1) The Cozy Cave

In a quiet valley beyond the sleepy town, there was a small hill with a small cave. It wasn’t a scary cave. It smelled like warm stones after sunshine, and the entrance was covered with soft moss like a green blanket.

Inside lived a young dragon named Ember. Ember was not the kind of dragon who roared at castles. Ember was the kind of dragon who yawned a lot, liked warm tea, and loved bedtime stories.

Every evening, Ember tried to do the same gentle routine. First: stretch wings. Second: wash claws. Third: fold the blanket. Fourth: a tiny glow of fire to warm the cave. And fifth: close eyes and rest.

But tonight, something felt different. Ember’s cave looked cozy, but Ember’s thoughts felt jumpy—like little frogs bouncing around.

2) The Problem with “What If?”

Ember stared at the ceiling and whispered, “What if I can’t fall asleep?” Then Ember whispered, “What if tomorrow is hard?” Then Ember whispered, “What if I forget something important?”

Each “what if” was small, but together they made Ember’s belly feel tight. Ember sat up and looked at the little lantern stone by the bed. Its light was soft and steady.

Ember remembered what Grandma Ash used to say: “When your mind runs too fast, slow your body down. One small thing at a time.”

Ember took a slow breath. In… and out. In… and out. The cave stayed quiet. The moss blanket stayed soft. The night stayed dark and calm.

Still, the jumpy thoughts returned. Ember decided to take a tiny walk—just to the cave entrance and back. Not an adventure. Just a calm check.

3) A Gentle Visitor

At the cave entrance, Ember saw a small shape sitting on a rock. It was a moth. A silver moth with wings like moonlight.

“Hello,” said the moth. Its voice was quiet, like a page turning in a book.

Ember blinked. “Hello. I’m Ember. I’m supposed to be sleeping.”

“Me too,” said the moth. “But my wings feel busy. And when my wings feel busy, my thoughts feel busy.”

Ember nodded. “My thoughts feel like frogs.”

The moth tilted its head. “I have a small idea. Want to try it together?”

Ember liked that the moth said small idea, not big idea. “Okay,” Ember whispered.

4) The Dragon’s Calm Plan

The moth said, “We will do three tiny things. Nothing hard. Just tiny.”

“Tiny is good,” Ember said.

“First,” said the moth, “let’s notice five cozy things.”

Ember looked around and spoke softly:

“One: the moss blanket. Two: the warm stone near the bed. Three: the lantern light. Four: the quiet air. Five: the smooth rock floor.”

The moth smiled. “Second,” it said, “let’s make a slow sound.”

Ember breathed out and made the gentlest dragon sound—more like a warm sigh than a roar. The moth fluttered its wings once, slow and soft.

“Third,” said the moth, “let’s pick one thought to keep, and let the other thoughts float away.”

Ember thought for a moment. Then Ember said, “I will keep: ‘I am safe in my cozy cave.’ The other thoughts can float away.”

5) The Cozy Ending

Ember and the moth sat quietly for a little while. The lantern stone glowed like a tiny star. The night wind brushed the moss like a soft hand.

Ember felt the belly loosen. The frogs in the mind hopped slower. Then slower. Then quieter.

Ember looked at the moth. “Thank you. That was… calm.”

The moth nodded. “Calm is powerful,” it whispered. “It’s how bodies learn it’s time to rest.”

Ember walked back to bed. Wings folded. Blanket tucked. Eyes closing.

And just before sleep, Ember thought one last gentle thought: “I am safe. I am cozy. I can rest now.”