had found her. Sure enough, they had finally noticed her when an old man had passed down the road with his grandchild, and news had spread to the whole tribe situated near the embankment of the Huang He. They had welcomed her in a flurry of tears and hugs, rejoicing in the fact that she was still alive.

The sun was beginning to set; painting hues of crimson and azure in the sky as I slowly flew back, circling the area above the clouds. I could no longer hear the ground-shattering explosions of the fire mountain as I neared, so I assumed that it had finished spouting its contents. It was time for me to return.

All was quiet when I arrived at my lake. The finned creatures had settled into their usual calm, after the excitement of the day’s happenings had ended. I plunged back into the cold, deep waters of the place I called my own; the slow, stillness of time returning to me. I gently settled onto the place where I had woken up just hours before, coiling my elongated body around itself. Sleep was beginning to call me from the deep thoughts of my mind. Darkness began to edge at my vision, my eyelids dropping slowly. I wondered languidly of the time I would awaken next, and what sort of adventure would await me then...