In the absence of the souls complete manifestation, I ask myself if there is a reason I stare into the flames, remembering that time a soul attempted to assault me. I lose the pain and shed my scales, this dragon, born anew, will break free one way or the other. In respect he thinks about those sacred times with which insanity provided the point of sanity necessary to procure the hidden magick that ended up astounding the one who assaulted. 

Mirror, oh so perfect, we all have to look at you, and a strong lesson that can provide if one stares past the mirrors reflection. I request the star in my life fall forward and provide love where it belongs, and return it to its rightful owner, shattering the words of oathe that were forged sincerely, but were entertained to false intentions. 

As I stare at the fire before me, in my little camp, along the beach, circled by palms, the sun ever in it's visit to the horizon, red coloring all around, the promise of Sailors Delight with it. I sit, I wonder, I see. Dragon White as day, peering back at me, smoke from it's nostrils flowing forth, mirroring the smoke coming from my nostrils, as I tug on my pipe, made of cherry, filled with Captains Spice. 

I sip my aged bottle of Isle of Jura, and marvel in the bond that is had. Just a glimpse of it's eyes leaves a series of chills up my back, as he moves out of the fire, and grows, grows to the size of a building on large, He Stares a gaze that is more piercing than the one of Justice, as he comes forward, mouth opened, A look of hunger in his eyes that see what most do not. He is that consumer, that extremely powerful force I'd only heard of, as he walks forward, opening his eyes, paralyzing me, not a drop of my fine liquor to be spilled, so great the paralysis. I, he, I, he. Power, yet, not a fools power, Knowledge, yet not a fools knowledge, Strength, yet not a bullies strength, Wisdom, yet not an arrogant persons knowledge. It is he who has realized that he will be where he is, Love, but not a false, or impure love of a seducer, Joy, not a fleeting weak joy of those lost, one of Universal strength, a Star, to light all Stars to place a checque on the darkness. 

He walks to consume me, his scars bared proudly, though none deep enough to wound permanently, his wings vast, his tail strong, his legs solid yet streamlined. Lo I stare this dragon in the face, as he says "I shall consume you."

Stand my ground I do, as I fight my self hate and the lies that it produces and I've fed. The voice of self hate, the shadow form that is not the Black Dragon come forth, "You are Weak, run! You are impure, no joy you contain, run! You foolish coward, you are an idiot, run! You are not full of Love, you are abused and detritus, you are the bane of the heart, run! You have the knowledge of the fool if you stand,. run!" There were more, essentially countering all that this dragon, my predator's eyes were saying. I still sat, as I could not move, or felt I could not, though by this point it was very evident to me that I'd noticed a bond, and if I was to be eaten, I'd prefer the grace of those majestic teeth. As he proceeded, and I could feel the white hot flames singing my hair, naught but 10 feet from my location, I sat, and he spoke with each step. "I consume you because you are Joy, I consume you because you are Love, I consume you because you are Knowlegeable, I consume you because you are Wise, I consume you because you are Strength, I consume you because you are a Power! I consume you because You Are and I Am! You deserve more than what you provide yourself, and you will this time enjoy it, and embrace it, it is your time to step out of the darkness and quit allowing others to make you think you are nothing less than a brilliant Star! Hope, begets hope begets love begets joy begets Existing, and you Exist, and You Are, and I Am, and there is sincerity that bonds. Brace yourself, you shall never be the same and you will more than certainly change all others you meet as your brilliance shines forth, Be the Everything you were Meant to Be, through the Nothing you have been. Allow that Nothing to pull you to me! I will not allow you to stifle yourself anymore!"

As my face started to melt away, I was aware of the fact that the gaping mouth that started to consume me was very well kempt, smelled of Stardust and Faith, and a tinge of Cinamon... A smile beset me as I felt the pain, the slicing of my flesh, the destruction of my previous self, as fearful as it was, it did me honor to be a part of something so Grande. As I slid down the throat, a strange occurence happened. I was standing before a flame lit camp, not a track to be found. A mirror before me, scales upon my body, head to toe, a wild but empowering or fear inducing smile upon my face, and eyes... of Justice, reborn within me. Staring in the mirror, I saw him, and he was I, but I was with new Eyes, piercing eyes of disturbing caliber, with the promise of Joy, and Justice. 

I went to lay down, now knowing the depths of the shadow self that had been with me since I was but a lad. Understood that I'd attracted all those attacks by all those peoples, including a year long rendezvous with a certain Sorceress and one of her many blessings. As I stared into the night sky, a larged, thundering huge Eagle stared as he passed... Seen that gaze before to my first purification that was homelessness and shedding, but this time, it was one of abundance, and joy, and wealth... of heart and soul. As I fell to sleep, I started to realize the magnitude of the power of the situation, Crow by my side, White Dragon within, Thunderbird above. 

They say no man is an island. I disagree, I believe you can most certainly be an island, however, you are still connected to the earth by the shelf, and a wealth of life resides within the waters just off the tranquil sands.