The Clearing

There was silence. An unusual marvel, given the world today, and it was scary. As I plodded through the forest, I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread, with nothing but thick foliage surrounding me in an attempt to garner my unconditional surrender.

Still I pushed on, ploughing my way through, keeping my thoughts from straying into the speculation of what was lying amongst or behind the trees around me, for fear of losing my sanity. I don't know how long I've been doing this for, aimlessly wandering through the trees. I had no idea how long it'd been so far, though it seemed like an eternity. Yet, the sun had barely moved an inch from the last time I saw it, so perhaps I couldn't have been that long?

For starters, I guess I had made progress. I have no idea how I ended up in here in the first place, but something told me that there was something else of definite value to be found in here somewhere, spurring me on to begin looking.

What was I looking for, anyway? I didn't know myself, I was merely running on instinct to guide me around now, hoping that by now my goal would be reached, or at least realised.

I sighed, continuing to stumble through the dense jungle foliage.  It looked like I was pushing away the same few trees over and over again. Am I going in circles, or have I just happened to be in a forest of completely identical trees? Was I even going in a straight line, for that matter? I couldn't get any bearings, all the trees look the same, and I am thoroughly confused right now.

After a few more minutes (or what seemed like it) of aimless plowing, my patience was rewarded with a sudden end to all the trees in front of me, the sudden lack of them causing me to stumble forward and land face-first in a patch of grass. Wonderful.

I pushed myself up, sitting upright on the oddly-soft grass, looking around. It looked like I had turned up somewhere in a clearing of sorts, or, upon closer inspection, perhaps a sanctuary of some sort? There was a small-ish burnt-out sort of spot encircled by small stones (which I assumed was some sort of campfire area), along with a large tent that housed a bookshelf and a small cabinet. Did someone live here? This was an odd place to live, or at least come to, out here in the middle of who-knows-where...

As I stood up and looked around I took in a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the fresh air around me, my nose picking up the smell of fresh water, directing me to a small pond on the other end of the clearing, a small stream leading into it from somewhere inside the forest.

I strolled over to the pond and drank from it without sparing a thought, finding myself somewhat thirsty from the lengthy walk. What was I doing? Even I confused myself.

However, just as I was about to continue drinking, there was a small 'thump' behind me, causing me to almost literally swivel around, like a child caught guilty of stealing from the cookie jar.

In front of me was this great, four-legged beast, its dark-green scales and dirty-white underside shining a little in the afternoon-ish sun. A pair of horns and frills decorated its head, while spines trailed down its back and ending at the tip of its tail while wicked, pointed claws tipped its paws.

It stood with an air of pride, yet curiosity, staring at me with its slit, lime-green eyes while it folded its wings indignantly, as if to ask, "What are you doing here?"

"Uhhh... Hi." was all I could manage, staring dumbly at the dragon in front of me. In response, it chirped and tilted his head at me, still regarding me with the same look as before.

Again, all I could do was stare at it blankly, quite unsure of what I was supposed to do, what it was thinking, and whether I should have started running a while ago. No regrets though, I suppose, since I was still here. I sat down in front of it, resigning myself to whatever was in store for me, good or bad.

The dragon sat down in front of me as well, to my surprise, and gave me a lick across the face and then chirped again. "What?" I responded cynically, sort of half-miming the dragon with a head tilt of my own, staring into its green eyes. It scooched over to me as I did so, before resting his head next to me, looking up at me expectantly. Slowly, I stroked its head, feeling my hand glide across its cool, smooth, glossy scales, my fingers dancing across the smooth ridges formed from the overlapping scales of this creature that stood before me.

As I looked over the dragon and stroked it slowly, listening to the soft purrs it resounded from its throat, I couldn't help be feel a sense of familiarity from it, the more I looked at it. Something from a distant memory told me it was something old, something deeply close to me, a creature that laid significant bearings to me as a person.

Yet, I couldn't find my bearings with it. I knew it, that I was now sure of, I just couldn't remember.

The dragon in front of me open its mouth, revealing rows of sharp, jagged teeth, stuff that could easily tear me to shreds. Noxious, pungent smells came from its mouth, the smell of some other creature's demise, mixed with its saliva hit my nose like a truck against a sack of meat, before it stuck out its great tongue and licked me. I half-shuddered, half-meeped, feeling its sandpaper tongue brush against my face, before it stopped and looked at me again, regarding me with a look that I didn't quite understand.

Instinctively though, I reached over and rubbed its snout in an appreciative gesture, to which it purred, nuzzling back into my hand. "Who are you?" I said, looking it over.

I am you. It said, causing me to nearly fall over backwards in shock. Why are you afraid? You know me, of all people. As I've said, I am you. Do you not recognise yourself?

I opened my mouth to protest, but words escaped me as I stared, both in a mixture of shock and confusion. A half-sputtered "What?" was all I could manage before the dragon licked me again, this time sighing.

I would expect that you don't remember. It said sadly, For too long have you been out there, 'disillusioned' from the place you take comfort in. I can only wait here and hope for you to come back to me, for us to be one once more, for us to be happy.

The dragon sat down on its haunches and gave me one more look, before sighing and curling up in front of me. I felt bad, somehow, part of me starting to recall, yet the other half vehemently rejecting, offering excuses to cover my curiosity in questioning it further. Still going against the protesting voices, and pressed my own hand onto the dragon, looking at it with a hopeful expression.

"I may not remember much, but hope to somehow reacquaint with you. I don't recall us ever being together, but my hopes are that you can refresh my memory somehow." I said, looking over the strangely familiar form.

Ah, but I know just the place! I'm sure you'll like this, and it'll probably bring back some memories... the green one said excitedly, its ear fins raising and tail wagging in excitement. It lowered itself to me, gesturing me to hop on as it gave me a toothy grin.

"Really?" I said, somewhat dubious.

Oh yes, no denying it. This is the place where we first came to be, I am absolutely sure it will at least kick start something. it replied again, making no attempt to conceal its newfound enthusiam.

"Show me." was all I could say before there was a great rustle of wings, a rush of air and a great 'whomph' as we took off, leaving the clearing behind.