Tiny scorch marks speckled the forest floor like fallen stars. Freya followed them between the tree roots, her footsteps soft on the moss. She paused, curious. What could cause such tiny burns?
A hollow log lay half-buried in the loam. Peering inside, Freya saw a little dragon curled on a bed of dry leaves. His scales were the color of embers, and his eyes blinked slowly in the dim light.
The dragon's nose twitched. He inhaled deeply, then sneezed — whoosh! — and a jet of flame lit Freya's shoelaces. 'Oh!' she yelped, stomping her feet until the smoke curled upward and the flames died.
She scooped the dragon into her arms. He was surprisingly light, his wings folded like crumpled paper. 'Come on,' she whispered. 'Let's get you home.' The dragon nuzzled her shoulder, his breath warm against her neck.
A brook babbled across their path. Freya spotted a fallen branch and placed it across the water. 'Stand on my back,' she said, lowering herself to the mossy bank. The dragon climbed onto her back, his claws clicking softly.
She stepped onto the branch. It wobbled, then groaned. 'Hold on,' she murmured. The branch cracked with a sharp snap, and they tumbled into the cold, rushing water.
Freya surfaced, sputtering. The dragon floated beside her, shivering, his scales dripping. She wrapped her arms around him and kicked toward the far bank.
Back on dry land, they approached the village. The stone bridge echoed with shouting children and clattering carts. The dragon hissed, digging his claws into the earth.
Freya knelt beside him. 'It's all right,' she whispered. 'There's a tunnel under the hill. It's quiet there.' The dragon sniffled, then followed her toward the tangled roots.
The root tunnel narrowed until the dragon got stuck. His tail tapped against the stone, a frantic rhythm. Freya pressed her shoulders against his sides and pushed.
He pushed forward from the other end. With a soft pop, they tumbled into a sunlit meadow. The dragon shook himself, sending droplets flying, then looked at Freya with grateful eyes.
A shadow fell over them. A great dragon with golden scales landed softly, her wings folding like sails. She wrapped one wing around the little one, shielding him. Freya walked home, a warm glow resting on her shoulders. Behind her, the hilltop hummed with a contented purr.