But everything changed when I saw the dragon.

The dream started like any other: black and silent, like a cave deep underground, where even the memories of light start to fade. I tried to extend my awareness with other senses. Nothing. I wasn't even able to discern anything solid underneath me.

Then, with the tiniest possible intensity, I felt a pressure. Some force seemed to be tugging at me, but I had no sense of movement yet. Then, the sensation of a light breeze crept familiarly along my awareness. It felt like a gentle wind was blowing steadily harder around me. Before long, the gust was starting to whip around me harder. A feeling of movement started to rise as I realized that I was falling. Air was rushing past me in the dark faster and faster as I processed the fall.

Then, a pinprick of light blossomed in front of my eyes, small, but still easily blinding me. The blackness that comprised the totality of my vision started to seep away. Light beams shone around my spinning, falling body as the silence gave way to a mighty roar. I was suddenly overwhelmed by a naive joy, thinking, "This is almost like flying!"

I must have burst through the clouds because the blinding whiteness was torn away in a flash, leaving the ground visible far below. The landscape of mountains and valleys became clear and stretched in every direction. With the sun warming my back, I continued to fall toward a crystal-blue lake nestled in one of the valleys.

I spread my arms out wide and let out a wild cry of happiness. "What is this place?" I wondered. Mere seconds later, I had to streamline my body in preparation for a watery landing. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for an impact that never came. With a very muffled crashing sound, I torpedoed into the water, but the feeling was as gentle as diving through feathers. I opened my eyes in surprise to find that I was indeed submerged. I quickly swam to the surface and let out a laughing, gasping exhalation. I touched my hands to my face and felt my skin, taut from my huge smile. After that wonderful, terrifying fall, I was okay.

I swam to the nearest shore, which was lined with smooth, white rocks, and pulled myself up onto one. The water wasn't cold in the slightest, but the stone's surface was pleasantly warm as I lay on it. I closed my eyes once more as questions bubbled up again, starting with, "Where am I?" I tried to think back to my last memory before I fell, but there was nothing. My forehead wrinkled. "What is going on?" I thought.

My train of thought was interrupted right then by a darkness passing over the sun. I could see the change in brightness even through my closed eyelids. They snapped open. Briefly blinded again, I held a hand over my eyes as I sat up and looked around. "The shadow was way too fast to be a cloud," I thought, "but what else could have made it?" The answer would soon be found when I glanced across the glassy lake. I saw the reflection first: four legs, tail, giant wings. "No…" I started to say out loud as my gaze shot up to see the creature.

"A dragon!" I whispered to myself, blinking in disbelief. It was really there, lowering its head for a drink of water. It was dark blue with lighter wings and scales that sparkled like sapphires in the sun. I just kept staring as the dragon lifted its head out of the lake and casually shook the water from its snout. I, meanwhile, was still holding my breath after spotting the drake. The blue dragon then stretched its wings out wide and half-closed its eyes in satisfaction. After a good stretch, it turned slightly and sat down on its haunches.

That's when it saw me.