At the Gates

A rush of urgency pulsed through me. The encroaching dusk was a reminder that I needed to make haste. I remembered having wings before my arrival in this strange land, but they were now conspicuously absent. I was no longer a divine being in the afterlife, but rather a reborn human. Vulnerable and ordinary. Perhaps it had been naive to consider using my wings in this unfamiliar territory, where other airborne creatures could easily detect and intercept me. I resigned myself to staying grounded, turning my attention instead to the search for a gate. There had to be one somewhere.

Maintaining a cautious distance from the formidable wall, I traversed its length, scrutinizing the surroundings for an opening. Eventually, I found it. The gate was guarded by an eclectic assembly of dragons, varying in size and hue, along with a smattering of griffins. They appeared to be merchants, patiently waiting their turn to enter the city. I quietly joined them at the back of the queue. The griffin and a dragon in front of me took notice of my silent presence. They exchanged a quick glance, then returned their gaze forward, whispering to each other in speculative tones about my identity. Despite my embarrassment at their comments, I held my tongue until the griffin spun around and greeted me, "Good day, I’m Nala. Nice to meet you.” Her voice was friendly, but her sudden introduction caught me off guard. I responded with polite reciprocation, “Nice to meet you too, Nala. I’m Raphael.”

The dragon beside her also swiveled to face me and said, “Hi Raphael, I’m Razel. Are you an ape?” Nala promptly slapped him with one of her claws, admonishing, “No, he’s not. He doesn’t have a tail. Please excuse my friend here. Anyway, what are you?” I felt a twinge of offense at his question, but I answered composedly, “I’m a human. I suppose you’ve never seen one before.”

Nala's eyes widened in surprise. “Oh, wow, a new kind of creature. I’ve never seen a human before. Are all humans so small?” I sighed inwardly and clarified, “I’m average height for a human. There are some taller than me, but that’s not important right now.” She apologized, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. I was just curious.” I waved her apology away and asked, “Can I ask what you two are?” They retorted, “Isn’t it obvious?” I apologized, “Sorry, you are a griffin and you’re a dragon, right?”

Their confirmation was accompanied by a hint of pride, “Yes, but not just any griffin or dragon. I’m a fire griffin.” “And I’m a wind dragon from the kingdom of the Whispering Wind, domain of Queen Freya.” Their declarations sparked my curiosity about these kingdoms, but before I could inquire further, a commotion at the gate drew my attention.

Suddenly, two guards appeared and seized me. One tersely stated, “You have to come with us.” As they hauled me past the gate towards a dragon holding a parchment list, I wondered who else knew about my arrival besides Zeno. The dragon, who seemed to already know my name, confirmed my identity with a nod to the guards and ordered, “It’s him. Bring him to them.” The vague reference to 'them' suggested individuals of significance.

The city was a maze of old, expansive streets, teeming with dragons of all sorts. Their curious or suspicious glances were a stark reminder that they, too, had likely never seen a human. The attention made me feel uncomfortable.

Eventually, we arrived at a section of the city enclosed by another wall. Inside, grand buildings outnumbered the inhabitants, their ornate facades more decorative than practical. The guards led me into a temple, instructing me to wait until summoned. Left alone in the cavernous building, surrounded by walls adorned with indecipherable symbols and cryptic writings, I felt a sense of powerlessness. I decided it was best to comply with their instructions, not wanting to cause any trouble so soon after my arrival. I resolved to follow each order as best as I could.