The Rock Dragon and the Runaway Rabbit(Glyndwr Edwards) Not many people know about the Rock Dragon. He takes care of all animals.
He is the little dragon who lives in the quarry on the mountainside.
With his rock coloured coat, the Rock Dragon hides amongst the rocks and remains invisible.
The Rock Dragon always watches out for danger on the mountain and helps his friends if they are in trouble.
One day, the Rock Dragon rescued a sheep tangled up in old wire fencing.
"Help me!" cried the sheep.
"Don't panic," said the Rock Dragon."I'll soon have you free."
The Rock Dragon took his scissors from his pocket and snipped around the sheep's coat that was tangled in the fence.
"There you are, sheep," he said, putting his scissors back in his pocket."You're free."
The sheep was happy and he jumped for joy.
"Now listen to me," said the Rock Dragon sternly."This is not the first time you have been tangled in the fence. I do not want to see you do this again. Haven't I always told you to stay on the path, follow the other sheep, and never wander?”
"Yes," said the sheep, bowing his head. He was ashamed of himself.

The Rock Dragon was about to give him another telling-off when he heard the sound of barking from the top of the mountain.
It was the farmer's dog, searching for the lost sheep.
"Time for you to go," said the Rock Dragon.
"I promise I won't get caught again,” said the sheep, running toward the dog that had spotted him.
The Rock Dragon, not taking any chances, changed himself into a small rock as he saw the dog approaching. The dog did not realise there was anything wrong as he barked at the sheep.

While the dog and sheep ran over the mountain, the Rock Dragon changed back and heard squawking in the air.
"I wonder who that is?" he thought, gazing up at the sky.
It was Elfed Crow and he landed beside the Rock Dragon, breathless.
"What's wrong?" said the Rock Dragon anxiously.
Elfed got his breath back and flapped his wings.
"It's Dickey, the Rabbit. He's gone missing again, Rock Dragon."
"What?" said the Rock Dragon.
It was the third time this month that Dickey had gone missing. He was a naughty little rabbit that was always getting into mischief. How his mother, Rebecca Rabbit, put up with him the Rock Dragon did not know.
"I suppose I'll have to find him again!" grumbled the Rock Dragon. "This time, Elfed, I am going to give him a stern talking to. He must never wander off without telling his mother or another adult where he is going."
"The last place he was seen" said Elfed," was near the old path leading to the forest.”
"Right," said the Rock Dragon grimly."Let's get going."

Dickey was the youngest son of Rebecca Rabbit and had two brothers and one sister. All rabbits have nicknames and Dickey did not have one yet. Trevor was called Trevor Tree because he always had the unfortunate habit of banging his head against tree trunks. Billy was called Blue Eyes because his eyes were blue.
Miranda, their sister, was known as Miranda the Moaner because that is all she ever did.
Dickey’s trouble, as the Rock Dragon said, was that that he never told anyone where he was going. He would be out all day playing with his friends, forget what the time was, and then, instead of going home, he would wander off and his mother would spend hours looking for him.

"Who's looking for Dickey?" asked the Rock Dragon.
"All of the animals " said Elfed, getting ready to fly away. "Rebecca and her family are looking near the last place Dickey was seen."
The Rock Dragon looked at Elfed angrily.
"We'll find him, Elfed. Do not worry. He has caused his poor mother enough worry."
"Do you know," laughed Elfed, "she even told him the Dark Rabbit would get him if he didn't come home early at night."
"Did it do any good?" laughed the Rock Dragon.
"No," said Elfed, flapping his wings, laughing.
The Dark Rabbit was the evil rabbit parents used to say would come and watch their children if they misbehaved.

The Rock Dragon put his ear to the ground. He was using his special hearing to see if Dickey was trapped underground.
"Can you hear him? “asked Elfed, anxiously.
"Ssssssh!" replied the Rock Dragon.
He stood up quickly, pleased with himself.
"He is trapped in a hole near the old forest path, Elfed."
"Rebecca will be pleased now he is found!" said Elfed eagerly.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Fly and tell Rebecca the good news. I'll go and free the little rascal."
Elfed flew to find Rebecca and the Rock Dragon raced as quickly as he could toward the old forest path.

Dickey had fallen into an old hole. He was being nosy again and had fallen in accidentally and a pile of earth had covered the top of the hole until there was only a little bit of sunlight showing.
Dickey did not know how long he had been there. He had cried his eyes out, hoping someone would hear him. No-one had come. His voice was a croak now, like Ferdinand the frog.
He was lonely, scared, and wished he were at home with his brothers and sister and his mammy.
"I'm not going to be naughty ever again," sobbed Dickey.
Dickey had found five little stones in the hole with him. He had thrown four out, thinking someone would see them by the side of the hole and rescue him.
No-one came. Dickey did not know how long he had been there.
As he threw the last stone through the hole, the ground above him started to shake and the earth started to fall on him.
Dickey did not know what was happening.
"Help me!" he shouted.

The daylight dazzled him as the Rock Dragon reached in and pulled him free.
Dickey was too shocked to say anything.
When he opened his eyes, he saw Rebecca and his brothers and sister staring at him with joy because he was safe. Elfed Crow and the Rock Dragon bided their time.
"Dickey’s safe," said the Rock Dragon, pleased.
Dickey had tears in his eyes as he looked at the Rock Dragon.
"You've been very silly, Dickey," said the Rock Dragon sternly. "We did not know where you were. If Trevor hadn't seen the stones you threw out of the hole we might never have found you."
Miranda was looking at the stones. There were five on the ground.
"We'll call him Dickey Five Stones from now on," said Miranda, picking up the stones.
Elfed laughed.
Dickey, who now had his nickname, ran to his mother, sobbing.
"I'm sorry, Mammy," he said. "I promise I won't run away again."
The Rock Dragon was pleased. Dickey had learnt his lesson. There would be no need now to give him a severe telling-off.
"He'll be different now," said Elfed happily. "We won't have anymore trouble with the rapscallion.”
"I think you're right, Elfed," said the Rock Dragon.

They waited until Rebecca and her family had gone home before saying goodbye.

The Rock Dragon was tired when he got back to his home at the quarry.
As he closed his eyes, yawning, changing into a sleeping rock, he hoped tomorrow would not be as tiring as today.

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