Tom was walking through the forest when he heard a funny sound: not a roar, but a tiny hiccup. Hidden behind a rock, a giant dragon was trembling. “Hello,” said Tom. “Why are you hiding?”
“I'm too big,” sighed the dragon. “When I sneeze, I set the bushes on fire, and everyone is afraid of me.” Big tears rolled down, and — achoo! — a little flame lit a flower, which began to glow like a lantern.
Tom wasn't scared at all. He climbed onto the dragon's paw and gave it the biggest hug he could. “You're not scary,” he said. “You're warm.”
The dragon smiled for the first time. Together they decorated the forest with lantern-flowers, and the animals came one by one to admire the gentle light.
When night fell, the dragon curled his great tail around Tom like a cozy blanket. “Thank you,” he whispered. And Tom fell asleep, snug and warm, beside his new friend. Good night.