The young hatchling had been named Jasper. He was the smallest of them all, but he had the most drive and determination. Every opportunity found Jasper outside the safety of the lair so that he could go catch insects of all sorts. As he grew, so did his methods and strategies for catching them, but he never ate them. He admired them far too much for that. Instead, he studied them. He observed their behavior, interactions, and their strategies for survival. He was especially interested in beetles. Jasper would catch and collect dozens of beetles, bringing them home to the lair to observe. Rebar and Sulfate were not happy with their youngest son’s hobby. It simply distracted him from important matters. They noticed how he would forego food or interactions with other dragons for the company of his beetles. To help socialize him, they forbade Jasper from playing with them.

Jasper was devastated. Insects were his whole world. They allowed him to see life from a completely different perspective. What was important for dragons mattered little to insects and vice versa. It was satisfying for him when he understood the reasoning behind their behavior. It was something he couldn’t just quit. This was his reason for being! He was sure of it! Jasper knew his parents were quite firm on their decision and that they could not be persuaded otherwise. So, he took to the skies early one morning and never looked back. He traveled as far as he could until he was sure that he was safe. Safe to dream, safe to learn. Jasper joined a new clan filled with other dragons that were scientists in their own right! They studied what appealed to them and offered no judgements. He noted that there were hundreds upon thousands of new insect species living here that weren’t native to his old home. He smiled as a beetle landed on his shoulder. This is what he was meant to do. He was sure of it now.