33 Where We Belong

As midnight rolled over the village, Nia was being entertained by the three children inside the cabin. They played with small wooden toys and Nia was very much interested in them, but her mind was preoccupied. Her mind was busy thinking about her big sister, Nera. She didn't know why she was taking so long. Light from the candles continued to brighten up the cabin through the dark night.

The other adult villagers stayed outside the cabin waiting for Nera to return. One by one, the children slept on the wooden floor. Nera was the last awake and sat on the bed. Her mind wandered and she felt her eyes closing. She yawned and fell asleep on the bed.

After a few minutes, the other villages came into the cabin to see the children soundly sleeping. The villagers took their own children and left the cabin. Nera walked into the cabin with mud and dirt on her clothes. She found Nia fast asleep with a loud snore. The village girl graciously grinned. She took a chair and sat next to the sleeping little dragon. She rubbed her head and although Nia was fast asleep, her face brightened with a gentle smile.

Nera whispered into the sleeping dragon's ear, "You can stay here in this village, if you want. I know we're not your actual family. I just want you to be where you think you belong." She kissed the little girl's cheek and continued to rub the sleeping dragon's head. Nia awoke for a mere moment to see Nera. Then, she began to fall asleep once more.

"Let me tell you a story. A story of a kind dragon named Akai," Nera said quietly. Nia listened to the story as she drifted back into her slumber.

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Birds chirped outside. Nera's eyes slowly opened. As she got up, she noticed that Nia was gone. She leapt up out of her chair.

"Nia!?" she screamed wondering where she went. Nera ran to outside of the cabin and saw the little dragon. Her heart relaxed upon seeing that Nia was safe and she sighed.

Then, she saw that Nia was swinging a branch against a dummy made of straw and a bucket for a head. Nera smiled and asked, "Nia, are you playing make-believe fighting? I'm sure that the other kids would play with you."

"Big sister Nera, you're awake!" Nia shouted with excitement and dropped her branch to hug her big sister.

"Yes. I'm awake. Do you want some breakfast, Nia?"

"No, thanks. I did play with the other kids, today, while the other villagers were working. We had some cooked chicken," Nia said with a large smile.

"Oh, that's good. I guess I must have been so tired from yesterday."

"That remind me, big sister."

"Hmm?"

"I wasn't playing a make-believe fight. I was practicing. I saw how you fought that monster and I want to be able to do the same. I'm going to practice every day until I'm big and strong like you, big sister Nera. Big and strong enough to protect everybody."

Nera made a little laugh.

"Aww. I was being serious," Nia pouted.

"I know. And I think that's a wonderful idea. When you're old enough and we have the funds, I'll buy you an actual training sword. How does that sound?"

Nia's eyes widened with joy. "Oooooh. An actual sword?"

"A training sword," she stressed and then asked, "but while you're here, would you mind helping me out with foraging for herbs and food?"

Nia nodded her head and said, "You got it, big sister Nera!"

And she ran off towards the forest.

"Woah! Don't forget me!" Nera yelled and as soon as Nia heard, she slowed to a halt.

Nera smiled and picked up her sheathed blade and wooden buckets. As she did so, Nera looked back at Nia and saw her laughing with the other children. The laughs resonated throughout the village. Her bright smile brought back joy to the once prosperous then gloomy village.