Fatherly Advice
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Aaron, Halyonix, Sia
Date Posted: 15th May 2025
Characters: Z'renh, E'kirim, I'serin
Description: Aluneth attempts to teach his sons a lesson
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 5, day 17 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: Chioneth, Domorth, Galgaith
Notes:
~*~
The events of the previous day were still lingering in most of the dragons' minds and Aluneth capitalized upon that. His rider was in a meeting, their riders were in lecture. The coppery bronze bulk of Aluneth landed outside of the Weyrling Barracks and called, }: Norrianth, Adamanth, to me. We will speak. :{
Adamanth could not fathom disobeying an elder bronze, let alone his sire. So without even telling Z'renh where he was going, he joined Aluneth outside.
Norrianth perked up at the boom of massive wings, though he'd expected it to be Domorth checking in on them. He checked in quickly with E'kirim, rifling through his mind with all the force and grace of a toddler tossing important hidework around. Aluneth was the Weyrleader's dragon. Something about being his sire, whatever that meant. E'kirim had one of those as much as Norrianth had, a passing understanding that surely he _existed_, but not much further care outside of that fact. He rose from where he had been rolling, shaking himself and dislodging a cloud of dirt as he did. The others were still lounging and playing, though Adamanth had left to greet the other bronze. He rumbled happily and stalked after his clutchmate, more eager to play than to listen.
Aluneth looked down at his progeny with critical pride once they arrived. Adamanth certainly had the makings of a bronze dragon. Norrianth, Aluneth believed, would get there in time. Not every bronze cracked their egg ready to lead. }: Yesterday, :{ he began, }: Will you explain to me why you chose to leap ahead in your training, before the Weyrlingmasters cleared you for it? :{
}:A bronze heeds his queen,:{ said Adamanth, as though he were being quizzed for an answer Aluneth already know rather than truly being asked for an explanation. It was obvious. Of course, Aluneth already knew. He must simply have been curious as to whether Adamanth knew.
Norrianth did not have so much reasoning. He puffed his chest proudly and rumbled back, as if he was a similar size and not just a bit bigger than a full-grown green dragon. He spoke in feelings of accomplishment, of excitement for extra dinner, and echoed Galgaith's sentiment that their riders would be overjoyed. The scrapes on his knees and belly from landing on Galgaith hardly phased him as he leaned back onto his haunches and leapt up into the air, his big wings shooting him up in the air to Aluneth's eye-level before drifting back down. He could do it, and he'd do it again!
Aluneth tilted his head to the said. }: A bronze heeds his queen, yes, but not in all things. And certainly not one that has yet to graduate her training. We are born to lead but we must learn how to lead _properly_. There are matters that the queens defer to bronzes on because we are better than they and matters that we defer to the queens. You will learn the balance. Now, regarding -- Norrianth, _do_ pay attention please. :{
Norrianth snorted in indignation. He was paying attention, sort of, but Aluneth wasn't nearly as interesting as he thought he was. He lowered himself into a crouch, tail swishing like a feline. }: Boring. Play with us. :{
}: Play? :{ Aluneth echoed. His tone became stern. }: You are far too old to be playing. You are to be studying how to lead. :{
Adamanth puffed up, feeling gleefully validated. He had been trying to explain that to Norrianth since they had hatched, but he had never gotten through.
}:I told you so.:{
Norrianth considered for a moment, and mentally dove back to E'kirim to check. }: I am two months old. :{ He said in an equally stern tone that was close to mimicry.
}: Plenty old enough, :{ Aluneth pointed out. }: You will be flying soon enough, and then with your riders. You are _training_, not playing. Now, in regards to yesterday's incident, you must learn when to follow and when to lead. As bronze dragons, you will be looked to by the Weyr for leadership. You must set a good example of -- Norrianth, what are you doing? :{
}:'Leading,' no doubt,:{ Adamanth grumbled.
Norrianth had tuned out almost immediately and stalked a few paces away, following a fluttering piece of wind-blown foliage until it got caught on a rock. Then, he pounced. He straightened then, blinking, yellow-green eyes wide and unrepentant. }: Hunting. :{ He clarified for Adamanth's benefit, the leaf expertly stuck between his toes.
Aluneth let out a soft, suffering sigh. }: _Hunting_, :{ he said, }: is a lesson for another day. I am trying to teach you a different lesson today, one that will come more and more into play as you get older. Adamanth has already caught the gist of it. You should as well. Now, if Galgaith suggests you to do something possibly perilous before she graduates, what will you do? :{
Norrianth sat back on his haunches in a small mimicry of his sire, and in a very grave tone with utmost seriousness, }: Confirm that there will be extra dinner. :{ E'kirim had actually told him to 'get it in writing', but neither he nor Galgaith knew how to write.
Adamanth did like the sound of extra dinner... And how was he supposed to know there would be peril? He flew just fine. Galgaith would not ask him to do something obviously perilous; she was not a lackwit.
}: Extra dinner? :{ Aluneth repeated, baffled. }: That has no relevance on the ethics of the question. :{
}:How should I know better than Galgaith where peril may lie in wait?:{ asked Adamanth. Especially when extra dinner was on her side!
}: No guts, no glory. :{ Norrianth added in agreement. He thought, and projected to Aluneth and Adamanth, about how proud he knew E'kirim would be to know that he had flown early, that he was growing as big and strong as his rider said he would, and he'd be so happy with the bronze's progress that he'd get a reward.
This conversation was not going as Aluneth had planned. He rustled his wings in frustration. Perhaps if he could get the youngsters to see it from another point of view... }: Would you do something that would endanger your rider? :{ he postulated.
}:Shall I not carry him into the sky to meet Thread? There are few greater dangers, and yet this is the reason we exist,:{ said Adamanth.
Norrianth snorted and shook his head. He told them both that he always tried to play gentle with E'kirim, especially after that time he knocked the guy to the ground with his head so hard that he couldn't breathe.
Adamanth would never do anything like that, of course.
Trapped by that logic, Aluneth acquiesced. }: Yes, into Threadfall you will carry them. But into other dangers, you should not. Being brave does not mean you go looking for danger. You must be heroic, yes, but not foolish.:{
}: We flew without them. :{ Norrianth pointed out, even as he lowered himself down to the ground again to slowly stalk Aluneth. When he got close enough he leapt forward, batting the much larger bronze gently with a paw. Tag? Chase?
}: Pay _attention_, Norrianth, :{ Aluneth said sharply. This parenting thing was far more exasperating than he expected it to be. Why were his sons being so stubborn? This should have been an easy lesson to convey. }: You flew _before_ you were supposed to. You must not be so eager to rush headlong into things before you are ready to do them. :{
Adamanth was becoming rather exasperated himself, though mostly because Aluneth seemed to think him incapable of understanding what he was saying.
}:We are foolish, then?:{
Norrianth snorted. }: We flew. It was time to fly. :{ Then, mimicking Galgaith's less-than-dulcet tone, }: I’m glad they're not dead. :{ He batted at Aluneth again. }: C'mon. Play. :{
Aluneth lifted his paw and squashed Norrianth gently.
}: No, :{ he answered to the playful bronze. }: Yes, :{ he answered to Adamanth. To both, he said, }: You are charged with setting an example. Be mindful of your teachers and their lessons. There are rules and training in place for a reason. :{
Norrianth rumbled (warbled?) happily. He was nearly the size of an adult green and didn't really fit under a paw, but he rolled on the ground just enough to grab the squishing paw in his foreclaws and gently gnaw on it.
Adamanth looked down his snout at Norrianth. Perhaps they _were_ foolish. But he would not admit to it.
Aluneth looked down at his son. }: Norrianth, _what_ are you doing? :{
Norrianth looked up at his father with happily whirling green eyes, massive bronze foot still in his mouth. }: Playin'. :{
}: You are a bronze dragon. You do not play, :{ Aluneth said sternly.
}:A bronze dragon does as he deems fit, until his sire tells him he is being foolish, it seems,:{ Adamanth huffed. He had never deigned to play with Norrianth before, but he was strongly considering it, just to show Aluneth he could do whatever he wanted.
Norrianth scraped his teeth along the bronze hide. }: I am bronze, I am playin'.:{ He countered matter of factly, his tone muffled as if it mattered that his mouth was full. }: Lighten up. :{
Exasperated, Aluneth replied, }: No. :{ He extricated his paw from Norrianth's mouth. He had a Weyr to run and this moment, which he thought would only take a moment, was beginning to interfere with that. }: Pay attention to your teachers and do not go against your training, :{ he commanded his sons firmly as he unfurled his wings to depart.
It was a shame Aluneth had decided to leave before Adamanth had worked up the wherewithal to actually play with Norrianth. Or perhaps it was not.
Norrianth scrambled to his feet and lowered himself down again, gathering himself and unfurling his wings as if to leap after his father. To do what? Unsure. Bother him? Certainly. But his attention drifted quickly and instead he charged at Adamanth and tackled him.
Adamanth screeched.
Last updated on the May 19th 2025