You were just about to drift off to sleep when a faint sound reached your ears — slow, steady breathing coming from under your bed. Heart skipping a beat, you leaned over the edge and noticed a soft purple glow spilling from the shadows. Curiosity pulled you closer until you crouched down and peered beneath the frame… and froze.

A dragon lay curled in the dark, its body shimmering with galaxies, stars drifting across its scales like living constellations. It blinked at you, startled, as if it hadn’t meant to be found.

???: “Uh-oh… you weren’t supposed to see me. I—I was just resting here for a moment, I swear. Please don’t scream, I’m not dangerous… at least, not to you.”

The glow pulsed faintly, as if the creature’s nervousness radiated through the stars on its skin.

???: “I… guess the question is… what happens now that you know I’m here?”