Interview with a Dragon

It started when I realized I was having trouble writing a character. I'd created her but I didn't know her, probably because she was dead. Her legacy lived on in her family, but I couldn't wrap my mind around her. I started asking the other characters because I thought they could explain her to me. They all said the same things: she was strong, she was beautiful, and she was loved. They were all suffering from hero worship and weren't helpful at all. I found myself wishing that I could meet her because then I could ask her anything and I'd write her better. I was beginning to think that I'd have to cut her out and modify the entire story; especially her son's life. Just as I was coming to terms with that, she showed up. She was just as they said, strong and beautiful. She held me in her amber gaze, and I felt small (and stupid, they'd left that part out), but her smile was friendly as she said, "Ask me anything."

I stared dumbly, I hadn't expected her. Finally, I blurted out, "What's your name?" I knew the name I had given her, I just hoped that I hadn't been wrong.

"Rena. Pronounced Rey-na. In Spanish it means queen." She answered as she looked down her nose at me, but she didn't sound rude or judgemental.

"Why do they call you the Dragon?" I asked.

"It was the soul given to me. I understand that it was also my ferocity to defend my family. Apparently dragons are very possessive and protective of what belongs to them." Her smile transformed into a smirk and I was floored. I'd seen that same smirk on Zane's face; he'd inherited it from her.

"What's your greatest treasure?"

"My son of course." Her eyes sparkled playfully, "I suppose my sister is up there as well."

I didn't know she liked to joke about her twin. I quickly wrote it down as I asked my next question: "What kind of leader is your brother-in-law?"

She quirked a brow, "I wouldn't know. Zirus only became leader after my death."

I stared at her in shock, "What? I thought he-"

"Why would a dragon take orders from a wolf?" She questioned, and again, I felt stupid. Since I'd created Rena, she'd been dead before the story started. I'd never considered that she had been anything more.

"So, what have you been to your family besides a leader? What words define you?"

"Mother, sister, and warrior. Once I was dead, I became a memory and a paragon; a shadow." She said the last part wistfully and a brief look of sadness seemed to cross her face.

"Do you have any regrets?"

Her sharp amber eyes held my gaze and I was reminded that I was small compared to her, and something wild started at me for a second before she answered, "No, because every decision I made was decided in order to protect the people I love most."

"Like your son."

"And others." She added nonchalantly.

"Can you tell me about Zane's father?" I wanted to know about their relationship. I knew who he was, but I couldn't remember how I'd made that decision. I hoped that she would enlighten me.

"What do you want to know?"

"Anything. Everything. Was loving him easy?"

The smile she gave me was brilliant, and her eyes softened. I could tell that just mentioning him made her happy. "Yes. Natural even. He was a dear friend."

"Did you plan on loving him?"

Rena shook her head, "Dragons don't intend to fall in love; I simply realized one day, that I was."

"Why did you decide to keep Zane from him?"

The joy she'd felt talking about her lover disappeared, and I was afraid I'd crossed a line. I didn't want her to leave yet. She took a moment before replying, "It was the right thing to do. He would have had to choose between his purpose and fatherhood. So I made the decision for him."

"Do you ever wish that it had been different?"

I thought she was going to snap at me about not having regrets. "There was, in a moment's breath, where I saw how much Zane would need him, and I wished we could've raised our son together." Her eyes brightened, "I didn't need to worry. He's loved and protected Zane regardless."

"Will he ever know that Zane is his?"

I only realized after I asked that I had implied that she may have been sleeping around. Technically. I really hoped she wouldn't kill me. Rena responded, "He knows, even without my confirmation."

"Why hasn't he told Zane?"

"Because he's honoring my wish. He doesn't realize that I did it for him, or perhaps he does. You'd have to ask him." Rena shrugged.

"Do you think that Zane knows?"

"It has never really been important to him, who his father is. Having Zirus around as a father figure helped him. It probably also helped that Zane's father has been present all throughout his life, even if not in an actual parent capacity. They have a strong bond."

"Do you ever get to see R---------?"

Rena looked sad, "No, we are currently incapable of meeting, as my duty hasn't been completed. Even then, I doubt it would be a painless reunion. I hurt him in my decision making, and even though I know that, I wouldn't apologize."

I stared at her in a mixture of awe and confusion. Was she convinced that she had done the right thing, or was she heartless? It dawned on me, that this woman had never apologized for anything in her life, and I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

"You're probably questioning my morality or even if I'm worth all the 'hero worship', as you put it." Rena spoke up. "I have only ever done what I believed was right, either for my family or my mission. If that makes me a hero in their eyes, so be it." She paused for a moment, then added, "He is the only man I've ever loved."

The words "Prove it" were out of my mouth before I could stop them. I saw the flare of anger, and her amber eyes turned gold and reptilian and I realized in a moment of horror, that I was staring into the eyes of a dragon. I felt a ripple of power wash off of Rena, and suddenly she sighed heavily and it was gone. She suddenly looked tired and overwhelmed, but she muttered her lover's name under her breath so low, if I hadn't already known his identity, I would've missed it.

When she spoke, her voice was raw and filled with admiration and love, "I only ever loved R---------, and it was never my intent, but as I look back, how could I not love him? He was everything I wanted before I even knew I wanted anything."

I blinked and she was gone, and I wished she'd stayed longer or that I'd asked different questions. I understand their hero worship now, I don't worship her, not the way her family does (but they'll never admit they actually do it). I realize the role she played in shaping her son, and even her nieces and nephews. How she was the one that encouraged a strong family unit and instilled the protective streak that runs through them. She was the big sister and the mother and the warrior. They want to live up to the standard she set, fill the shoes she left behind, or step out of the shadow she cast.