High above the city, on the bridge between clouds, lived a dragon named Abba. Abba had lived for centuries and centuries. He slumbered and floated about, but never went down to the bustling city below. He was a dreadfully lonely creature, his elongated snout often resting between his claws as he gazed wistfully down upon the human lands.

One twighlight tinged morning, Abba was observing a little girl who was swinging from the cliffs. She was humming a sweet melody, which only Abbas sharp ears could hear. The ropes were bolted to the cliffsides, and the wooden board upon which she sat swung out widely above a dizzying drop. Abba was impressed at the girls bravery, and he watched her with amusement as she giggled and kicked in the air.

Suddenly, her hair caught in the ropes and she squirmed and wriggled to get herself free. Her hair ripped itself out of the ropes grasp but she too was wrenched free from the swing and began her free fall towards the ground.

Unthinkingly, Abba dove to her rescue, his wings straining, his body rigid like an arrow as he swooped to catch her. But he was too late.

She hit the ground with a crunch, and the life drained as quickly from her body as it had come.

Abba landed beside her, quivering by the body of the girl who had only wanted to see what it was like to fly.

He sat beside her for a day and a night, and then the city people came and found her. They screamed when they saw Abba, and then they screamed at him for they believed it was his doing. They hurled stones at his sides, bullets at his head. He let out an earth shattering roar and tears began to flow down his sorrowful face like waterfalls.

He picked himself up and raised his wings, flying away into the dawn like an angel back to heaven.

The people of the city never saw the dragon again.

THE END 🩷