Deep inside a friendly mountain lived a little dragon named Flicker. Now, Flicker wasn't like the loud, huffy dragons in some stories. Oh no! Flicker was very quiet and very, very gentle. Instead of breathing fiery puffs, Flicker breathed little warm whispers of air, just enough to make the dandelions wiggle.
Flicker had soft scales the color of moss and eyes like shiny pebbles. Flicker loved soft things more than anything. The floor of Flicker’s cave was covered in the fluffiest moss Flicker could find, all arranged just so. Flicker’s favorite activity was snuggling down into the soft moss and listening to the gentle drip, drip, drip of water in the cave.
One afternoon, while exploring near the cave entrance, Flicker saw something tiny and brown hopping by. It was a little field mouse! The mouse looked a bit scared, seeing the big shape of Flicker. But Flicker didn't want to be scary. Flicker sat down very slowly and very gently, making sure not to make any sudden moves.
Flicker held out one gentle claw, not sharp at all, and pushed a soft, fallen leaf towards the mouse. The mouse watched for a moment, then bravely twitched its nose. It saw that Flicker was being kind. The mouse scampered closer and nibbled on the edge of the leaf.
From that day on, the little mouse, whose name was Pip, would visit Flicker’s cozy cave. Pip wasn't scared because Flicker was always so gentle. Flicker and Pip would share quiet afternoons, Flicker snuggled in the moss and Pip exploring little nooks, sometimes even perching on Flicker's soft mossy nose. They learned that even though they looked very different, they could be the best of friends just by being kind and gentle.
As the sun would begin to set, painting the sky in sleepy orange and purple, Pip would say goodbye and scamper home. Flicker would settle down in the softest moss patch, feeling warm and happy. Flicker loved being a gentle dragon, the kind who had quiet friends and cozy naps. And soon, Flicker would close those pebble eyes and drift off to sleep, dreaming gentle dreams until morning light.