The Friendly Dragon

The Cave on the Mountain

High above the little village of Hollowdale stood a dark cave on the side of a mountain. Everyone in the village knew the story: a dragon lived up there.

His name was Ember, and he was enormous. His scales shimmered like green glass, and when he yawned, a curl of orange fire drifted from his mouth. The villagers had never spoken to him. They did not need to. "A dragon is a dragon," they whispered. "Big teeth, big fire, big trouble. Stay away from the mountain."

So nobody ever climbed up — and Ember, who was really rather lonely, stayed in his cave and watched the village from far away.

The Girl Who Wandered Too Far

One frosty morning, a girl named Tilly went out to look for her lost goat, Pickle. She searched the fields. She searched the woods. And before she knew it, she had wandered right up the mountain path — all the way to the dark cave.

There, blocking the entrance, was Ember.

Tilly froze. Her heart thumped. She remembered every scary story.

But the dragon did not roar. He did not breathe fire. Instead he lowered his huge head, and in a soft, rumbly voice he said, "Are you looking for a small white goat? He's asleep by my fire. He was cold, so I let him in."

And there was Pickle, curled up warm and happy beside a gentle glow.

A Surprising Friend

Tilly stayed and talked with Ember all afternoon. She learned that he was not fierce at all. He liked sunsets and collecting smooth stones. He breathed fire only to warm his cave, never to harm anyone. And he had been lonely for a very, very long time, because everyone was too afraid to say hello.

"They think I'm a monster," Ember sighed. "But I would never hurt a soul."

"Then come and meet them," said Tilly. "Let them see the real you."

Ember's eyes went wide. "They would run away."

"Maybe," said Tilly. "But maybe not. You'll never know unless you try."

The Great Frost

That very night, a terrible frost swept over Hollowdale. It was the coldest the village had ever felt. Ice crept over the fields and froze the winter harvest in the ground. Worse, the wind howled so hard it tore the roof from the village hall, where everyone had gathered to keep warm. The little ones began to shiver and cry.

Tilly knew there was only one creature who could help.

She raced up the mountain through the snow. "Ember! The village needs you!"

Warmth at Last

Down the mountain swooped Ember, his wings wide against the storm. The villagers gasped and backed away — the dragon, the monster, come at last!

But Ember did not roar. He breathed a long, slow, gentle stream of warm fire over the frozen fields, and the ice melted away, saving the harvest. Then he curled his great warm body around the broken hall, like a wall against the wind, and the villagers felt the cold fade and the warmth return.

By morning, the storm was gone. The harvest was safe. Everyone was warm. And the "monster" of the mountain was fast asleep in the village square, with the children tucked snugly against his side.

Hollowdale's Hero

From that day on, nobody in Hollowdale was afraid of the cave on the mountain. Ember came down often — for festivals, for storytelling, and to watch the sunset with Tilly and Pickle the goat.

The villagers were a little ashamed of how they had judged him. "We were scared of you," they admitted, "and we never even said hello."

Ember just smiled his warm, smoky smile. "That's all right," he rumbled. "You said hello in the end. And that is what matters."

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The moral: Never judge someone before you truly know them. A little kindness can turn a stranger into the best of friends.

More stories to read: meet a small hero in The Brave Little Robot or solve a puzzle with Pippa and the Talking Tree.