Once upon a time...

There was a misplaced dragon.

He had been minding his own business, comfortable on a store shelf with other dragons like his shiny self, when suddenly he was picked up, purchased, and popped in a bag. When he was pulled out, he found himself surrounded by big, intimidating dragons on a bookshelf. On one side a fat purple Grorkle was waiting impatiently and flicking fire between his teeth. Two double-headed blues looked at him curiously from all angles. And various others examined him head to toe and made indistinguishable comments through the sound of their wings and teeth and clawed feet. The poor new dragon was rather frightened.

But, being rather spunky, as most small dragons are, he bristled his spiky wingtips, arched his back, and showed his own teeth. He might be half their size, but if they attacked, he would give them scars to remember him by. He rattled the last of his scales, pointed his ears, and was about to make his first move when, suddenly, he heard approving laughter over his head. Looking up, he saw a graceful red dragon hover, then land. Once down, she bowed her head politely, and, more than a little surprised, the small dragon bowed back. "Greetings," she said in melodious tones. "I am Garnet, or Garnie, for short. And these are the rest of the dragon-band. Forgive them, they are very curious and not very mannered. But we welcome you all the same."

And with that, she gently touched his nose with hers in salutation, and the other dragons followed suit, even down to the swaggering grey one. As they went through introductions, the small dragon relaxed. While he had expected to be handled and dropped by some child, after purchase, he was hardly about to say no to new friends of his own kind.This looked to be a very good year...

The End