Near Catastrophe
    
ThunderEye’s feet pounded across the hard, stone pathways of Highland, his heart pounding in unison. He was running faster than he’d ever run in his life. His ears were ringing, and he was drenched with sweat, making little wet marks on the pavement below as the sweat trickled off his forehead and onto the ground. He had been running this way for hours, running away from all the screams and cries from his village, but most of all, running away from his fear.

ThunderEye skidded around a corner, the golden buckles on his shoes making a horrible screeching sound. He ducked into a nearby abandoned shop and nearly collapsed from exhaustion. He knew he couldn’t afford to rest, but there was no way he could go on in this condition.

Just as he suspected, thundering footsteps were starting to boom across the pavement, heading closer and closer, until one gigantic eye peered in the window of the shop, gleaming with hatred. Then the roof was on fire.
ThunderEye ran out the door, just by instinct, before realizing he had just put himself in more danger. ThunderEye stared up at the ruby-red dragon standing before him, its razor-sharp claws just meters away. ThunderEye’s eyes were glistening with something now, too. Tears.

“Why do you do this?” ThunderEye screamed up at the dragon. His voice cracked fiercely. “You’ve set my village on fire, my peaceful, harmless village. You are causing so much pain, and what did we do? Nothing!” ThunderEye’s eyes were now glistening, his tears making splotches on the pavement.

The dragon spoke in a stone-like voice. “My parents never cared for me,” he began. “No one did. I was the runt of the family. They threw me out when I was old enough to live on my own. Whenever I see happy families, I get jealous. I just want to be loved. I want a friend and a family who cares for me.”

“I’ll be your friend, and if you stop destroying my village, the whole village will be your family.”

“Really?” asked the dragon.

“Really,” replied ThunderEye