by Bill Tiepelman
The Flame-Furred Dragonling
In the quiet, maple-scented corner of the Everamber Woods, something far from quiet was about to happen. It all began when a certain someoneโletโs call him Boris the Nearly Braveโdecided that dragons were nothing more than oversized chickens with fire breath. "Iโll make my fortune selling flame-proof armor," heโd declare, waving his sword around in the village tavern, entirely forgetting heโd spent the last three years cowering from squirrels. But fate, as it tends to do, had other plans. Plans that involved tiny claws, fiery pink fur, and an ego-deflating encounter in the heart of autumnโs most beautiful, and least predictable, forest. The Trouble with Eggs Boris, fueled by one too many tankards of mead and even more bad decisions, set out on an epic questโwell, a quest anywayโto find dragon eggs. The village rumor mill had been in overdrive: someone had spotted a strange glow in Everamber Woods. And since Boris was running out of excuses to avoid his debts, he figured, "Why not? Maybe Iโll find an egg, maybe Iโll die. Either way, it's less embarrassing than borrowing more coin from Granny Norgle." So off he trudged, swinging his sword at nothing in particular, and muttering about becoming the most famous dragonslayer this side of the River of Regret (a fitting name, considering his future). The deeper he ventured into the woods, the more brilliant the autumn colors becameโreds, oranges, and yellows swirling in the wind, as if the trees themselves were on fire. And at the heart of it all, nestled between two particularly ancient-looking oaks, was an egg. Now, youโd think Boris would be suspicious about an unguarded, glowing egg just lying in a bed of autumn leaves. Youโd think heโd stop to ask, "Whereโs the giant, fire-breathing mother that laid this thing?" But no, Borisโdrunk on mead and egoโpicked up the egg and stuffed it in his satchel like it was a stolen loaf of bread. The Hatchling Awakens For a good five minutes, Boris was convinced heโd won. He could already picture himself strutting through the village, selling dragon omelets for a fortune. But then the egg began to crack. A faint glow seeped through the fissures, followed by a high-pitched chirp. This, of course, was the part where Boris panicked. "Stay in there, you overgrown lizard!" he shouted, as if that would stop nature from taking its course. And thenโpop!โout came the strangest creature Boris had ever seen. It wasnโt quite the fearsome dragon of legends. No, this little beast had fluffy, vibrant pink fur, big soulful eyes, and wings that looked like they belonged more on a bat that had partied too hard than a dragon of terror. Its scales glittered, but in an oddly adorable way, and its tiny horns curled like it was still deciding whether to be cute or dangerous. The baby dragon blinked at Boris, then promptly sneezed. A puff of smoke curled out of its nostrils and, as luck would have it, ignited the nearest pile of leaves. Boris jumped back, flailing as if heโd been shot at by a crossbow. The dragonling, however, just sat there, wagging its tail like a puppy whoโd discovered fire for the first time. "Great," Boris muttered. "Not only did I find a dragon, but itโs defective." The Unlikely Partnership Now, most people wouldโve left the pink, fluffy ball of destruction right there in the forest. But Boris, ever the opportunist, figured there might still be a way to profit from this. Maybe he could train it to breathe fire on command, torch a few bandits, or at least keep his feet warm at night. He named the dragonling Fizzle, because thatโs all it seemed capable ofโsmall bursts of smoke, little pops of fire, and an uncontrollable knack for setting things ablaze that shouldn't be ablaze, like Borisโs beard. It turned out that Fizzle wasnโt just a dragon. He was a flame-furred, overly affectionate, extremely curious dragonling who thought everything was food, including Borisโs sword. "Stop chewing that, you oversized squirrel!" Boris would yell, yanking the blade away before Fizzle reduced it to scrap metal. But Fizzle would only blink those big, innocent eyes, as if to say, "What? Me? Iโm just a baby." And that, dear reader, is how Boris the Nearly Brave became the babysitter to the least threatening, most destructive dragonling in history. The Quest for the Great Dragon Mother As the days turned into weeks, Boris and Fizzle became an odd pair. The dragonling grewโnot in size (because letโs face it, Borisโs luck wouldnโt allow him to raise a proper dragon)โbut in curiosity and chaos. Every day was a new adventure in avoiding complete disaster. One time, Fizzle ignited a cart of hay in the middle of town, sending Boris scrambling to explain why the "big, scary dragon" looked more like a stuffed toy gone wrong. "Itโs not dangerous! I swear!" he shouted to the mob with pitchforks. "Itโs... uh... just playing!" The villagers were, understandably, not convince ย ย Bring Home the Chaos and Cuteness If raising a dragonling like Fizzle seems a bit too much, donโt worryโyou can still bring a piece of his fiery charm into your life without the singed eyebrows. Check out these delightful items featuring the legendary Flame-Furred Dragonling: Throw Pillow โ Cozy up with this vibrant and whimsical throw pillow, featuring Fizzle in all his pink-furred glory. A perfect touch of magical mayhem for your living room. Tapestry โ Transform any space with the warm, autumn vibes of this stunning tapestry, featuring the adorable and mischievous dragonling. Itโs like bringing a piece of Everamber Woods into your homeโminus the accidental fires. Fleece Blanket โ Stay warm (just like Boris tried to!) with this ultra-soft fleece blanket. Curl up under its magical design and let Fizzle keep you cozy without the risk of unexpected flame bursts. Tote Bag โ Take a bit of dragon mischief on the go with this enchanting tote bag, perfect for your adventuresโwhether youโre braving the woods or just heading to the market. Whether youโre an aspiring dragonslayer or just a fan of fiery cuteness, these items will let you carry the spirit of Fizzle with you, without the need for flameproof armor. Shop now and add a little dragonling charm to your life!
