Tanpres #2

Here's the next installment:

The dragon sighed and disappeared from sight the moment she drew near. She heard the whirling whoosh again and she was pleased with herself for conquering her inner demon. She just needed to get a good night's sleep; although, that couldn't happen for a day or two. Work kept her busy right now since the President upped the amount of troops in Afghanistan. Megan felt better when she got to her loft and locked the front door with four deadbolts. She felt instant relief. She had made it home safe--paranoia and inner demons aside.

She turned around to walk to the bathroom to take a bath and ready herself for bed. The dragon reappeared in front of her just as she started to head in that direction and she let out a huge, "Yikes!" She tempered it with, "Who are you, what are you, and what do you want?" She challenged as she tried to figure out how to make it further into her home rather than pinned against her door with the dragon was in her way. She was now pretty convinced that she had indeed put too much time and of herself into her work lately, she needed a break, and she was clearly not necessarily of sound mind. She would make an appointment with her general practitioner tomorrow. She clearly needed a physical at least and her health checked. She rubbed her temples as she felt a headache start to burn from the stress.

The dragon cocked his head. "Are you all right, my Queen?" His deep voice showed his concern. He stepped forward to move closer to her and check her condition, but she took five steps backward until she ran into her front door.

That did it. Between his declaration and apparition, she found that she was quite anxious. She clearly had lost it. She closed her eyes and told herself to awaken from her bizarre dream. Then, she opened her eyes. The giant monster was still there. So, she pinched herself. That didn't wake her either. Hence, she decided to confront him.

"Again, who are you and what precisely do you want from me?" She pointed her finger and nudged it at his chest. That was a mistake. He was a fire-breathing dragon, she assumed anyway, in her home and could burn her body and loft into a crisp like either a marshmallow or a steak. He felt solid underneath her touch and that allowed her to distinguish that he just might be real. But, how could he be? There was no such thing as a dragon, except in any decent children’s book or fantasy novel.

He studied her closely as she appeared more and more uneasy. She was not well. It was quite obvious. "Again, Queen Megan Astoria, you have no reason to fear. I will be with you. I will show you the way."

“That’s part of the problem.” She spoke to herself, she justified, because dragons were a myth and hardly real for any sane human being. However, his voice soothed her down deep in her innermost being. She felt peace surround her and it took her over rather than the edginess. "Do you have a name? And, please don't call me queen. I'm an American military and war journalist, am Middle Class, and am hardly royalty."

The multicolored dragon sat down like a dog. "Hmm." He appeared reflective and he cocked his head as he looked her in the eye. "I’m Bakari. You’re indeed what I say. I’m here to tell you your destiny and will be with you along your journey."

Why was it that she felt more at ease now. He did seem to be friendly and was almost cute. His face was playful and endearing; although, she assumed that when he was angry, he would be formidable. He was an animal in appearance, but he took on human qualities. "Are you real? If so, how can you be? Dragons are a myth and can’t speak because they are only myth. What I’m experiencing is a hallucination that makes me think you’re real. You can’t be. Great! That means I’m hearing voices, too. This is not good. I don’t have time for a nervous breakdown or to develop schizophrenia. So I guess I don't need to ask the question in the first place." She tried to take some deep breaths and re-center herself.