What About Dragons?

[gordi]

I wrote this about 35 years ago, so I hope people enjoy it. PS forgive spelling mistakes, this is just how I wrote it....

Nice one Wallfire!
Strangely.... tying in nicely with one I wrote for a story contest on another site around 2015?


DARA GHORN!


In ancient times, early man battled the wild beasts for the very right to survive.
The age of the Mammals had arrived, but there remained - hidden deep in the underground caverns of this Earth - remnants of a previous bygone age.

A massive upheaval on the surface of this Earth had wiped out every living thing which could not flee deep into a cave for protection.
But slowly, over many many years, the chaos began to subside, and the survivors blinked meekly back into the light.

They were few in number at first, and with all of the damage and destruction of their world, they had lost most of their tools for survival.
Their societies were in ruins, their civilisation shattered. They had returned to "survival" mode, like an Artificial Intelligence Program being re-booted.
Their priorities were Water, Food, Shelter, & Protection and THAT was IT.
In order to move on, they would have to start over from scratch and learn it all again... but how?
They needed a figurehead to follow, a leader, a healer, a teacher... a God.

And that's where Dara Ghorn comes in.

Back in the day, Dara had been just like all the others.
Though tall in stature, brave as they come and smart as can be, he preferred living the quiet, natural life.
He had studied the Natural order of things, how everything is inter-connected and he knew all about energies and the need for balance in all things.

When the time came, Dara had sensed the approaching disaster and had shepherded his family far below ground with plenty of supplies to ride out the worst of the carnage.
And now, as the world settled into its new rhythm he had come forth to survey the wreck of the world that once was.

He saw how many of the creatures of old had been wiped from the Earth, and he wept for them.
And he saw Man, wandering aimlessly, struggling to survive. Scratching a meagre living from scraps of scorched and wasted land, and he resolved to help them.
If he could only bring them together, teach them how to work as one, and show them how to care for the others, maybe they would have a chance to survive and thrive in the future?

So, he talked to them. Brought them together in groups. Showed them how to build shelter. Gave them the gift of Fire and started to teach them.
He taught them about agriculture, he taught them about science, he taught them about love and about balance & harmony. He selflessly taught them everything that they might need.

But Man is a deep and dangerous thing, and some men grew jealous of Dara Ghorn's status within their midst. They muttered and whispered and cursed, then using the very knowledge that Dara had given them...
They drew their plans against him. They adapted their tools to make weapons and they rose up against this "Dara Ghorn"
"Who does he think he is?" they asked, "Telling us what to do and how to live all the time"
"Drive him OUT!!! KILL HIM!!! KILL HIM!!!"

Dara knew what had been brewing, for he was very wise. He had sent his family away to safety, but stayed himself with forlorn hope to try and reason with the mob.
Alas, it was to no avail, and they struck at him with sword, spear and arrow, their minds closed to his wisdom.

So Dara rose up, spread out his mighty wings, spouted a blast of firey breath out over the mob's heads as a warning shot, then with a few powerful flaps took off, circled once and departed towards the North, never to return again.

From that day forth, man told the story of this "Dara ghorn" and how they had battled with him, and cast him out.
Children were kept in line with the promise that the Mighty Draghorn!! would come and get them if they misbehaved.
And over the years, as so often happens, the stories became twisted and muddled. The battles were exaggerated, the beasts name was shortened to "Dragon", and his very mention sent shivers down the spines of man.

In an ironic way, Dara's attempts at helping man had actually worked;
After all, they did come together, and get strong and survive to eventually thrive.
It's just a shame that man's history has labelled him as a Beastly Dragon, instead of the teacher, the giver and the healer... "Dara Ghorn".



Of course they exist!
G