Mutterings and Musings

Dragons are Real

Challenge: Write about the mythical or science fiction creatures/beings that could actually exist. Imagine a world where there was definitive proof of their existence - how would life be different?

If there is one subject that has always fascinated me, it's the origin of myths.
I think most people - certainly in the film or writing arenas - are aware of the 'zombie-drugs' used in voodoo; massively exaggerated of course, but there are chemicals that can people comatose and in highly suggestible states when they awaken. Clinical lycanthropy is a rare, but genuine, medical condition where the patient believes they can or have transformed into an animal (not necessarily a wolf, but werewolf myths give rise to the psychiatric name), and as such behave in an animalistic fashion. Porphyria frequently causes photosensitivity and, in some of its extreme forms, even cause phototoxicity; rapid blistering and burning from sunlight - sound familiar? Mania, delusions, hallucinations, catatonia, and extreme pain are also commonly associated with porphyria; one particularly nasty variant, Gunther's Disease, not only has the severe photosensitivity, but patients can also develop excessive bodily hair - bringing us back to werewolves.

It doesn't take much imagination to see how some myths arise and grow with exaggerated telling - have you ever read heraldic descriptions of exotic animals? I remain convinced that rhinos are unicorns with really good PR.


For all they are gangly and ugly - and apparently completely deaf - Komodo dragons remain a favourite animal of mine. There is something utterly alien about the way they simultaneously scuttle and waddle. And their size...

Blue-tongued skinks are another favourite; little tiny lizards with bight blue tongues that dart out like blowtorch flames. I can easily imagine some sort of hybrid between the two being mistaken for a fire-breathing dragon.

STOP PRESS

- in my quick Google hunt to see if red-tongued skinks were a thing (there's a pink-tongued apparently) I just discovered that dragons are in fact real.

If you haven't already, Google CROCODILE SKINK.

There is nothing more I need to write tonight - crocodile skinks exist and therefore so do dragons.