What are we going to eat? How will we get through this? We don’t have any skills, we don’t have any money, we don’t have any food, we don’t have a job, we don’t have any family, we are all alone...

The Dragon went on and on, going in circles, bringing his paws to his face, screaming, anxious, worried and desperate...

What can I say? He’s my Dragon and he has to be of use to me somehow -- Odai smiled with mixed feelings. She was happy but scared.

What dangers lie ahead? What if we get mugged? What if we get kidnapped? What if we get eaten? We don’t have a home, we don’t have a roof, we’re surrounded by forest... and the forest can be dangerous...

The night came and they both drifted off to sleep.

5

Princess Odai and the Dragon had been awake for some time now. They had walked around the field in circles, had taken every path leading into the forest, but regrettably, all these paths led to dead ends. They would return to their starting point and try another path, but this, too, would end in a rock, or a huge tree, or something else blocking their way. After a while, they ended up sitting under the shade of a big tree.

Why are all the paths dead ends?

I don’t know, Dragon. I don’t know.

We should have never left the castle.

That’s what I was thinking.

I’m hungry.

Me too.

I can see there hasn’t been any news since the last time I saw you.

Oh I’ve got some news, I’m hungry!

We have to trust life, right? There must be something I can do... let’s see... I know!

What Princess Odai and the Dragon hadn’t noticed was that they were sitting under a beautiful tree, blossoming with figs.

Figs give me gas.

Strawberries! Red, delicious strawberries.

Strawberries don’t grow on trees, Writer!

Apples! It was a beautiful tree full of juicy apples!

Thank you.

The Dragon stood on his hind legs and picked enough apples for both himself and the Princess. And they ate. Bon appétit.

Thanks.

Would you like some, Writer?

No thanks. I just ate scrambled eggs and ham.

They both stared at the Writer. You could feel the envy in their eyes... but the Writer couldn’t do anything about it. So they were just going to have to settle with the apples.

Once they finished eating, they felt more energetic and ready to keep looking for the path that would lead them somewhere.

Although they were still hungry.

They got up and walked over to another path.

I hope that this one is actually the right path.