The Dragon Who Learned Leadership
High above the Village of Willowmere, in a cave carved into a snow-capped peak, lived a dragon named Ember. She was enormous, with scales that shimmered between copper and gold, and breath hot enough to melt stone. But Ember had a problem — she was terribly lonely.
Every time she flew down to the village, people screamed and ran. Avi, who was braver (or perhaps more curious) than most, decided to find out why the dragon kept coming. Armed with nothing but a basket of muffins and a big dose of courage, Avi climbed the mountain.
"Are you going to eat me?" Avi asked, standing at the mouth of the cave. Ember looked startled. "Eat you? I'm a vegetarian! I came to the village because I wanted to make friends. But everyone runs away before I can say hello." A single smoky tear rolled down her enormous snout.
Avi sat down, offered a muffin, and they talked for hours. Ember had read every book in her cave twice. She loved poetry and hated thunderstorms. She wanted more than anything to understand leadership, because the books she read said it was the most important thing in the world.
Together, Avi and Ember came up with a plan. The next morning, Ember landed gently in the village square — with Avi riding on her back — and used her fire to light every hearth in every home. She baked a hundred loaves of bread with her breath and melted the ice that had frozen the town well. By sunset, the villagers weren't afraid anymore. And Ember learned that leadership begins with a single act of kindness — and a really good muffin.