Happy Sunday! Today is a beautiful rainy, fall day. I’m enjoying the piece and quiet and taking the opportunity to get some work done. So, today’s Inktober prompt word is trap.

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The girl ran through the forest, giggling as she did so. She was no longer trapped. She was free. No more strict parents.

The forest had always been her favorite place to go. It was beautiful. The trees were tall and fun to climb on. All the flowers were bright and colorful. In the fall, the leaves changed colors. Yellow, red and orange lit up the forest.

But that wasn’t all. Deep in the woods dwelled a creature feared by most.

A dragon.

A fierce creature at first glance. He was as tall as an elm tree and as strong as a mountain. His scales were red, like the leaves of an oak tree during the autumn months. His eyes were as dark as the night sky and filled with wisdom. A fierce creature, yes, but a gentle one as well.

The girl had first found the dragon on a summer morning, while the sun as still rising. The dragon expected her to scream and run as they all did when they saw him. But she did not. She merely reached out her hand to stroke the dragon’s muzzle. From that day on, the girl visited the dragon whenever she could. His warmth became her refuge. His strength became her comfort.

And now she was free. Free to spend every day with him. With the dragon she loved so dearly. The friend who had taken care of her when no one else would.

She spotted him in the distance, laying in a small meadow. He heard her coming and lifted his head. The girl could see the smile in his eyes.

When she reached him, he greeted her with a soft growl.

The girl sat by her favorite tree and looked up at him. “I did it, Rael. I’m finally free.”

The dragon, Rael, laid his head beside her, watching over her as he had done so many times over the years. She was safe. He would keep her safe forever. No one would harm her here.

She was no longer trapped.