Bluefrog was a very discouraged and disheartened bubble dragon. He had not yet achieved full male status but even as one of the younger members of the clan was used to soaring above the top of the mountains. But this day was special, it was his one hundredth birthday and on a dare he had gone down into the forbidden land on the other side of the mountains and had been injured by one of the thin sharp wooden things called arrows. Compared to Bluefrog it was just a splinter but it was sharp enough to put a small hole in his air sack.
He was lucky to have been able to get back to the valley before he lost all his air. He got to within visible sight of his home before his small wings gave out and he came to a bumpy landing. And... there he sat... trying to figure out what to tell his folks.
After all, he had been told everyday of his young 100 years that he was forbidden to soar over the mountain tops to the land beyond; "the forbidden land". He couldn't remember how many times a day his mother told him not to soar over the mountain and how many times his father had said, "are you listening son"? And yes, he knew about the human weapons and the arrows that had killed many of his clan but what did they expect a 100 year old kid to do on his birthday? Besides he had been there before on dares from the other young dragons, and nothing had ever happened before! He had always made sure to stay clear of any humans he saw. But today he hadn't seen the hunting party, until it was too late. But, they had seen him!
What a way to louse up his birthday. It was his 100th one too. Oh no! His birthday banquet tonight! He was supposed to show how well he had learned to inflate his bubble and how he could soar without wings!
DARN! DARN! DARN!
As he sat there he heard his mother's song calling him home. She would expect him to come floating in on his deflating bubble, not walking or flying with his small wings. Bluefrog again voiced his frustration, "Darn!" He was Doomed.
Bluefrog flapped his small wings and flew the last five miles home. The distance was not the issue. It was only a matter of a minute.
His mother stood at the mouth of the cave in shock to see her son flying with wings instead of floating in the air and then it hit her, "He's hurt!" She yelled to Darrian, her husband, who was in the back of the cave washing up.
"Who's hurt?" Darrian Called back.
His mother almost screamed, Bluefrog!"
Bluefrog could feel the vibration in the earth as his father, Darrian, came to the mouth of the cave. His mother was of average height and weight for a female bubble dragon but his father was one of the bigger males. Although he had a gentle way, he was still one of the top warriors of the tribe due to his size. When disputes started among the males, Darrian was the one that settled them. His fire red eyes came to focus on his son. "What happen to you boy?", He asked, his voice expressing a very deep concern.
Well... Bluefrog could not answer. He turned his body so his father could see the arrow in his side. His mother screamed and almost fainted. His father called for silence and inspected the little wooden splinter and then gently, using his claws, pulled it out with a sudden jerk. Bluefrog felt a sudden pain and then felt the last of his air leave his bubble. It hurt a lot but he stood before his father and tried to show a brave face by not yelling. His mother was crying and that was bad enough.
He hung his head. His father flipped the arrow into the canyon below after inspecting it and waited for his son to explain. "Well boy?"
Bluefrog wanted to die rather than tell what he had done but finally with tears rolling down his dragon nose he told how he had soared over the mountains to the forbidden land and had been shot by the humans. His mother had finally stopped crying and his father was looking at him very seriously.
After Bluefrog's confession of disobedience, Darrian told his wife in a very serious tone of voice to cancel the banquet while he called the council together. He then raised his mighty voice and gave froth the summoning Song of Council.
Within the hour the males of the clan gathered in the valley of council with Bluefrog and Darrian the center of attention. The council fire reflected the intense eyes of the males as they listened to Darrian relate the matter that had caused him to call for council.
Bluefrog sat quietly and thought about the events of the day. He looked around the council and saw his lifelong friend Diamond in the back. Diamond had reached the age of male last month. Diamond was a month older and his 100th birthday had been a wonderful night. Diamond's shiny black eyes looked at Bluefrog and he too hung his head. Diamond was just as guilty as Bluefrog of soaring over the mountain on his birthday but he had not been caught. He was one of the pre-males that had been daring fate and disobeying the rules by soaring over the mountains. He also knew because he was not down by the fire that his friend had not told on him. Diamond had taken his place among the males on his 100th birthday and no one but Bluefrog knew where he had gone that day.
His attention was brought back to the council when silence fell and his father waited for the words of the council. The silence was long as each male considered what was to be done about the pre-male that had proven to be disobedient and got himself wounded.
Finally, Brokenclaw spoke up. He was the oldest among the males at the age of 1500. Darrian usually listened closely and agreed with Brokenclaw, so Bluefrog knew that whatever Brokenclaw said would be what was done.
" Darrian, and my fellow dragons," Brokenclaw said in a very important sounding voice, "You know that it is rare for member of our clan to die from infections but this wound came about because Darrian's pre-male broke the law. Therefore, he should be taken to the gnome under the south mountain for treatment. Also, the punishment for disobeying the law covering the forbidden land must be that the pre-male stay a pre-male until such a time as he has proven himself worthy of being called a male among us." Brokenclaw paused, looking over the rows of his fellows, and then spoke again, "Anyone who would say otherwise may speak and we will listen, and say yea or nay."
Bluefrog looked round, his blue eyes very pale in the fire light. None of the males spoke. Darrian called for the vote and all males voted for Brokenclaw's proposal.
The Council ended with Darrian stating that he would leave with his son for the south mountain at first dawn. He then picked up Bluefrog and putting him on his back soared upward with the sudden inflating of his bubble.
The next morning at first light and after several harsh words to stem the flow of tears from his mother, who had whimpered most of the night, Darrian picked up his son and inflating his bubble just slightly floated over the valley heading for the south mountain.
When they arrived at the south mountain, Darrian raised his voice in the Song of Inquiry, and floating, waited for a response from the gnome.
The clear ringing of the Bell of Entry soon came and Darrian started the slow descent. Soon enough the ledge that led to the underground cavern came into view and Darrian allowed the rest of the air to escape from his sack. The gnome waited just inside the mouth of the cave. He was a small man-like creature with small eyes and a lot of white hair and a large white beard that hid his ears and most of the rest of him too. He wore a green garment that hung to the ground. Taken all together he looked like a white fuzzy ball on top of a green pedestal. He led the way down to his treatment room.
The gnome had been treating bubble the dragons for centuries and was very familiar with the health problems of the clan. Upon seeing the injury a look of concern came to his face that was not promising.
"An arrow you say?" The gnome asked Darrian.
"Yes, one like they use to hunt eagles... not poisonous." Stated Darrian.
The gnome frowned. "Well that's good as far as it goes... I won't have to give him a potion. But, there is a problem with the healing of the area. It pieced all the way to the inter-sack. It may not heal no matter what I do..." The gnome's eyes narrowed, "... and you know what that means."
Darrian took a moment before answering and his voice was very sad. "He will never soar again."
"Yes." said the gnome.
Darrain was very quiet. "He can't become a male if he cannot soar." Darrian's voice was almost a whisper.
Bluefrog was dazed! Not become a male! NOT BECOME A MALE!!
He could not believe what his father had said. If he could not become a full male among his clan then he might as well be dead. He would live in total disgrace the rest of his natural years. He had heard stories about how some that had become injured in some way had killed themselves because they could not live with the disgrace. They were not talked about openly but in a 100 years one heard stories. Especially at times when one of the clan disappeared.
Not become male! Bluefrog stopped listening to what the gnome and his father talked about. The next thing he was aware of was a very cold patch being applied to his outer skin. The gnome was saying he would need to see him every month for the next year to see if there is any healing or problems. And Darrian responding according.
The trip home was quiet and fast. Darrian dropped him off at the cave and then soared to find Brokenclaw and inform him of the problem as the gnome saw it. Bluefrog did not want to face his mother just yet so he took off on his small wings to a place he liked to go just to think.
When he arrived he found Diamond there waiting for him. Diamond did not ask as he saw his friend was very sad. They sat together a long time before Bluefrog could bring himself to tell him what the gnome had said. Diamond was too shocked to answer. He sat quietly, knowing that it was partly his fault because he was one that had dared Bluefrog to soar over the mountains. Finally for lack of a better response he said, "I'm sorry!" Bluefrog answer was, "I know".
As sunset approached the two young dragons heard their mothers' song calling them home. Diamond offered one last word of what he hoped would be comfort. "We can still be friends".
"Sure", said Bluefrog but they both knew that soon the duties of the males would draw Diamond away and they would no longer have anything in common. Diamond soared home and Bluefrog used his small wings. It was going to be a long year!
It was a long year. All the rest of the 100 year olds became full males or females. His mother, in the tradition of the clan, laid another egg in the ceremonial way, and his father in the ceremony of life fertilized the egg. It would be another 6 months before the hatching ceremony but its importance was lost on Bluefrog who had his own issues at hand.
First of all, he was taken by one of his parents monthly to see the gnome, who changed the patch and looked for signs of healing. The outer skin was healing but the sack itself was not and every time Bluefrog tried to inflate it the outer scar on the skin blew open. It did not hurt his body anymore. The hurt was to his ego.
Second, his wings were growing. He had never seen a member of his clan with large wings and was very self conscience of them. It was not that they were ugly, actually several of the clan had made comment that they were very beautiful. When the sun hit them they sparkled a pearly sapphire blue. It was just that they were... well... getting huge! They had gotten so big Bluefrog was able to fly as high as others of his clan could soar and they no long gave out when he flew long distances. He liked that.
He had moved into a cave close to his parents since his wings seemed to get in the way every time he turned around. It was safer for his parents this way. He was afraid he would hurt them some day since he kept knocking them over. Even the great Darrian kept a safe distance from his son when he was in the cave.
But good things happened too. He was not completely an outcast since the males had noted that he did not sit round feeling sorry for himself. They found things he could do even if he could not soar and this kept him in good standing with the clan. The males of the clan had concluded that he had a lot of courage for someone so young and handicapped as he was, for they never heard him complain and he always seemed to find a way to carrying on.
Another positive thing was that Diamond, even with his many other duties, kept his word and they stayed friends. They met in their thinking place and Bluefrog would vent his frustration about his healing and Diamond would talk him up and give him the strength to face another day. And that was how the year passed.
One day close to his 101 birthday Darrian received a summons to meet with Brokenclaw and the council. Upon his return there was a strange light in his flame red eyes. It seemed that Darrian had been ordered to take Bluefrog to the north mountain to meet with the great Dragon that lived there. Bluefrog, who had never heard of this dragon, was confused and his mother who did know of this dragon was both stunned and frightened. His mother asked the question that Bluefrog was asking himself. Why? Darrian did not know why, but he was to take Bluefrog on the day of his 101 birthday.
At dawn the day of his birthday Bluefrog and Darrian set off for the north mountain. Darrian soaring and Bluefrog flying. He had learned to flap and glide on the wind currents and found it easy to keep up with his father. Darrian had to admit to both himself and his fellow males of the clan that Bluefrog had found a way of compensating for the lost of his bubble. And also admitted to himself that his son had earned the right to full male in the clan but he had not had a chance to bring it up to the council when this summons from the great Dragon had come.
It had been a 1000 years since Darrian had last seen the great dragon. This caused him a pang of guilt, as the great dragon had fertilized him, (and many others...). The great dragon was his father. But many years ago the clan had banished him. The why of this action was not clear to Darrian, but the law was the law. He was wondering what his interest in Bluefrog was. Oh well, he thought, he would soon know as the north mountain had come into sight. At a respectable distance Darrian gave voice to the inquiry song. And in a very short time the familiar song of entry came to their ears. They both came to a landing on the ledge of the cave and saw a light deep inside the cave. They went toward the light and came to a great cavern. Bluefrog had ever seen such a large cavern. It gave him a feeling that the whole mountain was hollow.
In the middle of the cavern sat the largest dragon Bluefrog had ever seen. It seem to shrink Darrian in size. Then he saw his wings! Bluefrog stopped breathing for a full minute and when he exhaled he realized that his own huge wings were just as small as his father's wings in comparison. In the dimness of the cavern they looked topaz but when the great dragon shifted his weight, the wings caught the light and they shimmered yellow like the sun. And suddenly, Bluefrog remembered he had seen the great dragon before! From far away, many years ago. He had seen him flying in the forbidden land with hunters in pursuit! At the time, he had never see a dragon with wings that big and did not realize what he was looking at.
But now, Bluefrog was awestruck. It was a moment before he realized his father was speaking. "Great Dragon we have come as you asked. I am Darrian..." here Darrian hesitated, "...your son." Then gaining confidence continued, "warrior of the bubble dragons and this is my son Bluefrog."
The great dragon's bright yellow eyes came to rest on Bluefrog. "I am Firebird the great dragon of the north mountain. Your Grandfather." Then he turned back to Darrian. "How is it you do not introduce your son as a warrior of the bubble dragons?" he said. "Is he not of age? I am told he is 101 today." The great dragons breath was hot like he had an inner fire.
Darrian , was surprised at this question. The great dragon knew the law. He answered. "He was injured while breaking the laws of the clan on his 100th birthday and has not been given full male status by the council until he proves his self worth. He cannot soar."
"And yet, he arrived under his own power without help from you, am I right?"
"Yes sir." Darrian answered. It was true Bluefrog could fly as well as the best bubble dragon could soar.
"Has he show signs of defeatism? Or does he stand fast and move ahead since becoming injured?" Was the next question.
"No, he does not give into self pity and he under takes whatever task is put to him by the clan." Was the answer.
The great dragon's breath rumbled in his chest, he threw his head back, "And yet you say he is still considered pre-male.?"
A film of smoke drifted out of the nose of the great dragon.
Darrian , becoming more and more unhappy said, "Yes that is the way by the law. He cannot soar. He cannot be given full male status."
The great dragon rumbled in his chest again. And again a drift of smoke, more this time, came out his nose. "So Darrian, warrior of the bubble dragons, what is to become of your son Bluefrog?" The yellow eye's looked intently upon Darrian.
Darrian bowed his head in shame. "I do not know great dragon."
The great dragon rumbled a third time and this time his breath was almost fire. "I will tell you Darrian, my Son. He will come to the north mountain and I, his grandfather, will teach him what the clan denies: That to fly on great wings is not a sin but a gift. That it is not a handicap but a gift that is given to only the most courageous and brave. To be different is not a sin that one must wear in shame but a gift to be nurtured and used." The great dragon's eyes flashed, "You have not seen me in a 1000 years. Yet I fertilized you and a 100 others like you when I was a bubble dragon and just because I too soared over the mountains and was injured like Bluefrog the clan denied me! The clan is afraid of what is different. My own brother Brokenclaw only talks to me because he is afraid of what I might do if he does not!" The great dragon snorted, " Bubble dragons are still winged even though they do not let them develop. It is time that the clan realizes that, flying, or soaring , we are all dragons and have purpose. Your son is now 101 and has shown his worth to the clan! What do you intend to do about it?"
Darrian raised his head to his father, the great dragon, who he had shunned like all the other clan males for a 1000 years. He said, "I am sorry father. I never understood until my own son was injured." Darrian had reached a decision. He continued, "You are right. It is time the clan accepts the differences of our clan members. We have lost too many to the sorrow that sets in when we shun those that have been injured, or born differently or that have been hurt in other ways. Tonight I will call the council and demand they give full male status to Bluefrog and others like him. And, yes, he shall be allowed to return to the north mountain, if he wishes, to benefit from your 2000 years of life. Bluefrog was so thrilled he trembled all over.
A smile came to the great dragon's face and the smile spread to his eyes. He spread his wings wide. "Good! Then he folded his wings back and bent his head toward Darrian and said "And, I hope that my son Darrian will come to. I have missed you." And so it was.
It all happened many years ago, and when Bluefrog thinks back on that day he is still awestruck. He became a great warrior among the bubble clan who worked hard on understanding the differences in dragons. Because Bluefrog would not roll over and play dead, just because he was different, the clan grew and the injured and different among them were able to live within the clan and thrive. He got to know a grandfather he did not know existed and he himself was able to teach his children that different did not mean wrong but provided all with a new way to look at and think about life.
And in the end he lived to find a great happiness in being different.