The Lion and The Dragon: The Story of A Rescue

Hi, my name is Johnny. I want to tell you of something that happened to me not too long ago.

I live in a jungle. A short time back I had a friend who would always be with me. You see, I had this steel ball and chain that would always hold me down. I hated this thing yet I could not get it off. Neither could anyone else. This friend I had could not remove it but always promised to help me carry it. This friend would always remind me to watch out for a beast that roamed through our jungle, a lion. My friend said if the lion caught up with me he would tear me to shreds. My friend and I had made a pact to stay together, as a result.

Our life together was one of always hiding in dens, wherever we could find them. I remember many nights where I could not sleep worrying about the lion. However, my friend seemed to have no problem. It was hard to stay clean in the jungle. No matter how hard I tried I would end up filthy. I could not go too far into the nearby lake knowing my ball and chain would bring me under, drowning me.

Then my first encounter with the lion came. As me and my friend sat and ate in the sunny afternoon the beast jumped out of the bushes. We took off like lightning only to be hampered by the weight tied to me. My friend’s idea of helping amounted to him hooking his finger in the chain link. I still ended up carrying most of the weight.

Some friend!

We barely got away. It felt good to escape the lion’s teeth, at least for the time. Then I was reminded of that cold steel holding me down.

God, I wish I could lose this weight!

I was afraid the weight would be my undoing, that I would one day be caught by the lion. All that my friend told me about the creature was enough to scare anyone. But that was one of the many narrow escapes from the lion. All my energy was spent toward avoiding him. What a way to live, in a jungle, hindered by a heavy steel ball, running from the most powerful thing imaginable.

I prayed it would come to an end.

Days passed as days of survival. These were days where we found ways to get food and ways to avoid or escape the lion. It had been days since I had seen, or even heard, the lion. In time, my friend had come up with a plan to get away from the beast, once and for all. He said he had heard of a desert outside the jungle where the lion refused to go. My friend’s plan was to make our way to that desert along a well-known path that would only take a few days to travel.

It sounded too good to be true!

Upon my agreement we had set off. We had soon found the trail. It was amazingly easy to hike our way, since it was so well-worn and smooth. This was good for me since I had no shoes, although my friend did. Like I had said, I had not come across the lion for a few days. Curious thing was I had never heard him roar. He always managed to appear out of nowhere. He was hard to predict as to his next move. I did not know what to expect. A few days after we had started out my friend said we would probably reach the desert soon. I could not wait. Even if it was a desert I would be free from that beast.

Then there was a rustling in the bushes about us. We stopped for a second to judge where the sound came from then ran when we realized it came from our right. Behind us we could hear his paws slapping the smooth trail. He was close! My friend had his finger in my chain running ahead, urging me on. It was hard to breath and carry the metal ball. It was then I heard the lion’s pant. It seemed to be right at my back.

He was gaining!

My friend was yelling to keep going but I could not keep up. I felt the lion’s hot humid breath at my bare heels. My heart was racing as my legs were quickly turning limp. Then something happened that I could hardly believe. My friend had let go of the chain and scurried off in the distance. The last thing I saw was his shoes disappearing in the foliage beyond.

I was alone!

There was no way I could keep running with the ball and I stopped. I could not go any further. I felt myself give into the lion’s chase. He stopped-fifteen feet from me. This was the first time I had seen his whole form. I had to admit he was beautiful, I thought.

Then he pounced!

The sudden move caused me to fall to my knees. I thought, God, help me!, and closed my eyes. The last thing I saw was his gaping jaws.

The next thing I heard was metal breaking. I looked down at my leg only to find the lion pulling back his teeth.

The chain was broken!

As he moved back I stood to my feet. I was quickly aware of a difference for me, knowing the ball and chain was gone. I moved about.

I never had felt so free. I had to run around. Forgetting about the lion I ran through the bushes and over rocks, even boulders. I climbed the trees and jumped over fallen logs. I had never known such liberation.

Then my thoughts went back to the lion. I went back to him.

He was right where I had left him, next to the steel ball, with its broken chain. He had been lying there-just waiting, it seemed-for me.

I walked over to the ball and chain and kicked it with contempt. Since I had no shoes I winced from the pain. That was a mistake.

I then limped over to the lion and I fell before him.

“Why did you do it?” I asked.

“I did it because I love you.”

I was amazed, not only because he had said anything but that he had said it so simply, so naturally. The same words he had said as he was chasing me. I choked down the tears.

“What about my friend?”, I gulped.

“He’s not who you think he is. Look at the tracks he left.”

I did. Instead of shoe prints there were the prints of three-toed paws with long talons. Running between the paw prints was the long deep line of a tail. I shuddered coldly.

“He lied to me!”, I exclaimed. “All the time he was lying to me!”

“And he was leading you away from me. The desert you were heading to would have been your end. There, in the desert, are others, and yet you would have been alone. You would have been out of the jungle only to starve, thirst and perish. He would have left you there.”

“Who is he, then?”

“He’s the dragon. He’s deceived many, making them believe it was help. He gives what many want but cannot give them what they truly need. Only I can give them true freedom.”

Somehow, it all made sense to me. How could I have been so blind? Presently feeling my weariness, I fell against the lion’s side. He was so calm and quiet. I thought of all he had told me and I couldn’t help but feel at ease with him. I fell sweetly asleep.

Hours later I awoke to him licking the filth off of me. I never felt so full of life, never felt so clean. Then, since he was so close to me, I saw the wounds on his paws and his side.

“What had happened to you?”

“There was a battle long ago, between the dragon and I. These are the wounds I received.”

“What were you fighting for?”

“You-and others.”

As he talked I felt compelled to reach up to him. My hands went up into his magnificent mane and felt more scars, all around his great head, it seemed. I soon realized the battle he spoke of was immense.

I couldn’t help but lie against his side and weep. He laid a paw over me. With all the power he had he could have taken all he wanted by force. He could have kidnapped me from the dragon. The only reason he had me now was because I had given in to him. In his power he had broken my bondage.

I found myself thinking gladly how the dragon was gone.

“He’ll be back,” said the lion, as if he knew my thoughts. “He’s just waiting for the right time to appear. He sees you now as his enemy so his aim is to sift you like wheat. But I am here to prepare you and strengthen you for the battle. Do not fear as I will be with you as you fight in my strength. Just trust me.

“Come, follow me.”

We moved on. He made it his responsibility to feed me and give me water to drink. He knew the best things to eat as the food was always fresh and satisfying. The water was always clean and sweet. Both combined always revived.

I soon learned to love the mornings where we would always sit and talk. He reminded me of his love for me. He taught me how to fight the dragon for when that time would come.

He then did something unusual. As we hiked on we came to some very rocky terrain. He caused to walk behind him. It was tough to walk on my own. When I slowed I quickly called for help and he turned back telling me to hang onto his mane. This helped me to get over every obstacle.

Then we came to ground that terribly hard, in fact it was impassable. I tried again on my own to climb over all the large boulders. I could not do it so I asked him for what to do.

“Climb on my back,” he urged.

I did so. Immediately he leaped over everything with no effort whatsoever. Clearing the large rocks he allowed me to rest on his back. In this manner, most of the time, I traveled resting on him.

Now at times I did some silly things. I would try to tell him which way we should go. I would still try to overcome some obstacles on my own. But when I came to my senses I gave in to him. I thought he would give up on me. It was then he told me:

“I will, in no way, cast you out.”

I was amazed at him saying this.

He soon told me there would come a time for a final battle between him and the dragon.

“What do you plan to do?” I asked.

“I will bruise his head. Then I will lock him away, forever. The battle is as good as won.”

I knew I could believe him. He always seemed to speak the truth.

I am still with the lion. As a matter of fact I have introduced him to others we had found on our trek. When they gave in to him he released them from their bonds as well. If they refused we moved on. We grew to great numbers quickly. Still, I am amazed at the refusal of some. The lion would quickly remind me of how I had been lied to, how I had misunderstood who the lion really was. Those that refused were those who chose to believe the lie.

This lion is powerful but also gentle as a lamb. He is wise and loving, he disciplines, teaches, cleanses and pardons. He is reliable and I would be a fool to forsake

him.