SKYBLUE’S NEW LIFE — Her own rhythm

Skyblue kept her own rhythms. She rose early to watch the dawn: she loved the magic of light overcoming darkness.

There were few birds in the village; the dragons complained that birdsong distracted them. Ernesto, on the other hand, gradually filled with birds from other lands. They nested in his branches and sang when they woke. Fortunately, the neighbors were too far away to hear them and demand that they leave.

Skyblue breakfasted on berries, fruit, and fresh herbs chosen for their colors. She picked different ones each day, depending on the mood she woke in and what she found in the forest. Then she went exploring.

She had no set time to return. There was so much to discover that the day never seemed long enough.

“You need a routine,” her parents advised. “We dragons are hardworking creatures. We can’t go wandering about with no order to our days.”

Skyblue listened, but she could never quite understand why they all slept so late if they were so busy.