In the misty valleys of Ember Hollow, a dragon named Puff lived in a cozy, fire-warmed cave. He was big and strong, with emerald-green scales and wings as wide as a river. But for all his strength, Puff had one little secret—he dreaded bedtime.
“Why must night steal the sun?” he grumbled, curling into a tight ball and tucking his head under his wings. The darkness felt too deep, too endless. No matter how many times he blinked, the shadows never disappeared.
One evening, just as the last golden rays of the sun faded, a tiny speck of light zipped into his cave. It flickered and danced like a playful spark.
“Scaredy-dragon!” a tiny voice teased.
Puff peeked out and saw Flick, a fearless firefly with a glow as bright as a candle. She hovered near his snout, her wings buzzing with excitement.
“I’ll light your way if you fly with me!” she chirped.
Puff hesitated. The sky was so dark, so vast. But something about Flick’s fearless glow made his heart thump with curiosity.
With a deep breath, he stretched his wings and took off. The night air rushed past him as Flick zipped beside him, her glow bouncing off his shimmering scales. They soared over the treetops, weaving through the shadows like dancers in the wind.
As they flew, Flick pointed out constellations that twinkled like tiny fireflies trapped in the sky. They giggled at the shapes—one looked like a galloping horse, another like a dragon with a curly tail. Puff’s claws, which had been trembling moments ago, now felt steady and strong.
Then, without warning, dark clouds rolled in. The stars vanished. A storm rumbled in the distance, and Flick’s glow flickered and faded.
“I can’t see!” she gasped.
Puff’s heart pounded. The darkness pressed in again, thick and heavy. But this time, instead of hiding, he took a deep breath. With a soft roar, he exhaled a warm, golden flame, lighting up the sky like a floating lantern.
Flick gasped in delight. “You’ve had courage all along,” she whispered.
From that night on, Puff no longer feared bedtime. His gentle snooze-breath became a glowing beacon in the valley, guiding fireflies, sleepy birds, and even other dragons through the night. And nestled in the crook of his wing, Flick always had the best seat to watch the stars.