Dragon woke up to a strange sound. Was someone yodeling? Curiously, she stuck her head outside the cave. A new day began. Someone is having fun, thought Dragon. I also feel like having a good laugh. The forest is still quiet. I'm going out; there is enough time to sneak through the forest unnoticed, and who knows? I might even fly a bit.
She sniffed repeatedly. No, no people.
In a flash, she was outside. Being invisible was not an option yet, but that did not matter. The yodeling continued. It does not sound very pure, thought Dragon. I have heard better. Anyone who sings so out of tune should take a few singing lessons. It is not worth listening to!
There he was, sitting at the bottom of a tree.
Paddington!
Dragon jumped overjoyed to her friend. “Have you taken up yodeling? Where’ve you been all this time? Brother is here, and I expected you..."
With tears in his eyes, the fat old bear glared at her and growled, “I’m not singing—can’t you see I’m in pain? I have a toothache for the first time in my life."
"Aah," said Dragon, and she opened her mouth wide. "Let me see!"
The bear refused and growled: "Let someone poke in your mouth first!"
"Look," said Dragon, as she opened her mouth wide. "There's nothing wrong with me," and she blew a big flame into the air before she gritted her teeth. "Everything is perfect," she said. "You have a tooth infection. Why do you eat so much rubbish?"
"What do you mean?"
“All that honey!” Dragon gestured as she pointed around. "You never eat healthy, that stuff rots your teeth!”
The bear kept yodeling and sniffling, it nerved Dragon.
"If you don't open your mouth, I leave," she said. "I thought we meant to have fun, but you just sit there and cry."
"I don't want to die," said Paddington. "The pet cemetery is full, and there's no room for an old fat bear like me."
"Then don't die," said Dragon. "You can just live on like me. Ignore that rotten tooth or have it pulled, and stop that whining. Soon this place’ll be crawling with people. They’ll drag you to the circus, and I’ll have to rescue you—again.” By the way, she paused... this isn't the first time you've had a toothache. Do you remember that time when I was little? Do you remember how you got rid of the toothache then?"
The bear fell silent for a moment, then shook his head; the pain was too much for him.
"You have to learn from your mistakes," said Dragon. "I have a good memory," and when she turned around, she hit the bear with her tail around his ears —just as she’d done years ago.
And then it became quiet.
Dragon and Paddington sighed deeply. One because the whining had finally stopped, and the other with relief. The bear had swallowed the tooth in fright.
"What if I die from it?" the bear whispered.
"You're still alive, so that won't happen. It's a part of you, and you'll poop it out."
"Thanks for the help," the bear murmured. "Wait a moment, I'll give you a lick of honey."
Dragon shook her head and hopped away. If there was no fun and playing, it was better to sleep until evening. After all, a new dawn was her night.
7.4.25
worldbuilding prompts: tooth infection - pet cemetery - a new dawn
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Dragon is a series of stories and over 1 year old.