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going for years to come, visit

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listentosleep.com/support, or

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just click the link in the show notes. Let's

4:34

take a deep

4:36

breath in and

4:38

out, letting

4:43

go of the day, feeling

4:46

the weight of gravity pulling

4:49

you deep down into the

4:51

mattress. And

4:56

another deep breath

4:58

in. And out.

5:04

Nothing to do, nowhere

5:07

to go, no one

5:09

to be. This

5:11

is your time. Quiet

5:14

time. One

5:18

more deep breath in. And

5:23

out. If

5:28

you get tired while I'm reading to you,

5:30

that is okay. Just

5:33

let yourself drift off. The

5:39

Sleepy Dragon's Journey In

5:44

the valley of Lunara, tucked

5:47

away from the hustle and bustle

5:49

of the world, there

5:52

lay a village where time

5:54

seemed to stand still. The

5:58

people of Lunara, were known

6:01

for their peaceful ways and

6:04

their deep connection to

6:06

nature. The valley was

6:09

cradled between gentle hills,

6:12

and a soft river meandered

6:14

through the land like

6:16

a ribbon of light. Birds

6:20

sang at dawn, and

6:23

by dusk the wind

6:26

would rustle the leaves of the

6:28

ancient trees lulling

6:30

the villagers into restful

6:32

sleep. But

6:36

lately something had

6:39

changed. The

6:42

villagers had begun to lose

6:44

their sense of peace. Sleep

6:48

became elusive, and

6:51

no matter how hard they

6:53

tried to rest, their

6:56

minds would not quiet. Worries

7:00

crept into the night, and

7:03

their hearts raced with concerns

7:05

they couldn't seem to name.

7:08

The nights

7:11

were still, yet

7:13

filled with an invisible weight.

7:17

The usual hum of crickets

7:20

was joined by the restless

7:23

tossing of those who

7:25

sought rest, but found

7:27

none. Mira,

7:32

a young girl who lived near the

7:34

edge of the village, had

7:37

noticed this shift more than

7:39

anyone. She

7:41

had always been attuned to the

7:43

rhythm of the village, the

7:46

soft cadence of life that

7:49

brought balance to every day.

7:52

But now her

7:55

own nights were filled with

7:57

anxious thoughts, and

7:59

she could see the same weariness

8:02

reflected in her friends and

8:05

neighbors. The

8:08

village elders spoke in hushed

8:10

tones of a time when

8:13

the valley was protected by

8:15

Yara, the sleepy

8:17

dragon. Yara,

8:20

they said, was the

8:22

guardian of sleep, a

8:25

being who knew the secrets

8:27

of peace and tranquility. The

8:31

dragon had not been seen

8:33

for many generations, and

8:36

many thought it was nothing but a

8:38

myth. But

8:40

the elders still believed

8:42

that Yara's presence was

8:45

what had always brought deep,

8:48

untroubled rest to the valley.

8:53

One evening, as the

8:55

sun began to dip behind the

8:57

hills and cast a golden glow

8:59

over the village, Mira

9:03

sat by the river. Her

9:06

feet dipped into the cool

9:08

water. She

9:12

had heard the stories of

9:14

Yara many times before, but

9:17

tonight something felt

9:20

different. The

9:23

idea of a dragon, gentle

9:25

and sleepy, filled

9:28

her with hope. If

9:31

Yara had once brought peace to

9:33

the valley, perhaps

9:35

the dragon could do so

9:38

again. The

9:40

village had changed, but

9:43

maybe Yara's wisdom was

9:46

exactly what they needed to

9:48

restore calm. With

9:52

a deep breath, Mira

9:55

made up her mind. She

9:58

would set out to find

10:00

Yara, even

10:02

though many of her friends

10:04

believed the dragon had never

10:07

even existed. She

10:10

didn't know exactly where to go,

10:12

but the

10:15

mountains beyond the village had

10:17

always held a mystical allure.

10:22

The elders said that it

10:24

was possible Yara had retreated

10:26

to a cave deep

10:29

within those mountains, to

10:31

sleep undisturbed until

10:34

the valley called for the dragon's

10:37

help once more. Mira's

10:41

decision brought her a

10:43

surprising sense of relief.

10:47

For the first time in a long

10:50

time, her heart

10:52

felt lighter. She

10:55

hurried back home, her

10:57

mind already planning the

10:59

journey ahead. That

11:03

night, Mira packed

11:05

a small satchel with the

11:07

essentials. A

11:09

loaf of bread, a flask

11:11

of water, a blanket,

11:15

and a smooth stone her mother

11:17

had once given her for

11:19

luck. The

11:22

stone was swarmed to the touch

11:25

and brought her comfort whenever she held

11:28

it. As

11:31

she placed it in her bag, she

11:34

smiled, feeling a

11:36

sense of reassurance wash over her.

11:42

Morning came with a soft

11:44

haze blanketing the valley. Mira

11:48

woke before the sun had fully risen,

11:51

the village still

11:53

quiet in its

11:56

restless slumber. She

11:59

slipped out of her home with

12:01

a sense of quiet determination, her

12:04

footsteps light on the

12:06

dew-covered ground. The

12:10

path towards the mountains was

12:12

not one often traveled, but

12:16

Mira felt no fear, only

12:19

a gentle pull, as

12:22

if something in the distance was

12:25

calling her onward. The

12:30

mountains, tall and imposing, stood

12:32

like sentinels in the distance,

12:35

their peaks

12:38

hidden beneath the shroud of

12:40

mist. Mira

12:43

had never ventured this far from the village, but

12:46

the pull in her heart told

12:48

her this was where she needed to go. Her

12:52

journey began with the

12:55

soft crunch of leaves underfoot, the

12:58

sound blending with the early morning

13:01

songs of birds. The

13:08

path was narrow and winding,

13:11

but Mira found a sense of rhythm in

13:13

her steps. As

13:18

she walked, memories

13:20

of the stories she had

13:23

heard about Yara resurfaced. The

13:27

dragon, it was said,

13:29

had scales that shimmered

13:32

like moonlight on water,

13:35

and eyes as deep as

13:38

the sky at dusk. Yara

13:42

was said to be a gentle

13:44

creature, unlike the

13:46

fearsome dragons of legend. The

13:51

villagers used to visit the

13:53

dragon's cave, where

13:55

Yara would tell them stories so soothing

13:57

that he would be a gentle creature.

13:59

even the most troubled minds

14:02

could find peace. The

14:07

story said that Yara's breath

14:09

was like the wind itself,

14:13

steady, calming,

14:16

and ever-present. It

14:19

was said that when Yara

14:21

exhaled, the

14:24

very air would lull even

14:26

the most restless soul into

14:29

a deep, dreamless

14:32

sleep. Mira

14:36

wondered what it would be

14:38

like to meet such

14:40

a creature. Would

14:43

Yara remember the village and

14:45

its people? Or

14:48

had the dragon forgotten the

14:51

valley altogether after

14:53

so many years of slumber?

14:59

The valley began to fall

15:01

away behind her as Mira

15:04

climbed higher into the foothills.

15:08

The air grew cooler, and

15:11

the sound of the village faded

15:13

into the distance. The

15:17

landscape became more

15:19

rugged, with tall

15:21

trees stretching their limbs toward

15:23

the sky. Sunlight

15:27

filtered through the dense

15:29

forests, casting long

15:31

shadows on her path. The

15:36

further Mira walked, the

15:39

more she noticed a stillness in

15:41

the air, a

15:44

quiet that felt almost

15:47

sacred. As

15:50

she continued her ascent, the

15:53

mist grew thicker, curling

15:56

around her ankles and

15:59

rising up low. like a soft

16:01

blanket of clouds. It

16:05

was peaceful, yet unfamiliar.

16:10

Here the usual sounds of the

16:12

valley, chattering birds,

16:15

the hum of insects, were

16:18

replaced by an almost

16:21

eerie silence. But

16:25

instead of fear, Mira

16:27

felt a sense of calm. It

16:31

was as though the world had

16:33

taken a deep breath and

16:36

was holding it, waiting.

16:41

It wasn't long before she

16:43

encountered her first sign that

16:46

she was on the right

16:48

path. Perched

16:51

on a low-hanging branch, a

16:54

wise-looking owl with

16:56

large golden eyes stared

16:58

down at her. Its

17:02

feathers were soft shades of

17:04

gray, blending almost

17:07

perfectly with the mist.

17:11

"'You see Kyara,' the

17:14

owl said, its

17:16

voice calm and steady. Mira

17:20

nodded, not surprised

17:23

that the owl spoke. In

17:26

a place like this, it

17:29

seemed natural for animals

17:31

to understand and speak

17:33

back. The

17:37

dragon has not been disturbed

17:40

in a long time," the

17:42

owl continued. "'But

17:46

if your heart is

17:48

true, Kyara will hear you.'

17:53

"'I need Yara's help,' Mira

17:56

said softly, her

17:58

voice barely louder than a

18:00

whisper. The village

18:03

can't sleep. We've

18:06

forgotten how to rest."

18:11

The owl blinked slowly, considering

18:14

her words. Follow

18:18

the path through the mist,

18:21

it said, and

18:23

trust in your journey. The

18:27

way will reveal itself.

18:34

With that, the owl

18:36

spread its wings and

18:38

silently took flight, disappearing

18:41

into the trees. Mira

18:45

watched it go, feeling

18:48

a quiet resolve settle over

18:50

her. She

18:53

continued onward, her

18:55

steps soft and deliberate,

18:58

the mist thickening as

19:01

she went. The

19:05

path became less clear,

19:08

the mist swirling around her

19:10

like a soft veil. Yet

19:14

Mira didn't feel lost.

19:18

Instead, the quiet

19:20

of the mountains seemed

19:22

to invite her deeper

19:24

into its secrets. Each

19:28

step felt purposeful, as

19:32

though the land itself was

19:35

guiding her toward something hidden

19:38

just beyond sight. As

19:43

Mira continued, the

19:45

path began to climb sharply.

19:49

The rocks beneath her feet

19:51

were smooth, worn

19:54

down by years of wind and

19:56

weather. Her

19:59

breath came in slowly. slow, steady

20:01

puffs. And

20:03

though her legs were tired, she

20:06

felt a quiet determination

20:09

driving her forward. She

20:13

had come this far, and

20:16

now the thought of turning

20:18

back was out of the question.

20:23

After what felt like hours,

20:26

the mist thinned, revealing

20:29

the entrance to a cave

20:32

tucked into the side of the

20:35

mountain. The

20:38

mouth of the cave was wide

20:40

and dark, framed

20:42

by ancient finds that curled

20:44

like fingers around the rocks.

20:49

Inside, it

20:51

was quiet, save

20:53

for a low, rhythmic

20:55

sound that Mira

20:58

quickly realized was

21:00

breathing. Her

21:04

heart began to race. This

21:07

was it. Yara's

21:10

cave. She

21:13

stepped closer, peering

21:15

into the dimly lit

21:18

interior. As

21:20

her eyes adjusted, she

21:23

saw the enormous shape of

21:25

a creature lying

21:28

curled in the farthest corner

21:30

of the cave. The

21:35

dragon's body was immense,

21:38

its scales shimmering faintly in the low

21:40

light. Each

21:45

slow, deliberate breath

21:48

sent a soft ripple through the cave, the

21:53

sound almost like the wind brushing

21:55

through the trees. For

22:01

a moment, Mira

22:03

hesitated. Despite

22:06

the dragon's peaceful appearance,

22:10

there was something awe-inspiring

22:12

about its size, its

22:16

presence. She

22:19

wondered how long Yara had

22:21

been sleeping there, hidden

22:23

from the world. Gathering

22:28

her courage, Mira

22:31

stepped further into the cave,

22:35

her footsteps soft on the

22:37

cool stone. She

22:41

approached the dragon carefully,

22:43

not wanting to disturb its

22:46

slumber. But

22:49

as she drew closer,

22:51

Yara's eyes fluttered

22:54

open, large,

22:56

deep eyes that

22:59

seemed to hold all

23:01

the wisdom of the world. The

23:07

dragon blinked lazily, its

23:10

gaze settling on Mira.

23:14

Who comes to my

23:17

cave? Yara's

23:20

voice was a low rumble,

23:23

smooth and gentle, like

23:25

the distant roll of thunder. My

23:30

name is Mira, she

23:32

replied, her voice

23:35

steady despite the trembling in

23:37

her chest. I've

23:40

come from the village of

23:42

Lunara. We

23:45

can't sleep anymore. I

23:48

came to ask for your help. Yara's

23:53

eyes closed again for a

23:55

moment, as if

23:58

pondering her words. The

24:01

dragon let out a long,

24:03

deep sigh, the

24:06

sound echoing gently in the

24:08

cave. The

24:12

village, Yara said

24:14

softly, as though

24:16

remembering. It

24:19

has been many years since

24:22

I last flew through the

24:24

valley. I

24:26

once brought peace to the knights

24:28

there, but

24:30

that was long ago.

24:35

Mira took a step closer, her

24:39

heart aching with hope. Can

24:43

you help us again? We've

24:46

forgotten how to rest. The

24:50

knights are so restless now.

24:55

Yara uncurled slightly,

24:59

shifting its great body. The

25:03

dragon's scales gleamed faintly

25:05

in the dim light,

25:08

and as it moved, the

25:10

air in the cave seemed

25:12

to grow warmer, more

25:16

comforting. Sleep,

25:20

Yara murmured, is

25:23

not something I can

25:25

simply give. It

25:29

must be found within, but

25:32

I can show you the way, if

25:36

you are willing to learn. Mira

25:41

nodded eagerly, her

25:44

breath catching in her throat. I

25:47

want to learn, but

25:50

please, with

25:53

a slow, deliberate motion, Yara

25:56

stretched out one of its

25:59

massive wings. wings, creating

26:01

a space beside its body

26:03

for Mira to sit. The

26:08

dragon's presence filled the cave

26:10

with a deep warmth, and

26:14

Mira felt herself relax as

26:17

she settled in beside the dragon.

26:23

As the night's light, Yara began, its

26:26

voice as soft as a whisper,

26:30

You must listen. Listen

26:34

to the sound of the

26:37

breath. Mira

26:41

closed her eyes, focusing

26:44

on the gentle rise and

26:46

fall of the dragon's breathing.

26:51

It was slow and

26:53

steady, like the

26:55

tide coming in, a rhythm

26:58

that seemed to calm her

27:01

entire body. In

27:07

and out. In

27:14

and out. Mira's

27:17

voice guided her, and

27:20

soon Mira's own

27:23

breath began to match

27:25

the dragon's. The

27:29

breath is where

27:32

stillness begins, Yara

27:35

explained. When

27:38

the mind is restless, when

27:41

the heart is troubled, return

27:44

to the breath. It

27:48

is always with you. Mira

27:53

nodded, her eyes

27:56

still closed. She

27:59

felt. the truth of Yara's

28:01

words. Each

28:04

exhale seemed to wash

28:06

away a little more

28:08

of her anxiety, leaving

28:12

behind a sense of peace she

28:15

hadn't felt in quite a while.

28:21

But the breath is only

28:23

the beginning, Yara continued.

28:28

To truly rest, the

28:31

mind must also find quiet. And

28:36

for that, we

28:38

can tell stories. Mira

28:43

opened her eyes, curious.

28:47

Stories? Yara

28:51

smiled, a slow

28:53

gentle expression that softened

28:55

the dragon's features. Yes,

29:00

the mind craves

29:02

stories. But

29:05

not all stories are meant

29:07

to excite or

29:10

stir. Some

29:12

are meant to soothe, to

29:15

guide the mind to

29:17

a place of peace. The

29:21

dragon shifted again, settling

29:24

deeper into the cave.

29:29

I will tell you a story

29:31

now. Let

29:33

your breath remain calm and

29:37

follow the rhythm of

29:39

my words. Yara

29:43

began to speak, its

29:46

voice a low melodic hum

29:48

that seemed to blend with

29:50

the air around them. Once,

29:57

in a land far from

29:59

here. There

30:01

was a river that

30:04

flowed through a quiet valley.

30:09

This river was unlike

30:12

any other, for

30:15

its waters carried the essence

30:17

of time itself. The

30:23

river did not rush or

30:25

tumble. It

30:28

moved slowly, gently,

30:32

as though it had all the time in the

30:34

world. And

30:39

perhaps it did. The

30:44

people who lived near the river

30:47

had a simple life, one

30:51

that was in harmony with

30:53

the flow of time. They

30:58

did not rush from one

31:00

task to the next, nor

31:04

did they worry about

31:06

what the future might bring. They

31:11

understood that time, like

31:15

the river, would

31:18

continue to flow,

31:20

whether they hurried or

31:23

not. Each

31:26

day, the people

31:28

would sit by the river, watching

31:32

its waters move past.

31:37

And as they did, they

31:39

learned to let go of their worries.

31:44

They knew that the river

31:47

would carry away their troubles,

31:50

leaving behind only

31:53

this present moment, still

31:57

and serene. One

32:02

evening, as the

32:05

sun set over the valley, a

32:08

young girl named

32:11

Lyra came to

32:13

the river's edge.

32:16

She had been troubled

32:18

by restless thoughts, worries

32:22

about the future, fears

32:27

she couldn't quite name. But

32:31

as she sat by the water, the

32:35

gentle flow of the river began

32:38

to calm her. The

32:42

sound of the water was

32:44

soft, like a

32:46

lullaby, and

32:48

soon Lyra found

32:51

herself drifting into a

32:53

peaceful sleep. When

32:58

she awoke the next morning,

33:02

her heart felt lighter, her

33:06

mind clearer. She

33:10

realized that the river had

33:13

shown her something important.

33:18

Time would continue to

33:20

flow, whether she

33:22

worried about it or

33:25

not. And

33:28

so she learned to let go, to

33:32

trust in the quiet rhythm

33:34

of life. As

33:39

Lyra's story came to

33:42

a close, Lyra found

33:44

herself feeling lighter,

33:49

as if the weight of her own

33:51

worries had been carried

33:53

away by the dragon's words.

33:58

She could sense the peace of the

34:00

river. the river flowing through the valley,

34:03

its gentle current guiding her

34:06

toward rest. When

34:10

Yara's story ended, the

34:13

cave fell into a deep,

34:16

peaceful silence. Mira

34:20

sat still for a long

34:22

while, her breath

34:24

steady and slow, matching

34:27

the gentle rise and fall

34:30

of Yara's. Her

34:34

mind felt clearer now, her

34:37

heart no longer weighed down

34:40

by the restless energy that

34:43

had gripped her for

34:45

so long. The dragon

34:47

had shown her something

34:50

simple but powerful. Rest

34:55

came from within, a stillness

34:59

that began with the breath and

35:02

flowed like the river in Yara's

35:05

tail. Mira

35:09

looked up at Yara, whose

35:12

eyes were now half closed

35:14

once again, as

35:17

if preparing to

35:19

return to its

35:21

long slumber. "'Thank

35:23

you,' Mira

35:25

said softly, her voice

35:28

barely more than a whisper. Yara

35:33

opened one eye, the

35:35

corner of its mouth

35:37

curling into a soft

35:39

smile. The

35:42

wisdom is not mine

35:45

to give. It

35:48

is yours to find. Now

35:51

take what you have learned and

35:55

share it with your people.' With

36:00

that, the dragon curled

36:02

back into its corner, the

36:05

light in the cave dimming as

36:08

the great body shifted and

36:10

settled. Mira

36:13

felt a warmth fill the space,

36:17

not just from the dragon's

36:19

presence, but

36:22

from a deep sense of

36:24

calm that now lived inside

36:26

her. She

36:29

had come to find a

36:31

solution to the village's sleeplessness,

36:35

and though she hadn't found

36:37

a cure in the traditional

36:39

sense, Yara

36:42

had given her something

36:44

far more valuable. The

36:47

knowledge that peace was

36:50

something that could be invited,

36:53

but never forced. Mira

36:58

stood, her legs feeling

37:01

light beneath her, and

37:04

quietly made her way out

37:06

of the cave. The

37:09

mist had cleared outside, revealing

37:12

the path back to the valley.

37:17

As she descended the mountain, the

37:20

world around her seemed to

37:22

shift. The

37:25

wind felt softer against her skin.

37:27

The sun, now

37:29

high in the sky, cast a warm glow over

37:31

the land. The

37:38

journey that had seemed daunting

37:40

and uncertain now felt as

37:42

though it had always been

37:45

meant to happen. By

37:50

the time Mira returned to the

37:52

village, it was

37:54

late afternoon. The

37:57

familiar sight of the thatched room

38:00

and winding paths greeted her

38:02

like an old friend. The

38:06

village was so

38:09

beautiful, with its lush

38:11

gardens and quiet river.

38:14

But the people all

38:17

looked so tired. Their

38:20

faces were etched with worry,

38:23

and their movements lacked the

38:25

energy they once had. Mira

38:30

knew she needed to share

38:32

what she had learned with the

38:34

villagers, but

38:36

she also understood that

38:38

they might not immediately

38:40

accept it. After

38:43

all, they had

38:46

grown accustomed to their restlessness,

38:49

their sleepless nights. But

38:53

Mira felt confident, and

38:56

not in a boastful way, but

38:59

with the quiet assurance

39:01

that comes from knowing

39:03

something deeply. She

39:08

invited the villagers that evening

39:10

to join her around the old

39:12

oak tree in the center

39:14

of the village. The

39:17

tree had always been a

39:19

gathering place, a

39:22

symbol of stability and strength.

39:26

The villagers, curious

39:28

about Mira's journey, came

39:31

to listen. They

39:34

looked at her with a

39:36

mix of hope and skepticism,

39:39

their weary eyes searching

39:41

for some sign of

39:43

relief. I

39:48

found Yara, Mira

39:50

began, her

39:52

voice soft but steady. The

39:56

dragon is still sleeping,

40:00

Yara hasn't forgotten us. A

40:04

murmur rippled through the crowd. Some

40:07

of the older villagers nodded, remembering

40:10

the stories of Yara, while

40:14

the younger ones seemed more

40:17

hesitant. Yara

40:19

showed me something, Mira

40:22

continued, undeterred by

40:24

their doubt. Sleep,

40:28

it isn't something we can

40:31

chase after. It's something we

40:34

have to welcome. It

40:37

begins with the breath, and

40:41

with the stories we tell ourselves.

40:46

The villagers listened as Mira shared Yara's

40:48

wisdom. She taught them the breathing exercises

40:53

the dragon had shown her, slow, deliberate breaths that

40:55

brought stillness to the body and mind. She

41:06

encouraged them to let go

41:08

of their worries, to

41:11

trust in the rhythm of the breath,

41:15

and to let the quiet

41:18

stories of their lives unfold

41:20

gently, without

41:22

rushing or forcing them.

41:28

At first, the

41:30

villagers were uncertain. They

41:33

had grown so used

41:35

to their sleeplessness that

41:38

the idea of simply

41:40

breathing and telling stories

41:43

felt too simple,

41:46

too easy. But

41:48

as they practiced, something

41:51

began to shift. The

41:55

air in the village

41:57

grew softer. The night

42:00

quieter. One

42:03

by one, the

42:06

villagers found themselves

42:08

falling asleep more

42:10

easily, their minds

42:12

no longer racing

42:15

with the worries of the day. Over

42:21

the next few weeks, the

42:25

village of Lunara underwent

42:27

a quiet transformation.

42:29

The restlessness that

42:31

had plagued them

42:33

for so long

42:36

began to dissipate. It

42:40

was replaced by a sense of

42:42

calm that settled over

42:45

the valley like a

42:47

warm blanket. The

42:50

villagers gathered each evening by

42:52

the river, where

42:55

they practiced the breathing techniques

42:57

Mira had taught them. They

43:01

told gentle, soothing stories.

43:05

Stories of the river, the

43:08

trees, and the wind. Stories

43:12

that invited peace rather

43:15

than excitement. The

43:19

change wasn't immediate,

43:23

but it was steady.

43:25

The village, once

43:27

filled with worry and

43:29

sleepless nights, became

43:32

a place of rest again.

43:36

The birdsong in the morning

43:38

seemed more vibrant. The

43:41

sun warmer, the

43:44

river more inviting. The

43:48

people moved with a new sense of

43:50

ease, their days

43:52

no longer clouded by the

43:55

fog of sleeplessness. Mira

44:00

watched all of this

44:02

with quiet satisfaction. She

44:06

hadn't solved the village's problems

44:08

in the way she had

44:10

expected. She

44:13

hadn't returned with a dragon or

44:16

a magical potion to cure

44:18

their sleeplessness. But

44:22

she had brought back something

44:24

far more valuable. The

44:28

understanding that peace was

44:31

always within reach, waiting

44:34

to be invited. The

44:40

village elder, a

44:42

wise woman named Maras, approached

44:45

Mira one evening after

44:48

a gathering by the river. The

44:51

sun had just set, casting

44:54

a soft pink glow over

44:57

the valley. "'You've

45:00

done something wonderful for

45:03

us,' Mara said,

45:06

her voice filled with gratitude.

45:10

"'You've reminded us of

45:12

something we had forgotten

45:16

that rest comes from

45:18

within.' Mara

45:21

smiled, her heart

45:23

full. "'It

45:26

wasn't me,' she said. "'It

45:29

was Yara.' Mara

45:33

nodded thoughtfully. "'Perhaps,

45:37

but it was you who had

45:39

the courage to find the

45:41

dragon, and

45:44

you who brought back its

45:46

wisdom.' The

45:50

two of them stood in silence for

45:52

a while, watching

45:55

the river flow gently

45:57

past. The

46:00

village was quiet

46:02

now, the soft sounds

46:04

of evening settling over

46:07

the land. The

46:10

restlessness that had once filled

46:13

the night air was

46:15

gone, replaced

46:17

by a sense of peace

46:21

that Mira knew would stay with

46:23

them as long

46:25

as they remembered Yara's

46:28

wisdom. Years

46:32

later, Mira returned

46:34

to the mountains again, her steps

46:38

lighter than they had been

46:40

on her first journey. The

46:44

bath was familiar, and

46:47

the mist that had once felt

46:50

so mysterious now

46:52

felt welcoming. When

46:56

she reached the cave, Yara

46:58

was waiting. The

47:01

dragon's eyes half closed, its

47:04

body curled in the same

47:07

peaceful rest. I

47:11

came to thank you, Mira

47:14

said softly, standing at

47:16

the entrance of the cave. The

47:19

village is sleeping again.

47:23

Your wisdom helped us

47:25

find peace. Yara

47:29

opened one eye, a slow,

47:32

lazy smile spreading across its

47:35

face. The

47:38

wisdom was always

47:40

yours to find, the

47:43

dragon rumbled gently. I

47:47

simply reminded you where

47:50

to look. Mira

47:54

smiled, feeling the

47:57

truth of Yara's words settle

47:59

in. her heart. She

48:03

sat down beside the dragon

48:05

once again, letting

48:08

her breath fall into the

48:11

same slow rhythm as Yara's.

48:15

The cave was warm and

48:18

quiet, filled

48:20

with the soft sound of

48:23

the dragon's breathing. And

48:28

as night fell over the

48:30

mountains, Mira

48:33

closed her eyes and

48:36

let herself drift into

48:39

a peaceful sleep. The

48:42

sound of Yara's breath, like

48:46

a lullaby guiding

48:48

her into dreams. And

48:54

as she slept, the

48:57

village below rested too,

49:01

cradled by the same

49:03

gentle rhythm, the

49:06

same ancient wisdom

49:10

that had brought peace to

49:12

their hearts. Good

49:17

night.