Just a Bag

Cont’d 9

Darkness… nothing but endless darkness.  We have been walking for hours with no more than a candles breath of light to guide our steps.  Tendrils of fear seem to be creeping along the cave walls, following us as we stumble over doubts sticking up like great roots on the tunnel floor.  I have been hearing strange whispers echoing in my mind, slowing my steps and causing my feet to catch on whatever is scattered along the path. This has been more difficult of a journey for us than I thought it would be.

  I realize that we are all exhausted and straining with the treacherous tunnels.  I also see the concern in all of your eyes.  Remember, the Commanders’ own guard will ensure we get to our seaside village in the end, but we still must do the traveling part; there may be times we have to experience difficulties, and even pain, in order to get our tasks completed along the way. 

I can assure you that our perseverance will see us through the darkness. 

Whatever this evil is… and yes I do think evil is here… it pursues us in the darkness, just beyond the safety of our lights.  I am not the only one who senses it.  By the weary looks upon your faces, I can tell that I have not been the only one struggling. Holding onto one another will give us courage; staving off the evil voices seeking to weaken and slow us down. 

That’s why I asked James and Crocket to tether us to each other, so we stay connected and our hands are still free for balance.  I noticed a couple of you already bear some marks from stumbling into the walls.  Several of you have voiced your concern over some of my injuries, but I can assure you they are not so bad.  I guess I was letting the voices get to me, more than I wanted to admit.  Both times that I stumbled and fell, I was lost in thought over our task at hand. 

Drifting doubts floated across my mind… Why did I ever think this plan would work?  I was so sure of our mission, so filled with this new found purpose for my Commander.  Why did I ever think I had the skills needed for a task so important as this?  I have made so many mistakes, hurting both myself and those around me; failing so many people, when all I wanted to do was love them and get love in return.  Every epic failure of my past seemed to now overwhelm me, adding weight to each step. These were the questions and doubts I could hear softly echoing off the walls in the darkened tunnels.  

Graciously, the whispers of my Commander broke through the voices, bringing my spirit back online.  He brought to my attention, the fact that both times I stumbled, there were several of you there to catch me, quietly helping me regain my balance.  I looked around at all the faces of my family here, in the light of our lanterns.  All of you have remained with me, not because of anything I have or have not done.  You have shown me your faith, your love, and your courage!  I know that I was the one who invited you to come along, but I am discovering that each of you, unbeknownst to me, may have been hand chosen by my Commander.  You have each grown in strength and bravery, before my very eyes and I am humbled beyond words.

Have you ever noticed how much better you can hear when you are listening for something? He quieted my spirit the way only He can. When the negative voices in my head were finally quieted, a small sound was all it took, to fully break the moments of self-pity and doubt. That small sound was the sound of crying… and it wasn’t me, nor was it coming from anyone in our group.  It was coming from up ahead in the darkness.  I believe we are nearing the doorway marked on the map. 

The closer we come toward the doorway we seek, the louder and more distinct the cry is becoming.  It does not sound human, but definitely something in pain and/or possibly fear.  Whatever is crying sounds so pitiful that my heart is overriding any fear or doubt I previously held onto; I feel compelled to press forward!  I can hear the whispers of my Commander saying over and over in my mind:

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  Isaiah 41:10

I know what must be done!  No matter what that creature is that I hear crying, we must help it!  I don’t know why it took me this long to figure it out.  Think about it!  We are in the mountain of a dragon, and sneaking into his lair… and that cry sounds young. 

The story I read about the dragon Porphyrios, had a small passage written about another dragon… a female.  From my memory I think her name was Isadorna.  Apparantly, the dragon of this mountain stole her from her family; wooing her away from her home.  Isadorna was a Silver Dragon from Mount Adallinda, and according to what I read, she came from royal bloodlines.

The passage told of how Porphyrios tricked her into leaving the safety of her cave, and following him into the wilderness. The dragons of Adalinda were devastated by this loss, as Isadorna had been hand chosen and groomed, for service in the House of Kings.  She has not been seen by anyone apparently, in all the years since her disappearance.  What if there were hatchlings?  What if this is her baby?  Ok, ok… I could be wrong, and I don’t want to get ahead of myself. 

Let us get to the doorway and regroup to formulate an idea of what must be done...