Dragena, The Fearless, Fireless Dragon
DRAGENA, THE FEARLESS, FIRELESS DRAGON
Tears, as large as goose eggs, rolled down the cheeks of Mama Dragon. Her tears ran right
into the big lake in the middle of the jungle.
The lake will soon overflow if you keep crying like that, said Papa Dragon.
Yet, the matter was serious, very serious. At the age of two any dragon with respect for
itself should be able to spew fire, but, their small daughter, Dragena, couldnt. Dragola, Dagenas
twin brother, could. Mama Dragon could. Papa Dragon could, but every time Dragena tried no fire
came from her nostrilsonly a clear stream of water. It looped. It zigzagged. It bopped up and
down, but alas, fire it wasnt.
Maybe it is because she is a girl, Said Papa Dragon.
Nonsense, am I not a girl? Fiercely Mama Dragon spewed fire across the lake and made
her point.
There was only a week left to the Jungle Carnival, the big event of the year when all the
animals came together for games and competition. The kangaroos, naturally, had to see who could
jump the farthest, the ostriches who could run the fastest. And the darling elephants made knots on
their trunksthe more the merrier. The giraffes stretched their long slender necks to see who could
reach the top of the palm trees where the new, tender leaves just were coming out, while the small
mischievous monkeys, hanging by their tales, ate peanutsupside down.
Then, when it was almost dark, came the great moment they all had been waiting for, the
moment the dragons spewed fire across the lake. It was magnificent. It was glorious. Every year it
was larger and better than the previous year. It was as exciting as the fireworks on the Fourth of
Julyexcept there was more, much more of it. This year the excitement was bigger than usual as
the small dragon twins were in the grand finale. At the end of the day came the greatest moment
when the lion, the king of the jungle, awarded medals to all the winners.
The grand finale, however would not look very grand, at least not for little Dragena who
could not spew, not even the smallest spark out of her nostrils. She tried and tried. The more she
practiced the more water she spewedbut no fire.
Today, she thought, today I am going to do it, as she tramped down toward the lake.
The weather is going to be bad, Mama Dragon shouted, but Dragena pretended she didnt
hear her and went on walking. She didnt notice the black clouds which hung low over the jungle.
If I dont make it today, I will never make it, but instead of fire she spewed more water
into the lake. She tried once. She tried twice. The third time there was a big rumbling noise as big
zigzag flames leaped across the sky.
I did it. I did it, she shouted and tried once more, but this time only water came out of her
mouth and nostrils. Now there was zigzag lightening all over the place. The thunder echoed from
the mountains. A terrific thunderclap shook the earth as lightning hit the oldest and largest tree in
the jungle.
Dragena was terrified. There were flames everywhere. She wanted to run home. The
flames were here. They were there. In no time the grass and bushes caught fire.
Oh, all the animals, their homes are burning. Dragena ran as fast as she couldand could
she run!
I have to save the jungle and the homes of them all. The animals were scurrying from
their burrows and nests. As they trampled through the jungle, the little dragon did what she did
very best. She spewed water!
She was all over the place. Her feet moved so fast. They looked like a millions of fluttering
butterflies. She worked hard, and longbut she did not stop to rest until the smallest flame had
drowned in water.
All the animals cheered when Dragena came out at the edge of the jungle. Although a part
of the forest had burned most of their homes had been saved by the little dragon.
At the carnival they cheered for her all over again when she spewed water right into the
center of the lake. Suddenly a hush fell over all of them as the king, the great lion appeared. His
tale swished back and forth. He held his head high, and his magnificent mane was blowing in the
wind.
He called Dragena the bravest and fastest animal of the jungle, and hung a gold medal
around her neck. Then the small girl dragon who couldnt spew fire was hailed by all the animals
as the hero of the jungle.
