Rain. It poured down, driving the animals and birds into shelter, and worms out of their homes and on to the wet pavement to avoid drowning. I was walking to school, holding my umbrella with a death grip, for fear it might take off with the wind. My worn sneakers were no match for the puddles that now covered at least three-fourths of every sidewalk. The shoelaces dragged along, wet and slimy. By the time I got to school, I was cold, exhausted and sopping wet. I hung up my now soaked sweater in my locker and rushed to my first class, my sneakers squeaking every step I took. It was a typical rainy Tuesday, or so I thought.

The gloomy weather lasted the whole day, molding everyone's moods. Even the teachers seemed unhappy. Finally, after several hours of long-winded lectures, and the boy behind me kicking the back of my chair, school let out. Everyone went back out in the rain with a ton of homework weighing their backpacks down, and bricks for feet.

I was relieved when I saw my house, with its peeling white paint and tacky windows that were covered with pictures and colors that were painted by me as a carefree six-year-old. This was the house that I have known, loved, and cherished my entire life. Every turn of the corner was a flashback, a memory. Crayon scribbles on walls, holes where Dad tried to hang up objects, then taken off. This was home. I sprinted up the driveway with newfound energy, rainwater splashing up at my legs, soaking the hem line of my jeans. I took a step into the house, waiting for the warm, familiar welcome. It was silent.

I've been in many silences before. Peaceful ones, awkward ones, surprised ones, comfortable ones, and shocking ones. Never one like this. It was almost like it hiding a secret. A dark one. This silence loomed like a black cloud, blotting out the sun, ready to unleash its thunderstorm. Uneasiness came in a wave as I threw my backpack on the staircase, and uneasiness was met by contempt. Psh. Arielle, you are a freshman. Time to start acting like one. Why are you still uncomfortable home alone? You started staying home alone in SIXTH GRADE. My logical mind was fighting against my instinctive one, until the latter was driven into the back of my mind. As it turns out, the back of my mind would be smarter than every other part of my brain.

To settle my restless thoughts, I went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. It was dim, as the only light in the kitchen was flickering, almost swaying back and forth. The usually cluttered counter was bare, except for a purple gemstone. I turned toward the sink, my brain taking a second to comprehend what I just saw. I stopped, and turned back. It was still there, enormous and beautiful, glimmering in spite of the poor light. Subconsciously, I moved forward, drawn to it. As I neared, it an aura seemed to pulsate from it, overwhelming me for a second. I stared at it. It was finely cut, with sheer edges and a fine, smooth surface. It seemed to invite me to touch it, almost urging me to. I couldn't control my actions anymore. I felt my hand drawing closer, and brush the even, flawless surface of the gemstone. Then everything disappeared.

I was swept into a whirlpool of blinding white light. I had no senses, only white. My heart stopped pumping, brain stopped thinking. I would be legally dead if I was on Earth. I wasn't . After for what seemed literally an immeasurable amount of time, I awoke. I blinked slowly, and realized I could move again; I could think. My vision was still blurry, so I rubbed them hard a few good times. When it cleared, my brain couldn't register what I was seeing. I was lying on a beach; pearly white sand clinging to my skin and hair. Waves of dark blue water hit the struck the shore with force, but with a certain kind of grace. The sky was a hot pink, hurting my eyes to look at. Everything was quiet, except the gentle sound of waves. But there was something in the north, stealthily moving forward. Darkness.

I watched numbly, unable to grasp anything at the moment. I watched as the darkness smoothly crept forward like a massive black panther, and then engulfing the surrounding islands. The cries of children and desperate yells of adults filled the air. As the darkness loomed closer, every instinct I had was screaming at me. MOVE! RUN NOW! GO! But I stood there, paralyzed. I would love to say that I came to my senses and took off, away from black, away from the cloud of destruction that it came with. But no. Instead, I laughed hysterically in the face of it. I thought that this was all a dream, and that my imagination was way too active. I wish it was.

As it came closer, a wave of nausea hit me. I dropped into the warm white sand. I suddenly was short of breath, and my lungs screamed for more oxygen. After what seemed like hours, my rescuer came. A pair of strong arms lifted me up from the sand, and that was the last thing I remembered before I passed out.

…..

I woke up to the soft scuffles and whisperings outside my room. Room? With difficulty, I opened my heavy eyelids. It was warm, the fireplace illuminating the room, giving everything a look of vibrancy. I was lying on a large, silk-sheeted bed. It was comfortable, cozy, and warm. As I felt the heat creep up my spine, I fell asleep again; I couldn't hold up any longer. Even though I was in an unknown place, I instinctively knew I was safe.

Vivid dreams splattered across my sleep like a rainbow of paint spilled on a white canvas. They were all different, coming and going so fast that they all became one blur. But one stood out. There was a woman, a pregnant woman. She in a forest, cold, hungry, and exhausted. Dark circles underneath her tortured eyes, matted brown hair, filthy and wild. She crawled over to a clearing, and lay down on a bed of dry, crunchy autumn leaves left over from fall. She closed her forest green eyes and fell into a shallow sleep, shadowed by uneasiness. Evening came. The woman was writhing around and pain, obviously in heavy labor. Tears slid down her dirty cheeks, forming a pearly-white trail through the filth she had gathered through the last few days.

Suddenly, a burst of light came through the trees, and a large scaly animal appeared. It was beautiful, from the tip of the long, majestic tail to the powerful arch of its neck. It was covered with shimmering blue scales that glittered even in the dim light of twilight. The woman trembled, and bowed her head, as it was obvious that she was going to be easy prey for a hungry dragon. "Do not fear me. I am not here to hurt you," the dragon rumbled, its broad chest vibrating with every word.

The woman trembled, and said, voice shaking," Why have you come to me?"

The dragon twitched its tail. The movement shook its whole body. Not responding, it reached out a gnarled claw. The woman flinched, thinking that she and her unborn baby were going to die. She closed her eyes, knowing that she was in no position to flee. But what the expected did not come. She was gently lifted up between the dragon's majestic wings, and into the twilight sky. They soared among the stars, finally landing at a clearing. Unknown to the woman, it was heavily guarded with a thick barrier of magical thorns and bristles. A small stream coming from the spring uphill was trickling along the side, and hundreds of flowers glimmered in front of the moon. The moonlight cast a silver glow, adding to the clearing's soft beauty. But the woman probably didn't notice it. She was gasping for breath, her face almost purple with effort. The dragon gently settled her on a bed of deerskin and flew away, coming back instantly with a clawfull of herbs. The dragon set to work tirelessly. And if you were near there, you would hear the shrill cry of a newborn baby piercing the air of the new dawn, and see the strange sight before you. The dragon relaxed, and leaned back. Suddenly, seconds after she leaned back, a strange look came into her green eyes, mysterious and ominous.

They turned into an electric purple, striking and portentous. She opened her powerful jaw, but the words seemed to have not come from the dragon itself.

"I, Healer Dragon of the mighty Lavintia, speak for the Spirit of the Stars

Of your kin, will be a hero

The savior to Lavintia.

Shall conquer darkness and bring light to innocent.

Among the green-eyed,

Emerge a violet eyed,

The new protector of the Stone."

The new mother clutched her baby, and stared into green eyes of her new child. It was flecked with purple.