An Era of Courage

Once in a medieval land, lived Riley, an 8-year-old dragon who feared everything! While other dragons roared with fire, Riley's breath came out in nervous puffs. He wished he could be brave like his big brother Blaze. But Riley's fear was a huge problem—it stopped him from playing outside and making friends. " - I want to be brave," Riley sighed, looking at his reflection in the river.

Determined to find courage, Riley set off through the woods. But soon, he faced his first obstacle—a bridge over a deep ravine. The wooden planks creaked ominously. " - I can't do it," Riley whispered, his heart pounding. But he knew he had to try. Trembling, he took a careful step forward.

Riley continued, only to stumble upon a dark cave. Shadows danced on the walls, and eerie sounds echoed from within. " - Maybe I should turn back," Riley thought. Then, a gust of wind nearly blew away his scarf. But Riley held tight, knowing he must go on. " - Courage is somewhere ahead," he told himself.

After many tries and failures, Riley felt like giving up. " - Maybe I'm just not meant to be brave," Riley said, slumping down on a rock. He thought of all the scary things he couldn't face. But then, he remembered Olive's words. Maybe courage wasn't something you found outside.

Just then, Olive appeared, fluttering down to rest beside him. " - Courage is inside you, Riley," Olive hooted softly. " - It's taking that first step, even when you're scared." Riley listened, feeling a spark of hope. Slowly, he realized that every step he took, even the shaky ones, was a sign of courage.

Finally understanding, Riley stood up with a newfound resolve. " - I can do this," he declared. Armed with Olive's wisdom, he faced the cave once more. With each step, his confidence grew. By the time he returned home, Riley was no longer afraid of his footsteps. He had found the courage within himself.