Drak’s First Dragon Dream

	I became aware that I was in an old, worn-down and wind-hollowed building that seemed to have originally been constructed from scraps. I-beams held together with bolts too small for them, and the walls were made of rusting steel panels and fences. It seemed just about ready to come down on top of me. Yet I wasn’t worried. I was a dragon.
	Outside my shelter was a seemingly endless dune sea. The sky was a glorious blue above, and the sands were almost golden in color. The sun beat down mercilessly, but it didn’t bother me. I was a dragon.
	I stepped forth into the sand, soft and shifting between my claws. A voice spoke beside me and I realized I was not alone. The person who had been my best friend for five years stood beside me, but not as I knew her. She was too lean, and wore armor. I don’t remember what she said precisely. The meaning was, more or less, that it was time for us to seek for resources to survive.
I was a small dragon, too small to carry her. So, we set out together on foot across the sand dunes. Her feet sank deep into the sand, and she often clung to me for balance. For my part, I used my tail to push myself up the steepest parts of the dunes, and I slid down on my belly on the other side. My scales made me resistant to the irritation and heat of the sand. I was a dragon.
	In time we reached an oasis, with a small settlement therein. We were known to the people there. We drank our fill of water from the oasis and went to search for work to pay for food.
	It was then that a distraught mother approached us. Some creatures from across the dunes had stolen her children and she begged me, the dragon, to save them. I didn’t hesitate, I set out at once. I was a dragon.
	Though I had wings, I did not fly. I don’t know why I did not choose to fly. Instead I leaped from the crest of one dune to the next, over and over. I was travelling alone now, so I didn’t need to plod along at a human pace. The leaping was exhilarating, though after several hours of this my legs began to grow tired. But not so tired I couldn’t continue. I was a dragon.
	In time, as the sun began to turn crimson in the sky as it descended to my right, I saw an island of stone amid the sand sea. Within it was a cave. I was certain my target waited there, and hoped that their prey yet lived.
	I reached the cave and was met at once by two large, lean and fierce canids, with blood-red eyes and a howl that would freeze a man’s blood. But I was not afraid. I was a dragon.
	Their blows glanced off my scales and I saw an opening. I lunged, and my teeth closed around the neck of the first canid. Blood gushed into my mouth, warm, metallic, and delicious. I shook my enemy to ensure they were dead and turned to fight the second. The second canid, eyes glowing in the dying light, lunged at me with a terrible snarl. I ducked my head to protect my sensitive snout and eyes, and the creature’s fangs closed only on my boney crest of horns. The creature yelped in pain and withdrew, and again I lunged. Once more I tasted blood as the beast’s throat yielded to my teeth.
	My enemies subdued, I entered the cave, hoping the children yet lived.
	There they were. Huddled in the back of the cave with three others who must have been taken before. Bones littered the floor of the cave, telling unspoken tales of death I could not prevent. But I could save these ones.
	“You are safe now, little ones. I will take you home.” I promised them. I was a dragon.

And then I woke up and was only human again.