[ WP ] The Deep Woods are a fearsome place , filled with screams and lights and terrible magic . But in the depths of the forest lives an ancient dragon who constructs all the sounds and sights to keep people away , because he just wants to be left alone .

“ Leave me, ” Tamot, the Eldritch, snarled. 
 
 The dragon towered over the silhouette emerging from the forest clearing. A hunter, no doubt. This time, he would be ready for them. 
 
 The person paused. Tamot watched them with curiosity as the smoke from his nostrils twisted and coiled in the scant light, creating horrid shapes. For good measure he shivered, causing the thousands of scales across his body to grate each other in a blurry cacophony. 
 
 Yet, that didn ’ t deter the figure. They walked forward with ginger steps into the light, as if unfazed by the dragon ’ s every attempt to scare them off. 
 
 And that ’ s when Tamot could clearly see them. 
 
 It was a girl… A human girl no more than eight years of age. She almost resembled a ghost, a pale thing dressed in ratty clothes barely clinging to her thin frame. She peered up at Tamot, one eye hidden in a thick mess of curly hair. 
 
 “ Are you the dragon people say live in the forest, sir? ” she asked, a meek voice still strong with everlasting curiosity. 
 
 Tamot hadn ’ t heard a human ’ s voice in ages. Almost as long ago as when people still believed in dragons. And yet, here was this girl who not knew of him but weathered his attempts to scare her. 
 
 “ What do you want? ” Tamot asked. He punctuated the question with another puff of smoke. 
 
 The girl looked him up and down, as if uncertain of how to respond. She fidgeted a moment, looking down at her feet, and then miraculously found the courage to not run off. 
 
 “ I need one of your scales please, Mr. Dragon, sir. ” 
 
 At this, Tamot shot fire from his mouth. It was instinctual, as if he could still feel the blades piercing his flesh, carving him away at like a holiday ham. The flames narrowly missed the girl by a few inches, but the new smell of burnt hair wafted through the clearing. 
 
 The girl took a step back on quivering legs. She glanced behind her at the forest, as if considering making an emergency retreat. 
 
 *Good*, Tamot thought. *Leave and never come back*. 
 
 As if hearing his thoughts, she dug her heels in and remained in place. 
 
 “ Please, sir, ” the girl said. “ I need a scale or my Pa said I couldn ’ t come back home. Said a girl like me can ’ t work like my brothers can so I need to make money some other way. ” 
 
 Silence followed her words. They were genuine, by no doubt. Tamot could see the darkness in a man ’ s heart from a mile away. He had been a victim of greed, and he didn ’ t intend to fall for their traps again. 
 
 And yet, here was this girl. She did what many hadn ’ t in hundreds of years. And for what – to prove her worth? She didn ’ t deserve to be mistreated like that. 
 
 No one did. 
 
 “ You can not have one my scales, ” Tamot finally said. 
 
 The girl looked down with a gloomy expression. 
 
 “ But, you are free to stay here with me. There is no need to return to a place where you ’ re unwanted. Does that sound fair? ” 
 
 First shock then unrelenting happiness ran across the girl ’ s face. She flashed the dragon a grin, a few gaps in her smile. An eager nod was her answer. 
 
 And for the first time in what seemed like an eternity, Tamot began to believe again that not all humans are evil.
