What happened to Timmeh

Dani had been getting ready for bed when she heard her mother rapidly walking towards her room.

"Dani, what is going on with you!?"

Worried, Dani braced herself for the worst as her mother walked in with a terrified look on her face. "Dani, what happened this afternoon?! I head you were there when the dragon tried to eat that child!"

"Eat the...?! Oh mother..." Dani turned to hide her face to hide the exasperation she was feeling. All day she thought about seeing her friend in the town square.

Dani was grabbed by her mother and turned her around, looking over her daughter carefully. "Were you hurt Dani? Did it scare you?"

"No mother..." Dani raced her mind, trying to figure out what to say.

"They said it grabbed the fisherman's son right off the dock, and dropped it by you."

Dani shook her head. She couldn't believe her friend would take someone like that. Not unless there was a good reason.

"Oh Dani. If there are dragons around here, maybe you better not go out anymore? Such nasty creatures, I didn't believe the story until I see your reaction now. Remember that guy that was here in town last spring? He said he was attacked by a dragon.  Now this has happened to you..."

Dani sat down on her bed. Unable to say anything.

The rain had stopped that night, but the clouds remained, along with the humidity in the air. Dani was only allowed to leave the house with her mother when she was going to the market. As they walked the streets, there was a quietness in the air. 

The market was busy, with an unusual crowd around the fisherman's cart. The fisherman was clearly enjoying the spotlight as people were questioning the previous day's story.

"Ah, the rain was terrible, that's for sure!" the fisherman explained. "The little one usually comes out with me when I check my traps along the dock, but had told him to stay inside with his sisters! Oh the river was a mess! Branches, rocks and mud flowin' by faster and higher than I had seen before. I started to walk out on our dock, but could feel it moanin' and shaking from the river. I figured my traps were probably lost, and decided to walk along the bank to make sure the boats were secure. A moment later, I heard a terrible creaking. I turned to look at my dock, and first saw Timmeh, that's my little boy, running out on the dock. Out towards the water!"

The fisherman's face had terror in it as he relived the moment. "Then I saw a huge branch had been swept under the dock. Shaking it something fierce, I ran towards my boy, yellin' at the top of my voice, "Git off there! Git off the dock Timmeh!" but he didn't hear me."

Getting somber, the fisherman continued, "Then the creaking sound turned into a terrible crash, and that river swept the branch, then the dock, and my Timmeh. away with it!"

His audience, stoned face, waited breathlessly for the fisherman to continue.

"Oh it was terrible! Poor Timmeh was crying, grabbing onto the dock as tight as he could. It was only a few seconds, when the dock and branch smashed hard into the next dock. My dock started sinking, and I thought for sure I was going to lose Timmeh."

The fisherman held the moment, as he was telling the story for the umpteenth time, and sales were going real well today.

"Then, without a sound, the beast dropped out of the sky, and picked up my Timmeh like a crab apple. Yes sir, a dragon!" Several in the crowd gasped, hearing the story for the first time. "It grabbed my Timmeh, and flew away like I see them eagles grab fish out of the river sometimes. I watched helplessly as it flew away with my son..."

Rain

The winter rains were always miserable.

Dani and the dragon met up usually by the rocky hills on the north side of town when it rained. It had been raining a lot the last few days, and they could find some shelter on the side of the hills. They had a game of fetch they sometimes played, where Dani would call out what to find, and they would rush out into the rain briefly, grab whatever she called, and race back to the shelter.

But after several days of that, it was just the kind of day to sit and visit.

The dragon laid on it's belly, constantly watching the landscape. Dani would sit in front of it and lean against it, feeling it's warmth.

Dani told the dragon about he note that came to her house last week. She shared all the details about the fine lettering of her name on the front, along with the strange symbol of a "C" with a slash through it. Strangely contrasted with the single word "HELP" scratched hurriedly on the inside. Did Mr. Effert send it?

Dani sighed with the weight of the world on her shoulders at the thought of Mr. Effert. His journey to the Dragonhome was supposed to be brief. He should have been back long ago. He didn't like the idea of Dani going to the Dragonhome at all, and she told him she would stay put until he got back. Clearly plans have changed. She would think about going out to try to "help" or find Mr. Effert, but going on a journey of such magnitude seemed beyond her now. Especially with the cold winter weather, and her lack of confidence in taking care of herself, and the dragon.

The rain seem to come down harder. Dani clothes her eyes, and thought about what Mahina would do.

*****

The next day, the rain was worse. Dani's had helped her mother with some chores in the morning, but she was able to get out of the house after lunch. Dani started to head up towards the hills, when there was a cry of anguish from the river, and people were rushing towards it. Dani started heading there as well, and made her way straight across the town square.

Suddenly the dragon, carrying something large in it's claws, landed roughly in front of Dani. Dani's eyes and mouth dropped open in surprise to see her friend here, in plain sight of the few people who were in the sqare at the same time.

The dragon, looking a bit overwhelmed, let go of it's load, and jumped back into the air and flew quickly away. Dani knelt down at the package as it was making a noise. The package was a small child! A wet small head and arms popped out and the child's cries were distinctly heard. Dani grabbed it, recognizing the child to a son of a local fisherman and gave it the hug the child desperately wanted.

A Cry for Help

The cold air woke Dani up one morning. Fall was here, and she quickly put on her warm clothes, and went into the warmth of the kitchen to sit and visit with her mother.  It was going to be a cold day, with many more to follow, and her mom told her about making extra bread for the winter, and storing some of the food, in case it actually snowed this year.

Dani was enjoying some nuts while taking all this in when there was a cry outside the door. Someone was coming to their home. Dani's mother quickly went to the door to greet the guest and met them outside. Dani helped herself to some of the bread her mom was preparing for her anyway, and took a seat at the table, thinking about how the dragon would fare this winter.

She heard her mother give the person outside a good bye, and looked at Dani with confusion when she came back into the house. "Dani, what is this about?!" she asked thrusting a folded piece of paper at Dani.

Dani examined the paper. It had her name elegantly written on it. Opening it, in a contrasting manner, was a single word.

"HELP"

Quickly letting go of the paper, Dani's mind raced. Where did this come from? Who sent it? Who knew she could help?

"Dani," her mother persisted, "What is this about?!" She picked up the paper again looking at it. "Do you think this is for you? The guy at the mill said it was in a bunch of papers and packages that came from the north a couple weeks ago, and he had no idea who you were until one of your dad's friends saw it, and thought of you apparently. Do you think this was meant for you?"

Dani turned from her mother, slowly bit a piece of bread in her mouth and thought for a moment. "No mother, why would someone send that to me?"

"I agree." Dani's mother crumpled up the note and threw it in the fireplace and she went back to her work.

Dani sat in silence, staring at the crumpled paper s it started to catch fire. She could still see her name in it's beautiful lettering, and a strange symbol after the "i" in her name. It looked like a letter "C" with a slash through it. It's image burned in Dani's eyes for a moment, and the paper quickly burned completely up.

Interval

Blinking eyes peered down at Dani as she laid in the brown grass in the meadow. She laughed and rolled over and onto her feet and patted it playfully on it's nose. "OK, your turn!"

The dragon quickly turned, and flew into some nearby trees to hide. Dani started right away after it. The game they were playing was a combination of timed hide and seek. If she didn't find it right away, the dragon would jump on her.

Since the dragon was getting larger now, it was having a tougher time hiding from Dani. But it was clever sometimes, and Dani didn't want to waste anytime. Getting jumped on by a dragon, even if it was your best friend, still hurt a bit!

She ran through the trees, her eyes darting towards any potential hiding spot. The bushes had few leaves now, so they weren't likely the spot. Some thick trees seemed to be moving the the left of her, but it seemed more like wind movement. She continued to run straight. Past some large rocks, but none that shared the purple shade of the dragon and into a clearing.

She paused as her time was running out, scanning the periphery, and ran straight towards a large fallen tree. She leaped over the truck, ready yell a cry of triumph at her friend, but there was nothing there. Dani's shoulders slumped in disappointment. The dragon would jump at her the next chance it got.

She started to run along the edge of the clearing, when she heard it's footsteps coming towards her from behind. She turned around quickly enough to see the purple haze, and purposeful eyes as it rushed her. She braced herself as the dragon grabbed her from her torso, and pulled her toward the ground.

She cried in frustration, "Ugh! Where did you hide?!" She pushed the large beast off her and she got to her feet. "You were by those bolders, weren't you?!"

The dragon just watched Dani as she brushed the dead grass, and brown leaves off her clothes. Dani chuckled and stroked the dragon's head and neck. "My friend, you should give me a chance!" she teased the dragon, admiring it's size. Not as big as a horse, but getting close, Dani thought about they're past and future.

"That thief would have a hard time putting you into his cart today, wouldn't he?!" Dani continued. Months had gone by without incidence, and Dani, in some ways, was getting nervous. Mr. Effert had gone to check the dragonhomes shortly their conversation about them. But it was only supposed to take a couple weeks. His absence worried Dani.

The dragon sniffed the air, looked at Dani, and took off, as it did, when their play time ended. Dani watched it for a moment, taking a deep breath, and shaking her head in thinking of it as "play time". They were constantly challenging each other, pushing each other in their games. Dani had grown much in these times, in both mind and body, as the dragon grown. She was feeling more and more at home with the dragon, and wished their "play time" would last longer.

Dragon Homes

Mr. Effert sighed. Dani's instincts were correct, but it was still impossible.

"Dani, you and the dragon could never reach the Dragonhomes, they are only for mature dragons and their riders."

Dani's eyes stared at every word coming out of Mr. Effert's lips. "Why can't we go there?"

Shaking his head, Mr. Effert started looking through some of his shelves. "You just... they're out of reach." Mahina and the Green Dragon could fly there in a day. To walk there would take weeks, and it would put you, and the Purple Dragon in danger."

Dani shook her head slightly in defiance. "Mr. Effert, I have to protect the dragon-"

"Don't underestimate the Purple Dragon little girl!" Mr. Effert sharply spoke. "It is much more powerful,and dangerous than you realize. Dragons have been taking care of themselves for much longer than little girls have been around." He lowered his tone as he found the map he was looking for and placed it on the table where she could see.

"Look here, this is Lisdon, where we live," his finger pointed to a spot below the center of the map.

Dani's brown eyes thoughtfully followed his finger, and saw the river that flows nearby Lisdon, but the town wasn't marked.

"The Dragonhomes are up in these mountains." His fingers slid straight north towards the top center of the map, where there were a few mountain peaks peeking out amongst a couple large rivers and a huge forest.

Dani blinked and looked at the map in whole.  She had rarely imagined the world much outside of Lisdon, and the enormity of it made her hold her breath.

Mr. Effert was correct.  Dani couldn't get the dragon, much less herself there. She started to lose her composure as the situation seemed hopeless.

Seeing the disappointment, Mr. Effert quickly jumped in, "Dani, you are right in so many ways. The dragon does need your protection. You will eventually need a place like the Dragonhomes, it's just not the time."

Seeking Mr. Effert

Dani went into Mr. Effert's shop as soon as it was appropriate the next day.  He was sitting at a tall table studying some papers, and turned and smiled warmly at Dani.

"Is it ok?" he asked as his lean figure stood up to greet her.

"Oh yes Mr. Effert, thank you for helping me save the dragon from that horrible man." Dani stood still near the door.

"I'm glad I could help." He replied as Dani walked along some short bookcases and traced some circles in the dust.

"I think I need more help Mr. Effert."

Mr. Effert held his breath as he gave Dani some time to consider her words. She wasn't the sobbing mess of a girl that burst through his door yesterday. She was walking with a strength he had not observed before.

"He'll be back." she continued finally. "Probably not right away, but someday, and probably with a better plan."

She stopped and admired a statue for a moment, than turned and looked straight at her friend.  "Where can I hide a dragon Mr. Effert?"

Looking away, he thought about how to answer.

"Where did Mahina hide the green dragon?"

Her question startled him. Where was she going with this? "What are you talking about Dani?"

"You told me Mahina and the green dragon lived in this area, where did they live? I want to take the purple dragon there."

Mr. Effert's eyes betrayed his surprise.  "Oh Dani, it's only close if you and your dragon can fly there.  It would take you weeks to walk there."

"Take me there Mr. Effert.  I need to protect the purple dragon."

Mr. Effert shook his head vigorously. "Dani, it's too far, and you... you..."

"What Mr. Effert?" Dani took a couple steps towards him, and stood tall.

"You... and the dragon... you're too young."

The Dragon is Saved

After Dani got the latch on the wagon freed, and dragon silently slipped out of the cart and flew straight away and out of sight.  Dani gently closed the latch and sneaked a peak at Mr. Effert talking to the stranger driving the cart.

""Oh those are probably Pinus monticola..." Mr. Effert explained to the gentleman as a smile of victory crept over Dani's face, and she quickly slid herself back in between the trees she hid in before. She thought about what a good hiding places like this were when she played with the dragon in the forest."


She heard the Mr. Effert bid the guy farewell, and heard the cart pulling away.  Dani held her breath as the sound drifted off, and the minutes ticked by, making her feel safe for herself, and the dragon.


After waiting a terribly long time she peaked out, and satisfied the cart was out of sight, stepped out in full view, looking for Mr. Effert. He was nowhere to be seen.  He was also probably hiding himself in case this dragon thief showed himself again.


She reflected on her grief earlier in the day, when it was clear the dragon was gone. Mr. Effert didn't act surprised at all when she told him about the dragon, and went straight to work to help her devise a plan to save it. He never questioned her about the dragon at all.


It was fortunate he saw the cart leaving town through the woods. She had played in the forest so much, she where to find the quickest path through the forest so they could get a ahead of the cart.  Mr Effert took a very serious disposition as they developed their plan to get the wagon out of the cart.


But now where was he?  Dani didn't want to call out his name, in case the thief came back, so she decided to slip back to town. She would visit his shop tomorrow, after she met with the dragon.

Getting out of town

Vincent couldn't stop smiling!

With the dragon in the wagon, he made a brief stop in town to pick up some supplies and he started heading out of town.  The dragon strangely quieted down after the first few minutes in the wagon.  Vincent peeked a couple times into the cart just to be sure it was still in there.

It was late in the morning when he was finally heading out of town.  He worried that the little girl would see him as he was heading out of town, but what could she do anyway?  The road out of town was not great for carts, and the going was slow.  The road twisted through the forest west along a river.  He saw no other travelers on the road, it was just him, the horse, the dragon, and the open road.

Until a tall lean figure approached from out of the trees and hailed him to stop.

Vincent tried just waving him off, giving a look of being in a hurry, but the man was determined to stop him.

"Hello, am in need of help."  said the stranger.

"Excuse me," Vincent said with a smile, "I really have no time to chat".

"Oh it will only take a minute." the stranger replied as he put himself in a position of harm if Vincent didn't stop the cart. Vincent thought about running him over, but thought better of it.

"What can I do for you?" Vincent asked as he had the horse stop.


"I'm a herbalist, and I'm looking for some Nemophilia and Torenia. I got a women in town who as a condition of Haemochromatosis and if I don't find some of those petals and grind them into a-"


"Uh, what did you say you were looking for?" Vincent interrupted him.


"Nemophilia and Torenia. You couldn't miss them! You see, once I grind the petals, I'll mix it in some sap from a Pine tree. Like one of those," he pointed as some trees off the road ahead some way, "and I mixe it up as best I can-"


"What are those?" Vincent interrupted again, getting a little annoyed.


The tall figure stood on his tip toes to look at the trees he gestured to, "Oh those are probably Pinus monticola , they are fairly common in this area on the west side of town. It's funny you don't see-"


No, I don't mean those." Vincent clearly showing his irritation. "What is it that you are looking for, the Nee-mo-fish-a and the torrent things you mentioned before."


"Nemophilia and Torenia are these lovely black flowers that grow along the river-"


"I haven't been near the river since leaving town, and I haven't seen any black flowers." Vincent said quickly, and urged his horse to begin moving, forcing the man to step aside.  "Good day to you."


The lean figure of a man stepped back and smiled politely, "Thank you for your time, sorry to hold you up."


Vincent didn't look back as he tried to speed up his pace.  The encounter made him wary of the few other people he saw that day, and he steer wide and clear of anyone else that look like they might approach him.


The dragon stayed quiet the whole day, and before they entered the next town that evening, Vincent stopped to take a peek into the cart.  It was getting dark, and the shadows were still inside the cart.


"Where are you?"  He asked the dragon as his eyes darted around, trying to make sense of the shapes and shadows.  There was no answer.


Getting concerned, to stuck a thin stick into the cart to poke the dragon, make sure it was alive, and could move.  Nothing moved.


Vincent panicked, and threw the back door open in astonishment.  The dragon had escaped!

Missing!

Dani was leaving the meadow and heading straight to the forest with a terrible ache in her heart.

The dragon failed to show up as it usually might while she played in the meadow.  She deliberately stayed away from the forest, afraid that the strange man would be there again asking for her dragon.  She wished she looked harder for where the dragon stayed at night, because if the dragon didn't find her in the forest, she feared the worst.

Might that terrible man try to take, or hurt the dragon?

What she got to the usual spot in the forest, she sat down on a log to catch her breath and wait.  The minutes took forever to pass as she looked in the seemingly empty sky, searching for her friend.

Her stomach knotted up as she became aware that the dragon was not coming today.  That man must have taken it, there didn't seem to be any other option.  Tears welled up in Dani's dark eyes as she took one last look to the sky, than ran back to town.

There was only one thing she could think to do.  She ran straight into Mr. Effert's shop and burst into tears when he turned to greet her.  She collapsed to her knees in exhaustion and tried to hold back the sobs.

"Help me... he's taken... the dragon." Dani managed to utter out.

Capture!

Vincent felt like he was on top of the world.  His plan was flawless.  Never in his wildest dreams did he believe he would have a dragon!  Now here is one within his grasp.

The dragon went into the old mill for the night and Vincent laid his trap.  He put the cart up to the only opening big enough for the dragon, the main door.  The door wide open, Vincent expected the dragon to just fly right into the cart when it woke early in the morning.  Vincent laid his blanket on top of the cart, ready to slam it shut.

Vincent didn't sleep all night.  He tensed up at every noise that came out of the house.  When it was quiet, he turned on his back and dreamed about climbing on the back of this beautiful dragon and flying amongst the stars above him.  He thought about all the things he could have with a dragon on his call, the power, the money... and how people would respect him, and fear him.  This was going to be the beginning of it all.

Early that morning, Vincent felt the cart below him move.  He jumped up, and slammed the door shut.  He felt the anxious dragon start to claw and scratch at the door and walls inside the cart, and growl in anger.

Vincent smiled as he held and latched the cart door shut.  The dragon was his.

Planning the Capture

Vincent called out to the girl walking quickly away from him.  "Why are you walking away?  I'll get you whatever you want little lady!  What would you like for the dragon?  I can get you clothes, money, toys... whatever you want!"

She stopped for a moment, considering his words.  Than she turned around and looked at Vincent again with those penetrating dark eyes.  Eyes that were used to showing joy were trying to hide the fury behind them.

She took a deep breath, and said in a very controlled manner, "He's not "my dragon", he's his own.  I don't want what you offer, I only want us to be left alone.  Now please go away."

Vincent sighed as is was clear she was not going to be any help.  Getting this dragon without her help was going to be very difficult.  Fortunately he had already formulated a plan.

She turned and walked away, leaving Vincent amongst the tress by himself.  He looked around and didn't see any signs of the dragon, and considered chasing the girl down.  Remembering the scratches he received last time he did that changed his mind.

Vincent knew where the dragon spent it's nights.  He saw it come and go from an old abandoned mill up the river a ways.  He came across it as he was heading out of town, and happened to see the dragon return with some fish it was clearly planning to eat.

Back in Lisdon he acquired a horse and a small cart that had an enclosed box that sealed tight and strong and opened in the back and slowly headed up towards the abandoned Mill.

An Offer

Dani never did get used to waking up alone.

Every time she woke up, she unconsciously reached to feel for the dragon, but it wasn't there.

She did enjoy meeting up with the dragon later.  She had been at this routine for so long now that her parents questioned her less about her daily disappearance.  She spent more and more time with the ever growing dragon (who was the size of a large dog now) making up and playing games.  They played every day now like this, unless Dani couldn't get away from her mother.

She did all the talking of course, but the dragon was intelligent in it's own way... and she was able to understand it's many moods and intentions as they spent more and more time together.

Mr. Effert continued to interrupt from time to time, but Dani was never certain if he knew there was a dragon or not.  Occasionally the dragon would mysteriously fly away when they were in the woods, and not come back.  Dani decided after this continued to happen, that hunters or trappers were in the area, and the dragon clearly did not want to be seen by other people.  She realized of course that she may be the only person the dragon has ever been with, with the exception of that animal thief the dragon revealed to her.

Dani explored a little bit, trying to figure out where the dragon was spending it's nights.  She wanted to be sure  it was safe.  But whenever she asked the dragon, it just gave her a blank look, and she could never find the dragon's home.

One cloudy day Dani and the dragon were playing a spy and stalk game where Dani would pick an animal to look for, and she and the dragon would work together to find it, and try to watch it without being seen.  They had just found a crow they were looking for, when suddenly the crow flew away, quickly followed by the dragon.

Dani sighed, and put on her innocent smile, assuming the footfalls she heard coming towards here Mr. Effert.  However, instead of the familiar lean figure of Mr. Effert came through the trees, it was a shorter, medium build man walking towards her.  She froze as her full dark lips lost their smile, and she braced herself for this encounter.

The unfamiliar man stepped forward and in a very casual way greeted her.  "Hello little lady!"

She didn't answer at first, but regarded him closely.  He wore dark clothes of green and brown that were slightly dirty, and worn.  His face wasn't the cleanest, but he gave the look of intelligence and humor.  His eyes were as quick as his words, and it was clear it was no accident he was here.

After a moment of her not saying anything, he paced around a few trees looking up and around.  "I know you have a dragon around here... I would be interested in acquiring it."

Dani's dark eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Oh hey, I'll give you a fair price little lady... dragon's are dangerous creatures you know."

Vincent

It wasn't the fines Vincent had to pay that bothered him.

Nor was it the time he was locked up in Lisdon's 'jail'.  He got caught fair and square by these simple folk, and the penalty for stealing people's pets wasn't very severe.  He was let go after only a couple days.

The snickering however... that is what got to him.

They all heard about how a creature attacked him, and no one believed him when he said it was a dragon.

Vincent knew it was a dragon.

He heard the snickering under people's breath while he was preparing to leave town. 

He also knew he couldn't do any business here in Lisdon, and had to move on.  People walked by, and averted their eyes.  Some just plain rolled their eyes.  Some just looked at him, square in the eye with disbelief.

Vincent knew it was a dragon.  When they captured him, he couldn't get the vicious little beast out of his head, and so he told everyone about it.  That was a mistake.

The more joking and laughter he heard, the more he wanted to prove them wrong.

As he was walking out of town the next day, he started walking through the woods, hoping to catch a little game.  Prison food wasn't satisfying, and efforts to get food otherwise lead to more snickering.

He was following a small game path, where he heard some gentle talk and noise.  Curious, he walked towards the gentle noises, when a familiar purple flashed in a distant clearing between some trees.

Vincent stopped and stared.  The noises were coming from the movement he saw.

He took a few more gentle steps, and then froze when the picture became clear.

It was the dragon that attacked him, sitting on a log!

Vincent took another step to improve his angle, when suddenly the dragon jumped up and flew away, revealing a darked skin girl on the log, who seemed a bit saddened to see the dragon leave.

Not moving another muscle, Vincent waited for the dragon to come back.  Watching the girl, it appeared she waited too.  After a few minutes, she stood up, and walked back towards town.

After watching her leave, Vincent sat right down on the ground he was standing on.  He was right.  A dragon did attack him!

Now he wanted the dragon for himself!

A Dragon Grows Up

It didn't take long for life to return to normal in Lisdon.  After the first day, few people said anything to Dani about the pets.   She overheard a couple of people joking about the guy talking about the dragon, but nothing else was said about it.

She worried most about Mr. Effert, as his gazes towards her were becoming more persistent and penetrating.  She didn't feel like she was in danger from him, it was more like he saw through her, and knew more than he let on.  Avoiding him wasn't easy, as he seemed to be out nearly every time she was.

The dragon continued to be on her bed every morning when she woke up, but it was growing.  She was pretty sure it wasn't going to fit through the window pretty soon, and was worried that the claw marks it was making on the window were going to be noticed soon by her mom or dad.  She also wondered what would happen to the dragon after it couldn't come to her bed.  It was strange to think this way, but she was really feeling like the dragon was her best friend.  If she didn't see it anymore, it would make her terribly sad.

Their morning and afternoon playtimes continued nearly everyday.  Sometimes Dani couldn't get away from her mother, or the dragon didn't show up, but their friendship continued to grow.  A smile started to flash on Dani's face when the dragon would suddenly fly away, usually a precursor to Mr. Effert coming along looking for such and such a herb, or mineral.  She would greet him kindly, and it seem that the conversation would always turn to dragons.  He might tell her another story about the hero Mahina and the green dragon, or talk, in a nonchalant way, about ways dragons would sleep, or what sort of treasures dragon's like to keep.  Dani was certain Mr. Effert knew something, but he never did let on.

And of course the morning came when the dragon was not there in Dani's bed.

Dani worried all morning if the dragon find her in the woods later.  As she got to her usual spot, the dragon found her as normal.  She breathed a heavy sigh and gave her friend a huge hug.  They sat like that for a couple moments, when the dragon suddenly pulled away, jumped, and flew up and over the trees.  Dani flashed her innocent smile, expecting Mr. Effert to come stomping through the trees, but he never came.  She sat on the rock for a while, happy that the dragon showed up at all.  Yet, something was different too.  She waited to see if it might come back, wondering why it flew away.

When it was clear the dragon was gone for good that day, she walked home.