Arcadia, a wild, primitive planet covered by a thick jungle.

It was summer. Huge lakes, heavenly rivers. Birds everywhere, of all colours,

There were mountains that cut through the landscape and separated the plains, the ocean and vast expanses of plains and crops.

Small villages dotted this and the expanses and, from time to time, a castle or a fortified town.

In the north of the human kingdom, a mountain range separated humans from elves.

These mountains marked the territory of the most powerful and feared creatures. The wyverns. A kind of dragon with winged front legs.

On the edge of one of the highest cliffs, there was a cave.

This is my home.

My cave was simple but comfortable.

Other caves dotted the mountain but at a lower altitude.

It was the refuge of the wyverns. They lived in colonies and in groups of several individuals, 6 or 7 maximum. Usually 2 or 3. They were beautiful winged and powerful creatures. Their scales offered them great protection and they could spit fire in general. Some had a poisoned stinger at the end of their tails with spikes.

They were very powerful but did not have human intelligence, well, they did, but much less.

My cave was comfortable compared to the caves of the other wyverns. I had a fire well and even a smoking room, alcoves to store two or three trinkets.

The Wyverns, on the other hand, had a simple hole with a pile at the bottom with their holds: gold, swords, shields; merchant holds and a whole brol they considered as treasure.

I had none of that and I wasn't bothered by those material things. I mean, I had a necklace or 2 that I could put on if I had to run away and a bag always ready with a little spice, some tools, a grimoire and a still.

At the bottom, there was a pile of tanned skins and my lair, unlike the others, was very clean.

And, as a result, two young dragons hugged me and licked my ears. We helped each other to wash each other in difficult places, such as behind the horns and spikes in the neck and outer membrane of the wings.

They were orphans like me and we had to manage on our own. They followed me everywhere because I was the only one who took care of them. I was the only dragon that made tools like traps, traps and ropes to warn of danger. I was their only source of food, because they were too young and so were I. We were Wyvern children and we were very, very discreet. The alpha male should not be angry.

A few months ago, I was with an old blind man and I had become his "guide dog".

He was dyingof old age in our paws and with his remaining family. Our human family. We were crying a lot He taught us a lot. Especially to speak, read and write and learn magic, finally, the basics of the basics.

I remember what happened three years ago.. The memory is still vivid in my mind.

And I am grateful my life as human has not been wiped out. Probably, a gifts from the deity of Arcadia...

I was a technician, an engineer's equivalent in the industry and I had big family and health problems. Fifty-something and a lot of problems in my head. I was thinking of a paranormal phenomenon from when I was a teenager: a role-playing game in the forest, a fire and incense and a prayer to the golden dragon, which almost cost my father his life, maybe he was missing a sacrifice but something happened at that moment. I raise a bearded dragon and he gives me back his love daily. Surprisingly, it is said that reptiles do not have feelings, but with sign language, other doors are opened. He comes on my shoulder every day and licks my ear and jumps on me as soon as I open the terrarium door. I would leave it open but I'm afraid with the cats or they'll get stuck somewhere because Mzelle lizard is VERY curious. Come to think of it, I was on my way to work in my office where I have the terrarium. I work with her on my shoulder all day long. An ideal reading or programming companion. I really like it very much. Then the words of prayer to the golden dragon came back to me and, for my amusement, I recited them again... and...

Shit, I'm AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!

TCHACK TCHACK TCHACK

TCHACK TCHACK TCHACK

TCHACK TCHACK TCHACK

My last thought, Ben, is that I am the sacrifice.....

Then all black!

(I passed over a level crossing without looking. There were no barriers but just a lamp with red and white crosses like St Andrew's. My car hit the driver's side of the train. I was distracted and lost in thought because of all my worries.)

It didn't even hurt.

But it is dark.

And I hear growls, but I understand those growls.

...........

............

GROOAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRR! GGRRRR!

GRPPAL

TCHAK

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

RRROAAAAAAr

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

SECOUSSE

IIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

Kling klang klang

HOT, IT'S HOT! IT Burns!

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

GROAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRR!

NOoonnnnnnnnnnn that!

AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRGGHHHHHHHHH

CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCHH

No

No

Noooooooo

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHh

CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH

MAmaaaannn

Paappaaaaa

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhh

CRUNCH CRUNCH CRUNCH.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

................

................................ Silence.

.............

..........

I float.

Ah, it's shaking,

It's smooth.

My point,

I have a point!

Pik

Oh, a hole, ow, it's brilliant.

SCRATCH SCRATCH, oh the hole is bigger

ROLL,

I fall to the side and all the liquid is gone.

Oh, a crushed bubble

Oh another crushed bubble

My bubble is cut.

BLOW! BLOW!

Ah, CHUMP!

Snort

AH

HA

AH

HA

My chest goes up and down,

Where are my tissues? Oh, but??????

Oh paws and claws!

Wings?

A tail?

I'm on all fours and I have a tail and wings

What the hell is happening to me?

OHH a sun, it's all round and it's split

How beautiful it is!

GROOOA? GROOOA? MMRR MRRM? MMMMMH!

It looks like a huge eye.

an eye!

Mama?

MOTHER?