The sun burned down the side of the mountain like the fire in our throats, which none of us had actually managed to accomplish yet. We were six years old now, which seemed like a lot. There were six members of my family, Seth told me during the winter six stars in the sky shined the brightest, and there were almost twice that many members of little pride now.

     The important part is that we're not hatchlings anymore. Now that we were six, and not fresh from an egg, we were fledglings. Out wings where beginning to grow to support us, soon we would begin to learn to fly. Which seemed huge, Mum and Pop had been flying for decades, and seemed to move past the awe of it. I had not. I couldn't imagine being up that high... completely alone... it set off a hum in my bones unlike any other.

     For now, we remained on the ground, in the tunnels where life buzzed.

     "It's like us," May breathed, as she leaned over a plant. "They come from eggs, mum!"

     "Seeds, love."

     "Seeds," she purred, "what do you think, Longtayle?"

     "I like it."

     She had grown rather fond of herbs, as of late, since we had met many more dragons called teachers. Our parents often traded gold for us to go and listen to what the teachers knew. I love learning, don't get me wrong, but I missed the days when we would go and learn ourselves. Out in the tunnels, where there were no adults around to explain things. I know I'm foolish for wishing it, but sometimes I'd rather a turtle bite my toes then be told it would do so. Then at least I'd have a good story.

     "No, you don't." May's tone soured. "Have you not learned about something you really like yet?"

     "I like what I've learned." The tip of my tail flicked back and forth.

     "Yeah, but you're never interested in them afterwards. You don't sing like Ronan or draw like Seth. You don't want to help me with my garden."

     The scales on my back prickled, "Some things are more interesting in theory."

     Then I stood up and slunk out that cave and into the next. Voices mingled with the air. I took my seat next to my pather, and listened to him talk with another dragon. Seth was here too, I realized, once he stretched towards the dragon's offering to Pop and breathed in loudly.

     "What is it?" I whispered.

     "A dragon's come to Pop with new ideas, she calls it a map. It's a drawing of the island but so high up you can see the whole land." He sounded amazed.

      Oh wonderful. I swear on Skylark's eye, I do love learning, but some information was simply useless to me.

     "With your permission, I'd love to gather some friends, fly across the ocean, and make more of these." She had the same tinge of wonder in her voice that Seth did.

     "How long do you think a quest like this will take?" Gideon asked.

     "Three weeks at most, I don't plan on going far."

     "Of course. Take was provisions you need from the stores. As for other volunteers, try to bring Wren, won't you? They've been rather down lately once their pet escaped out the tunnels."

     The mapmaker laughed under her breath, "I'll do my best, my lord."

     She packed quickly and left. Seth sighed with relief, "can I go now pather? I promised Tallin I'd meet him by the lake at sunset."

      Pop let out an amused mrr, "last I checked, the sun was still high in the sky. Hello, Longtayle, good to see you up at last. I don't suppose you'd like to join me and Seth for more meetings?"

     "It's tempting, I know how much you love them."

     "I don't." Seth muttered. "You do though, why have me with you instead of Longtayle, Pop? He actually enjoys it."

     "I'm afraid it's part of being the eldest chick, my dear," he said, to which Seth groaned. "Alright, I'm joking. Off you go, tell Tallin I said hello."

      Seth chirped a muffled affirmation as he skidded off, becoming no more than a dust cloud in seconds. Pop watched him go. Heart beats later, he was still quiet. I let it be, finding Seth's happy chirps amusing.

     "It's so exciting watching you grow up," he commented.

     "I'm glad someone's enjoying it."

     Pop hummed, "I'm getting the feeling something's troubling you. Do you want to talk about it?"

     I shrugged, "I don't know if I can put it into words yet."

      "Fair, maybe it will come to you as we walk to the Great Hall," he paused. "If you wish to join me?"

      "I don't have anything better to do." I admitted, listening to him gather his things into the pouch around his neck.

     The cloth around his face jingled with every movement. One thing I loved about my pather was, unlike most of my family, he did not feel the need to fill silence. I used to wonder why, then I realized the silence was full by itself. From the was out claws clicked against stone, the breeze brushing against cave moss and chimes Mum has made to hang outside our home. In the silence lived the heartbeat of the mountain, needing nothing to cover it up.

     "Who are we meeting?"

     "A collection of dragons I've asked to come," he explained, "you've probably noticed how busy things have been. It has to do with my job."

      I nodded, we understood the others needed him, but we hadn't spent time with Pop in a while.

     "Longtayle, have I ever really explained what my role is in this mountain?"

     I frowned, "you help other dragons with their problems."

     "Yes, and there's more," he sighed, "and I think you're old enough to understand. I don't just help with problems; I help with everything. When I woke up, Skylark told me that I would be responsible for the rest of her children, because we are strong, but we are stronger together. In order to have that, someone needs to lead them all."

     "Lead them... all? Every single dragon?"

     That was a lot more than six.

     "Yes, everyone." He spoke the words with a deep, blooming affection, "they call me their King. Your muther shares in some of these responsibilities, they call her Queen."

     "Is..." my mind was still reeling, "Is that a new word?"

     "It's a word as old as I am. That's why I'm meeting today, many dragons have found deep knowledge in certain passions, more than I can attend too. I love my job, but I also love spending time with my family. If it all goes well; they can take of some of my work."

     "Is that why you had Seth sit with you? To spend time us? He's been doing it a lot."

     Pop went quiet, "That was part of it, but you don't need to worry about that."

     "Oh, okay."

     The reply, like our walk, seemed unfinished, but I knew I wouldn't get a full answer. We descended deep into the mountain, across the lake, to the Great Hall. At the foot of the mountain, there was a hollowed-out cavern big enough to fly around in. The ceiling stretched above our head, to many wing lengths to count. A behemoth could stand on their hind legs and maybe grace it with a wing tip. Today, like most days, dragons flew in from the rest of the island, went about their business. There were more dragons here than usual. The smell of fire and molten metal lingered in the air long enough for me to grow curious.

     "What's going on?" I asked, drawing closer to Pop's body.

     "Mm," he grunted in approval, "construction. There are dragons out here who have learned how to shape gold to their liking. They're lining the center path and pillars with shapes; it glows when the sun shines in."

     The image I had in my head was pretty impressive, I wonder if the real thing held up. It reminded me of Mum's passion, tapestries. She'd made three of them, long, thick cloth that depicted stories. I liked them better personally, because I could run my paws over them and feel where she changed colors—they were different textures. It was like the stone figures my siblings had bought me so long ago.

     "Are they doing it because you're the king?"

     "As a gift for me? Oh yes. It's beautiful, and I'm immensely grateful, but Skylark save me, they won't let me pay for it. I'm beginning to turn permanently red from how flustered I still am," He laughed. "Have you ever received a gift, Longtayle?"

     "Fir gave me a pinecone," I remembered. "Tallin and Hailpip gave me—well us, a sea scale."

     "How did that make you feel?"

     My tongue flicked out against my nose, "special... my heart burned. I had nothing to give to Fir because I was young, but with Tallin it was different. I had something to give him...I think I prefer it that way."

     "Yes, me too, but it seems we must both learn that on the other end, dragons like Fir and the builders believe they must repay us for our gift. No one should feel obligated to give back in return for kindness. Sometimes I just say thank you, and let it humble me. That is how I give back, and the cycle continues despite." Pop stopped before I could respond, perhaps he didn't need one, and pulled back a curtain. "Here we are."

     The room we entered was smaller. The lack of noise washed over me with the relief that followed. I picked up the subtle sounds of eight... no nine other dragons. I followed Pop to his seat around... a stone table. I'd head of this room before, from Seth's complaining. He described it as a room for talking fancy. There were ten seats, each of then marked by a flat, but comfortable pillow. One of my muther's tapestries hung here. There was a triangle engraved into the table, at the corner's there was a heart, a flame, and a tongue. In the center was an eye, that looked directly towards my pather.

     The King, I thought, completely distracted by trying to picture the space around me. So distracted, I forgot to concentrate on where I was walking. I knocked right into the keel of another dragon. A big one, who had not expected a random fledgling to walk into him today.

     "I'm sorry, excuse me." I'd rather my fire burn instead of my face, but here I am.

     "I didn't know we were teaching hatchlings today, my lord." His words slurred slightly with a subtle hiss.

     Pop was not amused. "This is my son, Longtayle. He'll be joining us today."

     "Our pleasure," one the other nine answered, far kindlier.

     I shared a mat with Pop, and he handed me a bowl that smelled of honey and earth. It was candied insects, a wonderful savior to my embarrassment. Pop let everyone crunch happily before starting the conversation. I tried my best to remain small, just a listener.

     The nine other dragons were, as follows. Gwendymier, I recognized her as one of my mum's weaving friends. Fir, the carpenter. Hemlock, the master inventor, it struck me when I realized they were Tallin's cether. Palace, the archival. Yuu, the mapmaker I'd met earlier. Wren, animal master I'd guess. Strife, our morals teacher, I could never forget Kiri's mum, she scared us all. Damer, he didn't have an official title but he was really funny. Finally, Lore, the historian, and the dragon I'd bumped into earlier.

     Pop continued to talk about their growing kingdom, I listened. Peace and good nature settled over the room. Even Lore, who I was beginning to learn always acted he had a thorn in his paw, joined in with the cheer and mirth.

     "That's why I want you nine to be of official ring," he sighed. "Skylark knows I've got my hands full back home."

     I flicked my ears back in response.

     "I would be honored." Gwendymier's voice rung like little bells.

     "As would I," Strife seconded.

     Damer chuckled, "Mm, where else do I have to be?"

     One by one they agreed, finished their meeting, and trickled out slowly. I stood up to leave as well, sticking my neck out past the curtain to listen to the lessened stream of dragons making their way through the Great Hall. Then I realized Pop hadn't followed, and Lore was still inside. I turned to see what was holding them up, then froze as I heard my name.

     "Gideon, don't tell me you're being serious with that one."

     "Longtayle? I treat all my children equally. He wanted to come today, so he did."

     Lore paused, "he's blind, isn't he? There was a glaze over his face the whole meeting."

     There the ever so slight sound of scales brisling. "Irrelevant, fea Lore."

     "Think about what I'm saying, I'm incredibly thankful for your offer. Unfortunately, someone has to say what we're all thinking. I'm not afraid, if it's for our future. I hope you respect that."

     I back away from the entrance as Lore pushed past the curtain and slithered away. My heart was heavy in my chest, floating in a swirling soup of uneasiness and severed satisfaction. My claws dug into the dug in rock in any attempt to ground my thoughts from racing away from me. The most frustrating thing was I didn't understand what they were saying, only that it was about me and it made Pop angry.

     Pop eased past the curtain, and sighed. "Let's go home."

     "Pop, I have a question, if you are not too tired."

     "Of course not, dear."

     "When you were little, did you know what you loved?"

     His heavy, striding steps filled the space in between our conversation. "If this what was bothering you earlier? I have noticed you haven't taken to the teachers as well as your siblings."

     I nodded; my throat was dry. "I just... most of things I can't enjoy because they're not... not for me."

     Pop stopped in the midst of the Hall, its travelers recused to dust and bird song by now. He leaned down, and held my forepaws in his. His pads were rougher than mine, full of scars and folds in the skin. They were old, filling me a sense of age, like a weight in my elbows and back of the neck.

     "Every dragon is different. Some live exclusively in water because they don't like the heat of the sun. Some dragons are bigger than the hills. A few feel the life in the ground, speaking with rocks and trees. Some dragons live outside our mountain because they hate the dark. Some dragons get hurt, and collect scars, maybe lose limbs or go numb."

     His thumb swipes gently over my tiny paws. "There is something out there for you, I promise. Taking longer to find it is just that, a simple difference. You're no lesser for it."

     His words were warm like the sun appearing for the first time after a long dark winter. I mrred in gratitude, just loud enough for him to hear. I could feel his smile through his great big paws, his pride in me. I can't believe I thought otherwise.

     "You didn't answer my question Poppy," I chirped, nuzzling his neck.

     He laughed, "When I was little... I loved telling stories."

     I tilted my head, and made a note to remember that.