The Pearl Ch. 08

"More of me?" I wanted clarification.

"More of your energy, your life force. Unless I am very mistaken, you and Dakota engaged in some form of love making at the spot I found you at."

Not wanting to lick and tell, I glanced back at Dakota. She smiled and shook her head. Not in refusal, but in amusement at me. Then it hit me. By looking back I had confirmed his suspicion. Duh.

Dakota patted my back. "It's cool," she said.

"Yeah, that's pretty much what happened," I confirmed. "But it was really strange."

"Yes?" Chang's expression indicated I should continue.

"Well," I began, then stopped, unsure of the words. "It's like I was headed for the big pay off and the river just sort of took it. I kinda had the after effects but not the orgasm itself, you know?"

Chang nodded. "I think I understand what you're describing."

"Oh, good. Can you explain it to me?"

Chang laughed. "I believe I can. As has been discussed earlier, one of the things the river requires from it's guardian is energy, life essence. The act of lovemaking is exceedingly powerful, particularly when there are strong emotions involved. And that power can be very heady, as it is one of the cornerstones of life itself. The river partook of that energy to help bolster and sustain it's energy. In this way not only does your bond to this river become stronger, you strengthen the river."

"Wow," I said. "And here I thought it was just casual sex."

"You are far too fond of Dakota for sex to be casual. Nor do I think it would have been as nourishing to the river if it had been. Not that sex without emotion isn't powerful. It can be. But it's usually much more powerful with that connection."

"Well, I guess that explains why the river was so insistent," Dakota said. She leaned over and looked into the river. "Glad to be of help," she called down with a smile.

like dakota best you not to aggrieve her keep her happy

It's not like this didn't mirror my actual plans, but getting romantic advice from something that's probably never been in a romantic relationship made my scales twitch. "Why thank you, Dr. Phil. I couldn't have figured that out on my own."

thought not

I sighed and shook my head.

"What?" Dakota asked.

I looked back to her. "The river likes you and is telling me I'd better not do anything to upset you."

"Sounds like good advice," Chang added.

I was getting double teamed, but at least Chang had been in relationships.

We reached the spot where we'd met. I arched my back so Dakota could climb off, then brought my head around so I was facing her.

"Again, sorry I have to bail," she said.

I nudged my head against her and she kissed me between the antlers.

"I'll be back as soon as I can, but I've got a half a ton of school work."

"'S'okay," I said. "Can't wait to see you again."

She looked past me to Chang. "It was lovely seeing you again," she said, bowing slightly over her hands.

He dipped his head in response. "You also. Safe travels."

Dakota walked away down the path, looking back once to wave goodbye. I watched until she was out of sight. I looked over to Chang to find him watching attentively.

"If you are ready?" he said

I remembered there was something coming about the moon. "Yeah, sorry." I gave him my full attention.

Chang smiled. "No need to apologize. You are rather fond of her." Chang looked to the sky, studying the position of the sun. "I believe we have a few hours until night fall. We need a spot with a clear view of the sky, or the clearest available."

I thought for a moment. "I think I have a spot."

We walked down the center of the river together, with me leading through the spots where the river narrowed too much for us to walk abreast. We traveled in companionable silence. I wasn't used to that. I was used to noise and chatter. It was nice.

We went past a few industrial areas that while they fit the description of having a clear view of the sky, I didn't like them. There was a feeling to them that unsettled me. Without thinking, I walked faster.

"You do not like the engines of industry?" Chang asked as we hurried past about the third one.

"No, not really."

"Why not?"

I shrugged. "Couldn't say." I hadn't been bothered by these types of areas before becoming a dragon, so it was new. I didn't have an explanation for it yet.

Chang stopped where he was. I continued on a few steps before I realized, but then turned around. He looked patient and relaxed, but something in his stance told me I'd just given the wrong answer.

"What?"

"If something is wrong with these places, you should determine what it is." His tone was mild, but brooked no dissent. "Now, please go back there and tell me what is wrong."

I went back with some trepidation. I understood his point. If something was wrong, I should find out what. However, the thought of opening myself up to that energy made me skittish.

I eased back into the area. We hadn't gotten that far when Chang stopped so I didn't have far to go. The river was broader here, and there was concrete up the sides of the banks and buildings on either side. The air smelled unpleasant, though there weren't any factories I could see. I wasn't sure what this place was for. Sensing my discomfort the river tried to bolster me. With the river's moral support, I opened myself up.

Desolate, that's what it was. The river and the woods, even the more inhabited sections of the river had such a feeling of being alive that the absence of it made me apprehensive. Also a little sick to my stomach, or maybe sick to my pearl is more accurate. I could still sense the living essence of the river, but the surrounding area felt stricken and wrong. Instinctively, I lowered my head and slunk backwards out of the area. I was so intent on the area that I backed into Chang. I jumped and gave a startled little squeak of a roar that embarrassed me. I looked back around to Chang and was surprised by the look of sympathy he gave me.

"That bad is it?" he asked.

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

He nodded in commiseration, his golden eyes dimmed and grave. "It is like this, far too often. There are parts of the Chang Jiang river," he started, then caught himself. "Yangtze," he amended, "for which I weep, and I am not even a water dragon. But there is always hope, remember that. And mark these places, for they can shelter and breed all manner of vileness."

I nodded again, amazed by the thought that Chang and I could have a shared experience. I also filed away what he said, and planned on taking a tour of these places to get a better handle on them. Chang stepped aside and with a nod of his head indicated I should continue on.

I walked past him, my gait a little shaky, and resumed the lead. Before long we were at the spot. It was a bend in the river that was wooded but with a break in the trees. The woods lined both sides of the bank until the bend, then the woods on the far side of the bend opened into a meadow and the woods on the inside of the bend continued on.

"Yes," Chang said as he surveyed the view of the sky over the meadow. "This will do nicely."

He arranged himself in the meadow next to the bank, coils curled around and settled into the soft grass. The faraway look that often accompanied lessons came to his face and I also settled in, partway on the bank with my legs and tail resting in the river. I gave him my full attention.

He ruminated a few moments before speaking. "What does this resemble?" He raised his right front claw and with a luminescent shimmer, what I assumed to be his pearl appeared. It glowed softly and was nearly to large for him to hold one handed.

"A...pearl?"

He sighed. "Yes, that's what it is. But what does it look like?"

I cocked my head and considered the glowing sphere. The light was soft and a sort of bluish-white, and the pearl itself looked perfectly round. An association was slowly built in my mind.

"Well, I guess it kind of looks like the full moon."

"Very good." The pearl disappeared as Chang lowered his leg. "Dragons are celestial creatures, no matter what our individual elements may be, linked to both the sun and moon. The sun shall be left to another time, tonight we shall discuss the moon. Where do pearls come from?"

"The jewelry counter at high end-stores, like Tiffany's," I deadpanned. The look Chang gave me indicated that this was maybe not the time. "Oysters."

"Precisely. Here is what I suspect you do not know. Oysters create pearls by distilling gathered moonlight that filters down to them into the solid form of the pearl."

My jaw dropped. "Seriously?"

Chang seemed a bit confused at my dubiousness. "Yes. I am serious. And by a similar mechanism dragons also utilize moonlight in our pearls. It is a gift from the moon."

I knew Chang wasn't putting me on, but this was just too bizarre to me. "I'm sorry, but I've got a question."

Chang read my look all too well and smiled. "Only one?"

"For now. OK, the moon gives pearls to oysters and dragons, but just those two creatures. HUH? Isn't that a freaking huge difference on the evolutionary scale there? I mean, why do just oysters and dragons process moonlight like that?"

Chang's expression became thoughtful as he considered what I said. "I had never thought about that," he conceded. "I suppose you can ask her yourself. She may give you an answer."

"Ask the moon?"

"Of course. Our clan is called the Moon's Favor for a reason, and I imagine she will be intrigued by a new addition."

His description of the moon caught my attention. I considered my experience with the river, as well as the trees Qiang tore up and it lead me to my next question.

"Does everything have a spirit?"

"Yes." Chang smiled patiently at me and I began to suspect I was supposed to have gotten that a while ago.

"Everything everything, or just certain things?"

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

"Well, clearly the river, and the trees, and apparently the moon and sun. But what about, say, soda cans, or candy wrappers, or clothing?"

"I see what you're getting at. It has been my experience that all natural phenomenon have attendant spirits of some nature. Man-made objects don't usually, but some particularly well loved objects seem to develop something very similar."

"So the velveteen rabbit could become a real bunny?" I was beginning to feel bad about all the stuffed toys I had discarded over time.

"I can't speak to a particular case of that happening, but I suppose it could be possible. The Japanese have many stories of such things, but I am ill-acquainted with them. Perhaps someday you could ask a Japanese dragon about them."

Visions of being attacked by my forlorn toys came to me. "I don't know that I really want to know."

Chang chuckled. "I suppose sometimes ignorance is bliss. But to the matter at hand, most all natural phenomenon have spirits. The power of the spirit does vary immensely. You're acquainted with the spirit of the river, and it is strikingly powerful, and with your connection it will become more so. But it is less powerful than some and more powerful than others. Do you follow?"

"Yeah, that makes sense."

"Good. Now the sun and the moon are arcana, mysteries of nature. They both have deities that represent them, throughout many cultures, but they are beyond those representations."

"They're beyond God?" I was getting confused, again.

"No, they are beyond the representations that the deities stand for. You see, the names and stories attributed to them are simply amanifestation of these powers and not the powers themselves. And what you will see tonight is also a manifestation. Though we as dragons are a part of the powers that arranged the universe, we are simply that. A part. We are not on the same level as those who created us."

As Chang and I were speaking, dusk had settled and full night was coming on. When Chang was finished speaking he looked over my head and wordlessly indicated I should look in the same direction. I turned my head and saw the full moon rising above the horizon. As I gazed at the moon, it felt like it was the first time I had ever seen it. Her beauty was breathtaking. I was mesmerized.

*********************

I was home, with books spread out in front of me on the dining room table. Night had fallen, and I was wishing for perhaps the hundredth time I had stayed with Sebastian and Chang. But this was important coursework, and needed to be done. If I could focus on it, I could probably get it done quicker. I sighed. Then I heard a noise at the door.

I started to get up to see what it was when the door came crashing in. Chad stood on the threshold, and the frenzied look on his face froze my blood. He stared at me, his expression seemed at once visceral and confused. I considered saying something, but he appeared well past reasoning. The moment hung between us as though neither of us were certain of what we wanted to do. I was the first to move. I ran for the phone. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see him dart after me. I reached the phone before he reached me. I managed to get three numbers dialed before he pulled me off. In his state he didn't think to hang up the receiver. Fortunately, he didn't hear the voice on the handset over my screams.

"911, please state the nature of your emergency."