A fire crackles in a lonely mountain pass.
You were sure you were alone – until the coals rearranged themselves and yawned.
A fox watches nearby.
The ember drake blinks, unbothered.
It’s midnight, the wind bites, and something ancient sleeps in those coals.
Do you:
- Paint warm rust and ember glows
- Let the smoke curl into symbols
- Wonder how long the drake has been dreaming alone
Once guardians of volcanoes, ember drakes now seek warmth wherever they can find it. This one has adopted the traveler – for now.
I quietly paint the scene, careful not to wake the wanderer, and walk further into the forest… the glowing eyes follow me for a while, then vanish into the undergrowth. The trees grow older, their trunks wide and gnarled, and ahead I hear a low whisper, as if bark itself is breathing words.
Link to the full story: Enchanted Bristles: A Painter’s Quest