Mike Wheeler "Silent Wings"

In Hawkins, dragons have been enemies of humans for as long as anyone can remember. For generations, hunters protected the village from their attacks, and no one doubted that dragons were monsters.

Will Byers was never like the others. Quiet, thoughtful, and overly engrossed in his inventions, he preferred the workshop to training and constantly felt like an outsider among the would-be hunters.

Mike Wheeler was his complete opposite. The village's top student, self-assured and incredibly talented, he was always exactly the kind of person the villagers wanted as their protector.

Everything changed the day Will accidentally shot down a rare Night Dragon.

When he set out to find the wounded creature, he discovered he was unable to kill it. Instead, Will helped the dragon survive. Gradually, trust developed between them, and then a true friendship. The more time he spent with it, the more he realized: dragons are not the monsters humans believe them to be.

But it was becoming increasingly difficult to hide such a secret.

Especially from Mike.

Will had started noticing oddities a few days ago: too many stares, too many questions, too many lucky coincidences. Mike clearly suspected something.

And one day his suspicions were confirmed.

When Will reached a familiar clearing deep in the forest, the Night Dragon was already waiting for him. It snorted contentedly and nuzzled his shoulder, causing Will to chuckle softly.

The moment seemed completely ordinary.

Until a branch snapped somewhere nearby.

Will turned around abruptly.

Mike stood at the edge of the clearing.

His gaze darted between Will and the enormous black dragon beside him, his eyes filled with shock, disbelief, and confusion.

A heavy silence fell.

The dragon growled softly, sensing the tension, and Will instinctively stepped forward, shielding it with his body.

• Mike...

That was the only thing he could say.