The Shy Dragon Shares

Behind the table stood a tall, cool stalagmite. It reached from the cave floor like a stone finger. Milo slipped behind it, pressing his back to the smooth rock. He tucked his wings around himself and hid the honey cake under his chin.

From his hiding place, he could see only a slice of the dining nook and the busy cave beyond.

Aunt Luma appeared at the archway. She was a gentle green dragon with a basket balanced on her tail. She looked toward the table.

“Milo?” she called again.

Milo held very still.

The basket made a soft rustle as Aunt Luma shifted it. “I brought berry buns.”

Milo’s nose twitched. Berry buns were his second favorite snack.

He peeked around the stalagmite. Aunt Luma was still looking. Her kind eyes moved over the table, the chairs, and the little fire.

Milo ducked back.

A moment later, her footsteps moved away.

“He may be in the nook,” she said to someone. “Let’s give him a little time.”

Milo let out a quiet breath. He had found a safe place.

For one tiny moment, the stone felt like a friend.

Then the cave grew busier. Dragons padded past the dining nook. Their wings brushed the walls with soft fluffs. Cups clinked. Voices rose and fell.

“Can I have a berry bun?”

“Please pass the apple slices.”

“Look, there are honey cakes!”

Milo pulled his cake closer.

He did not want to leave his hiding place. He did not want to share. The thought felt like a knot inside his chest.

A small purple dragon named Pip wandered into the nook. Pip carried a blue cup with both claws. He stopped beside the table and looked under the chairs.

“Are you looking for something?” Milo asked before he could stop himself.

Pip turned. “I’m looking for the little wooden spoon. Aunt Luma said it was here.”

Milo glanced at the table. The spoon lay near his front foot.

He could pick it up. He could hand it over.

But Pip might see the honey cake.

Milo slid one foot over the spoon.

“I don’t see it,” he whispered.

Pip looked around. “Oh. Maybe it is in the basket.”

He walked away.

Milo stared at the spoon beneath his foot. His scales felt warm.

He had not meant to make Pip search. He had only wanted to keep his cake hidden. Still, the spoon had been right there.

Milo moved his foot and picked it up. He hurried after Pip, staying close to the wall.

“Here,” Milo said.

Pip turned with a smile. “Thank you!”

The smile made Milo feel a little lighter. He had shared the spoon. It was not food, but it was something.

Then Aunt Luma called from the snack circle, “Milo, we saved a spot for you.”

The light feeling vanished.

Milo slipped behind another rock, this one low and wide. He peered across the cave. The snack circle sat on the blue blanket. Aunt Luma sat at one side. Pip sat beside a bowl of apple slices. Three other young dragons sat with their cups in their claws.

At the center of the blanket stood a little wooden plate. Every dragon placed a snack on it before choosing something to eat.

Milo knew what happened next.

He would have to put his honey cake on the plate.

His claws began to shake.

Aunt Luma noticed him behind the low rock. She did not come rushing over. She only rested her tail beside the empty place in the circle.

“You can sit here,” she said. “You do not have to hurry.”

Milo looked at the empty place.

It was close to the plate.

Too close.

“I’m fine here,” he said.

Aunt Luma nodded. “All right.”

Pip lifted a slice of apple. “I saved the crisp one for you.”

Milo’s mouth went dry. “I’m not hungry.”

His belly gave a small growl.

Pip blinked. Aunt Luma’s eyes softened, but she did not laugh.

Milo pressed both claws over his honey cake.

The cave felt warm, but his face felt warmer. He could hear every sound: the crackle of the fire, the tiny scrape of claws on the blanket, the gentle chime of cups.

Aunt Luma picked up a berry bun and broke it in two. She placed one half on the wooden plate and kept the other half.

“Sharing does not mean giving away everything,” she said quietly. “It can begin with making room.”

Milo looked at the circle. There was room beside Pip. There was room beside Aunt Luma. There was room on the plate.

He thought of the spoon. He had given it to Pip, and Pip had smiled. No one had grabbed it. No one had made a fuss.

Maybe the snack circle would be like that.

Maybe not.

Milo took one step from behind the rock.

Pip waved. “There you are!”

Milo stopped.

Everyone looked at him.

His wings folded tight. The honey cake pressed against his chest.

Aunt Luma spoke gently. “You may come slowly.”

Milo took another step. The stone floor was smooth beneath his feet. The blanket seemed very far away, though it was only a few dragon lengths.

He nearly turned back.

Then he saw the empty spot waiting for him. No one had filled it. No one had moved the blue cup that sat beside it.

They had saved it.

Milo walked to the circle.

Pip scooted over. “You can sit next to me.”

Milo lowered himself onto the blanket. Its soft threads tickled his toes. He kept one wing wrapped around the honey cake.

Aunt Luma pointed to the wooden plate. “You can place your snack there when you are ready.”

Milo looked at the plate. A berry bun sat beside apple slices and warm bread. There was room for his honey cake.

His claws shook harder.

He could not let go.

Pip leaned close, but not too close. “You can keep holding it,” he whispered. “I hold my cup when I feel shy.”

Milo looked at Pip’s blue cup. Pip’s claws were wrapped around it so tightly that his knuckles looked pale.

“You do?” Milo asked.

“Sometimes,” Pip said. “It helps me sit with everyone.”

Milo nodded. He understood that.

The sharing bell rang once more.

Ting-a-ling.

Snack time had begun.

The dragons reached for the wooden plate. Aunt Luma passed the apple slices. Pip offered a berry bun to the dragon beside him. The circle moved gently, like a slow, friendly wheel.

Milo stayed still.

He had made it out from behind the stalagmite. He had crossed the busy cave. He had joined the circle.

But the honey cake remained tucked beneath his wing.

Aunt Luma did not ask him to give it up. She simply placed a small cup of warm milk near his foot.

Milo wrapped one claw around the cup. Its warmth spread into his toes.

“Thank you,” he whispered.

“You are welcome,” Aunt Luma said.

Pip took a bite of apple and smiled at him. “I’m glad you came.”

Milo looked around the circle. The fire glowed. The cave smelled of cinnamon and berries. The blanket was soft beneath him, and the dragons made room when he needed it.

He still felt shy. He still held his honey cake tightly.

“I can’t share it yet,” Milo said, his voice small but clear.

No one frowned.

Aunt Luma nodded. “You can tell us when you are ready.”

Milo took a slow breath. The knot inside him loosened just a little.

He had not shared his honey cake.

Not yet.

But he had shared the circle, and for tonight, that was a brave beginning.

End of chapter one. 7 more chapters in the full book.