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In a sun-dappled forest path, Zander kneels beside glowing moss, gently cupping a sunrise-shimmering egg; morning light filters through leaves, illuminating his wide-eyed hopeful face.
Zander skipped through the forest path. A soft glow peeked from moss. He gasped, 'An egg?' The shell shimmered like sunrise. 'I’ll keep you safe,' he whispered, cupping it gently.
Inside his cluttered bedroom, afternoon light spills through the window as Zander arranges socks and towels into a floor nest, smiling at the softly humming egg nestled in his open backpack.
He tucked the egg inside his backpack. At home, Zander built a nest of socks and towels. 'Comfy?' he asked. The egg hummed warmly. 'I’m your helper now,' he promised.
At night on the moonlit bedroom windowsill, Zander leans close to the glowing shell, whispering questions while silver light outlines his curious face and the egg’s faint double thump.
Moonlight tickled the shell. Zander listened close. 'Do you want a name?' he whispered. The egg thumped twice. 'Okay, Little Spark, I’ll learn about dragons for you,' he said.
In the sunny backyard, morning dew sparkling, Zander kneels beside a cardboard box lined with freshly gathered warm leaves, patting the snug nest as gentle taps sound from within the unseen egg.
All morning, Zander gathered warm leaves. He lined the box carefully. 'Snug and safe,' he said, patting the nest. Gentle tapping answered. He danced, whispering, 'I’m ready when you are.'
During a stormy afternoon in his bedroom, lightning flashes across rattling windows while Zander hugs a shoebox nest to his chest and sings bravely as the egg taps back in rhythm.
Clouds rolled in, grumbling. Wind rattled the windows. 'Don’t be scared,' Zander said, hugging the box. He sang a brave song. Thunder boomed, but the egg thumped back, 'Thump-thump!'
Under the soft glow of a bedside lamp, Zander watches in awe at his desk as a tiny green dragon named Ember cracks through the shell, peeking out and flicking its tail.
A crack spidered across the shell. Zander held his breath. 'Hello?' he whispered. A tiny green dragon peeked out. 'Welcome, Ember,' Zander smiled, and Ember squeaked, 'Zan-der,' flicking a tail.
At the candlelit kitchen table after dusk, Ember sneezes bright sparks into the air while perched on Zander’s shoulder; Zander quickly warms a small cup of milk, laughing at the fiery surprise.
Ember sneezed sparks into the air. Zander clapped quickly. 'Careful, little buddy,' he laughed. He warmed milk beside a candle. Ember lapped it, purring, 'Warm-warm,' and curled on Zander’s shoulder.
In Zander’s dim bedroom, starlight streaming through the open window, Ember wobbly-flaps then glides across a row of pillows while Zander kneels on the floor, cheering with hands raised.
That evening, stars winked. 'Let’s practice,' Zander said. Ember flapped, wobbled, then glided across pillows. 'You’re amazing!' Zander cheered. Ember chirped, 'Fly-fly!' and landed proudly on the window ledge.
Morning indoors, curtains drawn tight in Zander’s room, distant construction machines loom beyond a narrow gap; Zander gently shushes Ember, who hides beneath a blanket on the bed.
Morning brought machines beyond the trees. 'They’re loud,' Zander frowned, closing curtains. Ember hid beneath the blanket. 'We’ll keep quiet,' whispered Zander. They waited until the clanging drifted away.
On the bedroom floor under midday light, crayons scattered, Zander spreads a colorful map of a secret valley while Ember, wrapped in their cozy nest blanket, nods eagerly beside packed snacks.
Zander traced a map he drew with crayons. 'A secret valley,' he told Ember. 'Safe skies, safe streams.' Ember nodded, 'Go-go!' They packed snacks, water, and the cozy nest blanket.
At dawn beside a misty forest creek, cool blue light surrounds Zander balancing on stone steps with backpack straps taut as Ember peeks from the zipper, tiny eyes sparkling.
At dawn, they slipped outside quietly. 'Hold tight,' Zander said. Ember rode in the backpack, peeking. They crossed a singing creek and climbed a hill. 'We’re close,' whispered Zander, smiling.
In a sunlit meadow dotted with shimmering stones, Zander stands at a small cave entrance while Ember circles overhead then nuzzles his cheek, promising farewell amid warm golden afternoon light.
A meadow shimmered with stones. 'Home,' Zander breathed. Ember circled, then settled in a cave. 'I’ll visit and protect your secret,' he vowed. Ember whispered, 'Friend-forever,' nuzzling Zander’s cheek.
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