Am I a Sea Dragon

AM I A

E S

A R G D ON A

?

Once there lived a mysterious sea creature, whose name was unknown, a curious feature.

Just living happily was her aim. In the kelp forest, she'd swim without shame.

Her leafy fins made her tricky to spot, she loved the kelp forest an awful lot. She had little beady eyes, and a narrow long snout.

She was an unusual creature, without a doubt!

But one day, a snorkeller swam on by and her beautiful tail caught their eye.

Rumour had it that some humans weren’t kind. They would leave rubbish in the kelp for animals to find.

But she’d also heard that some were okay, cleaning up the sea all night and all day!

This one was gentle, and exclaimed with glee,

‘Oh, a seadragon! I must leave it be’.

She thought that she had lost the plot! ‘She called me a dragon. Surely not!?

I do not breathe fire or have wings to fly. I’ve no horns on my head – it must be a lie!

But what am I?’ She mused as she swam through the kelp. She decided to ask her friends for help.

Wrapped in the kelp at the top of the water, was her furry friend, dear Mrs. Otter with her daughter.

Basking in the heat with her baby at her side, she hugged the little one, full of joy and pride.

“Am I a dragon?” asked the sea creature, puzzled.

Mrs. Otter looked thoughtful, her mind all abuzzled.

‘Am I a dragon?’

“I don’t think so, dear, but you’re certainly unique. You have no fur, don’t need milk, nor breathe air from the peak.”

“We are mammals” she explained with a stroke of her baby’s head. The sea creature sighed, thanked her, and away she sped.

Next, she found Mrs. Seagull close to the shore. Perched on some rocks, did she know more?

“Am I a dragon?” the sea creature asked, quite confused. Mrs. Seagull had chips, which she happily chewed!

“I’ve never seen a dragon, but guess what I’ve seen a frog! It sat on a log as I flew through the bog.

With moist skin to breathe and four legs to boot, it leapt into the pond, laying eggs in pursuit.

Amphibians, they’re called, though about dragons I know naught.”

“But what are you?” the sea creature thought.

“I’ve seen you lay eggs, you have feathers and wings. You have a beak to eat – but what are you, of all things?”

“Why, I’m a bird!” the seagull replied, fluttering and flapping her wings out wide.

The sea creature thanked her and swam on her way, hoping to find her own truth by the end of the day.

Soon, the sea creature spotted Mr. Turtle, gliding through the sea. She decided to catch up, to see if he was free. “Am I a dragon?” she asked with a swish of her tail. Mr turtle was old and wise, he paused, smiled and begun his tale.

“Dragons exist in stories humans write. You won’t find any in the sea, but in books, you might.” He scratched his head, deep in thought. He knew she wasn’t a dragon, from what he’d been taught.

“Am I like you?” she asked, trying to stay strong. He smiled at his friend, then said she was wrong. “I’m a reptile, don't you know?

Let me explain before you go.”

“We lay eggs on land, with rough, scaly skin, using our lungs to breathe within. So, you’re not like me, my dear, But don’t give up your quest.” he said with cheer.

‘Don’t give up!’

Heading home, she felt tempted to stop trying. Was the human wrong, or simply lying?

She felt sad and blue, all alone in the dark. But then, in the distance she noticed a strange mark. As it got closer, a huge puffer fish, with colourful spots came into view. “Please help me!” she pleaded, maybe he knew?

“I’m not a reptile, mammal, amphibian, or bird. But what I am, I haven’t heard.

If I’m none of those things, what could I possibly be!?” she cried. “Well, you have fins, gills, and a tail, just like me.” he replied.

“I’m a fish?” the sea creature exclaimed, eyes wide. “But with the name of a dragon” she thought with pride.

‘I’m a fish!’

"That's the type of fish you are," explained the puffer fish with grace.

"Humans give us funny names, but we're all in the same space."

The sea dragon beamed, discovering her true wish. She danced and twirled and was the happiest sea-dragon fish. The snorkelers returned and watched with glee, she was truly the happiest sea dragon in the Sea!