Upon the Rainbow Dragon

                                            Upon the Rainbow Dragon

                                                By Daryl Campbell



         An orange sun shone across the valley and sparkled against the river. A paper birch tree stood at the edge of the mountains, its limbs stretched out and cast a shadow over the flowered ground. Hundreds of curious butterflies crowded the white tree and fluttered near a door in its trunk. The reds, blues, greens, and yellows danced around the door and waited. They came each day to see their friend, Brianna, the Butterfly Witch.

         Brianna often slept late, but today, the Rainbow Dragon would return to Teihzbael. The sun had been up for an hour and the butterflies expected her to be ready by now. The colorful swarm moved back as the birch’s door creaked open and a tall seven year old poked her head out.

         “I see you‘re all here.” Brianna’s brown eyes shimmered in the morning light.

         The butterflies closed in around her when she stepped out. She smiled and tossed back long, light brown hair as soft kisses brushed her cheeks.

         Brianna was a favorite of all the mystics in Teihzbael. She dressed in bright colors: a yellow skirt, a silken shirt, a purple hat, and purple boots that reached her knees. Her hat was low and hung back behind her head with a ball of red cotton at its end. Some said her hat looked like Santa’s, but the Santa she knew had a large, bright red one that didn’t hang down as far as hers.

         “We better get going. It’s a long walk to the top of the plates and I’d like to get there before dark.” She turned to shut the door, but stopped. “I forgot our lunch.” She went back inside and returned with a blue paper bag stuffed with fruits, nuts, and candy.

         Brianna went back in and returned with a blue paper bag stuffed with fruit, nuts, and candy. She pulled the door shut and, with a wave of her hand, it vanished. She started her walk to where she could climb into the forest on the Great Plates. After a few minutes, large pines and oaks appeared in the distance.

         “Alana! Alana, come to me!” The witch yelled.

         A large butterfly with blue wings outlined in black, landed on Brianna’s shoulder. The talk was short and Alana flew down the trail.

         The Butterfly Witch walked for another two hours before she stopped to eat lunch. She chose a spot near the river and raised her arms above her head. Rock lifted from the earth to form a table with bowl shaped perches and a single chair. The perches filled with water, and butterflies landed to rest.

         Brianna sat in the chair and put the blue bag on the table. Butterflies swam in the water bowls and watched closely as the witch emptied the bag. Green apples rolled out, a favorite of the red butterflies, then pecans for the yellows. The excitement grew as candy poured across the table: cherry sours, taffy, lollipops, peppermints, and bits of chocolate. The butterflies jumped from their perches and floated to the table.

         “I brought enough for everyone. Nobody’s going to starve.” Brianna always made sure there was enough candy. She knew how important a good, healthy meal was.

         Brianna passed out the candy: lollipops for the blue butterflies, taffy for the green ones, and cherry sours for the monarchs. The chocolates and peppermints were shared.

         Alana returned with a new friend. The witch, always aware of the butterfly‘s thoughts, watched as she approached with the puppy.

         The dog leapt over rocks and rolled through high grass near the trail. He was a big dog, though still a puppy, with floppy ears and the creamiest brown fur she’d ever seen. The puppy sniffed every flower and bug he found. When they were close enough, the witch nodded and Alana flew to the table.

         “Hi, Lucas, my name’s Brianna.” She reached out to shake hello.

         A polite dog, he put his large paw in her hand. “How’d you know my name?”

         “Alana told me. I’m the Butterfly Witch. Maybe you’ve heard of me?” She looked into his dark brown eyes and wanted to hug him.

         “I’m the Hound Prince,” Lucas announced and raised his head high. “I’ve heard my man’s friends speak of you. They think you’re a fairy tale.”

         “Where’s your man?” She smirked at the thought of being a fairy tale.

         “He gets lost. He’ll find me tonight or tomorrow and pretend he looked for me the entire time.“ Lucas answered.

         “Typical man.” Brianna raised her hands and butterflies lifted into the air.

         She brushed crumbs off the table and, as they struck the ground, flowers grew from the dirt: purple flowers with white thistles, orange ones that poured milk from their cups, and pink ones with petals that turned into pink butterflies when they opened.

         “Would you like to come with us?” The witch asked Lucas.

         “Where are you going?”

         “To see the Rainbow Dragon. It returns today or tonight and I want to be there when it does.” She waved her hands and the table disappeared beneath the grass.

         “I’ve never heard of the Rainbow Dragon, but I’ll go.” Lucas shook his head.

         “Lets go then, Lucas.” Brianna smiled and looked in his puppy dog eyes. She wanted to hug him, but thought better of it.

         The witch started down the trail again, joined by Lucas and pink butterflies. The sun was high in the blue sky by the time they reached the passage that would lead them through the mountain’s forest.

         Butterflies flittered into the forest, followed by the Hound Prince and the Butterfly Witch. Brianna knew scary things were often found here and moved carefully. Lucas saw it as a game of chase more than anything else, and bounded in without regard.

         The puppy moved fast and breathed heavy over a slobbering tongue. He ran through the butterflies and into a clearing filled with yellow honeysuckles. In the clearing, white bunnies licked honey from the flowers. The bunnies scattered as Lucas chased them.

         Brianna and the butterflies, lost in the excitement of Lucas’s game, found themselves in the honeysuckle clearing and stopped to rest and taste the honey. After a few minutes, the Hound Prince returned from bunny tag.

         “Where’s the trail, Lucas?” The witch realized they lost the trail and expected the puppy to know.

         “It’s around here somewhere,” he mumbled as he sniffed under a nearby bush. “Ouch!” Lucas yelped, lost his balance, and fell backwards to the ground.

         Brianna shook her head. “We don’t have time to play. We need to find the trail.”

         “A thorn stuck me in the nose!” Lucas rubbed his nose. “I didn’t…”

         “Wait a second.” She interrupted.

         Brianna waived her hands in the air and whispered something to a crowd of butterflies. The butterflies flew away in every direction and disappeared into the trees beyond the clearing.

         “Now, what were you saying?”

         “I would’ve found my way back to you.” The stated.

         “I know, but you got us mixed up.” She answered.

         “This way, I think.” Lucas headed into the trees.

         “Lucas, I think we ought to wait for…” She ran after the puppy.

         The trail wound around pines and oaks and cedars. The mountain rose up in a gentle slope and stopped short of the sky. Lucas found a few more bunnies, pink and black ones, and played some more tag while Brianna rested. The butterflies returned.

         “Lucas.” The witch’s voice made his ears lift. “The butterflies couldn’t find the trail.”

         “We’re on it.” He told her.

         “The one we‘re supposed to be on.” Brianna rubbed his head.

         “What’s wrong with this one? I never get lost.” Lucas seemed to growl.

         “Alana found something.” She said as Alana floated out of the trees.

         The witch started up the trail without another word and the Hound Prince followed. He watched Brianna, her purple hat wiggled and the red ball bounced off her neck. He wanted to catch the ball and lowered to jump, but the butterflies circled around him to let him know they didn’t approve of such nonsense. Instead, Lucas licked the tiny colors with a big, wet tongue. The butterflies flittered out of the way and Lucas laughed.

         The trail crunched with each step. The Butterfly Witch looked down and saw it was covered with gray and white rocks and lined with dark green grass. The trail led to a garden. The garden’s trees stretched out over her head, but left the center open to a sunny sky.

         Brianna knew she was in a magic garden. Bushes in the shapes of animals grew around the edges and a stream flowed in from the far side. The stream wrapped around the center to form an island, then vanished behind pink and purple flowers. A rock bridge crossed the stream and led to a table made from an oak stump.

         “I’ve been waiting.” A voice said. “There are others?”

         Startled, Brianna answered quickly. “Yes, I’m here with my butterfly friends and Lucas. They should be here…”

         Branches snapped and leaves rustled as Lucas, surrounded by butterflies, tumbled into the clearing and rolled to a stop. He stood and shook leaves from his fur.

         “Here’s the Hound Prince now,” the Butterfly Witch announced.

         “Who’re you talking to?” The puppy sniffed the air.

         “I‘ve been waiting for you since the sun rose this morning.” The voice spoke.

         Silver dust floated down and formed a winding stairway that ended at the table. A small fairy walked down the stairs.

         “I was wondering where you were hiding.” Brianna said with no hint of surprise.          “Who’re you?” Lucas went to the table for a better look.

         “I’m Samantha, Queen Named of the Forest Fairies.” She stood on the table.

         “But you’re just a girl.” Lucas tried to lick her, but she avoided his tongue and leapt on the end of his nose.

         “I am Queen Named, and you should show respect! Do you get my meaning, Hound Prince?” she asked.

         The fairy’s dark green wings opened wide across her back. Blonde hair blew off her shoulders and her gemlike eyes of ocean blue sparkled. She was young, no more than eight or nine. She smiled, but her glare held.

         “I didn’t mean anything…” he stammered. “You’re just so young.”

         “As are you,” Brianna said. “I’m Brianna, the…”

         “The Butterfly Witch. My cousin told me about you.” Samantha interrupted.

         “Your cousin?” the witch asked.

         “The Tooth Fairy. She’s my cousin, and she thinks you do a good job with your teeth. I haven’t heard about your teeth yet.” She looked at the puppy and laughed.

         Brianna, Samantha, and Lucas sat at the table. The fairy tossed silver dust and three rock cups and a metal tray with bits of bark on it appeared. She touched each cup and they filled with steaming water.

         “This is tree tea.” Samantha smiled.

         “Tree tea? I’ve never heard of tree tea.” Lucas said.

         “You’re learning a lot today, Lucas. What’s your man going to do when you find him?” Brianna teased him. “Tree tea sounds good, Samantha.”

         “I’ll show you how it’s done.” The fairy spoke to Lucas, but it was meant for them both.

         Samantha picked a piece of bark from the tray and dropped it in the steaming water. The water darkened as it absorbed the color of the bark. She turned her palm up and a pinecone appeared in it. Samantha broke some scales off and rubbed them in her hands until there was nothing but dust. She dumped the dust in her tea.

         “Sweetener,” she said.

         Lucas and Brianna followed Samantha’s example and made their tea. The witch, the fairy, and the puppy took time to relax and get their fill of tree tea. They tried different flavors and used up the entire pinecone.

         Samantha explained how they would work together to bring the dragon back to Teihzbael. A dream told her a witch and a puppy would come to her and she’d go with them to the Bowl of Dreams. At the bowl, the Rainbow Dragon would return to the world as it did every twenty years.

         Lucas agreed to go, as any prince would, and Brianna, with her butterfly friends, agreed as well. After Samantha locked the garden, they set out for the Bowl of Dreams.

         Samantha knew all the shortcuts through the forest and they traveled fast. She showed her new friends how berries frightened away scary animals and how to use poison ivy to heal cuts and bruises. Lucas gave away some of his secrets too. He taught them to use smell to find things. He explained that it wasn’t how well you could smell, but what the smells meant that mattered.

         The forest thinned and trails became steep and hard to follow. They could see the flat ground on top of the Great Plates, but twenty feet of rock prevented them from getting there. Here, the Butterfly Witch told the reds and blues to fly over the cliff to take a look and then asked the pinks and yellows to make sure all the animals moved away. The greens stayed near her, tiny streams of magic connected them to the witch.

         Brianna raised her hands high. The ground shook and the rock wall separated as she moved her hands apart. Steps formed and rose up. When it was done, the Butterfly Witch had to sit to regain her strength.

         “I would’ve never believed it if I hadn’t seen it.” Lucas whispered in her ear.

         “You have more power than I thought.” Samantha landed in front of her.

         “Are you okay?” The puppy asked.

         “I’ll be fine.“ Brianna could see the concern in his brown eyes and wanted to give him a hug.

         Lucas went to the top of the mountain to take a look. An unfamiliar smell filled the air as he moved around trees with red and green leaves. He searched for anything that moved: caterpillars, ladybugs, dragonflies, and red and yellow bunnies. He was in a game of tag when the witch and fairy arrived.

         “We need to get to the Bowl of Dreams. It’s the place where imagination comes from. The elements know we’re here and will try to stop us.” Samantha said as dark clouds gathered overhead.

         “I can’t control weather. I only have power over earth.” Brianna told the fairy.

         “That’s won't help much then.” Lucas ran up.

         “I can handle the elements. That’s my strength,” Samantha replied. “Lucas will find the Bowl of Dreams, I’ll keep the weather back, and Brianna can handle the rest.”

         Lucas lifted his nose and sniffed. He ran toward a small hill and Brianna and Samantha followed. Before they reached the hill, lightning raced through the clouds in crooked, white streaks. Thunder rumbled and the ground shook when it passed. Lucas struggled against powerful wind as he attempted to reach the top of the hill.

         By the time the girls reached the hill, rain began to fall. Samantha held out her arms and spun in circles. Silver powder flew from her hands and the clouds were wrapped in a web of blue, orange, and white strands. The web squeezed against the black until it burst and sunlight washed the sky clean.

         The Hound Prince and Butterfly Witch were relieved that the fairy overcame such a large storm. Lucas started to sniff the way again and could smell the magic now. It came down a sea green stream on the other side of the hill.

         “Be ready!” Samantha yelled when wind howled around them. “We’re being attacked again!”

         The air got cold and the water in the stream slowed to a stop and cracked as it turned to ice. Brianna called rock from the ground and wrapped it around the butterflies and herself. Lucas, on the opposite side of the stream, ran back to where the others stood.

         Samantha’s hands became bright red and snow fell around her as she lifted into the sky. She took a deep breath, clapped her hands, and blew into them. Red ribbons rolled off her fingers and through the gray sky. The world warmed around her, the snow disappeared, and the ice cracked and melted away.

         “What was that?” Lucas had never seen snow.

         “That was an element,” Samantha tapped the rock to let Brianna know it was over. “Elements don’t want the Rainbow Dragon to return.”

         “Why do they care?” The puppy scratched under his chin.

         “The Rainbow Dragon’s a magic creature,” the witch answered first. “He returns to Teihzbael and stays in the world for five years. While he’s here, the days are always sunny and it’s never cold. It‘ll rain, but only at night when everyone‘s sleeping.”

         “Do you still smell the magic, Lucas? We have to get going.” the fairy asked.

         Lucas raised his head and smelled the air. “It’s stronger now.”

         “Let’s go then.” Brianna and the butterflies followed the puppy, who headed toward the magic smell.

         The stream led to a field covered in giant flowers of every color imaginable with petals shaped like dragons. They swayed back and forth in the wind and hid a large dip in the earth.

         “There’s the Bowl of Dreams.” Samantha pointed. “We’ve got to get to the edge of the bowl before the sun sets. When it does, the dragon flowers burn.” She pushed her way through the flowers.

         Brianna, Lucas, and many butterflies pushed through behind Samantha. The sun was nearly out of the sky and they moved as fast as they could. The Hound Prince ran to the front and led them onto the ridge of the bowl before the sun vanished. As the moon snuck into the sky, the dragon flowers burned. Gold, blue, red, orange, and purple ashes filled the air and formed images of dragons in the sky.

         The fairy raised her hands and wind stirred in the bowl. She threw silver dust and pulled rain clouds over the flowered field. Water fell, tangled in the colored ashes, and drew them into the bowl. Color spread across the mud that rose in the center of the bowl. Brianna brought her hands over her head and mixed the mud. Lucas used his claws to shape the body of the dragon. Colored mud became scales and teeth and a tail. Samantha directed the rain like scissors and helped the puppy shape the dragon.

         Then, magic happened.

         Butterflies landed on the back of the dragon and glowed. They became one with the dragon and it started to breath. Sweet odors of fruit and candy exited its mouth over shiny, white teeth and the dragon’s eyes opened.

         Overcome by excitement, Briana bent and gave Lucas a big hug.

         “Hello, young ones. I owe you each thanks, but first, your names.” The dragon stood.

         “I’m Brianna, the Butterfly Witch.” She bowed.

         “I’m the Hound Prince.” He stood as tall as he could.

         “And I’m Samantha, Named Queen of the Forest Fairies.” she answered.

         “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Lillyander, the Rainbow Dragon.” She smiled.

         Scales of blue, red, orange, and yellow lined Lillyander's body. Her stomach and tail were pink and her eyes were a green.

         “It’s been a long time since I’ve been in this world. Tell me of the things I’ve missed.” She stretched her purple wings.

         Brianna let the dragon know about all the beautiful butterflies and the magic she could do with rock. Samantha told her about the forests and the fairies that lived in them. Lucas told the dragon about the world of man. Lillyander listened to their stories, excited to hear about their journey to the bowl. She was proud of the strength and intelligence they each showed.

         “I’ve come back to make sure the world is wonderful. I want to see all the flowers, eat all its fruit, and play with new friends. Can I count each of you among my new friends?” Lillyander raised her head and breathed fiery colors that lit the sky like fireworks.

         “Yes!” all three answered.

         “We’ll be great friends. Hop on and we’ll find a place to play.” The dragon bent, allowed her new friends to climb on her back, and launched into the night sky.

         After that first night, the Named Queen, the Hound Prince, and the Butterfly Witch were bound in friendship. They saw each other often: when they swam at Brianna’s, got Lucas’s man lost, or drank tree tea in Samantha’s garden. They always enjoyed their time together and their many adventures upon the Rainbow Dragon.