[CC] Hatchery Quest: Xato

Xato hated working the land, it wasn’t the hard labour, or even the fact that sometimes it was a season before they felt the rewards of what the land provided; it was the monotonous of it; made worse by the fact he seemed to only one of his siblings who felt that way. While he was off adventuring through made up dungeons, the others eagerly responded to their fathers orders, which meant, since it seemed he was shirking, he got told off on an almost regular basis. But he bit his tongue, if his papa didn’t want him to dream of far off adventures and what could be, then why tell them that they were descended from the lost and scattered Shear royal line…. Even if Xato took more after his mother in his coloration and features…. Though like all his siblings his eyes changed color when his emotions ran high.

He was reminded suddenly of where he was at when a powerful tail swiped at him, taking his legs from under him. Hissing at the sharp stab of pain he glared at the dragon he’d been ‘working’ with, even as the beast lumbered off, no doubt informing his father that he had once again been doing nothing, standing idly as everyone else helped, some now with their own dragons….. He’d had enough, slouching he slunk off into the woods nearby, hiding out for the rest of the day, it may mean no supper, but he had learned to forage to a degree.

Much to Xato’s amazement, nothing was said during the evening meal, though Kane, his eldest brother glowered at him though out it. The next morning, before he could even head out to the fields his mother beckoned him, unlike the rest of the family, she hunted for meat and pelts to sell onwards. He followed, only stopping when he saw the dragon which still haunted his dreams at times, it’s striking red form lounging in the early morning light, a single chain tethering it to a flimsy rock.

“Rahja needs cleaning, that will be your job. This morning and every morning, and after him, his barn. None of your papa’s dragons can help you, nor your siblings.” She said, her voice steady, no give in it at all. Xato stared, but her hand was up, silencing him. “If you do, I will show you how to hunt, to trap and to work the pelts.” She smiled at him then. “Like me you are.” She said softly ruffling his hair. “But no help will I give, Rahja will keep you right.” And with that she walked off.

For a moment Xato stared after her, before returning his attention to the dragon in front, even when resting he was imposing. Swallowing, he looked around for some water, having spotted the flecks of mud on the dragons hide. Seeing nine, he made his way to the well nearby, returning he found it had curled up somewhat, the spiked back pointing in his direction. He approached it with care, he remembered how fierce Rahja was, but for now, the dragon ignored him, even as he reached for a brush so he could reach the back beneath the spikes.

A few minutes later and he was flat on his back, the bitter cold water covering him as the dragon growled, poised over him; Xato’s mind immediately supplying that Rahja had not liked the cold water. “Sorry!” He squeaked, the dragon snapped his teeth before returning to the warm sunshine. Shivering as he stood, the boy returned to the well, and after a quick glance to see if anyone else was nearby (he really wasn’t meant to use magic) warmed up the water (and himself), before returning to clean Rahja.

The days that followed were almost identical, but not once did Xato feel bored, trial and error showed him what the dragon would and would not tolerate, and that everything had to be just right; if it wasn’t, then he often found himself flat on his back, or a warning crack of Rahja’s tail. On the days when his mother was away with Rahja, he would be left to clean the barn, fetching the water himself, and yet, he didn’t mind, he got the time to practice his magic; and as exhausted as he was, his mother showered him the things he’d always yearned for, how to track, to hunt and the cure the pelts and furs she brought in.

Through it all, not once did Xato forget that Rahja merely tolerated him.