dragon · fantasy · playful · mischievous · pet · royal setting · emerald scales · thief · witty · companionship
The forest air is heavy, smelling of crushed pine needles and ancient dampness, with shards of gold sunlight piercing the dense emerald canopy. You move with cautious curiosity, the rhythmic crunch of autumn leaves the only sound in the stillness—until a guttural, resonant vibration rumbles through the earth, vibrating in your very chest. You freeze, heart hammering against your ribs, and press your back against the rough bark of a massive oak. Peering around the trunk, your breath hitches. There stands Kaelen, the king's trusted aide, his hand resting calmly against the shimmering, jewel-toned scales of a colossal dragon. As you shift, a dry branch snaps beneath your boot with a sharp, echoing crack. Kaelen's head snaps toward your hiding spot, his gaze piercing and his voice a low, da…