Once upon a twilight in the magical Dragon Valley, a gentle dragon named Draco was taking his evening stroll. Unlike the fiery dragons of tales long ago, Draco was friendly and caring. His shimmering green scales sparkled like emeralds as he spread his giant wings, and his large golden eyes twinkled with kindness. This environment was his home, a splendid place filled with sparkling rivers, towering trees, and the sweetest blossoms. Yet, despite this beauty, Draco often did feel a tad lonely—after all, he was a dragon without a family.
As Draco ambled along a meandering path, entranced by the sweet fragrances wafting from the blooming flowers, he was suddenly startled by a soft mewing sound. Alarmed, he halted. What could be making that noise? His heart raced at the suspense Thht this unfamiliar sound brought forth. Slowly, he turned around, and there it was—a tiny kitten, no larger than Draco’s paw—lost and frightened. Its fur was the color of snowflakes, and its innocent golden eyes stared up at him, quivering in trepidation.
But as Draco looked at the kitten, dread washed over him. The kitten must be terrified at the sight of a dragon. What if it ran away screaming? What if it never wanted to come home again after seeing Draco? Unquestionably frightened kittens were not welcome in Dragon Valley. And yet, Draco had never seen a kitten alone before—wasn’t it his responsibility, as the gentle creature he was, to help?
Taking a deep breath, he leaned down and spoke gently, “Hello, little one. Are you lost?”
“Oh, yes,” replied the kitten with a shaky ginger voice. “I was playing, and now I can’t find my way home, and all my family is gone!”
Draco felt the kitten’s tiny heart breaking. “Please don’t be frightened. I am your friend, and I will help you find your family.”
Though the kitten turned its head to glance doubtfully at the enormous creature before it, the golden shining eyes that looked back somehow inspired confidence. All at once, it stepped forward and rubbed against Draco’s cool firm paw.
“What is your name, little one?” Draco asked sweetly.
“My name is Cuddles,” the kitten replied shyly.
With utmost care, Draco flapped his joyfully hitting wings and soon began to soar high into the twilit sky. Seated safely upon his broad back, Cuddles felt the tears drying up on her little face as they flew.
“What is that delightful smell?” the kitten inquisitively inquired. “Why, that’s the Dragon flower! That’s the flower my brother used to love.”
Quickly Draco twisted around. “Your brother! Can you see where he lives from here?”
“I think I can! Down below is the rock that looks like the great gate to King’s Palace. Go a bit farther, and you will see my home near the little stream that bends around the big tree. That is where my brother and I always played with the flowers.”
Draco turned swiftly in the direction indicated but hovered above the house, as he could see many little kittens and even some baby cats running about upon the lawn. But there were no grown cats to be seen anywhere.
“Do you see any of your brother’s family?” he asked.
“No,” said Cuddles impatiently; “but then, they may be in the yard.”
So Draco lowered himself near the gate, and when he made sure that no grown cat, or even kitten, came near, he laid down and allowed Cuddles to jump from his back.
His huge golden eyes soon fell upon an elderly tabby cat, hurrying toward the house and lifting her anxious head with welcome. Unquestionably that she was Cuddles’s grandmother.
Draco dropped down on his knees and whispered to Cuddles, “I will wait here until I know whether you are all right.”
As soon as the old lady caught sight of her grandchild, she came pattering across the lawn, crying, “Oh, my child, my child!” Mother Cat at once joined her, looking more worried than ever, and with her were several older kittens. And all these knew that Cuddles tickled the palm of the hand when she was happy.
Then, from all directions, members of the family came racing. Cuddles could hardly make it to the door, and friends gathered on all sides.
After a time, Cuddles put her pink nose near the door and called softly, “Oh, Draco, won’t you come in?”
The kind dragon half rose, but the old tabby rushed up and exclaimed, “I am truly obliged to you for bringing home my child and to your family; but she cannot enter into a dragon’s house until you have been properly introduced.”
Draco raised a paw to cover his mouth and said in his gentlest voice, “That is quite right. I am certain my parents would have shown you all proper courtesy; for, as you know, Dragon Valley is a place where everyone goes nicely and politely by the rules.”
Then Mother Cat took up the word. “We, too, in a bad and hasty manner gave up such good customs long ago. But please, noble Draco, bring hither your family.”
So all the dragons belonging to Draco came to the front of the house.
At once, old Tabby hopped up, saying, “Most noble dragons, be so kind as to accept my deep expression of gratitude for the safe return of my darling grandchild to her fond family.”
“Most nobility contends not in a battle of virtue,” suddenly exclaimed Mother Cat gallantly. “Simply do as simply should be done. Therefore may we now express our invitation to you all to enter our happy home.”
Flapping his bright wings, a young dragon a bit older than Draco lifted up his voice. “Your invitation is ever welcome, angelic cats, but ever more so at such an unexpected season. Will you meet me on the appointed day? All things take place as duly they should. Finely for us will the New Year party conclude at the solar noon behind the lovely gates of your lawn and near the big oak, even as kindly yours did last year in the palace. Doubtless the season could ne’er have been better.”
“There was no better Queen than now, nor will ere be. We assure you of that. So good-night, noble dragons.” And the cats went back into their home.
“Good-night! good-night!” Draco politely answered, and off he flew, light-heartedly joyous.
He found his father and mother waiting for him a little distance from where he had left Cuddles. “Did you get safely home?” they asked very anxiously.
“Yes, Mother; just think, Mortal Cats and Unmortals. They asked Father and me to a New Year’s party, and we must be sure to go.” And, with the sad thought of a party without a dance, he told them all.
“But how to accept their invitation? They customarily do things as properly they should,” said one’s own father.
“Dragon Valley greets cat’s party respectfully,” his father said. “Créme de lait, if it be a drink, sweetly we will pond erme.”
And so it happened. The dragons and cats became everlasting friendly. Never will one miss the others’ party, delightedly united we will ever and forever remain. So they came to tell.
Thus the gentle-hearted dragon was no longer lonely, for he had found a family by giving help and love to someone in distress. A simple act of kindness had brought warmth and joy into his life, and the moral of the story was clear: compassion breaks barriers, uniting families and hearts in unexpected ways.
And that, dear child, is the story of Draco, the friendly dragon who found his family by helping a little lost kitten.