Emberwing

Emberwing was never particularly good at being a proper dragon.

Proper dragons guarded mountains of gold. Emberwing collected interesting rocks. Proper dragons breathed enormous, terrifying flames capable of sending entire villages running. Emberwing's fire had other ideas. It came out in brilliant bursts of red and gold, usually when he was excited, laughing too hard, or trying very hard not to breathe fire. And proper dragons were supposed to be fierce, intimidating creatures who made everyone around them tremble. Emberwing preferred hugs. So, naturally, the other dragons weren't entirely sure what to do with him.

Then one day, while exploring beyond the mountains, Emberwing heard the tiniest little squeak coming from beneath a fallen tree. There he discovered two baby dragons who had become separated from their family. One was ridiculously brave. The other was ridiculously convinced that biting Emberwing's tail was an appropriate way to say hello.

Emberwing knew immediately that he couldn't leave them behind. So he tucked them safely against him and set off across the mountains to find their family. It took three days, two wrong turns, one unfortunate encounter with a very offended goat, and several accidental bursts of fire, but eventually Emberwing brought the babies home.

That adventure changed him. From that day forward, Emberwing became known as The Keeper of the Little Flames, protector of tiny dragons, lost creatures, oddballs, misfits, and anyone who has ever wondered if there was a place in the world where they truly belonged.

The colourful spikes running down his back appeared slowly over the years. Dragon legend says that every time Emberwing helps someone find the courage to be completely themselves, another scale changes colour. Nobody knows if the legend is true. Emberwing refuses to confirm it.

He still doesn't have a mountain of gold. He still collects interesting rocks. He still prefers hugs. And despite years of practice, he still occasionally sets things on fire when he gets excited.

You do not have to fit into the world you were given. Sometimes you are here to create a more colourful one.

Recorded in the Dragon Archives.