Maldi’s First Story

Maldi had worked with three respected story tellers in three different territories. He had practiced countless days and nights, combining the story with images so his audience could get immersed in the experience of the story. He had learned all the elements of a successful delivery, the building of tension, the details that mattered, those that were extraneous, and what would set his audience to sleep. He had recorded himself, his images on beads to be examined for weakness. In the end, all his mentors had praised his work, his voice, images, delivery style. So when Karti had offered him a place in his territory as the story teller, he had gladly accepted.

Now faced with his first story in this new territory, his hands shook, his tail felt awkward and stiff, his wings felt heavy on his back. He remembered when Pamby warned him that when he was ready, the story and the telling would matter, and then he would feel it in his whole body. This must have been what she meant. His stomach turned as he looked at the new faces, gathering around, waiting to be an audience for his first story.

Maldi had thought he would tell the seasons story, it was the one he had practiced only this morning. Instead, as his eyes and mind focused, it was a different story that rose and overtook him.

He stretched his neck, scratched the stones under his feet and let the audience feel the story waiting to be told. As they found their listening postures, Maldi breathed to calm his nerves, settle his stomach, and focus his thoughts. He was the clan story teller and the first story should be about the clan that was forming around their territory dragon, Karti.

”Karti was still a youngster when he learned the difference between a thinking dragon and an unthinking one. He originated in the thinking territories where a smarter dragon was valued. Those who solved problems had status, those who could not do their own thinking were the labor. Instead of trying to belong, conform, and serve the planet, the members of the thinking clans were in competition. Everyone wanted to be the smartest. Everyone was out for themselves. This was the clan, the atmosphere Karti saw as a youngster.”

Karti nodded slowly and smiled. He knew where the story was going. The territory dragon felt honored that the first story, had been about him.

”As a youngster, Karti knew no better. It simply was the way things were. Until he reached that age of wandering. As he left his home territory behind and discovered how other territories lived, he saw a vast difference. He saw cruelty wrapped in cleverness. He saw competition killing co-operation, he saw good dragons being devalued. Of course some word play is fun, competition makes the games and fighting matches enjoyable, and not every dragon has equal motivation. However as he discovered the branches on his own powerline, making him a young territory dragon, he had to determine what kind of clan he wanted.

After many cycles, and countless debates and discussions, he determined that a cooperative clan with competition for entertainment and defense only was what he wanted. When he spoke to good dragons of joining him, many worried that his thinking roots would show. In time they saw his dedication to those boundaries. Our territory dragon, the good and kind Karti, chose a different path than the one chosen for him, and with the planet’s support has succeeded in building something truly new.”