PROMPT: By @highfantasy  You have been tasked with takeing down the fearsome Snow Dragon. You come face to face with the beast - a surprisingly small, furry, white dragon who just happens to breathe fire.

My snowshoes sank slightly in the waist-high snow as I plodded into the clearing which had a herd of deer sedately grazing in the centre.

With relief I slide down the bank as quietly as possible to not disturb the deer. A few looked up at me, but being so deep in the forest, they obviously hadn't been hunted because they didn't run at my presence.

I crept forward in hopes of touching one.

Pulling off my thick leather gloves, I extended a hand to a velvety nose. It sniffed me, then sneezed.

I chuckled, but stopped immediately when a small, white, furry, winged creature stepped from behind the deer.

It walked forward on its hind legs, curious yellow eyes unblinking but locked on mine. It bumped its head under my still-outstretched hand. The scales were surprisingly warm, soft and supple. The tufts of fur along its ears and under its chin like fine lamb's wool.

When it licked my hand with a wet, green tongue I had to laugh. "That tickles!" I said.

Just like one of the many dogs around the castle halls, it leaned its front paws on my chest. The surprising weight of it sent me off-balance and we tumbled back in the snow.

The creature leaned on my chest and licked my cheek from jaw to hairline.

"Stop it!" I laughed and pushed it slightly back.

The next instant the creature had leapt forward off me, nose pointed in the air. A low rumbling sounded in its chest.

From the trees on the other side of the clearing a pack of wolves emerged.

The deer began to stamp and snuff nervously, huddling tightly together.

Grateful that I was wearing my chainmail and armour, steel rang out as I drew my sword. The snow wasn't deep here. I hastily unstrapped the snowshoes that would only hinder me fighting wolves.

With a great push the furry creature launched itself into the sky. A pop unlike anything I'd ever heard sounded and it was now thrice the size of a bull and breathing a long line of fire at the wolves.

Terrified in the face of such a formidable foe, the wolves turned and ran, yelping and howling in pain where a few had been touched by the flames and were smouldering.

The Snow Dragon, for now I recognized the quarry I'd come to kill, flapped its great wings and turned to regard me. It slowly came to ground, then with another pop became the small furry creature.

Bounding excitedly, it raced over to knock me back and lick my face again and nuzzle against me.

I had to laugh. "You're like a big puppy, aren't you?"

I couldn't kill it.

"The Witch Rafina will know what to do. Come!"

Herding the deer before him, he obediently followed along.

WORD COUNT: 500