OVERTURE — A friend in the forest

Skyblue took him to a secluded shelter. For several days, she visited him in secret, bringing water, food, and the remedies. At first, she was afraid of hurting him. Gradually, she learned to clean his wound without causing too much pain, and to wait while the ointments did their work.

When the dwarf was well enough to leave, she felt happy and sad at once. She had gone into the forest to care for him and found herself staying to talk until it was nearly dark.

“My name is Yaseee,” he told her as they said goodbye. “And I have something for you.”

He gave her a dark stone that flashed blue and green when it moved.

“It’s labradorite, the stone of magicians. It will be with you when you set out on your journey home.”

Skyblue stroked the stone. No one had ever given her such a beautiful treasure, though his words puzzled her. Her home was nearby. Why would she need to go on a journey to get back to it?

“Remember, you have a friend among the dwarves,” Yaseee added. “We’ll meet again, dragon with the generous heart.”

Skyblue hugged him and watched him walk away among the trees.

The village was not so quick to forget. She still heard warnings and felt eyes on her back. In time, she learned to keep certain questions to herself, to leave some adventures untold, to laugh more quietly. The grown-ups began to leave her alone.