Dragon Guide

Chapter 12: Reunion

I follow behind Bhikkhu as he leads us through the back exit of the temple. We make our way past smaller buildings and fountains. It is already dark by the time we arrive in front of a long monk hut; I have a feeling this is where I'll be staying for the time being, and I sort of am okay with this. I don't have any particular issue with roughing it out and it might actually be a bit reminiscent of my earlier life. Sometimes I miss the simple pleasures of the world. Days when I could just lay in the fields and not have so many expectations of me, the days when I was allowed to live like a normal human and just wandered around doing as I please. But then the dark clouds were cast over that pretty little dream and I was...

"Young one? You must be here both physically and spiritually. This is a place that can either help one reach enlightenment if they wished or if one decides to shut it out, they will fall into despair with the thoughts that fill the mind. Everyone has darkness but it is strong who rises out of it as a lotus rises from muddy water to be the purest and most beautiful among the cloudy waters," and with that, Bhikkhu took his leave. I stood there with Aoyun, we said nothing but instead just stood there and looked at the full moon above our heads. I have the uncanny feeling that if I lift my hands and rise onto the tip of my toes, I might just be able to pluck it from the sky. I can't help but laugh at my silly idea.

"What is so funny, can you tell me?" asked Aoyun.

"Oh, it's just that I was thinking that I could pluck the moon from the sky", I giggled.

"I see why that is so funny to you! The Moon Goddess certainly would not like that, even though she doesn't actually live there it is her symbol" Aoyun said laughing.

" I want to see them, Ao. Please take me there," I ask longingly.

" I will Bǎobèi, monk Bhikkhu only brought you here so that you can freshen up. There is a lot planned for us tonight. Go on and freshen up, I have sent over clothes for you to wear. I will wait for you outside here, please don't be too long, I get the feeling that your children are missing you just as much as you are missing them". With that, he turned and walked towards a zen garden not too far away.

As I step into the hut, I am a bit surprised, my accommodations are not as sparse as I had imagined. No, it is no grand hotel but for the nature of this place, it is more than I hoped for. There is a tatami laid out on top of a waist-high platform, there was also a thin folded mattress and a comforter for me to use. In the corner to the left, there was a small wooden desk that held a lit lantern. The last thing in the small room was a chest just against the wall beside the door, it was carved with a simple lotus flower.

It was so beautiful in its simplicity that I could not help but glide my hands across the surface, feeling the gentle grooves of the wood. I decide to open it and to my surprise, there is a beautiful mage's robe inside and there is even a beautiful black leather vambrace embossed with the outline of a dragon. I lift the folded garments and take them over to the platform, spreading out each piece of garment carefully, trying to ease the wrinkles that are just beginning to show. Spread out it is even more beautiful than before, there is a white underdress made of what I think is cotton but when I touch it, I have the feeling of touching silk. I then glide my hands to the side, running them over a deep purple garb with long loose sleeves, it would appear to be velvet, so luxurious.

I need to quickly change my clothes, I wish I could take a bath, especially after the day I've had. Just as the thought hit me, I see the curtain against the back wall billow with the wind gently, but it was strange, the view behind the curtain does not look like the sky. I walk over and pull the fabric aside and I am overjoyed. The area behind is not the outside but instead a small section for a shower. There is a wooden bucket filled with water and a wooden dipper with a handle, at the entrance there is a little rise, a barrier to keep the water from leaving this little area. It's all brown, firm clay but I'm not a picky beggar. I quickly go back to the chest to look for something that can serve as a towel and I am again pleasantly surprised to find one along with gold thread ties that I will need for my mage's robe.

After my shower, I dress in my new clothes and I take a twirl, I feel so elegant and functional at the same time. The robe reaches just at my ankle, a perfect length so that it does not drag on the ground. With one last glance at the room where I'll be staying for the week, I quickly run out to find Aoyun. I find him just outside the door to my quarters, looking a bit impatient.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to take so long," I say meekly.

"No, no Bǎobèi! It is not you, but your children are waiting and so are the others," he says, foreboding clear in his voice.

"Yes, let's go. I want to see them too," and with that, we quickly rushed forward and made our way down several dirt paths until we reached a waterfall. Suddenly I hear a loud shriek and I look in the direction of the sound, under the light of the moon I see the shimmer of a whelp, a golden whelp. As if it was a catalyst that triggered my Armin all the rest of the whelps spot me and start to cry loudly through the night sky, breaking the silence of the night. I opened my arms and held my head up to the sky awaiting their arrival into my arms, I did not realize how much I needed them but it was when I felt the warm fluid run down my face and then chill my face with the night air that I realized how much I missed them, and how much they missed me too.

After a tearful reunion, we all settled down in front of a huge bone fire that was lit beside the Waterfall. "What is this place? It feels so... I can't seem to find the words to explain it but it calls to me," my voice trails off into the quiet of the night.