Disappearing Dragon

Once upon a time, not really so long ago, there lived a dragon. This dragon, unlike tales you might have been told, was a very friendly and sociable dragon. The people in the villages nearby would often drop by for a chat and maybe some tea. He would help with some of the more strenuous tasks necessary to keep a village comfortable. He might help to fell some trees for a new home, or watch your children for an afternoon. He wasn't terribly fond of farming, but if you offered him something good to eat, he might be coaxed into helping with that as well. He had been there for years, before there even was a town, and so he kept he history of the area as well and would share information about rainfall or native animals.
As so often happens in small villages, some of the children when out to play in the nearby woods. Generally, the woods were a pretty safe place and the parents didn't mind them finding ways to be out from under foot. On this day; however, things went awry. As the children were playing, a man in armor approached them. While they were no stranger to the king's guard, and this man was obviously that, they saw them rarely enough that it was a novelty. Swarming around him they pelted him with questions. He knelt down and answered the ones he could and diverted the ones he could not. "And now I have a question," he said. "I have heard of a dragon who lives near here. Do any of you know where I can find it?"
The children were very proud of themselves because they did indeed know, and offered to show him there. It never occurred to them to wonder why the knight wanted to meet the dragon. Everyone wanted to meet the dragon, right? So they led him there with songs and laughter. The knight told the children that he needed to speak with the dragon in private and asked that they return to their play. Reluctantly the children did as they were asked. They were quite good little girls and boys for the most part after all.
The knight turned and entered the cave. When the children later returned to the cave to ask the dragon what the knight had wanted, there was no longer a cave. Neither the knight, nor the dragon were seen again.

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We believe this to be a cautionary tale told to keep children from being too trusting. We have found no other references to this tale.

The dragon involved in this tale stepped forward to complete the story. He was indeed approached by a knight. The dragon was awake and moving because in his hoard he had collected many mana stones. As long as he didn't stray too far, he could look after his village and himself. The knight had come because the king was very ill and needed healing and he had heard rumors that dragons could work magic. The dragon agreed to make the healing item needed, but the cost to himself was that he would only have the mana to maintain himself in a state of suspended animation until the magic returned. As the king was a good man who treated his country well, the dragon decided to assist him. He made the item and then sealed his cave and slept.