Test of Courage
Author: Jazzybot
Every young Dragon of the Ashfall Wastes knows that the most courageous dragons go off to the Flamecallers ranks, when it comes time to battle the Shade. The glittering armor and fierce heart of the Fire dragons all share the same source, the courage that was forged into them.
It’s so hard to be courageous, when you’re small. The little hatchlings all know that the world is big and scary and can absolutely hurt, and is most horrifyingly of all, cold. One little hatchling was understandably wary of anywhere that did not smell like the lava pools or the warm feathers and sides of the Elders, did not feel like the heartbeat of the very planet itself beneath their claws.
It was not about to go on anything so horrid as an adventure, after all. Adventures were for dragons that had the most courage, had the greatest wings and sharpest claws. Adventures were absolutely not for little hatchlings, they had decided, who were too small to stand up to the big creatures in the fields and forests that edged the Ashfall Waste.
So when this hatchlings favorite jewel rolled into the darkest tunnel it had EVER seen, it was understandably upset. But the others were all playing, the elders were all watching the skies, and the little Hatchling didn’t have anyone at all looking when it lost its favorite sparkly shiny stone. It rolled and rolled and the Hatchling heard it roll right up against something, and it knew that there was something there in the dark.
Was it a big scary goblin? Was it one of the creepy mimics? Maybe it was even a hatchling-eater! The little Hatchling had no idea what was in that big dark hole that it had lost its treasure in. But there were no adults to help light the way, and the little hatchling *wanted* its treasure back.
There was nothing for it. If it wanted the rock, it had to go into the dark. So the little hatchling puffed itself up, feathers big and scary, its claws clinging easily to the volcanic stone of the tunnel floor. The darkness couldn’t eat it! It made sure that all their fluff was big enough to scare anything off at all. It would show anything that could see it that it was the bigger and scarier monster!
In the dark tunnel, the little hatchling let itself sleek down, making itself small and sneaky. Now that it was in the dark, nothing could see it, they hoped. It slipped between rocks and scattered fallen sticks, the deep crevice leading further into the mountain. The ringing of the hammers above were more felt than heard, here, no song here for it to orient to. The roar of the furnaces felt like the roar of a big scary monster! But the little Hatchling wanted to get its stone back, so on it went.
Deeper and deeper into the winding tunnels it crept, feathers finding the air and their tail swishing side to side for balance as it lept from basalt to quartz to pumice, finding its own way to the end of the tunnel, eyes gleaming in the darkness, looking for its treasure.
It crept right up to the edge of a grand arch, inlaid with stones that glittered and shone in the firelight beyond, a massive dragon inside humming as it worked something gold. The little Hatchling had never SEEN a dragon so long and tall! Truly a massive specimen, and frightening to a little creature like itself.
But then the Hatchling saw what was in the dragons claws, and it went stiff all over. That was their glittery stone! The one that they had found all by themself when they went on the field trip to the beach full of sand and rocks!
“Excuse me?” It tried, more of a squeak than the firm voice it had reached for. The large dragon rumbled a laugh like an eruption waiting to happen, their big warm eyes turning from their work to the smallest hatchling. “That rock is My rock. Please?” The hatchling tried, wilting under that big stare.
“Of course it is.” her voice rolled out, melody winding around the rumbling of the earth. “It’s a very good rock, to lead you here. You’ve been very brave, I do leave so much clutter in my lair. It must have been scary, to find your way to me.” She finished one last twist, and then the stone dangled from a chain, webbed over in delicate gold filigree, like a piece of the sky brought down to the heart of the mountain. They had even thread on little beads and stones to match!
“There. Now it won’t escape quite so easily.” she said, and the little Hatchling stared at it in wonder, a song note trilling out from its whole body. “But if you ever did want to come visit an old craftsmaster, sometime when its not quite so scary, I would love to show you how to make your own. If you follow the stones, you’ll find your way to me.” she told the little hatchling, and winked. “It’s got a secret now, too. If you put a little flame on it, just like so, it’ll light your way back to the skies. Go ahead, and try it.” she offered.
The little Hatchling puffed its little flame, and gasped in delight as the stone seemed to glow with its bright light!
“Thank you!” the little Hatchling cooed, blinking up at the massive dragon. “I’ll always keep it! And when I’m biggest and strongest, I’ll come back. I want to learn how to do that too!” it sang, and the Flamecaller laughed indulgently.
“Of course, little one. Go on now, and know that the darkness has nothing left to frighten you.”
