Hero's Journey Short Story

So, here it is everyone! I hope you enjoy, please give me feedback.

The Journey of the Dragon

By Trina Roller

In the small village of Sesinai, there lived a shepherd and his wife. In their years together, they had been prosperous and happy, taking only what they needed and saving the rest. There came a time when the wife looked down at her empty belly and said to her husband “Husband, several years have passed us by, and several more will pass again before our deaths. I pray, let us have a child.”

            The husband looked to his wife and smiled dearly at her. “If that is what you wish.”

            For several months, the husband and wife searched the kingdoms high and low, looking for a child that they could make their very own. The wife traveled to the east to the lands of the desert and the husband west to the land of the swamps, then they both traveled to the plains, searching for their very own child.

            At last, their journey had been in vain, so they returned to their patch of land with their sheep. In anguish, the shepherd’s wife took to keeping herself busy from dusk to dawn, sleeping only when exhaustion haunted her. The shepherd did not fare well either. He too locked himself away, dreaming of a child of his own.

            It was midday when the shepherd took his sheep down towards the river than ran at the edge of his land. As the sheep tended to themselves, the shepherd sat near the river and continued to lick the wounds of his broken heart.

            Suddenly, a cry came from the reeds nearby. The shepherd quickly stood to his feet, but the cry quickly ended as he did. Thinking nothing of it, he sat back down and looked at the river again. Then, a cry came again! The shepherd stood and made his way to the reeds, pushing them so as to find what made such a horrible cry.

            With water up to his knees, the shepherd continued to find where the cry had come from and was rewarded with the sight of a dark, bamboo casket floating upon the water. As carefully as he could, the shepherd removed the lid of the casket and found a woman laying inside, holding a bundle of the strangest cloth he had ever seen close to her chest, a bundle that was kicking and screaming. The shepherd moved a piece of the scale-looking cloth and saw a baby with bright violet eyes looking at him, its screaming ending.

            “A gift of the gods,” The shepherd said, picking the baby up and holding it near his chest. “My wife must know about this.” As fast as he could, the shepherd ran back to his house, leaving the casket and the sheep behind, not giving a worried thought to them.

            When the shepherd had reached his home, he found his wife outside, beating the dirt out of several rugs. Excited, the shepherd ran towards her, calling out to her. When he finally reached his wife, the shepherd had lost his breath. His wife looked at him curiously and asked, “Husband, what has happened to you? Did you lose our sheep? Did you run from bandits? Has the Emperor come?”

            The husband just smiled and shook his head at his wife. “No, dear wife. We have lost no sheep, nor have bandits come to raid our shack, but I have found something far greater than that of a visit from the Emperor.” As gently as he could, the shepherd removed a piece of the cloth from his bundle and showed his wife the face of a baby girl with violet eyes, raven hair, and milk white skin.

            The wife cried out in happiness and hugged her husband, laughing in astonishment and joy. “My husband, where did you find this child?”

            “Out near the river, in the reeds, there hid a casket with the sound of a howling cry coming from within. I reached out to it and discovered a babe that hid inside with its mother, who showed no sign of life. My dear, I believe this to be a gift of the gods. They have answered our prayers for a child!”

            “Come, show me this casket.” The wife said. The shepherd led his wife to the part of the river that he had left their sheep and showed her the reeds. Giving her the baby, the shepherd went to the reeds to pull out the casket, but when he got to it, the casket lay empty with nothing but a mat and cloths of extravagant colors and quality. When the shepherd told the wife his news, the wife looked down at the child and smiled.

            “Then we shall raise her on our own. And we shall call her Kaida, our little dragon.”

            Several years passed for the shepherd and his wife. They cared for Kaida as if she were their very own child, watching her grow into a beautiful and intelligent young woman. To give her a better education, the shepherd moved his family back into the village, giving his young daughter as much as he could.

            When they had arrived in the village, Kaida had passed her seventeenth name day, and when the villagers saw her, they knew she was special, just by the color of her eyes. Often, they called her dragon’s daughter, and she held that title with pride and confidence.

            It was a fresh spring day when Kaida was sitting next to a Koi pond, dancing her fingers upon the water’s surface, when her father came to her, his wife holding his arm and crying. Kaida called to her father, asking what was wrong. The shepherd shook his head.

            “Kaida, my dear, we have never lied to you about where you were from, but your mother and I believe that it is time for you to discover that for yourself.” Then, he took a piece of cloth from his sleeve, a cloth that was detailed in extravagant colors and had shape edges, as if it were made of the softest scales. The shepherd flipped the cloth over and inside, written in gold, was a crest of a dragon and a phoenix. Kaida had never seen a crest such as this in her life.

            “But I do not wish for this to be so. I want to stay, here, with you and mother. Please, do not make me go.”

            “Kaida,” Her mother said, taking her hand and holding it close. “We will never abandon you nor make you leave, but use this time to discover yourself and who you truly are. Then, we will see you again.” The shepherd’s wife smiled softly at her daughter, giving her the encouragement that was needed. The next day, packed with a supply of rations, Kaida waved goodbye to her family and the villagers, and left.

            Kaida traveled on the main road for several days, passing other travelers and stopping in villages for rest. To whomever she could, she asked about the strange crest, receiving answers that it was unknown to them or such a noble crest never existed. With every answer, her heart saddened more, but she continued on, for her parents.

            Finally, after being away from home for several months, Kaida came upon a city that was vast and glorious in size and color. A great river ran all around the city and traveled within, as if the city was built on water. She walked several roads until she came upon a great palace designed to stand tall and show elegance. In awe, Kaida stood there, gaping at how beautiful of a structure it was, until a guard came to her.

            “What is your business with the Emperor?” He asked her, his voice gruff and heavy.

            “Can the Emperor help me? I am looking for the meaning of something.”

            “You are in luck, girl. The Emperor is wise and knows all. Many come to him to ask their questions about life and death and spirit. I shall take you to him.”

            Kaida followed close behind the Imperial guard, clutching her cloth close to her heart. The walk into the palace was attractive and extravagant, but it wasn’t long until the guard had led Kaida into what looked to be the throne room. There, atop a throne that looked to be a chair that a stone white dragon with violet eyes curled around it, was who seemed to be the Emperor. The man was old, his hair long and like a white river with a golden crown that was pinned at the top. With gentle eyes, the Emperor looked down at Kaida, curious to what her question was.

            “My lord, Emperor, I come to you with a question in dire need of an answer.”

“Please, ask me it, and I shall help you to the best of my ability.”

            Kaida reached into her dress pocket and carefully handed the bundle of strange cloth to the Emperor. Curiously, he gazed at the cloth, turning it over with an inspecting eye.

            “This cloth, I have never seen before. What beautiful quality, such soft texture. Where did you happen upon this, my dear?”

            “My father told me that he had found me wrapped in it floating along a river bank.”

            “Do tell me more.” The Emperor said. So it was that Kaida told the story of how she was found that her father and mother had often told her as far back as she could remember.  When she had finished, the wise Emperor regarded her with amazement.

            “This sigil on the inside of the cloth, it is ancient and not very well known. When I was a young boy, I had seen it in several books that I read when I should have learned my studies. This follows the story of a young warrior who went through many trials in order to save a princess that was stolen by a horrible dragon.”

            “And what of this story that is deemed so important?” Kaida asked. The Emperor smiled gently at her.

            “Not all children’s stories share the truth. Understand, the only one who can tell you the truth of this sigil is the one that the warrior went to as well; his name is Kuza. But, in order to meet Kuza, you must complete a set of tasks to prove that you are worthy.

            “First, you must go to the south and discover a fire that can burn in water. Second, you must travel north to the Fountain of Life and bring him a vial filled with its soil from the bottom of the well. Lastly, you will go west, reach the pond of the Moon Mother, and you must take a piece of the moon when you leave. You will then travel east to the Dragon Temple, climb its steps, and give the offerings to Kuza. It is then that he will present himself to you, answering the one question that you want answered the most.

            “My dear, do you accept this quest?” Kaida nodded. The Emperor was happy to hear of it and gave her a map of where she would find the offerings, giving her the best routes and coin. “Make sure to come back and tell me of your journey, and I shall put it in the royal archives.” He told her as she began her decent of the palace stairs. Kaida promised that she would and quickly left with newfound hope.

            Following the Emperor’s map, Kaida decided to go south to find a fire that could burn even in water. As she descended from her homeland, she found herself in a strange land where men and women wore long pieces of cloth that wrapped around their bodies and was only held by pins on their shoulders, and had hair that curled instead of straightened. Often she went up to these strange people and asked them about the fire she was told to find, but many of them laughed and sent her away. It was not until she had reached the edge of the sea that she came upon a man who sat on the shoreline.

            His hair was extremely black, a color that Kaida had not seen in the southern land, and his eyes were a bright violet. She thought it very peculiar, but quickly dismissed it. As she began walking up to the man, he noticed her distress.

            “Whatever is the matter, young one?”

            “I have been sent to the farthest reaches of the south to look for a fire that can burn even in water. I had never heard of such a thing and many of the people I have encountered have said the same thing. Would you have heard of this before?” The man smiled at Kaida with a knowing look in his eye.

            “Yes, I have heard of such a thing, but you must answer me this first; what runs and has no feet, roars but has no mouth?”

            Kaida smiled. She began to remember how her father had told her of such a riddle, and after she had guessed many times and was incorrect, her father smiled at her, telling her the answer.

            “The sea.” She said. The man smiled at her, his eyes shining once again. Reaching into his cloth, he pulled out a large bottle with no opening. Inside it, though, glowed the most beautiful green light Kaida had ever seen. She knew it was fire that could burn underwater.

            “Please, take this. With this fire, it can never be put out, but it can bring unimaginable destruction if you so wished it. Be wise not to open it.” Kaida gave her promise, and, after thanking the man many times, she went north, so that she may find the other offerings.

            Returning to her homeland, Kaida traveled further north, climbing up several mountains and passing many monks who searched for enlightenment. She knew her journey had ended for a moment when she saw an extravagant shrine of earthy hues that covered what looked to be a well. She knew that this was the Fountain of Life. Looking down into the well, she saw that the well itself was indeed very deep and it seemed almost impossible to reach the bottom of it. Silently, she sat against the well and felt herself despair, losing all hope.

            After several moments of silence, Kaida heard the sound of a frog. She looked over and saw that there was indeed a frog that sat beside her, a frog with patchy, green skin and violet eyes. It appeared to Kaida that it looked at her with sadness and worry.

            “Young one,” the frog said its voice scratchy and chilling, “What downs you so?”

            “I have come here so collect soil from the bottom of this well, but as I gazed into it, I saw that it was far too deep for me to reach the bottom. Now I am despaired.” The frog listened in silence until Kaida had finished.

            “I could collect the soil from the bottom of the well for you. When I have given the earth to you, you must promise me that you will take me to the bottom of this mountain, for I wish to leave this place.” Kaida had given the frog her word, smiling at last. After giving the frog her vial, she watched and waited patiently as the frog did his part. Not a moment later, the frog jumped out from the well and gave her the vial; inside it was filled with a dark goo that seemed to be earth.

            “Thank you, good friend. Now, let us leave this place so that we may both get on with our lives.” And so it was that Kaida carried the frog down the mountain in her pack, confidence filled her even though she had felt empty before. When she reached the bottom of the mountain, Kaida carefully placed the frog next to a pond, wished him a good journey, and continued on her way.

            After traveling west for many days, Kaida came upon a noble home to where she asked that she may rest. The noble of the house gladly took her in, and gave her a very nice room. As Kaida slept that night, she dreamt of what she knew to be the Moon Mother’s pond. There she discovered Koi swimming in unison together, creating the perfect circle. One was the color of night with a spot of white on its head, and the other the color of the moon with a spot of black on its head, yet both carried violet eyes.

            “What beautiful fish,” Her dream-self said. Gently, she touched the surface of the pond, gaining the attention of the Koi.

            “What it is that you seek, young one?” The Koi asked in unison, speaking as one voice, yet both were different.

            “I have come to find a piece of the moon so that I may take it to the one named Kuza so that he may answer my question.” The Koi nodded together.

            “We have heard of such a being. Please, take this.” The Koi sunk down below for a moment and quickly returned, holding a pearl. Kaida took the pearl and placed it on her palm, amazed at how beautiful it was.

            “Tell me, how is this a piece of the moon?”

            “The moon is mother to all, and when she created the clam, she told it that she would create it in her own image. Thus it creates a pearl so perfect that it has become a piece of the moon herself.” The Koi fish explained. With this newfound knowledge, Kaida thanked the Koi, asking what she could give in return.

            “Do nothing, only thank the moon every night, and know the truth of beauty and strength.” And with that, Kaida opened her eyes. When she sat up, she discovered the noble’s house was gone, and she was all alone near a cluster of wood. After placing the pearl carefully in her pack, she began her long journey east, towards the Dragon Temple.

            It was night when Kaida had reached the Dragon Temple. She looked upon it and gasped at how high the temple had been built, at how many steps that were embedded into stone. Before she could change her mind, she began her ascent.

            By the time she had reached the top, the full moon was high in the night sky, and Kaida had lost her breath. Before she went into the temple, she looked up at the moon, remembering the Koi’s words, and gently said, “Moon, mother of all, I give my thanks to you.” Then she entered the temple, finding the jade table that the Emperor had told her to place the offerings on.

            After waiting a moment, Kaida felt a shift in the wind. She turned around and gazed in surprise as she was face to face with what was a dragon. Like the Emperor’s throne, this dragon was white with violet eyes, its body moved like a flowing current, and seemed looked into Kaida’s soul.

            “Welcome to my abode, child.” The dragon said, it’s voice familiar, but she could not place where she had heard it. “What is it that you seek?”

            Before answering, Kaida took a deep breath and said, “I wish to know who I am.” If a dragon could smile, Kaida swore that this one did.

            “You, young one, are special; you are one and you are all. You traveled this world on the tops of clouds and swam in its seas. You belong to the earth, but you are the daughter of fire. You, child, are a dragon.”

            A dragon? Kaida thought. How was that possible?

            “But what of this sigil?” She asked, holding the cloth up to the dragon.

            “It is the mark of a dragon reborn. You remain a dragon on the inside, but you travel the world in a new vessel and discover its feelings and emotions.”

            “But that woman in the casket with me…”

            “She was a Guardian. She traveled with you and protected you until you were where you were meant to be. You are special, child. You are free.”

            Kaida took those words in and slowly smiled. That was why the cloth seemed to be made of scale, that was what the dragon and the phoenix meant; she finally understood.

            “What do I do now?” She asked the dragon.

            “Go home, live your life, do things for others, take risks, because you may never know if you will ever live a life such as this again.”

            Kaida thanked the dragon, quickly wrapping her arms around its neck. The dragon did nothing, but let her do what it was that was needed. Saying a quick goodbye, Kaida ran down the stone steps and raced back to her family with a speed she never knew she had.

            Before Kaida returned to her village, she made true on a promise she had made from what it seemed to be a lifetime ago. She traveled to the palace of the Emperor and when she saw him, she told him her story. He watched her with curiosity, and, like a child, gasped at her trials. The Emperor thanked Kaida for such a wonderful story and promised her that she was always welcome in his Imperial palace.

            When Kaida had returned to her little village, the sun was high and the day was busy. Farmers were selling their food, merchants selling their wares; it was as if Kaida had never left. When she reached her home, she hesitated from knocking. It had been far too long since she had seen her father and mother; what would she tell them about her journey? Before she could decide, the sliding door opened and there stood her father. She watched as his eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly pulled her towards him and held her to his chest in a loving hug.

            “My sweet daughter, it has been too long. I hope your journey was successful.” The shepherd told Kaida, kissing the top of her head. Kaida smiled to herself at his affection, something she had missed dearly and had not changed in him. A moment passed and her father let her go, looking at how changed she truly was.

            “Come inside, tell your mother and I all about it.” He said, closing the door behind the both of them, grateful to the moon that his daughter had returned to him.