An Opend Gate

After some time of silence Amukelo said "I don't seek to go through these gates. I came to this cave out of curiosity. I only want to find a Giant tree for a keel to my ship."

The golden dragon's gaze lingered on Amukelo, a silent assessment that seemed to pierce through to his very intentions. After a moment of contemplation, the dragon responded, acknowledging Amukelo's request for a large tree. Its voice, deep and resonant, carried a note of acquiescence. "I can direct you to a tree suitable for your needs," the dragon said, its tone hinting at a willingness to assist.

Amukelo, curious about the dragon's guardianship of the gates, asked " Don't you need to guard these gates?" The dragon replied with an air of confidence, "We dragons have a keen eye on our surroundings. Besides, there is no one here but you, your companion, and myself." Its statement conveyed a sense of omnipresent vigilance, a characteristic inherent to dragonkind.

Guided by the golden dragon, Amukelo journeyed through the forest until they reached an area teeming with colossal trees. The trees stood like ancient sentinels, their trunks thick and sturdy, their branches reaching towards the sky. The dragon advised Amukelo to be mindful of the ecosystem, a request that reflected its role as a guardian of nature.

Amukelo assured the dragon that he only needed one tree, respecting the dragon's concern for the forest. With a nod of understanding, the dragon took its leave, ascending gracefully into the sky. Amukelo then set to work, selecting the most suitable tree for the ship's keel. The task was laborious, requiring precision and strength, but driven by the urgency of their mission, he persevered. After much effort, he successfully felled the tree and transported the massive log back to the beach where Eliss awaited.

Together, they resumed the construction of their ship, integrating the newly acquired keel into its framework. The ship began to take on a more complete form, each day bringing them closer to their goal of setting sail across the mysterious ocean.

Sometime later, as they worked on the beach, the tranquility of their endeavor was suddenly interrupted by the arrival of the golden dragon. Its landing was powerful, sending sand swirling into the air. The dragon's presence was imposing, and an air of tension and anger emanated from it, a stark contrast to their previous encounter.

Amukelo and Eliss stopped their work, turning to face the dragon. They could sense the shift in its demeanor, the undercurrent of urgency and concern in its posture. The golden scales, which once shimmered with a majestic calm, now seemed to bristle with unease.

It was evident that something had transpired since their last meeting, something that had brought the dragon back to them with a sense of pressing gravity.

Amukelo and Eliss stood ready, unsure of the dragon's intentions but prepared to face whatever challenge or message it had brought.

The golden dragon's roar reverberated through the air, its tone imbued with a deep sense of betrayal and anger. "You humans what did you do? I've been away for just a moment and the gate is open," it accused, its eyes burning with a mixture of wrath and disappointment.

Eliss, taken aback by the dragon's accusation, wore an expression of confusion, but it was Amukelo who felt an even greater sense of bewilderment. He was certain that neither he nor Eliss had approached the gates since their last encounter with the dragon. He knew without a doubt that Eliss had been diligently working on the ship, while he himself had been occupied with the tree.

With firm conviction, Amukelo responded, "We haven't done anything. Eliss has been here working on the ship, and I've been handling the tree." His voice carried the weight of his sincerity, an earnest appeal to the dragon's sense of judgment.

The dragon, though visibly struggling with the situation. He didn't want to believe this, but he could sense Amukelo's honesty. Amukelo, sensing the dragon's dilemma, offered their assistance. "Perhaps we can help if an intruder has breached the gates," he suggested, hoping to alleviate the situation and prove their innocence.

The dragon, after a moment of contemplation, agreed to accept their offer. It seemed to sense the genuine intentions behind Amukelo's words, a realization that tempered its anger.

With a newfound sense of urgency, the dragon led Amukelo and Eliss back to the mysterious gates. The journey was tense, each step heavy with the unknown implications of what they might find.

Upon reaching the gates, they were greeted by an ominous sight. The gates stood closed, but beyond them lay only darkness, an abyss that seemed to swallow all light and sound. A shiver ran down Amukelo and Eliss's spines as they peered into the void, the sense of foreboding almost tangible in the air.

Amukelo, his curiosity piqued despite the apprehension, inquired about what lay beyond the gates. "What is inside?" he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.

The dragon's response was grave, its voice low and filled with a sense of dread. "Something that should never be opened," it said, implying a danger beyond their understanding.

The atmosphere around the gates was charged with a silent tension, a feeling that they stood on the brink of something momentous and potentially perilous. The darkness beyond the gates held secrets, ancient and hidden, that were not meant for the world outside.

Amukelo and Eliss exchanged glances, a silent communication of their shared unease and resolve. They stood beside the dragon, united in the face of this mysterious threat, prepared to confront whatever lay beyond the gates.