THE FIFTH REALM: TURQUOISE — Joy finds its voice

One morning she saw her reflection in the stream and took a moment to recognize herself.

She had many more blue scales. Light ran along their edges, kindling iridescent flashes. Her eyes seemed deeper, her expression softer. She no longer always wore the scowl that warned everyone: ‘Come near me and I’ll tear you to pieces.’

Skyblue tilted her head to one side. Her reflection did the same.

“Well. That’s me too.”

She laughed. The laughter rippled through her body, and without thinking she began to dance in the water. The undines joined her. The sylphs blew among the branches, whistling like an orchestra, and the birds added their songs. All around her, the leaves swayed in time.

The dragon recognized the joy of the Green Realm, now finding expression in sound as well. She didn’t need to arrange anything. She joined in until the dance came to its end and the water grew still again.

Then she knew her time in the Turquoise Realm was over.