The little dragon rubbed her eyes. She wasn't certain why she was awake. The light in the cavern was dim, and she could not see far, but in the distance, she thought she heard weeping. She tugged on her mother's wing.
“Mama? Mama?” Mother's eyes fluttered open and she looked down at the child.
“Darling, why are you not asleep?” her mother whispered. “Are you hungry?”
The little dragon wasn't hungry. She nodded anyway, for it would be wrong to pass up an opportunity for a delicious gem. Mother selected a deep blue sapphire and handed it to her, and she gnawed away at the rich treat. But an empty stomach wasn't why she awoke. There was something else. The cavern did not feel right. Her eyes adjusted and she peered about.
“Where is Papa?” She spun her head around. “Where are all the daddy dragons?”
“They are standing guard outside. Papa has gone to search for a new home.”
“We have to move again?”
“Yes.” Mother's head rose and her voice turned to a hiss. “Another egg has gone missing.”
The little dragon chewed at the gem as she looked at Mother. Of her first year there were no memories, for she was small and had no words. But she remembered last year. She remembered the pain in Mother's eyes and the chaos of the move. She hated moving. She hated it almost as much as she hated being the only little dragon.
“Will I have someone play with this year, Mama?” Her mother remained silent, staring off into the cavern's depths. “Mama?”
“Not this year, child. The white witch has taken the last egg.”
The little dragon did not understand many things. That was the problem with being small. Life was so confusing with its hiding and moving, and she did not like it. But she understood that the white witch took eggs, and she knew that without eggs she would have no playmates. She hated the cruel witch for taking the eggs. But no one ever told her what became of the eggs or why the witch took them. She stopped eating for a moment and she wondered.
“Will the white witch take me away too?”
Mother looked down and held her tight under her wing.
“Never. Papa and I would not let that happen.”
The little dragon finished her treat and licked her claws clean. A full stomach made her drowsy, and her eyelids drooped. Her mind filled with images of other little dragons, ones that she could chase and who would chase her. She and her friends would learn to fly and shoot flames. They would go on great adventures and find many beautiful and tasty gems.
She yawned. “Will there ever be someone to play with, Mama?”
“One day soon, my child. We shall take back what is ours, and you will have so many playmates you will never remember all their names. Together, you will play games and grow strong and fierce.” Mother watched her drift off. “Dragons will fill the skies once more and we will be feared.”
“But sleep now, for the dawn comes soon.”