The clock struck twelve. 

Guests twirled in their glamorous ball gowns, looking like flowers in the wind. The sleek walls of the palace rose up behind them, still, quiet. And one girl fled the scene. 

“Oh, no!” She cried, lifting her skirts as she ran. “I must go!” 

“Wait!” Begged the prince, reaching out after her. “Don’t leave me!” 

Behind the curtains of the high school performance, something waited. Shadowed under a table of props, behind a basket of petals for the upcoming wedding scene, Marley focused. He could see the dropped sandwich, less than fifty feet away, crumbling temptingly. The girl playing Cinderella exhaled deeply as she reached the prop table, trying to find somewhere to set the remaining slipper. 

Marley’s scales clinked, his legs tensing for the dash. That sandwich would feed him for days, if he could get ahold of it. He could see the turkey peeking out in between slices of bread, he could practically taste the dripping cheese. Almost there. 

The girl finally found a place for her shoe and left for the dressing room. She wasn’t in a hurry; the villagers had a scene before her. 

Marley watched her leave, and - 

He jumped out from his hiding place, only to scramble backward. A puff of fire escaped him, his wings clamping against his small body in an effort to shield himself.

What was that?

Another creature had seen the same opportunity, and taken it before Marley could. Only this beast was far bigger than Marley could ever hope to be. It must have stood over two feet high. Gobs of spittle hung off its wide maw, its bulging eyes focused completely on its meal. Its four legs were twice as tall as Marley was long, and black nails crept out of its toes like talons. 

It snapped up the sandwich in less than a bite, a string of spit falling to the ground where Marley’s sandwich used to be. 

A sad, small stream of smoke crept out of Marley’s nostrils. No… He was so hungry. 

A director came up from behind the table. “Ugh. Another stray. Go back outside, dog.” 

The beast followed the director and obediently left the building, but he looked back at Marley, still sitting under the prop table, as he left.  Marley could’ve sworn there was a glimmer of pride in the creature’s eyes. Got to be faster next time, it seemed to taunt. 

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Marley withheld a whine. 

The director came back inside, walking past the table and behind the curtains to the other side of the stage. Marley was unwatched. 

He crept out from behind the basket, glancing around just to make sure he was alone. Then he dashed to the spot where the sandwich had been. 

The bigger creature had left some crumbs in its hasty devouring of the meal. Marley began licking up each spot of bread, trying to savor every tiny crumb. 

There was a sharp intake of breath.

Marley froze. 

Now that he was paying attention, he could sense her. Cinderella stood behind him, watching him eat his meager excuse of a meal. She could see him. She could see him. 

She stared at him for a moment. “A real dragon,” she breathed. 

A tiny flame pushed its way out of Marley’s beak; a poor excuse for a defensive fire. 

She looked down. “But you’re hungry, aren’t you? Wait here; I’ll be right back.” 

Frozen, Marley waited. He had never been seen before. What if she tried to cage him? What if she - 

She stepped up close to him again, her feet surprisingly quiet on the rickety wooden floor. “Here’s some crackers. They’re all I could find.” 

She lay a few buttery crackers on the ground and backed up, waiting. 

Marley couldn’t resist. The crackers shone in the dim light, the salt gleaming like gems. 

He inched forward. 

The girl smiled. 

So he lunged and snatched the whole cracker, snapping it down. Who knew when he’d get a chance to eat like this again? 

The sound of clamoring feet arose from the other side of the curtains, and Marley squeaked. He’d have to take this cracker and run. 

“Oh, but you’re not finished yet. Come here.” 

Marley looked up. The girl extended her hands to him, having already picked up the other crackers. “I’ll take you outside. They won’t find you.” 

Marley looked at her. Her brown eyes, so much more understanding than the beast’s prideful ones.

And stepped into her hands. 

The girl quickly stood, shielding Marley with her hands, though the sudden change in elevation gave him vertigo. She stayed ahead of the stampeding extras, who were throwing props and whispering harshly. 

She opened the back door and stepped outside into the cool night air. Marley’s scales dimmed to a deep blue, and he purred. Free. 

She smiled, lifting him into a tree. “Here you go. And if you ever need anything else to eat, just come to me. It can be our little secret.” 

She left the crackers, and ducked inside. 

Marley purred again, taking a big bite of cracker. He wouldn’t be hungry for a while.