Topic: One step at a time

Solaria

Date: 2011-07-06 12:48 EST
The little gold had remained within her parents' lair, helping to watch over the hatchlings and children.

When she had time to herself, she spent it either in the library or the indoor pond, watching the turtles and the fish swim around.

Once nearly glittering gold scales had lost their luster from all the time spent inside.

She was trying. There were times when she'd reach the entrance of the lair, the waterfall protecting the entrance.

The sun was out there, and she would start to take a step out, when the memory of what had happened to her brother hit.

By now the nightmares had faded down to murmurs in the night.

Now she was there again. Sitting just behind the falls, looking out through the cascading water.

The gardens were beautiful. Well what she could see of them. Mother had been busy, and she had missed so much. Finally she pushed herself onto her feet, and taking a shaky step...she passed through the waterfall. Ending up on one of the many perches around.

Green eyes blinked and squinted at the brightness. She had remained within the dark for so long. Now the sun's rays seemed to settle upon those dull scales.

She would warm up her wings then. Letting the sails unfurl and flutter. There was a cool breeze that stirred the air currents. and pushing off the ledge...Those currents would catch her.

The breeze billowed beneath her wings as she glided to the ground.

The gardens were even more beautiful when you wandered amongst them.

This was her first time. Her first time out of the lair in so long. The scents of the flowers floated upon the breeze, teasing her nostrils, and berries not quite ripe were a tempting treat.

Her mother had told her about the gardens. That they were created for her, for them. For any of the children that came along.

The sun helped warm her scales as she walked along. Wandering the pathways within the plants. Fruits and nuts hung within reach, though the treats still were not quite ready yet.

She would stay within the gardens, exploring what she had missed. The colorful butterflies fluttered too and fro, and sometimes even landed upon her snout.

Multihued wings resting for a moment before the creatures would take flight again. Dragonflies buzzed and chased each other along the lake.

Even a hive hanging from one of the trees buzzed as a bit of golden liquid trickled out.

There were pathways that led into the forest, but she would remain close to the lair. Exploring the gardens she had missed.

She even daydreamed about joining her mother when next she would go exploring.

She had made it now. And settled to bask within the sun. Perhaps her scales one day would shine like they had used to. She had made it of course.

One step at a time.