THE DOVE AND THE DRAGON

Chapter One

Another summer's day was dawning on his world. As the sun's rays lit the bottom of his bedroom window, shadows grew across the floor until they reached his eyes waking him from a wonderful dream. He was full of dreams, and he often wondered if any would ever come true. Little did he know that the dove he saw so many times in his dreams would appear before him this very day. But would he know her as being the dove when he saw her? Only the mind of the author of life can know this for sure.

His dark eyes of blue mostly open now, he frizzed his hair a bit and let out a loud yawn as he stretched his limbs. He could hear the muffled morning sounds of the house through his closed door. When his parents were in town, they always had an early breakfast but often discussed the day until mid morning. They seemed in no particular hurry to the day's events. He's was glad to know that they were finally home.

His father, Loch, and mother, Claire, were good parents with mostly Fatherland heritage. Claire was a beautiful woman with light brown hair, a warm complexion, and soft eyes. The savage Cherokee blood of her family tree had left little resemblance in her, but she had passed the heritage down in her youngest son Luekke with coal black hair and cinnamon skin. Loch loved Claire for her internal beauty as well. She was a strong, loving woman. Loch's spirit for life seemed to compliment the softer spirit of Claire. They had already raised two children who now were worlds away in their own lives. Luekke was their love child. Although he seemed so different from his siblings, Loch and Claire loved him as he reminded them of a simpler life. His carefree spirit and zest for life's freedom flooded their minds of the peaceful days of their lives in the Fatherland many miles and memories away.

Now he could hear his tutor, Ms. Ekstien, in her room typing on her computer. He wondered what subject she would teach to he and Misti when Monday arrived. Although the early days of summer had arrived, his studies would last well into July because of the extended holidays during the colder days of winter. Ms. Ekstein was a gentle person that his father trusted and treated as a family member not only in his heart but in standing as well. After a moment, he heard her go down the stairs. She always joined his parents in the morning to discuss Luekke's educational training.

"Time to get this day going," he thought to himself. And with that, he jumped onto the floor with a burst of energy. The sounds of his youthful feet hitting the floor put a contented smile on his father's face. He knew that Luekke would be down to see him in a little while. His parents had been out of town for several days, and they looked forward to seeing him.

In her home on the other side of the meadow, Amy was already dressed in a pretty white dress with her flowing brown hair draped across her shoulders. She was a pretty young girl with bright green eyes that sparkled like emeralds. The hint of a gorgeous young woman could already be noted in her disposition. She was looking forward to discovering adventure in her new surroundings. Maybe she would run in the meadow. Maybe she would skip rocks in the little flowing brook. Or maybe she would go to the Park a few blocks away. She was very matter-of-fact for her age and decided she would seek out for adventure in the meadow today.

She had wondered if she would make new friends in this strange place. It was so different from the life she knew. But she was willing to give this a try to make her mother feel better. With that thought she glided down the stairs. Her mom was reading some ladies' magazine. "Morning mother," she said kindly. "Good morning dear. What's my little girl have planned for today?" Her mother was one to get to the point of things. Perhaps her failed marriage had breed reality of matters in her. Amy wasn't sure. "I thought I would explore the meadow behind the house today. It looks like great fun," Amy said brightly. "That's fine dear, but don't forget lunch." "I won't mum," she said and was out the back door in a moment.

Chapter Two

Amy pranced down the back steps like a young fawn full of grace and beauty. She giggled inside as she felt her bare feet tickled by the morning dew on the thick grass. She skipped along to a path that led to the meadow. A sweet melody she hummed in her heart as she went her way. Soon she had reached the line of trees that surrounded the large expanse of the open meadow. There were pretty flowers of red, yellow and purple that cascaded the landscape. She thought to herself, "What a beautiful place." Just inside the trees the shorter grass gave way to longer blades that had a hint of wildness to them. The blades softly rubbed her legs below her dress. Off in the distance she noticed a tall old oak tree near the center of the meadow. It's branches seemed to open their hands toward heaven as if to worship it's creator. The tree looked like an interesting way to see the rest of this new fascination. With that thought she began to skip again on her way down the path that led to its grandeur.

He rarely took the time to dry his hair. The long locks simply took too long, and he was in a hurry to get to the sun. Still naked he swung open the large French doors leading out to the balcony. He heaved his chest taking in a full breathe of the morning's offering. He loved the view from there. He could see all his little kingdom from there. And at night he would view distant galaxies with a telescope his father had brought home for him after a trip to the Fatherland. He had found one star that was the brightest he had ever seen. He had tried many times to find it's name in his books, but strangely the star didn't seem to be on any astrological maps. So he thought that one day he would name the star himself. But he hadn't been inspired for a fitting name for such a pretty star as this. As the thoughts of his star passed, just then he noticed something white in the meadow.

A movement of white seemed to glide through the taller grass as if to be floating on wings. The thoughts of his beautiful white dove flooded his mind as it seemed so often all he could think about was the lovely innocent creature. "Who is this invading my kingdom," he thought to himself. He had to investigate this strange appearance in the meadow. He had to know the identity of this creature. He bent down and peered into the eyepiece of his telescope. He moved his eye from the eyepiece while adjusting the angle of the lens to bring the lovely form into focus. The white object was too close and hard to catch with the long lens. Becoming frustrated now, he thought of his binoculars. Yes. They would work much better!

As she skipped along she became lost in the peace of the meadow. She could hear the young chicks of robins, sparrows, bobwhites, wrens and thrushes chirping their orders for a morning's meal. See saw cute little bunnies dancing about stopping only to nibble a few blades and then quickly hopping away. Tired little crickets were still rubbing their hinds in song. Honeybees were already busy tasting the nectar of the flowers that made a wonderful wall around her. The meadow was awake now with a chorus of nature, and the lovely girl seemed a fitting maestro. The tall old oak tree was still far away. But she continued to skip along with seamless effort.

With binoculars in hand, he searched the grasses of the meadow. At last he caught a glimpse of his interest. The form came and went from view a few times before he steadied himself and caught full view. "It's a girl," he exclaimed to himself. He had never thought much about girls until that moment. After all, they were girls. They were different. They were strange. He knew all this to be true because he had seen Misti without her clothes one time when she had stayed over night. He wondered if this girl looked the same. Probably so, he thought. But if all girls were the same, why did his feelings surge as he viewed her gentle frame from his perch? He hated not knowing why. He would have to go find out, and there was only one way. He would go to meet her. But what would she be like? Who is she? Will she be my friend? Will she like me? Will I like her? All of these questions he pondered as he hurriedly dressed in shorts and a T.

Chapter Three

With the big tree now just a few yards away, Amy slowed her pace to admire the sight. She noticed something hidden in the perch of its branches. It appeared to be a wooden structure. Indeed it was. With the help of Albrect, Luekke had built his secret place in the meadow just the summer before. It was a special place where he often spent hours playing and thinking about his life. He had so many fond memories there. It was his sanctuary. The mystery of the place in the tree was too much for Amy to resist. Her young mind dreamed of adventure as she contemplated climbing the tree to see what she could find there in its broad limbs. Reaching the base of the tree revealed the reality of its stature. It was the largest tree in the world she thought to herself. She paused now. Thinking. "Should I," she said aloud. At least for now she was content to sit beneath the tree and grace it with her beauty. Perhaps she would climb up there after she had rested a bit.

The thoughts of the pretty girl in the white dress consumed him completely as he hurried downstairs. His father warmly smiled, but soon took note that Luekke was urgent in some matter as his son scurried around the corner of the kitchen doorway. His mother raising her eyes from the morning paper also took note of his rush. "Gut ta zee yu zon," his father said with a noticeably heavy accent. "Gooten morgin Luekke," his mother said quickly in an effort to get her words out before he disappeared. He quickly hugged and kissed each one. "Father, mum, there's a girl in the meadow. She's a stranger. I must go quickly," he said with words running together. "Ah yez Luekke, 'tiz goot, yez? Bita, off wivz yu now," his father said. He knew the wild heart of his son, and his words gave quick approval. With that, Luekke scampered down a few stairs off the back porch then jumping through the air skipping the rest.

Loch and Claire just laughed a little and smiled as the sound of the porch door made a loud slamming noise. They could remember the days of their meeting. They had often wondered if Luekke would want to meet outside the ring of their realm. Perhaps he would today.