Once upon a time, somewhere in our land, there was a small village nestled close to the edge of a vast forest. Even nearer to the forest stood two houses where two friendly families lived with their children. The families visited one another often, and the children played together every day, laughing and racing across the meadows. Yet no one ever ventured into the great forest – neither the villagers nor the two families. 

The forest was forbidden, for it was said to be home to a dreadful monster. No one had ever seen it, yet the warning had been passed down faithfully from one generation to the next.

One day the children were playing at the edge of the woods when one of the girls suddenly spotted a patch of beautiful flowers beneath the trees. She ran over to admire them, and of course the other children followed. Before long they discovered the most magnificent mushrooms a little deeper in the forest. They simply had to take a closer look! Then, all at once, a hare sprang out of the undergrowth.

"There it goes!"

Without a second thought they raced after it. Every warning their parents had ever given them was forgotten, and the children's cheeks glowed with excitement and the thrill of discovery.

And so they wandered ever deeper into the forest, where each new turn offered another wonder. Suddenly the youngest boy tripped over a thick tree root and fell. His friends hurried to help him up, but as they did so, they lost their footing. Hidden beneath the deep layer of fallen leaves was a large pit, and helplessly they slid all the way to the bottom.

At once they tried to climb back out, but the sides were far too steep and much too high. So they began to call for help. They shouted for a long time and as loudly as they could, but they had ventured too far into the forest. The youngest girl burst into tears, yet no one could hear her.

No one?

For since time immemorial, a dragon had lived in that forest. He was the very reason why people kept away from it. Although no one had ever actually met him, the tale of the terrible monster had endured through the centuries.

He was the last of his kind and had lived alone for hundreds of years, shunned by everyone who dwelt near the forest. He had become so lonely that he had almost forgotten how to speak.

The sound of children's voices caught his attention. How long had it been since he had heard such happy voices? And when the little girl began to cry, he started in alarm.

That simply would not do.

Quietly and carefully he made his way towards the pit. He did not wish to frighten the children, so instead of peering over the edge, he spoke to them before they could see him. 

"Don't be frightened, children. I've come to help you."

"Who are you?" the children asked, startled by the unexpected voice.

"I'm not a human," the deep voice replied kindly, "but please don't be afraid."

"Then what are you?"

"I'm a dragon... but I don't breathe fire! May I show myself?"

A dragon! So this was the terrible monster their parents had always spoken of. Yet he certainly didn't sound like one. Despite their fear, the children became curious.

"Of course! Show yourself! You said you wanted to help us. Have you got a ladder?" asked the oldest boy.

Slowly the dragon raised his head above the edge of the pit. Goodness, he was enormous! But he was smiling, and his eyes were warm and gentle.

"No," he said with a smile, "I haven't got a ladder. But I do have a bridge."

He turned around and carefully lowered his long tail into the pit. It really was a bridge. The bravest boy quickly climbed up the dragon's tail, and when the others saw that it was safe, they followed one after another. Soon all the children were standing beside their remarkable rescuer.

The dragon stretched himself out upon the forest floor so that his head was level with the children's faces and smiled at them. They sat down beside him, and one of them asked,

"How can we ever thank you? You were so kind to us."

The dragon looked at them sadly.

"I would so love to see children playing again, to hear someone singing, and to watch people dancing. I have lived here all alone for centuries, and I would dearly love a little company. Will I ever see you again?"

At that moment the children lost the last trace of their shyness. Delighted, they promised they would come back and visit him. But first they had to return home, for much time had passed, and they knew their parents would be terribly worried.

Meanwhile, the whole village was in an uproar. Everyone had joined the search, calling the children's names and looking for them everywhere.

Relief quickly turned to shock and anger when the villagers saw the children running out of the forest. After the first stern scolding, the children were told to explain what had happened. They did so, while their parents and all the villagers listened with amazement and disbelief. Had the little rascals made the whole story up? But after questioning them carefully, the grown-ups gradually realised that the children were telling the truth.

The father of the oldest boy listened quietly and considered what ought to be done. Then the children asked for permission to visit the dragon again.

The adults recoiled at the very idea, but the father said,

"Yes, you may... but I'm coming with you."

And so it was. The dragon was overjoyed to see his young friends again, and the father was able to judge for himself what sort of magical friend his children had found. From that day onwards, every prejudice melted away. The forest opened its gates, and the people came freely into the woods once more.

And the dragon was never lonely again.