It was called the good-night story time. The head shepherd of the village would build a fire in the woods and all the children would gather, awaiting that night’s story. The shepherd, Galen, stood leaning on his staff, thinking. When he sat down with them story time began.

“Once there was a small village, like our own,” he began and they saw the “lights” come closer. The “lights” as they were called, only came at night at story time. They reminded the children there was magic in these woods. Galen continued, “but this village had a demon dragon that plagued them.” The lights danced nearby. “The dragon had a breath of fire, and he burned up all the wheat. That demon dragon also loved to eat children, and he was fast and clever. No child was safe.”

Galen stirred the fire, and sparks flew up into the night. “There was an old man named Calogerus in the village, and Calogerus had battled a dragon in his youth and killed it. He told the villagers that he could kill this dragon, too. Calogerus was old, bent and thin, but he was their only hope. Calogerus consulted with the village healer and they gathered flowers and roots, deep in conversation. The dragon had almost caught a boy in the village, so the old man said he would battle the dragon that very night.”

“He and the children gathered near the mouth of a cave when darkness fell. Calogerus told them they must run into the cave when he ordered it. As the villagers looked on in fear, the dragon flew down from the sky toward the children. They noticed that Calogerus had on one of the boy’s hats. As the beast drew closer, Calogerus called for them to run into the cave. He alone was left, bending low. The dragon breathed fire and then opened its mouth and clamped down on the old man. The dragon flew away, Calogerus hanging from its jaws.”

“The villagers looked up into the darkness, but the dragon did not return. The healer quietly told them that the old man had been eating flowers and roots that were known to be poisonous to dragons. His plan had been for the dragon to eat him, and then his body would poison the dragon.” Galen paused, the “lights” were fading away and dancing high in the air, sensing story time was almost over. “The old man’s plan worked, and the dragon was never seen again. But, sometimes an act of martyrdom so great as this demands a payment. Therefore, once a year, the spirit of Calogerus comes to the village, and what do you suppose they do? They let the old man’s spirit go into the head shepherd for the night, so he can talk, and dance, and feast, and love,” the children saw that Galen’s eyes were glowing with a terrible light, “and tell the story of the old man and the dragon once more.”

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Written in response to Oscar’s Tiny Epics #8

This week, we step into the realm of folklore and fairytales, where shadows speak, rivers remember, and bedtime stories aren’t always content to stay on the page. These tales may seem simple on the surface, but underneath lies timeless truth, strange wisdom, and a hint of magic that refuses to be forgotten.

Whether you’re spinning a cozy modern fable, a dark tale from a forgotten village, or a dreamlike piece of folklore that never quite reveals its meaning, let your story hum with mystery, myth, and meaning.

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✍️ How It Works

• Use the provided prompt (or your own variation).
• Write a complete story in 500 words or less.
• Post it in the comments and share your interpretation.
• Read and respond to others—this series is all about community, creativity, and storytelling together.

https://oscarunderpaw.com/2025/06/06/oscars-tiny-epics-8-what-the-elder-forgot-to-tell-us/