The Dragon, the Unicorn
and the Oak
all stood waiting patiently in Charlotte's field. The trio was
becoming worried, Charlotte had not come to the past three meetings and their
strength was beginning to wane.
The Dragon's large whimsically coloured wings expanded, while his chest filled with air. He extended his long pale-purple scaled neck and attempted to breathe fire. A noise filled the air, sounding like nothing more than a plump balloon being released.
"Do you see?" The Dragon lamented. "No more fire, my wings will not take me up into the beautiful skies, my once sharp claws are brittle, and look at the color of my wings - they're pastel. No more vivid oranges, yellows, greens and blues, my colors are fading. What are we going to do, my friends?" His mighty head lowered in great sadness, shaking from side to side as he contemplated their dismal future.
The Dragon's large whimsically coloured wings expanded, while his chest filled with air. He extended his long pale-purple scaled neck and attempted to breathe fire. A noise filled the air, sounding like nothing more than a plump balloon being released.
"Do you see?" The Dragon lamented. "No more fire, my wings will not take me up into the beautiful skies, my once sharp claws are brittle, and look at the color of my wings - they're pastel. No more vivid oranges, yellows, greens and blues, my colors are fading. What are we going to do, my friends?" His mighty head lowered in great sadness, shaking from side to side as he contemplated their dismal future.
"Dear Dragon, have hope that she will return to us, she is only twelve and her thoughts scatter like leaves in the wind. Charlotte will remember us, and return to bring life and color back to this place." The Unicorn lowered her head to nibble at the yellowing grass at her feet. Her horn no longer golden, her mane no longer silvery white, yet she of the three continued to hope.
The Oak tried to shake his great limbs, to ease some of the stiffness and numbing sensation that had crept into them of late. He only managed to sway a bit as if being moved by a breeze and added more leaves to the growing pile at the base of his trunk. His voice came out in a rasping wheeze. "She has forgotten us. Children lose their faith and belief in magic too soon now. If she came back today she would only see a horse, a large rock and an old tree. Charlotte has found friends, human friends, and no longer needs our comfort. She is growing up."
"Are you certain, Wise Oak? She could be on a vacation, or at summer camp." The unicorn turned to the Dragon, distressed to see him curled up as if to sleep. His body was almost completely grey now, with patches of what appeared to be moss covering his back. "Great Oak! We must do something to help our friend. What is happening to him?" She tossed her head in agitation and noticed her beautiful horn was almost completely transparent. "My horn, what has happened to my horn? Oak? What is happening?"
"You are returning to what you once were, as are we all. Charlotte no longer believes in fairy tales, my dear friend. It was her faith that made us what we are, and with it gone... Please try not to be upset, you will still run the fields and I will still reach for the sky and our Dragon friend will still think his deep and fiery thoughts. I can speak no longer, sleep beckons me and I find I have not the will to refuse. Good-bye, old friend."
The Unicorn circled her two friends, frantic to hear their voices one last time. She could see only the faintest of outlines where her horn once pointed proudly. Her mind soon slowed once more and she began to graze near the rock and the tree until she heard a familiar whistle. Her ears perked up and she galloped across the field to the young girl holding out a carrot.
***
Charlotte watched her horse Silver rush towards her, and for a moment, she thought she saw a glint of gold shining near its forehead.
Rain
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