***Left Behind***

A single set of footprints in the sand,  
A single shadow stretching up the beach,  
The surf slips over the dragon's feet  
And slowly washes her tracks away.

The setting sun glints upon her skin  
Like flecks of pyrite on a turquoise stone,  
And her wings hang down against her sides,  
As her lithe body plods along the shore.

But then she stops and looks down;  
Her claws grab at something shiny.  
Clumps of wet sand fall back into the surf,  
And a bright red pebble rests in her hand.

She looks at it, turns it over with with a claw,  
Then clenches her hand around it tight;  
Her face grimacing, pulling back her arm,  
She hurls it out into the sea.

And she stands there for a long time,  
The sand building up around her feet,  
Until, finally, she stretches forth her wings  
And flies into the cool, gusty wind of night.

(© 2013 Cassander)  
(Tetra belongs OrangeDragoness)