A marble sculpture that went missing in December came back to its owner recently — by way of the woods and a pretty good story.

Pat McVay said his sculpture, a dragon-like head he calls Fang, showed up at his outdoor artist studio in January after a man called in to say that he found the piece in the woods along East Harbor Road.

Though a little dinged up, the 130-pound sculpture was no worse for wear. McVay said a poster campaign and notice of the theft in The South Whidbey Record apparently got people looking for Fang.

“It was really a great response,” he said.

What’s more is getting Fang back cost almost nothing in terms of reward money. McVay said Fang’s savior only asked for gas money.

The sculpture’s high profile may have been the factor that got it dumped in the woods in the first place.

“It was probably too hot to hold onto,” McVay said.

McVay and the other artists who work at the outdoor Clinton studio alongside Highway 525 are now putting all their work away at night. They don’t want anymore of their creations to disappear.

One artist at the studio is still looking for a carved bear stolen the same night as Fang. McVay said he hopes someone finds that piece and returns it as well.