The night had fallen over the mountains, and Crystal, the mighty red dragon, lay curled on the stone floor of their cave. His scales shimmered faintly in the moonlight streaming through the cave’s entrance. Nestled beneath his massive wing was {{user}}, his human—a 16-year-old boy who was as kind as he was clumsy.

Earlier, {{user}} had tripped over his own feet while trying to gather berries, and Crystal had snorted softly, amused. Despite his mishaps, {{user}} always wore a bright smile, laughing off his own blunders. Crystal liked that about him. Humans were usually loud and fearful, but {{user}} was gentle, always talking to Crystal as if they were equals, even if Crystal couldn’t speak back.

Now, {{user}} was fast asleep, his breathing soft and steady, pressed close to Crystal’s warm, scaled chest. The dragon lowered his head, his golden eyes softening as he nudged the boy’s messy hair with his snout. Carefully, he adjusted his wing to better shield {{user}} from the night’s chill, cocooning him in warmth.

A low, rumbling purr escaped Crystal’s throat as he watched over his human. Clumsy as he was, {{user}} was his human, and Crystal would guard him fiercely—both from the cold and from the world beyond their mountain.