Discovering Dhurga

Chapter 1Second Chances

The first thing I remember is the shockwave. It reached my family before… well, before I thought it was going to hit me. I must be dead. I could hear the sounds of nature before I opened my eyes. I could smell fresh, uncanned air before I felt the coolness of something soft holding me up. There is no way I could still be in the bunker. I was almost afraid to open my eyes and come back to reality. If this was a dream, I just wanted to stay here. It already, in the moment since I woke, was better than where I was before, passing out? Falling asleep? I really don’t know where I am or what could have happened. I may as well open my eyes, the dream has to end sometime right?

I opened my eyes just a sliver, to warm sunshine. Wait? How was that possible? The bunker light was cold, flickering and never reached the entire room. I dared open my eyes a little further to see rich green foliage, bright spots of color from the most curious flowers. I could hear the songs of birds and small insects. This has to be a dream, or I’m dead.

I reach out to feel nothing but air all around me. Looking around, I find that I am suspended by.. Vines? I must have hit my head during the shockwave. I closed my eyes expecting to be back in the dank, dim, stale and oppressive bunker waiting to die.

The smells and sounds didn’t end when I closed my eyes. Well, if this dream lasts forever, I’m ok with that. After opening my eyes for the second time, I sat up and took a good look around. It was unbelievable, no, really I shook my head and could not believe my eyes.

I was surrounded by beauty. Not amazing furnishings, a beautiful home or anything made by the hands of people. I could see only a short distance due to the thick plants that seemed to encircle me. After close inspection, I was gently supported by vines and leaves that seemed to move with me, firmly supportive but non-restrictive. I did a few stretches to see what would happen, sure enough, the vines stayed with me. It was starting to freak me out. I tried to stand and after a few tries, successfully planted my feet on ground that was warm to the soles of my bare feet, that’s weird. I took a look around and made to move to the edge of the plants to find a way through. I may as well explore, this is my dream after all.

I found a place where I could get through the dense foliage, carefully, so as not to touch the plants, I couldn’t identify them. I was not prepared to see what lay before me. There was warm, comforting, gentle light breaking through what looked like trees. I could glimpse bits of blue sky through the trees and clouds. These clouds weren’t white or gray. They seemed to pulse with another light, like lightning currents, but in the most stunning colors. Then I came to an opening in the forest where I could see the sky clearly.

There were things in the sky that shouldn’t be there. Like a couple of planets and a moon hanging there in the distance. Then something flew past low and fast, but there was no sound of an engine, just the sound of the wind whistling by. I’m not in the bunker. My mind was reeling. I had to be dreaming. I felt no fear either. That was nice, I had been afraid for most of my life.

Shaking my head, I blinked my eyes several times, slapped my face to get a grip. I sat down heavily and the leaves seemed to cushion my bum. I looked around and found the plants acting strangely and they seemed to reach toward me to give support. I guess anything is possible in a dream.

I sat for a moment, allowing myself to enjoy the sounds, smells and feel of the surrounding plant and animal life. The air smelled so good! I’m not sure how my mind came up with that since I had been living in the bunker with my family for my entire life. Thinking of my family made me realize I had better wake myself up and help my family, they could have been hurt and need help after the shockwave. I pinched myself, jumped up and down and screamed, slapped myself and made many efforts to wake myself from this wonderful dream. No luck.

I could still smell the fresh air, the warmth of the sunshine on my face and that strange sky above was still weird.

Oh well, can’t hurt to look around. I could hear the sound of water, at least I hoped it was water nearby. I suddenly felt really thirsty. Drawing closer to the water, I noticed more strange things about my surroundings. The flora was nothing I had ever read about from the surface before the wars. I also noticed the sound of water was getting closer.

As I came upon what had to be a stream, the water literally sparkled. Well, there is a lot of light in this place, but the water sparkled in the shade also. Strange. I looked into the water, maybe it is drinkable. I touched it with the tip of my pinky finger, I decided that if it was acidic, I could manage without the tip of my pinky finger. But, to my delight, the water was cool to the touch and smelled fresh. I dared a drop on my tongue. It was delicious! I cupped my hands and drank my fill of the sparkling water. I sat back on my knees to just look around this dream world my tired mind had created and was impressed with my own creativity.

You are not dreaming, small one.

Whoa! What was that! I whipped my head around trying to find the source of that voice. Unless the plants could speak, I couldn’t find any trace of a person that could have spoken to me. At this point I decided I was either cracked in the mind, or, or.. Well I didn’t know any or…

Do not fear, small one, I will help you find your way in your new home.

There it was again! This time I searched further to find a person to speak with. I pinched myself hard. Ouch! I started searching frantically then, no one.

Your new home will help you adjust as will I. I am coming to you, be still and wait.

If I’m not dreaming, not dead and not delusional.. I think I blacked out at that point, because I was unable to finish my line of thinking. As I opened my eyes again, I felt my head for any bump, nope. I pinched myself again and kicked at what looked like a tree next to me. Double ouch. Not doing that again.

I am nearby, there is no need to be afraid. Let me guide you in this place. You have been brought to this new home because the Protek believes you to love life. You must have been supportive of life in the cosmos before your world destroyed itself. Your home planet has been long dead. Your people killed her. You were saved from your death and brought here for a chance at life.

So, if I am to believe the voice in my head, I’ve left earth and am someplace else. Ok. I think I’ll sleep for a while now. When I wake up, I will either be or not be here. Then I’ll roll with whatever, I’m suddenly tired and sink down to the forest floor, the strange plant life supports me and I sink into a comfortable sleep.

When I opened my eyes the next time, I noticed that the beautiful warm light had been replaced by darkness. Not total darkness, since I can see soft glowing lights if I concentrate. There seems to be a brighter glow coming from off to my left, so I decided to explore. I really can’t wrap my head around this reality, so I’m just taking one step at a time. My mother used to tell me to keep moving forward, no matter what.

As I travel through the plants, there is just enough glow to help me navigate the forest floor, I would have to investigate more closely soon, it was so curious. I look up and see the brighter glow is much closer now. It looks like a shelter of some kind.

Don’t be afraid to enter. I am here waiting for you to accept me.

What?

Well, here goes nothing. As I approach the glowing shelter, it isn’t really a home, hut, cave or people built structure. It almost looks like the foliage and mountain were working together to create a huge canopy or enclosure of some kind. It is never a good idea to enter a strange place where you could find yourself trapped or lost. But the glow seemed to feel… happy. I looked inward for any feeling of fear or doubt and to my surprise, I only felt … happy.

Your feeling of happiness brings me great pleasure, small one. Come in and find shelter, comfort and safety. You are the first of your world to awaken. I have been waiting for you for some time. I felt it best to let you approach me rather than the other way around. Remember, do not fear me.

That sounds like something a predator would say to a mouse. I looked around to find I didn’t see any other option and it was beginning to be pretty cold without that warm sunshine. I checked inside myself for any fear or anxious warning from my body. Only that gentle happiness.

Forward it is. Slowly I made my way into the glow, but I could not have been prepared for what I would see next.

Before my eyes, leaning against the wall of the strange shelter in total relaxation, was a dragon. It had to be a dragon. I had read many many books containing pictures and descriptions of dragons, this was definitely a dragon. My heart raced and I looked for a fast exit. Ready to run, I turned and started to slowly leave the presence of this beautiful terrifying creature.

Don’t go, please.

I stopped in my tracks, this was the voice I had heard. What was happening! My heart started pounding, I couldn’t catch my breath. Damnit! Blacked out again.