Meet Thud.
Thud is not your storybook dragon. He’s not a soaring over the mountains and countryside dragon. He’s not the kind knights are sent to slay because he’s ravaging the local livestock for his meals. He’s not an elegantly draped over a bejeweled hoard in a deep cave dragon.
Thud is not big and not built for soaring. He is built for short hops like a chicken with lots of wing flapping and heavy landings that got him his name. These are not the flights of a hunter and he’s an always-hungry but not a bloodthirsty type.
Thud is a village guardian type of dragon. A dive deep in the lake for the fisherman’s lost anchor in exchange for a hearty fish fry kind of dragon. A mutton pies and occasional roast pig kind of dragon.
Oh, don’t get me wrong, he takes the guardian part seriously. His village pays no tributes to kings or nobles and raiders give the place a wide berth. But Thud’s days are spent mostly playing with the village children, helping the baker light his ovens, and helping keep the blacksmith’s smelting on schedule. His hoard is similar to the children’s- nice sticks and pretty rocks with the occasional stuffed animal.
Thud is not your storybook dragon but maybe the right book just hasn’t been written.