Barnaby the dragon finds a river stone

The golden sun is tucking itself behind the soft, velvet hills. It's inviting you to close your eyes and rest. Welcome to PodThis and Dreamtime Stories. We'll see how these gentle, scaly friends first flew into our stories.

Have you ever wondered if the stories we tell about dragons have it all wrong? Before we begin, remember that there is nothing you need to follow and nothing you need to remember. It is lovely to drift off whenever sleep comes. You might think a dragon needs to be fierce to be important. But perhaps the real magic is in how quiet they can be. Barnaby the little dragon waddles through the soft, springy moss of the Murmuring Glade. The green carpet feels cool beneath his toes as he searches for a special treasure. He is looking for his favorite smooth river stone to hold while he sleeps. It is a small, grey stone that fits perfectly in his palm. As he walks, he meets Oliver the sleepy owl perched on a low branch. Oliver shows Barnaby how he fluffs his feathers for bed. This is a gentle, quiet forest tradition that helps the birds stay warm. Barnaby watches closely as the owl becomes a round, soft ball of feathers. Near the bubbling brook, Barnaby finds a perfect, fluffy dandelion puff. It stands tall and white against the darkening grass. His little tail goes swish, swish, thump against the moss. He lets out a soft, warm sigh that smells faintly of toasted marshmallows. The sun is dipping low now, painting the sky in shades of dusty purple and gold. Barnaby decides it is time to head back to his cozy cave. He looks at his friend and invites Oliver to come along for a warm place to rest. Barnaby and Oliver waddle slowly toward the cozy cave, their eyelids growing heavy in the twilight. Why do these gentle stories stay with us so long after the lights go out?

Most people believe that dragons belong in stories about loud roars and brave knights, but those stories have it all wrong. In the quiet corners of our imagination, a dragon is often the very best friend to keep the shadows away. You can feel that peace now as Barnaby and Oliver reach the mouth of their mossy cave. The air inside smells like damp earth and sweet, crushed mint. It feels like a hug from the ground itself. There is nothing left to do today, and there is nothing you need to remember. It is a lovely time to just let go. As Barnaby settles onto the soft floor, something wonderful happens. His tummy begins to emit a very soft, warm, golden glow. It isn't a bright light that hurts your eyes, but a gentle shimmer that makes the whole room feel safe and snug. It's the kind of light that tells you everything is exactly as it should be. Oliver the owl fluffs his feathers and hops closer to the warmth. A sleepy little turtle named Pip pokes his head out from a pile of leaves and crawls toward the glow. They all gather around Barnaby, feeling comforted and calm by the gentle heat of their dragon friend. Barnaby rests his chin gently on a fluffy dandelion puff he found earlier. He holds his smooth river stone close to his chest, feeling its cool surface against his warm scales. The stone is a little piece of the river to keep him company while he dreams. The cave is so quiet that you can almost hear the tiny breaths of the flowers outside. Barnaby feels his heavy eyelids dropping down, down, down. His little tail goes swish, swish, thump on the mossy floor. He lets out a soft, warm sigh for the very last time today. The golden glow in his tummy dims to a soft, sleepy glimmer. It looks like a tiny star resting under a blanket. Everything is still. Everything is quiet. Oliver is asleep, and Pip is asleep, and Barnaby is asleep. And as the forest grows dark and the moon rises high, you can drift off too, into a deep, peaceful, and happy sleep.

It's wonderful to think about how people have always looked up at the stars. A long time ago, the star Thuban in the dragon's tail guided travelers home. Now, that same quiet light shines down on Barnaby's mossy cave. He's finally found a perfect, fluffy dandelion puff. He tucks it under his chin like a tiny, soft pillow. Then he curls his tail around his friends. Everything is still. You can close your eyes now, just like Barnaby. Sleep well. Sweet dreams.