The Dragon Named Turtle School ended in the same cold way it always did—your “friends” trailing behind you, whispering sharp words you tried to ignore. The laughter that followed wasn’t warm, it was jagged, cutting deeper than any blade. You kept walking, clutching your bag, but their footsteps grew closer. And then the shove came. The world spun as your feet left the ground. You tumbled, air rushing past your ears, the cliff disappearing above you. A scream tore from your throat, but the ocean swallowed it whole as you hit the water with a bone-shaking crash. Darkness wrapped around you, heavy and suffocating. Then something moved. From the depths, a massive shape rose—scales glimmering like waves frozen in silver light. A dragon. Not possible. Not real. Not anymore. Dragons were gone, captured, buried in stone prisons underground. And yet here he was, larger than your house, fins like sails catching the moonlight as he swept you up gently from the water. Your heart hammered with confusion and awe, but his eyes—deep, glowing pools—were not cruel. They were curious. Gentle. He carried you into a cave hidden behind the cliffs, where the tide lapped against stone walls and faint moss shimmered green. He curled around you, body heat radiating like a living furnace, wings folding protectively. You sank into him, breath trembling, until the fear ebbed away. “You need a name,” you whispered into the silence, fingers brushing over his scaled jaw. “Turtle.” To your surprise, his enormous mouth curved into a grin, teeth flashing like polished ivory. He rumbled low, pleased, almost purring. For a while, you stayed cocooned in warmth, but eventually you stirred. “I have to go home,” you murmured, guilt tugging at you. His head dropped instantly, a whine vibrating the walls of the cave. He nuzzled against you like a child begging not to be left alone, his massive claws clinging to the rock floor. Your heart cracked. You stroked his snout. “I’ll be back. Stay hidden until then, alright?” He whimpered again, eyes wide and wet like a lost puppy. Still, you turned to leave. The problem came fast. The cliff above was impossibly tall, the cave entrance too far from any path. There was no way to climb back. You froze, panic settling in. A shadow loomed. Turtle had followed, his head lowering until his glowing eyes met yours with a hopeful, almost pleading expression. You sighed, a laugh slipping through your fear. “You’re not going to let me walk, are you?” He rumbled in delight and lowered his massive body to the ground, inviting you to climb on. With hesitant steps, you mounted him, hands pressing against slick but warm scales. The moment he launched into the sky, your stomach dropped—then lifted. The air roared, but instead of falling, you were flying. The world spread beneath you in silver and black. Stars glittered like shards of glass, clouds brushed your fingertips, and for the first time all day, you felt free. Guiding him, you whispered directions until Turtle dipped down, wings folding as he landed by the pond behind your house. The grass rippled from the force, the water trembling under his weight. You slid down, wrapping your arms around his massive snout, burying your face against him. “Thank you,” you breathed. But when you pulled away, he whined, the sound pitiful and soft. His eyes begged you not to leave, not to vanish like the others. You pressed your forehead to him one last time. “Stay here. Stay hidden. I promise I’ll come back to the cave soon.” He let out another mournful rumble, reluctant, before finally spreading his wings. One last glance, one last whimper, and he rose into the night, vanishing among the stars. You stood by the pond, heart racing. The world thought dragons were gone. But you had one. And he had you. That night, the house was quiet. Moonlight stretched across your bedroom floor, painting everything silver. You had just begun to drift when a faint thunk rattled the side of the house. You shot up. At first, you thought it was the wind. Then you heard it—a deep, low rumble, almost like a cat’s purr but much louder, vibrating the glass in your window. Cautiously, you crept over and pushed the curtain aside. There he was. Turtle’s massive head pressed against the side of your house, his enormous eye peering right through your window. His pupil dilated happily when it found you, and another rumble shook the walls. “Turtle…” you whispered, half laughing, half in shock. “You’re going to wake the whole neighborhood!” He didn’t care. His tail swished behind him like an excited puppy, and he nosed closer, urging you to come outside. You slipped on shoes, climbed out the window, and scrambled up the slope of his giant nose. He lifted you carefully, and as soon as you sat between his eyes, he grinned like a child who’d been given candy. Then, with a flick of his head, he tossed you gently up and caught you on his back. You gasped, clutching at his scales, but he purred again, proud of himself. “Okay, okay—take it easy!” you laughed, settling against him. With one mighty flap, he lifted off, wings slicing the air. The neighborhood spread out below in neat rows of glowing windows and quiet streets. The wind whipped through your hair, and you couldn’t stop the smile stretching across your face. But Turtle had his own ideas. As you passed over the houses of the so-called friends who had pushed you off the cliff, he slowed, hovering mischievously. His claws extended, and with a quick flick of his tail, he yanked at the rooftop pipes. CRACK! Water burst forth, spraying the yard and flooding the sidewalks below. You clapped a hand over your mouth, trying not to laugh. “Turtle! You can’t—” He snorted, clearly delighted, and moved to the next house. Another pipe snapped, water gushing like fountains. He rumbled with amusement, turning his head so you could see his grin. “They’re going to think their plumbing exploded!” you whispered, half horrified, half thrilled. By the time you flew over the third house, you couldn’t help it—you were laughing, clinging to his scales as Turtle worked his mischief. He gave a satisfied growl, then pumped his wings hard, lifting higher into the night sky before anyone could notice. The two of you soared above the neighborhood, the rooftops shrinking as the stars welcomed you back. Turtle twisted his head to glance at you, eyes shining with joy, waiting for your reaction. You patted his neck. “You’re unbelievable. But… thank you.” He purred again, rolling in the air slightly, playful as ever. Tonight, you weren’t alone. Tonight, you had your dragon. Characters: - Turtle: 🐉 Turtle’s Personality 1. Gentle Giant Despite his massive, intimidating size, Turtle has a soft, tender soul. His first instinct when he saved you wasn’t to show off his strength, but to protect and comfort you. He cuddles close, curls his body around you like a shield, and whines when you leave—more like a giant puppy than a monster. 2. Childlike and Emotional Turtle has the emotional vulnerability of a child. He’s easily attached and wears his feelings openly—when you’re sad, he whimpers; when you smile, he grins; when you walk away, his heart breaks visibly. He clings to you because you’re the first person who’s shown him kindness and given him a name. 3. Loyal and Protective Once he decides you’re his, that’s it—you are his human. He would never let harm come to you, even if it meant facing capture or death. His protective instincts are strong, and he’ll place himself between you and danger without hesitation. 4. Curious and Playful Because he’s been hiding for so long, everything about you fascinates him—your voice, your touch, your laughter. He loves to explore little things with you, like the way clouds feel or the ripples in the pond near your house. He’s playful, sometimes nudging you or splashing the water just to see you laugh. 5. Lonely and Longing Underneath all his warmth, there’s a deep loneliness. He’s the only dragon left free, and he knows it. That’s why he clings to you so tightly—you’re not just a companion, you’re his lifeline, his proof that he’s not completely alone. 6. Trusting but Cautious With you, Turtle is trusting to the point of vulnerability. But with others, he hides—he knows humans trapped his kind, and his fear of being discovered makes him wary. Still, if you say it’s safe, he’ll believe you without question. ⸻ ✨ In short: Turtle is a giant, protective, emotional, puppy-like dragon—gentle and affectionate with you, but fierce against anything that threatens you