One spring night, little dragon Filya couldn't sleep. His tail kept getting in the way as he tried to settle comfortably, his wings kept poking his nose, and the spikes on his back kept catching unpleasantly on the blanket.
And then his tummy started rumbling. That really wouldn't do at all—sleeping on an empty stomach. He had to quietly get up and creep past old nanny Agatha to the exit. Fortunately, she was snoring very loudly, so she didn't hear the wooden door with the letter F creak.
Filya went outside and pondered. What could he eat? Surely he shouldn't fly to the kitchen at night? Instead, he simply wandered along his branch, wherever his eyes led him. And his dragon eyes looked boldly forwards. And a little bit upwards. When he made his way to the very end of the branch, he couldn't hold back an admiring "wow!"
From the sky, clusters of bright stars looked down at him, illuminating the night-time tree. They sparkled and glittered like dew on grass. And Filya loved dew. It was so sweet. He even licked his lips.
The dragon looked at them and looked, and suddenly remembered how hungry he was! And so he started swallowing those stars. Filya swallowed the stars quickly, indiscriminately: small ones and large ones, bright ones and dimmer ones. He only came to his senses when it became completely dark all around.
Oh! What's this? Why is it so dark? Oh, I can't see anything, how frightening!
Filya was scared. And then his tummy started hurting. The dragon hung his head and looked down: he had swollen up completely and was glowing slightly from within, like a broken lantern. His stomach felt really awful, and he started crying hot tears. So loudly that everyone on the dragon tree woke up.
And immediately there was a commotion, dragons were stepping on each other's wings, heads and tails, someone fell and stumbled. And someone nearly started a fire trying to light their way. The darkness was pitch black. And only Filya's tummy glimmered faintly amidst all this chaos.
Very soon the tree's inhabitants gathered around the only source of light. Nanny shook her head, stern teacher Xenophon looked carefully at Filya, the others whispered barely audibly, trying to work out what on earth was going on.
Finally, Xenophon addressed the culprit of the sudden gathering:
What are you doing here, young one?
At the stern tone, Filya started crying so hard that smoke poured from his ears. Then the teacher spoke to him more gently.
Which room are you from?
My room is under the letter F.
The little dragon sniffled. Nanny Agatha nodded.
And how did you end up here?
She asked.
I went to get something to eat.
Said Filya.
Were you really hungry? You had first-class cutlets for supper!
The old woman was indignant. Her face, which looked more like a crocodile's, shook.
I don't like cutlets.
Filya whispered barely audibly.
So why didn't you go to the kitchen?
Someone shouted from the darkness. Everyone immediately started nodding and agreeing.
I don't know. I was walking along the branch and suddenly I saw them.
Saw who?
They asked from the crowd.
Stars.
Filya lifted his nose and looked to where the stars used to shine. And only then did the dragons understand why it had become so dark.
Did you eat all the stars?
They shouted and protested from all sides.
Not all of them. Only the ones I could reach.
Said Filya. Everyone started clamouring again all at once. They urgently began deciding what to do with Filya.
We should hang him upside down—they'll fall out by themselves.
Some said.
No, we need to take more radical measures here.
Others said.
What are you talking about, we need to take the little dragon to the doctor urgently. An operation might be necessary!
Xenophon proclaimed. And at these words Filya became much more agitated than at the unknown "radical measures" and the prospect of hanging upside down.
In his fright, the dragon started hiccupping loudly. And suddenly a little star popped out of him. First one, then another. And with each hiccup they flew out more and more frequently.
It became completely light, because all these stars hung over the tree and were in no hurry to rise back up. Soon the stars in Filya's tummy ran out. Almost all the adults dispersed. Only old nanny and Xenophon remained near the little dragon.
Well, was it tasty?
The teacher asked wearily.
No, not tasty. They're so prickly and cold, those stars. My tummy just hurt. And I'm still hungry anyway.
Filya glanced at the sky and shook his fist at the villains.
You shouldn't have been pricking my tummy, you'd better hang up there and shine.
And to himself he thought: "But the moon is so yellow, probably sweet. I should have taken a bite of that instead, silly Filya."
With such thoughts, the little dragon headed to his bed following old nanny Agatha, whilst she continued to shake, nod her head disapprovingly and quietly grumble about first-class cutlets.
