Dragon Little was getting to be close to 6 years old. 

I did not know it at the time, but soon she and I would part ways. 

On my long journey I would often feel fear and excitement at the task I had set to myself. At the same time I would feel great fear for the little human girl I’ve come to call Dragon Little over the years. I should be protecting her, I would tell myself and fear for her life, for she would no doubt soon find the way out of her father’s dream. 

And yet… remembering moments like the ones I will tell you now gives me peace of mind that this ist one human girl that can protect herself. 

It was, as I said, close to her 6th birthday. 

Dragon Little and Dragon Father had tracked down a famous space jewel thief who had stolen two golden eggs called Fabergé  Eggs. 

They had snuck into his wooden cabin in the woods. But just as they took hold of the Eggs he came in with his attack Robot Dogs. 

Dragon Father and Dragon Little could only sneak out the opposite direction from which they had come. The only way back to Bonny’s Revenge was to climb a sheer mountain wall and then circle back - or to go through the Robot Dogs. 

They both chose to climb the wall. 

Dragon Father climbed first. A jetpack did not appear on his back nor any other solution that his subconscious sometimes conjured up. He climbed the wall with his hands and feet. 

The wall was not completely straight, but close to it, with many small nooks and crannies to grab hold of with hands and legs. In addition, it was slippery, and quite often both of them often almost slipped. 

Dragon Father reached the top after an hour, but had to stand there, looking down, and silently calling out to his daughter. 

“Joy! Are you all right?” 

“Yeah, yeah…” 

And later, “What was that?” 

“I just slipped a bit. I’m fine.” 

Later, “Do you want me to try and find some rope?” 

“No. I’m good.” 

Later, “Do you want me to come down and give you a hand?” 

“Almost there!” 

Although the two of them had begun the climb together, Dragon Little was much slower and had finally reached the top a full hour after her father. 

“Are you all right?” He offered her a hand and then stopped, seeing her in the light of the stars. 

“I’m sorry,” he said. “Did you climb this entire wall with no hands?!” 

She stood at the top of the wall with a Fabergé  Egg in each hand. She looked down at them. “Ah. Yeah. I forgot I was holding them.” 

And that was the moment I knew Dragon Little was ready to take care of herself.

And so, as I journey on a quest that will probably end my life, I warm at the thought that Dragon Little can truly take care of herself and protect herself from the infinite dangers that await her in other people’s dreams as well as the dangers that await her from those who seek her out. 

And I know that no matter what happens to me, I will never reveal her whereabouts.

—Told by The Red Dragon