The Snow Flower

By: Danica Loy

The wind swirled over the tall skyward mountains, carrying within every gentle breath the clean fresh white snow that covered each sky-scraping peak. Stirring through the seas and rivers, blue as a freshly cut sapphire. Across the land, the wind blew, coloring the Earth with whispered magic. Spraying over the thick cornfields of a nearby village, the wind left a trail of beautiful white flowers in its wake. However, this creation never lasted long, for opposite the snow peaked White Mountains were the fire blazing Red Mountains. Hot molten lava shot from its peaks, making the heat of its surrounding land unbearable to even step foot upon.

And there in between the calm White Mountains and the ravaging Red Mountains was the small secluded peaceful village; Summer.

Like a colorful rainbow appearing in the spray of a waterfall crashing onto the water's clear surface, it was a scene unlike anything else to the sad crystalline eyes that looked upon the scene that played out below. Oh how Avatar wished he could fly over it like the other dragons; leaving his cave behind. Alas, he could not, for he was not like the others.

Megumi, his only friend and the dragon of the element water, had a deep turquoise body of a mermaid's tail that sparkled under the sun, and wings like foam floating upon the ocean's surface.

Sasiri was the hot-tempered Fire Dragon. His body was that of a giant crimson salamander, with his wings glowing like lava as it flows down the Red Mountains.

The smallest dragon, Shiori, was in control of the element wind. Free spirited she found joy in everything. Her body was that of a long white hot dog with leathery bat-like white wings.

The eldest and the wisest of all the elemental dragons was the Earth Dragon, Triniti, with the body of the rocky terrain from which she was born, and wings green as the leaves of the trees of which she greatly loved.

Finally Avatar, with wings of a dove and nearly transparent like the mist of the morning before the dawn, and his body that of a human man no more than the age of twenty with skin as pale as the cleanest snow.

Avatar could never leave his cave in the White Mountains, for he wasn't human nor was he like the other dragons. Oh, how he wished he could find some place he could belong.

Not far away, just above the puffy silver-lined clouds Shiori's high-pitched screech could be all across the Earth. "Why do you always ruin everything, Sasiri?" The little dragon whined, all the while, Sasiri, who towered over her, with eyes closed and arms crossed, could care less about what the puny dragon was saying.

"It's not my fault; you're the one who puts your flower in the same place every morning!" The red dragon growled through clenched teeth.

Shiori started to pout. "Everyone knows very well that that field is the only place where my creation can thrive!" By now the little wiener dragon had dew drops floated around her eyes. Sasiri saw this and rolled his own eyes whilst muttering "baby" under his breath.

Just then, from a behind Shiori a large spout of water gushed upwards spraying its fresh cool spring water, drenching the two dragons. All eyes turned toward the upside down waterfall in time to see Megumi appear from it. Smiling as always, she took teary-eyed Shiori under her folded wing, all the while throwing a playful smirk in response to Sasiri's threatening glare.

"I saw what happened, and I just figured you needed time to cool off. Or do I need to tell Triniti of this? You know she always loves it when you get steamed." Megumi laughed remembering that Sasiri's and Triniti's last argument created the Red Mountains. Sasiri just scoffed realizing Megumi was once again getting under his skin, and with a spark of his wings, he disappeared through the clouds back to Earth.

"There now, big meanie red is gone. Now why don't go practice on making your flower strong enough to stand up to Sasiri's flames." Megumi cooed as she stroked Shiori's bat-like wing.

"Thank you, Megumi!" Shiori chirped, and without a second glance she disappeared within a small gust of wind.

"Don't give up Shiori. Your flower is indeed a special gift." Megumi whispered to a passing soft breeze before she too descended back to earth.

Later on that day, within the quiet village of Summer, people crowed together, hustling through the narrow streets of the market square. The chatting of all the voices could be compared to the loud roar of lion herding his clan. All the while one young girl no more than fourteen squeezed her way through, a basket of food cradled in her arms. Her whispered voice could barely be heard among the shouts.

Elisabeth was a quiet, well behaved girl who never spoke out; in fact she was too shy to even stand up for herself. She was very obedient to all she met.

As she crossed the bridge over Sparkle Spring, the only river that ran through the valley, she peered down at her reflection in the water's surface; bright emerald green eyes, long silken auburn brown hair played with the evening breeze, and the smiling glow of a girl who had everything she could ever want.

With that warm smile upon her face she turned away starting off toward home to rest for another day.

Unbeknownst to Elisabeth as she departed, a pair of sea blue eyes watched her from the river's surface. Megumi smiled softly, for she knew this girl had nothing to smile about after watching her for years now. No girl would ever wish for her life. Her parents' mysteriously vanish, and she is left to grow up alone.

'What she needs is a friend.' Megumi giggled, disappearing beneath the water once more.

Early the next morning, before the sun started to rise over the White Mountains in the east, Elisabeth lay quietly hidden beneath the thick cornfield stalks. Her emerald eyes gazing dreamily up at the dark sky watching the last few stars before the morning sun drove them away. There she was waiting.

For the past several nights she would be having a dream where she was standing on a beach, small waves of foam brushed up against her feet. Then she would see a figure standing on the water in front of her. It looked like her mother. She couldn't touch her though. Her mother would always say; "Go into the fields before the dawn rises, there you will find a special rare gift. Care for it, and give it only to your trusted friend." Elisabeth didn't have any friends in the village but she couldn't ignore her mother's word. So every morning she goes out before dawn and waits, however for some strange reason the flower melts when it touches her hand. But tonight she brought a small silver container then she would run deep into the White Mountains, where it is said nothing ever melts.

Suddenly, an abrupt ice cold wind blows past her. Elisabeth thanked herself for wearing her thick navy blue winter cloak. She looked up and there it was; a delicate white flower in full bloom with dewdrops on its pedals, perched on top of a cornstalk.

Carefully plucking its stem and placing it within the lidded container, the girl then sprinted off as fast as her feet could carry her toward the White Mountains.

Though Elisabeth traveled through nearly a foot layer of snow, while artic chills brushed up her spine, she was not cold or afraid but fascinated for she had never seen snow up close.

Not before long, she came upon a large cavern. Hesitating only a moment, Elisabeth ventured inside.

It was breath-taking. There, in the ballroom size cave, hundreds of life-size glass ice sculptures covered the mirror-like floor. All of them different shapes and sizes, each one more life like than the last. Off to one side against the wall were four statues of the Elemental Dragons of Legend, smooth as glass. Elisabeth didn't want to touch them for fear of breaking anything.

Just then, a soft cry echoed around the cave, startling the young girl frozen in her steps. There in the entrance opposite to the one she entered from; a long shadow stretched on the wall and started to walk towards her. Elisabeth was trembling, but she couldn't run. Her feet were frozen in fear; until a gentle voice stopped her actions cold.

"Who are you?"

Standing in front of her was a tall young man with long snow white hair that swept down to his elbows and sparkling crystalline eyes that anyone could get lost in.

"What are you doing here?"

The man asked again in a smooth tone, thus making Elisabeth remember her own manners. She extended a still trembling hand.

"M-my name is Elisabeth. I'm sorry to intrude but I was hoping I could keep this flower here for awhile for it melts whenever I touch it and since up here nothing ever melts."

She removed the lid of the container and the man examined it.

Avatar immediately recognized it as one of Shiori's flowers. It amazed him that one human would go through so much trouble to bring him something so rare.

He brushed past her over to a long glass table. She felt a cold tingle rush through her whole body, as she watched him walk off, transparent wings on his back and a long lizard like tail swishing left and right behind him. She gasped; he was the fifth legendary elemental dragon from the stories she had heard.

"What's your name, dragon?" Elisabeth whispered hoping he wouldn't hear.

He did.

"Avatar." The man said solemnly.

Elisabeth walked over to Avatar's side; head bowed, but noticed that his six foot stature towered over her 5'2".

Silence filled the room.

Elisabeth looked to see Avatar tending to a small glass basin, clear diamond crystal stones lay within it surrounding the empty space in the center. Elisabeth looked at the decoration and thought it was plain. Hesitantly, when Avatar moved his hands, she moved and lay the flower with the empty center.

"Will it be safe?" Elisabeth asked.

Avatar turned his eyes to her once more, "Come back tomorrow and you shall see then."

Elisabeth smiled as her gaze met with his. "Thank you." were her last words as she left the cavern to journey back to her home.

The next day, Elisabeth went back to the cave just before noon. Along with her, she brought a basket with food and blankets. She didn't know what Avatar liked but she was sure he would be hungry, and cold with all the frequent artic blasts.

And for the next several hours the two would leisurely sit on the blankets, snack on the food in the basket and just enjoy one another's company. They would talk about everything and not feel embarrassed; past, present, friends, family, and anything that came up.

The days went by and everyday Avatar became more comfortable to having Elisabeth around all the time. Someone unlike Megumi, who was fun to be with, was not the easiest person to tell secrets to. She had a big mouth at times.

Avatar loved it when she would come and he saw that smiling face, but something was wrong. It just didn't feel right.

Then one day, as soon as Elisabeth set up the blankets on the floor and they both sat down, he covered her hand gently with his own.

"Elisabeth, you have given me everything I have always wished for; thank you so very much my dearest friend…"

As he said this, their joined hands began to glow a light blue.

"…but now there is something else I'm hoping for."

He removed his hand and there in its place was a glowing crystal flower, an exact of the one she brought three months ago, the same one that still in the glass basin on the table.

Elisabeth's eyes lit up from the glow, and filled with teardrops. The flower did not melt on her hands! All in breath, she could feel her mother's warm touch, her father's gentle voice, and the childhood missed with them. Elisabeth smiled.

Avatar saw this and in less than a moment he wrapped his arms around her in a loving embrace. "Thank you, you given me everything I ever wished for."

Elisabeth returned the hug, tears falling from her eyes and land on Avatar's pale shoulder. "No, thank you; you're the best friend I could ever have hoped for."

They stood up still caught in their embrace, until Elisabeth looked up into Avatar's eyes.

"Avatar, may I ask something of you as a friend?"

Avatar smiled, "Anything for my dearest friend."

"Could I see the world from your eyes?"

Avatar stared at her intently, "Do you trust me?"

"With my life, my dearest friend," Elisabeth answered, wrapped her arms tightly around Avatar's neck.

In that instant, they floated above the ground and swooped from the cave and above clouds, peering down at the Earth. Avatar, for the first time, was not concerned about who saw him or if anyone would accept him. He knew Elisabeth would not because he was a dragon with magic or a human like herself, but that he was her friend and nothing was going to change that.

As they gliding on top of the clouds, Avatar spotted Megumi floating upon the ocean's surface. She was looking up straight at him, smiling all knowingly.

'You knew all along didn't you?' Avatar chuckled, before soaring off.

Megumi laughed as she watched them leave. "Always trust a friend Avatar; they will never let you down."

THE END